Afghanistan News & Discussion

The Strategic Issues & International Relations Forum is a venue to discuss issues pertaining to India's security environment, her strategic outlook on global affairs and as well as the effect of international relations in the Indian Subcontinent. We request members to kindly stay within the mandate of this forum and keep their exchanges of views, on a civilised level, however vehemently any disagreement may be felt. All feedback regarding forum usage may be sent to the moderators using the Feedback Form or by clicking the Report Post Icon in any objectionable post for proper action. Please note that the views expressed by the Members and Moderators on these discussion boards are that of the individuals only and do not reflect the official policy or view of the Bharat-Rakshak.com Website. Copyright Violation is strictly prohibited and may result in revocation of your posting rights - please read the FAQ for full details. Users must also abide by the Forum Guidelines at all times.
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

^^^

WOW!
svinayak
BRF Oldie
Posts: 14222
Joined: 09 Feb 1999 12:31

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by svinayak »

Afghanistan cannot be left to Pakistan and China for their goals.
It is good when Russia with EU and other countries come in and take charge
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 60273
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by ramana »

^^ Since Indian leadership is stuck in wrong lessons like "pahle aaap!"
svinayak
BRF Oldie
Posts: 14222
Joined: 09 Feb 1999 12:31

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by svinayak »

ramana wrote:^^ Since Indian leadership is stuck in wrong lessons like "pahle aaap!"
That may be a strategy! One never knows...
Carl_T
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2533
Joined: 24 Dec 2009 02:37
Location: anandasya sagare

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Carl_T »

EU countries come in and take charge? LOL.
abhishek_sharma
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9664
Joined: 19 Nov 2009 03:27

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by abhishek_sharma »

U.S. and Afghanistan Debate More Village Forces

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/world ... fghan.html
Airavat
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2326
Joined: 29 Jul 2003 11:31
Location: dishum-bishum
Contact:

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Airavat »

NATO opposes British troop withdrawal plan
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary-general, delivered the blunt message after the Prime Minister said he wanted most British troops to leave Afghanistan by 2015. He also warned that cuts in defence spending could harm the Transatlantic relationship with the US and leave countries like Britain lacking the cutting-edge military technology needed to work with American forces.

“The Taliban follow the political debate in troop-contributing countries closely. They do believe that if we set artificial timetables for our withdrawal, they can just sit down and wait us out and they will return when we have left,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

A total of 314 British service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, and Mr Rasmussen warned more will follow as the Taliban fight harder to hold their “heartlands” in the south. “When you send in more fighting, you will see more fighting. When you attack the Taliban heartlands, that implies more fighting,” he said. “If they lose Helmand and Kandahar, they lose everything, so they will fight hard to prevent that happening.
Surya
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5030
Joined: 05 Mar 2001 12:31

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Surya »

that slick rat Richard Haas is now changing tune. wow

now suddenly it is Ombabas war :)
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 60273
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by ramana »

Actually Blackwill started calling it Obama's war. So a delibrate Republican strategy to call it "a Democratic quagmire".
Pranav
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5280
Joined: 06 Apr 2009 13:23

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Pranav »

We’re Not Winning. It’s Not Worth It. Here’s how to draw down in Afghanistan. by Richard Haass, President of CFR. http://www.newswek.net/2010/07/18/we-re ... l?from=rss
One new idea put forward by Robert Blackwill, a former U.S. ambassador to India, is for a de facto partition of Afghanistan. Under this approach, the United States would accept Taliban control of the Pashtun-dominated south so long as the Taliban did not welcome back Al Qaeda and did not seek to undermine stability in non-Pashtun areas of the country. If the Taliban violated these rules, the United States would attack them with bombers, drones, and Special Forces. U.S. economic and military support would continue to flow to non-Pashtun Afghans in the north and west of the country.

This idea has its drawbacks as well as appeal. A self-governing “Pashtunistan” inside Afghanistan could become a threat to the integrity of Pakistan, whose own 25 million Pashtuns might seek to break free to form a larger Pashtunistan. Any partition would also be resisted by many Afghans, including those Tajik, Baluchi, and Hazara minorities living in demographic “islands” within the mostly Pashtun south, as well as the Tajiks, Uzbeks, and others elsewhere in the country who want to keep Afghanistan free of Taliban influence. And even many Pashtuns would resist for fear of the harsh, intolerant rule the Taliban would impose if given the chance.


Another approach, best termed “decentralization,” bears resemblance to partition but also is different in important ways. Under this approach, the United States would provide arms and training to those local Afghan leaders throughout the country who reject Al Qaeda and who do not seek to undermine Pakistan. Economic aid could be provided to increase respect for human rights and to decrease poppy cultivation. There would be less emphasis on building up a national Army and police force.

The advantage of this option is that it works with and not against the Afghan tradition of a weak ruling center and a strong periphery. It would require revision of the Afghan Constitution, which as it stands places too much power in the hands of the president. The United States could leave it to local forces to prevent Taliban inroads, allowing most U.S. troops to return home. Leaders of non-Pashtun minorities (as well as anti-Taliban Pashtuns) would receive military aid and training. The result would be less a partition than a patchwork quilt. Petraeus took a step in this direction last week by gaining Karzai’s approval for the creation of new uniformed local security forces who will be paid to fight the insurgents in their communities.

Under this scenario, the Taliban would likely return to positions of power in a good many parts of the south. The Taliban would know, however, that they would be challenged by U.S. air power and Special Forces (and by U.S.-supported Afghans) if they attacked non-Pashtun areas, if they allowed the areas under their control to be used to supply antigovernment forces in Pakistan, or if they worked in any way with Al Qaeda. There is reason to believe that the Taliban might not repeat their historic error of inviting Al Qaeda back into areas under their control. Indeed, the United States should stop assuming that the two groups are one and the same and instead start talking to the Taliban to underscore how their interests differ from Al Qaeda’s.

Again, there are drawbacks. This approach would be resisted by some Afghans who fear giving away too much to the Taliban, and by some Taliban who don’t think it gives enough. The Karzai government would oppose any shift in U.S. support away from the central government and toward village and local leaders. Fighting would likely continue inside Afghanistan for years. And again, areas reclaimed by the Taliban would almost certainly reintroduce laws that would be antithetical to global norms for human rights.

So what should the president decide? The best way to answer this question is to return to what the United States seeks to accomplish in Afghanistan and why. The two main American goals are to prevent Al Qaeda from reestablishing a safe haven
and to make sure that Afghanistan does not undermine the stability of Pakistan.
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

Pranav wrote:
Richard Hass wrote:The two main American goals are to prevent Al Qaeda from reestablishing a safe haven[/b] and to make sure that Afghanistan does not undermine the stability of Pakistan.
Since USA almost never ever reach their officially declared goals, it seems they are afraid that this is exactly what will happen! :)
Philip
BRF Oldie
Posts: 21537
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30
Location: India

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Philip »

Another uniformed Paki cry for the US/foreigners to leave.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news- ... of-problem
'Foreign presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan part of problem'
Published: July 18, 2010
PrintFacebookDiggStumbleUponText Size
ISLAMABAD – Former Naval Chief Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari has written an open letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her arrival here today.
The letter poses a ‘charter of demands’ before the US Secretary of State. The letter says that foreign presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan is part of problem rather than the solution. It urges the coalition Governments to immediately order a cessation of all military and sting operations in the region and allow peace to be negotiated.
“Al-Qaeda is a convenient tool to blanket all opposition to US policies in the region and impose unilateral policies. All efforts to use this pretext to prolong the presence in the region and to pursue an international agenda other than peace must cease,” the letter further notes.
Fasih further demands an end to coalition operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, in his letter.
“The entire spectrum of violence and instability in Pakistan is a backwash from Afghanistan created by the presence of foreign forces. Support to insurgent and terrorist groups in FATA and Balochistan originates from Afghanistan. If this is not stopped, the instability will spread to other regions as well.
We demand the Government of Pakistan to make its own independent policies to ensure peace and development in the region; the mother of all civilisations.
Afghan movement is led by leaders who are indigenous to Afghanistan and legitimate representatives of resistance to foreign occupation. These leaders must be treated as party to peace and brought into a comprehensive dialogue process as reflected in Pak-Afghan Jirga of 2007,” he writes.

Fasih Bokhari further writes, “In order to ensure long-term stability and prosperity in the region, the Government of Pakistan must carry forward the inconclusive negotiations of 1996 and assist all Afghans.”
“It is not Pakistan’s responsibility to ensure logistics for coalition forces in Afghanistan knowing well that much of it is used to destabilise and terrorise Pakistan, this support must stop unless approved by the UN and conducted under transparent international safeguards and inspections,” he notes.
“Gross violations and exercise of human rights on selective bases are widely documented, all Pakistani prisoners kept by coalition countries, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in illegal detention centres must be brought back immediately and subjected to Pakistani courts.
Rendition centres, trials under duress and extra judicial killings including drones and blanket air strikes violate basic human rights, war reparations and criminal trials of coalition leaders who have knowingly falsified evidence in support of war before their own people; their Parliaments; and before the UN Security Council must be brought before Law.
All Pakistani leaders guilty of same must be tried under Pakistan laws”, he added.
“These are the ten screams of conscience. Let them travel far and wide through the resonance of people’s will and be understood and acted upon with speed, honesty, and conviction. We wish a better and secure future for all nations of the world.” Bokhari further demands.
putnanja
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4727
Joined: 26 Mar 2002 12:31
Location: searching for the next al-qaida #3

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by putnanja »

After years of rebuilding, most Afghans lack power
...
Case in point: a $100 million diesel-fueled power plant that was supposed to be built swiftly to deliver electricity to more than 500,000 residents of Kabul, the country's largest city. The plant's costs tripled to $305 million as construction lagged a year behind schedule, and now it often sits idle because the Afghans were able to import cheaper power from a neighboring country before the plant came online.


....
...
The $305 million diesel power plant represents the biggest single investment the U.S. has made thus far to light up the country. It has been dubbed the most expensive plant of its type in the world, sitting in one of the world's poorest countries.
...
...
The U.S. plowed ahead, turning the project over to a pair of American contractors, including one already scolded for wasting millions in taxpayer dollars on shoddy reconstruction projects. The U.S. team paid $109 million for 18 new diesel engines to be built — more than the original cost of the plant — only to discover rust and corrosion in several of them.
...
...
Building transmission lines to carry inexpensive imported power from Uzbekistan and other northern neighbors would be a much better investment, Neuman says he initially thought. But he changed his mind after a study by Black & Veatch, a U.S. contractor that builds power plants around the world, argued the transmission lines wouldn't bring enough electricity to Kabul or be completed soon enough.

As it turned out, those transmission lines were finished first and provide the main source of power, instead of the $305 million plant. {doesn't mention that India built those lines} :roll:
...
...
USAID refused to disclose the amounts paid as costs increased, but contract records obtained by The Associated Press show expenses and fees paid to the company tripled from $15.3 million in July 2007, when the project was estimated at $125.8 million overall, to $46.2 million in October 2009, when the price tag reached $301 million.
...
...
Shairzay, the former deputy energy minister, says Afghans view the diesel plant as a nice, expensive gift.

"Instead of giving me a small car, you give me really a Jaguar," he says. "And it will be up to me whether I use it, or just park it and look at it." :lol:
USAID is a money making machine, with all contracts going back to US companies. $305 million for a moth-eaten used diesel engine plant!! And these turds talk about corruption in third world! They put everyone to shame with their greed.
naren
BRFite
Posts: 1139
Joined: 23 Apr 2010 07:45

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by naren »

^^^ IIRC, more than 50% of the war spending went to pvt contractors = ~$500bn :shock:
abhishek_sharma
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9664
Joined: 19 Nov 2009 03:27

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by abhishek_sharma »

India to resume medical mission work in Afghanistan

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 190273.cms
Philip
BRF Oldie
Posts: 21537
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30
Location: India

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Philip »

...and now Karzai's cry,"Quit by 2014".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -2014.html

Hamid Karzai calls for Nato troop withdrawal by 2014
Hamid Karzai has said he is determined his Afghan forces will be ready to take responsibility from foreign troops for fighting the Taliban within four years.
The Afghan president spoke in front of more than 40 foreign ministers meeting to agree a tentative timetable for Kabul to take the lead in building and securing Afghanistan.

Opening the Kabul international conference, Mr Karzai said: "I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014."

The conference, held amid tight security in the Afghan capital, set the beginnings of a transition allowing foreign troops to switch from the front line to training roles as the Afghan army and police grows.

Mr Karzai described the Taliban-led insurgency as a "vicious common enemy which violates every Islamic and international norm".

The conference has been billed as the beginning of a "Kabul process" which will see Afghanistan weaning itself from international dependence and given a greater say in how donor money is spent.
Prem
BRF Oldie
Posts: 21234
Joined: 01 Jul 1999 11:31
Location: Weighing and Waiting 8T Yconomy

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Prem »

http://sorposh.blogspot.com/
In defence of Pakhtun nationalism
Jan Assakzai
Pakhtun nationalism as a political phenomenon has its roots in Pakhtun history. The various uprising of Pakhtuns/Afghans against different invaders had nationalist connotations: be that the struggle of Khushal Khan Khattak against the Moguls, the three Anglo-Afghan wars in the nineteenth century, the uprising of Faqir of Ipi in North Waziristan, Bacha Khan and Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai’s non-violent movements against British Raj so on and so forth. Majority of Pakhtuns: around 40 million, live in Pakistan and roughly 15 to 17 million constitute Afghanistan’s Pakhtun population out of 30 million if the current census estimates are to be believed. Political nationalist currents and their underlying dynamics amongst the Pakhtuns on both side of the Durand Line have both similarities and dissimilarities. (For me Pakhtun, Afghan and Pathan are interchangeable that define the same ethnic group, so just for clarity I will often use the word Pakhtun). Nationalism is sometimes reactionary, calling for a return to national past, and sometimes for the expulsion of foreigners. Other forms of nationalism are revolutionary, calling for the establishment of an independent state as a homeland for an ethnic underclass. But after the end of British Empire and emergence of Pakistan as a nation state, Pakhtun nationalism has been progressive and within the confines of Pakistan’s boundaries and has also by and large not sought pan-Pakhtun nationalism despite the stereotyped views of many non-Pakhtun and oriental writers. It has also not been based on ethno-nationalism: a belief in the superiority of one ethnicity over others, and never supported ethnocentric protectionism or ethnocentric supremacy of Pakhtuns over other ethnic groups. Whereas Islam as religion is concerned, I think almost 99 per cent Pakhtuns would believe in some sort of interpretation of Islam at philosophical/metaphysical, societal or functional levels. Yes, if one has more divisive or sectarian interpretation of religion, may term fellow Muslims as non Muslims, Shias, Kafirs, Murtads etc
the West particularly the US paid heavy price for its mistake of backing Islamabad to cultivate political Islam at the cost of Pakhtun nationalism on either side of the Durand Line: the most vicious expression of the price was September 11, 2001 and as of today, the resolve of the West in Afghanistan is faltering, only a fool will be satisfied that there will be no repeat of Sept. 11 attacks. But for the world peace, and the people of both countries, the only insurance policy in the log term will be the passing over of carefully nurtured political Islam in favour of Pakhtun nationalism in Afghanistan and Pakistan with iron clad guarantees for the territorial integrity of both the nation states, and the strategic involvement of the international guarantors particularly, the United States, to check bilateral infighting of the regional states played out on Pakhtun territories, particularly the policy expressed in Road-to-Kabul-goes-through-Srinagar Mantra. [email protected]
Carl_T
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2533
Joined: 24 Dec 2009 02:37
Location: anandasya sagare

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Carl_T »

Question for gurus - So good Taliban are Deobandi Islamists whereas bad Taliban are Pakhtun nationalists...At the same time, aren't even the Pakhtun nationalists basically Islamists? I thought their goal would also be an Islamic state.
naren
BRFite
Posts: 1139
Joined: 23 Apr 2010 07:45

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by naren »

^^^ I've come across many discussions in youtube where pakthuns (more bure arab blooded) treat pakjabis (less bure hindu blooded :P) like, well, Bakis.
Prem
BRF Oldie
Posts: 21234
Joined: 01 Jul 1999 11:31
Location: Weighing and Waiting 8T Yconomy

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Prem »

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/ ... -kabul.htm
Terrorism cannot be compartmentalised: India
The complete speech of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna [ Images ] at the international conference on Afghanistan
India also supports Afghanistan's efforts towards peace and reintegration. But, for such an effort to succeed, it must be fully Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and carry all sections of Afghanistan's population together as well as abide by the redlines agreed to at the London [ Images ] Conference, i.e., giving up violence, cutting off all links with terrorism - whether jehadi or state-sponsored - and accepting the democratic and pluralistic values of the Afghan Constitution, including women's rights. The international community must learn lessons from past experiences at negotiating with fundamentalist and extremist organizations and ensure that any peace process is conducted in an inclusive and transparent manner. Adequate capacity of the Afghan security forces and other Afghan institutions is a sine qua non for protecting Afghanistan's sovereignty, plurality and democracy. Gains of the last nine years stand to be squandered if this aspect does not receive the attention that it deserves as the international community ponders its next steps regarding Afghanistan.
The international community should also ensure that there is no selectivity in dealing with terrorism. Terrorism [ Images ] cannot be compartmentalised. As President Karzai said today, it is the vicious common enemy we face. Today, one cannot distinguish between Al Qaeda [ Images ] and plethora of terrorist organisations which have imbibed the goals and techniques of Al Qaeda. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith.
Sanjay M
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4892
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 14:57

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Sanjay M »

Carl_T wrote:Question for gurus - So good Taliban are Deobandi Islamists whereas bad Taliban are Pakhtun nationalists...At the same time, aren't even the Pakhtun nationalists basically Islamists? I thought their goal would also be an Islamic state.
ANP aren't really Islamist, and they're the main nationalist party among Pathans.
SSridhar
Forum Moderator
Posts: 25382
Joined: 05 May 2001 11:31
Location: Chennai

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by SSridhar »

Afghanistan builds up strategic partnership with Pakistan - Washington Post
At the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul these days, a visitor is likely to be handed a booklet about the two countries by Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq titled "The Conjoined Twins." :rotfl:
chaanakya
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9513
Joined: 09 Jan 2010 13:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by chaanakya »

SSridhar wrote:
At the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul these days, a visitor is likely to be handed a booklet about the two countries by Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq titled "The Conjoined Twins." :rotfl:
What an irony. Conjoined twins need operation to separate them and then lead a normal life. :rotfl: :rotfl:
RamaY
BRF Oldie
Posts: 17249
Joined: 10 Aug 2006 21:11
Location: http://bharata-bhuti.blogspot.com/

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by RamaY »

Under this scenario, the Taliban would likely return to positions of power in a good many parts of the south. The Taliban would know, however, that they would be challenged by U.S. air power and Special Forces (and by U.S.-supported Afghans) if they attacked non-Pashtun areas, if they allowed the areas under their control to be used to supply antigovernment forces in Pakistan, or if they worked in any way with Al Qaeda. There is reason to believe that the Taliban might not repeat their historic error of inviting Al Qaeda back into areas under their control. Indeed, the United States should stop assuming that the two groups are one and the same and instead start talking to the Taliban to underscore how their interests differ from Al Qaeda’s.
...

The two main American goals are to prevent Al Qaeda from reestablishing a safe haven and to make sure that Afghanistan does not undermine the stability of Pakistan.
Reading together...

Kala Vilayat still thinks that it is in USA's interests to sustain TSPA.

The second point is integration of Afghani and Paki taliban elements is complete. Karma is a b*tch. TSPA wanted Afghanistan as their strategic depth; instead they became strategic depth for Afghani Taliban :twisted:
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 60273
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by ramana »

^^^
The second point is integration of Afghani and Paki taliban elements is complete.
We need to be clear about Afghan Taliban and the Pakiban. There are some differences even though they are Pashtuns.

So Afghan Taliban are: Omar's group, Haqqani group and Hekmatyar's group.

Pakiban are Baitullah Mehsud, Mullah Fadaullah and others of their ilk.
In TSP there is another we can identify as Wahabandis: Extremist Deobandis who are becoming Salafised. It is this last group that can and will takeover TSP.
naren
BRFite
Posts: 1139
Joined: 23 Apr 2010 07:45

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by naren »

Taliban - Behind the Masks

July 15, 2010

Though they would eventually kidnap him, the Taliban granted journalist Paul Refsdal unprecedented access. This exclusive documentary shows us a side of the Taliban that we have never seen before.
*added*

Source
Though they would eventually kidnap him, the Taliban granted journalist Paul Refsdal unprecedented access. This exclusive documentary shows us a side of the Taliban we have never seen before.

Today, the Taliban seem to survive mainly on conviction: "We belong to God and fear no-one". From their mountain hideout, they ambush the daily American convoys, descending into joyous shouts of "Allah Akhbar", when a truck is hit. But a hit on target is rare. And the Americans' response is swift and deadly: a US gunship kills Commander Dawran's second-in command, and Refsdal is told to flee and to return in a month. Dawran escapes unharmed, but his two children are killed.

At first, the men are suspicious of the 'tall white man' amongst them. "He is really scared of us", one mutters in hushed tones, holding his kalishnikov close, "we are really scared of him". The tension is high as wary eyes dart constantly towards the camera and the crackle of gunfire echoes across the mountain stronghold. Yet gradually the men start to relax, they remove their masks: "He is filming us to show that 'these are the bad guys'", they joke. The men kill time in a game that involves throwing giant stones as far as possible.

But the mood soon changes after a direct NATO attack: "I will not back down, God give victory to the holy warriors!" The group sit solemnly in a circle as their commander, Dawran, leads prayers and steels them for battle: "If we have a weapon on each side, and both of them fire at once, their infantry will not be able to do anything". One young fighter, the wildcard of the group, still finds humour in the situation, singing down his walkie-talkie. "Even in battle he is acting like this", his comrades laugh.

These young charges see Dawran as a wise elder - a Gandhi with a kalashnikov. :rotfl: Yet the Americans have a bounty of $400 000 on his head. Once an important landowner, Dawran now lives in a stone hut. He affectionately plays with his giggling children, whilst advertising his blood toll: "this [weapon] killed thirty Americans". But behind the boasts, this is a taliban with far less weaponry and resources than those who repelled the Russians in the 80s.

For the doe-eyed gunmen in this report, the slaughter of Dawran's children merely adds fuel to their conviction. When Refsdal returns to the camp he is held hostage for six days.
Transcript
Sanjay M
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4892
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 14:57

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Sanjay M »

Stratfor opinion:

A_Gupta
BRF Oldie
Posts: 13535
Joined: 23 Oct 2001 11:31
Contact:

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by A_Gupta »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10746832
The authors of the report by the Massachusetts-based National Bureau of Economic Research say they analysed 15 months of data on military clashes and incidents totalling more than 4,000 civilian deaths in a number of Afghan regions in the period ending on 1 April.

They say that in areas where two civilians were killed or injured by Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), there were on average an extra six violent incidents between insurgents and US-led troops in the following six weeks.

The report concludes that civilian deaths frequently motivate villagers to join the ranks of insurgents.

"In Afghanistan, when Isaf units kill civilians, this increases the number of willing combatants, leading to an increase in insurgent attacks."

"Local exposure to violence from Isaf appears to be the primary driver of this effect."
Raja Bose
BRF Oldie
Posts: 19477
Joined: 18 Oct 2005 01:38

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Raja Bose »

Taliban: One missing US trooper dead, other captured

Seems like 2 Navy SEALs got ambushed and 1 captured, 1 KIA. The tactic used is similar to what the LTTE used in Sri Lanka during IPKF days - probably even more problematic since 2 amirkhans decked out with TFTA kamandu webbing+gear will stick out like sore thumbs where torn shalwar and battered AKs are the norm.
Sanjay M
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4892
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 14:57

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Sanjay M »

Here is the direct link to the WikiLeaks site, should any of you wish to peruse their cache of materials:

http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/Afghan_Wa ... _2004-2010
sum
BRF Oldie
Posts: 10205
Joined: 08 May 2007 17:04
Location: (IT-vity && DRDO) nagar

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by sum »

Raja Bose wrote: Seems like 2 Navy SEALs got ambushed and 1 captured, 1 KIA. The tactic used is similar to what the LTTE used in Sri Lanka during IPKF days - probably even more problematic since 2 amirkhans decked out with TFTA kamandu webbing+gear will stick out like sore thumbs where torn shalwar and battered AKs are the norm.
Wont the SEALs be in Afghan dress/ mufti?

Cant even imagine the painful death the captured SEAL will face!!! Guess death is better than getting caught by some rabid Talibs/Pakis..
g.sarkar
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4447
Joined: 09 Jul 2005 12:22
Location: MERCED, California

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by g.sarkar »

sum wrote: Cant even imagine the painful death the captured SEAL will face!!! Guess death is better than getting caught by some rabid Talibs/Pakis..
Remember Kipling?
"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."
But that was another time another war.
Gautam
Raja Bose
BRF Oldie
Posts: 19477
Joined: 18 Oct 2005 01:38

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Raja Bose »

^^^It is still true.

They may wear native dress but the weapons and webbing (and not to mention the Oakley sunglasses) are unlike anything which other indig. forces are equipped with - they will get marked out as mercs (Xe types) or SF. Looks good on Hollywood, WSJ and Salon articles but makes 'em stick out like sore thumbs.

If you notice how Para(SF)/MARCOS dress in Kashmir when they go undercover, they use local webbing and captured AKs instead.
Muppalla
BRF Oldie
Posts: 7115
Joined: 12 Jun 1999 11:31

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Muppalla »

I don't know if we have archived the N^3 model of calculating dead in earlier Afghan bombing pre-Karzai era.

http://gulfnews.com/opinions/editorials ... l-1.659791
The astonishing leak of 92,000 secret documents from Nato and US sources have shown that the coalition forces in Afghanistan have killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents, and endured a serious increase in the number of Taliban attacks which have not been made public
Those were the days of daisy cutters on civilian areas.
shravan
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2212
Joined: 03 Apr 2009 00:08

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by shravan »

NATO rocket killed 45 Afghan civilians: government
KABUL | Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:45am EDT

(Reuters) - At least 45 civilians, many women and children, were killed in a rocket attack by the NATO-led foreign force in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province last week, a spokesman for the Afghan government said on Monday.
goutham
BRFite -Trainee
Posts: 47
Joined: 28 Nov 2006 20:08

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by goutham »

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/ ... 7#38411097


Brezinski being more paki than a paki. I cant believe him trying to distinguish between paki army and the ISI and essentially implicating India for all the mess in Afghanistan.
Lalmohan
BRF Oldie
Posts: 13257
Joined: 30 Dec 2005 18:28

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by Lalmohan »

the talibs were reported to have disembowelled the 9 captured french troops from a couple of years ago, the tales of what they did to the russians are very lurid, so the seal dude is in big trouble

on brezhinski... no doubt still living in his anti-soviet delusional world, best to write him off as senile
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

goutham wrote:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/ ... 7#38411097


Brezinski being more paki than a paki. I cant believe him trying to distinguish between paki army and the ISI and essentially implicating India for all the mess in Afghanistan.
Brezinski is an influential man in Democratic circles. If one wants him to change his stripes, India should make Poland a strong partner in EU and throw a party for the newly elected Polish President in Delhi.
shyamd
BRF Oldie
Posts: 7100
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 18:43

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by shyamd »

watch these leaks on afghanistan get worse. There are probably going to be corruption scandals on pentagon contracts, and how senior republicans were part of companies that obtained large contracts in afghanistan. Afghan Defence ministers' son Hamid Wardak obtained large road construction contracts.
chaanakya
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9513
Joined: 09 Jan 2010 13:30

Re: Afghanistan News & Discussion

Post by chaanakya »

RajeshA wrote:
goutham wrote:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/ ... 7#38411097


Brezinski being more paki than a paki. I cant believe him trying to distinguish between paki army and the ISI and essentially implicating India for all the mess in Afghanistan.
Brezinski is an influential man in Democratic circles. If one wants him to change his stripes, India should make Poland a strong partner in EU and throw a party for the newly elected Polish President in Delhi.
Oh He can be chief guest on Republic Day Parade . :twisted:
Post Reply