Free Khurram Parvez rally, Pakistan (Image Amina Masood Janjua)

Rally and Candle light vigil organized by Defence of Human Rights (DHR), taken out in the commercial hub of Rawalpindi sadder was attended largely by the Bank road traders, civil society and members and families of DHR.
The protesters condemned the arrest of Khurram Parvez leading human rights defender of Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded his immediate release from the Indian governmènt.
The rally concluded at GPO chowk with a resolution to continue the struggle till the release of all Kashmiri citizens especially Khurram Parvez. Amina Masood Janjua chairperson DHR, demanded that both Indian and Pakistani governments should play their role in the immediate and unconditional release of Khurram Parvez.
The members of DHR were wearing T-shirts with a picture of Khurram saying “I am Khurram Parvez”, a message that the mission and vision of Khurram continues in letter and spirit even though he is in an unjust detention.
#ReleaseKhurramParvezNow
#IamKhurramParvez

Amina Masood Janjua

End

Links

“India: Kashmir police arrest activist Khurram Parvez

Khurram Parvez’s arrest follows Indian officials’ move to stop him from attending UN rights council session in Geneva”

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/india-kashmir-police-arrest-activist-khurram-parvez-160916060226635.html

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The barbaric and cowardly enemy seeks to avenge their losses by killing ordinary civilians, indiscriminately bombing their homes, looting their personal belongings, imprisoning and torturing civilians, and generally persecuting them.

Over the last few days as the Mujahideen have captured large areas in Konduz province and forced the retreat of enemy forces from the city, the regime forces have retaliated by indiscriminately bombing the city, targeting civilian homes, commercial centers and even social development infrastructures such as schools. This indiscriminate and illegal targeting of city structures has caused large scale damage and spilled much innocent blood.

For example last night, eye witnesses spoke to media outlets stating that aerial bombardment in Bagh Shirkat area killed and injured 20 people – all civilians – and demolished civilian homes.

Two days ago regime mortar fire and aerial bombardment targeted a large market in the city’s Imam Saheb Bandar area, destroying food stocks and inflicting heavy financial losses to civilians.

A day before that regime bombardment hit a large carpet bazaar causing products to go up in flames and inflicting millions of dollars’ worth of damages.

When Taliban fighters first entered Konduz city the regime forces responded by targeting the electricity distribution station and other electricity infrastructure.

The regime forces – despite foreign backing and modern equipment – are unable to face the Taliban in frontal battles, their morale has sunk to its lowest level yet, they abandon their fortified bases, their retreat is more akin to a frenzied flight, and they leave behind enormous amounts of weaponry and equipment to fall into Taliban hands.

So far the Taliban have established peace in the captured city, they have prevented looting and enabled citizens to attain their basic necessities from local warehouses.

Because the enemy seeks to portray the Taliban as a destructive force, incapable of establishing order and peace – which is ironic and amusing when we compare the Taliban’s rule and the current regime’s – they will deliberately target civilians and non-military structures simply to sow chaos and anarchy. It is only convenient that by doing thus they are also retaliating against a populace that is fed up with the regime’s incompetency and willing to welcome an alternative order.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

A few days ago high ranking regime officials such as the Interior and Defense Ministers, National Security Advisor, and the commander of ISAF forces held a media conference in Konduz where they boasted of their strength stating that they have a 12,000 well equipped force defending the city and the Taliban would never be able to enter Konduz city to replicate their last-year triumph.

Yet with the will of Allah Almighty and the determination and bravery of the Mujahideen, when the Taliban forces determined on entering the city once more, in a matter of three hours they broke all the defensive belts of the regime forces, piercing their frontlines and storming the city.

The latest reports suggest that the Taliban currently control all the major administrative and military infrastructures inside the city and the battle is currently raging for control of the symbolic city square. If this is captured then the Mujahideen will launch their attack on the airport, the last remaining bastion of the foreign occupiers and their regime supporters.

The fall of Konduz comes at a time when the regime head – Ashraf Ghani – was addressing international donors boasting of his achievements including that he saved Konduz from a subsequent collapse and vigorously defended Helmand from his enemies.

Yet ironically the regime president and his chief executive arrived at Brussels at a time when Konduz had once again fallen into Taliban hands and the Mujahideen fighters had captured the northern gateway to Lashker Gah, threating to storm this strategic city as well.

Simultaneously the Mujahideen have launched their attacks on the capitals of Uruzgan, Farah and Baghlan provinces threating the rapid collapse of five whole provinces.

The fall of Konduz and the imminent fall of four more provinces is a fitting christening of the Brussels Conference which – like the previous such conferences – are only convened to give a semblance of legitimacy to the illegal occupation of our country and where regime officials strive to best one another in showcasing their submission to their foreign masters, all in the hope of filling their personal coffers.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

Tomorrow 7th of October, is also considered a black day in the history of Afghanistan like 6th of Marghumay.

15 years ago on the same day, 7th of October 2001, the US-led occupying forces launched a brutal military occupation of our sacred county in violation of all humanitarian laws and international norms.

American invaders apparently made the incident of 11th September an excuse for her savagery which was not justified in any way and is not till this day because the Afghan people were neither had a hand in it nor were they aware of the plans.

But in spite of that the then American rulers and her allies invaded Afghanistan against all international norms and without presenting any evidences.

To find some justifications for their horror and for acquittal from accountability of the oppressed Afghan people, they declared some other goals of their attack, which include:

1- To make Afghanistan self-sufficient.

2- To end narcotic production/trade in Afghanistan.

3- To form a government according to the will of the Afghan nation.

4- To establish peace, stability and security in the country.

– But 15 years passed since the US occupation, we can see that everything is going in reverse. Has Afghanistan stood on its own feet? They had made it the poorest country in the world, and despite abundant resources no fundamental work has been done.

– Before the US occupation, the Islamic Emirate was able to eradicate drug cultivation to zero, but now under the American occupation; Afghanistan shattered the world record in the cultivation and export of the drugs.

– Instead of building a government system according to the desire and will of the Afghan people, they have imposed the world’s most corrupt setup; a combination of thieves and gangs of evil and corruption with the force of airplanes and tanks, and are supporting them to this day.

– Security and stability of the country is such that a senior US general declared that 1000 people are killed per month in Afghanistan. Bombardment of civilian houses and public facilities is the daily routine of the occupiers and their stooges.

Thus the Islamic Emirate condemns the barbaric invasion and continuation of occupation by America and her allies in the strongest terms and on the 15 anniversary of their horror once again calls upon the invaders; leave our country, bring the brutal occupation to an end, stop the bloodshed of innocent Afghan people in your heinous existence, let the Afghan people decide about their own country and future.

This is the same sensible and reasonable solution that the Islamic Emirate identified fifteen years ago in the dispute, and has repeatedly declared it for you over time.

Otherwise the believing Afghan nation will continue their legitimate struggle under the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, until the invaders are expelled from the country like the previous ones. When you will have lost tens of thousands more troops and wasted hundreds of billions of more dollars in exchange for a historical and humiliating defeat. That time is close, Allah willing, and the entire world are witnessing the signs of it.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

05/01/1438 Hijri Lunar

15/07/1395 Hijri Solar               06/10/2016 Gregorian

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Al Emarah Studio video report about destruction of convoy in Baghlan

The latest video from Baghlan province shows clips of the complete destruction of an entire logistic-military convoy headed to reinforce Kunduz which was destroyed in Markazi Baghlan district overnight. It can be viewed in Al Emarah Video website (link below)

End

Note 

Last night Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah tweeted the following on the attack,

Reinforcement convoy headed towards #Kunduz & engaged in Markazi Baghlan district #Baghlan has been destroyed, 63 vehicles torched

Tens of APCs, vehicles & logistic trucks also seized in operation, transfered to a secure location; dozens of hirelings also killed/wounded

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Free Khurram Demonstration, Defence of Human Right group Pakistan

(Image via Amina Masood Janjua)

Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) legal team have recently met with Khurram Parvez at the Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu. Khurram is a well known Kashmiri human rights activist who was detained on the 16th September 2016  following his attempt to travel to Geneva, Switzerland where he had been invited to participate in a session of the UN Human Rights Council. He was later accused of accused of inciting stone pelting and protests.

See following link for story,

“Kashmir: JKCCS statement on unlawful arrest, detention of Khurram Parvez”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/kashmir-jkccs-statement-on-unlawful-arrest-detention-of-khurram-parvez/

Kashmir has been in a state of unrest following the killing of Burhan Wani, commander of Hizbul Mujahideen on July 8th 2016. A struggle for independence from India and azadi (freedom) began following partition in 1947.

Khurram Parvez asked his legal representatives to share the following message:

(Image via University Community, Facebook)

Links

“Kashmir: JKCCS statement: Legal proceedings for Khurram Parvez release begin…Defender accused of inciting stone pelting and protests”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/kashmir-jkccs-statement-legal-proceedings-for-khurram-parvez-release-begin-defender-accused-of-inciting-stone-pelting-and-protests/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Drones have killed hundreds of civilians in Pakistan and Yemen

(Image Reuters)

The Obama Administration has today announced an international declaration on the applicability of international law and human rights in the use of armed drones.

The agreement does not acknowledge the effects of the long-running, secretive US use of armed drones in countries where it is not at war, in a program which violates international law. It states that “misuse… could fuel conflict and stability”, without reference to impact the US’s own covert drone program has had.

President Obama’s classified drone program has killed hundreds of civilians in Pakistan and Yemen without formal acknowledgement or apology.  In a speech in April 2016, the President admitted that the program’s legal architecture and command structures were “underdeveloped” until 2013.

The Obama Administration is also arguing in the US federal court case Jaber v Obama – scheduled to be argued in Washington, DC on December 13 – that its drone killing program and practices are beyond the reach of the US courts, even where the most heinous war crimes have been committed.

A study by international human rights organization Reprieve, which assists civilian victims of drone strikes, found that the program killed an estimated 28 unknown people for every intended target.

Commenting, Jennifer Gibson, staff attorney at Reprieve said:

“Only this week, President Obama admitted that future U.S. presidents may be able to engage in perpetual covert wars “all over the world… without any accountability or democratic debate.” As drones spread, it is no longer just the US President about whom we must worry. This international agreement does little to ensure that other countries will not follow the dangerous precedent President Obama has set.

“If the US is truly serious about ensuring states use drones in accordance with human rights, then it needs to lead by example. It needs to end its own covert assassination program, one that has set dangerous precedents and led to the deaths of thousands, far from battlefields. The victims of those strikes deserve more than just words on paper. They deserve accountability for the US’s own use, and a US that is committed to more than just a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ approach.”

ENDS

 
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The Mujahideen have gained even more victories recently in the provinces of Helmand and Konduz, repressing enemy forces and capturing large swathes of territory.

The Mujahideen began a two-pronged pincer assault on Konduz city two days ago. After capturing the outlying suburbs they entered the city proper. At the moment the Mujahideen and enemy forces are struggling for the control of the city square.

Similarly in Konduz’s neighboring province – Baghlan – the Mujahideen have taken great strides surrounding the provincial capital as well as blocking the main highway leading from Kabul to Konduz. The Mujahideen have captured a large military base in Dand Ghori district adjacent to the provincial capital.

In Helmand, the Mujahideen fighters have captured the districts of Nawa and Khanashin and entered the northern entry point to Lashkar Gah. The Mujahideen also captured a military base in Garmser district. The enemy retreated from the base leaving a large cache of weaponry behind.

It is worth noting that in addition to the three provinces mentioned above, the Mujahideen have also completely surrounded the provincial capitals in Uruzgan and Farah provinces. They are relentlessly attacking these centers threatening an imminent collapse of regime forces.

At a time when the Kabul regime is duping the world in conferences regarding their military strength, the Mujahideen are threatening whole districts and capturing territory at a dizzying pace. The foreign occupiers have also mobilized their air power to break the siege of provincial capitals but so far they have failed to daunt the valiant Mujahideen fighters.

The victories of Mujahideen at the onset of the Brussels Conference send a clear message to the regime and its financial backers. No matter have much support you provide, no matter how much you prolong the suffering of our people, the valiant people of Afghanistan will never back down and surrender their freedoms. We will continue our struggle and intensify our attacks until we destroy your myth of invincibility and prove once and for all that the resolve of a nation united can never be broken.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

On Thursday 1^st September, residential area in ‘Malarghi’ area located in the suburbs of capital city of ‘Kunduz’ province was targeted by mortar shelling, indiscriminately fired by the internal stooge forces, in which, four civilians were martyred. According to media reports, local people demonstrated against this felony of the in-security forces by condemning the perpetrators of this tragedy. They also demanded their earliest possible trial.

On Friday 2^nd September, an ordinary countrymen was martyred and two others were wounded in the random fires of internal amateurish forces inside the main bazaar of ‘Chilgazi’ district in ‘Faryab’ province.

On Sunday 4^th September, houses of civilian people were looted by unrestrained Arbaki militiamen in ‘Fairoze’ village of ‘Khas Urzgan’ district in ‘Uruzgan’ province. Moreover, several shops were put on fire and two children were abducted by these notorious militiamen.

On Monday 5^th September, three civilian people were lowered from transport vehicles on the main road then brutally martyred by local wicked Arbaki militiamen in the center of ‘Saripul’ province.

On Wednesday 7^th September, ‘Wakeel Abdullah Khan’ village in ‘Dasht-i-Archi’ district of ‘Kunduz’ province was raided by the local mercenary forces, in which, one innocent villager was martyred and another one was wounded.

On Wednesday 7^th September, three children were martyred in the indiscriminate mortar shelling of internal amateurish in-security forces in ‘Joi-Baigum’ area of ‘Imam Sahib’ district in ‘Kunduz’ province.

On Thursday 8^th September, civilian houses in ‘Kulachiyan Pump’ of ‘Goretepa’ area near the center of ‘Kunduz’ province were raided by brutal foreign forces escorted by their internal mercenary forces, in which, local people were badly beaten and fifty innocent countrymen were detained and taken away as prisoners.

On Sunday 11^th September, a local woman and a man were martyred in a mortar shelling, randomly fired by the internal stooge forces in ‘Mirghondi’ area of ‘Hisarak’ district in ‘Nangarhar’ province.

On Sunday 11^th September, a child was martyred and four others were wounded in the random artillery shelling of local in-security forces in a separate incident in the above mentioned area.

On Wednesday 14^th September, ‘Aaqtash’ area in ‘Khan Abad’ district of ‘Kunduz’ province was raided by savage foreign invaders accompanied by their internal stooge forces, in which, local people were harshly beaten, their houses were thoroughly searched and eleven innocent civilians were taken away as prisoners.

On Thursday 15^th September, two innocent students of a local madrassa (named ‘Qari Ismatullah’ and ‘Mohammad’) were martyred by notorious local Arbaki militiamen during a raid on ‘Shali Khail’ village in ‘Maquar’ district of ‘Ghazni’ province.

On Friday 16^th September, ‘Khawrin Pull’ (i.e. mud bridge) of ‘Nahr-i-Siraj’ area in ‘Grishk’ district of ‘Helmand’ province was raided by brutal foreign invaders in collaboration with their internal mercenary forces; in which, after searching the houses, six innocent countrymen were incarcerated, and one vehicle and three motor-cycles were put on fire.

On Sunday 18^th September, civilian houses in ‘Sabar’ area of ‘Pachir Agam’ district in ‘Nangarhar’ province was raided by savage foreign invaders supplemented by their internal stooge forces. In this raid, local people were severely beaten; their houses were thoroughly searched; and two innocent villagers were detained and taken away as prisoners to some unknown place.

On Monday 19^th September, seven persons, including women and children, were wounded in the indiscriminate mortar shelling of internal incompetent forces in ‘Kanaat’ and ‘Ziarat’ areas of ‘Choori’ district in ‘Uruzgan’ province.

On Monday 19^th September, a child and a man were martyred and another child was wounded in the random artillery shelling of internal stooge forces in ‘Kowtar Khana’ area near ‘Tarin Kot’ city, the center of ‘Uruzgan’ province.

On Tuesday 20^th September, in the series of forbidden night operations, ‘Sofi Zaman’ village in ‘Dasht-i-Archi’ district of ‘Kunduz’ province was raided by brutal foreign invaders accompanied by their internal mercenary forces; in which, main gates of several houses were blasted by bombs; innocent people were savagely beaten; their valuables were looted; and twenty three local countrymen were detained and taken away as prisoners.

On Wednesday 21^st September, civilian houses in ‘Sarband’ village of ‘Shindand’ district in ‘Herat’ province were raided by local in-security forces; in which, two innocent civilians were martyred and two others were wounded; while significant amount of valuables from these houses were looted too.

On Thursday 22^nd September, one civilian was martyred and five others were incarcerated by internal stooge forces during a raid on ‘Eid-Gah’ area in ‘Dasht-i-Archi’ district of ‘Kunduz’ province.

On Thursday 22^nd September, two women and two men were martyred and two children were wounded in the indiscriminate artillery shelling and blind bombing of internal mercenary forces in ‘Sooch’ area of ‘Jurm’ district in ‘Badakhshan’ province.

On Friday 23^rd September, two women were martyred and two children were wounded in the ruthless bombardment of internal stooge forces in ‘Walarg’ and ‘Samlan’ area of ‘Shindand’ district in ‘Herat’ province.

On Friday 23^rd September, two innocent civilians were martyred in the ruthless bombing of brutal foreign invaders in ‘Qaralqu’ area of ‘Dasht-i-Archi’ district in ‘Kunduz’ province.

On Friday 23^rd September, civilian houses in ‘Patanio’ area of ‘Dasht-i-Archi’ district in ‘Kunduz’ province were raided by savage foreign invaders in the series of their forbidden night operations; in which, local people were badly beaten; their houses were thoroughly searched; and twenty innocent countrymen were taken away as prisoners.

On Saturday 24^th September, a father and his son (named ‘Qurban’ and ‘Khal Murad’) were ruthlessly martyred by the unrestrained local Arbaki militiamen in ‘Baloch’ area of ‘Shirin Tagab’ district in ‘Faryab’ province.

On Monday 26^th September, two civilians were wounded in the indiscriminate artillery shelling of internal amateurish forces in ‘Mohammad Jan Khan’ bazaar of ‘Jaghatu’ district in ‘Maidan Wardak’ province.

On Monday 26^th September, two children were martyred and a man was wounded in the random mortar shelling of internal in-security forces in ‘Mastufi’ area of ‘Shilgar’ district in ‘Ghazni’ province.

On Wednesday 28^th September, a civilian was martyred and three persons including a girl were wounded in the indiscriminate helicopter shelling of internal mercenary forces in ‘Nahr-i-Sufi’ area of ‘Chardara’ district in ‘Kunduz’ province.

On Wednesday 28^th September, eight civilians, including women and children, were martyred and several others were injured in the ruthless bombing of internal stooge forces in ‘Qaralqu’ area of ‘Dasht-i-Archi’ district in ‘Kunduz’ province.

On Wednesday 28^th December, The ‘Pazwak’ news agency reported that thirteen civilians were martyred and fourteen others were wounded in a ruthless and indiscriminate drone strike of brutal foreign invaders in ‘Shadal’ bazaar of ‘Achin’ district in ‘Nangarhar’ province. ‘Ataullah Khogyani’, the spokesman for the governor of this province also admitted that civilian people were targeted in this drone strike. He added that actually the house of an official of Public Health Ministry was hit in this attack. Since he had recently returned from Hajj (pilgrimage), therefore, local people had gathered in his house to congratulate him on this auspicious occasion, as they became the victims of this savage and indiscriminate attack.

On Thursday 29^th September, a pick=up model vehicle, on the way from ‘Kandahar’ city to ‘Naish’ district, was targeted and hit by brutal foreign invaders between ‘Bori’ and ‘Shakaraize’ areas of ‘Shah Wali Kot’ district in ‘Kandahar’ province; in which, all the passengers on board (i.e. a child, a woman, a civilian man and the driver of vehicle) were martyred on the spot.

Sources: (BBC, Radio Liberty, The Afghan Islamic News Agency; Pazwak, Khabaryal, Larawbar, Nunn.Asia and Benawa websites.)

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

A year on Taliban back in Kunduz (Islamic Emirate)

There was a sense of deja vu on Tuesday as the Taliban once again moved in to take over the centre of Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, one year after a Doctors Without Borders hospital within the city was targeted in a US airstrike. Despite the staff giving co-ordinates of the compound to relevant authorities, a gunship killed 42 people including three children, an incident labelled by many as a war crime. As RT reported, “according to MSF, (Medicines Sans Frontiers) the Kunduz raid, conducted by an AC-130 gunship, lasted nearly an hour and left patients burning in their beds. Some were decapitated, while others suffered amputations as a result of the strike.”

Taliban raise their flag in Kunduz 2015 (Image via Habibullah Helah)

Background, 2015 Invasion of Kunduz

The Taliban briefly held Kunduz in 2015, the first major urban centre taken by them since the U.S. invaded the country in 2001.

An account of the assault can be read here,

“Afghanistan: Taliban storm Kunduz, resident states “city is completely with Taliban, ANSF are out”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/afghanistan-taliban-storm-kunduz-resident-states-city-is-completely-with-taliban-ansf-are-out/

At the time Islamic Emirate claimed they had achieved all their objectives and that the liberation of Kunduz “showed military capability and moral magnitude of mujahideen” but they quickly withdrew from the city. They stated, “withdrawal from Kunduz city bazaar and government buildings is done purely for the higher interests of Jihad, the main goal of which was to secure the population from air raids and protect the human and material cost of Mujahideen from waste in a protracted defensive battle.”

Following the 2015 assault on Kunduz, Taliban accused the Kabul regime of a “brutal genocidal campaign in an effort to retake the provincial city and surrounding districts” which included alleged “shelling homes of locals with heavy artillery in Zar Kamar and Shahrawan areas of Imam Sahib district, destroying civilians compounds that were packed with innocent women and children, leaving tens of martyrs in its wake, destroying civilian property and causing intense sufferings.”

See following link,

“Afghanistan: Statement of Islamic Emirate concerning withdrawal from central areas of Kunduz city”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/afghanistan-statement-of-islamic-emirate-concerning-withdrawal-from-central-areas-of-kunduz-city/

Officials waiting for evacuation at Airport as district center and HQs fall to Taliban.”

(Image via Ahmet Yar)

Kunduz assault 2016

Ahmet Yar, independent reporter stated that the Taliban had split into small groups to infiltrate ANSF positions and “overran some 14 ANSF checkposts and bases in Kunduz, confiscated many caches of weapons and Humvees.” Afghan police were shown on video surrendering their weapons.

On Tuesday, Zabihulla, Taliban spokesman gave the following account of the advance into Kunduz,

“Main intersection has just been overrun by Mujahidin, attacks underway on governor compound and police HQ. PD2 of Kunduz city as well as Recruitment Center overrun, Mujahidin close to the main city intersection. Mujahidin prostrating to their Lord Almighty as they enter Kunduz city. Mujahidin reach main intersection, are warmly greeted by locals, city is secure and enemy has fled from all parts. Pure white Prophetic flag symbolizing loftiness of the Word of Allah once again being raised over the main Kunduz intersection. Efforts underway to quickly establish normalcy in Kunduz so people restart work, Mujahidin are treating people with kindness.”

On Wednesday, Zabihulla updated saying, “Mujahidin still inside Kunduz city, clashes ongoing and enemy is on the run.” Ahmet Yar reported that there was media censorship against Taliban stating, “Kabul regime warned Afghan media outlets to halt streaming Taliban gains in Kunduz and Helmand and do not broadcast their message.”

Toll on Afghan military

Heavy fighting between Taliban and ANSF has taken its toll this year with regular reports of defections and desertion of posts. The Washington Post reported,

“During one week in August alone, between Aug. 22 and 29, Afghan crews recovered 125 Afghan troops killed and more than 280 wounded, according to U.S. military documents reviewed by The Washington Post on Thursday. The casualties — equating to almost 18 dead per day — were spread across 37 different locations all over the country. By comparison, the worst month for U.S. forces was August 2011, when 71 were killed.”

See report for more information,

“One week. Hundreds of dead and wounded. How Afghan forces are struggling with heavy casualties.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/09/30/one-week-hundreds-of-dead-and-wounded-how-afghan-forces-are-struggling-with-heavy-casualties/

Image Signal Group Company (Twitter)

Brussels Conference

The timing of the Taliban advance into Kunduz couldn’t have been worse for President Ashraf Ghani as he headed off to the Brussels Conference to plead for $3billion dollars to keep the country afloat until 2020, amid increasing security concerns. Those attending the two-day, EU-led donor event include the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon alongside EU president Donald Tusk. Representatives of 70 countries and 30 international organizations will participate in the event pledging money for security, education and development.

A peace process was also on the agenda, EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Franz-Michael Mellbin told Reuters, “we’re buying four more years for Afghanistan….if we don’t achieve peace, it’s simply going to be extremely costly for the foreseeable future.” As Gissur Simonarson founder of @conflicts pointed out on Twitter, “the Taliban fought the greatest army the world has ever seen… and won. Probably time to negotiate at this point.”

Abdulqahar Balkhi an English speaking spokesperson affiliated with the Taliban was highly scathing of the Conference stating,

“What is point of backing a regime holed up in Kabul, riven with old rivalries & useless as a turd? What is point of dedicating couple thousand troops if they cannot even hold Kunduz and Helmand even though they were sent to prevent fall? Allies should ask US – what is the point of investing $billions into a failed regime if Kunduz can collapse in a day and Helmand next? Serious questions need to be ask at Brussels Conference about Kunduz, my suggestion is to accept defeat & cut-losses while ahead…This as US sent enablers and SOF spent entire year conducting training & bombing missions, truly a Graveyard of Empires.”

Islamic Emirate statement on Brussels Conference can be read here,

“Islamic Emirate: Another Conference for Continuation of Occupation

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2016/10/03/islamic-emirate-another-conference-for-continuation-of-occupation/

The Sofia Globe reported that the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boiko Borissov threatened to pull the military out of Afghanistan if the Brussels summit produced no solution to the situation in the country. Referring to troops and the refugee situation he stated, “we spend 80 million leva a year to keep a contingent in Afghanistan, and at this time it is peaceful and calm there. Now it would be good for them to meet and keep their commitments. It is not possible for us to accept more economic migrants.”

Khaama Press highlighted that the UK had pledged to provide up to $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan. Speaking to the Independent, Britain’s International Development Secretary Priti Patel stated that the aid will be utilised from 2017 to 2020. She said,

“The UK’s presence in Afghanistan over the last decade has helped improve security and prevent it from once again becoming a base of operations for global terrorists that would threaten the streets of Britain. We have improved the lives of Afghans significantly – with millions more children in school, better healthcare, and greater prosperity. But huge challenges remain – not least the continuing threat from the Taliban.”

News graphic Afghanistan’s squandered millions (AFP)

Posted on Twitter by Masroor Gilanni

Many Britons will be sceptical of the government donating to a regime riddled with corruption where those most needing aid are often sidelined especially during a time of severe cuts at home to the poor, sick and disabled which has led to suicides and cases of people actually starving to death. Thousands in the UK now rely on food banks to feed their children as highlighted by activist Ray Woolford of Talk Radio Europe who wrote the book, “Food Bank Britain’ ‘and ‘Deptford’ A history.”

Human Rights Watch however has written a letter to the Brussels Conference urging more support to Afghanistan. Again this is somewhat hypocritical given that over the years the group has turned a blind eye to major human rights abuses in the UK, ignoring letters from campaigners to hold the British government to account.

HRW appeal can be seen here,

“HRW letter re Brussels Conference Afghanistan”

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/02/hrw-letter-re-brussels-conference-afghanistan

In another twist of irony, as international aid agencies continue their message of “saving” women in Afghanistan and the need for more financial support, Agenda (alliance for women and girls at risk) along with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published a report detailing that one million women in poverty have experienced extensive violence and abuse in England. An issue often side-stepped by the state. Katharine Sacks-Jones, Director of Agenda said, “we are calling on the Government to break the links between poverty and abuse by developing a cross-government approach to improving the life chances of women who face this combined burden.” The questions UK public should be asking…..  can Britain afford to keeping pouring money into a country where corruption remains a major problem and the security situation continues to deteriorate with Taliban gaining new ground every day?

Links

“Afghanistan seeks aid to rebuild nation at Brussels talks”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/02/afghanistan-seeks-aid-to-rebuild-nation-at-brussels-talks

“One week. Hundreds of dead and wounded. How Afghan forces are struggling with heavy casualties.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/09/30/one-week-hundreds-of-dead-and-wounded-how-afghan-forces-are-struggling-with-heavy-casualties/

“Kunduz hospital had complained of threats from Afghan Special Forces in July: A full and independent investigation into bombing is essential”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/kunduz-hospital-had-complained-of-threats-from-afghan-special-forces-in-july-a-full-and-independent-investigation-into-bombing-is-essential/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.