Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Abdul Sattar	Abdul Sattar	Lashkar-e-Taiba	India-Pakistan				20060804	Link
Ibrahim Abdul Sattar	Ibrahim Abdul Sattar	Iraqi Baath Party	Iraq				20030407

Iraq

Iraqi women protest against proposed child marriage law

2024-07-29

[SHAFAQ] Hundreds of Iraqi women erupted into the streets of Baghdad on Sunday to protest against proposed amendments to the country’s personal status law, expressing particular outrage over provisions that would legalize child marriage.

Demonstrators, including members of women’s rights organizations, gathered in Tahrir Square, carrying signs that read "No to child marriage" and "The era of child brides is over." The protesters denounced the proposed amendments to Law 88 of 1959, arguing that they would roll back women’s rights.

The Iraqi Parliament has been deadlocked over the proposed amendments, with a recent session being adjourned due to disagreements among politicians over the personal status and general amnesty laws.

Aliya Nasif, a member of parliament, warned that the proposed law would legitimize marriages performed by religious officials, leading to a rise in genetic diseases, birth defects, and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Iraqi Communist Party also condemned the proposed amendments, arguing that they would exacerbate sectarian divisions.

Abdul Sattar Abdul Jabbar, a prominent Iraqi holy man, criticized the sectarian nature of the proposed amendments, accusing Shiite politicians of using the issue for political gain. "They managed to reach an agreement over this but failed when it came to the general amnesty law," he said.

Link

India-Pakistan

CTD lassoes Daesh commander among five terrorists in Punjab

2023-07-17

[PakistainToday] The Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....
Counter-Terrorism Department on Saturday claimed to have arrested five murderous Moslems including an important commander of proscribed outfit DAESH in different intelligence-based operations (IBO) conducted in Gujranwala and Multan
...Home of the Multan Sultans...
According to a spokesperson, the CTD carried out various intelligence-based operations in Gujranwala and Multan amid security threats in these areas and apprehended five terrorists.

The spokesperson said that a key DAESH commander was also arrested during an operation in Gujranwala. He informed that the authorities recovered kaboom, detonators, mobile phones, weapons, and Afghan National Identity Cards from their possession.

The murderous Moslems were identified as: Haneef, Syed alias Saido, Tariq, Khalid and Abdul Sattar. After registering cases against them, the CTD sleuths are interrogating them.

The spokesperson said that in 200 combing operations during current week, 46 suspicious persons were arrested. He said that as many as 10,755 people were investigated during the combing operation.

Earlier on Thursday, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday arrested an active operative of banned Tehrik-e-Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
Pakistain (TTP) from Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
According to the CTD officials, the arrested operative Asif Rehman is from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain.

The officials stated that the accused collected funds for the banned
...the word banned seems to have a different meaning in Pakistain than it does in most other places. Or maybe it simply lacks any meaning at all...
organization in different parts of the city and receipts of the donations were also recovered from the alleged operative.

Link

India-Pakistan

Bihar and Kerala: Where terror groups find ample loopholes to plan, plot and execute

2022-07-26

[OneIndia] The connection between Bihar and Kerala can be seen in the fact that the Indian Mujahideen
A locally recruited auxilliary of Pakistain's Lashkar-e-Taiba, designed to give a domestic patina to Pakistain's terror war against its bigger neighbor...
being formed in Kerala and then it went on to form its strongest module in Bihar.

The Bihar police recently busted a major module following which it was learnt that the accused persons had plotted the liquidation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also planned on setting up an Islamic nation by 2047.

The National Investigation Agency is also investigating a case relating to a Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
The JMB is said to be the youth front of Al Mujahideen, the parent organization that began working toward establishing Bangladesh as an Islamic state in the mid 1990s, which remains obscure and probably defunct today. Other organizations, such as Jama'atul Jihad, JMB, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI), Hizbut Tawhid, Tawhidi Janata, Islami Jubo Shangha, Islami Shangha, Al Falah A'am Unnayan Shanstha and Shahadat-e al Hiqma are believed to be part of the Al Mujahideen network. The JMB at its peak was reported to contain at least 100,000 members, and an alleged 2,000-man suicide brigade, few of whom actually exploded. JMB allegedly received financial assistance from individual donors in Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Libya. Reports have claimed that funding of JMB by international NGOs like Kuwait based Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS) and Doulatul Kuwait, Saudi Arabia based Al Haramaine Islamic Institute and Rabita Al Alam Al Islami, Qatar Charitable Society and UAE-based Al Fuzaira and Khairul Ansar Al Khairia. The top leadership of JMB was captured in 2005 and hung in 2007, which pretty much shot their bolt.
(JMB) module and has made seven arrests so far. The latest person to be arrested is Ali Asgar a resident of Siswaniya village of Bihar.

Incidents of radical Islamic modules being busted in Bihar is nothing new. It dates back to the late 2000s when the Indian Mujahideen and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) had a free run in the state.

The agencies had complained back then that it was the politics of appeasement which had made it very hard for modules to be busted in the state. Yasin Bhatkal who headed the Indian Mujahideen (IM) had said in his interrogation that the Darbhanga module had been set up in 2009 and they chose the area as the atmosphere in the state was conducive for them to set up such a module.

This module was never used for any terror strikes within the state as they feared that the trail would lead to them.

An Intelligence Bureau official tells OneIndia that like in the case of Kerala, certain places in Bihar are extremely difficult to deal with. In certain places in northern Kerala and areas such as Darbhanga a lot depends on human intelligence and this is very hard to come by because a large number of the local politicians and locals back such modules.

Another official says that these areas have been a free-for-all. While on one hand illegal im~~migrants~~ colonists keep infiltrating into such areas in Bihar, in Kerala it has been the problem of Wahhabism and its radical preachers from the Gulf.

The connection between Bihar and Kerala can be seen in the fact that the Indian Mujahideen being formed in Kerala and then it went on to form its strongest module in Bihar.

In August 2013, an operative of the Students Islamic Movement of India, Abdul Sattar was deported from the United Arab Emirates. He was charged in a case relating to the Wagamon Camp. This camp was held in 2007 during his interrogation, Sattar told the agencies that the IM was formed in 2007. He also said that 40 persons had attended that camp and later they decided to break up into different groups and arrange terror strikes.

It was also decided that Kerala would remain the base camp and all plans would be executed from Bihar and both these states would not be targeted as the agencies would lead up to their main modules.

Senior officials say that for long they have had a hostile feedback from the local agencies of both the states. In Kerala the officials say that the political backing for such local modules was so strong that if they did try busting it there was a better chance of them being tripped over rather than the problem being solved.

For long the problem was faced in Bihar too. In this context one much recall that when Yasin Bhatkal was arrested in 2013, the agencies wanted the Bihar police to probe him first for setting up the module in Darbhanga. The result: They refused.

Link

Afghanistan

Critics See 'No Change' on Battlefields Despite Recent Reshuffles

2021-07-24

[ToloNews] Two politicians and military experts on Friday raised their deep apprehensions over the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
’s continued advances in various regions of the country, saying there has been no change on the ground despite the recent reshuffles in the country’s security entities.

A month ago, 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...
announced the appointment of Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi as acting minister of defense, Gen. Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal as acting minister of interior and Gen. Mohammad Wali Ahmadzai as Chief of Army Staff.

MPs argued that 70 districts, 6 customs and border towns were fallen to the Taliban since the appointment of new security chiefs over the last month.

"It would be quite difficult for them (new security officials) to bring a sudden change. These discussions should have started at least one year or one and half years ago," said Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of the NDS.

"There has been no positive change on the ground with the arrival of these officials due to the large intensity of the war," said MP Mir Haidar Afzali.

Military experts said there is a need for unity and better coordination within the nation’s security agencies and in the leadership level to fix the fragile security situation.

But officials from the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Ministry of Defense said security forces managed to retake 20 districts from the Taliban since the appointment of the acting defense and interior minister and that there were better mobilization of forces in the fight against the holy warriors.

"They suddenly started fighting in 400 points across the country. In some cases, there were negligence or issues weren’t addressed and then there were some tactical retreats," said Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, acting minister of interior.

"We tried to remobilize and support. We have identified the priorities, we will use all available resources to defend the people, the cities and the districts where we are deployed now," said Mohammadi.

Link

Afghanistan

Dozens of Ghor Women Take Up Arms in Support of ANDSF

2021-07-05

[ToloNews] Dozens of women took up arms — some of them heavy weapons — and marched in the capital city of Feroz Koh to pledge their support the Republic and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

The women said that the historical record of the five years of the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
regime proved that the group violates women’s rights.

Thousands of people have taken up arms in support of the Afghan forces as the fall of districts to the group continues.

"They are standing by their brothers and are supporting the system, the people, and the country’s illusory sovereignty," a Ghor resident said.

The exact number of those who have taken up arms against the Taliban is so far not clear. The defense and interior ministries said that these forces will eventually be combined with the local police, NDS local forces, and the local army forces.

"A situation that will later create bad consequences will not be allowed. They will first support us and then they will be included in the police, army or the local NDS forces," the acting minister of interior Gen. Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal said.

Atta Mohammad Noor, who leads a public mobilization movement in Balkh and has gone to Balkh districts to fight the Taliban, criticized some government officials for not cooperating with them in their campaign against the group.

"We hear some words from some sides asking why have they gone to the war? They should stay in the city and hand over the war to us. My brother, you are losing the war," Noor said.

Meanwhile,
...back at the barn, Bossy had come up with a new idea, one that didn't involve kerosene...
the office of Ahmad Massoud, a public figure and son of the national hero Ahmad Shah Massoud, said that former mujahideen leaders are making efforts to reorganize a new front against the Taliban by consulting politicians from the former resistance front.

"We hope that this front is announced and the public uprising forces become organized," said Saleh Mohammad Registani, a member of Ahmad Massoud’s political office.

There are questions about the achievements of the public uprising forces, but representatives of these forces said they have succeeded in preventing the fall of their towns to the Taliban.

"They have proved effective in defending the security belts on the outskirts of Kunduz city," said Rabbani Rabbani, a member of the Kunduz provincial council.

"So far, we have not seen proper support by the government for the people," said Abdul Basir Osmani, an MP from Badghis.

Link

Afghanistan

MoI to Probe Govt Forces Withdrawal from Districts' Centers

2021-07-03

[ToloNews] Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoI) will probe recent evacuations by government forces from the centers of various districts across the country.

Over the last two months, the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
has taken over dozens of districts across Afghanistan, raising strong criticisms among the public and analysts who are citing poor leadership and mismanagement of the war as key reason that the Taliban has taken over large swaths of land in the country.

Reports say that in some districts as instances in Shireen Tagab and Pashtun Kot and Qaisar districts of Faryab, and Qarabagh and Muqur districts of Ghazni, hundreds of security force members surrendered to the Taliban without any resistance.

"There is speculation that the security forces were asked not to fight, but it is not confirmed who said this," said MP Khan Agha Rezaee.

In the past two months Taliban has taken control of more than 120 districts.

In the past two months Taliban has taken control of more than 120 districts.

"Investigation is underway to find out the main reason," said Gen. Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, the acting minister of interior.

Referring to the factors behind the evacuations, the Ministry of Defense said that lack of equipment and delay in the delivery of emergency assistance to the security forces are among the factors that have led to the problem.

"We evacuated some areas in order to prevent casualties among civilians and military personnel, and to prevent the damage to residential areas and delay in on time delivery of supplies to our personnel," said Rohullah Ahmadzai, front man for the Ministry of Defense.

Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghan intelligence agency, said that the Taliban is seeking to takeover some strategic and important areas.

"The Taliban want to expand fighting in central provinces and to take control over the supply routes to Kabul and then go to the negotiating table where they will make major demands, and if their demands not met, they will focus on other objectives they seek," said Nabil.

Taliban significantly increased their offensive after foreign troops started withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Long War Journal proves perspective:

Prior to the Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
offensive, which began in earnest on May 1, the date that the U.S. government originally committed to completing its withdraw under the Doha agreement, the Taliban controlled 73 of Afghanistan’s 407 districts, and contested 210, according to an ongoing assessment by FDD’s Long War Journal. The Biden administration moved the withdraw date to Sept. 11, 2021, the 20-year anniversary of Al Qaeda’s attack on American soil — which it plotted and executed largely from Afghanistan.

The Taliban began to seize territory once the May 1 deadline expired, and as of June 29, 2021, now controls 157 districts. Much of the Taliban gains are in the north, and that has put multiple scenic provincial capitals under threat. Taliban fighters have entered the cities of Kunduz and Pul-e-Khumri and are on the outskirts of Mazar-e-Sharif and Taloqan. Other scenic provincial capitals, such as Maimana and Faizabad, are under direct Taliban threat.

The Taliban has largely gained ground in districts that were previously contested. The number of contested districts dropped from 210 on May 1 to 157 today. However,
denial ain't just a river in Egypt...
at least 10 districts flipped entirely from government controlled to Taliban controlled without ever being labeled as contested.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Trying to Take Military Equipment to Pakistan: Official

2021-06-27

[ToloNews] A senior Afghan security official claimed that the Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
is making efforts to take military equipment, including tanks, to Pakistain -- as the group continues to take over various districts, security outposts and military bases that house dozens of vehicles, tanks and others.

Acting Interior Minister Gen. Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal who visited the eastern province of Paktia on Saturday said his remarks were based on intelligence information he has received.

"There is also information that the Taliban take some (military) tanks to Pakistain through Zabul province (in southern Afghanistan)," the acting interior minister said. "The National Security Council and the commander in chief have ordered permanent patrols to target any tank that is tried to be taken to Pakistain."

Another high-ranking official at the same event echoed the minister's remarks by saying that some military equipment has been transferred across the Durand Line — the de facto border between Afghanistan and Pakistain.

"They have taken military equipment owned by security forces across the Durand Line," said Shamim Khan Katawazai, head of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance. "There are evidence and footage about this. Pak soldiers have clicked photos with them."

Taliban front man Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the claims on the transfer of military equipment by the group to Pakistain.

This comes as heavy fighting is underway in Paktia between security forces and the Taliban for the last week. Security forces retook Ahmad Aba and Mirzaka districts in Paktia from the Taliban in the last three days.

Paktia officials said that they have arrested Pak nationals who fought in the ranks of the Taliban during their operations.

Mirzaka district fell to the Taliban three days ago. Most parts of the district, especially government buildings, have been damaged in the festivities or have been set on fire as officials described.

Local officials claimed that the Taliban "has set ablaze" many security outposts and have "destroyed" some roads.

"Unfortunately, they (Taliban) burn and destroyed government establishments. They don’t have another message," Paktia governor Halim Fedaee said.

The 203 Corps Commander Gen. Jalaluddin Yaftali said that military operations are underway to retake seven Paktia districts that have fallen to the Taliban.

"They have made destructions in all districts," Gen. Yaftali said. "They have broken glasses. They have set ablaze some establishments."

Taliban has rejected the claims by security officials.

Paktia has 14 districts. At least 10 of them have fallen to the Taliban recently, but three, including Ahmad Aba, Mirzaka and Sayed Karam, were retaken while the group still has influence over Janikhil, Dand-e-Patan, Samkanai, Zazai Aryub, Ahmadkhil, Lazha Mangal and Rouhani Baba districts.

Link

Afghanistan

People Take Up Arms in Two More Provinces to Fight Taliban

2021-06-27

[ToloNews] Like eight other provinces across Afghanistan, this time, a large group of residents 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...
in the west and Kunduz in the north took up arms to support the Afghan defense and security forces in the fight against the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
Those who rallied in support of Afghan forces have said that they believe in peace, but will defend the democratic values at any cost.

So far, hundreds of people have taken up arms against the Taliban in Takhar, Balkh, Badghis, Baghlan, 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..
, 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.

He conquered it and set fire to the places in its vicinity which were inhabited by infidels, and demolishing the idol-temples, he established Islam in them, He marched and captured other cities and killed the polluted wretches, destroying the idolatrous and gratifying the Musulmans. After wounding and killing beyond all measure, his hands and those of his friends became cold in counting the value of the plundered property.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
, Jawzjan, Samangan and Kapisa provinces.

"The security forces are not alone. We are with them," said Nazir Ahmad, a member of public uprising forces in Herat.

"We must serve the country. We are very tired. Our bridges are destroyed. Our schools are destroyed," said Zikrullah, a member of public uprising forces in Herat.

Also in Kunduz province, a large number of people took up arms to support the Afghan forces in the fight against the bad boys.

"If you are fleeing Kunduz today, I want to tell you that a man dies one time, but a weak person dies each day," said Rabbani Rabbani, member of Kunduz provincial council, referring to reports that some local officials had fled Kunduz following increased attacks by the Taliban.

People in northern Baghlan province have also taken up arms to fight the Taliban.

"The war is not the solution for conflict in Afghanistan. There is a good opportunity for the Taliban to agree on peace," said MP Azim Mohseni.

Afghan security officials said that the government will never support the existence of militia forces, however all those who have taken up arms will be operating within the structure of Afghan forces.

The acting minister of interior Gen. Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal said that the government will add another 30,000 personnel to the ranks of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and those who have taken up arms to fight will operate within the structure of the local police.

"We do not support building militia and will not allow it to happen. 30,000 people have been approved to serve in our military structure," Mirzakwal said.

"The way this process has stared indicates a sign of danger," said Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of the National Directorate of Security
...the Afghan national intel agency...
Referring to the recent waves of public uprising campaigns in several regions of Afghanistan, a Taliban front man Zabihullah Mujahid has said that these moves are part of the government's attempts.

Link

Afghanistan

Fighting Reported in 80 Districts in Past 24 Hours: Sources

2021-06-17

According to Wikipedia, Afghanistan contains 387 districts and 34 provincial center districts for a total of 421 according to the most recent official numbers, meaning 19% of them are in flames at the moment.

[ToloNews] Fighting between Afghan cops and the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
continued in at least 80 districts across the country in the past 24 hours, security sources told TOLOnews.

According to the sources, over 100 Taliban fighters and 90 security force members were killed during this period. Neither the Taliban nor the government has provided numbers of casualties.

Meanwhile,
...back at the buffalo wallow, Standing Buffalo watched the circling Commanches and asked himself What would Geronimo do?...
there are reports that Dawlatabad district of Faryab is switching hands between the Taliban and the security forces and both sides are claiming control.

Officials at the Ministry of Defense said that security forces have retaken control of the center of Khanabad district in Kunduz province. The center of Khanabad district fell to the Taliban two days ago.

"Including Qari Hashem, 20 of his fighters were killed and maimed. The district is completely under the control of the security and defense forces," said Farid Mashal, Kunduz's police commander.

"Javin district has collapsed, our sisters and brothers have been martyred, the entire people in Farah know that the Punjabis of Pakistain and Iranian Sepah are involved in the war," said MP Abdul Sattar Hussaini.

"If the central government does not focus on Farah, there will be a human tragedy," said Dadullah Qane, the head of Farah's provincial council.

A member of the Kunduz provincial council said that at least five non-combatants were killed including women and kiddies and 20 more maimed as a result of ~~Arclight~~ airstrike
<del>Arclight</del> airstrike

...KABOOM!...
s by security forces in the Dawra area of Khanabad.

"In areas around Sardawra in Khanabad, airstrikes were carried out on the people’s homes," said Fawzia Yaftali, the secretary of the Kunduz provincial council.

Fierce fighting was also reported in Dawlatabad district of Kunduz. Reports say a number of security forces remain under siege by the Taliban in Oba district of Kunduz.

In Ghazni province there are reports that a military helicopter used by the Afghan National Army was hit by the Taliban.

"As a result of fighting between the Taliban and security forces, unfortunately, 15 commandos and members of the National Army were martyred," said Abdul Ahad Bek, member of Faryab's provincial council.

Lawmakers from Farah province in the Parliament said that the casualties among the security forces in Lashjawin, Anar Dara and Poshtrod districts of Farah total about 100 people killed. They say 50 soldiers were taken hostage by the Taliban.

"These cowards who are sitting in the centers pledged us to send aid, but they did not do it until the last minute," said MP Humayoun Shaheedzada.

Link

Afghanistan

MoD: Taliban’s Ceasefire Violations Caused Civilian Casualties

2021-05-16

[ToloNews] The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Saturday that at least 40 people were killed and maimed in separate Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
attacks in nearly 10 provinces despite a previous commitment by the group to halt fighting during the three days of Eid ceasefire.

"Mullah Hibatullah (Taliban’s supreme leader) has no authority on all factions of the group and his loyalists are not abiding by his orders." Defense Ministry front man Rohullah Ahmadzai said. "The Taliban violated the ceasefire in several areas and provinces and it caused casualties among civilians and military personnel."

Taliban has rejected the allegations and has blamed the government for not honoring its ceasefire commitments.

During the three days of Eid, violence reported in Kandahar, Ghazni, Kunduz, 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...
, Farah, Uruzgan, Kapisa, Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
and Maidan Wardak provinces.

"Taliban are not committed to the ceasefire. The group does not follow any other path except shedding the blood of the innocent people," said Abdul Sattar Hussaini, a member of the Afghan parliament.

According to the data gathered by TOLOnews, Baghlan, Faryab, Takhar, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Balkh, Pashtun-infested Logar, Kapisa, Farah, Herat, 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.

He conquered it and set fire to the places in its vicinity which were inhabited by infidels, and demolishing the idol-temples, he established Islam in them, He marched and captured other cities and killed the polluted wretches, destroying the idolatrous and gratifying the Musulmans. After wounding and killing beyond all measure, his hands and those of his friends became cold in counting the value of the plundered property.

After that it was mostly notable for the production of dirt, rocks, and holy men...
, Maidan Wardak, Kapisa, Uruzgan, and Helmand witnessed fighting between the government forces and the Taliban.

In the latest incident of violence, one police force member and two civilians were maimed in a kaboom in Sarubi district in Kabul on Saturday morning.

A police vehicle was targeted by the blast.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, the little lost dog backed into the corner and showed its teeth. And what big teeth they were!...
Badghis governor Hissamuddin Shams said "heavy attacks" by the Taliban in the province.

"Today, we had supply activities in Jawand district. Taliban were planning to attack our helicopter. Fortunately, their plan was foiled and six of them were eliminated," said Shams.

Taliban has said that those mines that were detonated during the ceasefire were planted before Eid days.

Link

Afghanistan

‘Millions of Dollars, 100s of Kilograms of Gold Smuggled Abroad’

2021-03-10

[ToloNews] Documents seen by TOLOnews show that millions of dollars and hundreds of hundreds of kilograms of gold have been smuggled out of Afghanistan.

According to the documents, in one case, 66 million dollars and 329 kilograms of gold were smuggled through Hairatan Port to Uzbekistan and then to the United Arab Emirates and on to Kazakhstan.

Sources told TOLOnews that a number of politicians and politicians in collaboration with the government officials are smuggling US cash and gold from Hairatan Port.

Based on the documents, which have been confirmed by credible government sources, in the first three months of 2021, 329 kg of gold, worth 59.6 million dollars, was smuggled abroad.

Sources at Sarai Shahzada (Kabul’s main exchange center) have said that each day various currencies more than 8 million dollars are being smuggled to Uzbekistan and then on to other countries.

"Illegal circles are involved in transferring money from Afghanistan outside the country; the government has failed to prevent this trend," said Sayed Ekram Afzali, the head of Integrity Watch Afghanistan.

"There are people inside the parliament who are involved in smuggling gold and money—there are also people within the government who are involved in the smuggling of money and national assets," said Abdul Sattar Hussaini, a member of parliament.

A member of parliament’s finance and budget commission has said that the commission held several meetings with the Ministry of Finance to address the issue; however, nothing has been done so far.

"The black money is made white here and then provided to the armed opponents and then the money is used in terrorist attacks," said MP Jawed Safai.

Meanwhile,
...back at the barn, Bossy's udder had begun to ache...
a number of politicians have said that the mafia circles by transferring the money abroad are seeking to launder the currency.

The Ministry of Finance so far has not commented.

Sources in Tajikistan meanwhile said that last November the Tajikistan police seized 90 kilograms of gold and 15 million dollars.

According to the sources, Mirza Mohammad Katawazai, the former deputy speaker of parliament, in a meeting with bigwigs of Tajikistan requested the release of the seized assets.

But Katawazai has rejected the allegations.

Link

Afghanistan

Warring Sides Prepare for Spring Offensive Despite Peace Efforts

2021-02-17

[ToloNews] While the issue of peace with the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
this year has been among the hot topics in the country, there are reports that the warring parties are preparing for war in the spring.

Local officials in several provinces have confirmed that the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) are making the fight against the Taliban among their main priorities.

The Taliban has so far not commented, but the Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) has said that the Taliban will face severe consequences if the group insists on war and violence.

Local officials in Kunduz have confirmed that the government forces are preparing for summer offensive.

"Winter operations, the establishment of new installations—new security belts in the city and in the district were also established," said Abdul Sattar Mirzakawal, the governor of Kunduz.

Taliban movements have been reported in Kunduz, Baghlan, Uruzgan, Kandahar and Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
provinces in recent weeks.

The Taliban’s movements were seen in the highways and suburbs of lovely provincial capitals.

Highways connecting Kabul to other provinces also witnessed the presence of the Taliban.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) has said that the Taliban, by not showing willingness for peace, will bring upon themselves a strong government response.

"If they continue the path of violence and war, this will be a great mistake, they will face a severe setback by the brave members of the country’s security and armed forces," said Rohullah Ahmadzai, a front man for the Ministry of Defense.

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