The Taliban have threatened to destroy mobile phone towers and the offices of mobile phone companies in Afghanistan if the companies don't agree to stop mobile phone calls between 5:00 pm and 3:00 am each day. Zabiullah Mujaheed, a Taliban spokesman, said the movement was giving mobile phone companies three days to comply.
According to the Taliban, US forces in Afghanistan have been using night-time calls to track down members of the mililtant movement.
Mobile phones were first introduced in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban government in 2001 (BBC).
Showing posts with label Taliban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taliban. Show all posts
25 February 2008
17 February 2008
Taliban blamed for Kandahar suicide bombing
At least 65 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a dog fighting match in Kandahar. According to Kandahar governor Assadullah Khalid, the Taliban carried out the attack. One of the people killed was a police chief called Abdul Hakim, and he is thought to have been the main target of the attack (BBC).
03 December 2007
Afghans oppose the Taliban, want NATO to stay for now
The results of a poll conducted in Afghanistan between October and November 2007 indicate that Afghans oppose the Taliban and support both President Hamid Karzai and his American backers, along with their NATO allies. The poll, commissioned by the BBC World Service, ABC News and the German network ARD, involved interviews with 1,377 Afghans from different parts of the country.
Some results (taken from this PDF):
54% of Afghans believe their country is headed in the right direction. The biggest factor in this view is "good security". For those who believe Afghanistan is headed in the wrong direction, the biggest reason is problems with the economy.
According to 30% of Afghans, the biggest problem currently facing Afghanistan is "security/warlords/attacks/violence". According to 26%, the Taliban is the biggest problem.
"Security from crime and violence" was the biggest priority for the largest number of Afghans (28%). "Getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan" was the topmost priority for only 3% of Afghans.
15% of Afghans rate work done by the current Afghan government as excellent, and 44% rate it as good.
26% of Afghans rate work done by Karzai as excellent, and 37% rate it as good.
8% of Afghans rate the role of the US in Afghanistan as excellent, and 35% rate it as good. 21% rate it as poor.
84% of Afghans want the current government to continue ruling the country. 4% would rather have the Taliban rule.
52% of Afghans believe that the Taliban is the biggest danger to the country. 10% think the US is.
Asked their opinion about the 2001 US invasion which toppled the Taliban government, 35% of Afghans rated the intervention as very good, and 40% rated it as mostly good.
20% of Afghans strongly support the presence of US troops in Afghanistan today, while 51% support it somewhat.
25% of Afghans strongly support the presence of NATO and ISAF forces in Afghanistan today, while 42% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support the presence of foreign "Jihadi fighters" in Afghanistan, while 13% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support Taliban fighters, while 4% support them somewhat.
Asked whom they blame the most for the violence seen in Afghanistan today, 36% fo Afghans named the Taliban, 22% named al-Qaeda and "foreign jihadis". 16% named the US or George Bush, and 3% blamed NATO and ISAF member-states.
42% of Afghans think the Taliban have grown stronger over the past year.
60% of Afghans believe that the government should negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban.
74% of Afghans think that attacks against US forces in Afghanistan are not justified.
77% of Afghans think that attacks against non-American NATO or ISAF forces are not justified.
91% of Afghans think that attacks against the Afghan police or army are not justified.
94% of Afghans think that attacks against officials of the Afghan government are not justified.
42% of Afghans believe that US forces should leave the country only after security is restored there.
43% believe that non-US NATO and ISAF forces should leave only after security is restored in Afghanistan.
Only 3% of Afghans think the Taliban have a "very strong presence" in their area, while 7% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
By contrast, 11% of Afghans think that US/NATO/ISAF forces have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 39% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
3% of Afghans think that "foreign jihadis" have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 11% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
35% of Afghans are very confident and 47% are fairly confident that the Afghan government can provide security in their area.
1% of Afghans are very confident and 7% are fairly confident that the Taliban can provide security in their area.
12% of Afghans are very confident and 40% are fairly confident that US/NATO/ISAF forces can provide security in their area.
2% of Afghans are very confident and 10% are fairly confident that "foreign jihadis" can provide security in their area.
69% of Afghans believe the Pakistani government allows the Taliban to operate from its territory.
62% of Afghans believe the cultivation of opium is "unacceptable in all cases".
84% of Afghans think their government should "kill off" the poppy crop.
69% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of the Taliban, while 15% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
76% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Osama bin Laden, while 11% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
48% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the US, while 17% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the UK, while 11% have a very favourable view of it.
49% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Germany, while 22% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Iran, while 14% have a very favourable view of it.
63% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Pakistan and 16% have a somewhat unfavourable view of it.
Some results (taken from this PDF):
54% of Afghans believe their country is headed in the right direction. The biggest factor in this view is "good security". For those who believe Afghanistan is headed in the wrong direction, the biggest reason is problems with the economy.
According to 30% of Afghans, the biggest problem currently facing Afghanistan is "security/warlords/attacks/violence". According to 26%, the Taliban is the biggest problem.
"Security from crime and violence" was the biggest priority for the largest number of Afghans (28%). "Getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan" was the topmost priority for only 3% of Afghans.
15% of Afghans rate work done by the current Afghan government as excellent, and 44% rate it as good.
26% of Afghans rate work done by Karzai as excellent, and 37% rate it as good.
8% of Afghans rate the role of the US in Afghanistan as excellent, and 35% rate it as good. 21% rate it as poor.
84% of Afghans want the current government to continue ruling the country. 4% would rather have the Taliban rule.
52% of Afghans believe that the Taliban is the biggest danger to the country. 10% think the US is.
Asked their opinion about the 2001 US invasion which toppled the Taliban government, 35% of Afghans rated the intervention as very good, and 40% rated it as mostly good.
20% of Afghans strongly support the presence of US troops in Afghanistan today, while 51% support it somewhat.
25% of Afghans strongly support the presence of NATO and ISAF forces in Afghanistan today, while 42% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support the presence of foreign "Jihadi fighters" in Afghanistan, while 13% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support Taliban fighters, while 4% support them somewhat.
Asked whom they blame the most for the violence seen in Afghanistan today, 36% fo Afghans named the Taliban, 22% named al-Qaeda and "foreign jihadis". 16% named the US or George Bush, and 3% blamed NATO and ISAF member-states.
42% of Afghans think the Taliban have grown stronger over the past year.
60% of Afghans believe that the government should negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban.
74% of Afghans think that attacks against US forces in Afghanistan are not justified.
77% of Afghans think that attacks against non-American NATO or ISAF forces are not justified.
91% of Afghans think that attacks against the Afghan police or army are not justified.
94% of Afghans think that attacks against officials of the Afghan government are not justified.
42% of Afghans believe that US forces should leave the country only after security is restored there.
43% believe that non-US NATO and ISAF forces should leave only after security is restored in Afghanistan.
Only 3% of Afghans think the Taliban have a "very strong presence" in their area, while 7% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
By contrast, 11% of Afghans think that US/NATO/ISAF forces have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 39% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
3% of Afghans think that "foreign jihadis" have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 11% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
35% of Afghans are very confident and 47% are fairly confident that the Afghan government can provide security in their area.
1% of Afghans are very confident and 7% are fairly confident that the Taliban can provide security in their area.
12% of Afghans are very confident and 40% are fairly confident that US/NATO/ISAF forces can provide security in their area.
2% of Afghans are very confident and 10% are fairly confident that "foreign jihadis" can provide security in their area.
69% of Afghans believe the Pakistani government allows the Taliban to operate from its territory.
62% of Afghans believe the cultivation of opium is "unacceptable in all cases".
84% of Afghans think their government should "kill off" the poppy crop.
69% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of the Taliban, while 15% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
76% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Osama bin Laden, while 11% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
48% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the US, while 17% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the UK, while 11% have a very favourable view of it.
49% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Germany, while 22% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Iran, while 14% have a very favourable view of it.
63% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Pakistan and 16% have a somewhat unfavourable view of it.
06 November 2007
40 killed in Afghanistan by suicide bomber
A suicide bomber has allegedly set off an explosion in which 40 people, mostly civilians and including children, were killed in Afghanistan's Baghlan Province today.
The attacker targeted a sugar factory where a visit by a parliamentary delegation was underway. Six MPs, including the opposition politician Mustafa Kazimi, a veteran of the anti-Soviet struggle, were killed in the attack. The children who were killed were there to welcome the MPs.
The Taliban have denied responsibility for the bombing, and have condemned the attack (BBC).
I am inclined to believe the Taliban on this one, mostly because how far away this attack was from their usual area of activity. However, I wouldn't put it past them to do this sort of thing elsewhere in the country. The Taliban are no strangers to using suicide bombing, without regard to civilian casualties, as a means to try to evict NATO soldiers from Afghanistan.
The attacker targeted a sugar factory where a visit by a parliamentary delegation was underway. Six MPs, including the opposition politician Mustafa Kazimi, a veteran of the anti-Soviet struggle, were killed in the attack. The children who were killed were there to welcome the MPs.
The Taliban have denied responsibility for the bombing, and have condemned the attack (BBC).
I am inclined to believe the Taliban on this one, mostly because how far away this attack was from their usual area of activity. However, I wouldn't put it past them to do this sort of thing elsewhere in the country. The Taliban are no strangers to using suicide bombing, without regard to civilian casualties, as a means to try to evict NATO soldiers from Afghanistan.
Musharraf blames extremists for emergency
Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has blamed "the activities of extremists" for the difficult state Pakistan has found itself in, which, in his view, necessitates the state of emergency currently in force there. He also accused "some members of the judiciary" of "working at cross purposes with the executive and legislature in the fight against terrorism and extremism" (BBC).
Now the problem with this way of describing things is that it completely takes the blame off the executive, headed by none other than Musharraf himself. His prevarication with dealing with the extremists is what got Pakistan into this mess in the first place, in my view (not to mention the creation of the Taliban by Pakistan in the first place).
It's not by concentrating more and more power in the hands of a dictator that one deals with a dangerous situation confronting a country. To succeed in the fight against Talibanisation, Pakistan needs consensus. Imposing virtual martial law is highly unlikely to produce one. I think it's time for Musharraf to admit his failure and hand the country back to the civilian politicians.
Now the problem with this way of describing things is that it completely takes the blame off the executive, headed by none other than Musharraf himself. His prevarication with dealing with the extremists is what got Pakistan into this mess in the first place, in my view (not to mention the creation of the Taliban by Pakistan in the first place).
It's not by concentrating more and more power in the hands of a dictator that one deals with a dangerous situation confronting a country. To succeed in the fight against Talibanisation, Pakistan needs consensus. Imposing virtual martial law is highly unlikely to produce one. I think it's time for Musharraf to admit his failure and hand the country back to the civilian politicians.
22 July 2007
South Koreans to negotiate with Taliban over hostages
A group of South Korean envoys are in Afghanistan in order to negotiate with the Taliban about 23 of their citizens who are being held hostage by the militant group. The Afghan army has surrounded the Taliban position in Ghazni Province where the militants are holding the South Koreans hostage.
The Afghan deputy interior minister, Gen. Munir Mangal, said that, since the Pashtuns are known for their hospitality, he hoped the Taliban would treat the South Koreans with respect (BBC).
It seems a little much to expect the Taliban to show hospitality to their hostages, now doesn't it? But there's no harm in reminding them of the values they hold so dear; after all, they sheltered Osama bin Laden in 2001 on the pretext that their hospitality is inviolable.
The Afghan deputy interior minister, Gen. Munir Mangal, said that, since the Pashtuns are known for their hospitality, he hoped the Taliban would treat the South Koreans with respect (BBC).
It seems a little much to expect the Taliban to show hospitality to their hostages, now doesn't it? But there's no harm in reminding them of the values they hold so dear; after all, they sheltered Osama bin Laden in 2001 on the pretext that their hospitality is inviolable.
21 July 2007
Korean and German hostages in danger in Afghanistan
The Afghan government has denied the Taliban's claims to have executed two German hostages it was holding, saying that one of them was still alive, while the other had died of a heart attack.
Meanwhile, the Taliban has kidnapped upto 23 South Korean Christians, who came to Afghanistan to preach and provide aid. According to Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, the movement would start executing the South Koreans unless 23 Taliban prisoners were released (BBC).
By kidnapping civilians, the Taliban is making it that much harder for those in the international community who advocate a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan. It seems they are not interested in finding a way out of the conflict, but are instead trying to live off it. This strategy may backfire if Afghan civilians eventually tire of their suicide bombings, kidnappings, and other violations of common decency.
Meanwhile, the Taliban has kidnapped upto 23 South Korean Christians, who came to Afghanistan to preach and provide aid. According to Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, the movement would start executing the South Koreans unless 23 Taliban prisoners were released (BBC).
By kidnapping civilians, the Taliban is making it that much harder for those in the international community who advocate a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan. It seems they are not interested in finding a way out of the conflict, but are instead trying to live off it. This strategy may backfire if Afghan civilians eventually tire of their suicide bombings, kidnappings, and other violations of common decency.
21 June 2007
Taliban turn to suicide bombing
The Taliban seem to be deploying increasing numbers of suicide bombers in their war against NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan. The movement is copying tactics used by insurgents in Iraq.
Arsala Jamal, the Governor of Khost Province, sees the use of this tactic by the Taliban as a sign of desperation. Most of the volunteers for suicide bombing operations are teenage boys lured by the Taliban by promises of paradise; this fact might indicate a shortage of adult recruits ready to engage in conventional combat.
Nevertheless, suicide bombing has so far proved an effective tactic for the Taliban (BBC).
The question is: do the Taliban also tell their recruits that suicide is forbidden in Islam, or do they conveniently forget to do so?
Arsala Jamal, the Governor of Khost Province, sees the use of this tactic by the Taliban as a sign of desperation. Most of the volunteers for suicide bombing operations are teenage boys lured by the Taliban by promises of paradise; this fact might indicate a shortage of adult recruits ready to engage in conventional combat.
Nevertheless, suicide bombing has so far proved an effective tactic for the Taliban (BBC).
The question is: do the Taliban also tell their recruits that suicide is forbidden in Islam, or do they conveniently forget to do so?
09 June 2007
Former Taliban media head defects
Ishaq Nizami, who served as head of the radio and TV directorate under the Taliban from 1996 to 2001, has left the movement, and may join the current Afghan government. In response, the Taliban have claimed that Nizami was brainwashed.
While Nizami held his position under the Taliban, there were no TV broadcasts in the country, as the radical Islamist movement had banned the medium entirely.
According to other ex-Taliban media workers, Nizami helped preserve Afghanistan's art and film archives from destruction by his fellow Taliban members (BBC).
I hope this defection encourages others to follow suit, so that the various political currents of Afghanistan can cooperate in building the country's future, instead of continuing the fratricidal war currently underway.
[This post was written in Toronto.]
While Nizami held his position under the Taliban, there were no TV broadcasts in the country, as the radical Islamist movement had banned the medium entirely.
According to other ex-Taliban media workers, Nizami helped preserve Afghanistan's art and film archives from destruction by his fellow Taliban members (BBC).
I hope this defection encourages others to follow suit, so that the various political currents of Afghanistan can cooperate in building the country's future, instead of continuing the fratricidal war currently underway.
[This post was written in Toronto.]
02 April 2007
Vigilantes assert themselves in Islamabad
According to Pakistan's leading English-language daily newspaper, the country is undergoing "creeping Talibanisation", a phenomenon that is no longer confined to outlying, semi-autonomous regions like Waziristan, but has reached Islamabad.
A group of female religious school students has taken over a children's library located near their school, the Hafsa Madrasa, and the government has failed to respond. Emboldened, the has annexed the library. Further, vigilante groups linked to a pro-militant mosque called Lal Masjid (which has connections to the Hafsa Madrasa) have started threatening shopkeepers selling audio-visual material. The vigilantes are apparently patrolling the area around the mosque, batons in hand, while the authorities are reluctant to restore the government's writ over the federal capital, fearing that a confrontation may get out of hand (Dawn).
After the coup d'état which brought him to power, President Pervez Musharraf, desperate to give his regime a degree of legitimacy, decided to stifle the popular opposition (Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto's parties), and to artificially strengthen the Islamist parties. Before him, the Pakistani intelligence service, the ISI, helped create the Taliban. Before that, President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, another military strongman, cloaked himself in religious populism. Pakistan is still reaping the harvest, not to mention Afghanistan.
Yet that's not the whole story. Not all religious parties are alike. Under Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladeshi religious parties were sometimes in government as coalition members, yet, as far as I know, no vigilante groups wandered around Dhaka telling video stores to shut down.
Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that, while the Bangladeshi Islamist parties, such as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, were members of a democratically elected coalition government, working in partnership with one of the most popular parties in the country, the Pakistani Islamist parties are pawns in Musharraf's hands. As such, there is little to keep them away from fanaticism. That, in turn, may legitimise fanaticism among unaffiliated groups such as the Lal Masjid gangs.
A group of female religious school students has taken over a children's library located near their school, the Hafsa Madrasa, and the government has failed to respond. Emboldened, the has annexed the library. Further, vigilante groups linked to a pro-militant mosque called Lal Masjid (which has connections to the Hafsa Madrasa) have started threatening shopkeepers selling audio-visual material. The vigilantes are apparently patrolling the area around the mosque, batons in hand, while the authorities are reluctant to restore the government's writ over the federal capital, fearing that a confrontation may get out of hand (Dawn).
After the coup d'état which brought him to power, President Pervez Musharraf, desperate to give his regime a degree of legitimacy, decided to stifle the popular opposition (Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto's parties), and to artificially strengthen the Islamist parties. Before him, the Pakistani intelligence service, the ISI, helped create the Taliban. Before that, President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, another military strongman, cloaked himself in religious populism. Pakistan is still reaping the harvest, not to mention Afghanistan.
Yet that's not the whole story. Not all religious parties are alike. Under Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladeshi religious parties were sometimes in government as coalition members, yet, as far as I know, no vigilante groups wandered around Dhaka telling video stores to shut down.
Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that, while the Bangladeshi Islamist parties, such as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, were members of a democratically elected coalition government, working in partnership with one of the most popular parties in the country, the Pakistani Islamist parties are pawns in Musharraf's hands. As such, there is little to keep them away from fanaticism. That, in turn, may legitimise fanaticism among unaffiliated groups such as the Lal Masjid gangs.
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