Saturday, July 26, 2008

Key Taliban Commander Killed In Northern Afghanistan


Afghan troops have killed a key Taliban commander in the norther Afghanistan province of Takhar. The one named Mullah Usman isn't scurrying along the mountain ridges anymore, he's off in golden calf land wondering why those 72 virgins look more like hogs with demon heads. Here's the report details from Khaleej Times:


Afghan security forces killed a key Taleban commander in northern part of Afghanistan while another insurgent was killed in Kapisa province, officials said on Saturday.
The Interior Ministry said a Taleban commander identified as Mullah Usman was killed during an operation conducted by Afghan forces in Kalafgan district of northern Takhar province late Friday.
"Mullah Usman was killed when militants under his command attacked a police checkpoint in Kalafgan district last night," said the ministry statement.

Although this is great news, it does show a disturbing trend of more and more Taliban attacks in areas of Afghanistan other than the volatile southern and southeastern provinces - this provinicial attack was in the far north. What we have forgotten is that the Taliban have remained spread out throughout the country of Afghanistan and as NATO and Afghan forces become more stretched, it opens the avenue of attack in areas that haven't seen violence for quite some time.

It's my contention that the success against the Taliban in the War in Afghanistan is going to hinge on the Afghan people being convinced that the Afghan government and NATO forces are in this for the long haul and determined to drive the Taliban out completely. The Taliban have remained in many areas because the general population won't give them up, due to their fear that the Taliban will eventually succeed.


Taleban commander killed in Afghanistan's Takhar province

KABUL - Afghan security forces killed a key Taleban commander in northern part of Afghanistan while another insurgent was killed in Kapisa province, officials said on Saturday.
The Interior Ministry said a Taleban commander identified as Mullah Usman was killed during an operation conducted by Afghan forces in Kalafgan district of northern Takhar province late Friday.
"Mullah Usman was killed when militants under his command attacked a police checkpoint in Kalafgan district last night," said the ministry statement.
It said Mullah Usman's body was with police in a local hospital and he was the most senior Taleban commander in the northeast region of Afghanistan. Taleban militants had no immediate comment.
A US military statement said Saturday a militant was killed and several explosive devices were neutralized Friday during a Coalition forces operation in Kapisa Province,
"Coalition forces searched several compounds in Tagab district targeting a militant suspected of facilitating foreign-fighter operations in the area," it added.
During the search, an armed militant threatened Coalition forces, who responded with small-arms fire, killing the militant, it said.
According to the release, Coalition forces discovered several rigged explosive devices and grenades which were safely detonated.

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