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Mullah Omar hiding in Afghanistan
Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar may be hiding with 800 Taliban fighters in mountains pounded by US and Afghan forces in a fresh offensive this week, an Afghan military commander was reported saying Wednesday. General Garni, military commander of the restive southeast border province Zabul, made the claim in an interview with the private Afghan Islamic Press. "Mullah Omar may be hiding in the mountains of Dai Chopan in Zabul, along with around 800 Taliban," AIP quoted Garni as saying. Thatâs it, huh? Well, if there are 800 Taliban, thereâs sure to be a high ranking command group with them. Hek at least, maybe Omar. Be nice to bag the lot. Since Monday allied US and Afghan forces, backed by US military craft, have been raiding bases in Zabulâs Daichopan district, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Kabul where they believe hundreds of resurgent Taliban have been hiding. Local officials said at least 15 suspected Taliban militants were killed in air and ground assaults on Monday. The mountains lie some 180 kilometers from the border with Pakistan, where many Taliban are believed to be regrouping to stage an increasingly bloody guerrilla campaign against aid workers, soldiers and officials in Afghanistan. If they are that far from the border, I donât think we are going to make the same mistake we did at Tora Bora and let them get away. Garni said the fighters hiding with Omar included Afghans, Pakistanis and Arabs. The usual suspects. Posted by: Steve 2003-08-27 |
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