Al Qaeda terrorists aiding Taliban in attack on the Helmand province in southern Afghanistan

Fighters linked to the terrorist group al Qaeda joined with the Taliban in an October attack on Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, its governor has claimed.

The Taliban strongly denied the allegation, saying all its forces were from the local area.

Any evidence of al Qaeda activity in Afghanistan could threaten the core goal of the US-led, UK-backed mission in the country since 2001: to stop the group behind the September 11 atrocity in the United States from launching international terrorist attacks once more from Afghan soil.

Mohammad Yasin Khan, the Helmand governor, told Sky News the Taliban insurgents involved in the offensive came from inside and outside his region.

“They brought other Taliban from other parts of the country, as well as members of Pakistani terrorists group and al Qaeda fighters – Pakistani groups such as Jaish-e-Mohmmad, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi & Lashkar-e-Taiba,” the governor said.

“Also other foreign fighters joined them and they launched a huge attack on Helmand,” he said, speaking from the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

“Their aim was to capture Helmand.”

Source: Sky News