A senior Taliban leader thought responsible for several roadside bombings may have deliberately targeted Canadian soldiers, an exclusive interview with Â鶹´«Ã½ has revealed.
Mullah Abdullah, nicknamed Qhushnai or "Shorty" because of his four-foot-six frame, is currently detained by Afghanistan's secretive spy agency.
Officials say he was a medium level Taliban commander for the past year in the Zhari district.
That area includes Pashmul, where the Canadian Forces patrols and at least 10 soldiers have died under his watch.
Abdullah said he told his men to kill Americans any way they could, suggesting they use improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
When asked whether Abdullah knew the difference between American and Canadian convoys, he said he did not.
But an Afghan secret service agent contradicted him during the interview, calling him a liar and demanding he admit to deliberately burying bombs to attack Canadians.
Abdullah then replied: "It doesn't matter if it's Canada or America. We target all of them because they are here; they help each other against the Taliban."
He also said he thought American troops are doing all the killing. And with a laugh, he added that while Canada has done some good things in the country, they should leave.
The agent who interrupted the interview stayed behind camera, wishing to remain anonymous.
A 2005 New York Times article described one fight between a contingent of Taliban fighters, led by Abdullah, and American troops.
Abdullah's entire fighting unit of 14 men were killed and he barely escaped with his life, according to an informant. But as word of the battle spread, dozens of additional fighters joined Abdullah, until he had a renewed force of 40 men.
Taliban militants have already found a replacement for Abdullah, and he said his capture will not affect their influence.
"No, we will never lose our power," he said.
Abdullah has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. But Canadian soldiers who watched their friends die on a road he controlled say that punishment is far too light.
With a report by CTV's Lisa LaFlamme in Kandahar
