Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Afghanistan

Taliban Oppression: 80 Arrested, 38 Executed in One Month

2024-09-29

[8am] Despite their promises of a general amnesty, the Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
continue to arrest former military personnel and civilians. In September 2024, they arrested around 81 people across 18 provinces and executed more than 25 individuals in 13 provinces. Some of these killings have been attributed to unidentified gangs. Among those executed, 14 were killed by Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
— Khorasan Province (ISKP) at the Daykundi-Ghor border. The victims included former military personnel and civilians, accused of various offenses. The Taliban detained individuals for spreading critical content, being affiliated with anti-Taliban fronts, shaving their beards, or having ties to ISKP or the "Hizbut Tahrir
...an al-Qaeda recruiting organization banned in most countries. It calls for the reestablishment of the Caliphate...
" group. These figures, based on reports from the Hasht-e Subh Daily, suggest that due to widespread repression and censorship, the actual number of executions and imprisonments may be higher.

In September 2024, 25 people were executed in Takhar, Ghor, Ghazni, 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..
, Faryab, Daykundi, Khost, Badakhshan, Nuristan, Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
, and Balkh provinces. Of these, around 15 killings were attributed to unidentified gangs, but sources and relatives of the victims accused the Taliban of being responsible. Additionally, 13 Hazara
...a grouping of Dari-speaking people of Sino-Tibetan descent inhabiting Afghanistan and Pakistain. They are predominantly Shia Moslems and not particularly warlike, which makes them favored targets...
s from Daykundi were executed near the Ghor border, along with a Sunni resident from Ghor who was passing through the area. ISKP grabbed credit for the attack.

Last week, the Taliban shot six people in Takhar province and displayed their bodies in a market in the Baharak district center. Local sources reported that the Taliban left the bodies on public display in "Qayoom Bazaar" in Baharak district on Friday, September 20, for several hours. The group did not provide details about the victims’ identities, but sources claimed that the Taliban executed them on charges of theft.

Before these six executions, the Taliban killed Amanullah, a former local police commander of the previous government, in Rustaq district, Takhar province. Sources stated that the Taliban shot Amanullah, the leader of former local uprisings, in the village of Sarjoy as he was returning home.

The Taliban’s campaign of civilian killings continues, with reports of them brutally murdering a student in Ghor province. Sources say Kamaluddin Nizami, an accounting student at a university in Shiraz, Iran, had returned to Ferozkoh, the capital of Ghor, for the holidays. Taliban intelligence tortured him for three days before killing him.

In Badakhshan province, sources report that the Taliban’s head of education in Ishkashim district killed a teacher. The victim, Wali Mohammad Mosamim, taught mathematics and was about to be appointed as the district’s head of education. However,
today is that tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday...
a Taliban official killed him in his office, according to sources.

Since the Taliban’s takeover, extrajudicial, serial, and mysterious killings have surged. After many of these incidents, sources and victims’ relatives often accuse the Taliban, though the group frequently blames unidentified gangs while also claiming they have established nationwide security.

In the past month alone, three individuals were killed in Ghor, a former military member in Babaji district, Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province, a former security officer in Faryab province, a man and a woman in Shahristan district, Daykundi province, a young man in Mandol district, Nuristan province, another young man in Faryab province, the head of the previous government’s Directorate of Transportation in Nangarhar province, a student 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...
, a teacher in Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province, a man in Rashidan district, Ghazni province, a young man in Laghman province, and a driver in Kunduz. The Taliban attribute these attacks to unidentified gangs, but sources accuse the Taliban of being responsible for most of these killings.

ARRESTS OF FORMER MILITARY PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS BY THE TALIBAN
The Taliban have arrested a former military officer in Baghlan province, two former security forces members in Kabul, and one other individual in Nangarhar province. While the group offers no explanation for these arrests, sources close to the detainees report that the Taliban frequently target former military personnel, often accusing them of being involved in anti-Taliban activities as part of their broader Dire Revenge against those who once opposed them.

In addition to former security forces, the Taliban have arrested civilians and former ~~babus~~ government employees on various charges. Over the past month, they have detained around 65 individuals for reasons ranging from alleged collaboration with the National Resistance® Front of Afghanistan to shaving their beards, clashing with nomads, publishing satirical content, and criticizing the Taliban. Many detainees were coerced into making confessions. The Taliban have also arrested some of their own members on charges of affiliation with Islamic State — Khorasan Province (ISKP), as well as members of the "Hizbut Tahrir" group.

Reports show these arrests took place in Kabul, Takhar, Nangarhar, Ghazni, 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...
, Panjshir, and Baghlan, and the whereabouts of many detainees remain unknown. Sources confirm that the families of those arrested are unaware of their relatives’ locations, and the Taliban have provided no further information. It has been reported multiple times that the Taliban arrest individuals on various pretexts, demanding money or weapons for their release.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have detained three civilians in Baghlan, four in Takhar, 25 in Ghazni, 17 in Panjshir, 15 in Badghis, and three in Herat. Although the Taliban regime employed some of these individuals after being hired during the previous government, the group has given no reasons for the arrests, which appear arbitrary. Sources claim many detainees have been tortured and coerced into making confessions.

INTERNAL PURGES AND ALLEGATIONS OF ISKP AFFILIATION
The Taliban are grappling with severe internal divisions, leading to multiple festivities among their commanders and fighters across various provinces. These confrontations have escalated into the use of both light and heavy weapons. Amid rising tensions, the Taliban have arrested several of their fighters in some provinces, accusing them of belonging to the Islamic State — Khorasan Province (ISKP).

On Saturday, September 14, sources informed Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban arrested seven of their members on charges of collaborating with ISKP. According to these sources, the arrests targeted individuals within the Taliban’s military ranks, reflecting the group’s ongoing concerns about ISKP infiltrators in their ranks.

Taliban intelligence forces also arrested Amirjan Fouladi, a former military officer, in Bamyan province and transferred him to an undisclosed location. Fouladi’s family has not been informed of his whereabouts. Sources indicate he had recently served as the "Plan and Operations Manager" for the Taliban police command.

For over three years, the Taliban have openly supported commanders and fighters accused of crimes. When a video leaked showing a Taliban commander in Takhar province committing sexual assault, the group arrested the person who filmed the incident, not the perpetrator.

In addition, members of "Hizbut Tahrir," who previously collaborated with the Taliban before their rise to power, have also faced arrests. On Thursday, August 22, Taliban intelligence in Takhar province detained several members of the group in Kalafgan district, rejecting mediation attempts by local elders. The Taliban had previously arrested other members of this ideological group.

Meanwhile,
...back at the cheese factory, all the pieces finally fell together in Fluffy's mind...
the UN Secretary-General recently presented a quarterly report on Afghanistan to the UN Security Council, revealing that between May 14 and July 31, 2,127 security incidents were recorded, marking a 53 percent increase from last year. The report also highlighted the ongoing torture, arrests, and killings of former military personnel, despite the Taliban’s promise of general amnesty. The arrest and killing of former government military personnel continue unchecked.

Link

Afghanistan

Claims of Taliban killings of former ANDSF and family members continue to surface, including female officer

2023-08-13

[AfghanWitness] While cases are difficult to fully verify, there has been a steady stream of claims since the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
’s return to power.

Please note, some links to social media content may have been removed for privacy purposes. AW has also placed warnings before links to graphic content.

On June 28, 2023, social media users circulated images allegedly showing the bodies of two former Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) and their family members who had reportedly been killed by Taliban forces 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...
and Paktia provinces respectively.

A Twitter user with over 3K followers shared three photographs, including images of two bodies with an accompanying claim that the Taliban killed a former local police officer, Ghani Jan, in the Pashtun Zarghoon district in Herat, along with his two sons. According to an Instagram post by a journalist with 18.1K followers, the Taliban reportedly beat the victims. A family picture shared on the post showed a man with two boys, both appearing to be minors. However,
facts are stubborn; statistics are more pliable...
the photos of bodies shared on social media showed only two individuals.

A comparison between the visible corpses and the family photo allowed AW Sherlocks to establish that one of the bodies belonged to the younger boy and the other to the adult male, presumably the father. AW Sherlocks did not find a photo of the older boy's body on social media. The image of the adult male's body showed a small amount of blood around the nose, which could support the claim of beating.

On the same day, the profile of a freelance journalist on Twitter, Hadia News, shared a [WARNING: GRAPHIC] picture of three different bodies. The user claimed that, on June 28, the first day of Eid al-Adha
...a major Moslem holiday, marked by animal sacrifice and ritual rioting...
, the Taliban killed Akbar Khan — described by some posts as a former ANA soldier and others as a former local police commander — and his two sons in the Chamkinu district of Paktia province.

According to Sweden-based Afghan news outlet Voice of Citizens (VOC) News, the victims were shot by the Taliban. Reportedly, the Taliban members beat "the woman" and "killed all the men in the house". The [WARNING: GRAPHIC] picture of the bodies revealed slight bruising on the nose of the older son and the cheek, nose, and forehead of the father, which may have been caused by a beating. One of the victims can be identified as a minor due to facial features.

THREE OTHER INCIDENTS, INCLUDING ALLEGED KILLING OF FEMALE FORMER SECURITY STAFF
On June 20 and June 22, a week before the above claimed events, three other alleged extrajudicial executions of former ANDSF members were reportedly carried out in Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
, Badakhshan, and Jawzjan. The victims were identified as former national security staff Bibi Zahra, and former soldiers Basmillah Turkman and Mohammad Hanif.

The killing of Bibi Zahra is one of the few recorded cases concerning a female ex-government security staff member. Unlike the other two reported extrajudicial killings from that week, there were pictures of the body, providing some evidence of the incident. Although the body in the image was covered, multiple local media agencies, including AamajNews and KabulNow, claimed that Bibi Zahra was tortured and shot.

The other executed ANDSF member, Basmillah Turkman, was allegedly shot in front of his family. The method of the execution of Mohammad Hanif remains unknown. The claim of his killing came one month after his reported arrest.

Similarly, on June 1, another former ANDSF member, Jamshid Mirzaee, was also allegedly arrested, severely tortured, and then reportedly executed by the Taliban after a period of arbitrary detention in an unknown place.

There are frequent claims of killings of former ANDSF by the Taliban, with most claims featuring old images of the individuals involved and occasionally images of bodies. Given the limited evidence, it is usually impossible to verify the context around the deaths or the perpetrators. There has, however, been a steady stream of claims since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

A STEADY STREAM OF CLAIMS
Despite the initial promises of amnesty, claims of Taliban targeting of former ANDSF have continued since August 2021. An investigation by The New York Times

...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize...
, published in April 2022, claimed that nearly 500 former government workers and security force members were either killed or forcibly disappeared during the first six months following the Taliban's takeover. The United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented at least 306 extrajudicial executions between August 2021 and June 2022, with additional cases reported in December 2022.

More recently, from January 1 to July 10, 2023, AW recorded 108 claims of torture, arbitrary detention, killings, and attacks on former ANDSF members and their families across 28 provinces. This included 57 alleged arbitrary killings across 19 provinces and one in an unknown location. The killings were carried out on former ANDSF members, including security guards, former coppers, former soldiers, and their relatives.

Most of the claimed arbitrary killings were reported in Kabul (9), followed by Badakhshan (5), Balkh (5), Herat (5), Kandahar (5), and 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..
(5). Four executions each were recorded in Jawzjan and Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
provinces. In the remaining 11 provinces, the number of executions varied between one to three. There were 72 claimed victims of the arbitrary killings. Some of the victims — allegedly family members of former ANDSF — appeared to be minors at the time of execution.

Link

Afghanistan

The Territory of the Jihadists: Who Are the Foreign Fighters of ISIS in Afghanistan?

2023-08-13

[8am] Based on the findings of the Hasht-e Subh Daily, IS-K in Afghanistan has not only recruited local fighters but has also added a significant number of imported muscle to its ranks. Paks have consistently been considered primary leaders of IS-K and currently hold notable roles in the council of the group, which is the decision-making body for IS-K, evaluating and finalizing the leader’s decisions. Despite some Pak IS-K commanders being killed in Afghanistan, certain Paks still operate as nominal leaders in some provinces, including Kunar and Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
Recently, Uzbek fighters from the Jundallah
..."Soldiers of God," a name used by ~~two~~ multiple separate terror outfits, one active in Iran and the other in Pakistain. Both are Sunni organizations that target Shiites. The Pak version has close relations with al-Qaeda and the Pak Talibs and is probably a false nose and mustache for Lashkar-e-Jhangvi...
group have joined IS-K. After the liquidation of their leader by the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
, these Uzbek holy warriors, with around two thousand fighters, pledged allegiance to ISIS and joined its Khorasan branch to seek Dire Revenge against the Taliban.

Meanwhile,
...back at the shootout, Butch clutched at his other shoulder......
ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) has escalated efforts to attract Pak and Uzbek fighters. The leadership of this branch of ISIS continues to strive towards enlisting dissatisfied Uzbek fighters from the Taliban. Notably, with the presence of these fighters, ISIS activities have expanded across Central Asia, resulting in rocket attacks on other countries.

The ISIS group launched its branch’s activities in Afghanistan and the region under the name "ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K)" for the first time in 2015. The geographical scope envisioned by ISIS for its Khorasan region included parts of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistain. However,
some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them...
the activities of this group have expanded since then, extending its attacks to Central Asia. The latest United Nations
...an organization which on balance has done more bad than good, with the good not done well and the bad done thoroughly...
statistics indicate that the ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) branch currently has between four to six thousand fighters in Afghanistan.

Noted.

Previous reports suggested that considering the geographic scope of ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K), most of its members are Afghan nationals and hold key positions within the group.

However,
some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them...
findings of the Hasht-e Subh Daily indicate that a significant portion of ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) is composed of foreign jihadists; individuals who, due to dissatisfaction with other jihadist groups, including the Afghan Taliban and Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP), have pledged allegiance to ISIS. Some members of al-Qaeda also have connections with ISIS, and given the presence of both groups in Afghanistan, it’s possible that they might have dual affiliations.

Why not? The leadership of the Haqqani faction of the Afghan Taliban also have places on the Al Qaeda table of organization.

But the question remains: which specific groups’ fighters are currently part of ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K), and what role do they play in expanding the group’s operational reach?

PAKS: FROM FOUNDING IS-K TO ACTIVE ROLE IN LAJNA COUNCIL
Despite the presence of Afghan fighters within IS-K, the branch was initially founded by dissident Pak Taliban members on Afghan soil. Hafiz Saeed
...founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its false-mustache offshoot Jamaat-ud-Dawa. The United Nations declared the JuD a terrorist organization in 2008 and Hafiz Saeed a terrorist as its leader. Hafiz, JuD and LeT are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Pak intel apparatus, so that amounted to squat. He is periodically placed under house arrest so it looks like the govt is doing something. Once the heat is off they let him go....
Orakzai, a former Pak Taliban commander, pledged allegiance to ISIS in October 2014 due to dissatisfaction with both the Afghan and Pak Taliban. He served as the leader of IS-K for about one and a half years until he was killed by U.S. forces in August 2016. After a year of leadership by Abdul Hasib Pashtun-infested Logari, the leadership of ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) (IS-K) once again shifted to Pak fighters. At that time, Abdullah Orakzai, also known as Aslam Farooqi, assumed this responsibility in April 2017 until he was eventually detained and imprisoned by authorities of the former government in the year 2020.

Since then, some dissident Pak Taliban fighters have remained part of ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) and have played crucial roles as commanders in the current IS-K conflict. Even some of the "amirs" or (leaders) of IS-K in Afghanistan are Pak fighters. For example, Qari Faateh, who operated as the nominal amir of IS-K in Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Chitral. Kunar is Haqqani country.....
, was announced to have been killed by the Taliban in Kabul in February of this year. At that time, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban front man, stated that Qari Faateh was the head of intelligence and operations for IS-K, and the Taliban accused him of orchestrating attacks on mosques and diplomatic sites.

Continuing, in early June of this year, the Taliban announced the killing of an ISIS commander named Tarab Bajauri in the province of Laghman. This Pak commander was operating as the "amir" (leader) of the IS-K branch in Laghman province and was considered one of the individuals who joined ISIS alongside Hafiz Saeed Orakzai. Bajauri had a long military background and was among those responsible for ISIS’s significant influence in Kunar province. The Taliban regarded him as a key member of the ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) in Afghanistan. Such stances by the Taliban indicate that Pak fighters are significant pillars of IS-K and actively operate within Afghanistan under Taliban control.

Currently, Asadullah Orakzai is another prominent Pak commander of ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K). He operates as the amir of ISIS in Laghman province and is also a member of the Lajna Council. According to the Hasht-e Subh Daily’s findings, this council holds the leadership responsibility for ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) and decides on the group’s activities in the "Khorasan region." Most of the IS-K commanders, especially the Pak ones who are currently active members of ISIS, are actively involved in the Lajna Council. Qari Faateh, who was also a member of this council, participated in making decisions for the future of IS-K. Additionally, Saifullah Orakzai, another prominent commander of IS-K, is a member of this council.

In this way, the findings indicate that Pak fighters are active members of the ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) operating in Afghanistan. They have experience in leading the ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) on two occasions and are currently serving as commanders in provinces as well as engaging in military and intelligence activities.

According to additional information, ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) is vigorously striving to increase its Pak fighters. This branch of ISIS has included the issue of recruiting Pak fighters as part of its future plans. In this process, individuals dissatisfied with their activities alongside the Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) are being targeted for recruitment by ISIS to expand its activities in eastern Afghanistan and certain areas of Pakistain. It’s noteworthy that most Pak members of the ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) have joined the group due to dissatisfaction with their previous affiliations, and given the extent of this dissatisfaction, the increase in the number of Pak fighters for ISIS is probable.

JUNDALLAH UZBEK JIHADISTS AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH IS-K
The findings indicate that members of the Uzbek group Jundallah have also joined IS-Khorasan (IS-K) in the northern regions of Afghanistan. According to the information, currently, except for a small fraction of the group, most of the Uzbek commanders and fighters have become part of IS-Khorasan (IS-K). ISIS has incorporated a segment of the Jundallah group, consisting of Uzbek fighters in northern Afghanistan, into its ranks. Consequently, Mullah Saad, an Uzbek national, has assumed leadership of this group within IS-Khorasan (IS-K), and Uzbek holy warrior Osama Ghazi serves as his deputy. In addition to these two leaders from the Jundallah group, around two thousand fighters from this group and thousands of their supporters in Takhar, Kunduz, Badakhshan, and Faryab provinces have also become part of IS-Khorasan (IS-K).

This significant shift occurred as Uzbek fighters in Jundallah grew disillusioned with the Taliban regime. According to the Hasht-e Subh Daily’s findings, the Uzbek holy warriors played a major role in the Taliban’s takeover in the north of Afghanistan. However,
some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them...
following the Taliban’s return, Jundallah’s leadership and members faced hostility from them. The Taliban resorted to assassinations of some Jundallah leaders to control the group. Notably, Uzbek migrant Osman Ghazi, who entered Afghanistan with five thousand of his Uzbek followers during Baranuddin Rabbani’s rule, later joined Jundallah at the request of Abdul Malik Rigi, a Jundallah member. Rigi, who operated in Iran, was executed after being arrested by the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran.

After the first fall of the Taliban regime, Ghazi went to Pakistain to lead his group’s terrorist attacks alongside the Afghan Taliban against the previous government. Following orders from Mullah Mohammed Omar, the founder of the Taliban, Ghazi returned with hundreds of his followers to the province of Zabul and, in 2016, made an informal allegiance to ISIS during a consultation with some Taliban leaders. This move seemingly served as part of the plan to eliminate him, as shortly after, Ghazi became the target of an ambush by Taliban commanders and was killed in Zabul province along with his wife and several children.

Based on the findings of the Hasht-e Subh Daily, this action led Osama Ghazi, his son, and 150 other Jundallah members from Zabul province, where his father was present, to go to the provinces of Kandahar and Badakhshan and then leave those areas too. However,
some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them...
he waited for Dire Revenge from the Taliban until, following the Taliban’s resurgence, he and all members of his group joined ISIS. It should be noted that ISIS has utilized Jundallah members in expanding its activities in Central Asia. For instance, a member of this group, who previously operated under Salahuddin Ayubi’s command in Faryab province, launched a rocket attack on the soil of Uzbekistan.

On the other hand, IS-K’s efforts to gain the allegiance of Salahuddin Ayubi, a commander of Uzbek origin and dissatisfied with the Taliban, have intensified. He has close relations with the northern hard boyz and appears to be able to establish connections with other gangs in Tajikistan and other northern regions of the country. Moreover, ISIS, pursuing its plans for expanding activities in Central Asia, seeks to establish further communication with Uzbekistan fighters. This endeavor highlights the group’s intention to engage with some commanders and fighters of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile,
...back at the shootout, Butch clutched at his other shoulder......
based on available information, ISIS has previously designated a commander for Tajikistan as well. It is worth recalling that, in addition to Khorasan, the group is also seriously focused on the Indian subcontinent. According to the findings, in mid-2022, the leadership of ISIS instructed its members in the "Province of Hind" to intensify their activities in India and Pakistain. Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the then-leader of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, had urged Sheikh Zubair Ahmed, the ISIS governor in India, to bring about positive changes in that geography. Subsequently, Sheikh Zubair Ahmed decided to activate his media unit and conduct activities through Telegram, following the same directive.

The Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS, was originally formed in the late 20th century under the name "Jamāʿat al-Tawḥīd wal-Jihād." It merged with al-Qaeda in 2004 but adopted the name "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" in 2013. In 2014, ISIS declared a caliphate, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its first recognized leader. Currently, besides Iraq and some Arab countries, ISIS also operates extensively in Afghanistan. These activities have intensified after the return of the Taliban to power, and they encompass attacks on diplomatic sites and rocket attacks on countries in Central Asia. With recent changes in ISIS and the joining of imported muscle to its Khorasan branch, it appears that the group has significant plans for further infiltration into the "Wilayah of Khorasan." Previously, information indicated that IS-K was seeking to seize control of Kunar Province
...one of the four N2KL provinces (Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Laghman). N2KL is the designation used by US and Coalition Forces for the rugged and very violent region opposite Pakistain's Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Northwest Frontier Province. Kunar is the center of the N2KL region. Its population is 95% Pashtun. It is adjacent to Bajaur Agency..
, a move that has been delayed after the assessment by its Lajna Council.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Fighter Forces 13-Year-Old Girl into Marriage

2023-08-06

Forward to the 7th Century!

A disturbing incident has emerged from Faryab province, where a Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
fighter coerced a 13-year-old girl into a marriage with his own brother-in-law, using the ominous threat of a firearm.

Captured on video and brought to light by Hasht-e Subh on Saturday, August 5th, exposes a sinister act committed by a Taliban member in the Dawlat-Abad district of Faryab province. This fighter, through the use of weaponized intimidation, orchestrated a forced marriage between the maiden of tender years and his brother-in-law.

When women raised their voices in protest against this grave violation of human rights
...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless...
, they faced life-threatening ultimatums from the armed forces aligned with the Taliban.

The mother of the victimized maiden of tender years pleads with the Taliban’s officials to take immediate action against such arbitrary and forceful actions perpetrated by their ranks.

While the Taliban officials in Faryab have maintained conspicuous silence on the matter, an unnamed local Taliban official did acknowledge, "We are informed about this incident."

It is essential to note that this incident is not an isolated occurrence. Similar abhorrent acts have previously surfaced, as seen in the recent event where a Taliban governor in Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
province arranged the marriage of an underage girl under the pretext of monetary compensation.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Strikes Again: Former Local Police Commander Brutally Assassinated in Laghman Province

2023-07-24

[8am] Local sources in Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
province report that Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
fighters have assassinated a former local government police commander known as Mujahid inside his residence.

According to the sources, the incident occurred on Saturday night, July 22, in the village of Ziarat-e Nooralam Sahib, Alingar district of the province.

The sources stated that the Taliban members expeditiously departed at a goodly pace after carrying out the liquidation.

Mujahid had served as a local police commander during the previous government in the province, but had no official role after the Taliban regained power.

Local Taliban officials in Laghman have not yet made any statements regarding the incident.

Based on the information from sources, two brothers of Mujahid were also killed by the Taliban during their previous government in Afghanistan.

Despite the Taliban leader’s announcement of a general amnesty, the group’s fighters continue to resort to detaining, torturing, and killing former military personnel after regaining control of Afghanistan.

It was only a few days ago that the Taliban arrested two former military officers who were the main residents of Kapisa province, in Kabul city.

Link

Afghanistan

Two Men Flogged in Public in Afghanistan’s Laghman

2023-07-20

[KhaamaPress] Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
’s Supreme Court said on Tuesday that two individuals were flogged publicly in the eastern province of Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
, Afghanistan.

The two men received 30 lashes each after being accused of "having affairs" and being detained.

In addition, the individuals received a one-year prison sentence, which increased the severity of their penalty.

Earlier, six people allegedly accused of abducting women and raping, publicly flogged in a football stadium in Kandahar province.

Taliban’s Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had previously ordered judges to implement "Sharia law and retribution" throughout Afghanistan.

The implementation of lashing was vehemently opposed both in Afghanistan and overseas, and some human rights
...not to be confused with individual rights, mind you...
organizations called it "hateful" and said it went against human values.

The Taliban group has its priorities regarding domestic issues in Afghanistan, despite the intense pressure from the international community to respect human rights, the rights of Afghan women and girls, and religious and ethnic minorities.

According to figures from the UN, the Taliban has publicly flogged close to 300 people since November 2022 on various allegations.

Link

Afghanistan

Unidentified Gunmen Open Fire, Killing Two in Laghman Province

2023-07-10

[8amMedia] In a tragic incident, two individuals were shot and killed by unidentified button men in Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
Province, according to local sources.

Reports from Laghman indicate that the incident took place on Saturday night, July 8th, in the village of Lukat, Alingar district.

Sources have revealed that the unidentified button men entered the house of one of the victims during the night and targeted two individuals, killing them instantly. Another person was maimed in the attack.

No information has been provided regarding the identities of the victims.

Local Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
officials in Laghman have not yet commented on the matter.

Targeted killings and criminal incidents have been on the rise in Laghman Province recently.

Just a few days ago, the brother of a former local police commander in Ali Shing district of the province was also killed by unknown individuals.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Authorities Carry Out 2nd Public Execution Since Takeover

2023-06-26

[KhaamaPress] Officials said the second public execution since the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
regained control of the country in August 2021 took place on Tuesday on the grounds of a mosque in a regional Afghan city.

"He was executed in public in the town of Sultan Ghazi Baba, the centre of Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
province so that he could suffer and become a lesson for others," said provincial information officers.

The murderer was identified as "Ajmal, son of Naseem," and it was noted that he had murdered five people.

The execution was witnessed by 2,000 people, including family members of Ajmal’s victims, according to a provincial information and culture department official who spoke to AFP. The official also stated that the punishment and death were carried out in accordance with Sharia law.

The victim’s mother told BBC that the Taliban had urged her to forgive the murderer, but she insisted on execution.

"Taliban came to me and begged me to forgive this infidel. They insisted that I forgive this man for the sake of God, but I told them that this man must be executed and buried the same as he did to my son. This could be a lesson to other people," she told BBC.

The Taliban carried out their first public execution since the takeover in December 2022 when the victim’s father shot a man convicted of murder at a crowded sports stadium in southwestern Farah province, media reported.

The UN denounced the act and showed extreme concern.

In the first period of ruling from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban was condemned for regularly carrying out punishment in public, including execution at the national stadium in Kabul.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban’s Brutal Act: Public Whipping in Paktika Province

2023-06-26

[8am] Reports from sources in Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
province indicate that the Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
have publicly lashed a man in the region for engaging in illicit relations. The punishment took place on Thursday morning, June 22, in the Matakhan district.

According to local sources, the Taliban gathered dozens of residents from the district to witness the implementation of this sentence. The Taliban Supreme Court mentioned in a newsletter that the punishment of "whipping" had been issued by a provincial court in Paktika.

Prior to this incident, the Taliban had administered whippings to several men and women in the Paktika region for various offenses, primarily for engaging in illicit relationships. Despite receiving both domestic and international reactions, the group has intensified its public punishments since last year.

In the most recent case, the Taliban carried out a public execution by hanging an individual who had murdered five people in Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
province during the week.

This incident marks the second public execution event since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan.

Link

Afghanistan

Over 500 People Graduate from Jihadist Schools in Afghanistan

2023-03-11

Are these Talib-oriented madrassahs, or are they more like a stripped down jihad trade school?

[KhaamaPress] Taliban
...Arabic for students...
officials reported on Friday that more than 500 people have graduated from Jihadist schools in Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
, Laghman
Laghman

...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
, and Sar-e-Pol provinces.

Bakhtar News Agency has reported that 300 people in Helmand, 160 in Laghman, and 50 others in northern Sar-e-Pol province have graduated from religious schools.

Following the collapse of the previous government, the Taliban-run Administration has focused on establishing Jihadist schools across Afghanistan.

Over the past 18 months, the ruling regime has also incorporated several religious subjects into the school curriculum and removed certain other courses that seemed unnecessary for the Taliban group.

According to the statements of the Minister of Education of the Taliban, the group is going to establish three to ten religious schools in each district throughout the country.

A decree attributed to Hibatullah Akhundzada, Taliban Supreme leader, reveals that each religious school will have ten teachers and eight staff members — which will train between 500-1000 students each semester.

It is also reported that each student at the Jihadi school receives 150 Afghanis per day. Additionally, each teacher at religious schools will receive between 15,000-25,000 Afghanis as a monthly salary, whereas, a teacher with an undergraduate degree receives only 9,000 Afghanis.

Educationists and experts believe that the Taliban-run administration has drastically modified school and university curricula. They have completely removed certain subjects, which can negatively affect students in mastering modern subjects and will eventually lack competitiveness in the job market.

Since the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, the de facto authorities have imposed restrictions on the rights of women and girls to attend education and work, which prompted worldwide criticism. Instead of easing or removing the gender-based bans, the group emphasizes establishing more and more Madrasas (religious schools) across the country.

Link

Afghanistan

A former Afghan MP and her bodyguard have been shot dead by unknown assailants at her home in the capital, Kabul

2023-01-16

[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Khaama Press adds:

The security authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan confirmed that Mursal Nabizada, a former Afghan Member of Parliament, and one of her security guards were killed in Kabul earlier today.

Khalid Zadran, the Spokesperson of the Kabul Security Department confirmed to Khaam Press that Mursal Nabizada, a former representative of Laghman
Laghman

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
province in the Afghan Parliament was killed by unknown button men in the 12th district of Kabul city.

Khalid Zadar said that unknown button men entered Mursal Nabizada’s house in the "Ahmadsha Baba Mena" locality in the 12th district of Kabul city and shot two people to death last night.

He further added that perpetrators have not yet been identified and the reasons behind the killing remain unclear.

Meanwhile,
...back at the shootout, another bullet hole appeared in Butch's hat......
Mursal Nabizada’s brother was also maimed, however, his family has yet to comment on the terror incident.

The Spokesperson further added that investigations are underway, and will share the finding with the public in this regard in a timely manner.

From Tolo News:

Relatives of Nabizada said that button men killed her and a guard on Sunday morning at her house.

"I heard the gunfire and when we went down, they (attackers) had left and my daughter was lying on the ground with blood on the bed alongside my son. The guard was also killed," said Nabizada’s mother.

"There was no personal hostility. I don't know if it could have been a political issue, but there was no personal enmity," said the sister of Nabizada.

Mursal Nabizada was born in 1372 solar year in 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..
She was elected as a member of the parliament in 2018 in the 17th round of the Lower House of parliament to represent the people of the capital city, Kabul.

RFI confuses the issue further:

Nabizada, 32, hailed from the eastern province of Nangarhar, and had been elected as a member of parliament from Kabul in 2018.

Link

Afghanistan

Eastern Afghanistan Tuk-Tuk Explosion Injures 3 People

2022-10-12

[Khaama (Afghanistan)] An auto rickshaw explosion in the eastern Afghan province of Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
resulted in the injuries of three people, including two traffic coppers, local Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
officials said.

According to local sources, the gas cylinder of an auto rickshaw went kaboom! on Monday, October 10, in the Chahar Asmat area of Mehtar Lam city, the bucolic provincial capital of Laghman province.

In a statement, the office of the police chief for Laghman province stated that the gas cylinder explosion of a Tuk-tuk resulted in the injuries of 3 people, two traffic coppers, and a civilian.

The explosion victims were immediately taken to the closest hospital, where their conditions were reported to be satisfactory and stable, according to Younus Yousufzai, the Taliban police chief for the province’s spokesperson.

An investigation is being conducted to ascertain the cause of the earth-shattering kaboom and identify those responsible, according to Taliban security officials in the office of the police chief for the province of Laghman.

This comes at a time when murders and explosions in various parts of the country are taking lives, leaving people in terror, proving the Taliban’s claims of maintaining security in Afghanistan futile.

Link

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