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Afghanistan

Nato Airstrike Kills 16 Insurgents

2012-08-13

As many as 16 Taliban cut-thoats, mostly foreigners, were killed in a NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... Arclight airstrike last night in eastern Khost province ... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name... , local security chief Mohammad Yaqoob told TOLOnews. The incident occurred in the province's Musakhil district. Separately, at least one Taliban capo was killed and another was captured in a join Afghan and NATO operation in central Maidan Wardak province, a security official told TOLOnews on the condition of anonymity. The operation, which was conducted on Saturday morning in the Haft Asyab area of Sayedabad district, resulted in the death of Taliban capo Qari Mohammadullah, and the arrest of Qari Yaqoob, another local commander, the official added. In northern Balkh province, the headmistress of Ahmad Shah Durani high school was fatally shot at her home last night, provincial police chief Shir Jan Durani told TOLOnews. Headmistress Sima Akakhil's husband said his wife was killed by cut-throats while he was praying at a nearby mosque. The motive for killing Ms Akakhil is not yet clear .

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India-Pakistan

Eight suspected terrorists, Shah Duran’s four kin arrested

2009-07-16

NOWSHERA/MARDAN/ISLAMABAD: Security forces arrested 12 people on Wednesday, including four relatives of Taliban commander Shah Duran and eight suspected terrorists. Sources told the Online news agency that security forces detained two nephews of Duran and two of his brothers-in-law. Also on Wednesday, security forces arrested six suspected Taliban during a search operation in Bara tehsil. Separately, the federal police arrested a member of the Commander Tariq Farooqi Group, Attaullah, believed to be involved in the murder of a polish engineer in 2008. In another incident, police arrested one would-be suicide bomber and his accomplice near Sabzi Mandi Police Station in Islamabad.

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India-Pakistan

Swat Taliban chief 'near death'

2009-07-10

The leader of Taliban militants in Pakistan's Swat district has been critically wounded and is close to death, the BBC has learned. But not actually dead. The information about Maulana Fazlullah confirms statements from senior government and security officials. The information about Maulana Falzullah was gathered from interviews carried out by the BBC in his heartland in the north-west of Pakistan. "Maulana Fazlullah was actually hit in two air strikes, and is critically wounded," Mingora resident Wasif Ali - who did not disclose his real name for personal security reasons - told the BBC on Wednesday during a trip to Swat. "He is now stranded in Imam Dehri without any access to medical assistance and is close to death." So the sepsis dance is working! Mr Ali has close contacts with the militants and has been keeping a close watch on their movements in the area. He confirmed that another senior Taliban leader, Shah Duran, was also killed in an air strike as earlier stated by the army. Most excellent! Interviews with other locals corroborated claims that Maulana Fazlullah had been seriously injured. "Oh,yeah. It wuz terrible. You shoulda seen it." Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan's top military spokesman, Maj General Athar Abbas said that Maulana Fazlullah had been hurt in an airstrike. "But we cannot confirm his exact condition at the moment," he said. Maulana Fazlullah used to be a prayer leader at the mosque in his village. He became the most powerful man in Swat after using a radio station to broadcast his messages in the area. Unlike other transmitters, that one simply could not be located, not to within 100 miles... Eventually he called for his version of Islamic law in the region. At the height of his power, his militants became the main law enforcers in Swat. In April, Pakistan's army launched an operation against his forces following the violation of a peace deal with the government. Currently, Swat's urban centres are being strictly patrolled by the military.

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India-Pakistan

Taliban ban to keep 40,000 girls from schools in Swat

2008-12-26

The future of around 40,000 girls in Swat is at stake following a Taliban ban on education for female students. Shah Duran, the deputy of Swat-based Taliban cleric Fazlullah, has warned the administrations of government and private educational institutions to not enrol girls in schools. The Taliban on Wednesday issued a deadline for January 15 for the ban to be implemented, following which they said they would bomb the buildings of schools allowing girls to study. The Taliban have blown up more than 100 girls' schools in Swat in the past 14 months. Locals say they are helpless and have no other option but to accede to the Taliban's pressure as the government has failed to provide them with securuty. "This is terrible," the principal of a private school in Mingora told Daily Times, requesting that the name of his school should not be mentioned as that would risk his life and property. He said the Taliban decision had proved that the government had lost its writ in the valley. "This is the question of the future of our children. The Taliban decision will throw more than 40,000 girls out of schools," he said. He said the school owners in Swat district were planning to convene a meeting and form a committee with the help of elders to have dialogue with the Taliban. The announcement has stamped the statement of Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel who had told a seminar in Peshawar a fortnight ago that the government had lost control over Swat. A social worker said people had already started migrating from Swat following threats by the Taliban. "Things are changing dramatically. We cannot say anything because the people and the whole government is helpless before the armed people," he said. The man said his three daughters were studying at an English medium school. He had no other option but to shift his family to some other area to educate his children, he added. Schools are the most vulnerable target since the beginning of trouble in Swat. According to figures provided by a Swat-based non-government organisation, Pakistan Coalitions for Education (PCE), Taliban have destroyed over 100 of the 490 primary schools for girls in Swat so far. The destruction of schools and recent threats to teachers and students have forced over 50,000 girls out of schools, the PCE figures said.

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