The English-language audio message by Ayman al-Zawahri was dated July 14 and addressed to “my Muslim brothers and sisters in Pakistan.” In it, the militant group's second-in-command called on Pakistanis to join the fight against the United States or support the battle financially. He warned that without that help “we shall not only contribute to the destruction of Pakistan and Afghanistan, but we shall also deserve the painful punishment of Almighty Allah.”The tape, whose authenticity could not immediately be verified, was released by the al-Qaeda media wing As Sahab and was posted on Web sites that usually carry militant videos and statements. Al-Zawahri and al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden are rumored to be hiding in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt along the border with Afghanistan. The Taliban have thrived in that region, and some Taliban commanders maintain links to al-Qaeda. The region also has been the focus of numerous US missile strikes, which officials say have killed several top al-Qaeda fighters. A 2006 strike reportedly missed al-Zawahri in the Bajur tribal region.
Al-Zawahri, who had addressed the Pakistani people in English in August last year, said Pakistan is really ruled by the United States. “The current ruling class in Pakistan is lining up under the cross of the modern Crusade and competing for American bribes. Hence, the actual ruler of Pakistan is the American ambassador, who pays the bribes and issues the orders,” he said. He said “the only hope to save Pakistan from this disastrous fate is Jihad” because the political institutions were “either sunk in the swamp of corruption or are too helplessly crippled and paralyzed to bring about any change.”
Stressing the need for money, al-Zawahri called on people to join the fight and contribute money.
Benzer Haberler 
World
