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Afghanistan
Appointed to Settle The pasture Dispute Between The Kochi and Hazara Communities in Southen Ghazni Province-Afghanistan
2023-01-02
[KhaamaPress] The previous government failed to end the grassland dispute between Kochi and Hazara
...a grouping of Dari-speaking people of Sino-Tibetan descent inhabiting Afghanistan and Pakistain. They are predominantly Shia Moslems and not particularly warlike, which makes them favored targets...
 ethnic groups.

A group of a delegation headed by acting Minister Mullah Noori has departed to Ghazni province to address the grassland dispute between Kochi and Hazara, the Official said on Sunday.

The delegation includes Mullah Noorullah Noori, Acting Minister for Tribal and border Affairs; Mowlavi Fazal Bari Fazli, acting deputy Minister for Agriculture, Haji Najib, acting director for General Directorate of Intelligence, Haji Khalifa, a representative for the Interior Minister, Mawlavi Obaidullah, Representative for Attorney General Office.

The Official asserted that the acting government saw conflict resolution as part of its mandate and would mobilize all resources to that end. Therefore, the delegation aimed to find a permanent solution in the Nawar District of Ghazni.

The grassland dispute has a long history between Pashtun nomad-Kuchis and Hazara ethnic groups. The Ghazni people expressed concern about the advancement of armed Kuchis in their agricultural land last year.

Several disputes existed in other parts of the Ghazni province, such as Malistan and Jaghori. In addition, a similar situation has been in other central provinces of Afghanistan, such as Maidan Wardak, Bamyan, and Ghor.

Although the local people have frequently sought the local authorities to fix the problems, there was no intention of doing so. The head of the deployed delegation hoped that the dispute would end soon if both sides cooperated with the delegations.
Pajhwok adds:
Mohammad Gul Kochi, representative of Kochi tribe, told Pajhwok Afghan News Hazara people often resort to violence and attacked Kochies over grassland dispute in Nawar district in the past years.

"During republic regime Hazara people on the direction of their elders Mohaqiq, Qasami and Changiz often attacked Kochies in which over 20 people were killed, scored injured and some were tortured."

Mohammad Mehdi, a tribal elder from Hazara ethnic group, said: "A mistake that the governor of Nawar district committed was the kidnapping of a woman from Kochi tribe and she was murdered after some time."

He added Hazara tribe collected 10 million afs and gave it to Kochi tribe as ransom money.

Civil society activist muppet Sydullah Taraki said tribal and ethnic disputes cause insecurity and fighting adding that government should find permanent solution to such issues.

Nawar district is known for its massive grasslands, greenery, hillsides and beautiful weather. Past government dubbed Nawar as national park.
Link


Afghanistan
Taliban’s caretaker cabinet to last for six months, more about key members
2021-09-10
[KhaamaPress] Former officials of the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
 believe that the newly announced cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will last for six months and then the official cabinet will be announced.

The former official has said that the official cabinet will be announced based on the votes and willingness of the Afghan people and will include all classes.

A 33-member all-men caretaker cabinet which was announced on Tuesday, September 7 has triggered mixed reactions inside Afghanistan.

A number of Afghan leaders who are in exile have reacted to the cabinet as being monopolized by a single ethnic group (Pashtoon) and have asked the international community not to recognize as the Taliban will threaten the region and world.

Son of the slain Ahmad Shah Masoud, Ahmad Masoud has called the cabinet illegal and said that they will declare a parallel government which will be transitional and democratic.

On the other hand, political analysts in Afghanistan believe the cabinet to be much required in the current situation in order for the lives of people to come to normal.

They believe that the Taliban want to assess their capacity and see what the possible international and internal reactions are to the caretaker cabinet.

Former Taliban officials believe that the official cabinet of the Taliban will include women, experts and will be all-inclusive.

More about the interim government

[ToloNews] The Taliban
...Arabic for students...
's new government in Afghanistan will be led by the Taliban leader Mullah pkesman for the Taliban, said that the group will reject foreigners’ intervention over the name and structure of the next government.

"We will not allow anyone to interfere in Afghanistan’s affairs. The government name, its type, and form belong to the Afghans and they will decide," Mujahid said.

The Taliban also said the new government is the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan."

"The new government in Afghanistan has officially started its work under the name of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," said Anaamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission.

In the new cabinet announced on Tuesday, Mullah Hassan Akhundzada was appointed as the head of state (prime minister), with Mullah Baradar and Mawlawi Hannafi as his deputies.

A short biography of the key members:

Among those named for the new cabinet are members of the Taliban negotiating team in Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
 and some who were imprisoned in the US's Guantanamo detention center.

Mullah Hassan Akhundzada, 65, who is the Prime Minister (head of state) is originally from Shah Walikot district of Kandahar province. Akhundzada held various posts during the first Taliban regime--lasting between 1996 and 2001--such as foreign minister, governor of Kandahar and as a military official in the north of Afghanistan.

Abdul Ghani Barader, 45, a co-founder of the Taliban led by Mullah Mohammad Blinky Omar
...a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality. Died of an unspecified ailment in a Pak hospital...
, is from Dehrawood district of Uruzgan province. He graduated from a religious madrasa.

Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob, acting minister for the Defense Ministry, is the son of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar. He is 25 years old and from Dehrawood district in Uruzgan.

The acting Director of Intelligence is Abdul Haq Wasiq, 49, from Khogyani district in Ghazni. He graduated from a madrasa in Quetta, Pakistain. Wasiq was in the US's Guantanamo detention center for 13 years and worked as deputy director of intelligence in the previous Taliban regime.

The acting minister of interior, Serajuddin Haqqani, is the son of the late Jalaluddin Haqqani
...founder and until he pegged out titular head of the Haqqani Network. Jalaluddin was one of the few Pashtun warlords who was worth spit...
, who led the Haqqani Network.

Mullah Amir Khan Mutaqi, acting minister for foreign affairs, is from Zurmat district of Paktia province. He was working as minister of information and culture in the first Taliban regime.

The acting minister of information and culture, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah, 53, is from Kandahar province. He spent 12 years in Guantanamo.

The acting minister of justice, Mawllawi Abdul Hakim Haqqani, 53, is from Maiwand district of Kandahar. He graduated from a Pak madrasa and worked in judicial organizations.

The acting minister of borders and tribal affairs, Mullah Noorullah Noori, 53, is from Zabul Province. He was governor of Balkh and Laghman
...Afghan province with a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka, wich is apparently Olde Macedonian for Laghman.The city of Mihtarlam serves as the bucolic capital of the province. The population is half Pashtun, the remainder Tadjik and Pashai. It had a repution for great wealth until it was conquered in the tenth century by Abu Mansur Sabuktigin.
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...
 provinces in the first Taliban regime. He spent 13 years in Guantanamo.
Al Ahram adds:
A Taliban interim government, drawn exclusively from loyalist ranks, formally began work this week with established hardliners in all key posts and no women -- despite previous promises of an inclusive administration for all Afghans.

All the top positions have been handed to key leaders from the movement and in particular the Haqqani network -- the most violent Taliban faction, known for devastating attacks.

The dreaded Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice -- previously responsible for arresting and punishing people for failing to follow the movement's restrictive interpretation of sharia -- is being reinstated.
Related:
Abdul Hakim Haqqani: 2021-09-02 The Taliban leader who trained with the Indian Army
Abdul Hakim Haqqani: 2020-09-09 'US envoy meets new Taliban chief negotiator'
Link


Afghanistan
Who is who in the new government of Afghanistan
2021-09-08
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
See also here, which lays out the four of five GITMO detainees swapped for Bowe Berghdahl who have been tapped for government posts.
by Aleksandr Kots

[KP] Noting the capture of Panjshir , the Taliban finally announced the composition of an interim government. It was assumed that it should be inclusive, that is, it should represent not only the terrorist movement banned in Russia, but also other Afghan forces, national and religious associations. However, judging by the key posts announced, ministerial portfolios went exclusively to Taliban members. All positions are still named with the prefix "acting".

Prime Minister - Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund.
Alternate spelling Hassan Akhund.
He heads the Shura (council) of Taliban leaders. Was the governor of Kandahar. Member of the High Council. The top post was received as a compromise figure who arranged all the factions of the Taliban.

First Deputy Prime Minister - Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Warlord and leader of the Taliban's political wing. He fought with Soviet troops. During the first reign of the Taliban, he served as the head of Herat and commanded the military corps of Western Afghanistan. In 2010, he was captured by Pakistani intelligence and released three years later at the request of the Afghan government.

Second Deputy Prime Minister - Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi.
Alt. spelling Hannafi.
In the Taliban - from the day of its foundation, however, it represents the political wing of the movement. He was a key figure in the political office in Qatar. In the 90s, he served as Deputy Minister of Education in the Taliban government.

Defense Minister - Muhammad Yakub Mujahid.
Alt. Yaqoub.
Son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar. He served as the head of the military commission of the movement, was a member of its highest governing council. He is the second deputy head of the Taliban.
The Deputy Defense Minister is Mohammad Fazl, one of the GITMO detainees swapped for Bowe Berghdahl.
Interior Minister - Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Alt. Serajuddin Haqqani.
He is the son of the founder of the Haqqani Network terrorist organization, the Taliban's most radical wing. It is currently at the head. Organizer of several terrorist attacks, including the attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul. Planned the assassination of Hamid Karzai. The US State Department has declared a particularly dangerous international terrorist. A reward of $5 million has been announced for his head.
Despite his history and that bounty, the New York Times saw fit to publish an opinion piece in February, 2020 over his signature.
The head of intelligence is Abdul Haq Wasik.
Alt. Abdul Haq Wasiq. One of the Berghdahl swap gentlemen.
Former Taliban deputy intelligence minister. In 2001, he was captured by the Americans in Afghanistan, from January 2002 to May 2014 he was held in the famous Guantanamo prison in Cuba. He was released along with four other members of the so-called five Taliban in exchange for the US Army soldier Bow Bergdahl, who was captured by the Haqqani network.

Minister of Culture and Information - Zabihullah Mujahid. He is the official spokesman for the Taliban. Before the capture of Kabul, he did not appear in public, speaking only with written or audio statements.
One of the Berghdahl swap gents, Khair Ulla Said Wali Khairkhwa, is also listed as Info and Culture minister. No doubt this will be clarified at some point.
null
Foreign Minister - Mullah Amir Khan Muttaki.
Alt. Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Taliban high councilor. In the past, the movement was headed by the Ministry of Higher Education. Represented the movement in the negotiations held under the auspices of the UN.

Education Minister - Sheikh Mawlavi Nurullah Munir.
Alt. Noorullah Munir.
Taliban member.

The Economy Minister is Mohammad Hanif,
Alt. Qari Din Hanif.
a Taliban member.

The head of the Central Bank is Mullah Mohammad Idris, a Taliban member.

The top five on the government's list are under UN sanctions. Therefore, the prospects for the West to recognize the Cabinet of Ministers, whose members are also on the international wanted list, are very illusory.
Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin mentioned in his blog the Russian Federation government is waiting on moves such as these, which will decide if the government recognizes the new Afghanistan government.

This won't help.
Aleksandr Kots is a Russian military journalist

Related: Tolo News has a complete list, including the uninteresting appointments. Such as Acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs: Mullah Noorullah Noori, one of the Berghdahl swap gents.
Link


Afghanistan
Massoud, Taliban Agree to Not Fight Until Next Round of Talks
2021-08-27
Hudna.
[ToloNews] Supporters of Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the resistance front against the Taliban, and Taliban representatives held their first meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the center of Parwan province to seek an alternative to fighting.

The resistance front delegation was composed of 12 people led by Almas Zahid, a former Mujahideen commander, and the six-member Taliban delegation was led by Mohammad Mohsin Hashimi, the Taliban’s deputy leader of intelligence.

A representative of the resistance front, Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, wrote on his Facebook page that both sides agreed to not attack each other until the second round of negotiations is held.

The representatives met for three hours and then returned to their respective sides to share the discussed issues with their leaders.

“After three hours of discussion, it was decided that both delegations will share the message with their leadership and resume the negotiations to reach a durable peace in the country. It was also decided that the parties should not attack each other until the second round of negotiations,” wrote Ezedyar.

A member of the Taliban delegation, meanwhile, said that the Taliban wanted to discuss the issue of Panjshir, but Massoud’s supporters wanted to discuss the structure of the future government. Thus the negotiations had no tangible outcome, he said.

“The Panjshir delegation was more focused on the overall structure of the governance system. Since there were big differences between the two sides' demands, both sides decided to take the messages to their leaders,” said Anamullah Samangani, a member of the cultural commission of the Taliban.

The negotiations followed both sides' threatening to use military force.

“The discussions will bear results in the coming days. If the discussions have no results and they use another option (military), we will do the same,” said Noorullah Noori, a member of the Taliban’s political office.

“We are still waiting for the outcome of the negotiations. Despite this, we have all the military preparations as well,” said Hamid Saifi, a member of the resistance front.

Ahmad Massoud in a recent interview with the BBC said that if an inclusive and acceptable government for all is not established, Afghanistan will be isolated both politically and economically.

“We are negotiating with the Taliban. So far, several countries--like Canada--has said it will not recognize an exclusive government. If that happens the people will continue to suffer,” Massoud said.

The Taliban has said they will form an inclusive government, but the terms have still not been clearly defined.
Link


Afghanistan
Taliban Reveals Names of Negotiating Team for Intra-Afghan Dialogues
2020-08-28
[KhaamaPress] Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
’s Political Office in Doha revealed names of at least 21 members who form a negotiating team during the Intra-Afghan talks, adding 13 of them are key members of the group.

Here is names of the Taliban members for Intra-Afghan dialogues:

Maulavi Mohammad Sher Abas Stanikzai
Sheikh Abdul Hakim
Maulavi Abdul Kabir
Maulavi Noor Mohammad Saqib
Mullah Mohammad Zahed Ahmadzai
Mullah Sheerin Akhund
Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor
Qari Din Mohammad
Mullah Abdul Salam
Sheikh Mohammad Qasem Turkman
Mullah Mohammad Fazel Mazlum
Mullah Noorullah Noori
Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq
Maulavi Mati-ulhaq Khales
Mohammad Suhail Shaheen
Mullah Mohammad Nabi Omari
Anas Haqani
Khairullah Khairkhuwah
Maulavi Shabudin
Mullah Farid

Afghan Government had previously announced their delegations, with expectation of holding Intra-Afghan talks in upcoming days in DOHA.

Previously, the talks were to begin earlier this month but Afghanistan’s refusal on the release of six detainees and the rise of violence by the Taliban hampered the process.
Link


Afghanistan
Taliban announces new delegation of peace negotiators for the talks with the United States
2019-02-13
Discussions about the shape and size of the negotiating table and the number of dishes to be served at breakfast, lunch, dinner, elevenses, tea, and the evening snack will commense in due course.
[KhaamaPress] The Talibs group has announced a delegation of peace negotiators comprising of 14 Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
 representatives for peace talks with the United States.

Taliban in a statement said Tuesday that the new delegation has been formed by deputy political chief of Taliban Mullah Baradar Aakhund and on instructions of Taliban leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada.

The statement further added that the delegation is led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai
...Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Head of the Taliban political office in Doha. He was a member of Rassoul Sayyaf's group in the war against the Soviets....
 while Mawlavi Zia Ur Rehman Madani, Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar, Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, Mullah Abdul Manan Omari, Mawlavi Amir Khan Mutaqi, Mullah Mohammad Fazil Masloom, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa, Mawlavi Mati Ul Haq, Mullah Mohammad Anas Haqqani, Mullah Noorullah Noori, Mawlavi Mohammad Nabi Omari, and Mulalh Abdul Haq Wasiq are the members of the delegation.

In reaction to the inclusion of the name of Annas Haqqani as the member of the delegation, the Afghan Intelligence said no decision has been taken so far regarding the release of Annas Haqqani.

Teh statement further added that Anas Haqqani is still serving in the jail and the government is obliged to take decisions in the light of the enforced laws of the country regarding those who have committed crimes against the Afghan people.
Link


Afghanistan
5 key Taliban leaders arrive in Qatar amid ongoing efforts for peace talks revival
2018-11-01
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A group of five key Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
 group leaders, who were released for a captive U.S. soldier in 2015, have reportedly joined the Taliban politicians in Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
 as efforts are underway for the revival of Afghan peace talks.

A Taliban front man Zabiullah Mujahid has confirmed to News Agency that Dare Not be Named that a group of five Taliban leaders have arrived in Qatar and joined the Taliban politicianship in their office in Qatar.

Mujahid has also confirmed that the five Taliban leaders have previously served in Guantanamo detention facility.

In the meantime, reports indicate that the Taliban leaders have joined the politicianship of the group in Qatar with an aim to participate in peace talks.

The five key Taliban leaders who have recently travelled to Qatar, include Mullah Noorullah Noori, Mullah Khairullah Khairzada, Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq, and Mawlavi Mohammad Nabi Omari.

This comes as the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had met with the Taliban politicians in Qatar three weeks ago.

The Taliban front man Zabiullah Mujahid had also confirmed the meeting and had said that the two sides have agreed to continue negotiations in a bid to find a solution for the existing issues.

Link


Afghanistan
A Look At Taliban's Different Factions
2016-01-22
[Tolo News] After the death of the Taliban's former leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taliban split into two main factions -- the first one led by Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour and the second led by Mullah Mohammad Rasoul
...Leader of a rival faction of the Afghan Taliban. He's probably not long for this world.....
TOLOnews news hound Sharif Amiri has assessed the issue in a special report.

According to him, Mullah Akhtar Mansour has two deputies -- including Haibatullah Akhundzada
...Deputy to Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansour...
 and Sirajuddin Haqqani
...son of Pashtun warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani, still titular head of the Haqqani Network....
, the leader of Haqqani network.

He said the Quetta Shura
...Mullah Omar's command center, located in Quetta, that the Pak govt hasn't been able to find since its establishment in November, 2001. Honest...
 (Council) has 18 members, which has the responsibility of making Taliban's strategies. The council is considered as the main factor behind the war in Afghanistan, Sharif said.

Based on him, another group which is led by Mullah Rasoul has focused more on Afghanistan.

Mullah Manan Niazi
...deputy to Taliban faction supremo Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Nowrozi...
 and Mullah Baz Mohammad
...deputy to Taliban faction supremo Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Nowrozi...
 Haris are his deputies, Sharif said in his report.

He added that he has found that Pakistain has little control over the Taliban faction led by Mullah Rasoul. The group led by Mullah Rasoul is more interested to join the grinding of the peace processor -- compared to other factions of Taliban, he added.

In addition he said there are a number of key Taliban leaders in Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates...
, including Abbas Stanikzai
...Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Head of the Taliban political office in Doha. He was a member of Rassoul Sayyaf's group in the war against the Soviets....
, head of the office, Mullah Jan Mohammad Madani, Mullah Shahabuddin Dilawar, Suhail Shahin, Mohammad Zahid Ahmadzai and Abdul Salam Hanafi.

According to him, the Qatar Taliban office has the responsibility of Taliban's foreign policy. This office takes orders from Quetta Shura, the report said.

According to the report, there are five key members of Taliban -- including Mullah Fazil Akhund, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwah, Mullah Abdulhaq Wasiq, Mullah Noorullah Noori and Mullah Mohammad Nabi Omari.

Sharif said that the Taliban is not the only problem for Afghanistan; there are up to 5,000 foreign rebels, including Arab, Chechen and Uzbek fighters, fighting against security forces in Afghanistan.

It is believed that if the Taliban agrees to peace with the Afghan government, the groups will still pose a threat to the country's security.
Link


Arabia
Qatar may prove comfy for Bergdahl Five
2014-06-09
A Hilton is a Hilton...
QATAR –- On a weekend night you can't escape the roar of race car engines along the coastal roads here in the Qatari capital. It must be a bit of a culture shock for the five Taliban detainees sprung from Guantanamo Bay last week in exchange for the freedom of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

There has been an outcry from critics of the prisoner swap, who worry that these men with blood on their hands are getting off far too easily. Qatar's citizens are the richest in the world, per capita, but only a minority of residents here are actually citizens and the Taliban five are not among them. We do know their families are coming here to live with the former prisoners in some sort of residential compound.
So it's a Marriott Residence Inn...
Sources here say they are likely to live in "5 star villas" along with more than a few of their compatriots who are already living in the Qatari capital at the expense of this gas-rich Emirate.

Qataris have a different relationship with the Taliban than does the U.S. Afghanistan is not their war. These men and their families are fellow Muslims. And Qatar sees the latest prisoner swap as a humanitarian gesture. That is pretty much all Doha is saying.
And as allies, of course, in the long-term fight against the infidels...
The terms of the former Guantanamo prisoners' existence here have not been publicly spelled out either. One source says they won't even be using the phone while here.
But the DoubleTree has in-room free wi-fi...
They are officially banned from fundraising and political organizing. It is not clear how much that can be monitored. Washington has said it is leaving the monitoring up to Doha. But some here say it is hard to believe the Americans won't be watching them, too.
Unless Champ orders the CIA not to do that. Which he might...
At least one of the former captives, according to a relative, plans to return to the battlefield after his year of loose house arrest in Qatar is up. Former regional governor and military commander Noorullah Noori is also wanted by the U.N. for war crimes in connection with the massacre of Afghan shi'ites.

Most of the "Taliban dream team," as one former Afghan official put it, either had very close ties with Taliban leader in exile Mullah Omar or with Al Qaeda. That said, some have suggested they are "grey beards", well past their prime and a little out of touch.

One Afghan journalist I have spoken to says actually their value has gone up rather than down, as the timing of their release is very sensitive, with the U.S. troop withdrawal coming up. He said it makes the Afghan people question the commitment to their security, but adds that Afghans do understand American concerns about getting a soldier home.

Qatar's track record for keeping track of militants in its custody has not been stellar. Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed slipped through here in 1996 when Washington thought Doha was keeping tabs on him, and another Gitmo prisoner transferred here a few years ago, Jarallah al-Marri, was supposed to be confined to Qatar but managed to turn up in London, where he was arrested. This time, U.S. officials say they are confident that the Taliban five will be kept in this country for the term of the deal and as such, their threat will be mitigated.
You have Champ's promise...
Link


Afghanistan
Taleban Guantanamo detainees agree to Qatar transfer
2012-03-11
KABUL: Five Taleban detainees held at the US Guantanamo Bay military prison have agreed to be transferred to Qatar, a move Afghanistan believes will boost a nascent peace process, President Hamid Karzai's spokesman said on Saturday.
Do we have to transfer them alive? Are we allowed put put the implants into their heads? Such important questions...
Can we use the 14-inch implants? Or are we stuck with the microchips?
Perhaps the microchip implants attached to the 14-inch spikes?
The transfer idea is part of US efforts to bring the Taleban to the negotiating table to avoid prolonged instability in Afghanistan after foreign combat troops leave the country at the end of 2014.

"We are hopeful this will be a positive step toward peace efforts," Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi said, adding the Taleban detainees would be re-united with their families in Qatar if the transfer takes place.

It would be one of a series of good-faith measures that could set in motion the first substantial political negotiations on the conflict in Afghanistan since the Taleban government was toppled in 2001 in a US-led invasion.
Ah yes, 'good-faith' measures. The Taliban of course will reply with good-faith measures of their own, such as .. as .. hmmm...
Despite months of covert diplomacy, it remains unclear whether the prisoner transfer will go ahead. Doubts are growing about whether the Taleban leadership is willing to weather possible opposition from junior and more hard-core members who appear to oppose negotiations.
Yes, the senior guys like Blinky are the souls of moderation. If it were up to them this whole thing would have been over years ago...
Karzai's top aide, Ibrahim Spinzada, visited the Guantanamo facility this week to secure approval from the five Taleban prisoners to be moved to Qatar. Karzai's government has demanded the five former senior members of the Taleban government, held at Guantanamo Bay for a decade, give their consent before they are transferred to the small Gulf state where they would be under Qatar's custody.
Wonder what Qatar says...
US officials hope the peace initiative will gain enough traction to enable Obama to announce the establishment of full-fledged political talks between the Karzai government and the Taleban at a NATO summit in May.

That would mark a major victory for the White House and might ease some of the anxiety created by NATO nations' plans to gradually pull out most of their troops by the end of 2014, leaving an inexperienced Afghan military and fragile government to face a still-formidable insurgency.

The Taleban detainees are seen by some US officials as among the most dangerous inmates at Guantanamo. Their possible transfer has drawn attack from US politicians from both parties even before the administration formally begins a required congressional notification process.

Among the prisoners who may be sent to Qatar is Mohammed Fazl, a "high-risk" detainee alleged to be responsible for the killing of thousands of minority Shiite Muslims between 1998 and 2001.
Release him in the Tajik or Uzbek regions of Aghanistan, and let him walk to Kandahar. Make sure Dostum knows beforehand...
They also include Noorullah Noori, a former senior military commander; Abdul Haq Wasiq, a former deputy intelligence minister; and Khairullah Khairkhwa, a former interior minister.

Afghan foreign minister will visit Qatar in the "near future" for peace discussions with the Taleban, his spokesman said yesterday. The minister will hold talks on the relationship between the nations and also "discuss the Afghan peace process," including "the idea of establishing an office... in Qatar to facilitate the peace process," Mosazi said.
Link


Home Front: WoT
US ready to release Taliban leaders held at Guantanamo Bay.
2012-01-04
The US has agreed in principle to release high-ranking Taliban officials from Guantanamo Bay in return for the Afghan insurgent's agreement to open a political office for peace negotiations in Qatar, UK paper the Guardian has learned.

According to sources familiar with the talks in the US and in Afghanistan, the handful of Taliban figures will include Mullah Khair Khowa, a former interior minister, and Noorullah Noori, a former governor in northern Afghanistan. More controversially, the Taliban are demanding the release of the former army commander Mullah Fazl Akhund.

Washington is reported to be considering formally handing him over to the custody of another country, possibly Qatar. The releases would be to reciprocate for announcement from the Taliban that they are prepared to open a political office in Qatar to conduct peace negotiations "with the international community" the most significant political breakthrough in ten years of the Afghan conflict. The Taliban are holding just one American soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, a 25-year-old sergeant captured in June 2009, but it is not clear whether he would be freed as part of the deal.

Michael Semple, a former EU envoy in Afghanistan who has maintained contact with senior Taliban figures, agreed that the deal represented a critical moment. Negotiations over the opening of a Taliban political office and the release of prisoners have been underway for more than a year in secret contacts in Germany and in the Gulf between US and Taliban officials, but have been continually held up by political obstacles on all sides. The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, had preferred Saudi Arabia or Turkey to host the Taliban political bureau, but dropped his opposition to Qatar under heavy US pressure.
Paging Lucy to the white courtesy phone. Charlie needs you to hold the ball.
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