Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

US approves of Syrian plan to absorb foreign jihadists into its army, Trump envoy says

2025-06-03

They were going to anyway, President Trump’s approval or no. Birds of a feather — jihadis all

[IsraelTimes] Amid countries’ rapprochement, White House okays Sharaa government’s proposal to form unit including some 3,500 fighters from abroad — mostly Chinese Uighurs

The United States has given its blessing to a plan by Syria’s new leadership to incorporate thousands of foreign jihadists, former rebel US approves of Syrian plan to absorb foreign jihadists into its army, Trump envoy says fighters, into the national army, provided that it does so transparently, US President Donald Trump
...They hit him with slander, they impeached him twice. Nancy Pelosi tore up his State of the Union address on national TV. They stole an election and put his adherents in jail. They vilified him. They couldn't crucify him, so they shot him. Still, they can't keep him down...
’s envoy has said.

Three Syrian defense officials said that under the plan, some 3,500 imported muscle, mainly Uighurs from China and neighboring countries, would join a newly formed unit, the 84th Syrian army division, which would also include Syrians.

Asked by Rooters in Damascus whether Washington approved the integration of imported muscle into Syria’s new military, Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...the occupiers of Greek Asia Minor...
who was named Trump’s special envoy to Syria last month, said: "I would say there is an understanding, with transparency."

He said it was better to keep the fighters, many of whom are "very loyal" to the new administration of Ahmed al-Sharaa, within a state project than to exclude them.

The fate of foreigners who joined Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else

Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else

...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
rebels during the 13-year war between rebel groups and Syria’s Iran-backed President Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Trampler of Homs...
has been one of the most fraught issues hindering a rapprochement with the West since HTS, a former affiliate of al-Qaeda, toppled Assad and took power last year.

At least until early May, the United States had been demanding that the new leadership broadly exclude imported muscle from the security forces.

But Washington’s approach to Syria has changed sharply since Trump toured the Middle East last month and met with Sharaa in Riyadh, in the first such meeting between US and Syrian leaders in a quarter century. Following the meeting, Trump agreed to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria and named Barrack, a close friend, as his special envoy.

Two sources close to the Syrian defense ministry told Rooters that Sharaa and his circle had been arguing to Western interlocutors that bringing imported muscle into the army would be less of a security risk than abandoning them, which could drive them into the orbit of al-Qaeda or 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....
The US State Department and a Syrian government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

The US-Syria rapprochement comes amid reports that Israeli officials have met with Syrian counterparts about the possibility of a warming of Israeli-Syrian ties, although Jerusalem has in public expressed deep suspicion of Sharaa. Trump has said he did not consult with Israel before restoring ties with Syria.

Following Assad’s ouster in December, Israel has struck the Syrian military numerous times and moved troops into the Syrian side of the two countries’ demilitarized buffer zone, citing fears it would fall into the wrong hands.

CHINESE CONCERNS
Thousands of Sunni Moslem foreigners joined Syria’s rebels early in the 13-year civil war to fight against Assad, who was himself aided by Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias, including Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.

Some fighters formed their own factions, while others joined established groups such as the Islamic State, which briefly declared a caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq, before being routed by an array of forces backed by both the United States and Iran.

Foreign fighters within HTS earned a reputation as loyal, disciplined and experienced bad boys, and formed the backbone of the group’s elite so-called suicide units. They fought against the Islamic State and other wings of al-Qaeda from 2016, when HTS broke away from the group founded by the late Osama bin Laden
...... who is no longer with us, and won't be again......
The Uighur fighters from China and Central Asia are members of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), which Beijing considers a terrorist group. A Syrian official and a foreign diplomat said China had sought to have the group’s influence in Syria restricted.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, "China hopes that Syria will oppose all forms of terrorism and krazed killer forces in response to the concerns of the international community."

Osman Bughra, a TIP political official, told Rooters in a written statement that the group had officially dissolved and integrated into the Syrian army.

"At present, the group operates entirely under the authority of the Ministry of Defense, adheres to national policy, and maintains no affiliations with external entities or groups," he said.

In December, the appointment of a handful of foreign jihadists who were part of HTS’s big shotship to top military posts had alarmed Western governments, raising concerns over the direction of Syria’s new Islamist leadership.

Demands to freeze the appointments and expel rank-and-file imported muscle became a key point of contention with Washington and other Western countries up until the week of Trump’s landmark meeting with Sharaa.

Sharaa has said that imported muscle and their families may be granted Syrian citizenship due to their role in fighting Assad.

Abbas Sharifa, a Damascus-based expert on jihadist groups, said the fighters being included in the army had shown loyalty to Syria’s leadership and were "ideologically filtered."

But "if you abandon them, they become prey to ISIS or other radical groups," he said.

Link

-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

'Walking Pneumonia.' Why Are People Talking About Quarantine and Masks Again?

2025-04-09

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Andrey Musalov

[REGNUM] The COVID-19 coronavirus infection that raged in 2020 has impressed everyone so much that now any suspicious sneeze in the neighborhood leads to panic attacks.

The increase in mycoplasma pneumonia cases has caused increased nervousness in a large part of the population. Some even claim a new hidden epidemic.

COUGHING PROFUSELY
Mikhail was interviewing with employers when he suddenly started coughing like crazy - uncontrollable, shaking, turning his inside out. Trying to stop coughing, Mikhail tried to hold his breath, to take in more air, but his lungs convulsively shook, as if trying to break out.

"It was like a scary movie about an astronaut with an alien organism inside him. What scared me most was the suddenness and strength of this cough, as well as the faces of the HR staff. One of them rushed to pour me a glass of water. It helped, but not for long," Mikhail recalls.

Hoping that "everything would go away on its own," Mikhail did not go to the doctor. There was no fever or weakness, typical of the flu. There was no loss of taste or smell, as with COVID. Only a cough.

"But at night it got really bad - the cough didn't stop for a minute, and my lungs seemed to be filled with water. At the district clinic they sent me for a chest X-ray," Mikhail added. Only then did the doctor diagnose me with mycoplasma pneumonia. And she added that he was not the first today.

"SOMETIMES IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR"
Mycoplasma pneumonia is an insidious lung infection that affects the respiratory tract. It is caused by a “subbacterium” without a cell wall. It easily releases a toxin that can cause either a sudden, traumatic cough with blood and high fever, or a barely noticeable malaise.

It is because of this deceptive ease, when the disease is endured “on one’s feet”, that mycoplasma pneumonia is called “walking pneumonia”.

Sounds scary when said in Latin like that. I get lung inflammation often enough that I start at home with corticosteroid breathing treatments (the same medicine as in asthma inhalers), steam, and the usual lots of fluids, vitamins D, C, and sucking zinc lozenges to bolster the immune system. If that doesn’t work, the doctor generally gives me a cortisone shot and prednisone taper to hit the inflammation response harder. Only if that doesn’t work do we try antibiotics. They used always to start with antibiotics — to prevent meningitis, I believe — but the epidemiologists said that prescribing antibiotics too often was leading to concerning levels of antibiotic resistance among common disease organisms, so treating symptoms became the hot new thing.

"It is not so easy to detect mycoplasma infection right away. There are many common ARVIs now. Flu and COVID are also common. All these diseases have more or less similar symptoms. They are all characterized by high fever, cough, body aches, sore throat, and so on.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is sometimes impossible to "hear" during auscultation - listening to the lungs. Since the disease is often not very "severe", many patients do not want to take sick leave and continue to go to work or school, spreading the infection," says Ivan Dorofeev, a pulmonologist at one of the Moscow hospitals.

Despite the unobvious symptoms, mycoplasma pneumonia can slowly undermine the body over a long period of time, leading to serious consequences: pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary embolism, suppuration and respiratory failure. Even a fatal outcome is possible, although rare.

That’s why it's important to reduce the inflammation response as quickly as possible.

Laboratory diagnostics help doctors detect the presence of mycoplasma pneumonia - blood tests for infectious agents, as well as chest X-rays or computed tomography (CT).

"In city clinics, chest X-rays (let alone CT scans) are not performed on all sick people. With ARVI, this simply does not make sense. Laboratory tests are prescribed only after pneumonia is detected - based on X-ray results. However, everything is done very quickly, literally in one day," says the pulmonologist.

THERE IS NO EPIDEMIC
The first outbreak of mycoplasma pneumonia in Russia and a number of other countries - China, the USA, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Germany - was noted a year and a half ago. It was reported on December 6, 2023, by the press service of Rospotrebnadzor, and the Ministry of Health assured that the situation with the incidence was manageable.

In late 2024, there were renewed reports of mycoplasma infections, and by the end of March 2025, the number of cases had increased, causing many to recall the dark times of COVID-19. A number of media outlets even began reporting on a new epidemic.

However, doctors are reassuring - mycoplasma microorganisms cause outbreaks of the disease cyclically, approximately once every 3-7 years. According to the LabQuest laboratory, the frequency of detection of the disease for October-November 2024 reached 19.6%, while for the same period in 2023 the incidence rate was 4.9%.

Representatives of Rospotrebnadzor, in turn, noted that the situation with the spread of mycoplasma infection in Russia is under complete control, as reported by the agency’s official channel.

The fact that there is no talk of an epidemic yet is confirmed by a number of specialists working directly with patients.

"You can't call it an epidemic, but the infection is spreading rapidly now," notes Nina Petrova, a pulmonologist at one of the military hospitals. "Symptoms: high fever that persists for a long time, a hacking cough - sometimes with phlegm, and sometimes without it. And sometimes the cough is so strong that it leads to vomiting. Everyone feels very weak - as if they were unloading wagons with sand.

It is difficult to detect this infection - we do an X-ray, it shows that the lungs are clean. But at the same time, there is a picture of pneumonia and a decent inflammation in the tests. Therefore, the doctor should always compare X-rays, and if there is no pneumonia on them, then it is better to play it safe - send the patient for CT."

APATHY AND LOSS OF STRENGTH
Like other similar diseases, mycoplasma pneumonia primarily affects traditional risk groups: the elderly, children, patients with chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and bronchial asthma.

Today, antibiotics are used to combat mycoplasma. Since the causative bacteria has developed resistance to antibiotics due to self-medication by the population, this process can be long.

"Unfortunately, every third or fourth of our patients takes antibiotics on their own. This is a big problem, because antibiotics do not act on viruses. Even if their use is justified, many patients do not follow the dosages, intervals, or duration of administration. And in general, they often drink what they found at home. As a result, microorganisms adapt, and antibiotics stop affecting them as they should," notes doctor Dorofeev.

Recovery from a mycoplasma infection is complicated by the fact that even cured pneumonia often causes post-viral asthenia. Moreover, for a long time, sometimes up to several months, patients feel apathy and loss of strength.

Prevention of mycoplasma pneumonia is familiar to most of us thanks to COVID-19. It includes: washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap, wearing a mask in public places,

…to keep from infecting others if you are contagious. It won’t keep you from getting sick except inasmuch as it prevents touching the mucus membranes of the T-zone, thus transferring infectious material…

and treating your hands with hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol.

The good news is that there is no epidemic as such. The bad news is that the disease lasts a long time. Therefore, it is worth being vigilant, otherwise you can fall out of your usual rhythm for a long time.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

'They Kill Everyone': How Central Asian Militants Carried Out Massacre in Syria

2025-03-12

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Sergey Adamov

[REGNUM] The past few days in Syria have seen an unprecedented surge in violence against local religious minorities: Alawite Muslims and Christians. Social media has been rocked by hundreds of videos in which militants proudly documented their crimes, including mass murders of unarmed people and public torture.

Throughout the conflict, Regnum correspondents were in contact with residents of the Syrian coast, thanks to which they were able to collect dozens of testimonies from civilians about crimes committed by militants.

Eyewitnesses note that militants of foreign origin, natives of Central Asia and the Caucasus, who are noticeably different from Arabs in appearance and stand out against their background, showed particular cruelty in reprisals against the civilian population.

A longstanding problem in the region.

A Red Crescent volunteer, who witnessed mass executions, spoke about the atrocities of foreigners. "The murders are happening for no reason, it is not the military or soldiers who are doing this. These are foreigners - Afghans, Uzbeks, Uighurs," said the author of the video, published on social networks.

Now the new Syrian authorities are arresting civilians for communicating with the media (primarily with the Russian media), so all reports from sources are published anonymously. However, oral testimonies can only serve as confirmation of the crimes in which natives of the Caucasus and Central Asia took part, who do not hide their goals: to create a monolithic society in Syria, united by a radical ideology, in order to carry this ideology further.

GUESTS FROM THE EAST
Militants of foreign origin first appeared in Syria during the first stage of the civil war in 2011–2012. The leadership of the Al-Qaeda* movement called on Central Asians to participate in military operations in the Middle East.

Terrorists from Uzbekistan (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, IMU), Tajikistan and the Caucasus (Anjad-Kavkaz*)

…or Ajnad al-Kavkaz, Chechen group that split off from Caucasus Emirate…

were able to penetrate through Turkey into the northern regions of Syria, where they came into direct contact with the local branch of Al-Qaeda*, the Jabhat al-Nusra* group (later Hayat Tahrir al-Sham*).

Later, militants from among ethnic Uyghurs, representatives of the so-called “East Turkestan Islamic Movement” (ETIM)*, appeared on the territory of Syria.

The formed "terrorist international" took part in battles against government troops and by 2015 was able to establish control over the province of Idlib. A number of groups received their "allotments", for example, the Uyghurs settled in the area of the city of Jisr al-Shughur, and the Caucasians - the outskirts of Idlib.

The region has become a “promised land” for terrorists from all over the world, who have found in Idlib a safe haven and a springboard for planning attacks around the world. In the fall of 2024, it was these formations, as the most motivated, that took part in the offensive on Aleppo, which ended with the fall of the city, and subsequently the collapse of the government of Bashar al-Assad.

IN A NEW ROLE
The "revolutionary" government of Syria has praised the role of foreign formations, granting all foreign fighters Syrian citizenship and effectively legalizing their status.

Now the former “exiles” have become full-fledged citizens, and, what’s more, 100% loyal to the new regime.

The exact number of foreign fighters is unknown. According to Tajik authorities in 2024, there were about 400 Tajik citizens in the Syrian province of Idlib. The total number of "insurgents" in the ranks of the new Syrian army, according to various estimates, ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 people.

Former mercenaries received high positions in the new government.

For example, a native of Tajikistan, Saifiddin Tadjiboev, who was wanted in his home country on charges of terrorism and mercenarism, was appointed commander of the operational headquarters in the new government’s Ministry of Defense.

ON THE EVE OF THE MASSACRE
Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government, members of ethnic and religious minorities in Syria have lived in constant fear.

The new authorities in Damascus have officially declared that they will not persecute representatives of any community. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka Mohammed Julani) has demonstratively met with heads of Christian churches, promising protection and patronage.

However, already in the first days of the "new Syria" a wave of attacks on churches and representatives of religious minorities swept across the country. Even then, militants of foreign origin distinguished themselves separately, simply ignoring Damascus' calls for religious tolerance and disarmament.

In the following months, it was these same formations that spread across the entire Syrian coast, viewing the region and its inhabitants as fair game.

After the first open clashes broke out, a total mobilization of radicals and their supporters, a kind of "activists", was declared in the neighboring provinces of Hama and Idlib, who were joined by local residents who wanted to rob their Alawite neighbors. However, the backbone of the "cleansing" forces was made up of armed foreigners.

Footage taken by a militant of Chechen origin, commenting on the events in Syria in Russian, is being published online. "There will be no mercy," the author of the videos says, showing footage of terrorist columns being transferred to Latakia. "We continue to clean up," reads the caption to the video of armored vehicles being deployed on the streets of coastal cities.

Over the following days, Regnum correspondents maintained round-the-clock contact with residents of the Syrian coast, receiving information about what was happening first-hand.

This is how residents of the city of Baniyas describe the first night of the pogroms: “Towards evening, the power went out in our neighborhood. Then groups of pogromists began to enter from different sides, they broke into cars, robbed stores, threw stones at windows. They were followed by armed people who went from house to house. They came to our neighbors’ house with a can of paint, they “marked” people, painted their faces black, insulted them, and then left threats and insults on the walls.”

Among the attackers, local residents particularly noted militants with a characteristic Turkic appearance, often not speaking Arabic. According to eyewitnesses, it was they who showed particular cruelty. An audio recording with instructions calling on local residents "loyal" to the government was distributed, calling on them not to go out into the streets. The voice on the recording says that "Uzbek and Chechen mujahideen" do not differentiate between Sunnis and Shiites and kill everyone.

BLOODY MARCH 8TH
By the morning of the second day of the conflict, the regime had managed to concentrate enough forces on the coast to conduct all-out raids. The Islamists were particularly brutal in the Alawite areas outside the Syrian coast, in the provinces of Hama and Homs.

Tellingly, foreign fighters did not hide their participation in the massacre. In the area of the city of Jabla, a group of Uzbek natives was “spotted”, broadcasting live from the scene and streaming in the Uzbek language. The fighters, belonging to the group “Tawhid wal Jihad”*, told their audience that they had come to Latakia “to punish the infidels” and shared their “political program”.

In particular, they propose that the new Syrian authorities "cleanse" the region and populate it with "faithful Muslims." Syrian Christians are offered either to convert to Islam or to pay "jizya" for life - a tax on non-Muslims in Koranic law.

How traditional.

In fact, we are talking about a doctrine of genocide, which provides for the extermination of the indigenous population, followed by its replacement by “faithful” ones.

Convert, pay jizya, or die. Sometimes only the third is on offer.

In order to more actively populate the coast with "faithful" militants from Central Asia took part in the massacre of Alawites in the village of al-Tuwaim in Hama province. In the "final" round, the radicals beat to death about 15 children aged between one and ten years. Some of the residents of Hama were able to hide in the mountains, but now these people are afraid to return to their homes.

"When we heard about the beginning of the conflict, my relatives were able to leave. There were old people left in the village who asked to leave them. We know that they have been killed now. Somewhere in the houses there are bodies that no one has removed because people are afraid to return for a long time. All the men were killed, some women have disappeared, and no one knows where they are," the source told IA Regnum.

DENOUEMENT
By the morning of March 9, the militants had reached the epicenter of the conflict, the city of Jabla, after which another wave of violence swept through the surrounding villages. In one of the videos made in the vicinity of Jabla, the militants filmed a residential building they had set on fire. "Look, the house of the Alawites is burning!" one of the authors of the video says.

Throughout the day, terrorist gangs continued to repeatedly "cleanse" populated areas, often shooting at everyone they encountered without distinction. At the same time, the heads of Syria's Christian churches issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the violence. The "world community" also joined the call, albeit belatedly.

Local residents report that a “clean-up” has begun in the cities of Baniyas, Tartus and Latakia: militants are removing corpses from city streets and even washing blood off the asphalt in preparation for the arrival of foreign journalists.

In a separate statement, Ahmed al-Sharaa said the government would set up a "commission" to investigate "incidents of violence" on the coast, but locals were under no illusions.

"We are still afraid to leave our homes now, no one can assess the damage done. Those who survived were left without all their property, others without their families. We will never forget these two terrible days. Now there is a "roll call" in the chats, we are looking for our own. But we know that there will be no justice for the criminals," the Syrians believe.

Events in Syria have vividly confirmed the worst fears about the prospects for a peaceful settlement in that country. But whatever their consequences, it is absolutely clear that terrorist groups operating in Syria pose a threat far beyond its borders, and that their militants may fall victim to far more than just Syrian ethno-confessional minorities.

People from post-Soviet countries who “distinguished themselves” by committing mass murders probably dream of returning to their native lands and repeating the same thing in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and, of course, in Russia.

Of course.

Link

Afghanistan

Fitrat: Islamic Emirate Has Evidence of ISIS Centers in Balochistan

2025-01-13

[ToloNews] Hamdullah Fitrat, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that ISIS has been granted permission to operate under Pakistain’s governance.

Rejecting the claims of Khawaja Asif, Pakistain's Defense Minister, Fitrat said that the Islamic Emirate possesses evidence of an ISIS presence in Pakistain's Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
province.

”I’m rubber and you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you,” he taunted.

Fitrat further said: "The production, training, and funding centers for ISIS are in Balochistan and other parts of Pakistain. It appears they have been allowed to operate under the protection of these entities and are carrying out destructive activities. All of this is documented, and we hold evidence. Pakistain’s security and other issues are their internal matters and have no connection to Afghanistan."

Previously, Pakistain’s Defense Minister claimed that some terrorist groups, including ISIS-K, are active on Afghan soil.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated: "According to the latest report of the UN Monitoring Team, over two dozen terrorist groups including TTP, al-Qaeda, ISKP, ETIM and IMU are operating in Afghanistan. Afghanistan remained the hub for ISKP’s recruitment and facilitation in 2024."

Fazl Rahman Oria, a political analyst, told TOLOnews: "The people of Pakistain are protesting peacefully, and in some cases, armed uprisings have occurred because they no longer want the current rulers to stay in power. To divert public attention, such accusations are sometimes made against Afghanistan and sometimes against India."

Salim Paigir, another political analyst, said: "The world knows that the nests of terrorism and ISIS still exist in Pakistain, and they are used against neighboring countries, including Afghanistan."

Verbal tensions between the two sides [Afghanistan and Pakistain] have intensified following Pakistain’s ~~Arclight~~ airstrike
<del>Arclight</del> airstrike

...KABOOM!...
s on Barmal district in Paktika
...which coincidentally borders North Wazoo and Kurram Agency...
province.

A day earlier, Pakistain also launched artillery attacks on parts of Kunar province
... Kunar is Haqqani country.....
, which were condemned by the Islamic Emirate.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

From jihadi group to gov’t, cont’d: ~~New regime~~ HTS in Syria said to appoint some foreign Islamist fighters to military

2024-12-31

[IsraelTimes] Prominent Uighur, Jordanian, and Turkish foreign fighters given military ranks, as Islamist rebel group at core of de facto new government in Syria arranges formal armed forces

Syria’s new rulers have installed some imported muscle including Uighurs, a Jordanian, and a Turk in the country’s armed forces, as Damascus tries to shape a patchwork of rebel groups into a professional military, two Syrian sources said.

The move to give official roles, including senior ones, to several jihadists may alarm some foreign governments and Syrian citizens fearful about the new administration’s intentions, despite its pledges not to export Islamic revolution and to rule with tolerance toward Syria’s large minority groups.

A Syrian government spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment on the thinking behind the appointments.

The sources said that out of a total of almost 50 military roles announced by the Defense Ministry on Sunday, at least six had gone to foreigners.

Rooters was not able to independently verify the nationalities of the individuals appointed.

Thousands of Sunni Moslem foreigners joined Syria’s rebels early in the 13-year civil war to fight against the rule of Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
One of the last of the old-fashioned hereditary iron-fisted fascist dictators...
and the Iran-backed Shiite militias that supported him. Some imported muscle formed their own gangs while others joined established formations such as 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....
as it rampaged across Iraq and Syria, briefly declaring a so-called caliphate before being routed by US and Iran-backed forces.

Other groups of foreign jihadists joined Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else

...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
(HTS), which disavowed previous links to al-Qaeda and Islamic State and fought bloody battles against them before going on to spearhead the lightning advance that toppled Assad on December 8.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the HTS-leader-turned de facto ruler of Syria, has purged dozens of foreign jihadi fighters as part of a campaign to Syrianize and moderate his group.

In remarks broadcast on Sunday, Sharaa said the new Syria "cannot be run by the mentality of groups and militias."

Syria’s new rulers, drawn mainly from HTS, have indicated that imported muscle and their families may be given Syrian citizenship and be allowed to stay in the country because of their contributions to the fight against Assad.

The Defense Ministry on Sunday announced 49 appointments to the army that included leaders of key Syrian armed factions. Among them were several imported muscle, three given the rank of brigadier-general and at least three others the rank of colonel, a Syrian military source said.

’TOKEN OF RECOGNITION’
"This is a small token of recognition for the sacrifices Islamist jihadists gave to our struggle for freedom from Assad’s oppression," an HTS source told Rooters.

Chinese Uighur Abdulaziz Dawood Khudaberdi, also known as Zahid and the commander of the separatist Turkistan Islamic Party’s (TIP) forces in Syria, was appointed a brigadier-general, a TIP statement said and the Syrian military source confirmed.

Two other Uighur fighters, Mawlan Tarsoun Abdussamad and Abdulsalam Yasin Ahmad, were given the rank of colonel, said the TIP statement published on its website, congratulating them and the Uighur community on the appointments.

All the names appear in Sunday’s Defense Ministry announcement, though the nationalities are not included.

The TIP is thought to have hundreds of fighters in Syria and aims to establish an Islamic State in parts of China and central Asia, where there is a large Uighur Moslem population.

Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uighurs, a mainly Moslem ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labor in camps. Beijing denies any abuses.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese foreign ministry.

China labels the TIP a terrorist organization responsible for plots to attack overseas Chinese targets. Beijing has said TIP "gravely threatens" China’s interests and security overseas and that combating the group was China’s "core concern" in its counter-terrorism effort.

Ottoman Turkish citizen Omar Mohammed Jaftashi and Jordanian citizen Abdul Rahman Hussein al-Khatib were also made brigadier-generals, the Syrian military source and the HTS source said.

Abdul Jashari, an ethnically Albanian fighter also known as Abu Qatada al-Albani, was appointed colonel, the military source said. Jashari heads the Albanian jihadist group Xhemati Alban and was designated a terrorist by the US Treasury in 2016.

Egyptian Alaa Mohammed Abdel-Baqi was also given a military rank, the source said.

Egypt’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Xhemati Alban: Albanian Snipers in Syria
December 8, 2024

Excerpted from a much longer post witht he usual Grey Dynamics information.

[GreyDynamics] Xhemati Alban is a Sunni jihadist militant group operating in the Idlib Governorate in Syria. Garnering attention for its formidable “sniper squad”, they have been active in spreading propaganda detailing the unit’s exploits. Linked to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) they have been involved in several operations together. Comprised of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and North Macedonia, the group’s current membership numbers are unknown but believed to not exceed two dozen members. Despite claiming establishment in 2012, the group’s earliest piece of propaganda dates back to 2017.

The group’s fighters are relatively unadorned when compared to contemporary modern fighting forces and their propaganda pieces are usually without patches of any kind. However, the group does have one patch of note which is that of Albanian Tactical which is a further subgroup within Xhemati Alban. Albanian Tactical offers tactical training in line with other mercenary or contract organisations in the region such as Yurtugh Tactical and Muhojir Tactical. This has allowed them to frame themselves as a contract enterprise and not simply a militia/terror group.

Xhemati Alban, which translates to “Albanian Group,” comprises ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, and the Presovo Valley in Serbia. Although the group claims to have originated in 2012, reports indicate that its active operations began around 2017, coinciding with its involvement in conflicts such as those in Ras al-Ayn, Abu al-Duhur Airbase, and Jisr al-Shughur.

Under the leadership of Abu Qatada al-Albani (Abdul Jashari), born in 1976 in Skopje, North Macedonia, the group appointed its military leader, as designated by former Jabhat al-Nusra leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani in 2014. Al-Albani’s association with Jabhat al-Nusra led to his inclusion in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List in late 2016. Notably, al-Albani also serves as a close military advisor to the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

HTS appoints Maysaa Sabrine to lead central bank, first woman to hold position
[IsraelTimes] Syria’s new rulers have appointed Maysaa Sabrine, formerly a deputy governor of the Syrian central bank, to lead the institution, a senior Syrian official says.

Sabrine does not immediately respond to a request for comment.

She will be the first woman to lead the institution in its more than 70-year history, replacing Mohammed Issam Hazime who was appointed governor in 2021 by now-toppled president Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian FM says he accepted invitation to visit Saudi Arabia
[IsraelTimes] Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, appointed by the new rulers, says on X that he has accepted an invitation from his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah to visit, in what would be his first foreign trip.

Link

Afghanistan

CHR - New Intel: Sources Report Terrorists in Afghanistan Taking A Page From October 7 Playbook

2024-10-29

[CatherineHerridgeReports] "The system is blinking red," a former special operator said. "No one wants to be in the room when the Afghanistan grenade goes off."

The new reporting underscores concern that terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, are strengthening their foothold in Afghanistan.

DEEP DIVE
Vice President and now Presidential candidate Kamala Harris once boasted that when President Biden made the final call to pull US troops from Afghanistan she was the last person in the room.

Three years later, a recent UN report left no doubt Al Qaeda is building out its infrastructure in Afghanistan.

The UN monitoring team found, "Al-Qaida cells are operating in multiple Afghan provinces, mainly in the south-east of the country." And "While the Taliban have done much to constrain the activities of Al-Qaida and their affiliates...its reorganization and training activities, as well as new travel into Afghanistan, indicate that the group still uses Afghanistan as a permissive haven under the Taliban, raising questions about Al-Qaida’s intent."

Credible sources now describe footage that suggests small terrorist cells, primarily Al Qaeda, training with ultralights and paragliders in Afghanistan. The sources describe the terrorists as "taking a page from the October 7 playbook" by mirroring the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of the 2023 Hamas attack which killed more than 1200 people in Israel.

The raw intelligence and reports also describe operatives trained to build light aircraft and drones from "off the shelf" materials available in large home improvement stores. As described, the idea is not to export equipment from Afghanistan, but to build it once an operative is inserted near the target. These small cells apparently have cooperation from the Taliban who, in some cases, monitor training sessions.

The reporting comes through credible sources and I draw no conclusions about potential contact between al Qaeda and Hamas. As described, the most innocuous analysis is the footage was designed to boost morale among fighters and for fundraising.

Another intelligence stream details that in recent months an Al Qaeda operative traveled from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia for financing, tasked with developing a weaponized drone capability for use against the US or its interests overseas.

That said, I understand the reporting has been shared at senior levels of the Defense Department, Homeland Security and likely CIA. They have the ability to investigate, to assess the credibility of the reports, and most importantly, they have a duty to warn.

My contacts say there is a sense of urgency among field agents and officers who are aware of the raw intelligence, but there is a "head in the sand" attitude at more senior levels. Multiple sources explained, "No one wants to turn over the Afghanistan rock."

The presence of these camps, and the threats they pose are amplified by the American military hardware that the Biden administration abandoned in Afghanistan. In 2021, reporters were told and the public was reassured that the equipment would fall into disrepair.

This has proven false. Images shared with our team from multiple sectors in Afghanistan suggest every level of the armed forces from police to military are leveraging our ballistic helmets, gloves, boots, optics, body armor and weapons.

By summer, as I pulled the threads on the Afghanistan story, the warnings became more alarming. NGOs and other groups who work with the US-based Afghan community voiced some of the deepest concerns. They were, understandably, reluctant to go on the record, fearing retaliation from the administration.

Intelligence is like a mosaic. Slowly the pieces fall into place. It is a partial picture at best, but it suggests a landscape that is beginning to mirror pre-9/11 Afghanistan. Twenty-three years ago, the safe haven in Afghanistan afforded al Qaeda the freedom to train, to recruit and to raise money for the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.

On Saturday, seeking comment, our team emailed the media contact for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which has oversight for the US intelligence community. When there was no response, and with the Sunday afternoon deadline approaching, we re-upped our questions adding the Defense Department, Homeland Security and CIA.

The DoD duty officer and a CIA spokesperson responded. Both said they could look into our query Monday. Our questions focus on intelligence community efforts to determine credibility of the intel, risk to national security and briefings to congressional committees with oversight, including armed services and intelligence.

One of the most famous chapters in the 9/11 Commission Report is called, "The System was Blinking Red." It contains the painful chronology and missed opportunities to disrupt the 9/11 hijackers in the summer of 2001.

"As (CIA Director) Tenet told us, ’The system was blinking red in the Summer of 2001.’ Officials were alerted across the world. Many were doing everything they possibly could to respond to the threats. Yet no one working on these late leads in the Summer of 2001 connected the case in his or her in-box to the threat reports agitating senior officials and being briefed to the President.."

Twenty-three years later, the warnings are there. Political sensitivities should not hinder efforts to acknowledge and disrupt emerging threats in Afghanistan.

The article below, published in 8am (Hasht-e Subh Daily), has been sitting, half-edited, for a while because I’ve been too busy with life to finish the job — and at roughly 3000 words it was easy to push off to later. But it relates to Joe of the Jungle’s submission so it’s time to share under his headline, even without doing all the work I intended. The acquisition was triggered by a Media Line piece linked by Grom the Reflective in September in comments:

Hamza bin Laden’s return: Al-Qaida’s revival in Afghanistan sparks global terror fears: Terror group leader's survival and resurgence could signify al-Qaida’s most significant revival since the Iraq War, leading to worry across the world.

Herewith the opening of the piece — the rest can be read at the link.

The Taliban Host Terrorist Groups: Four New Settlements Built for Al-Qaeda and TTP
30.June 2024
The Hasht-e Subh Daily has obtained information indicating that the Taliban are constructing a well-equipped base with residential houses for the al-Qaeda network in the Malekuddin area of Nawa district, Ghazni province. Additionally, they are building three settlements for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Dasht-e Bagh-e Attar area of Qarabagh district, Dasht-e Kabuli area of Waghaz district, and Kotal-e Rouza on the outskirts of Ghazni city. These settlements, in addition to residential houses, also include large religious schools and equipped dormitories, with some nearing completion.

Simultaneously, TTP members have chosen specific areas in Ghazni for relocating their families, with plans to move there soon. One of the TTP factions relocating to Ghazni is led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a TTP commander who has carried out extensive attacks against the Pakistani military. Furthermore, the findings of this report indicate that Haji Furqan (Uighur), a commander of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and a senior member of al-Qaeda, is residing in a guesthouse of Sirajuddin Haqqani in the Sherpur area of Kabul.

The findings from the Hasht-e Subh Daily in Ghazni province show that the Taliban are engaged in constructing four residential settlements with large religious schools and other security measures for the relocation of al-Qaeda and TTP members. According to the report, the construction of some of these settlements and religious schools in Ghazni is nearing completion. Information suggests that a settlement with a Madrasa in the Nawa district of Ghazni is being built for al-Qaeda, while the other three settlements are exclusively for TTP members and will soon be operational. The report also indicates that alongside the residential settlements, the Taliban have constructed large religious school buildings with all amenities, funded by the Haqqani network.

Link

India-Pakistan

Plagued with delays, CPEC reaches nowhere in 10 years

2024-09-05

So much for China replacing America as world hegemon, in accordance with prophecy.

[KhaamaPress] The China-Pakistain Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched close to 10 years ago, but it is struggling to meet its envisaged expectations. The CPEC is a crucial part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but many of its components have been marred by slow implementation, making them infeasible and unviable. Several thermal power, hydroelectric, transport infrastructure, and special economic zone projects have not become operational yet.

The CPEC fiasco was acknowledged by Pak Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently. He did not just accept that the CPEC had lost steam but also said that the progress had regressed by at least 10 years.[1] While Islamabad has its own concerns, the Chinese have blamed Pakistain for the delays in CPEC project construction. "Chinese ambassador has complained to me that you have destroyed CPEC and no work was done in the past three years," Saleem Mandviwalla, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistain, said earlier.[2]

Although the CPEC projects looked ambitious, there were problems with implementation due to misgovernance and improper policies, said Pakistain’s former foreign secretary, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry. "Signing MoUs does not automatically translate into projects. For that, we need to create a congenial business environment with minimal red tape and fast-track facilitation. Security of foreign investors and investments has emerged as a serious issue," he said.[3]

It is not just delays but the CPEC is going to be detrimental for Pakistain as the megaproject can witness delays for another ten years, said Osama Ahmad, a researcher at the Islamabad-based Pak Institute of Peace Studies. "Now, a decade after CPEC was first launched, the initiative has landed in uncharted territory, delivering very little and attracting myriad controversies. Not only have Pakistain’s development projects stalled over the past decade, but CPEC has also exacerbated longstanding tensions in Pakistain’s Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
province," he said.

Some areas regarding the CPEC implementation have become concerning. Tardy decision-making, Pak leaders’ propensity to speak more and perform less, political instability, dynastic politics, domination of the military, and rising debts are among them. Imtiaz Gul, author and head of the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies, said "Ten years on, many Chinese expectations associated with CPEC have gone sour — a journey of lofty rhetoric and shallow promises by Pak leaders and less inclination to implementation and reform required for desired economic progress."

China and Pakistain have held regular meetings to keep the CPEC on track. However,
it's easy to be generous with someone else's money...
it failed to produce the intended benefits. Social scientist Dr Muhammad Ali Sheikh highlighted how lack of transparency, unsustainable imports and Chinese dumping, and political indecision obstructed the implementation of the CPEC projects. "These developments considerably slowed down the implementation and expansion of the programme. One decade on since it was announced, the weaknesses in its implementation should also be addressed," said Sheikh, who is a former vice-chancellor of 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...
-based Sindh Madressatul Islam University.[4]

Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan

...aka The Great Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
was said to have put the CPEC on the backburner owing to political differences and allegations of the megaproject being too favourable to China and disadvantageous to Pakistain.[5] Now the poor pace of the CPEC has created problems for Pakistain amid high inflation rates, trade deficits and massive debt, which are exacerbated by the Covid pandemic and unprecedented floods. The CPEC-driven prosperity, employment opportunities, and poverty reduction remain a distant dream for Paks.[6]

Despite the first phase of the CPEC failing to achieve its objective, the Pakistain government is talking about the launch of another new phase of the programme. However,
it's easy to be generous with someone else's money...
there seems no possibility of it since for China, CPEC is solely establishing connectivity between Xinjiang and Gwadar, which serves its geopolitical interests in the Middle East, said economy journalist Khurram Husain. "No such thing is about to happen, and all the noise around a revival of the China-Pakistain Economic Corridor (CPEC) is either wishful thinking (at best) or a way to camouflage what really is going on," he wrote.[7]

Link

-Lurid Crime Tales-

Video shows teen gunman lean out car window and open fire in shooting that killed Vegas mother

2024-03-29

[NY Post] Newly unveiled footage shows the moment a passenger fired a gun as he leaned out a car window during a drive-by shooting that killed a 43-year-old mother on a Las Vegas street.

Kevin Perez-Stubbs, 16, allegedly shot and killed innocent bystander and mother of one Shawna McCowan in April 2023 after she and a friend got caught in the gunfire.

She was walking with the friend and dogs on the same sidewalk as two teens toward whom Perez-Stubbs was allegedly shooting when she was shot, police documents reportedly stated, according to KLAS.

Two teens had gotten into a fight earlier at an apartment complex close by before the shooting erupted on the street.

New grainy surveillance footage obtained by KLAS this week showed McCowan and her companion walking up the street on the night of April 23 before a car with its headlights off drove toward the camera and two people were seen fleeing down the street.

A passenger then fired a gun while hanging out the window as the vehicle went down the empty street, according to the footage.

McCowan, who split time between Colorado and Las Vegas, was hit in the back and neck after multiple rounds were fired, according to police docs the station reported on.

The teacher, who also worked as a flight attendant, was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead, leaving behind a husband and son.

Four teenagers were charged with murder following the incident.

Accused gunman Perez-Stubbs, 16, his brother Johnathan Perez-Stubbs, 19, and Mezarius Finch, 17, were arrested last year, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Earlier this year, Tyshean Tillman, 19, was arrested and charged with open murder with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said.

Tillman was the alleged driver while Jonathan Perez-Stubbs and Finch were passengers in the car, police have said.

Tillman, Finch and Johnathan Perez-Stubbs all took plea deals, though more information was not revealed because the records were sealed, KLAS reported.

Kevin Perez-Stubbs’ trial on murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges is reportedly set for June.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Two thousand for a trident. 'Glory to Ukraine!' banned late

2024-01-20

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Oleg Krivoshapov

[REGNUM] The Ministry of Justice recognized four organizations of Ukrainian origin as Nazis and banned the display of their paraphernalia and symbols, TASS reported.

We are talking about three structures known from the history of World War II - the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) of Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych, as well as the lesser-known Ukrainian People's Revolutionary Army (UNRA, aka " Polesie Sich") Taras "Bulba" Borovets.

In addition, the Ukrainian National Assembly - Ukrainian People's Self-Defense (UNA - UNSO), which became famous in the 1990s, was banned.

The basis for the ban was Article 6 of the law “On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.” One of the clauses of this article prohibits propaganda and display of paraphernalia of organizations banned by the Nuremberg Tribunal and similar courts following the war. Another clause prohibits neo-Nazi communities and their paraphernalia.

Responsibility is prescribed in the Code of Administrative Offences. By the way, Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses implies rather lenient sanctions. For propaganda or public display of attributes or symbols of these organizations, a fine of only 1–2 thousand rubles is imposed (the alternative is administrative arrest for up to 15 days).

Officials are subject to a fine of 1–4 thousand rubles, legal entities are subject to a fine of 10–50 thousand rubles.

But, be that as it may, for the greeting “Glory to Ukraine!” and the answer “Glory to the Heroes!”, as well as an emblem in the form of a golden trident, the middle element of which is made in the form of a double-edged sword, is now punishable.

Another question arises: of the four new organizations recognized as Nazi, three (OUN, UPA and UNA - UNSO) were already banned in Russia. After all, quite a long time ago, in 2014, they were included in the list of extremist ones. Created in 2015, the Volunteer Movement of the OUN, the legal successor of the “historical organization,” was banned in 2022.

But their symbols (the same cry “Glory to Ukraine!”) have not yet been outlawed, which may cause confusion.

On the other hand, the question arises: how justified is it to include all four organizations in any additional registers, in addition to the list of extremist ones? Maybe this measure is redundant?

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO ACT FROM THE WHEELS
Kirill Vyshinsky, a member of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, believes that the case of banning the display of symbols of the OUN, UPA and similar organizations really looks like a belated measure.

On certain marketplaces - in chain stores operating in Russia - you can now purchase, in addition to dubious paraphernalia, various literary works offering extremist, Russophobic or anti-Russian interpretations of history and modernity.

The problem is that Russia’s anti-extremist legislation has to be finalized on the fly, notes Honored Lawyer of Russia Yuri Zhdanov.

For example, the so-called Russian Volunteer Corps, which has been fighting against former compatriots since 2022 and took responsibility for the attack on the Belgorod region in May 2023, was added to the list of terrorist organizations only on December 30. The RDK emblem is not officially included in the list of prohibited symbols.

The white-blue-white flag, which has been used since February 2022 by “trans-Ukrainian” non-systemic oppositionists who have settled in exile, was not so quickly banned. The ban on BSB as a symbol of the banned Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Freedom of Russia” became known only in May 2023 from the decision of the Zelenograd Court of Moscow.

This is not so much about gaps in the laws, but about the speed and volume of decisions made, Zhdanov believes. “ In special conditions, you have to act quickly - from the wheels. And there is not always time to write down all the details,” the interlocutor notes.

We can agree in the case of extremist remakes like RDK. But Bandera’s black and red symbols and the cry “Glory to Ukraine!” have been well known since the last century: if not from historical works and films about the Great Patriotic War, then from the reports of the First Chechen War, where UNA-UNSO militants fought on the side of the separatists.

"AVOID EXCESSIVE REPRESSION"
The point is the caution of legislators and law enforcers, IA Regnum interlocutors believe.

“There is one very important detail here - it is necessary not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater,” says Vyshinsky. — For example, I do not agree that, under the guise of fighting extremism, they suddenly begin to ban scientific literature about extremist organizations, about various “national legions” and war criminals from the times of the USSR. And this is a huge layer of scientific and popular science literature that is needed by a wide audience.”

The question remains open as to whether it is necessary to ban (or leave available for study by historians, counter-propagandists and extremism specialists) books by ideologists of Ukrainian “integral nationalism”, which has become the ideological basis for the current Kyiv regime.

In any case, the books of Dmitry (Dmitro) Dontsov, which were directly targeted by the Bandera wing of the OUN, are currently publicly available in some Russian electronic bookstores.

On the other hand, society itself “regulates and prohibits” the circulation of symbols of the enemy and his ideological predecessors, experts believe. Now on free sale there are no Bandera symbols, no paraphernalia of the “Right Sector”, no symbols of modern collaborators - the same so-called RDK, Zhdanov notes. “Even at flea markets,” the expert assures. - Yes, there is Hitler’s - on weapons, equipment - for collectors. But I haven’t seen any “remakes” for mass use. Everyone understands everything.”

The example of the OUN, UNRA, UPA and UNA - UNSO, according to the lawyer, shows that now in Russia both regulatory regulation and legal practice are aimed at avoiding “excessive and excessive repression.”

The main thing in this matter is flexibility in law enforcement practice, says lawyer, candidate of legal sciences Janis Juksa. In some cases, public figures, journalists and simply concerned citizens should be able to use any symbols for research or critical purposes, the lawyer adds.

It is also necessary to consider the risks of unintentional use of symbols of prohibited organizations. And this is where the Ministry of Justice lists come in handy, Vyshinsky emphasizes.

“How to identify, for example, historical myth-making and extremism in books? — asks Vyshinsky. — There is a list of extremist literature that is prohibited; such lists exist in all countries of the world. That is, government filters are working. In addition, serious scientific and historical literary works have their own reviewers and editorial boards.”

EXTREMISM “FOR REFERENCE”
But it is extremely difficult to completely stop access to information with extremist content, political scientist and leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries Alexander Dudchak told IA Regnum.

A striking example of this is Wikipedia, which is not prohibited in the Russian Federation and is in the public domain, many sections of which contain statements that contradict Russian legislation, sometimes simply promoting extremism, Russophobia and Nazism. “Viki” began to actively rule in a pro-Kiev manner not since February 2022, but at least since 2014.

And there the history of the OUN - UPA, UNA - UNSO and similar structures, not to mention the current information about the special operation in Ukraine, is presented not only not “pro-Russian”, but not even neutral, the interlocutors note.

“Apparently, access to Wikipedia has not yet been closed only because it also serves as a source of information in general, and there is no full-fledged alternative to it in Russia yet,” says Vyshinsky. “ At the same time, when I tried to create a page about one person who was an Anti-Maidan activist, it was quickly “nullified” - they removed all the facts except “born, studied, served” and so on. And even if you make some of your own edits there, they are also immediately eliminated.”

Dudchak reminds that work is currently underway in Russia to launch the full version of a worthy alternative to this information base - Ruvika. It is possible that soon it will be able to completely replace all previous analogues for Russian-speaking users.

In the meantime, the organization responsible for updating the international database can be fined on a “target basis” for posting information that violates Russian laws. “Let them at least bring money to the treasury before they are closed,” the political scientist sums up.

Link

Afghanistan

Daily Evacuation Brief November 27, 2023

2023-11-28

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

CABINET RESHUFFLE REPORTED – The Deputy Prime Minister, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir is once again said to be stepping down due to an illness. The current Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi will assume the role in the interim. It was not clear if Muttaqi would be replaced at the Foreign Ministry or fulfill the duties of both positions. Kabir has reputedly fallen ill on at least two other occasions and a temporary Deputy was appointed in his place. Some sources allege that Kabir is not ill but has harbored resentment over his position since the Cabinet was formed.

TALIBAN OFFICIALS IN HERAT CLAIM IRAN DEPORTING AFGHANS WITH VALID PASSPORTS AND LEGITIMATE VISAS – The local head of Immigration in Herat said that many recent deportees had been returned through the Islam Qala crossing bearing valid documentation issued by Iran. Most expressed outrage over having been arrested and deported ‘violently’ by Iranian security forces. Most reports indicate that Iran has increased deportations of Afghans by 100% over the month of November. Speculation continues that Iran is using the cover of Pakistan’s largely unpopular deportation operation to get rid of Afghans.

NRF CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SATURDAY ATTACK IN TAKHAR – The National Resistance Front took credit for a blast that had been reported in Talaqan on Saturday. The group said that 3 Taliban were killed in the incident and that their forces had used an explosive device to target a Taliban vehicle.

SPIN BOLDAK PROTESTS CONTINUING – Islamabad has yet to find a solution to the protests that continue to block commercial traffic at the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing. Trade is reportedly at a standstill as Pakistanis continue to deny access to the crossing for trucks and other commercial vehicles to cross into Afghanistan. The impasse arose over the implementation of the ‘One Document Policy’ that only affords those with a passport/visa to cross the frontier. Local traders say that the crossing has always been treated as an ‘open border’ and that generations have moved freely across to buy/sell goods. The Government in Islamabad has countered that the border crossing has been used for smuggling purposes and seems content to allow it to remain closed. Many international observers in Pakistan have offered the opinion that Islamabad failed to make a strong case for security when implementing the policy and this has contributed to much of the frustration.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Laghman: The AFF claims ro have assassinated 2 Taliban intelligence officials yesterday in the Daulat Shah district. The two stood accused of murdering former members of the Afghan military.

Panjshir: An internal clash between a Taliban district governor and a local Taliban commander took place on Saturday in the Dara district. The governor and a commander reportedly got into a fight. The commander was injured. Locals said the Taliban then disarmed the governor’s security detachment.

NEXT 24 HOURS: No Threats Reported

Daily Evacuation Brief | November 26, 2023

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

DEPORTATIONS HALTED AT TORKHAM ON FRIDAY, TALIBAN FORCE THE HALT – In a move that has befuddled policymakers in Islamabad, the Taliban refused to accept people being deported from Pakistan by mandating they all must be cleared by the Consul General in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A source in Islamabad said the maneuver caught members of the Foreign Ministry by surprise and that a special team had been assembled to examine the legality of the Taliban’s new rule. The Taliban’s main contention for invoking the screening is that many Pakistani citizens have been found among the Afghans who have so far been deported back to Afghanistan. A human rights lawyer in Islamabad said the maneuver was ‘brilliant’ on the part of the Taliban and offered the opinion the rule would be hard to argue as Pakistan had used similar arguments in a previous case involving Afghans in the early 2000s. Eyewitnesses say that no deportees were sent through Torkham on Friday as a result and that trucks carrying those who faced expulsion were left at the border to try again today.

TALIBAN MINISTRY HIT BY NEW CYBER-ATTACK – An unidentified Ministry in Afghanistan fell victim to the ‘HrServ’ attack. Analysts say the attack inserted the web shell into the Ministry’s server and that the HrServ is a weaponized malware that can allow hackers to steal data, monitor servers, and perform limited functions across the server. The hack is being characterized as an Advanced Persistent Attack (APA). The web shell is capable of launching a file that erases any trail it may leave. Analysts say those responsible for the hack are likely not native English speakers due to the high number of typos in the source code. Ultimately, it is believed those behind HrServ were planning a financial crime of some sort.

RETIRED INDIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS ON THE VERGE OF RECOGNIZING THE TALIBAN – Talmiz Ahmad, a retired Indian senior diplomat said that the recent circus that has played out in the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is a sign his government intends to begin bilateral relations with the defacto leaders in Kabul. Ahmad characterizes the step as ‘inevitable’ and is hopeful that bilateral relations would result in favorable trade agreements and the potential for discussions about the Taliban’s internal policies.

PAKISTAN’S SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AGAINST FORCED DEPORTATIONS ON 1 DECEMBER – After a possible politically motivated delay, the Supreme Court said it would constitute a three-member bench to hear the plea on behalf of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and are considered to be ‘birthright citizens’ under Section 4 of the Citizenship Act (1951). If the plea is affirmed by the Supreme Court, it could potentially provide a legal basis for halting the deportations as the plaintiffs argue illustrates the Government of Pakistan’s inability to differentiate between those considered lawful ‘birthright citizens’ and those deemed ‘illegal migrants’. Political analysts say that even if the Supreme Court accepts the plea, it is unlikely to halt deportations but could provide ammunition to the international community to bring more pressure to bear on Islamabad over the universally condemned policy.

BADAKHSHAN HEADACHES CONTINUE FOR TALIBAN – Reports of a widening rift continue to come in from Badakhshan Province. The most recent indicates that the District Governor is thought to have ordered the transfer of both heavy and light weapons to Kandahar. A senior Taliban official, Qari Fasihuddin, was asked to postpone a trip to the restive Province by senior agents from the GDI. A source in Kabul said that senior leaders are recommending a ‘stronger hand’ is needed to lead the Province.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Takhar: A blast was reported by locals in the downtown area of Talaqan. Multiple sources said the blast targeted a Taliban truck and that 1 Talib was killed and two were wounded in the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Parwan: Multiple reports confirmed that an attack if some sort was launched at a district administration building in the Bagram district. Eyewitnesses said the building came under attack from rocket fire before midnight on Saturday, and the attack continued for nearly thirty minutes. Casualties were reported, but the number and type has not been provided.

NEXT 24 HOURS

POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF TALIBAN TO BADAKHSHAN – Several sources in both Kabul and Kandahar say that a warning order has been issued to select units of the Ministry of Defense to prepare for a deployment to the Province. It is not clear what the reinforcements will be used for upon arrival but many are speculating that local leaders will likely be arrested and an effort to reign in members of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) could occur. At-risk Afghans in Badakhshan (especially Faizabad) should be aware of the possible deployment. Conflict could easily ensue as the Taliban appear to be nervous over a potential ‘breakaway’ Province situation. China has previously expressed concerns over the activity of ETIM in the Province and is rumored to have shared several intercepted messages with Kabul over the past year.

Daily Evacuation Brief | November 25, 2023

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

NEW UPDATES FROM BADAKHSHAN TALIBAN ISSUES – Hasht-Sub Daily reports that a former Commander of the GDI in the Province was arrested by a special Taliban security detachment sent from Kabul. The former Commander was arrested in Faizabad on Friday and has been transferred to Kabul. Rumi Nooralhuda faces charges of corruption and mistreatment of civilians and may be implicated in the mysterious killing of 4 Taliban fighters earlier in the Province. Nooralhuda is said to be related to Mawlawi Fasihuddin Fetrat, a leader in the Taliban Ministry of Defense.

UNITED NATIONS TO INVESTIGATE RECENT KILLING OF SHIITE SCHOLARS IN HERAT – A brazen daylight assassination of 2 Shiite Islamic scholars in Herat City has prompted the Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett to open an inquiry into the matter. In a tweet, Bennett urged the Taliban to accept an independent investigation into the killings, and sources in Kandahar say that Taliban officials are unlikely to accept the advice as there are concerns that a local Taliban Commander (unnamed) may have been involved.

TALIBAN OFFICIALS IN KABUL THREATEN SHOP OWNERS TO ADOPT PASHTO OR FACE CLOSURE – The threat was communicated during a televised interview with an unidentified Taliban official in central Kabul. The threat supports claims made by members of minority groups within Afghanistan for the past two years that say their cultures are under threat by the Pashtun-dominated Taliban. The Taliban have continually pushed back against such claims but few can ignore the lack of political representation from minorities in the senior Taliban ranks.

MORE DIPLOMATIC DRAMA IN INDIA – Diplomatic staff at the besieged Afghan Embassy in New Delhi released several statements on social media that claimed the Embassy was to be closed and no further services were to be provided to Afghan citizens residing in the country. Shortly after the posts began to circulate on various social media platforms, 2 officials from the staff said that the Embassy would continue to operate. One of those mentioned is said to be a consular officer appointed by the previous regime but who has agreed to work with the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul. The Government of India has wisely stayed out of the squabble and it is not yet clear if they will accept the credentials of the new ‘Taliban’ affiliated diplomats.

RESISTANCE ATTACKS GAIN MOMENTUM – Fighters from the Afghanistan Freedom Front have launched several operations over the month of November and appear to be carrying the brunt of the fighting against the Taliban in the months leading up to Winter. Yesterday witnessed three separate military engagements against the Taliban, two of which have been confirmed. The attacks follow several others that were ultimately confirmed throughout the month of November. While the National Resistance Front is generally considered the main military opponent for the Taliban, the AFF has clearly stepped up operations when most campaigning is tapering off for the Winter. Local sources within the Resistance say this is primarily due to a spike in recruitment that began in late 2022 and that the group is primarily located within Kabul and a select few other cities while the NRF is considered the ‘Northern Front’ and is based mainly in Takhar and Panjshir. Many have long thought that the majority of the legitimate Resistance groups began coordinating operations at the end of 2022. This has not been confirmed but the frequency and locations of attacks over the course of 2023 suggest that some communication is taking place. Many in Afghanistan have characterized the AFF fighters as sort of a ‘Robin Hood’ movement that locals can turn to in dealing with particularly heavy-handed or corrupt Taliban in their neighborhoods. The AFF’s operational strategy has been to launch lightning attacks on vulnerable Taliban positions. While the NRF was involved in heavier campaigns against the Taliban in 2022. Throughout 2023, the NRF has played a more defensive role and has largely avoided major engagements like those witnessed in the previous year. Whether this is a coordinated strategy between the two groups is unknown but it has resulted in constant pressure on the Taliban and has served to illustrate to regional and international observers that the Resistance is far from pacified.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Kabul: An operation by fighters from the AFF took place yesterday evening, targeting a Taliban position in the Gulkhane area (6th Police District). 2 Talibs were killed and 3 others wounded in the operation.

Kabul: An AFF force launched an attack earlier against the Taliban garrison of Toli Muzab (5th Police District), which left 4 Taliban member dead and 3 wounded in the attack. Sources say the attack was ordered after citizens complained the garrison was responsible for searches that were focused on stealing citizens’ property.
Parwan: Fighters from the AFF reportedly struck a Taliban security checkpoint near the Padeh Khab Bridge in the Bagram district. 3 Talibs were said to have been killed and 2 others wounded in the attack.

NEXT 24 HOURS

POSSIBLE TALIBAN SECURITY OPERATIONS IN KABUL – After two successful attacks by Resistance forces in Kabul and a third unconfirmed attack in Parwan, our analysis indicates it is likely the Taliban will be forced to respond and may launch a search operation to attempt to ferret out the location of Afghanistan Freedom Front operating bases. Sources in Kabul say that local Taliban Commanders have been voicing frustration with the Ministry of the Interior’s inability to gain intelligence on the AFF for the past two months. With this in mind, increased security operations are possible in Kabul and potentially elsewhere across the country. Sources say that very little information is known about the AFF and that some are suspicious it is receiving intelligence from within the Taliban that has allowed it to elude detection. At the very least, the Taliban will likely increase patrols in order to restore confidence among its fighters who are manning checkpoints and outposts that it is at least doing something to contain the AFF.

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Afghanistan

Daily Evacuation Brief October 25-26, 2023

2023-10-26

I apologize for current business that has kept me from delivering the Afghan Daily Evacuation Brief to Rantburg recently. For those interested in catching up, the DEB archive is here. I’m afraid I shall continue to be distracted for a while longer.

Daily Evacuation Brief | October 26, 2023

[AfghanDigest LAST 24 HOURS

AFGHAN REFUGEE PROTEST MARCH PLANNED IN 4 PAKISTAN CITIES SUNDAY – A coordinated call for Afghan refugees in Pakistan to join the ‘Aurat March’ in four major cities on Sunday (29 October) to protest the deportation edict. The group intends to host marches at 1530hrs local time in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Multan. Refugees are being told to gather outside of the Press Clubs in each respective location. A source in Islamabad said that security forces had been informed about the planned protests and said that no permits had been issued to the organizers and that they may be treated as illegal gatherings. At least four major international news organizations TAD contacted said they had already arranged for coverage of the events. Some international NGOs said they intended to allow their volunteers to march with the Afghans but could not officially support the protests as it would damage their operations within the country.

ISIS-K THREATENS ATTACKS IN CHINA – In a recently released video on ISIS-K’s website, the terror group threatened to “Flood (China’s) Streets with Blood”. While China has made it abundantly clear it has concerns about elements of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) gathering strength and recruiting in Afghanistan, ISIS-K has remained off the radar for the most part. It was not clear what prompted the recent threat against China and some observers feel the terror group is warning China against further cooperation with the Taliban. A source in Kabul said that Taliban security personnel had reported multiple incidents of surveillance by ISIS-K during the installation of security camera systems around the country.

TALIBAN DEMAND SEAT AT THE UNITED NATIONS – The Islamic Emirate spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, implored the UN to hand over its seat to the Taliban on the UN’s International Day. Mujahid said that withholding the seat is an ‘injustice’ to the people of Afghanistan. It is not clear what will be done with the seat but few believe the Taliban will be allowed to take the seat with the current domestic policies in place and the fact that it is an imposed government and does not enjoy the full support of the citizens of Afghanistan.

IRAN POSITIONING TO FOLLOW PAKISTAN’S LEAD AND MAY BEGIN DEPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES – On Wednesday, the Iranian Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, slammed the Taliban for failing to stem the flood of refugees headed to Iran. During a respite from a cabinet meeting, Vahidi spoke to several reporters and said that all undocumented Afghans needed to be expelled from Iran. He then went on to caution against vilifying Afghans currently in Iran. The Afghan refugee situation in Iran is confusing as throughout 2023, the hardline press has steadily called for greater government intervention to stop the influx of refugees. Then, at the end of September 2022, a bizarre amnesty plan was discussed in the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the parliament to grant Iranian citizenship to all legal Afghan immigrants currently in the country. Once the amnesty plan was made public in the summer of 2023, there was an immediate uptick in xenophobic press articles about Afghans. On Sunday, parliament ordered the Interior Ministry to set up a National Immigration Organization to begin tracking data for both legal and undocumented Afghans in Iran. The steps Iran is currently taking are eerily familiar to those enacted by Pakistan in recent months.

ANOTHER 4.3 EARTHQUAKE REPORTED IN AFGHANISTAN – The latest quake’s location has yet to be ascertained but it occurred in the early morning hours on Thursday and struck at a depth of 150km. There have been no reports of damage or casualties as of publication.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Kandahar: An ALF strike team reportedly struck a Taliban security checkpoint in front of the provincial prison in Kandahar City (6th police district). ALF sources said they killed 1 Taliban and 2 others were injured in the fray.

NEXT 24 HOURS: No Threats Reported

Daily Evacuation Brief October 25, 2023

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

PAKISTAN TIGHTENING SECURITY AND SCREENING PROCESS AT BORDER ENTRY POINTS – Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency has set up a system to verify visas at Torkham Gate. The kiosk is meant to check visas of Afghans who attempt to cross into Pakistan. A source in Rawalpindi said the oversight was needed due to the problem of border security personnel taking bribes to let people in. A similar system is planned for Spin Boldak Gate in the South. The measures are being implemented as the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) met to make final plans for the upcoming deportation operation. In a meeting yesterday, it was announced that undocumented Afghans found in Punjab would be taken to Rawalpindi for processing and would be deported from there. In addition, it has been decided that Afghan nationals who were currently being held in prisons for criminal acts would be sorted according to ‘minor’ and ‘major’ crimes. Those awaiting trial for minor crimes would be deported while those accused of major crimes would await trial. There are concerns that the holding center in Rawalpindi has a maximum capacity of 20,000 people and that overcrowding will cause significant problems.

PAKISTAN DESIGNATES ‘DEPORTATION CENTERS’ TO HANDLE AFGHANS – Centers are expected to be established to process and hold deportees awaiting expulsion. Undocumented Afghans in Punjab and Sindh Provinces will be sent to centers in Rawalpindi and Karachi. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will host 2 centers (Nowshehra and Chamkani). Baluchistan will house 3 centers (Quetta, Pishin, and Qilla Abdullah). Sources in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi have expressed concerns that the designated ‘centers’ only exist on paper and very few preparations have been made at this point to contain the hundreds of thousands who are expected to be brought to the centers. The sources also say they expect to see severe problems with feeding the Afghans, drinking water, and medical treatment who will be interned in the centers.

TALIBAN/PAKISTANI OFFICIALS MEET AT BORDER TO DISCUSS DEPORTATION OPERATION – The information Minister for Balochistan’s caretaker government announced that a meeting took place yesterday between Taliban and Pakistani border officials to discuss the upcoming deportation operation. Among the topics discussed were provisions for those Afghans who had been in Pakistan seeking medical treatment and treatment of women/widows who did not have male chaperones. According to an eyewitness present at the meeting, the discussion was a one-sided affair, and Taliban objections to specific points of concern about the operation were simply ignored.

NEXT 24 HOURS No Threats Reported

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Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Seeks to Participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative

2023-09-25

A brilliant way to strip the permanently “interim” Talib government of its remaining funds while giving it nothing concrete and lasting (among other things, because of the high levels of fly ash in the Chinese concrete). Indulge your dreams of cheating the unwitting Chinee unbelievers, O Tali-dudes!

[ToloNews] Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi a meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Kabul, Zhao Xing, requested Afghanistan's participation in the "Belt and Road Initiative."

Abdul Salam Hanafi said that they are trying to connect Afghanistan through different corridors with this project.

The Ministry of Economy said that Afghanistan's connection to the Belt and Road Initiative project is beneficial for Afghanistan's economic growth.

"Afghanistan's joining the Belt and Road Initiative will integrate Afghanistan's economy into the regional and world economies and will promote trade and economic growth and the development of Afghanistan, as well as promote Afghanistan's geo-economic transit position," said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy of the Economy Ministry.

The Chamber of Commerce and Investment believes that connecting Afghanistan to the Silk Path or the "Belt and Road Initiative," project can increase Afghanistan's trade with the countries of the region.

"It is very effective. It is known to you that we have trade with China, and not only with China, but with Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, and these countries we do it by sea. And it's very influential for business growth," said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of the ACCI.

Economists said that connecting Afghanistan to the Belt and Road Initiative is needed so that the countries of the region will support Afghanistan from a financial point of view.

"In order to reach such a line to Afghanistan and for Afghanistan's participation to actually get a good score, it is clear that the World Bank and the extraordinary financial resources of the northern countries play a role," said Sayed Masoud, an economist.

The Belt and Road Initiative or New Silk Path was presented by the President of China and is planned to cost $1300 billion to build thousands of kilometers of roads, railways, waterways, and air routes.

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