The Afghanistan branch of the global Islamist party Hizbut Tahrir has issued statements in Pashtu, Dari, and English condemning the desecration of the Koran by U.S. troops and calling upon the Afghan people to strive to establish an Islamic caliphate in Afghanistan.
The statement also criticized the Taliban for agreeing to hold peace talks with the U.S. and slammed the Afghan government for signing a strategic agreement with the United States.
It added: "HuT [Hizbut Tahrir] would like to ask the Muslim and mujahid nation of Afghanistan to strive and struggle for the re-establishment of the Islamic state (Khilafah) ... [to ensure the] protection of the sanctity of the Holy Koran, land, and resources of the Ummah. As the Prophet said, 'verily Imam [leader] is the shield behind whom the Ummah fights and protect herself.'"
