The leader of al Qaeda in Afghanistan has said the militant group was short of food, weapons and other supplies needed to fight against foreign forces in his country, a website linked to al Qaeda said, Reuters reported.

"In Afghanistan, we have a severe supply deficit. The main reason for the weakness in operations is insufficient supplies. Many mujahideen sit and wait and cannot fight for lack of supplies," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid said on a website used by top al Qaeda leaders and other militants to post statements.

He called on Turks to provide support for al Qaeda forces with money and supplies.

"If a mujaheed (holy fighter) does not have the money to get weapons, food, drink and the materials for jihad, he cannot fight jihad," al-Yazid said in Turkish in a statement entitled "Advice to the Turkish people."

Violence in Afghanistan has surged to its highest levels since the 2001 U.S. invasion toppled the Taliban, which had harbored the al Qaeda militant network responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States.

"Fear Allah and be ambitious in waging jihad through (donating) goods," al-Yazid said.

There is little support for al Qaeda in Muslim Turkey. However police carry out sporadic raids on suspected al Qaeda cells in the country.

Al Qaeda has carried out attacks in Turkey, notably in 2003 when the militants killed more than 60 people in a series of bombings in Istanbul.