Taliban launches string of attacks throughout Afghanistan
As the Taliban launches major attacks in four provinces, it is revealed that 64 districts in 19 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces are not being governed from the existing district centers.
Tag Archives: Taliban
Taliban kills 2 US soldiers in eastern Afghanistan
The Taliban said it ambushed a US and Afghan convoy in Wardak province. The attack took place in a district that has been under Taliban control for years.
AQIS member from Kashmir reportedly killed in Ghazni, Afghanistan
An AQIS Member known as Abdul Haseeb al-Kashmiri was recently killed in Ghazni, according to jihadists online. His death was reported on a Telegram channel that supports Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an al Qaeda-linked group in Kashmir.
Afghan government unconditionally releases hundreds of Taliban prisoners
In an effort to get the Taliban to open negotiations, the Afghan government has freed hundreds of Taliban prisoners without conditions, and will free hundreds more.
Taliban continues to press offensives in endangered districts
The Taliban has claimed it overran five districts in four Afghan provinces since mid-May. Meanwhile, the Afghan military said it liberated a district that was under Taliban control for over two years.
Taliban leader claims US-led war effort ‘condemned to defeat’
The Taliban has released a statement attributed to its leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Taliban suicide bomber targets convoy in Kabul
A Taliban suicide bomber struck a convoy in Kabul earlier today. The Taliban claimed that 10 “invaders” were killed, but independent reports say that Afghans perished, while four Americans were wounded.
Analysis: John Walker Lindh fought for al Qaeda’s pro-Taliban force
Although John Walker Lindh is commonly known as the “American Taliban,” he was actually trained by al Qaeda and belonged to Osama bin Laden’s pro-Taliban fighting force.
US commander confirms: al Qaeda operating ‘across’ Afghanistan
Al Qaeda is operating “across the country” and not confined to one region, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan said.
Al Qaeda video emphasizes unity with Taliban’s Islamic emirate
Al Qaeda has released a new video emphasizing its unity with the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The video features a joint Taliban-al Qaeda ambush on an Afghan army convoy in Paktika province.
Khalilzad flip flops on Pakistan, Taliban’s relationship with al Qaeda
In his testimony to Congress in July 2016, Zalmay Khalilzad called for designating Pakistan a State Sponsor of Terrorism for its support of the Taliban, noted the enduring Taliban-al Qaeda alliance. Today he praises Pakistan for its desire for peace in Afghanistan and claims the Taliban will be an effective counterterrorism partner.
Analysis: US military ends reporting on security situation in Afghanistan’s districts
The U.S. military and NATO have stopped producing an assessment that was considered key for measuring progress against the jihadist insurgency in Afghanistan, according to a report released on April 30 by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). The metric, which tracked district stability, was one of the “most widely cited Afghan security […]
Doha talks postponed after Taliban objects to presence of Afghan officials
The Taliban has consistently refused to negotiate with the Afghan government, and said the composition of the delegation to Doha indicates that it represents the Afghan government.
Taliban announces ‘Al-Fath Jihadi Operations’ for 2019
Unlike previous years, the Taliban does not prioritize attacks on US and NATO forces, but instead sets its crosshairs on those working for the Afghan government, military, and police. The statement is yet another clear indication that the Taliban will not share power with the Afghan government, but instead seeks to impose its will on the country.
Taliban trashes Afghan peace council, urges boycott
The Taliban decried the upcoming Afghan Loya Jirga for Peace as a tool of “the invaders and their stooges,” and called on all Afghans to shun the jirga.
3 US service members killed in Taliban bombing
A Taliban suicide bomber attacked US forces outside of Bagram Air Base, the largest US military installation in Afghanistan.
Taliban routs Afghan forces in western Afghan district
The Taliban blocked off all roads leading into Bala Murghab district, overran 11 security outposts and put an Afghan National Army company stationed there to rout. They also killed 44 Afghan security personnel and captured another 190, and advanced to within one kilometer of the district center.
UN: Al Qaeda continues to view Afghanistan as a ‘safe haven’
According to the UN’s Jan. 2019 assessment, al Qaeda’s relationship with the Taliban is “long-standing” and “strong.” And al Qaeda “continues to see Afghanistan as a safe haven for its leadership.” The UN estimates that the Islamic State has several thousand fighters in Afghanistan as well.
Taliban suicide team attacks Afghan base in Helmand
While Afghan and Coalition officials claim the assault was “repelled,” the Taliban clearly entered the base and inflicted casualties on Afghan forces.
Taliban and Islamic State cause majority of civilian casualties in Afghan war, UN finds
According to UNAMA’s annual report for 2018, more civilians were killed in Afghanistan than in any year since 2009. The Taliban remains the main culprit when it comes to civilian casualties, killing or wounding more than any other party. But the number casualties attributed to the Islamic State’s branch more than doubled in 2018, as compared to 2017.
‘Our soil is not used for carrying out terrorist attacks,’ Pakistan PM claims
Khan’s claim that “our [Pakistani] soil is not used for carrying out terrorist attacks in other countries” is remarkably similar, if not identical to the Afghan Taliban’s false assurances that it won’t allow its territory to be used by terror groups.
Taliban continues to host foreign terrorist groups, despite assurances to the contrary
The Taliban claims it does “not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against other countries including neighboring countries.” Some have uncritically accepted this claim. But it is obviously false.
‘Tired’ Taliban fights on as US is desperate to leave Afghanistan
Political, military, and intelligence leaders, as well as analysts and experts on Afghanistan have been claiming the Taliban is exhausted from fighting for at least 15 years. And yet the Taliban fights on while the US is desperate to leave.
Analysis: US military downplays district control as Taliban gains ground in Afghanistan
The Taliban continues to gain on the Afghan government; seven more districts have fallen under Taliban control or are contested, according to SIGAR. The US military dismissed these gains, stating that this is “not indicative of effectiveness of the South Asia strategy or progress toward security and stability in Afghanistan.”
Mullah Baradar appointed head of Taliban’s ‘political office’ in Qatar
The Taliban said Baradar was appointed to lead the political office to “strengthen” its position in negotiations with the US.
Taliban promotes training camp for ‘Commando Mujahidin’
While these training videos are often mocked, including by the spokesman for Resolute Support and US Forces – Afghanistan, the graduates from these camps have been effective at battling Afghan security forces.
Taliban suicide bomber leads attack on Afghan training center in Wardak province
Three Taliban jihadists attacked a National Directorate of Security (NDS) training center in Wardak earlier today. The assault was led by a Taliban suicide bomber driving a Humvee packed with explosives.
‘They will beg us for talks but we will reject them,’ Taliban spokesman says
One of the Taliban’s top two spokesmen bragged that the group called off negotiations with the US after the latter has pleaded for peace talks.
Taliban video shows fighters controlling district center in Farah
Afghan security officials denied Shib Koh fell to the Taliban, but a video recently released by the Taliban shows its fighters in full control of the district center.
Taliban publicly rejects talks with Afghan government, again
The Taliban has again rejected reports saying that it is willing to talk with the Afghan government.