Qari Mohammad Yousuf
Encyclopedia
Qari Mohammad Yousef Ahmadi is one of the two Taliban
spokesmen, the other being Zabiullah Mujahid
. In 2006, Ahmadi contacted Reuters
, the Associated Press
, Canadian Press
and Afghan Islamic Press
by satellite phone
to offer Taliban messages regarding southern Afghanistan
.
In August 2008, his name began appearing once again, as the focus of a number of Canadian Press interviews with Toby Cohen, in which he advised Canadians that they should elect a Prime Minister
who would remove Canadian troops in Afghanistan
. Ahmadi is quoted as saying that "the election is being held in Canada. That is why our attacks on Canadians are increased". He is also alleged to have said that the Taliban "don't want to fight with Canadians. Actually we want to create friendship with Canadians".
His byline also appears on English-language internet postings claiming to report insurgent activity. Examples are:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was founded in 1996 when the Taliban began their rule of Afghanistan and ended with their fall from power in 2001...
spokesmen, the other being Zabiullah Mujahid
Zabiullah Mujahid
Zabiullah Mujahid is one of the self proclaimed spokesmen for the Taliban who is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. He has acted as a media conduit between the isolationist rebel forces and Western media teams. He was interviewed with his back towards the TV camera in early 2009 by CNN reporter...
. In 2006, Ahmadi contacted Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. is the entity which "will take over the operations of the Canadian Press" according to a November 26, 2010 article in the Toronto Star...
and Afghan Islamic Press
Afghan Islamic Press
Afghan Islamic Press is an Afghan news agency based in Peshawar, Pakistan. It was established 1982, during the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan, by Muhammad Yaqub Sharafat. Sharafat was the nephew of Maulavi Yunis Khales, one of the leaders of the anti-Soviet mujahideen guerrilla movement...
by satellite phone
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
to offer Taliban messages regarding southern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
In August 2008, his name began appearing once again, as the focus of a number of Canadian Press interviews with Toby Cohen, in which he advised Canadians that they should elect a Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
who would remove Canadian troops in Afghanistan
Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan
Canada did not have a significant role in the first few months of the invasion of Afghanistan that began on October 7, 2001, and the first contingents of regular Canadian troops arrived in Afghanistan only in January–February 2002. Canada took on a larger role starting in 2006 after the Canadian...
. Ahmadi is quoted as saying that "the election is being held in Canada. That is why our attacks on Canadians are increased". He is also alleged to have said that the Taliban "don't want to fight with Canadians. Actually we want to create friendship with Canadians".
His byline also appears on English-language internet postings claiming to report insurgent activity. Examples are:
- Martyrdom Operation kills 8 terrorists of spatial force and wounded a munafiq commander in Helmand, Kavkaz Centre web page, June 23, 2008
- Munafiq commander and 3 puppet police terrorists killed in Badghis 1/7/08, Anti-Imperialist forums, July 7, 2008
- In 14 landmines explosions 32 British invader terrorists killed in Helmand, Jihad Fields web log, July 17, 2008
See also
- Zabiullah MujahidZabiullah MujahidZabiullah Mujahid is one of the self proclaimed spokesmen for the Taliban who is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. He has acted as a media conduit between the isolationist rebel forces and Western media teams. He was interviewed with his back towards the TV camera in early 2009 by CNN reporter...
- Mohammad Omar
- Taliban