Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan

JohninMK wrote:No doubt the Taliban want to increase the prosperity of the country as that improves their chances of a long reign.

Looking around, they see that the best and only way to achieve that is to become a significant link in the Chinese Governments largest investment project over the next 20 years, the New Silk Road.

The employment opportunities in particular that that infrastructure investment, plus potential mining, will bring, as well as ongoing work and revenue have the capability of lifting the country out of its current peasant status.

It will take time but once the $ tap, that the US used very successfully in its divide and rule strategy, gets turned off we should see a more coordinated Taliban Government come into being. They did it before, without these huge Chinese related opportunities, there should be little doubt that they will achieve it again.

Do you think the Chinese will bring in Chinese workers to work on the projects?


from Rand

China and the Taliban Begin Their Romance

https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/07/china-and-the-taliban-begin-their-romance.html

Cowboy's daughter wrote:
Do you think the Chinese will bring in Chinese workers to work on the projects?

Yes, they always do. Just how many will be down to the type of task, locals ability to do the role and the Taliban's negotiating skills given they are in a strong negotiating position. Also one of the Silk Road objectives is to bring prosperity along it and they can't do that just using expat Chinese labour.

Perhaps the Taliban shouldn't kill all the locals now, pilots etc who are technically trained by the US and NATO. They will need them in the future in civilian roles and I suspect that they know that.

If there is ongoing road transport then a whole infrastructure will grow up around it, that should be locals.

Cowboy's daughter wrote:

JohninMK wrote:No doubt the Taliban want to increase the prosperity of the country as that improves their chances of a long reign.

Looking around, they see that the best and only way to achieve that is to become a significant link in the Chinese Governments largest investment project over the next 20 years, the New Silk Road.

The employment opportunities in particular that that infrastructure investment, plus potential mining, will bring, as well as ongoing work and revenue have the capability of lifting the country out of its current peasant status.

It will take time but once the $ tap, that the US used very successfully in its divide and rule strategy, gets turned off we should see a more coordinated Taliban Government come into being. They did it before, without these huge Chinese related opportunities, there should be little doubt that they will achieve it again.

Do you think the Chinese will bring in Chinese workers to work on the projects?


from Rand

China and the Taliban Begin Their Romance

https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/07/china-and-the-taliban-begin-their-romance.html

Talibans in agreement with China agree to provide security to Chinese workers and companies. They are in business. Talibans didn't send their delegations to Iran, Russia and China for nothing.

More Afghan stuff. Most of it generally not positive.

China interest in Afghanistan could be 'positive', says Blinken
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58007517

Afghanistan: Lashkar Gah residents urged to evacuate amid Taliban battle
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58068299

Mapping
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57933979


Afghanistan war: Taliban capture three regional capitals
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58135148


Afghanistan troop withdrawal a strategic mistake, warns ex-general
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58139590

Taliban Shuts Down Afghanistan's Independent Media In Newly Gained Territory


In areas under its control, the Taliban has also banned smart phones and social media to prevent people from gaining access to independent information.

Some Afghans have said they were beaten by the Taliban for posting critical comments on Facebook. Members of civil society groups in Taliban areas have been intimidated and detained.

The Taliban has also killed dozens of journalists and targeted independent media outlets that report critically about them. At least 12 Afghan journalists and media workers have been murdered this year, with many of the killings blamed on the Taliban.

In May, the Taliban accused independent media outlets of "one-sided propaganda" and threatened journalists with “consequences.”

Dozens Of Media Outlets Shuttered

At least 35 media outlets have shut down since the Taliban launched its blistering military offensive on May 1, according to Afghanistan’s Information and Culture Ministry. It was not clear how many of the closures were self-imposed or forced by the Taliban.


https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-afghanistan-media-/31394691.html

Who's Who In The Taliban: The Men Who Run The Extremist Group And How They Operate


Questioned by RFE/RL, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid described a leadership structure in which the Political Affairs Commission in Doha has no direct control over the fighters who’ve seized vast tracts of territory in recent months.

Mujahid explained in an e-mail to RFE/RL that the Doha political office is just one of nearly two dozen commissions and offices that serve as a kind of cabinet of ministers beneath Taliban Supreme Leader Malawi Hibatullah Akhundzada.



Indeed, a recent report by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said that out of an estimated 85,000 active Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, about 10,000 are thought to be foreign militants.

It says about 6,500 of them are Pakistani citizens. It says others come from Central Asia, Chechnya, or the remnants of Al-Qaeda in the Middle East.

“The primary component of the Taliban in dealing with [Al-Qaeda] is the Haqqani network,” the UN monitoring team concluded. “Ties between the two groups remain close, based on ideological alignment, relationships forged through common struggle, and intermarriage.”



In northern Afghanistan, an exclusive report by RFE/RL’s Tajik Service documented how the Taliban has put the commander of militants from Tajikistan in charge of five districts recently seized by the Taliban along the border with Tajikistan.

The 25-year-old commander, who goes by the alias Mahdi Arsalon, was born in the village of Sherbegiyon in Tajikistan’s eastern Rasht Valley.

Arsalon and his militants are known in Afghanistan as the “Tajik Taliban.”

In reality, they are members of Jamaat Ansarullah, a group founded a decade ago by a rogue former Tajik opposition commander with the goal of overthrowing the government in Dushanbe.

Jamaat Ansarullah is banned in Tajikistan as a terrorist group.



https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-leadership-structure-afghan/31397337.html

Iran closes border with Afghanistan amid heavy conflicts

By Najibullah Lalzoy / in Afghanistan / on Sunday, 08 Aug 2021 04:01 PM / 0 Comment /

Iran has announced the closure of its key border with Afghanistan in Nimroz province after the Taliban took over four provinces in the war-ravaged country.

The crossing point in the Milak district of Sistan and Baluchestan province has been closed due to a surge in violence in the neighboring Nimroz province.

The move comes two days after the Taliban toppled southwestern Nimroz province which obliged tens of families to cross the border into Iran from the provincial capital of Zaranj city.

Apart from the citizens of Zaranj city, Afghan government security forces also fled to Iran along with their armored and non-armored vehicles but the Afghan defense ministry denied the escape.

In recent conflicts, the Taliban took over Kunduz and Saripol provinces and have entered the central Taloqan city of Takhar province.

The collapse of major cities to the Taliban has infuriated the US and President Joe Biden ordered the use of B-52 bombers to target the fighters’ positions in Afghanistan.

Iran though did not officially deny accepting Afghan refugees in case civil war erupts in Afghanistan; Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the potential influx of asylum seekers which will endanger both Pakistan and Iran.

https://www.khaama.com/iran-closes-border-with-afghanistan-amid-heavy-conflicts-45646/




Conflicts in Kunduz province, provincial capital is burning

By Najibullah Lalzoy / in Afghanistan / on Sunday, 08 Aug 2021 12:59 PM / 0 Comment /

Hours after the Taliban launched mass attacks on the strategic province of Kunduz in the north of Afghanistan on Sunday morning, August 8, the city is now burning and people are struggling to save their lives.

Video clips from the city show flames and smokes of horrific fire rages inside the city and people are running out of the scene to save their lives.

https://www.khaama.com/conflicts-in-kunduz-province-provincial-capital-is-burning-546456/

Finty wrote:More Afghan stuff. Most of it generally not positive.

China interest in Afghanistan could be 'positive', says Blinken
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58007517

Afghanistan: Lashkar Gah residents urged to evacuate amid Taliban battle
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58068299

Mapping
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57933979


Afghanistan war: Taliban capture three regional capitals
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58135148


Afghanistan troop withdrawal a strategic mistake, warns ex-general
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58139590

That map is a bit optimistic... the one I saw on RT this afternoon had contested all around Kabul and the red areas were much much bigger... and there were far fewer blue areas.

GarryB wrote:

That map is a bit optimistic... the one I saw on RT this afternoon had contested all around Kabul and the red areas were much much bigger... and there were far fewer blue areas.

How dare you question the integrity of the BBC, one of the only honest, unbiased, unaffected by government diktat broadcasters left.

The U.S had released 6000 taliban prisoners just a few weeks before they decided to leave.

Now the US government is suggesting they are bombing Afghanistan. Quite possible they are bombing Afghanistan government forces and not Taliban.

Tajikistan say 'terrorists' control Afghan border as leaders sound alarm
2 DAYS AGO
Leaders of five Central Asian countries have sounded the alarm over war in neighbouring Afghanistan as US-led forces withdraw from the country and the Taliban advances.
Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on Friday noted that the Taliban now controlled the entirety of Afghanistan's border with his mountainous country of 9.5 million people.

The talks in the Caspian Sea town of Avaza in Turkmenistan come as the militant group challenges Afghan government forces in several large cities after weeks of gains in the countryside, including in provinces next to the three former Soviet 'stans' that border the country – Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
As the Central Asian leaders were holding talks in Avaza, Moscow was involved in joint military drills close to Afghanistan's borders in both Tajikistan, where it operates a military base, and Uzbekistan.

Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, flew into Uzbekistan to observe the exercises that are expected to wrap up next week


On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry said the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan is "gradually running out of steam" as the group lacks resources to take over major cities, Interfax news agency reported.

Alexander Vikantov, deputy head of information and press at the ministry, cited examples where Afghan government forces were able to retake some districts captured by the Taliban last month, although he added that insurgent activity was notable this month near big provincial centres.

"The Taliban lack the resources to take over and hold major cities including the capital, Kabul. Their offensive is gradually running out of steam," he said.

Russia would continue to press for peace talks, Vikantov added


https://www.trtworld.com/asia/tajikistan-say-terrorists-control-afghan-border-as-leaders-sound-alarm-48983

Cowboy's daughter wrote:
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry said the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan is "gradually running out of steam" as the group lacks resources to take over major cities, Interfax news agency reported.

Alexander Vikantov, deputy head of information and press at the ministry, cited examples where Afghan government forces were able to retake some districts captured by the Taliban last month, although he added that insurgent activity was notable this month near big provincial centres.

"The Taliban lack the resources to take over and hold major cities including the capital, Kabul. Their offensive is gradually running out of steam," he said.

Terrible assessment. This minister needs to be fired.

The entire Taliban onslaught is being guided and supported by Pakistan and is being financed by China. Pakistani HQ 16 missile batteries are already sealing the air space over Afghanistan making it impossible for Afghan AF to bomb Taliban. That aside, Pakistani F 16s armed with BVR Air to Air missiles can shoot down any single aircraft of the Afghan AF.

Taliban forces are being led by their elite, battle hardened Special Operations group whose officers are trained in military academies of China, US and UK.

It's not Taliban that's "running out of steam". It's idiots like this Russian foreign minister who are running out of ideas to sell to a gullible population.

US just bombed them with B-52. I guess thise hq-16 were turned off...

Isos wrote:US just bombed them with B-52. I guess thise hq-16 were turned off...

Is that what I wrote or did I write that HQ-16 is sealing the airspace for Afghan Air force?

This is epic... After 20 years of NATO ocupation, Talibans take Kunduz city with old T-55 tank...




New map...

RTN wrote:

Isos wrote:US just bombed them with B-52. I guess thise hq-16 were turned off...

Is that what I wrote or did I write that HQ-16 is sealing the airspace for Afghan Air force?

Afghan air force doesn't exist. It's US air force that rules their skies. Pakistan couldn't protect Bin laden in its own territory against US air force, let alone Afghan airspace.

And you are totally biased about Taliban/Pakistani/Chinese "alliance". They have nothing in common. Chinese communists hate Islam which is the way of life of Talibans and aims at becoming the new US which is seen by the Talibans as the evil and Pakistani are too much "westernized" from their point of view and are not controled by them, neither does pakistani politics want free taliban around their houses because they are too much radicals.

If US go away and Talibans retake the country, they will expend to neighbour countries including in Pakistan.

They will never work with chinese.

The war progressing on expected lines. Interesting, more than 3 decades after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan nothing seems to have changed. Pakistan still in absolute control.

Pakistan special forces are spearheading the Taliban assault and Pakistani AWACS are flying non stop in that region identifying Afghan military targets that Taliban can then strike.

Won't be surprised to see a massive Pakistani cruise missile attack on Afghanistan ( plausible deniability of course) designed to break the backbone of Afghan government resistance.

What can an AWACS see in Afghanistan ?

They ride pick-ups and use ak-47 only.

Pakistani are more afraid of Talibans than Afghans because they know one day they will come at their doors.

RTN wrote:
Terrible assessment. This minister needs to be fired.

The entire Taliban onslaught is being guided and supported by Pakistan and is being financed by China. Pakistani HQ 16 missile batteries are already sealing the air space over Afghanistan making it impossible for Afghan AF to bomb Taliban. That aside, Pakistani F 16s armed with BVR Air to Air missiles can shoot down any single aircraft of the Afghan AF.

Taliban forces are being led by their elite, battle hardened Special Operations group whose officers are trained in military academies of China, US and UK.

It's not Taliban that's "running out of steam". It's idiots like this Russian foreign minister who are running out of ideas to sell to a gullible population.

What are you smoking? US have agreement with Pakistan for open air space until all US troops are removed from Afghanistan. What will be after that date at the end of August, we will see. Pakistan is under Chinese influence and with US leaving central Asia, Chinese wight will only increase. Talibans have now large offensive in the north of Afghanistan, exactly where silk road rute will be from China to Iran. US could not stop Chinese project now, so they will bomb and destroy as much as they could to slow down Chinese plans. China is now patient as they have time. If needed, China could give Talibans some air defense weapons as Talibans control border with China.

If needed, China could give Talibans some air defense weapons as Talibans control border with China.

Haven't you seen that history tends to repeat itself in Afghanistan ?

Last to give Talibans air defence weapons were the US and today they are leaving pants down after 20 years of useless war.

Taliban don't care about chinese products. They live very well without them in their mountains.

I doubt the US, or anyone even the Taliban, saw this coming this quickly.

Actually they saw it coming. That's why they left. They couldn't defeat them anyway, staying 20 years more or not.

The afghans themselves will be sick of war, and I suggest as long as there is not too much nasty reprisals things should settle down.

In the 1990s the taleban were not interested in creating a calaphate... that is ISIS... I would think China can probably do business with the Taleban, it is in their interests to set up trade routes, and the taleban will want to earn money and a living and they don't approve of drugs... which is a bonus for the region too.

Some think taleban rule will be the worst thing, but honestly having the americans out of there is a good start... it is going to be hard for Afghan women and children but perhaps a bit of peace will be good for them... many of them deserve it.

Why the f*** is my country creating such a vacuum for chicoms to fill up? Same thing with ns2. Funny how we were told trump was a foreign asset. Now we have Biden giving everything to everyone on a silver platter. Look how quickly Taliban filled the vacuum. This wasn't just Pakistan.

Edit: correction of post