At least eight soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in Maidan Wardak province on Monday
The Taliban have put the son of the movement’s founder in charge of their military wing and added several powerful figures to their negotiating team. The changes to the senior leadership come ahead of expected talks with Kabul aimed at ending decades of war in Afghanistan. However, there has been no reduction in the group’s deadly attacks against security forces, which they have pledged to continue until all their prisoners are released pursuant to an agreement with the US signed in February.
As a result of the leadership changes, 30-year-old Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob has been appointed to command a newly united military wing. Equally significant is the addition of four members of the insurgent group’s leadership council to the 20-member negotiating team, Taliban officials told The Associated Press.
The reshuffle, overseen by Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhunzada, is intended to tighten his control over the movement’s military and political arms, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the inner workings of the Taliban.
The newly strengthened negotiating team includes Abdul Hakeem, the Taliban’s chief justice and confidant of Akhunzada, as well as Maulvi Saqib, who was chief justice during the Taliban rule.
The leadership changes also sidelined senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi, removing him from the negotiating committee. Seen as close to neighbouring Pakistan, his removal has been interpreted as an attempt to limit Pakistan’s influence and buttress their position with Kabul, which is deeply suspicious of Islamabad.
Analysts say the shake-up could be good news for negotiations with the Afghan political leadership, and a sign of how seriously the Taliban are taking this second step in an agreement with the US signed in February.
When the US signed the deal with the Taliban on 29 February, after more than a year and a half of negotiations, it was touted as Afghanistan’s best chance at peace in four decades of war. It was also seen as a road map for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, putting an end to the US’ longest war.
Last week, four-and-a-half months after the agreement was signed, chief U.S. negotiator and peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted that “a key milestone in the implementation of the US-Taliban agreement” had been reached as US troop numbers dropped to 8,600 from about 12,000 and five bases were closed in Afghanistan.
Even as Khalilzad criticised increased insurgent attacks on Afghan security forces, he said the Taliban had been true to their word not to attack US and NATO troops.
“No American has lost his/her life in Afghanistan to Taliban violence. Regional relations have improved.” LINK
The Taliban have stepped up their military activity against Afghan government forces since Yaqoob’s appointment in May, a sign the militants under his leadership may see gains on the battlefield as increasing their leverage in the forthcoming negotiations.
In recent weeks, hopes have been raised of a July start to negotiations but the Taliban and the Kabul government have become bogged down in the final release of prisoners, a prerequisite for the start of negotiations. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the AP on Friday that the Taliban reject government efforts to substitute prisoners from the originally negotiated list for the exchange.
The Taliban have also accused the Afghan government of falsifying the identities and criminal records of the some of the prisoners in an attempt to justify the decision not to release them. A Qatar-based member of the Taliban, Mohammad Nabi Omari, said that pursuant to the US–Taliban peace deal, the dossiers of the remaining prisoners should be investigated. He also claimed that foreign interference affected the decision.
“Opposing the release of Taliban prisoners by some foreign countries is a clear interference into internal affairs of Afghanistan,” Mr. Omari said.
The militants have insisted on the release of all of the 5,000 prisoners as agreed in the peace deal signed between the US Special Envoy Zalamay Khalilzad and the Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in February.
The Afghan government said that it has freed over 4,000 Taliban prisoners but the remaining 592 inmates would not be released as they are accused of more serious crimes and would constitute a major security threat. Of around 800 Afghan security forces freed by the Taliban, the government said that 175 of them were civilians.
The Taliban reiterated that its atttacks against security forces will continue until all prisoners are released in a statement on Monday: “The completion of the prisoner exchange process is one of the most fundamental issues of this [negotiation] process on top of which an end must also be put to violations which have seen an uptick in recent days.” LINK
Meanwhile, serious disagreements continue to hamper the ability of the Afghan government to prepare for negotiations. President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a political agreement in May, apparently ending the political crisis. The deal obliges the two to share the appointment of cabinet members, provincial governors and other powerful government posts.
But many aspects of the deal still have not been implemented The high council for reconciliation, which Abdullah is to lead, is in uncertainty, cabinet members have not been introduced to parliament, there are problems over the appointment of provincial governors, the state ministry for peace is yet to be integrated with the reconciliation council and Abdullah’s three deputies have not been identified. LINK
Last Friday President Ghani and Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah discussed the latest developments with US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, during which he called for urgent peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, however there has been no breakthrough in the stalemate.
Meanwhile, attacks by the Taliban have continued unabated. Reports indicate that early on Monday at least 13 Afghan security forces members were killed in two Taliban attacks in the northern province of Kunduz. The Taliban reportedly also sustained casualties.
In another attack, on Sunday, three Taliban militants were killed while an Afghan Local Police (ALP) member and a civilian were wounded during a clash at a checkpoint. Also on Sunday, two insurgents were killed and a police officer was wounded after the Taliban attacked a checkpoint in southern Helmand province.
On Saturday night, four Afghan police officers, including a district police chief, were killed in an IED explosion in eastern Paktika province. Also on Saturday, in southern Zabul province another police chief and a police officer were killed, three pro-government militiamen and three Taliban insurgents were killed in clashes at a checkpoint in Ghazni province, and three civilians were killed and at least eight others wounded in a Taliban rocket attack in Kapisa province. LINK
In a separate attack early on Monday, at least eight soldiers were killed and nine others wounded after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives in Maidan Wardak province, defence ministry officials have confirmed.
A convey of the Afghan National Army (ANA) was the target, in which another nine members of the ANA were wounded, the ministry added.
The Taliban group has claimed responsibility for the attack. LINK
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Taliban = Isis
You Shiite devil
;) :D
LMFAO We got a Wahhabi Sunni here LMFAO….a salty one
Taliban are Sunnis and some are Wahhabi Sunnis. The fact that Taliban leaders are in Qatar fuking pink hair girls and living their best life under full protection of US…..LMFAO that is great. The lowest type of human are this Americans, I feel bad for them…like how the fuk would they answer. So they are in Afghanistan to finish off Taliban…okay but the same time they are protecting them with their lives in Qatar..okay. The only people who have been suffering from war are the Hazara, most of them leave Afghanistan. In away US won that war…the US want to see a Sunni puppet just like in Qatar/KSA/UAE and US knows what would happened if they made a Shia leader that is not a puppet.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Even the Mullahs in Iran oppose the Taliban. The Iranian leaders do not want America to leave Afghanistan, knowing the puppet government of Ashraf Ghani will fall. Iran wasn’t happy with the U.S-Taliban peace deal. The fact is, you can never spread Shiism in Afghanistan. Neither can you in any of the Sunni countries. You can succeed in misguiding a few, but that’s all. Most Sunni societies are vigilant to Shiite manipulations. So don’t even dream that you’ll ever get Afghanistan under Shiite control. As soon as the U.S leaves, the world will know who really call the shots in Afghanistan.
At least the Taliban are much braver than your shiite cowards in Iraq launching fearful hit-and-run attacks on U.S bases with zero harm to the U.S. They have vowed over a hundred times to get the U.S out of Iraq. All they do is launch a few unguided rockets at the U.S despite America killing their leader and members. If the U.S did that in Afghanistan, Taliban will respond as soon as the opportunity presents itself. I pray that Trump will win again so that the real cowardice of shiites will be exposed to the world. Many sunnis believe Iran and their Shiite proxies are really brave people defending Islam and Muslims. I believed the same too, until I discovered through research that they helped America invade and kill hundreds of thousands of Afghans. Thy also helped America invade and kill over a million in Iraq. The Shah ruled Iran for years and there was never a war with any neighboring country. Mossaddeq ruled for years without war or serious disagreements with their neighbors. But the Mullahs came to power through a revolution and two years later, Iran was fighting a highly destructive war with Saddam. Saddam invaded cos the Mullahs were instigating a Shiite revolt to overthrow him. I am not a supporter of Saddam. Just stating facts and letting everyone know why I suddenly hate the Iranian regime. After the Iraq war Iran later mobilized tens of thousands of troops at the border with Afghanistan to invade the country. Iran aborted that invasion for fear of intervention by a nuclear-armed Pakistan. And some hypocrites will say Iran has no intention to attack/invade any country. It just doesn’t have the means and resources, but these past actions indicates it has the will. The Iranian regime will not end well. If Trump wins again, there will be real trouble for the Mullahs. And I won’t pity them – only the Iranian population. Keep cursing the Sahabas either openly or secretly, and I assure you, the destruction that will befall your country, only few in history have witnessed it. Misguided people.
The US-Taliban deal as good as dead buddy. Have some https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-C6spE7pQ&lc=Ugztnfe7eZ0dxEqgDp54AaABAg.9AziaNxlaTY9BIqWdKNPKx
What has that missile attack achieved. There have been tens of thousands such attacks with didn’t break the Taliban. I wonder what makes this strike such a big deal to you. If you could care to explain, I’ll appreciate.
We shall see if the U.S finally defeats the Taliban or leaves Afghanistan. I think both of us know what the outcome will be.
I not muslim to take Sunni/Shia or Wahhabi Sunnis side buddy but seeing your behavior (Wahhabi Sunnis) nah fuk u all. KSA beheaded 100 people each year, you Wahhabi Sunnis are stupid humans in this planet for sure can’t read or write and believe in a fat fuk. No you don’t get 6 women after you kill a Shia muslims. What are even try to say? Shia are not great but comparing to Sunni/Wahhabi Sunnis now that is great joke. Here is a fact you Wahhabi Sunnis are nothing nor can you fight, US in Afghanistan aren’t there to kill Taliban after fuking all it was US that created Taliban buddy in the first place cry me river kiddo.
WE OUT US YOU ARE DEAD. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/95074e39067b0facb3389ae4f179b913d89a43bf6a2f16725593c312aed1760e.jpg
If this is how Muslims are (like ISIS) you guys would have defeated and destroyed Islam long ago. The real Muslims you fear aren’t ISIS. ISIS is a western creation and asset to destroy the Muslim world. But guess what is happening instead? A new Islamic alliance is in the making, led by Turkey to address this global effort to subjugate Islam and Muslims. So far there are five countries in this growing alliance: Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Qatar. The Muslim world has awakened and there is no putting it back to sleep. So fuck you and you CIA-ISIS project.
“At least the Taliban are much braver than your shiite cowards in Iraq launching fearful hit-and-run attacks on U.S bases with zero harm to the U.S.” Really kiddo why do you think PMU in Iraq are part of Iraq army now? I link a video down blow buddy you show watch before taking kiddo. Taliban are a good joke to be sure, they lived to stop China kid not Iran and if US leave it would be better for Iran and the Shia government can ask for help from China/Russia and ofc Iran. But remember what I said this “Shia” government is also a US puppet his wife is Zion and he is American.
THE LONG TERM PLANE FOR US IN AFG IS NOT TO LEAVE IF THEY DO CHINA/RUSSIA/IRAN JUMP IN, IRAN HAVE SHIA MILITARY IN AFG KIDDO.
And you thing if the U.S leaves, the Iranians will enter and defeat the Taliban? What a joke! You mean Iran will be better at fighting the Taliban than America? And you think Russia is looking to get bogged down in a war the U.S is running from? Or perhaps you expect China to get embroiled in the Afghanistan quagmire just to please Iran? Do you have any idea why Iran wants the U.S to keep staying in Afghanistan? Why Iran opposes the peace deal between Washington and the Taliban? You think Pakistan and Turkey will just watch Iran take over Afghanistan to spread Shiism without countering them.
Believe me asshole, the Taliban are up to the task of dealing with any Iranian adventure into Afghanistan. Left with your Liwa Fatemiyoun, the Taliban will destroy them in a matter of months regardless of how much weapons Iran ships to them. Taliban is not ISIS who have no help for Allah due to their devilish agenda. The Taliban are a truly Sunni Muslim warriors the likes of which Iran and all its proxies are yet to face in battle. You think Iran will win a war America hasn’t won in 20 years. That’s a big laugh. There must be something about the Taliban that denied the World super power victory for 20 years. And you will find out soon if you venture into Afghanistan.
By the way, avenge the death of your celebrated hero first. Defend your country against Israel and America before shooting off with your mouth here. With the current problems facing you, it is best not to look for another trouble.
You forgot a nuclear-armed Pakistan and an Islamic-inspired Turkey in your equation.
Iran is in deep shit, unless something happens and Trump losses the election. In fact, even Biden will not just re-join the nuclear deal without reaching an agreement on your missiles and regional activities. You guys foolishly showed the Americans how cowardly you are by putting up only a poor face-saving retaliation for the slaying of your hero. From now on, the U.S will push you around far more than they did in the past regardless of who is in the White House.
“until I discovered through research that they helped America invade and kill hundreds of thousands of Afghans.” LMFAO DO YOU THINK IRAN WOULDN’T HELP US? WHY TELL WHY THEY DID THAT kiddo go on? Maybe it was because of 9/11?????? US also wanted to invade Iran and Iran had to act like they didn’t like 9/11 and guess what Taliban welcome the event so Iran had take US side and Taliban are Sunnis/Wahhabi Sunnis….hey easy kills for Iran kiddo.
“Taliban are Sunnis/Wahhabi Sunnis….hey easy kills for Iran kiddo” The only problem with the above statement is that you are still fighting the same Taliban two decades later. that is assuming you are American. Clearly, your English betrays your claim to be American. You are a hardcore Shiite.
“Maybe it was because of 9/11??????” No, the struggle between Iran and Afghanistan/Taliban had been ongoing for years before the U.S invaded Afghanistan. It was in the late 90s that Iran amassed tens of thousands of troops at the Iran-Afghanistan border to invade Afghanistan. Because Taliban killed about 9 Iranian diplomats who were arming anti-Taliban forces and trying to instigate a revolt against the Taliban. You must understand the Sunni/Shiite centuries-old tussle to know the reason for this Iranian backstabbing of the Muslim ummah.
Taliban never welcomed 9/11. They refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden to America, demanding that the Bush administration produce proof that Osama was responsible for 9/11. Today we know that hundreds of professors and engineers in the U.S belief 9/11 was an inside job. Millions in the U.S belief the same too. So does the rest of the World.
“US also wanted to invade Iran and Iran had to act like they didn’t like 9/11” Well, it sure looks like if the U.S wanted to invade Iran, it still hasn’t given up that dream. Currently, Iran is encircled by US military bases from all angles. I think Iran is the only country in the world facing such military encirclement from all corners. Again, the Americans assassinated your most celebrated Hero, thereby humiliating your country in a way no one though possible due to your mouthiness. American also heaped sanctions on you worse that the one they placed on both North Korea and Venezuela combined. I can go on and on and on, but I think you get the gist. So now, how wise was it for Iran to help America against the Taliban? Certainly, the U.S doesn’t seem to appreciate that help.
“The Shah ruled Iran for years and there was never a war with any neighboring country.” Okay you don’t know history and you are stupid like the other Wahhabi Sunnis LMFAO… go fuk yourself you get 6 wifes
” the destruction that will befall your country” So anyone who fuking dislike animals like Sunnis and Wahhabi Sunnis are Iranian….hahahahah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dumFYzAzHI
Since I don’t know history, perhaps you’ll care to tell me when Iran fought a war during the Shah or Mossaddeq. And don’t forget that I am talking about modern history, not something that happened 200 years ago or during the struggle against colonial rule. Please let us know when Iran fought a war under the deposed Shah or Mossaddeg. If you can’t provide any proofs, your argument is null and void. I have done some research and can’t find any interstate wars.
I done with your stupid ass points (more like crying) buddy but here is the thing, Iran/Iranian love Americans it is fact even Ayatollah Khomeini did. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ad8a5de1a393d54673db8dd815fbc9b5dab39d603d211f07b09bb83b4f9e1e89.jpg
At least the Taliban are much braver than your shiite cowards in Iraq launching fearful hit-and-run attacks on U.S bases with zero harm to the U.S. They have vowed over a hundred times to get the U.S out of Iraq. All they do is launch a few unguided rockets at the U.S despite America killing their leader and members. If the U.S did that in Afghanistan, Taliban will respond as soon as the opportunity presents itself. I pray that Trump will win again so that the real cowardice of shiites will be exposed to the world. Many sunnis believe Iran and their Shiite proxies are really brave people defending Islam and Muslims. I believed the same too, until I discovered through research that they helped America invade and kill hundreds of thousands of Afghans. Thy also helped America invade and kill over a million in Iraq. The Shah ruled Iran for years and there was never a war with any neighboring country. Mossaddeq ruled for years without war or serious disagreements with their neighbors. But the Mullahs came to power through a revolution and two years later, Iran was fighting a highly destructive war with Saddam. Saddam invaded cos the Mullahs were instigating a Shiite revolt to overthrow him. I am not a supporter of Saddam. Just stating facts and letting everyone know why I suddenly hate the Iranian regime. After the Iraq war Iran later mobilized tens of thousands of troops at the border with Afghanistan to invade the country. Iran aborted that invasion for fear of intervention by a nuclear-armed Pakistan. And some hypocrites will say Iran has no intention to attack/invade any country. It just doesn’t have the means and resources, but these past actions indicates it has the will. The Iranian regime will not end well. If Trump wins again, there will be real trouble for the Mullahs. And I won’t pity them – only the Iranian population. Keep cursing the Sahabas either openly or secretly, and I assure you, the destruction that will befall your country, only few in history have witnessed it. Misguided people.
IAF hit targets in Syria tonight, the only question is how many dead.
I agree with it, we need to airstrike their Syrian asses every day and every night for helping Iran. Both need to die as far as I care now.
Got no clue, I bet a dozen or more.
I guess you’re right, it needs to be 16 everyday till Assad gets the message into his tiny brain. He made a defense treaty with Iran against us, what does he expect now? we will kill his soldiers along with the IRGC roaches.
Assad defense system is no joke if you aske to me
lol :D
just see NATO has fired 100 missiles at Damascus but no death it is ok good defense system
Iran wouldn’t be there if not for mossadisis… Let that sink in… You created your own enemies that you can’t defeat. Same as the U.S. created the Taliban…
Oh Ranger, we will defeat them and their iranian friends in the great coming war, those airstrikes are just a taste.
Yeah I heard that many times. You are winning for 9 years straight… Oh wait…
9 years of airstrikes here and there, and that was kinda enough to stop most of Iran’s plan next to our border. What happens when we use our ground forces? you tell me.
You tried that in Lebanon, didn’t end too well. Did it stop Iranians? In what exactly? They have more influence in the region than ever, thanks to the U.S. and Israel. If you ask me it was counterproductive, mildly put. And you don’t know what could happen in a major war, nobody does, that alone should deter any sane person to push for it… Just sayin…
They can leave Syria alive, or they can leave Syria dead. Either way they will leave, and if the SAA protects them like tonight, then Syrian soldiers will also return to their families dead.
Like I said your govt created the situation in the first place… You achieve nothing with these strikes. Except for hardening them.
Well, Russia won’t allow it as much as I would please to see Syria gets hit with 70 missiles a day destroying both Syrian and Iranian targets.
Typical Israeli ranting until they get destroyed and start crying. Create more enemies in the region but dont wonder later on why there was a holocaust 2.0
People did you know Zion control Afghanistan? No for real. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f3a44b47f4593c1ecbbd786305779ccba17065e2c298bc488d0a6204b0a2b867.jpg
Ghani’s wife is a JEW (Rula Ghani) THIS FUKING SNAKE need to be killed and you watch when shit fail they will run to US, they jobs are done Taliban a US puppet and they get Afghanistan back.
Read this blog: It is great (It show this snake in human form): https://zeroanthropology.net/2015/10/11/rula-ghani-preaching-for-christianity-israel-and-empire/