Afghans say they know little about US killing of al-Qaeda leader

Individuals within the Kabul neighbourhood the place Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a drone assault say they're shocked however don’t know something greater than that.

Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a US strike in Kabul [File: Ausaf newspaper/EPA]

Kabul, Afghanistan – The information of the killing of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri slowly made its manner by way of the Afghan capital. For a lot of Afghans, it got here as an entire shock.

The announcement by america of a “precision” drone assault that killed the elusive 71-year-old al-Qaeda chief got here in Kabul within the early hours of Tuesday.

Because the day superior, extra particulars began to trickle in.

Nonetheless, in an indication of the rising fears over the liberty of speech underneath a Taliban authorities, many metropolis residents appeared hesitant to speak in regards to the killing of al-Zawahiri, who had a reward of $25m on his head for the 9/11 assaults.

Mohammad Jamal operates a road cart not removed from the home in Kabul’s Sherpur space the place Zawahiri and his household have been reportedly staying. He says he had little concept in regards to the al-Qaeda chief or his alleged killing.

“How would I do know who he's? I don’t even know what he seems like,” mentioned the service provider who hails from the japanese Afghan province of Laghman.

Jamal, like different residents and streetside employees Al Jazeera spoke to, mentioned his major focus is the nation’s economic system, which has been struggling underneath the load of Western sanctions and support cutbacks for the reason that Taliban returned to energy a yr in the past.

“When would I watch TV to know who he was? I couldn’t even inform you who the top of the [Islamic] Emirate is correct now,” Jamal mentioned, referring to the title the Taliban makes use of for its authorities.

Even those that do have a greater sense of who al-Zawahiri was are afraid to speak, mentioned Jamal.

“This isn’t the republic the place folks can protest after each suicide bombing and assault. Nobody desires to speak about these items underneath these situations,” he mentioned.

Worldwide organisations such because the United Nations and the Committee to Defend Journalists, and rights teams Human Rights Watch and Amnesty Worldwide have all accused the Taliban authorities of stifling free speech since they assumed energy.

Journalists in Kabul advised Al Jazeera the roads resulting in the home the place al-Zawahiri was killed have been blocked and that they have been advised to show round when making an attempt to get nearer to the purported residence.

A site visitors police officer in certainly one of Kabul’s business centres mentioned he, too, noticed journalists making an attempt to get details about the US strike, however to no avail.

The officer didn't need to give his title attributable to safety issues, however mentioned that he noticed media crews making an attempt to talk to the passersby.

“They tried to movie folks and ask them what they thought however nobody spoke to them. I don’t assume anybody will discuss it now,” mentioned the officer.

On-line, although, Afghans exterior the nation have been extra prepared to talk freely in regards to the second al-Qaeda chief the Taliban reportedly hosted in Afghanistan in 30 years.

Shafi Karimi, an Afghan journalist at present dwelling in France, was struck by the situation of al-Zawahiri’s alleged killing.

“His final months have been spent in an upscale Kabul neighborhood the place prime officers from the Taliban additionally dwell,” Karimi tweeted.

Sherpur, the neighbourhood the place al-Zawahiri’s home was situated, has lengthy had a controversial repute amongst Kabul residents.

Through the years of Western-backed authorities, it was referred to as the world the place strongmen, ministers, governors and legislators of the previous authorities lived.

Most of these officers fled when the Taliban stormed into Kabul final yr, with the group’s officers and members reportedly taking over residence in most of the identical houses and compounds, together with the one al-Zawahiri was mentioned to be killed in.

Emran Feroz, an Afghan-Austrian journalist who has tracked drone strikes in Afghanistan and different nations for practically a decade, fears the drone that killed al-Zawahiri might not be a one-off.

“Over the past months, there have been a number of studies about US drones above Kabul. Appears that each one these accounts turned out to be true,” Feroz tweeted.