Afghan troops battle Taliban for fifth day in west
By Sharifuddin Sharafiyar Fri Nov 2, 4:06 AM ET
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan forces battled hundreds of Taliban fighters for a fifth day in the west of the country on Friday for control of two districts, and the chief of a third fretted his region might soon fall.
The hardline Islamist Taliban relaunched their insurgency two years ago to topple the pro-Western Afghan government and eject the 50,000 foreign forces, pushing their operations northwards from the mainly Pashtun south where their support is strongest.
Western forces say the Taliban's recent greater reliance on suicide and roadside bomb attacks is a result of heavy casualties government-allied troops inflicted on the rebels in conventional clashes and the insurgents' inability to hold ground.
But two Taliban offensives this week are a direct challenge to that assertion.
Afghan forces, backed by NATO-led soldiers, were still battling to dislodge hundreds of Taliban fighters from the district of Gulistan in the western province of Farah on Friday after the rebels overran the area on Monday.
The Taliban have briefly occupied a number of isolated district centers across the centre and south of the country in the last two years, but usually flee the area as soon as Afghan army and foreign troops arrive at the scene.
But as Afghan and foreign troops fought the insurgents around Gulistan this week, far from fleeing, the rebels gained more ground and captured the neighboring district of Bakwa on Wednesday.
"Gulistan district is still controlled by the Taliban," Ikramuddin Yawar, the police chief for western Afghanistan, told Reuters. "We want assistance from NATO to support us from the air."
WARNING
Canadian and Afghan troops in the main southern city of Kandahar said on Thursday they had defeated a Taliban offensive close to the city and forced the rebels to retreat.
But in the west, the chief of a district near Gulistan and Bakwa warned his area would also fall to the rebels unless foreign air power was brought into play.
"The Taliban are fighting Afghan forces in large numbers. We estimate there are about 700 Taliban in the attacking force with 50 4x4 vehicles in Bakwa and Gulistan districts," Maolavi Yahya, the district chief of neighboring Delaram, told Reuters.
"We request NATO forces to support the Afghan troops from the air. I am warning that if foreign forces do not engage the Taliban from the air, Delaram district will fall into Taliban hands shortly," he said.
Although effective in breaking Taliban assaults, air strikes have also come under fire in Afghanistan for the frequency with which they reportedly cause civilian casualties.
Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said the insurgents planned to occupy the whole of Farah province and would not retreat.
Farah is a large, mostly desert, sparsely populated region bordering Iran to west and Helmand province to the southeast where the rebels have held one town since February and are engaged in almost daily battles with mostly British troops.
The police chief of Bakwa said his forces had made a tactical retreat from the district to avoid civilian casualties.
"There is a large number of foreign forces in the area and we are waiting to launch an attack to regain the districts," the police chief Hashim Khan said.
As the fighting drags on, frustration is growing among ordinary Afghans that their government and its Western backers have not provided security six years after Afghan and U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001 for not handing over al Qaeda leaders in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
NATO commanders admit they have a limited window in which to defeat the Taliban and provide much-need development before the Afghan public turns against their presence and public opinion in the West, frustrated by growing casualties, calls for the troops to be withdrawn, handing victory to the insurgents.
(Additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi in Kabul)
Mision FAS: Afganistán
Moderadores: Mod. 4, Mod. 5, Mod. 3, Mod. 2, Mod. 1
Ojo, que la situación en Farah se complica. Los talibanes han atacado en masa, unos 700 con 50 vehículos ligeros, y llevan dos distritos conquistados. Dicen que se quedan y las autoridades piden ayuda urgente a ISAF.
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.
Retraso en las rotaciones de los relevos de ASPFOR XVIII. Por cierto ¿cómo andan de equipamiento y adiestramiento los soldados canarios para una posible ofensiva de invierno talibán? Es lo que ha amenazado el mulah Mansour Dadullah.
http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=70358Las tropas canarias retrasan en una semana su llegada a Afganistán
EFE
Madrid 30/10/07
El relevo de las tropas españolas destacadas en Afganistán, que estaba previsto que comenzara hoy con el traslado de un primer contingente, se ha retrasado una semana, han informado fuentes militares.
El primero de los tres vuelos previstos, con 169 militares, saldrá el próximo día 7 de noviembre desde la Base de Gando (Gran Canaria) hasta Afganistán, en vez de hacerlo hoy como se había planificado.
El relevo del contingente en Afganistán, integrado por unos 700 militares, se hará de forma escalonada, en tres viajes.
Un segundo grupo, integrado por 147 soldados, volará el 14 de noviembre (en un principio previsto para el día 7) hacia tierras afganas.
Finalmente el 21 de noviembre (en principio previsto para el día 14) se efectuará la última salida de militares, con unos 80 soldados, según las mismas fuentes, que han precisado que este retraso se debe a la "disponibilidad" de vuelos.
Militares del Mando de Canarias relevarán a la Brigada Paracaidista (BRIPAC) "Almogávares" VI, con sede en Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid), cuyos efectivos integran el grueso de la agrupación española ASPFOR XVII.
Los soldados del Mando de Canarias estarán durante los próximos cuatro meses en Afganistán, repartidos en el Equipo de Reconstrucción Provincial (PRT) en Qala e Naw, y la Compañía de Reacción Rápida (QRF) y el destacamento de helicópteros en la Base Logística Avanzada (FSB), situadas en Herat.
Por su parte, el regreso de los efectivos de la BRIPAC está previsto de forma escalonada en tres vuelos que aterrizarán en España los días 8, 15 y 22 de noviembre.
Los relevos forman parte de las habituales rotaciones que se realizan cada cuatro meses en los contingentes desplegados en misiones de paz en el exterior.
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.
Ha caido otro distrito de Farah en manos talibanes. En este caso, Khaki Safed. Acusan a ISAF de no apoyar el contraataque para expulsar a estas bandas de Farah
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071105/ts_ ... kZXZXOVooA
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071105/ts_ ... kZXZXOVooA
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.
Pues pasito a pasito, los nuestros (se supone) haciendo lo que deben en Badghis
AFGHANISTAN: DOZENS OF TALIBAN KILLED IN NATO AIR STRIKE
(AGI) - Herat (Afghanistan), 6 Nov. - Dozens of Taliban fighters were killed last night by a NATO air strike on the Badghis province in north-western Afghanistan. Reports were from an Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman, Zahir Azimi, who said that among the fighters eliminated there was also their commander.
Eyewitnesses reported that also an undefined number of civilians were killed, including two children, and that many houses were destroyed. Howvere, the latter reports were denied by the spokesman, who added that in the operation, conducted also by land, NATO forces took part with the aid of local governmental ones.
The Taliban have only admitted 2 of their fighters killed and 10 injured.
Air raid kills 20 Taliban militants in Afghanistan
2007-11-06 19:32:15
KABUL, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Operation and air raids against Taliban hideout in Afghanistan's western Badghis province killed 20 insurgents including their commander, a military officer in the area said Tuesday.
"Air strikes carried out by NATO and ground operation by Afghan troops in Ghormach district Monday left 20 rebels including their commander Mullah Babai dead," General Murad Ali Murad told Xinhua.
He also claimed there were no casualties on Afghan forces and civilians living around.
The clean-up operation, according to the commander, is going on.
Meanwhile, Mullah Abdul Hai, who claims to speak for the Taliban fighter in the area, rejected Murad's claim, saying only two insurgents were killed and 10 others sustained injuries.
The remaining of the casualties, according to Taliban purported spokesman, are civilians.
Conflicts and Taliban-related violence have claimed the lives of more than 5,500 people, mostly insurgents, according to officials so far this year in Afghanistan.
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.
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kilo009
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Vamos a estar atentos a los próximos días, primero por las noticias que nos cuelgas (que son preocupantes), y luego porque seguramente la OTAN dará un golpe de efecto tras los atentados de hoy:
-40 personas murieron y alrededor de 100 resultaron heridas en un atentado suicida contra una comitiva parlamentaria en la provincia afgana de Baghlan
-Entre ellso muere Sayed Mustafa Kazemi, portavoz de la principal alianza opositora en el Parlamento, el Frente Nacional
-40 personas murieron y alrededor de 100 resultaron heridas en un atentado suicida contra una comitiva parlamentaria en la provincia afgana de Baghlan
-Entre ellso muere Sayed Mustafa Kazemi, portavoz de la principal alianza opositora en el Parlamento, el Frente Nacional
El problema que se puede presentar (y que nos afectaría) es si los talibanes logran hacerse con el control de Farah. Es una provincia donde la presencia ISAF no es muy elevada, y podrían separar el oeste del sur. Ya llevan tres distritos, que a su vez dividen la provincia en dos.
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.
Comienzan las rotaciones de tropas en Afganistán que fueron retrasadas por falta de "disponibilidad" de vuelos. Parece que la Bripac está haciendo limpieza en Badghis. A ver qué pasa en Farah.
http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=71201Comienza el relevo de tropas en Afganistán con la salida de 169 militares de Canarias
EFE
Madrid
El relevo de las tropas españolas destacadas en Afganistán comenzará este miércoles con la salida de un primer grupo formado por unos 169 militares desde la base aérea de Gando (Canarias), ha informado hoy el Ejército de Tierra.
Este vuelo constituye el primero de los tres organizados para trasladar a las bases españolas de Qala-e-Naw y Herat el relevo de los efectivos allí estacionados desde el pasado mes de junio.
Un segundo grupo, integrado por 147 soldados, volará el próximo 14 de noviembre y el día 21 se efectuará la última salida, con unos 80 soldados.
Militares del Mando de Canarias relevarán a la Brigada Paracaidista (BRIPAC) "Almogávares" VI, con sede en Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid), cuyos efectivos integran el grueso de la agrupación española.
El nuevo contingente estará compuesto por 432 militares, procedentes del Mando de Canarias, en su mayoría del Regimiento de Infantería Ligera "Canarias 50", con sede en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
Con ellos también viajarán efectivos procedentes de la Agrupación de Apoyo Logístico número 81 de Tenerife, así como miembros de las Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra (FAMET).
La nueva agrupación española, denominada ASPFOR XVIII, al mando del coronel Cantero, asumirá el control de su área de responsabilidad a partir del próximo día 16 de noviembre, fecha prevista para la Transferencia de Autoridad.
El nuevo contingente operará durante los próximos cuatro meses en el Equipo de Reconstrucción Provincial (PRT) en Qala-e-Naw y la Compañía de Reacción Rápida (QRF) del mando regional oeste, con sede en Herat.
Los relevos forman parte de las habituales rotaciones que se realizan cada cuatro meses en los contingentes desplegados en misiones de paz en el exterior.
Por otra parte, el Ejército de Tierra también informa de que los primeros 120 efectivos de la agrupación española en la misión de Kosovo, que finalizan su estancia de cuatro meses en esa provincia serbia, llegarán el próximo viernes a los aeropuertos de Sevilla y a la base aérea de Torrejón (Madrid).
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.
Informe. Irán y el resurgimiento de la insurgencia talibán en el oeste de Afganistán.
http://www.dtt-net.com/en/index.php?pag ... ticle=3347Iran supports a resurgent Taliban
07/11/2007
A number of Western nations have accused Iran of supporting Taliban insurgencies in southern Afghanistan. Evidence suggests that Iran has been sending arms shipments to the insurgents since the spring of 2007.
By Realite-EU
A number of Western nations have accused Iran of supporting Taliban insurgencies in southern Afghanistan. Evidence suggests that Iran has been sending arms shipments to the insurgents since the spring of 2007.
Afghan police have reported that militants with weapons have crossed the border from Iran into Afghanistan.Colonel Rahmatullah Safi, police commander of three western Afghani provincesFarah, Badghis and Hearttold the German Press Agency (DPA) in June 2007 that he has evidence that more than 20 armed men crossed the border from Iran, heading to the Sirkoch region where insurgents are fighting Coalition troops. They brought weapons, munitions and explosives. He also discovered anti-tank mines. He accuses the Iranian border control of not stopping fighters and drug smugglers .
British forces intercepted at least two Iranian arms shipments to Afghanistans Helmand province between April and June 2007 .General Peter Pace, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the AFP news service: “We have intercepted weapons in Afghanistan headed for the Taliban that were made in Iran” .
British troops in Afghanistan are being targeted by surface-to-air missiles supplied by Iran, a senior U.S. Army source said yesterday. SA7 Strella anti-aircraft missiles have been supplied to the Taliban. The weapons are a serious threat to helicopters supplying more than 6,000 troops .
Other weapons such as C-4-type explosives, anti-tank mines, AK47s, 107-mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns have been smuggled into Afghanistan [5]. The C-4 explosives have fake U.S. markings, a common deceptive tactic.
Afghan police and government officials believe Iran is the source of so-called shaped charges high-tech bombs that can penetrate heavily armoured vehicles one of which was found in the Afghan capital Kabul.
The weapons are believed to come directly from Iran or are smuggled in by dealers, according to a British army source. Most are brought across the poorly patrolled Afghan-Iranian border into Nimruz province and taken on trucks or donkeys to the Sangin valley where the Taliban use them against British troops.
Is Iran Behind the Arms Shipments?
On June 13, 2007, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters, Given the quantities [of arms shipments] that we're seeing, it is difficult to believe that its associated with smuggling or the drug business or that its taking place without the knowledge of the Iranian government . Iran strongly denies such accusations. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Washingtons conjectures were totally baseless.
Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said on June 14 that the arms might be from al-Qaeda, from the drug mafia or from other sources.
Colonel Christopher Langton, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, suggests the arms are being supplied by hard-line components of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which has a separate agenda from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, which in turn has a separate agenda from Iran's business community. Were talking about rogue elements, he says, maybe even cross-border organisational criminal groupings.
NATOs commander in Afghanistan, General Dan McNeill, noted the link between drug trafficking and weapons smuggling. He speculated that the arms could have been smuggled by black-market dealers, drug traffickers, or al-Qaeda backers, and could have been sold by low-level Iranian military personnel.
McNeills remarks highlighted the U.S. commands knowledge of the link between the heroin trade and arms trafficking between south eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. The main entry point for opium and heroin smuggling between the two nations runs through the Iranian province of Sistan-Balochistan to its capital Zahedan. The two convoys of arms that NATO forces intercepted last spring evidently came through that Iranian province.
Rolf Tophoven, a German expert on terrorism, also drew a link between drug traffic and weapon shipments. Terror in Afghanistan is financed by money from drug business. Six years after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 the Taliban insurgents today are better off, better integrated and better armed. Some of the weapons and devices are shipped from Iraq via Iran into Afghanistan.
Why Should Tehran Support the Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan?
At first blush, the Shiite theocrats in Iran and the Sunni Taliban in Afghanistan, two historic rivals, would seem unlikely candidates for cooperation. Iran, however, has backed Sunni groups in the past. W. Abbas Samii, research analyst at the Center for Naval Analysis, says Tehran has supplied funding and weaponry to Palestinian Sunni groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, adding, For Iran, this is a strategic and military issue, not a theological debate.
Tehran and the Taliban have a common enemythe United States and Britain.
Iran is interested in a kind of managed chaos, similar to that it employs in Iraq, which weakens U.S. and international troops.
Iran maintains ties to different factions inside Afghanistan, enabling it to respond to different political developments without losing influence over political decision-making.
Instability in Afghanistan serves Irans economic interests as follows:
Peter Tomsen, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said Afghan instability restricts Pakistans capability to export its light industrial goods to markets in Central Asia and the Caucasus, where cheap, government-subsidised Iranian consumer exports have proliferated.
A peaceful Afghanistan would offer an unwelcome alternative to Iran for pipelines to carry
Caspian basin oil and gas across Afghanistan to South Asia.
Karachi and the new deepwater port at Gwadar would be a rival to Bander Abbas as a major international shipping outlet connecting the Indian Ocean with central Eurasia.
As history shows, Tehran chooses its allies out of strategic, security, and economic interests.
Over the past two decades, Tomsen says, Iran and Pakistan have competed for influence in Afghanistan, supporting opposing factions. Tehrans principal goal in Afghanistan has been to resist the ascendancy of a radical Sunni regime in Kabul, supported by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. From 1992 to 1996, when the fractious Sunni-dominated Mujahidin regime occupied Kabul, Iran supported mostly Shia groups by delivering weapons and logistical support.
From 1996 to 2001, the years of Taliban rule, Iran backed the Northern Alliance, a loose coalition of warlords and militias from the Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara minorities. The alliance fought the Taliban that, dominated by majority Pashtuns, had imposed a harsh Sunni Islamic government.
Iran was a de facto ally in the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan that ousted the Taliban. It also offered asylum, however, for Sunni Warlord Hekmatyar and his Party Hezb-e-Islami until 2002.
By recently expelling thousands of Afghan refugees, Iran caused a humanitarian crisis in the region near the border. The refugees are poor and will struggle to be reintegrated by Afghanistan [20] .Asia Times Syed Saleem Shahzad said the returning refugees fuel the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan.
From April to June 2007, Iran deported 98,712 Afghanis back to Afghanistan, the largest number it had ever sent back in such a short period, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
( REALITE-EU is a non-profit organization not connected to any government. REALITE-EU is supported by individuals concerned with the growing threat of Iran and extremism in Europe and the Middle East)
La necesidad permite lo prohibido.