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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Taliban dig up Toyota Corolla used by founder to escape US forces after 9/11

A white Toyota the Taliban's founder used to evade capture in has been found buried in a deep sand pit where it lay for more than two decades.

Influential official Anas Haqqani - who's the brother of the current interior minister - shared images of smiling workers digging the motor out of the desert yesterday.

Haqqani tweeted: "A man travelled in this car who took part in the most amazing events in history.

“He relied on God Almighty, he commanded [Taliban forces] in an unequal war against dozens of invading countries, and won.

"This memorial . . . should be kept in the country’s national museum.”

It's understood that Mullah Mohammad Omar - who founded the Islamist movement in 1994 and went to serve as its leader until his death in 2001 - ditched the car after being run out of Kandahar.

The cleric fled the southern city as US-backed forces ousted the Taliban in Kabul.

Despite having a $10million price on his head and the weight of the US army chasing him, he evaded capture until his death in 2013.

He fled in the car as the US bombarded Kabul to oust the Taliban leadership in 2001 (Taliban media officials/AFP via)
Mullah Omar of the Taliban is shown in this undated U.S. National Counterterrorism Center image (REUTERS)

According to reports, Omar's son - who is now defence minister - ordered his dad's car be excavated.

A Taliban-linked campaigner shared images of the vehicle covered in plastic near a compound in the Zabul region.

The activist said: "This Toyota wagon was used by the late Amir to travel from Kandahar to Zabul province during the start of US-led invasion.

“It is in good condition.”

Omar's biographer Bette Dam told The Guardian that Omar told his subordinates to make peace with the Americans after his escape.

“The car can be seen as significant — Omar used it during a historical moment for peace,” she said.

“When he entered this white Toyota, and left his office, most of his leadership had surrendered . . . He himself took at that moment the decision to disappear to his grandfather’s land.”

Omar evaded capture despite the $10million price on his head (Taliban media officials/AFP via)
Omar's son - who is now a government minister - ordered the excavation (Taliban media officials/AFP via)

Dam added: “I didn’t know about the hiding of the car but I am sure they didn’t feel safe at all . . . because soon the hunting down of the surrendered Taliban started, so he buried the car and was hiding.”

Last month multiple explosions were heard along with gunfire in Kabul following an ISIS-claimed terror attack.

Four consecutive blasts were reported coming from the Gurdwara Karte Parwan, a Sikh place of worship, in Kabul, and shooting is ongoing on a Saturday in mid-June.

Armed attackers are believed to have entered the building and a siege is taking place, reported tribuneindia.com.

There are reports there were up to 30 hostages being held on the second floor of the temple.

Eye witness accounts have claimed that there are many dead and people are being taken to hospital.

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