Afghan Forces Recapture Kunduz

Afghan troops supported by U.S.-led coalition airpower recaptured the center of Kunduz today after fierce clashes with the Taliban, three days after losing the provincial capital to the insurgents. Clearing operations are continuing in parts of the city, including house-to-house searches for Talib fighters. The Taliban flag was removed earlier today from the central square, replaced with government colors. Military helicopters are in the sky and government forces are patrolling major streets.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid implicitly conceded defeat, saying the Taliban fighters had withdrawn to the edge of the city. Mujahid added the withdrawal was tactical to draw government forces into the city.

The battle to recapture the strategic town began on Wednesday when Afghan Special Forces with coalition air support entered into the city and retook control of the governor’s office and the police headquarters. News agencies reported heavy fighting in the city center early Thursday before it came under control of Afghan security forces.

Photo credit: Afghan security forces in Kunduz; 1 October 2015 (Wali Kohsar/AP)

U.S. Military Launches Strike on Kunduz

The U.S. military carried out an airstrike on Kunduz today and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani vowed to take the northern city back from the Taliban, who pulled off a spectacular multi-pronged coordinated assault on Kunduz in the wee hours of Monday, capturing the strategically important town.

Afghan military launched a counter-offensive on Kunduz and there are reports today that they have retaken some areas, and reinforcements, including special operations and commandos, are arriving. The U.S. airstrikes against Taliban positions in Kunduz were carried out on Tuesday. U.S. military spokesman Col. Brian Tribus said the goal was “to eliminate threat to the (security) forces.” (AP, 29 September)

The insurgents had still the upper hand in the city on Tuesday, patrolling major streets, setting up checkpoints, searching for government loyalists and sealing off exit routes for anyone who wished to escape, AP reported. They emptied banks in the city of cash and seized vehicles.

Neither the U.S. nor NATO forces have an operational presence in the Kunduz region. German military control a base in the nearby Mazar-e Sharif.

Photo credit: Taliban prisoners walk on a street after their comrades released them from the main jail in Kunduz. Monday 28 September 2015 (Hekmat Aimaq/AP)

Taliban Capture Kunduz in Northern Afghanistan

The Taliban today captured the northern city of Kunduz, Afghanistan’s fifth largest town. The insurgents seized government buildings including the governor’s office, police compound, and the courthouse, despite heavy fighting in a series of battles with government forces. Hundreds of insurgents also broke into a main Kunduz prison and freed more than 600 prisoners, including 140 Taliban fighters. The military said the city’s airport is still under control of the security forces.

Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sadiq Sadiqqi told the Associated Press that “Kunduz city has collapsed into the hands of the Taliban.” (AP/FOX News, 28 September)

Sadiqqi added that the Taliban attacked the city from 10 different locations around 3 a.m. local time, overwhelming security forces.  Residents report the insurgents soon reached the town’s main square, tearing down photographs of President Ghani and other leaders and raising the flag of the Taliban movement.

“With capturing of police compound and governor’s office in Kunduz, the whole province fell to our hand,” the Taliban’s spokesman said Monday on his Twitter account.

The capture of the strategically located Kunduz, with a population of more than 300,000, marks the first time the Taliban have seized a major urban area since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The Taliban previously attacked the same city in April, in its first major advance into an urban area, but were pushed back by security forces. This is a huge loss for Afghanistan.

Kunduz, Afghanistan (Photo: Al Arabiya)
Nader's Note: I visited the city in 2012. 

Iran reportedly assisting Taliban to defeat ISIL in Afghanistan

Above: DIO PKM T-80 machine gun, a type possibly supplied to Taliban from Iran  [photo: MINDEX]

According to International Business Times, dated 12JUN15:

Fears over the rise of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan are spawning some unlikely alliances in the region. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, which cited Afghan and U.S. officials, Iran -- a Shiite powerhouse currently engaged in proxy and direct wars with several Sunni states and groups -- is now providing weapons, ammunition and funds to the Taliban.

“Iran supplies us with whatever we need,” a Taliban commander named Abdullah told the Journal, claiming that he was approached by an Iranian intelligence official during his detention in the country. “He asked me how much money I made, and that he would double my salary if I went to work for them [Iranians] in Afghanistan.”

Abdullah claimed that the Taliban were receiving weapons such as 82mm mortars, light machine guns, AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and materials for making roadside bombs from Iran. These weapons are allegedly shipped into Afghanistan through the common border between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Journal reported. Toward this end, the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has also helped smugglers, who can now cross the porous border undetected.

Shia-majority Iran and the Sunni militant group Taliban have long been foes and almost came to a full-blown war in 1998 when Iran deployed more than 70,000 troops along the Afghan border in response to the killing of its diplomats. The Iranian officials were allegedly killed by the Taliban, which was then in complete control of the Afghan government. A full-scale conflict in the region was prevented only after the United Nations intervened.

However, recent reports have hinted at the formation of an alliance between the two ideological foes, spurred by the rise of a common enemy in eastern Afghanistan.

COMMENTARY: And so, the military alliances have come full circle. Where, during the1980's the United States supported the Mujahideen (later morphed into Taliban) against USSR, now Iran is reportedly supporting the Taliban against ISIL.

That Iran could put the past behind it and pragmatically assist a former foe to defeat ISIL is potentially instructive, should the reported effort achieve the defeat of ISIL in Afghanistan.

Beyond the immediate, reported support of this force against ISIL, such assistance-- if accurate-- might also serve to provide Iran with a means of influence upon two sides of the current Afgan conflict, that is the Afghan central government (with which Iran has formal relations) as well as the Taliban. In the long run this positioning might potentially render service towards conflict resolution in that enduring war. Of course, such would not be the case were such Iranian arms supplied to the Taliban be turned against the Afghan central government.

Below are additional examples of Iranian arms identified in the report as having been provided to the Taliban:

DIO HM-10H 82 mm infantry mortar  [photo: DIO]

DIO RPG-7 type rocket-propelled grenade launchers  [photo: DIO]

DIO KL-7 (Type 56, AKM) types: top KLS, bottom KLF black  [photo: DIO]

Obama Slows Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal

President Barack Obama today reversed plans to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan this year, keeping the current level of 9,800 troops until end of 2015. Obama announced the decision after meeting with visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the White House.

“President Ghani had requested some flexibility on our drawdown timelines,” Obama said at a joint press conference, adding the decision “reflects our reinvigorated partnership with Afghanistan… We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help Afghan security forces succeed.” (AFP, 24 March)

Earlier in the day, Afghan President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (Prime Minister) Abdullah Abdullah visited the Arlington Cemetery to honor more than 2,200 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen killed in action while fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. In a moving ceremony, they placed wreaths to honor the fallen American soldiers.

Photo credit: President Barack Obama (R) with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during a joint press conference at the White House; 24 March 2015 (AFP/france24.com)

U.S. to Leave 10,800 Troops in Afghanistan

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on a visit to Afghanistan today said the U.S. commanders in the country have been authorized to retain up to 10,800 troops into early in 2015 as a temporary measure to address shortfalls in the fight against the Taliban. The increase of 1,000 in the number of troops being kept in Afghanistan, over the previously scheduled 9,800, could be in response to a gap left by other NATO countries contributing fewer troops to the anti-Taliban campaign than pledged already.

Hagel also praised Afghan President Ghani and CEO Abdullah for forming a government of national unity by “putting needs of the country first.” Hagel made the comments during a joint press conference with Ghani at Arg, the presidential palace in Kabul.

Photo credit: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at a joint press conference at Arg, the presidential palace in Kabul; 6 December 2014 (Twitter/@jimsciutto)

Afghanistan Ratifies Agreement on U.S. Forces Beyond 2014

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today signed the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul and Washington and the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament had already ratified the agreements, which will pave the way for the presence of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to train and advice Afghan security forces.

Afghanistan and U.S. Sign Bilateral Security Agreement

A day after the new Afghan government took office, Afghanistan and the United States signed a long-awaited Bilateral Security Agreement (B.S.A.), allowing nearly 10,000 American troops to remain in the country beyond the 31 December drawdown of U.S. combat forces. The force that will remain in Afghanistan will train and support local security forces, and a contingent of U.S. Special Operations forces will conduct counterterrorism missions in the country. Some 2,000 NATO troops will also join the Americans in their new mission.

Hanif Atmar, the new Afghan national security advisor, who signed the pact on behalf of his country, called it a “historic agreement,” and said it had the endorsement of Loya Jirga, the grand assembly of Afghan elders, who met and approved the pact in December.

“The people of Afghanistan placed a great steak in our enduring partnership,” said Atmar.

U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham signed for the United States. Witnessing the signing ceremonies at the presidential palace in Kabul were the new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive (Prime Minister) Abdullah Abdullah.

In Washington, President Barack Obama praised the pact.

“The B.S.A. reflects our continued commitment to support the new Afghan Unity Government, and we look forward to working with this new government to cement an enduring partnership that strengthen Afghan sovereignty, stability, unity, and prosperity, and that contributes to our shared goal of defeating Al Qaeda and its extremist affiliates,” the president said in a statement released by the White House.

Photo credit: The B.S.A. signing ceremony at Arg, the Presidential Palace. Hanif Atmar, the new Afghan national security advisor (r.), and U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham signed the B.S.A. on behalf of their respective countries. Kabul, 30 September 2014 (NYT)

President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan

Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated as president of Afghanistan today. He quickly appointed his rival in the bitterly contested runoff election, Abdullah Abdullah, as government’s chief executive officer, a Prime Minister-type position created as part of a compromise brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

President Ghani declared a halt to the degeneration of relations with the United States under the departing president, Hamid Karzai, who refused to sign a long-term deal to keep American troops in Afghanistan.

“Now it’s time that we enter a new era of our relationship with the United States, Europe and other countries of the world,” Ghani said.

Ghani, 65, is an anthropologist by training, and has worked for the World Bank for many years. He is the co-author, along with Ms. Claire Lockhart, of a book on problems facing the developing countries, “Fixing Failed States: A Framework for Rebuilding a Fractured World.”

“Within these countries, vicious networks of criminality, violence and drugs feed on disenfranchised populations and uncontrolled territory,” Ghani and Lockhart wrote, describing how the people in countries from Latin America to Africa and Central Asia are “locked into lives of misery, without a stake in their countries or any certainty about or control over their own futures.” (The New York Times, 29 September)

Photo credit: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (center) and Government’s Chief Executive (Prime Minister) Abdullah Abdullah at inauguration ceremony. Kabul; 29 September 2014 (NYT)

Power-Sharing Agreement in Afghanistan

UPDATE: Ashraf Ghani Declared President-Elect

The two candidates for president of Afghanistan today signed a U.S.-brokered agreement on a power sharing government. Ashraf Ghani is expected to be declared winner of the presidential election, and be sworn in as the country’s new president as early as Monday, and his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, would effectively become his prime minister, with substantial powers of his own. Ghani's presence at the Arg, the presidential palace, will be a welcomed change over Karzai's years of standstill.

The agreement prevents the collapse of the Afghan state as Abdullah’s supporters, mainly the Tajiks and the Hazara, had threatened to take over power by force, or form a parallel government, if he was declared the loser in the election. Ghani represents the Pashtun majority.

UPDATE: Afghanistan’s election commission declared former finance minister Ashraf Ghani as the country’s president-elect. The announcement came hours after Ghani and Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement.

File photo: Afghanistan's President-Elect Ashraf Ghani (AFP)

Afghan Presidential Candidates Agree to Audit, Unity Government

In a Deal Brokered by John Kerry

Afghanistan’s two presidential candidates reached agreement Saturday on an audit of their contested election and on forming a national unity government, regardless of who wins, the Associated Press reported. The deal was brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Kabul. Kerry conducted shuttle diplomacy between the two candidates late into the night Friday and on Saturday.

“This will be still a difficult road because there are important obligations required and difficult decisions to be made,” Kerry told reporters after briefing Afghanistan's current president, Hamid Karzai, shortly after midnight. (AP/LATimes, 12 July)

Former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah agreed to abide by an internationally supervised audit of all 8 million ballots in the presidential election. They vowed to form a national unity government once the results are announced.

Abdullah praised Ghani for working toward the accord on the audit and the unity government. Ghani returned the compliments, lauding his competitor's patriotism and commitment to a dialogue that promotes national unity.

Photo credit: Secretary of State John Kerry, left, with Afghan presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani, center, and Abdullah Abdullah. Kabul, 12 July 2014. (Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images)

Ghani Wins Presidential Election; Abdullah Reject Result as ‘Coup’

Afghan Presidential Election

The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan today announced that Ashraf Ghani won the second round of the country’s presidential election by a huge margin. The preliminary results show Ghani with 4,485,888 votes, or 56.44 percent of the vote, and Abdullah Abdullah with 3,461,639 votes, or 43.56 percent. The final tally might change when the official numbers come out on 22 July.

Ghani would succeed Hamid Karzai as Afghan president in the country’s first peaceful transfer of power, but Abdullah’s camp reiterated its claim of massive fraud, and rejected the results, calling it a “coup” against the people, putting Abdullah on a dangerous collision course with Ghani.

“We don't accept the results which were announced today and we consider this as a coup against people's votes,” said Mujib Rahman Rahimi, a spokesman for Abdullah's campaign. (Reuters, 7 July)

Officials said, however, this was not the final result.

“The announcement of preliminary results does not mean that the leading candidate is the winner and there is possibly the outcome might change after we inspect complaints,” Election Commission’s chief Yousuf Nuristani told reporters.

File photo: Ashraf Ghani, the winner of Afghanistan’s disputed presidential election. (Tasvir Afghanistan)

Afghan Election Result Expected on Monday

Ashraf Ghani Apparent Winner

The announcement of the preliminary result of Afghan presidential election, which was scheduled for 2 July, got postponed to Monday so the winning candidate could pursue the other to support the first peaceful power transfer in modern Afghan history, perhaps by forming a cabinet with significant presence by both sides.

Based on Abdullah Abdullah’s continued claim of industrial-scale fraud in the election, it was obvious that Ashraf Ghani was the winner and will become the country’s president during a delicate period marked by significant U.S. troop drawdown and a rising tide of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East.

As a reminder of the perilous road ahead for the new president, the Taliban insurgents set fire today to about 200 oil tanker trucks supplying fuel for NATO forces in an attack just outside Kabul, Reuters reported. Television footage showed black smoke billowing above the site of the attack.

File photo: Dr. Ashraf Ghani, the apparent winner of Afghan presidential election, at 2014 Davos World Economic Forum. (Tasvir Afghanistan)

Afghanistan Postpones Announcement of Election Results

Chairman of Afghan Election Commission Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani said today the partial results of the second round of presidential election would not be announced today as previously scheduled; adding the postponement will take “a few days.”  

The preliminary results were expected to show Ashraf Ghani well ahead of Abdullah Abdullah to become the next Afghan president. On Wednesday, Abdullah, expecting a Ghani victory announcement, demanded the election commission stop counting ballots and withdrew his election observers from the process.

Postponing the announcement of the results of the election indicates the seriousness of the situation developing in Afghanistan. If Abdullah refuses to accept the results at this very late stage, the country’s fragile political system could split along ethnic lines with catastrophic consequences for Afghanistan and the region, which already is besieged with ethnic fighting.

Abdullah complaint is that his opponent, Ashraf Ghani, and President Karzai orchestrated a huge fraud to block his election as the first Tajik president, a charge Karzai and Ghani have denied. Ghani on Friday called on Abdullah to respect the electoral system they participated in and ask the election commission to investigate irregularities after the results are announced.

File photo: Ashraf Ghani, expected to have been announced the preliminary winner of the presidential election. The election commission on Saturday postponed the announcement. (Photo taken at 2014 Davos – tasvirafghanistan.com)