Taliban claim they unaware of al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan

By RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban say they are investigating what they described as “claims” that al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri was killed in a U.S. drone strike in the Afghan capital. The group said in a statement on Thursday that it “has no knowledge of the arrival and residence ” of al-Zawahri in Afghanistan. It marked the first time the Taliban linked Sunday’s drone strike that killed al-Zawahri with the al-Qaida chief. He was killed on the balcony of a Kabul safe house that U.S. officials said was linked to a Taliban leader. Thursday’s statement also contained assurances to the West, saying that “there is no danger from the territory of Afghanistan to any country including America.”