AFGHANISTAN

Al-JAzeera: Taliban - Our Forces Are 'Alive And Kicking'

The Taliban has denied reports that the Islamist group is in negotiations with US officials and claimed that its regrouped forces are giving foreign troops an increasingly rough ride.

In an exclusive interview with Aljazeera, Mulla Abd al-Latif Hakimi said the rumour had begun after US forces decided to release prominent Taliban member, Mulla Mutawakkil Akhondzada.

A one-time foreign minister, Mulla Mutawakkil was a familiar face on TV screens as Taliban spokesman before the US-led war to oust the Taliban in 2001.

But the Taliban spokesman said Mutawakkil's "release" amounted to nothing more than house arrest in Kandahar.

"He cannot freely speak his opinion ... it is not freedom. In any case, we will never cease our enmity with the Americans and other occupiers who have illegally invaded Afghanistan."

Casualties

Hakimi added that the Taliban was able to target US soldiers with increasing ease and gave numerous examples.

"We killed 18 American soldiers near the Maryam school in Gazney province, another three in the town of Zargary.

"In the mountains of Khoyani we set a trap in a depot and killed 43 US soldiers with one bomb."