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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Taliban planning spring offensive |
| 2004-02-13 |
| Gearing up for the "final" battle against US-led forces in Afghanistan, Taliban was regrouping in the Khyber Agency region of Pakistan for the crucial offensive to be mounted in spring under a new commander to recapture major cities, media reports said. "The resistance under a new commander is regrouping in the remote Khyber Agency region of Pakistan, using the infrastructure of people and fortifications laid by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda several years ago," Hong Kong-based Asia Times online said in a report. Quoting Taliban sources, it said the new commander for the proposed "spring offensive" would be Mullah Sabir Momin of Urugzan province. Uptil now, Pakistan has aided some commanders in Afghanistan belonging to the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. "Pakistan’s purpose was not so much to damage the US interests, but to establish a counter-force to the growing pro-India presence along the Afghani border areas with Pakistan," though it worked against the US interests also, the report said. American intelligence agencies "tracked HIA recruiting offices in Pakistani cities such as Karachi and Peshawar and pointed to the various locations in Pakistan where HIA volunteers were being given training, money and arms". The report said "legendary" Afghan commander Jalaluddin Haqqani - who joined Taliban, became a minister in the erstwhile Afghan regime and is now the "main force" behind the resistance in Khost and Paktia - visited Miran Shah in Pakistan several times, but authorities turned a blind eye". It said that the Taliban would now "step up their struggle to include more suicide attacks" which would be the "prelude to a broader struggle that will start in spring in which the Taliban will attempt to retake the major cities in Afghanistan that they held before being ousted by the US in late 2001". |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #13 So will this be the actual "final battle" or the final battle before the final battle before the final battle, etc. etc.? I suppose it depends on how bad they get their ass kicked. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-2-13 10:03:19 PM |
| #12 I think it's real nice of the Taliban to fertilize the poppy fields of Afghanistan with their corpses. All it's gonna take is a single tell-tale going off, and a couple of AC-130's getting airborne. After that, all that's left is the |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-13 3:41:27 PM |
| #11 I think it's real nice of the Taliban to fertilize the poppy fields of Afghanistan with their corpses. All it's gonna take is a single tell-tale going off, and a couple of AC-130's getting airborne. After that, all that's left is the |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-13 3:41:24 PM |
| #10 JS UK - I wish, bro, but nawwww - the leadership, such that it is, will be far far away... at least until Pakiwakiland is no longer a sanctuary, which prolly won't be until it's a smokin' hole. Hmmm. glow-in-the-dark Taliban. That's be a real bitch of a burden since we like playing at night! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-13 1:50:27 PM |
| #9 wow exciting news! hopefully will tie in with the timing of the Allies spring offensive,me-thinks the taliban know times running out for them what with Musharaf turning against al-Qaeda. Maybe this will be the talibans last stand |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-2-13 11:50:37 AM |
| #8 It was nice and considerate of them to announce their intentions. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-2-13 11:26:53 AM |
| #7 The resistance under a new commander is regrouping in the remote Khyber Agency region we should thank 'em for getting together. It makes the strafing and bombing runs so much easier. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2004-2-13 8:26:05 AM |
| #6 Think we have plans too. Perhaps there will be a meeting battle. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-13 7:45:14 AM |
| #5 "the Taliban will attempt to retake the major cities in Afghanistan that they held before being ousted by the US in late 2001"." -they must've had one helluva poppy season, their delusions of grandeur are breath-taking. -I'm glad the word "attempt" was used, 'cuz that's about all it's gonna be. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-2-13 7:42:32 AM |
| #4 ... the growing pro-India presence along the Afghani border areas with Pakistan What's this all about? |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-2-13 7:27:51 AM |
| #3 Oh please oh please oh please, let this be their final battle. |
| Posted by: Ben 2004-2-13 5:51:04 AM |
| #2 the "final" battle against US-led forces Oh goodie. Enjoy those raisins. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-2-13 1:28:32 AM |
| #1 Sounds like MOAB time. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-2-13 1:01:10 AM |