Afghan rebel leader proud to be branded a terrorist

AFGHAN rebel commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said he is proud that the US has branded him a terrorist and echoed Osama bin Laden’s call for suicide attacks against Americans, according to a statement released yesterday.

Calling the US the big Satan of the world, Hekmatyar, a former Afghan prime minister, also vowed jihad against US troops in Afghanistan. US forces are combing eastern Afghanistan for Hekmatyar, his loyalists and Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives.

“I am thankful to Almighty God that the United States of America thinks I am a terrorist. It is a matter of pride for me that such a strong country wants to punish me for the sake of my holy religion, Islam,” the statement attributed to Hekmatyar said.