Tag Archives: Taliban

Death Toll in Afghanistan Surpasses Iraq

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US Soldier Under Attack

Above: Troops playing against the perils in war-torn Afghanistan (Photo: www.hqusareur.army.mil)

The number of US and NATO troops killed in Afghanistan in May and June has surpassed that of Iraq. Taliban offensives have considerably risen and have become more dangerous. Experts say that the insurgents in Afghanistan are getting stronger thus it could be an alarming sign on the part of the US/NATO soldiers in the war-torn country.

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates has reported that Afghanistan attacks in May have killed more soldiers than in Iraq, with death counts for the month reaching 22 soldiers while the death toll in Iraq dropped at 21. The trend has even continued in June.

Based on a count from the Associated Press, 45 NATO troops died in Afghanistan in June. The data includes 27 US soldiers and 13 British troops. June has been considered the deadliest month since the US-led attack in Afghanistan in 2001 which overthrew the Taliban regime.

US Soldier

The day doesn’t end for these soldiers in Afghanistan who are even more on heightened alert against the alarmingly mounting insurgent risks (Photo: www.dnd.ca)

On the other hand, the death toll in Iraq fell at 31 in June. The count includes 29 US soldiers and 3 international troops.

The troops in Iraq are mostly from the United States while a small percentage consists of British soldiers and international peacekeepers. About half of the troops in Afghanistan are international forces and the rest are US soldiers.

The international community recently met in Paris and pledged additional $21 billion aid for Afghanistan. However, an Afghanistan expert in New York has expressed doubt on the success of the promised aid.

Taliban Moves to Retake Former Stronghold

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Taliban Army

Above: Taliban in Kandahar

The Taliban is on the offensive once more. After a swift assault of the villages of Arghandab District, they have now setup bases in and around the area. They started by destroying bridges and restricting access of tanks and other army vehicles into the region. Then they planted mines to further prevent land assault. Arghandab is in the southern part of Afghanistan, found in the Kandahar Province. The Arghandab region is found just 10 miles to the northwest of Kandahar City – the second largest city in the whole country.

A provincial council member saw how it happened. He said the militants were destroying bridges and planting mines in hopes of protecting themselves against NATO force and Afghan Army attacks.

With the Taliban now controlling Arghandab, they could just as easily takeover Kandahar – their former stronghold.

True or False?

In Arghandab

Above: The coalition set up checkpoints around the district; here they check the vehicles of those fleeing Arghandab after the Taliban assault

These reports came from Afghanistan’s own Ministry of Defense. They said on Tuesday that the militants’ number were close to 400; including foreign terrorists. Just last week, the Taliban assaulted the Kandahar prison – freeing almost the same number of militants.

Ruins of Kandahar Prison

Above: This is what the Kandahar prison wall looked like after the Taliban attack

NATO disputed the supposed takeover – saying that their troops in the area saw no signs of any kind of Taliban attack. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, led by United States troops, said they sent soldiers into the district and they did not meet any form of resistance.

“Recent reports of militant control in the area appear to be unfounded,” their issued statement said. Their spokesman, Captain Christopher Colster said that their soldiers patrolled for almost five hours on the west side of the Arghandab River – the exact location where the Afghan Ministry of Defense said the Taliban initially attacked. The soldiers didn’t make any contact with militants and said there were no signs of fleeing civilians either.

“In talking to our folks they do not have any imminent concern that Kandahar is about to fall to the Taliban,” said United States Department of Defense press secretary Geoff Morrell from Washington.

Nonetheless, hundreds of families, most of which are farmers, fled the district. At the same time the Afghan army soldiers rushed in. They were the ones who told the people to flee. They fear that a major battle will be coming soon. While a NATO aircraft dropped leaflets from above Arghandab, informing the residents to stay in their homes: “Keep your families safe. When there is fighting near your home, stay inside” the leaflet said.

Nobody wanted to take chances. More than 700 families of almost 4,000 people fled the district. An Afghan police officer reported that the families moved through the east side of the Arghandab River. While on the west side, the Taliban army was already in control of their villages.

“Last night the people were afraid, and families on tractors, trucks and taxis fled the area,” said the officer. “Small bridges inside the villages have been destroyed.”

“[Taliban] told us to leave the area within 24 hours because they want to fight foreign and Afghan troops,” said one farmer. “But within a week we should be harvesting, and we were expecting a good one. Now with this fighting we are deeply worried – the grapes are the only source of income we have.”

Ever since being driven out of their bases, the Taliban have been eyeing Arghandab – it will provide the perfect location to strike back; with good hiding positions and the proximity to the big city.

“From a strategic military point of view, Arghandab is a very good place for the Taliban,” said the council member. “Arghandab is close to Kandahar city, allowing the Taliban to launch ambushes and attacks more easily than any other place in the province. Secondly, it’s covered with trees and gardens – they can easily hide from air strikes.”

This was confirmed by a telephone conversation between the Taliban and the Associated Press:

“We want to fight until the death,” said Taliban commander Mullah Ahmedullah. “We’ve occupied most of the area and it’s a good place for fighting. Now we are waiting for the NATO and Afghan forces.”

This was the latest display of strength by the Taliban since their ousting in 2001… and despite a record number of United States and NATO troops in the country. After pleading for additional troops over the last year, the coalition now has 65,000 soldiers all over the country. Apparently, this is not enough.

The commander further confirmed the earlier reported number; 400 Taliban insurgents moved into the district and that most of them were from the earlier prison break. He also confirmed to the AP reporter that Kandahar is the main target; it is still regarded as their main stronghold.

They Can’t Handle the Truth

“We’re coming off of two difficult events in Kandahar province – the break-in to the prison and the Arghandab fighting,” said United States Ambassador to Kabul William Wood from Washington – confirming the reality of the Taliban attack.

But he is not convinced of a takeover: “I would like to point out that six months ago, there was also fighting in Arghandab and there was lots of headlines then that said Arghandab is about to fall and that wasn’t right then and it’s not going to be right now.”

He knows that the Taliban does not have the support of the people this time: “The Taliban can raise a lot of dust at any given moment and a given point. They can’t stay. They don’t have the loyalty of the people,” Wood told the press.

According to reports, the combined Afghan and NATO troops killed 35 Taliban rebels Wednesday in what was considered as a clean-up operation. According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, two Taliban commanders were killed. They used chopper gunships to drive out the militants that were entrenched in the villages in Arghandab. In the ensuing gunfight two Afghan soldiers were also killed.

The choppers, flying high over the Arghandab River, fired rockets at Taliban posts at the west side of the river (confirming the earlier account of the Afghan police officer that NATO disregarded).

NATO armored vehicles moved throughout the district, as more helicopters flew in low up the valley, while others landed at the already heavily guarded district center of Arghandab. The shops in its bazaar are now closed and the streets are guarded by soldiers of the Afghan National Army. This is how the district looks like now; when only a few days ago, United States officials denied any Taliban presence.

But the coalition still expects little resistance. Lieutenant Colonel Dave Corbould of the Canadian battle group said that the Taliban “do not appear to have the foothold that they have apparently claimed.”

After their first gunfire exchange, the coalition said they expected the operation to take only a few days.

Kandahar Governor Asadullah Khaled agrees that his province, which used to be a Taliban stronghold, is now safe from possible takeover. He said that the Taliban are already on the defensive in Arghandab. Further movement to his capital is no longer possible. He said that the operation is taking more time than usual because they were taking utmost precaution not to hurt the innocent families in the region.

They have also confirmed the presence of foreign militants. After air strikes on the villages of Kohak and Nagan, bodies of 16 insurgents were recovered – including foreign Pakistani and Arab militants.

The Real Victims of War

One farmer said he had already evacuated his family to the city the previous day. But he was back at his village when the gun battle erupted. He had no choice but to return – his wheat was already ripe. “What can we do,” he said. “I am very worried about my wheat harvest; if fighting is prolonged we will lose the harvest.”

Another one said he left everything and fled as early as Tuesday with only his cattle. “They are so expensive and if I don’t bring them down they will die,” he said. “If they die it means my family will die because they are the only resource that my family relies on.”

During the initial assault by the Taliban, they urged these people to join them. The terrorist group used to have their support. This was a former stronghold. But not anymore. The people have realized that they are better off without them. And now that they have returned, the people want nothing to do with them.

11 Afghan Police Killed While Sleeping

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Afghan Police

Above: Afghan police, face serious danger

Taliban militants pulled off a sneak attack on Monday, killing 11 policemen sleeping on a mud floor in southern Afghanistan. They crept through groves of grape vines and pomegranate trees and struck at midnight. The small police outpost is found 15 miles north of Kandahar – a former Taliban stronghold.

The first casualty was an officer on the roof of the compound who was supposed to keep watch of the premises and the surrounding area. Afterwards, the Taliban easily gained access into the compound, walked straight inside, and peppered the officers sleeping on mattresses and blankets on the dirt floor.

There were a total of twelve officers in the outpost – only one survived with serious wounds.

Afghan border police commander Bismullah Khan said it appeared that the insurgents were disguised in police uniforms and there were indications that the attack on the walled compound was an inside job.

“Initial investigations indicate that one of the policemen had ties with the Taliban. The Taliban infiltrated the post and opened fire on the police – there was no exchange of fire.”

We think he’s just trying to powder up for the media. The Taliban could have easily butchered his forces, with or without disguise or inside help.

The Taliban also seized the police vehicles and weapons in the outpost.

The ambush leads to the most casualties in a string of recent attacks on Afghan police in the south. Eight policemen were killed Saturday: four were killed while on a mission destroying opium poppies in Kandahar and four more while manning a checkpoint in Helmand. Seven others were also killed from another anti-poppy mission last April 7, also in Kandahar.

Opium and all refined opiates such as morphine, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine are extracted from these opium. The seeds are important food items, and contain healthy oils used in salads worldwide – but its main use in Kandahar is for drug production, which eventually funds Taliban militia.

The United States has already spent more than $4 billion to train and equip these Afghan police in the last three years – just last year, 76,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 56,000 pistols and 3,500 vehicles were provided for their perusal.

The U.S. military also began a low-level district training program this year – hoping to improve police capabilities in lower ranks. The United States and its allies are very much relying on improvements in the Afghan army and police; so they could all start withdrawing their international forces from the country.

That picture remains very obscure.

The Afghan police remain easy targets for the Taliban. Compared to the Afghan army or NATO soldiers, these officials have far less training and even less firepower against the Taliban.

Working in small teams also doesn’t help. Stationed in remote areas, they are easily overwhelmed by even the smallest of Taliban assault teams – although the assaulting party on this attack was said to be 50 by Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi.

Taliban militants often suffer devastating losses when they attack U.S. or NATO forces. According to reports, they have already given up on ambush attempts against the increasingly capable Afghan army.

“The Taliban are going to attack those who they deem most vulnerable,” said a U.S. official in charge of training. “They’re out there in the community, policing, protecting and serving, and unfortunately they are vulnerable.”

Another Bombing in Afghanistan

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Car Bomb
File Photo: car bomb in Baghdad

Another suicide bomber set off an explosion on Monday as he drove his car near a Canadian troop convoy. The attack happened on a crowded border town street and killed 36 civilians. The explosion wounded three Canadian soldiers that are part of the NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Much more of the wounded however were innocent bystanders.

The day before, another suicide bomber blew himself up at a dogfighting event. The death toll from that incident had already risen from yesterday’s 80 to today’s 100.

The Taliban had already claimed responsibility for this new attack. Spokesperson Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the bomber was a certain Abdul Rahman who was also from the Kandahar Province. He denied that the attack had wounded or killed any civilians. But reports say otherwise. He also added that they killed 10 Canadian soldiers and several polive officers. This statement is also not true.

The total death toll of the two consecutive attacks is at 140, the most since the Taliban were “defeated” in 2001; although the Taliban had denied involvement in the previous day’s bombing. Reports say that the bombings in the area are sending a message to the Kabul government – to further weaken their efforts to establish peace in the region. Attacks have been geared towards more casualty and more civilians.

“The attacks show that the enemies of Afghanistan are changing their tactics,” said Nasrullah Stanikzai, a political science professor at Kabul University. “They wanted to cause such big casualties in these attacks to weaken the morale of the government and the international community, to show the world the Afghan government is too weak to prevent them.”

Kandahar Province Governor Asadullah Khaled complained that the Canadian forces had failed to follow their government’s warning to stay away from the border with Pakistan – mainly due to the previous day’s attack.

The United States Army is sending 3,200 more Marines in April. This is in addition to the 28,000 troops already in the country (a record for the US).

Suicide Bombing Hits Afghanistan

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Afghan Attack

Above: The bombing scene

The bombing (pictured above) killed the police chief, Abdul Hakim Jan (a prominent anti-Taliban commander), some guards and most of the villagers (including six children according to reports) attending a dog fighting event in the Argandab district, just outside the city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. He wounded 90 more in the attack

“Thousands of people were watching the dogs fighting, including young children and old people. People had come from different parts of Kandahar Province.”

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led international condemnation the suicide attack. Afterwards the U.S. and British government followed suit. “The extremists offer nothing but violence and death,” said White House National Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. “The Afghan people will not allow them to stop the march to democracy and security.”

Kandahar’s governor, Assadullah Khalid, announced in a statement that the bombing was the work of Afghanistan’s enemies – a loose term used to refer to Taliban.

The Taliban denied involvement in the matter. This was according to Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi. Kandahar is considered as one of the old strongholds of the Taliban. Dog fighting is still a popular pastime for Afghans. It was banned by the Taliban during its 1996-2001 rule.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been victims of more and more violent attacks – casualties increasing each time. This is believed to be the result of more powerful and sophisticated explosives (those with packed ball bearings like in the movie “The Kingdom”). In the past few years, bombings in Afghanistan geared towards foreign soldiers often kill only a few bystanders. Now as they attack their own countrymen, they “upgraded” into crowded places where innocent civilians are involved.

Bhutto Assassination Suspects in Custody

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Benazir Bhutto Campaign

Above: Benazir Bhuto

Two suspects had already confessed Wednesday that they armed the suicide bomber that killed Benazir Bhutto. Hasnain Gul and Rafaqat were part of a team of five men who were behind the former prime minister’s assassination. Investigators named a certain Karamullah as one of the two remaining suspects who are still at large. The fifth member, of course, was the suicide bomber himself. They identified the bomber by two aliases, Saeed and Bilal.

Lead investigator Chaudhry Abdul Majeed said that these two were at the Rawalpindi Park where Bhutto was assassinated on December 27. They were waiting for her arrival from a campaign rally earlier (shown in the photo above) — where they originally planned to kill her. The two provided the bomber with a house, transportation, a pistol, and the suicide jacket he used in the attack that also killed nearly two dozen others.

In his report, Majeed said the two told police they picked up the bomber a day before the attack at a bus depot in Rawalpindi, and the bomber stayed overnight with Rafaqat before they took him to the Rawalpindi Park to plan for the attack. Afterwards they went to Hasnain Gul’s house to fit the bomber with the vest.

Pakistani authorities said Bilal fired a gun at Bhutto before detonating his bombs. According to the Scotland Yard, Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto died when the force of a bomb blast slammed her head into an escape hatch on her SUV, and not due to the gun shot.

Bhutto Bombing
Above: Scene footages from the attack

Pakistan’s government has concluded that the former Prime Minister’s assassination was orchestrated by Baitullah Mesud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban who has ties to al Qaeda. This has been corroborated by the CIA. A nationwide poll in Pakistan however revealed that a majority of Pakistanis believe that President Pervez Musharraf’s government was behind her killing.