Afghanistan News & Discussion

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 06 Oct 2009 19:41

Yesterday I heard a long interview with TSP foreign minsiter on NPR. I was struck that in entitre interview, he did not mention India even once. Looks like Unkil has told them, don't be smart a$sses and drag India into every issue

.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 07 Oct 2009 01:16

RAWALPINDI : General Stanley McChrystal, Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters on Tuesday and discussed with him military operation in South Waziristan besides prevailing security situation at Pak-Afghan boarder, Aaj News reported.
They also exchanged views on sharing of intelligence on anti-terrorism and Balochistan issue.
Kayani asked the US General to provide information about presence of Taliban leadership in Balochistan, adding Pakistani security forces themselves would carry out operation against Taliban in Balochistan
http://www.thepakistaninewspaper.com/ne ... p?id=14721

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Oct 2009 06:35

Obama Says He Won't Slash Troops in Afghanistan

And in the final moments of the meeting, Mr. Obama sought to put to rest suspicions of friction with General McChrystal. “I’m the one who hired him,” Mr. Obama said, according to participants. “I put him there to give me a frank assessment.”

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Oct 2009 18:29

New Taliban chief meets reporters

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 03:35

Taliban say control area after battle with U.S.

Wed Oct 7, 2009 5:36pm EDT

By Sayed Salahuddin and Peter Graff

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban militants said on Wednesday they had hoisted their flag in a remote district of Afghanistan where days earlier they had inflicted the deadliest battlefield casualties on U.S. troops in more than a year.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 05:55

Obama Leaning Towards Moderate Troop Increase

Hillary supports McChrystal
Biden Opposes Increase

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 06:29

RT's Priya Sridhar Interviews Cato's Malou Innocent:

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 06:45

FOXnews

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 07:05

Tokyo Rose, Hanoi Jane - meet Kandahar Rachel:

She makes good points, of course - but for the wrong reasons.

my comment:

umm, Rachel, considering that it's the Pakistani military who are the ruling elite running the country, you can be sure that ALL 6.6 BILLION DOLLARS made it to the Pakistani military.

It's just that only $500M of that made it to the troops fighting the insurgency.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 07:11

RT's Priya Sridhar interviews WT's columnist Tony Blankley:

Hmm - what if JFK had lived to face the question of whether or not to escalate the US troop presence in Vietnam?
Well, now we have JFK2 and Vietnam2, to help us answer our question.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 08:26

McCain comments to Larry King about Obama, McChrystal and Afghanistan

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 08:33

More disturbing details of Afghan election fraud leaked from UN:

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Oct 2009 08:39

US War in Afghanistan Compared to Soviet War in Afghanistan:

Le plus ca change, le moins ca change?

Also, the comment made at 1:02 made me wonder - is Obama the American Gorbachev?
Like Gorby, he and his supporters claim that he is a new reformist kind of leader.
But also like Gorby, despite his pleasant personality and his good intentions, he seems to be presiding over the decline of his country.

amdavadi · Post by **amdavadi** » 08 Oct 2009 10:45

Breaking News!!

Blast near Indian embassy in kabul seems to be suicide bombing.

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 08 Oct 2009 10:48

Prayers for the victims

Countdown begins to MMSji's "tough" response...

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 08 Oct 2009 10:52

It seems like staff of Indian mission are safe as per latest. Here is the link:

Large blast near Indian embassy in Kabul

A large explosion rocked the center of Afghanistan's capital early on Thursday, near the Indian Embassy and the interior ministry. At least
three people are feared dead. The Indian Embassy staff is reported to be safe.

Associated Press reporters heard the explosion in the morning and saw a plume of smoke rising from a site in downtown Kabul.

An AP reporter at the scene saw two sporty utility vehicles badly damaged, one of them labeled as a United Nations vehicle. The center of the blast appeared to be just outside the Indian embassy. Windows in surrounding shops were shattered.

The Indian Embassy was earlier targeted in July 2008. More than 20 people were killed in that attack.

Police officers on the site said they believed it was the work of a suicide bomber, but did not provide further details.

US and NATO spokespeople said they did not yet have any information on the explosion.

The Afghan capital has been hit numerous times in recent months by suicide bombers and roadside bombs. The attacks usually target international military forces or government installations, but Afghan businesses and civilians are also often killed or injured.

In the most recent attack in mid-September, a suicide car bomber rammed into an Italian military convoy on a road leading to the airport. That blast killed six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians.

This year has also been the deadliest for Western troops in the country.

The mounting violence comes at a time US President Barack Obama is considering whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan as requested by his top commander there, General Stanley McChrystal.

There are now more than 100,000 Western troops serving in Afghanistan, two-thirds of them American.

amdavadi · Post by **amdavadi** » 08 Oct 2009 10:55

Ap reports someone who was leaving Indian embassay is injured.

hulaku · Post by **hulaku** » 08 Oct 2009 11:03

Three ITBP Jawans injured

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 08 Oct 2009 11:05

hulaku wrote:Three ITBP Jawans injured

God dammit

.

amdavadi · Post by **amdavadi** » 08 Oct 2009 11:08

ITBP guys have suffer minor injuries. I guess this is beginning of what R guru was pointing at.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 08 Oct 2009 11:22

The target was undoubtedly Indian embassy. TIMES NOW reports that the blast was of the same intensity as last year's. Because of measures taken after last year's incident, the Indian embassy and the Indians there escaped. Once again, the Haqqanis helped by ISI must have conducted this. It won't be surprising if the ISI leaves tell-tale evidence of its involvement just as in last year's case. Soon after this, we should see a major attack within India.

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 08 Oct 2009 11:24

SSridhar wrote:The target was undoubtedly Indian embassy. TIMES NOW reports that the blast was of the same intensity as last year's. Because of measures taken after last year's incident, the Indian embassy and the Indians there escaped. Once again, the Haqqanis helped by ISI must have conducted this. It won't be surprising if the ISI leaves tell-tale evidence of its involvement just as in last year's case. Soon after this, we should see a major attack within India.

I was thinking exactly the same.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Oct 2009 11:48

This report says that three died in the attack.Past time to put the gloves on with Pak.There is simply no use talking to Gen.Kill-any and any of his tribe of martial monsters.The whole lot of them have to be put down like rabid vermin.The US also needs to be slapped in the face for continuing its massive support to Pak regardless of its terror attacks aganist India.By doing so it is equally culpable for these attacks.

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

Home News World News Asia AfghanistanIndian Embassy in Kabul bombed for second time in one year

A large explosion has hit the Indian Embassy in Kabul, the second time in one year that the building has been the target of a deadly attack.

Published: 6:08AM BST 08 Oct 2009

Early reports said three people had died in the attack, but the toll was expected to rise.

Reports from the ground said two sporty utility vehicles, one with UN signage, had been badly damaged in the blast.

The centre of the blast appeared to be just outside the Indian embassy. Windows in surrounding shops were shattered.

Police officers on the site said they believed it was the work of a suicide bomber, but did not provide further details.

Spokesmen for the US and NATO said they did not yet have any information on the explosion.

The Indian Embassy was targeted last year. At the time, the US claimed elements within Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency had been involved in the plot.

India, which has poured millions of dollars into the rebuilding of Afghanistan, recently reaffirmed its committment to the country.

The Afghan capital has been hit numerous times in recent months by suicide bombers and roadside bombs. The attacks usually target international military forces or government installations, but Afghan businesses and civilians are also often killed or injured.

In the most recent attack in mid-September, a suicide car bomber rammed into an Italian military convoy on a road leading to the airport. That blast killed six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians.

rkirankr · Post by **rkirankr** » 08 Oct 2009 11:53

Rangudu wrote:Prayers for the victims

Countdown begins to MMSji's "tough" response...

"Squeak squeak, eek we condemned the dastardly attack. We will not let the terrorist's game plan come in the way of establishing a peaceful relation with Pakistan . eek, squeak, squeak"

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 08 Oct 2009 12:20

The Kabul embassy seems to be a trial balloon to me. Same old 'we will give a tough response' may lead to a repetition of the series of attacks now too. Hope the home ministry puts out alerts everywhere right now instead of the usual after-the-attacks alerts.

sum · Post by **sum** » 08 Oct 2009 13:01

And so, the cycle begins (after a year's break)...

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Oct 2009 13:40

12 dead as blast targets Kabul's Indian embassy

By Waheedullah Massoud (AFP) – 3 hours ago

KABUL — A huge suicide car bomb struck near the Indian embassy in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 83 in the latest in a wave of deadly attacks on the Afghan capital, officials said.

Windows were blown from dozens of shops and survivors staggered around the bloodied streets in the heavily fortified central diplomatic area, after the fifth suicide strike in Kabul in two months.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the blast bore all the hallmarks of the Taliban, who are battling to topple the Western-backed government.

"As a result of a suicide car bomb attack today, 12 people were martyred and 83 were wounded. Most of the casualties are civilians," interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP.

In a statement, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called the perpetrators "barbaric" and said: "This is a terrorist attack, and an obvious attack on defenceless Afghan civilians."

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in New Delhi that his country's fortress-like embassy was "obviously" the intended target.

Rao said no Indians were killed in the blast, but three members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force who were guarding the embassy had received shrapnel injuries.

A similar suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul in July 2008 killed 60 people and was blamed on Taliban militants linked to Pakistan's intelligence agencies, sending tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad soaring.

That attack, which remains the deadliest in Kabul, led to stringent new security measures such as concrete blast barriers at the embassy. Rao said those had limited the impact of Thursday's explosion.

The bomber detonated his explosives-laden car near the corner of the embassy compound on Interior Ministry Road at about 8:30 am (0400 GMT), sending plumes of smoke into the air in a blast that echoed throughout the capital.

An AFP reporter saw a massive crater in the middle of the road. The wreckage of a car appeared to have been blown 20 metres (yards) across the road, while the windows of up to 100 shops were blown out.

The road was littered with debris, burned out vehicles and body parts. Bloodied scraps of clothing, including the pale blue burqas still worn by many Afghan women, were scattered across the site.

Fire engines and ambulances raced to the area. A white armoured Toyota Land Cruiser with the pale blue UN insignia painted on the side lay damaged. Three civilian cars were also damaged.

It is the fifth blast to hit the capital since mid-August, just before presidential elections were held on August 20 amid a campaign of violence and intimidation by resurgent Taliban rebels.

arun · Post by **arun** » 08 Oct 2009 13:59

Our Foreign Secretary Mrs. Nirupama Rao on the Kabul bombing. She believes that our embassy in Kabul was the bombers target:

"I believe the suicide bomb was directed against the embassy because the suicide bomber came up to the outside perimeter wall of the embassy with a car loaded with explosives obviously with the aim of targeting the embassy,"

Reuters

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 08 Oct 2009 15:06

- deleted -

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 08 Oct 2009 15:07

rkirankr wrote:
Rangudu wrote:Prayers for the victims

Countdown begins to MMSji's "tough" response...
"Squeak squeak, eek we condemned the dastardly attack. We will not let the terrorist's game plan come in the way of establishing a peaceful relation with Pakistan . eek, squeak, squeak"

Shashi Tharoor's tweet a minute back

"India will not be intimidated by these criminal killers. We will take all steps necessary to protect Indian lives & installations in Afghstn"

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 08 Oct 2009 15:10

Kabul blast images

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8296297.stm

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 08 Oct 2009 15:35

Link

KABUL – The Taliban have claimed responsibility for Thursday's suicide car bomb in the Afghan capital, saying their target was the Indian Embassy.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement posted on the group's Web site that the attacker was an Afghan man who blew up his a sporty utility vehicle laden with explosives just outside the embassy.

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 08 Oct 2009 16:25

Condolences to the victims. One of the injured was saying that though the area was heavily sanitised by Afghan Army, a Toyota Corolla was parked near the wall. Was there a security breach/insider job ?

Seems that Modus operandi was similar to last blast. Due to the improvements in the fortifications, casualties on our end was avoided and the ITBP jawans suffered only minor injuries.

Anabhaya · Post by **Anabhaya** » 08 Oct 2009 16:36

Diwali is coming. Remember Delhi bombings? It appears this time period between Oct-Dec is when the number of attacks/nature peaks.

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 08 Oct 2009 16:44

This is a clear warning from TSP especially to unkil and then to India. It is unkil's baksheesh that is keeping TSP from launching attacks against SDRES. This is a signal that their patience is running out because of Kerry-Lugar conditions etc on the money flow. Next step would be an attack inside India to drive home the point.

The 2008 bombing of Kabul embassy was on 7th of July. 26/11 Mumbai happened after 3 months. It is the same blueprint being followed this time also. Hope GOI is prepared in advance.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 08 Oct 2009 16:52

I wonder how many deaths/attacks it will take before India initiates covert action. I am sure it took over 5,000 deaths before a MAC could be put into operation. Looks like India will only respond if there are attacks INSIDE India, and not to its interests outside of India.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 08 Oct 2009 17:38

Undeterred by injuries in blast, ITBP men held position

New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) Showing grit even in the face of a terror attack, two commandos of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) refused to abandon their posts outside the Indian embassy in Kabul despite their injuries in the suicide bombing that killed at least 12 people Thursday morning.
“Havaldar Ravinder Singh and Constable Kulwant Singh were manning their post along the embassy wall in Kabul when the blast took place. Though the blast took place at some distance from the embassy, the impact was so massive that one of them was thrown back some distance and suffered back injuries. The other suffered splinter injuries on his neck from the shattered glass of the embassy windows,” a senior ITBP official told IANS here.

The explosion occurred at 8.27 a.m. on the heavily fortified road in downtown Kabul where the Indian embassy and the Afghan interior ministry are located.

According to the high ranked officer, Ravinder and Kulwant, who were trained in anti-terrorist operations, were given primary first aid at the blast site. Thereafter, the two troopers of the central paramilitary force just stayed on.

“Seeing the gravity of the situation, they themselves refused to leave the post,” the officer added.

According to ITBP officers here, the best troopers drawn from all their battalions and trained in anti-terrorism operations have been deployed at the Indian embassy in Kabul.

“We have sole charge and provide full security from escorting to manning posts. Our men are deployed inside of the embassy and also along its walls. Round-the-clock security is provided at the embassy,” said an officer.

Kabul has seen a series of suicide attacks in the past two months.

On July 7 last year, 44 people, including two high-ranking Indian embassy officials, were killed in the suicide attack at the Indian embassy that also wounded 147 people. The attack had marked the deadliest suicide bombing since the fall of Taliban regime in 2001.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 08 Oct 2009 19:31

shyamd wrote:I wonder how many deaths/attacks it will take before India initiates covert action. I am sure it took over 5,000 deaths before a MAC could be put into operation. Looks like India will only respond if there are attacks INSIDE India, and not to its interests outside of India.

First and foremost, India must sumomn the b@lls to tell Honcho Holbrooke, demi God McCrustal, and the entire western world, that attacks against India cannot be characterized as 'great game between India & TSP'. India has as much right if not more to be in Afgaisthan, doing the good work it is doing and increasing its influence in the process, as much as the western tribals do. Attacks against westerners in Afganisthan is terrorism, while attacks against India is a 'great game'. What f^&*(%ng colonial double standards and gets away unchallenged.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 08 Oct 2009 19:34

shyamd wrote:Looks like India will only respond if there are attacks INSIDE India, and not to its interests outside of India.

Wake me up when it does even that much.

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 08 Oct 2009 21:01

Looks like this attack is a message relating to current heartburn in Pakistan over the Kerry-Lugar bill: 1. We won't accept a provision to not harm neighboring countries because we see India as a threat. 2. We may (repeat, may) deign to accept your money if you stop India from helping Afghans and thus becoming popular there.

Note that McChrystal in his report, said that if India keeps building schools and hospitals in Afghanistan, Pakistan will attack either Indian interests in Afghanistan and / or inside India itself. The attack on our embassy is to tell America, yes, yes, listen to McChrystal and make India go away from Afghanistan.

I fear that the US administration will get the message and respond in the way Pakistan wants. Our resolve has to go beyond simply "protecting our embassy" and "refusing to get intimidated", we have understand the game being played and redouble our efforts.