TALIBAN fighters have been evicted from 50 villages in eastern Afghanistan, according to local leaders, in an uprising that Kabul hopes will spread across the insurgent-held territory. More than 250 men have taken up arms in Ghazni province and are fighting near-daily skirmishes against Taliban attempts to retake the area.
News of the revolt came on the same day three suicide bombers killed at least 28 people and wounded more than 60 when they blew themselves up at a busy city market and outside a hospital in southwest Afghanistan. The attack was one of the most deadly this year, and the worst in the normally peaceful Nimroz.
The armed campaign against the Taliban began in protest of insurgent edicts closing schools and bazaars, as well as resentment that the Taliban were outsiders taking orders from Pakistan. In four months of fighting, the uprising has lost more than 20 members, but claims to have cleared an enclave of Andar district which had previously been under tight Taliban control.
Its progress is being closely watched by NATO and Western officials who have long hoped the insurgents’ repression might provoke a movement similar to the Sunni Awakening brigades that turned against al-Qa’ida in Iraq.
Re: Afghan locals take back 50 villages from Taliban
after the US leaves Afghanistan, the Afghans might drive taleban out from some areas. I firmly believe that had US not attacked Afghanistan after 911, they would have become history by now. As no one can live under oppression now.
Re: Afghan locals take back 50 villages from Taliban
I firmly believe that had US not attacked Afghanistan after 911, they would have become history by now.
By they do you mean the talibans?
I don't know if they would have become history but there's certainly been a resurgence in taliban recruitment over the past decade. I was reading somewhere that one of the fears is that many trained Afghan security men will have no option than to join private militia, warlords or even Taliban ranks once they do not receive the promised “good salaries” after US withdraws. Makes you question if Afghanistan is ready to take control by 2014.
Re: Afghan locals take back 50 villages from Taliban
Yes i mean taleban, the americans with their invasion has given them new life. Otherwise no one can live under their repressive regime, I believe they would have been thrown out by the locals sooner or later as people hated them. Now its easier for taleban to attract people on the name of ethnicity, religion plus their pride on their history that they have always given tough time to their invaders.
Re: Afghan locals take back 50 villages from Taliban
The taliban were far too entrenched in power to be just thrown out. Many people learned to live under their oppressive regime. They had no option. We should thank the Americans for ridding the area of them even if partially. I disagree the American invasion gave the Taliban a new lease of life. The taliban are just better organized and the main resistance group to the Americans in Afghanistan. They will be effective as a resistance group but I doubt they could not take over as they did before. The replacement is not in anyway better but at least there are more options on the table.
One thing to add is that the Taliban are not attracting that much support in the sense that they are providing resistance to invaders. They have not garnered much support from the locals simply because the Taliban are viewed as stooges of a neighbouring country. S by many Afghans they are not seen as a legitimate resistance force but just ISI puppets.
Yes i mean taleban, the americans with their invasion has given them new life. Otherwise no one can live under their repressive regime, I believe they would have been thrown out by the locals sooner or later as people hated them. Now its easier for taleban to attract people on the name of ethnicity, religion plus their pride on their history that they have always given tough time to their invaders.
Re: Afghan locals take back 50 villages from Taliban
^ If thats the case the Afghans will dislodge the taleban after the Americans leave, at the moment its the choice between the lesser evil. And anti Americanism brings together even those people who otherwise have differing opinions. I personally believe that US invasion is playing a role in the taleban resistance, and will crumble once their main reason ends.
Re: Afghan locals take back 50 villages from Taliban
How can they dislodge them when they are so powerful and that there is support from an eastern neighbour? The taliban were present before the USA invaded but yes they will not be as powerful as they would have been in the 90's.
^ If thats the case the Afghans will dislodge the taleban after the Americans leave, at the moment its the choice between the lesser evil. And anti Americanism brings together even those people who otherwise have differing opinions. I personally believe that US invasion is playing a role in the taleban resistance, and will crumble once their main reason ends.