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McDonald's Opens in Quetta, Pakistan — Taliban Isn't Lovin' It

McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Pakistan's western city of Quetta, the reputed home of the Taliban's ruling council.
Image: McDonald's restaurant in Quetta, Pakistan
A photo posted on McDonald's Pakistan's Facebook page showing the new restaurant in Quetta.https://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsPK/

The Taliban now has access to Big Macs and McNuggets.

McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Pakistan's western city of Quetta, the reputed home of the fearsome militant group's ruling council.

But the extremist fighters weren't impressed — with one telling NBC News "we don't even consider it as a food."

All menu items are halal, and there’s even a shawarma-meets-gyro type of wrap to get local tastebuds interested: Behold, the McArabia.

You can get a McArabia for just under $3.00. Add a drink and some fries, and you’re still at under $5.00.

Image: McArabia
The McArabia.https://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsPK/

In a country where pork is banned for religious reasons, Sausage and Egg McMuffins are on the menu — but the sausage is made from chicken.

Senior militant commander Ehsanullah Ehsan, who is a spokesman for one of the Taliban factions in Pakistan, laughed when asked Friday for his thoughts on the hamburger chain.

"Hahahaha, so you are asking me about McDonald's food," the TTP-JA fighter said. "Yes, I know McDonald's and its food but we will never eat it. We don't even consider it as a food. This isn't our food ... We live in the rough, tough mountainous areas and need energy and power to fight against the enemy."

Image: McDonald's restaurant in Quetta, Pakistan
A photo posted on McDonald's Pakistan's Facebook page showing the new restaurant in Quetta.https://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsPK/

A senior member of the Afghan Taliban told NBC News he had once tried McDonald's food in the Pakistani city of Karachi but it was "too expensive" and tasteless. He said that Taliban fighters preferred mutton and rice.

However, he conceded that McDonald's was "good when you are in a hurry and have no access to proper food."

"We know it's an American food company and our religious scholars have forbidden us from consuming any Western food and beverages," the militant added, saying that he intended to visit the Quetta outlet with friends but would not eat there.

Image: McDonald's ad for restaurant in Quetta, Pakistan
An ad posted on McDonald's Pakistan's Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsPK/

Quetta needs a break. Since the Soviet invasion of next door Afghanistan in 1979, it has morphed from a well-manicured city to a violent, refugee-laden hideout of some of the region’s most dangerous militants.

The capital of the insurgency-ridden Pakistani province of Balochistan has has slowly been stabilized and terror incidents have decreased by more than 60 percent since last year, according to the paramilitary Frontier Corps, which is in charge of the city's security.

The new McDonald’s is in Millenium Mall, which is located in the highly secured Police Lines neighborhood.

Quetta’s under-fire cops have been targeted many times near the fast-food restaurant.

Dr. Irfan Tareen, a local skin specialist, said that McDonald's was a "good" addition to Quetta's culinary scene.

"We are expecting that our city will get other international food chains too," he said.