Many have fled life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, where the insurgents control more territory than at any time since 2001
AFP: The Taliban have not changed, warn Afghans living under their rule
Ali Ahmad Alizai has no choice but to obey when the Taliban come knocking on his door demanding food, shelter or a slice of his hard-earned harvest to fund their insurgency.
"The Taliban run a dictatorship here. They have their own laws. We have some security, but no freedom," the farmer told AFP by telephone from a militant-controlled district of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province.
Alizai is one of millions living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, where the group controls more territory than at any time since being toppled in 2001 by US-led forces.
As momentum for peace talks builds, with a fresh round of negotiations between the Taliban and Washington set to begin in Doha on Monday, testimonies from Afghans like him paint a picture of what life might be like should the militants return to power if the US exits its longest war.
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WNU Editor: This blog has been following the conflict in Afghanistan for almost 12 years. During this time I have seen little if any change in the Taliban.
6 comments:
Taliban, Pakistan, they are interchangeable. The war has been overt against the Taliban and covert against their Pakistani backers, suppliers and financiers. Pakistan gave safe haven to bin Laden for 10 years. Pakistan's support and only its support has kept the Taliban in the fight. Pakistan hasn't changed so no, the Taliban hasn't changed.
Yes the US has lost its dreams in Afghanistan, stupid Bushie dreams that they were. He had a great opportunity to overrun the country, then walk away and let the lesson stick of what punitive raids can be for the Taliban. The US could then arm and train the other tribes opposed to the Taliban and hold Pakistan to account with raids of our own on Pakistani soil targeting anyone supporting the Taliban. No 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, no 10,000 troops, no 1000 troops but airpower in the region to be used as needed.
Why would they change? Their entire reason for existing as a political entity is to maintain a thousand-year-old code of law. Unless Pashtunwali and the Quran have drastically changed over the last 18 years then I wouldn't expect much change from the Taliban either.
Anon,
In response may I suggest "The Soviet-Afghan War, how a superpower fought and lost", authored by the Russian General Staff. Then there is "The bear went over the mountain", and "The other side of the mountain" edited and translated by an American Vietnam War veteran, Lester Grau.
A very simplistic view.
I have only stated this about 20x here on this blog; reinforce bases and rule the Air. Quit trying to manage the population. The US would be well served by bases that have large killing fields that protect them then rule the area by LRP teams and controlled air bombardments. Kill large swaths of Taliban when you can, bomb the Poppy fields etc.
Michael
Or just go home.
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