October has been a calamitous month for the Taliban guerrillas waging war from sandy mountains and pistachio forests in this corner of northwestern Afghanistan.
The first to die in October was their leader, Mullah Ismail, hunted down and killed by U.S. Special Operations troops. Next came the heir apparent, Mullah Jamaluddin, even before he could take over as Taliban "shadow" governor. Within a week, several other top commanders were dead, a new governor had been captured and the most powerful among the remaining insurgents had lit out for the Turkmenistan border - all casualties of the secretive, midnight work of U.S. commandos. The CIA has recently asked for permission to increase their missions! October has been a calamitous month for Taliban commanders but it could backfire
Remember the first " big" catch that started this? It just keeps getting better as at least half of Afghanistan's Taliban leadership has now been captured and the Taliban and Al Qaeda stronghold of Damadola has now been captured along with the 156 cave complex the once sheltered Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second-in-command to Osama bin Laden.
I have been saying for years now that the entire world has a lot at stake here even Iran who knows the Taliban want their country too. The Stan's and Russia are helping even if only allowing use of airspace and or allowing us to move supplies through their country. This is finally starting to look doable.
As there are more big catches every day reiterate that the Taliban and Al Qaeda are on their heels in Pakistan and Afghanistan: Not a good time to be a member of the Haqanni family or the Taliban or Al Qaeda as Mullah Baradar's capture is having a rapid snow balling affect in Taliban and Al Qaeda captures and deaths.
Mullah Baradar was the first big catch this year in what is turning into a string of important militant leaders captured or killed in Pakistan and now Afghanistan since the operation in Helmund province was started, more specifically the town of Marjah. He was seized in a morning raid on Madrassa Khuddamul Quran near Karachi by Pakistan's ISI intelligence service on February 8th. Of course it is denied but this is great!
This was a serious big catch and it keeps paying off! Not only because he was grabbed in Karachi Pakistan by the ISI but because they were using CIA intelligence and he was grabbed while conducting day to day business where he was once protected and safe. His capture is even bigger because he not only is second only to Mullah Omar and Taliban's military commander. Baradar was Mullah Omar's right hand man and his knowledge is extensive.
As you may know, he is one of the four men who founded the Taliban movement in Afghanistan 1994 and I am sure he knows the disposition of Bin Laden and the whereabouts of Mullah Omar. I understand he is talking and we can only hope to see future sting operations. He is a childhood friend of Omar's and a long time adviser.
This is pretty cool you can look at the large map indicating all the areas in Pakistan next to the border where the Taliban or any of the other militants cross the border to fight. Click on the provinces or the links below the map to see how militants operate on either side of the border. Afghan-Pakistan militant nexus
There is growing trust and cooperation all around in the battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan is cooperating more than ever.
As we said, Baradar in fact was captured at a Madrassa by the ISI and that is huge! I hope this breaks the Taliban’s back as they are disheartened with their commander’s capture in Pakistan, the capture of most of their commander's, along with the death and capture of many of their leaders, and NATO’s operation across the border to clean out their last stronghold. I hope they melt back into society!
So far as we know now seven of the insurgent group’s 15-member leadership council, thought to be based in Quetta, Pakistan, including the head of military operations, have been apprehended. Pakistani authorities had netted Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the movements second in command, as well as Maulavi Abdul Kabir, a prominent commander in charge of insurgent operations in eastern Afghanistan, and Mullah Muhammad Younis.
Pakistan has also captured several other Afghan members of the leadership council called the Quetta Shura. These include: Mullah Abdul Qayoum Zakir, who oversees the movement’s military affairs, Mullah Muhammad Hassan, Mullah Ahmed Jan Akhunzada, and Mullah Abdul Raouf. At least two Taliban shadow provincial governors, who are part of the movement’s parallel government in Afghanistan, have also been captured.
* This is huge and just keeps getting better! Think of this, we may succeed in breaking their back then I hope we are smart enough to get the heck out! In closing: Taliban and Al Qaeda are on their heels in Pakistan and Afghanistan, this is not a good time to be a member of the Haqanni family or the Taliban or Al Qaeda.
Despite many recent gains against Al Qaeda and the Taliban many vow to fight to victory. So too must we! We must unite as a world and victory is not to defeat the Taliban only those who refuse to live as a unified Nation not under Sharia law. I finally believe we can do this.
When all is said and done it is not all said and done. It has been a calamitous year for Taliban commanders but so what? You know these so called extremists Al Qaeda, Taliban, or whatever, are the head of the Hydra. You cut off or kill one and ten replace them. The world is their recruiting station and we the infidels are their recruiters. Again, this has barely begun unless we get the hell out!
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment