The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Taliban

  • Dozens of Afghan soldiers killed in attack on base

    Dozens of bodies of Afghan soldiers have been found in a military base stormed by Taliban militants in the embattled Southern Province of Uruzgan, officials said on Thursday.

    The attack in Chinartu district on Aug. 3, underlined the ferocity of fighting in many areas of Afghanistan even as speculation has increased about a possible ceasefire during the Eid holiday later this month.

    “We have discovered and transported 40 bodies from the area, so far,” district governor Faiz Mohammad said, adding that a number of security forces were still missing.

    Read Also: Attacks: Zamfara records more IDPs

    News of the attack only began filtering out over the past two days.

    Muhammad Radmanish, a spokesman for the ministry of defence, said 27 Afghan soldiers were killed and five wounded.

    The base was back under control of security forces, said Radmanish but the attack has caused significant damage and weapons losses.

    Amir Muhammad Barekzai, a member of the provincial council, said some soldiers appear to have been shot after they were captured but it was not possible to obtain independent confirmation.

    No comment was immediately available from a Taliban spokesman.

    “By Wednesday evening, the bodies of 27 soldiers were discovered, but a number of others are still missing,’’ Barekzai said.

    The attack underlines the heavy losses still being suffered by security forces as they fight the Taliban insurgents.

    A report in 2017 by SIGAR, a U.S. Congressional watchdog, said the losses were “shockingly high’’ but Afghan authorities no longer release overall casualty data.

    The Taliban are fighting the Western-backed government to restore their version of sharia, or Islamic law, after they were driven out by U.S.-led forces in 2001.

  • Afghan condemns attack on journalists

    Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday described the attack on journalists as a crime against the freedom of press and humanity.

    The UN set aside May 3 every year as World Press Freedom to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world and to defend the media from attacks on
    their independence.

    He assured that the government would spare no efforts to ensure the safety of journalists.

    “There is no difference between terrorists, no matter if the crime committed by Islamic State, al-Qaida, Taliban, Haqqani network or other terrorist outfit.

    “No matter which group claims responsibility for targeting journalists, it is a terrorist attack and a crime against media men and against humanity,” Abdullah said in his speech at a ceremony here to mark the World Press Day.

    The twin deadly attacks in Kabul on Monday killed at least 25 people including nine journalists, and injured 45 others including seven journalists.

    Read Also: Suicide bomber hits Shi’ite area of Afghanistan, killing seven

    The hardliner Islamic State outfit has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

    Abdullah also assured that the government would spare no efforts in ensuring security of media men and  media outlets in the country.

    A total of 11 Afghan journalists who used to work for national and international agencies were killed in
    the war-battered Afghanistan over the past one week.

    Earlier on Tuesday night, Afghan National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar chaired an emergency meeting
    with media organisations and activists here and listened to their concerns, demands and suggestions.

    NAN

  • Australia jails Afghan man for smuggling people by boat

    Australia jails Afghan man for smuggling people by boat

    An Afghan men who arranged for the travel of over 200 refugees and asylum seekers by boat to Western Australia, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail, local media said on Friday.

    Sayed Abbas, 35, was pivotal in organising the transport of the asylum seekers coming from Indonesia on three overcrowded boats in 2009 and 2011.

    He had taken payments ranging from 5,000 Australian dollars (3,900 dollars) to 10,000 dollars from each person.

    According to Australian Associated Press, the Western Australia district court in Perth sentenced Abbas to 12 years in jail.

    Since Abbas has already served an extensive amount of time in prison, he could be freed next year on parole. He was imprisoned in Indonesia before being extradited to Australia in 2015.

    Read Also:  Saudi crown calls to support Afghan peace process

    On Friday, his lawyer read out a letter sent by Abbas, who is illiterate and had to ask another inmate to write for him, in the court that described his desperate life in Afghanistan.

    Abbas said that he had no job prospects and had to flee the Taliban.

    The court also heard thay he lived in a refugee camp for five years.

    He had endured torture while incarcerated in Indonesia and now suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

    “I have been punished more than most in my circumstance,’’ he said.

    Judge Andrew Stavrianou said the offences Abbas committed were clearly serious and a violation of Australia’s sovereignty.

    He said Abbas was motivated by financial gain and was prepared to run the risk of punishment.

    “His crimes put the lives and safety of those on board at risk,’’ the judge said.

    NAN

  • Afghan defence chiefs resign over Taliban attack

    Afghanistan’s defence minister and army chief of staff have resigned in the wake of a Taliban attack that left scores of soldiers dead.

    The attack happened on Friday at an army base near Mazar-e Sharif.

    Insurgents targeted troops leaving Friday prayers at the base’s mosque and in a canteen, the army said.

    The BBC reports that it was the Taliban’s deadliest attack on the armed forces since it was removed from power in 2001.

    The resignations coincided with the arrival of United States Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis, on an unannounced visit to Kabul.

    He is due to meet both Afghan officials and U.S troops.

    A group of Taliban insurgents dressed in Afghan military uniforms and driving military vehicles made their way into the base in the northern city and opened fire.

    Many of those who died were young recruits training at the base.

    Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the young soldiers struggled to work out who was friend or foe.

    The attackers were armed with guns, grenades and some were wearing suicide vests, reports said. The defence ministry said the attackers were all killed.

     

  • Taliban announces start of spring offensive in Afghanistan

    The Taliban has announced the start of their spring offensive on Tuesday.

    The offensive tagged “Operation Omari”, was named after the late Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.

    The Taliban, in a statement released in Helmand, pledged to launch large-scale offensives against government strongholds backed by suicide and guerrilla attacks to drive Afghanistan’s Western-backed government from power.

    It read that “Jihad against the aggressive and usurping infidel army is a holy obligation upon our necks and our only recourse for re-establishing an Islamic system and regaining our independence’’.

    The Taliban statement said further that as well as suicide and tactical attacks, the operation would include assassinations of enemy commanders in urban centres.

    “The present Operation will also employ all means at our disposal to bog the enemy down in a war of attrition that lowers the morale of the foreign invaders and their internal armed militias.’’

    In line with recent statements, it also said it would establish good governance in areas it controlled as well as avoiding civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

  • Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor shot in Pakistan

    Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor shot in Pakistan

    Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Mansoor, was shot and wounded during a meeting of militant leaders in south-western Pakistan, a Taliban source said on Thursday.

    “He is seriously injured- God knows if he can survive,” the source told newsmen from Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

    At least six other Taliban fighters, including Mansoor’s bodyguard, were killed in the shootout, another source said.

    Neither source was present at the meeting, which they said took place Wednesday.

    Another Taliban source, spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, denied that any shootout had taken place or that Mansoor was hurt.

    Mansoor succeeded Afghan Taliban founder Mullah Omar in August after the news of Omar’s death in 2013 became public earlier this year.

    But Mansoor’s leadership was disputed by some within the militant group who later rallied behind another longtime friend of Mullah Omar.

  • Gunmen kill 17 at Pakistani air force base

    Militants have killed at least 17 people after attacking an air force base in the northern city of Peshawar.

    The gunmen, dressed in police uniforms, stormed the Badaber air base on Friday morning, Major Gen. Asim Bajwa said.

    At least 16 of the victims were killed during morning prayers at a mosque inside the compound, Gen. Bajwa added. The other victim was an army officer.

    The Pakistani Taliban said they ordered the attack.

    Peshawar has frequently been targeted by militants, the BBC says.

    Gen. Bajwa said the militants entered the base, which is 10km (6 miles) south of Peshawar, at two points and then split into groups.

    A rapid response force was dispatched to the scene and contained the attackers around a guard room, he added.

    13 militants were said to have been killed by security forces, although the Taliban said just one of their fighters died.

    The total number of gunmen involved is unclear, but Gen. Bajwa said his forces were hunting for the remaining attackers.

    Reports said about 20 people, including 10 soldiers, were injured in the exchange of fire.

  • Taliban storms Afghan jail, releases prisoners

    Taliban insurgents stormed a mud fort being used as a prison in Afghanistan on Monday, killing policemen and releasing more than 400 inmates.

    Officials said that the insurgents also attacked troops who came to the rescue of the policemen.

    The latest Taliban prison raid, on the outskirts of the central city of Ghazni, comes after setbacks for the government in different parts of the country and deadly attacks in Kabul which have dashed hopes for peace talks.

    Mohammed Ali Ahmadi, Deputy City Governor, said that out of the 400 prisoners that escaped, about 80 had been recaptured and 352 were on the run, including about 150 Taliban.

    Ahmadi noted that seven Taliban and four members of the security forces were killed in the attack.

    “Roads to the prison were covered with land mines in advance to avoid reinforcement.

    “An army vehicle coming for reinforcements was blown up by a roadside bomb while trying to reach the prison,’’ he said.

    The governor said that the prison did not have heavy security because it was so close to Ghazni – only seven km (4.3 miles) from the city centre – and it was believed that reinforcements would get there quickly in the event of trouble.

    One security official said the attackers, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles, were wearing Afghan security force uniforms.

    Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid while taking responsibility for the attack said that gunmen and three suicide bombers attacked the prison at 2 a.m. (2200 GMT Sunday).

    “Three bombers were killed while 40 Afghan security forces and prison guards were killed in the prison break.

    “Some important military mujahideen officials have been freed,’’ Mujahid said, referring to Islamist fighters.

    The Taliban often exaggerate casualty tolls in statements about their attacks.

    The Taliban are fighting to overthrow the foreign-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani, expel foreign forces from Afghanistan and impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

  • Taliban political chief resigns

    The head of the Afghan Taliban’s political office in Qatar has resigned, in the latest sign of a split in the group following Mullah Omar’s death.

    In a statement, Syed Tayyab Agha said he would step down, and criticised the way in which Mullah Omar’s successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, had been chosen.

    Mullah Mansour was named leader on Thursday after Mullah Omar’s death was confirmed, the BBC reports.

    However, some Taliban members said they had not been consulted on the decision.

    Tayyab Agha, who previously served as Mullah Omar’s personal secretary, said he was stepping down to avoid “expected future disputes.”

    He added that the militant group should handle all its affairs from within Afghanistan, and that allowing foreign interference was a “great historical mistake.”

    Some Taliban figures have accused pro-Pakistani circles of imposing Mullah Mansour, who is known for his support for peace talks, on them.

     

  • Taliban leader Mullah Omar ‘is dead’

    The leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has died, Afghan officials say, but the militant group has not commented on the claim.

    The reclusive leader died two to three years ago, Afghan government and intelligence sources said. No further details were released.

    A Taliban spokesman contacted by the BBC said the group would issue a statement shortly.

    There have been several reports of Mullah Omar’s death in the past.

    However, this is the first to be confirmed by top sources in the Afghan government.

    Mullah Omar led the Taliban to victory over rival Afghan militias in the civil war that followed the withdrawal of Soviet troops.

    His alliance with al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden prompted the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.

    Mullah Omar has since been in hiding, with a $10m U.S state department bounty on his head.

    Over the years, the Taliban had released several messages purported to be from the fugitive leader.