( CNN ) -- Al Qaeda 's second-in-command called on Pakistanis to back Islamic militants in the country 's tribal areas against what he called an ongoing assault by American `` crusaders '' and the Pakistani army . Al-Qaeda 's second-in-command , Ayman al-Zawahiri appears in a video released on September 2 , 2006 . Punishment from God was promised for Muslims who did not follow the words of Ayman al-Zawahiri in a video that appeared on radical Islamist Web sites Thursday . `` The war in the tribal areas and Swat [ Valley ] is an inseparable part of the crusaders ' assault on the Muslims the length and breadth of the Islamic world , '' al-Zawahiri said in the video , titled `` Path of Doom . '' `` This is the battle , briefly and plainly ; and this is why anyone who supports the Americans and Pakistan army -- under any pretext , ploy or lie -- is in fact standing with , backing and supporting the crusaders against Islam and Muslims . '' The Pakistani military is fighting Taliban militants in the country 's north , and missile attacks from suspected U.S. drones have targeted militant leaders -- one of them killing Baitullah Mehsud , the leader of the Pakistani Taliban . Reports from the region suggest government troops have dislodged the Taliban from many areas of the North West Frontier Province , but militant attacks continue daily . In the video , Al-Zawahiri suggested that the United States has wider goals in the region . `` They want to eliminate the Mujahedeen ( Islamic militants ) in the tribal areas so they can seek to smother the Jihad in Afghanistan , '' he said . NATO-led forces are battling the Taliban across the border in Afghanistan as well . U.S. and British forces launched offensives in Helmand province this summer . Al-Zawahiri warned Muslims that they have a religious duty to support the jihad , or struggle , or face punishment from God . `` No people abandons Jihad without Allah giving them a general punishment , '' he said , quoting the Quran . Al-Zawahiri also prayed for the annihilation `` the Americans and Jews '' and anyone who might help them .
Al Qaeda 's second-in-command calls Pakistanis to back Islamic militants in video . The Pakistani military is fighting Taliban militants in the country 's north . Video , in which Ayman al-Zawahiri speaks , appeared on radical Islamist Web sites .