Recent Appearances...

Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !
Recent Appearances...

Afghanistan

Taliban Denies Claims of Desecrating Tomb of Late Jihadi Commander

2022-11-13

[KHAAMAPRESS] The local Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
government authorities in Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan denied the allegations.
No, no! Certainly not!
of desecrating the tomb of Mullah Naqibullah Akhund, a former Jihadi commander.

Reactions have followed the desecration of Mullah Naqibullah Akhund’s burial. He was one of the previous Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
jihadist commanders, and his gravesite is in Kandahar’s Arghandab district.

Photographs that demonstrate the destruction of the commander’s tomb have been shared on social media, which the social media users claim constitutes intentional vandalism and flagrant desecration.

The mausoleum of Mullah Naqibullah was allegedly disrespected by hurtful people, according to the Jamaat-e-Islami Party led by Salahuddin Rabbani, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.

Atta Mohammad Noor, a former governor of the Balkh province in northern Afghanistan, reacted to this destruction of the tomb by accusing the Taliban of desecration and asserting that they offended moral and ethical norms.

Ahmad Masoud, the leader of the National Resistance® Front (NRF), an armed opposition force against the Taliban, also asserted that the armed Taliban had destroyed Mullah Naqibullah Mullah’s grave, which is against the principles and values of Islam.

However,
there's more than one way to stuff a chicken...
the spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Kandahar province claims that the reports of Mullah Naqibullah’s grave being destroyed are false and untrue.

This comes as the tombstone of the late resistance commander, Ahmad Shah Massoud, was vandalized and desecrated, which caused a stir and infuriated the public.

Link

Afghanistan

ACCI Senior Adviser Mohammad Dawood Musa Killed in Kabul

2022-03-09

[TOLO] Mohammad Dawood Musa, senior adviser to the Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), was killed by unknown individuals in Kabul yesterday.

Mohammad Dawood Musa was wounded by a gunman near his home at 8:30 am on Monday and died after being taken to hospital.

Dawood's relatives claim that a gunman first took him out of his car and then shot him in the heart.

"A man shot him in the heart about a meter away and then got in the car and fled," said Zayed Siddiq, a friend of Mohammad Dawood Musa.

According to his friends, Mr. Musa was considered a prominent businessperson in the country since the time of Zahir Shah.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that Musa played a key role in drafting the Afghanistan-Pakistan Investment Law, tax law and transit agreements.

ACCI added that Mohammad Dawood Musa represented Mercedes-Benz in Afghanistan and played a key role in the growth of the country's private sector.

"I ask the Islamic Emirate to find the killer of Dawood Musa and bring him to justice," said Khanjan Alokozai, member of the board of the ACCI

"In the private sector, this is a huge loss. In the future, the Islamic Emirate must pay attention to protecting the lives and property of traders," said Naqibullah Safi, chairman of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Although the Kabul Police Command confirmed Mr. Dawood's assassination, it declined to discuss the matter.

In the meantime, Zabulyar Gharanai, another businessman in the construction sector, was injured by kidnappers on Sunday. His relatives are asking the authorities to arrest the perpetrators of this incident.

"Zabulyar's family still has no information about this case, and this is the third day that my uncle is in the hospital and is unconscious," said Shaheryar Gharni, nephew of Zabulyar Gharanai.

The Chamber of Commerce and Investment says that the increase in killings and kidnappings of businessmen has raised serious concerns among the country's businessmen and that the Islamic Emirate should pay serious attention to this.

Link

Afghanistan

ANDSF Retakes Herat’s Karokh District Amid Fresh Spate of Battles

2021-07-24

[ToloNews] The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) on Friday retook the control of Karokh district in Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
but one district fell to the Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
in the last 24 hours.

This follows a relative calm across the country during the first and second days of Eid.

"A joint attack was carried out against the Taliban positions. These brave men managed to swiftly recapture this district from the Taliban," said Jailani Farhad, a front man to Herat governor.

Sources said Taliban captured Ghazi Abad district in Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Chitral. Kunar is Haqqani country.....
The Defense Ministry said that government forces inflicted heavy casualties to the Taliban in at least 10 provinces across the country in the past 24 hours and killed over 150 Taliban fighters. Taliban has rejected the claims.

While Taliban is still trying to capture more swaths of land in the country, the Afghan security institutions have said that the ANDSF as part of the new security plan is trying to retake the country’s financial ports and other strategic locations from the holy warrior group. The Afghan government recently said it will soon unveil a three to six months security plan based on which the ANDSF will be able to change the current situation.

Kunar is one of the provinces in the eastern parts of the county that saw some of the fiercest battles over the past few weeks. But Afghan officials have said that several villages have been cleared of the Taliban in the area.

"The government forces conquered areas in Chilamazar, Qaria-e-Mullah Ishaq and areas around Tapa-e-Taimoor, the enemies left these areas," Kunduz police chief Zubair Safai said.

Nevertheless, President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
has said that based on the new plan, the current security situation will change once the new security strategy is practically put in place.

Based on the new plan, the ANDSF will beef up security measures for major cities, airports, highways, strategic locations and ports.

"You resist for three months. In six months time, you will reach your desirable peace. Today the Taliban haae no will for peace," Ghani said on Thursday.

"You can see that the public mindset is totally against the Taliban. No city in Afghanistan will collapse. All the strategic distircts and important border towns will be retaken," the deputy minister of interior for policy and strategy, Naqibullah Fayeq, said.

There are also reports that at least 10 civilians have been killed in various provinces in the past 24 hours as a result of rewned violence.

Since the official announcement of the US forces' withdrawal, 215 districts, including several economically-important port areas, are under Taliban influence.

Link

Afghanistan

500 Civilians Maimed, Severely Injured in Kunduz in Past Month

2021-07-20

[ToloNews] Figures by aid agencies indicate that at least 500 civilians have been maimed or in some way severely injured in the last month of fighting in the northeastern province of Kunduz. Over 130 of them are children, the report said.

The report issued by local aid agencies covers incidents between June 11 and July 17. It shows that most of the children affected in this period have been maimed or have received serious damage to a body part, particularly limbs.

"Most of them are either children or teenagers whose limbs have been amputated or they have sustained damage to the face," said Esmatullah Hotak, head of an aid organization that operates under the UN in Kunduz.

"We helped 315 families... we are monitoring others," said Najibullah Omarkhil, the acting governor of Kunduz.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38...
those affected by the conflict in Kunduz in recent years gathered in the scenic provincial capital and called for an immediate end to the violence.

"We were displaced three times in the past month. Four members of our family have been maimed," said Sharifa, a displaced person in Kunduz.

"I was maimed in festivities one-and-a-half months ago. We want peace. We are tired of war," said Naqibullah, a displaced person in Kunduz.

"My limb has been cut off. We are tired of war. We want peace. We want justice," said Shah Mohammad, a resident of Imam Sahib district in Kunduz.

Figures by the government show that at least 12,000 families have been displaced in recent festivities in Kunduz.

Link

Afghanistan

‘967 Taliban Killed in 4 Days’ as Clashes Continue: ANDSF

2021-07-19

[ToloNews] The Afghan security and defense forces front man on Sunday said that 967 Talibs have been killed and over 500 more have been maimed in operations by Afghan forces in various areas over the last four days.

Gen. Ajmal Shinwari said that festivities are underway in over 20 provinces and nine cities face a high level of threat.

Afghan forces retook control of Sorkh-e-Parsa district in Parwan and Mailstan district in Ghazni in the last 12 hours, according to the Interior Ministry. But the center of Chakhansur district in Nimroz once again fell to the Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
, according to sources.

"There is a possibility to improve the situation. We assure you--I say as a military general--that all Afghanistan territories will be defended with courage," he said.

Heavy festivities have been reported on the outskirts of the city of Taluqan in the northeastern province of Takhar, raising concerns of residents who say the city has been under attack by the Taliban for the last two weeks.

"The situation is worsening every day. Shops have remained closed. Mortars and Taliban firing have hit people’s homes," said Abdul Karim, a Taluqan resident.

"The government should make an effort to take the city out of this situation," said Naqibullah, a Taluqan resident.

The head of Takhar provincial council, Wafiullah Rahmani, said the people have supported the government forces in their campaign to prevent the fall of the city to the Taliban.

"Takhar residents are dignified people. They will defend their territory. As you see, I am the people’s representative and want to be with this people," Rahmani said.

In Kunduz city in the north, residents said the situation is dire and they fear attacks by the Taliban.

"My home is in the Number One area in Kunduz city. I was displaced. My home was hit by a mortar. Two members of our family were martyred and four more were maimed," said Farzana, a Kunduz resident, who was injured in the incident.

"Besides concerns about the insecurity on the outskirts of Kunduz city, another deep concern is about Taliban drones that drop bombs in some areas. We ask international organizations and the Afghan Air Force to clear Kunduz air of this parasite," said Rabbani Rabbani, member of the Kunduz provincial council.

Local sources report heavy fighting between government forces and the Taliban in Nijrab district in Kapisa, almost 100 kilometers north of Kabul.

Link

Afghanistan

Five Districts Fall to Taliban in 24 Hours

2021-06-28

[ToloNews] Five districts have fallen to the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
in the last 24 hours, including Shor Tapa in Balkh, Chak and Sayed Abad in Maidan Wardak, Rustaq in Takhar and Arghistan in Kandahar, adding another layer of complexity to the alarming situation that has emerged following the fall of territory to the bully boy group.

Takhar politicians in Parliament said Rustaq is the 13th district in the northeastern province that has fallen to the Taliban in recent weeks.

"The Shirkhan border town is fully under Taliban control. Reports indicate that Aqina border town has also collapsed and Ai Khanum town, that shares a border with Tajikistan in Dasht-e-Qala district, is also under threat," said Hamiduddin Yuldash, an MP from Takhar.

The fall of strategic districts in the north, south and west has created concerns over the possible infiltration of Taliban into the income-generating territory in the country, including the Shirkhan town in Kunduz on the border with Tajikistan.

Kunduz's provincial council and a private sector entity said that they are concerned about the loss of Shirkhan's incomes to the Taliban and warned of threats posed to other border towns — the Aqina border town in Faryab and Ai Khanum in Takhar.

"Security problems have increased recently. Sometimes the customs department and the finance ministry tries to transfer its employees from one place to another," said Hujjat Fazli, the CEO of Harakat, an entity facilitating investment opportunities for the private sector.

"We ask the government to pay serious attention to Shirkhan border town, to retake it," said Khaluddin Hakimi, a member of the Kunduz provincial council.

Meanwhile,
...back at the shouting match, Bart was wondering if fisticuffs would be appropriate at this point...
Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum
...ethnic Uzbek warlord who distinguished himself fighting the Soviets and the Taliban. The story that he had a bad guy run over with a tank is an exaggeration. It was an armored personnel carrier...
, former vice president, warned the Taliban that he will return to Jawzjan in the near future and will suppress the Taliban after consultation with the president.

"I will begin my work. I will suppress them. I am calling on the security forces to come to me when I arrive," Dostum told TOLOnews.

The deputy minister of interior for policy, Naqibullah Fayiq, said that the Taliban’s focus is on income-generating areas, including border towns, but pledged that these areas will be cleared of the group.

He said that 11 districts have been retaken from the Taliban in the last three days.

Figures collected by TOLOnews indicate that 108 districts have fallen to the Taliban in the last two months, but security forces have retaken 10 of the districts during this period.

Link

Afghanistan

Hundreds Take Up Arms Across Afghanistan in Support of ANDSF

2021-06-26

Yesterday it was Samangan and Kapisa, today ten more.

[ToloNews] Hundreds of people, many of them armed, on Friday poured into streets in 10 provinces of the country to raise their voice in support of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), announcing their preparation to fight the Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
Those who rallied on streets said they will not allow the Taliban to take over their villages.

In northern Takhar province, a number of women went to the frontline where they distributed food and fruits to the security forces who are battling the Taliban in the area.

"It will be good if we Afghans sit together instead of killing each other," said Mohammad Asher Arab, a tribal elder from Takhar.

"As well as in Farkhar district, the security forces in cooperation with the people dealt major blow to the enemy," Takhar Police Chief Ekramuddin Sari said.

The northern province of Sar-e-Pul
...a city and eponymous province in northern Afghanistan, population about 500,000. Demographically it is majority Tadjik and Uzbek. There are small Pashtun, Arab, and Hazara communities, of which the Hazaras mostly don't bother anyone...
is one of the provinces where the Taliban has taken over several districts. Many residents of the province have taken up arms to fight the Taliban.

"We are taking up arms to mobilize the second generation of resistance to fight against the dark regime of the Taliban, so we will defend until the last drop of our blood," said Ghulam Sakhi, a resident in Ghor province.

"We will wait until next week. If the lost territory is not retaken by the security forces, we will act on our own," said Mohammad Noor Rahmani, the head of Ghor provincial council.

In Khost province
... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name...
, dozens of residents have taken up arms to fight the Taliban.

At least 200 residents of Zabul led by governor Hamidullah Tokhi have taken up arms for the fight against the Taliban, local officials said.

Moreover, some influential political figures have mobilized hundreds of gunnies to support the Afghan forces on the battlefields.

"No one should think that with these takeovers, the Taliban has been equipped and will transfer the tanks to Punjab," Deputy Minister of Interior Naqibullah Fayeq, who has traveled to Baghlan, said.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban’s Military Advance 'Temporary': MoI

2021-06-24

[ToloNews] Reports indicate that the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
have taken over the centers of Dand-e-Pathan and Janikhel districts in Paktia province, Shamalzai in Zabul province and Khash in Badakhshan province in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, a triangular dorsal fin appeared in the water. Then another...
sources confirm that eight district centers have fallen into Taliban control in the past 24 hours: Five districts (Said Karam, Ahmad Aba, Rohani Baba, Jani Khel and Dand-e Patan) in Paktia province, Khenjan in Baghlan, Shamalzai in Zabul and Khash in Badakhshan.

Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, a triangular dorsal fin appeared in the water. Then another...
footage on social media shows the Taliban claiming to have taken over Sher Khan Bandar port in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.

The Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI), however, has said that the Taliban’s recent military advance is temporary, and they will be pushed back soon by security forces.

"How have they gotten this much strength within a month's time and moved toward Mazar-e-Sharif, toward Faryab and Takhar? This is propaganda, it is a temporary thing, even the Taliban themselves do not believe that they have reached these regions," said Naqibullah Fayeq, deputy minister of interior for security and strategy.

Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, a triangular dorsal fin appeared in the water. Then another...
Tajikistan’s media reported that over 130 Afghan border police who were deployed in Sher Khan Bandar port have fled to Tajikistan after facing Taliban attacks.

Security authorities in Kunduz province have said that the security forces are determined to retake lost territories from the Taliban.

"Our security forces show a strong spirit to resist, and have the courage to retake the district. God willing, we assure you that the enemy will never be able to takeover Ali Abad district," said Mohammad Haikal, Ali Abad district governor.

"We retook Ali Abad region, we are now ready to move toward Khan Abad," said Mohammad Omar Pakhsaparan, Aqtash district governor in Kunduz.

There are also reports that the Taliban has taken over Khash district.

In the past 48 hours, the Taliban also attacked Ab Band district in Ghazni and managed to take over a security checkpoint.

The Afghan government on Tuesday said that the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) recaptured three strategic districts from the Taliban: Balkh district in Balkh, Dushi district in Baghlan and Ali Abad district in Kunduz.

Link

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: 19 Killed in Violence in Less Than 24 Hours

2021-04-27

[ToloNewsJ Data collected by TOLOnews shows that 19 civilians and security force members were killed and 32 more were maimed in security incidents--including Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
attacks in eight provinces--in less than 24 hours.

Samiullah Zare, an army officer, was killed on Sunday evening when he was attacked by unknown gunnies in Dasht-e-Barchi area in Kabul’s District 18. He was carrying cash obtained from selling his home and was attacked when he returned from the property dealer's office.

The thieves took over 1 million Afs from him, Zare’s relatives said.

"We call on the government to ensure justice and follow this case. We want the perpetrators to be arrested and sentenced," said Mahdi Muhebi, brother of Samiullah Zare.

"The government authorities have lost the ability to feel the death of our youth as they are killed every day," said Naqibullah Frotan, Zare's cousin.

Besides Kabul, the provinces of Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
, Pashtun-infested Logar, Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
, Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
, Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
, Kandahar and Kunar also witnessed security incidents, including a assassination, a bomb explosion and Taliban attacks in which 15 members of Afghan forces and three non-combatants were killed and 12 security forces and 21 civilians were maimed.

"The fighting between the government and the Taliban has intensified once again and the civilians are sacrificed," said Khan Mohammad Wardak, an MP.

"It seems that armed opponents have no will for peace and violence is increasing day-by-day," said Mohammadullah Batash, an MP.

The Defense Ministry said that 106 Taliban fighters were killed and 48 more were maimed in Afghan forces operations in the last 24 hours.

"The Taliban has not reduced violence during Ramadan and they have continued their attacks against the people," Defense Ministry front man Rohullah Ahmadzai said. "The defense and security forces have thwarted many attacks by the Taliban and have inflicted heavy losses on them."

Link

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: 11 Killed in Security Incidents in 24 Hours

2021-04-17

[ToloNews] Nearly a dozen civilians and military personnel were killed and as many were maimed in Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
attacks and other security incidents in the country in the last 24 hours.

In the Southern Kandahar province, at least four non-combatants were killed in a roadside kaboom blast in Shah Wali Kot district on Thursday evening, the provincial police front man Jamal Nasir Barikzai said.

Also in Mir Bacha Kot district north of Kabul, unknown armed assassinated a former jihadi commander Sultan Mohammad Qand and his security guard and maimed another one.

"He was socially respected man and was playing key role in resolving disputes among the people," said Haji Qaher, a relative of the victim.

"The incident happened between two police check posts," said Nisaruddin Baryalai, a relative of Qand.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, Gloria slowly backed away from the eight-foot bull frog. If the creature croaked she would surely be deafened...
at least six security members were killed and eight more maimed in separate attacks by Taliban in Faryab, Balkh and Badghis provinces.

"Two soldiers were martyred in Garziwan. The enemy also suffered two deaths and three injuries. We also had two cases of injuries in Khawja Sabzposh after a tank hit a roadside kaboom blast," said Naqibullah Fayeq, the governor of Faryab.

"The Taliban will not win until they transform themselves from the war situation to the political situation," said Zia Yaftali, a member of Afghan parliament.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense has said that the Taliban are not willing for peace.

"The Taliban has no will for peace and reduction in violence. They attack the security forces and the people of Afghanistan on a daily basis, but they also have suffered as a result of their attacks," said Rohullah Ahmadzai, a front man for Ministry of Defense.

According to The New York Times

...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize...
, nearly 4,000 Afghan cops members have been killed and hundreds more were maimed in the battle with the Taliban after the US-Taliban peace deal last February.

Hundreds of Afghan civilians have also been killed and maimed during this period.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Capture Center of Almar District in Faryab

2021-03-12

[ToloNews] The Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
took control of the center of Almar district in Faryab province on Thursday afternoon at about 1pm, according to local security sources.

Naqibullah Fayeq, provincial governor, said that the security forces have retreated from the center of the district to "prevent casualties of civilians and local forces."

Link

Afghanistan

Five Govt Forces Killed in Faryab, Says Governor

2021-02-06

[ToloNews] At least five security force members, including the commander of the sixth battalion of the Afghan army, in Khwaja Sabz Posh district in the northern province of Faryab on Thursday afternoon, the provincial governor Naqibullah Fayiq said on Friday.

Fayiq said that some members of the Afghan army were taken hostage by the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
after they attacked their outpost.

The Taliban has shared a video of soldiers taken hostage by them and has claimed that they have inflicted "heavy casualties" to Afghan forces.

"Some of the soldiers have been taken hostage," Fayiq said. "Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, Gloria again dodged the questing tip of the giant frog's tongue and ran for her life...
15 Taliban fighters were killed and maimed in the clash."

Fayiq said that President Ghani in a telephonic conversation has directed that the government forces stand against the Taliban with all their strength.

"The president of Afghanistan, the commander-in-chief called and asked about the situation here. This shows his attention and he directed that all facilities and support should be provided here," Fayiq said.

The governor said that President Ghani told him that a delegation will visit Faryab in the next few days to assess the problems and the needs of the security forces.

He said that ~~Arclight~~ airstrike
<del>Arclight</del> airstrike

...KABOOM!...
s were conducted after the Taliban attack on security forces in Khwaja Sabz Posh district.

Security forces on the frontline said they will not allow the Taliban to pose threat to the people.

"We were deployed here to eliminate the enemy," said Abdul Ahad, commander of the special forces company in Faryab.

"This uniform is not for staying calm. We are here to prevent the enemy from destructive activities and from killings," said Shafiqulalh Shafiq, an army officer in Faryab.

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More