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| Afghanistan | |
| 2000 Strong Taliban Force Defies âMopping Upâ Operations In Afghanistan | |
| 2003-09-03 | |
| In the district of Janartang, 11 Afghan police have been killed, while more reinforcements were sent in Zabul to support the Afghan and American forces in the area battling Taliban forces. According to reports, locals from the area have also joined the Taliban and are supporting them logistically. Some young men have also taken up arms and have taken positions in the mountains to support the Talibans. Several districts were under the control of Taliban after the masses revolted against the insecurity under the regime of Hamid Karzai. 30 Taliban have been martyred so far in the province. While showing signs of barbaric behavior, the Afghan National Army burned random houses in the villages in an effort to deter locals from supporting them. The Taliban commander in the area, Maulvi Abdul Jabbar, speaking to sources by satellite phone, said that many districts were under the control of Taliban, and that many cities surrendered to the Taliban without a fight because local authorities feared a massive revolt from the public if they resisted them. Dozens of police men of the Afghanistan national government have been captured. He also said that heavy fighting between Taliban and Afghan militia for the control of districts of Dai Chopan and Chanartangi and that 11 Afghan policemen resisting the Taliban were killed in Chanartangi district. American bombers having been bombarding the areas under Taliban control and 19 civilians were martyred in the bombing runs. The Afghan provincial governor of Zabul Hafeez Ullah told reporters that the previous month had seen a massive increase in the activity of Taliban and that common people have deserted the villages and towns fearing a massive fight between Taliban and Afghan militia. He said that authorities were using loud speakers to calm the public and persuade them to return to their houses. He said that he thinks that due to large numbers of Taliban in the area, most estimates put the number in thousands, that it may mean that Taliban leader and Commander of the Faithful Mullah Mohammad Omar is among them too and that he is leading this attack. This is unlikely due to Omarâs leadership role in restoring his government to power. Ullah also claimed that the Afghan forces have so far martyred 96 Taliban in the month long fighting and that yesterday 5 Afghan soldiers were killed and 3 wounded. Americans and coalition forces have been using heavy artillery, gunships and fighter jets to disperse the large concentrations of Taliban in the area, but only a few dozen have been martyred, out of a force that some put at well over two thousand strong.
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| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #14 local official says afghan troops count at least 124 Taliban dead. Rest fled to neighboring provinces. Given the ruggedness of the terrain and the fact that the Taliban aren't equipped with medevacs, there are going to be lots of amputees among the wounded in their ranks. They'll serve as a warning to potential Taliban recruits that dying isn't necessarily the worst thing that can happen to a jihadi. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-9-3 11:40:37 PM |
| #13 Don't even mention the NYT as a source anymore. Anything they say has a 80% chance of being spin or completely false. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-9-3 5:13:03 PM |
| #12 AP says its over, local official says afghan troops count at least 124 Taliban dead. Rest fled to neighboring provinces. Govt in control of province, but 80% of population in province pro-Taliban (this is rural Pashtun area - may well be strongest Taliban support in the country - LH) Nothing about getting any enemy bigwigs. A victory for coalition forces, but not decisive. Life goes on. Meanwhile NYT editorial complains of lack of progress on Kabul-Kandahar road (among other things) while wire services report progress on road continues. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-9-3 2:20:57 PM |
| #11 Just how does one burn such a [stone|adobe] house? B83? |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-9-3 12:16:08 PM |
| #10 All the buildings I've ever seen in Afghanistan are stone or adobe. Just how does one burn such a house? |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-9-3 12:05:02 PM |
| #9 But there are so many and the mountains are so high! |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-9-3 12:00:13 PM |
| #8 the nuggets in the chaff: 1. Yes theres a big battle going on there, and lots of taliban are concentrated there. 2. The coalition ground forces are mainly afghan, and theyre ANA, rather than warlord militias. US contribution is mainly from the air. THis is a big test for the ANA. At Tora Bora we relied on militia forces, who let lots of taliban get away. Can the ANA do better than the militias? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-9-3 11:07:33 AM |
| #7 Mark IV - It's "I can shout, don't hear you!" JihadUnSpun Engrish. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-9-3 9:51:25 AM |
| #6 The source seems overly optimistic about the Taliban prospects. I would not like to be a member of a Taliban unit that is moving to reenforce a force that is cornered in a cave. The "burning villages" charge is common propoganda that would need confirming by a relaiable source. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-3 8:45:28 AM |
| #5 While showing signs of barbaric behavior, the Afghan National Army burned random houses in the villages in an effort to deter locals from supporting them. Is this a classic unclear antecedent, or is this actually the point of the Barbaric Afghan National Army's policy? "I totally support you!" "Thanks, we'll be burning your home now." "Err, what do I get for partial support?" |
| Posted by: Mark IV 2003-9-3 8:40:28 AM |
| #4 If the mop won't clean them up, get out the old "Napalmolive" and scrub those jihadis away. |
| Posted by: Mike 2003-9-3 6:04:53 AM |
| #3 One thing you can count on. If they are reporting that the Taliban are winning, the Taliban are losing badly. They are much like Izvestia (News) in the old USSR (in News there is no truth...). |
| Posted by: Kathy K 2003-9-3 5:27:03 AM |
| #2 "19 civilians were martyred in the bombing runs" JihadUnSpun is very much like referring to NorK as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Ranks right up there with Al Jizzwadi and Not Worthy. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-9-3 3:26:12 AM |
| #1 the source of this report is dubious... at best |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2003-9-3 1:03:25 AM |