Mullah Mohammad Omar, supreme leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, has called for his supporters to hold worldwide rallies within 72 hours, Afghan Islamic Press said.
"The United States is labelling jihad as terrorism and mujaheddin (holy warriors) as terrorists through its strong media. It is absolute cruelty," the reclusive leader said in a recorded statement provided by his spokesman to the Pakistan-based news agency.
"Jihad becomes an obligation on all Muslims of the world. Therefore, if Muslims of the world favour my point of view, they should hold rallies," the statement said.
The world is not shaken by terrorism but by the causes of terrorism, he said, adding that the US, India, Russia and Israel were the root causes of this situation.
"Everywhere in the world, the Muslims are being killed. They are being suppressed. The modern weapons are being used against them.
"Isn't it terrorism? Should the Muslims of the world sit silent and comfortable?"