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| Afghanistan |
| Militant Threat in Badakhshan, Kunduz Grows |
| 2014-10-28 |
| [Tolo News] Hundreds of Taliban gunnies attacked police outposts in northeastern Badakhshan province, clashing with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and killing four coppers in over the past two days, local officials said on Monday. "About 300 Taliban gunnies attacked a number of police outposts in the Warduj district of the province," said Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, a front man for Badakhshan Police Chief. "The gunnies killed four coppers and took a number of ANSF soldiers captive; we do not have details yet." Ahmadzai said that additional troops have been deployed to the area to reinforce those under siege and free those who have been taken captive. He reported the gunnies had suffered heavy casualties. In contrast to the reports from the Badakhsan police, however, a security source who spoke to TOLOnews on condition of anonymity said eight coppers have been killed in the attacks. The Taliban have not yet commented on the offensive. Meanwhile, ...back at the Council of Boskone, Kinnison began his slow infiltration of the sewer system... in Badakhshan's neighboring province, Kunduz, there have also been major festivities between the Taliban and the ANSF. According to reports, the Taliban have taken control of 30 villages in Kunduz, including Gor Tapa and Imam Saheb. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has taken up the fight in Kunduz as a top national priority. "We are working with full force and with the cooperation of the elders to clean the area," MoI front man Sediq Sediqi said. "We also want to find out how the gunnies infiltrated the area and launched the attacks on us." Kunduz is a strategically important province, being often viewed as a gateway to the northern provinces of Afghanistan. Thus Parliament has given a lot of attention to the security crisis there. "If the government fails to focus on the security situation in Kunduz and doesn't establish more check posts in areas cleaned of armed opponents, there is the possibility that more districts would collapse," Kunduz MP Fatima Aziz said. Security officials have assured they are doing all that they can, but have said the Lion of Islams' tactics have made things difficult. "The war tactic is the same; they attack and escape upon resistance from our forces," MoD front man General Zahir Azimi said. "That becomes easier because the area is mountainous and they can also go to the other side of border with the help of Pak intelligence." Insurgent attacks have intensified over the past month, after an especially bloody summer fighting season. A recent ramp up in Lion of Islam activity followed the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul and Washington, which has extended military cooperation between Afghanistan and its NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants... allies beyond 2014. |
| Posted by:Fred |