Taliban Says Afghan Intelligence Is Behind The Russia Bounty Scandal

Al Jazeera: Taliban says Afghan intelligence behind Russia rewards scandal

Taliban accuses Afghan intelligence of conspiring to keep foreign forces in Afghanistan.

In an exclusive interview, an official with the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar has denied allegations that Russia offered money to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Khairullah Khairkhwa was released from Guantanamo in exchange for a United States soldier.

The Taliban says the group is against attacks on hospitals and funerals.

They say the intelligence in the Afghan government is responsible for killing innocent people.

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WNU Editor: If the Taliban has proof that implicates Afghan intelligence behind the Russia bounty scandal, provide the evidence.

Update: US military leaders are saying that if the Russian bounty story is true, they will respond .... U.S. Military Leaders Vow Response If Proof Of Russian Bounties Paid To Taliban Uncovered (RFE). More here .... Top U.S. general on Russian bounty reports: 'If it's true we will take action' (UPI).

Is The Leadership Of The Taliban In Disaray? Reports Are Saying That Mullah Omar's Son Has Taken Charge

Times Of India: Mullah Omar's son takes charge of Taliban

KABUL: Mullah Yaqoob, the son of Mullah Omar--founder of Afghan Taliban, has taken over as interim commander following disagreements among members of the group over the leadership, after a number of senior Taliban operatives fell ill to coronavirus, according to Afghan sources.

"Mullah Yaqoob (son of mullah Omar) has taken reins of Taliban movement and leading it currently. Taliban leadership is in disarray due to emerging disagreements. Several leaders are infected with COVID-19. Some members of the political office in Doha have been removed & will be sent back to Pakistan," Rahmatullah Nabil, former Director of National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan, said in a tweet.

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Update: Did the Coronavirus Kill the Taliban's Supreme Leader? (Foreign Policy)

WNU Editor: A lot of rumours are being spread around, and the Taliban are not denying them.

How Did The Afghan Taliban Survive?

Taliban members gathered under a tree in March in Alingar District of Laghman Province, Afghanistan.Credit...Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times

New York Times: How the Taliban Outlasted a Superpower: Tenacity and Carnage

The Taliban stand on the brink of realizing their most fervent desire: U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan. They have given up little of their extremist ideology to do it.

ALINGAR, Afghanistan — Under the shade of a mulberry tree, near grave sites dotted with Taliban flags, a top insurgent military leader in eastern Afghanistan acknowledged that the group had suffered devastating losses from American strikes and government operations over the past decade.

But those losses have changed little on the ground: The Taliban keep replacing their dead and wounded and delivering brutal violence.

“We see this fight as worship,” said Mawlawi Mohammed Qais, the head of the Taliban’s military commission in Laghman Province, as dozens of his fighters waited nearby on a hillside. “So if a brother is killed, the second brother won’t disappoint God’s wish — he’ll step into the brother’s shoes.”

It was March, and the Taliban had just signed a peace deal with the United States that now puts the movement on the brink of realizing its most fervent desire — the complete exit of American troops from Afghanistan.

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WNU Editor: I can sum up the above New York times post in one sentence. The Taliban are a factor in Afghanistan because of their safe havens in Pakistan, the madrases that they are permitted to operate in Pakistan, and Pakistan's flow of weapons to them.

Inside An Afghan Prison That Holds 2,000 Taliban Fighters

A guard assigned to the Afghan National Detention Facility (Pul-e-Charkhi prison)(Wikipedia)

BBC: Inside Block Six

The prison wing that holds 2,000 Taliban

Pul-e-Charkhi prison, on the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, is surrounded by colossal grey stone walls topped with barbed wire, and guarded by numerous watch towers and huge steel gates. Of the 10,000 inmates, about one fifth are Taliban - Afghanistan's hardline Islamist insurgent group.

Taliban inmate Mawlawi Fazel Bari says he wasn't born a fighter, but after five years in prison, he says he’s never felt more ready to die.

“I have become so frustrated. I never thought I would carry out a suicide motor-bomb, but now, by god I swear I will.”

For the time being, Bari will remain incarcerated at the top-security jail. But the prison is one of a number across the country that has been releasing Taliban prisoners in unprecedented numbers, as part of a goodwill gesture by a government locked out of peace talks.

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WNU Editor: The part of this entire story that caught my eye was from a former Taliban fighter who was released ....

.... Qari Sayed Muhammed, 32, lives in Balkh province, northern Afghanistan - deep in Taliban territory. He spent six years in Pul-e-Charkhi prison.

As the only remaining male in his family - his father and two brothers were killed while he was in jail - he says for now he must stay at home to run the family farm.

He believes that of those prisoners recently freed, he is one of only a handful who are still alive.

“I believe 95% of those recently released have rejoined the Taliban and a lot of them have already died,” he says.

Let this sink in .... 95% of those recently released are dead. That is a very telling number.

Afghan Taliban Announce A 'Ban' On The Red Cross And WHO In Afghanistan

A child receives polio vaccination drops during an anti-polio campaign in Kabul, Afghanistan.

RFE: Taliban Announces 'Ban' On WHO, Red Cross Amid Vaccination Drive

The Taliban has announced a “ban” on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in areas the extremist group controls in Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the militants on April 11 cited what the group called "suspicious" actions by the international organizations during a vaccination drive.

"They have not stuck to the commitments they had…and they are acting suspiciously during vaccination campaigns," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said without providing details.

He added that other aid groups were free to continue operations.

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Update #1: Afghanistan's Taliban Bans ICRC, WHO Relief Work -- VOA
Update #2: Taliban announce 'ban' on Red Cross, WHO in Afghanistan -- AFP

WNU Editor: One more reason why the Taliban should never rule Afghanistan.

Afghans Are Warning That The Taliban Have Not Changed

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.

Taliban Continues To Host Foreign Terrorist Groups Despite Announcing That They Are Not

Long War Journal: Taliban continues to host foreign terrorist groups, despite assurances to the contrary

In its latest statement on the summit in Moscow, the Taliban stated “we do not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against other countries including neighboring countries.” Although the Taliban has employed similar language for years, it is a demonstrably false claim. The Taliban has continuously worked alongside jihadist organizations with regional and global aspirations, including al Qaeda.

Regardless, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, seems eager to accept the Taliban’s assurances. After a round of talks in Doha in late January, Khalilzad claimed that “significant progress” had been made “on two vital issues: counter terrorism and troop withdrawal.”

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WNU Editor: Listen to "what I say and not what I do" is the message that the Taliban are trying to promote. But considering their past .... and what they are doing now .... the trust is not there.

Taliban React With Cries Of Victory With The White House Decision To Withdraw 7,000 Soldiers From Afghanistan

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai (R), head of the Taliban’s political council in Qatar, during talks in Russia. November 9, 2018. © Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters

NBC: Taliban greets Pentagon's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan with cries of victory

"The 17-year long struggle and sacrifices of thousands of our people finally yielded fruit," said a senior commander in Helmand.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — News that the White House had ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans for a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan provoked widespread criticism that the move would kneecap efforts to broker a peace deal to end America's longest war.

But there was one group on Friday celebrating the reports — the Taliban.

Senior members told NBC News the news was a clear indication they were on the verge of victory.

“The 17-year-long struggle and sacrifices of thousands of our people finally yielded fruit," said a senior Taliban commander from Afghanistan’s Helmand province. "We proved it to the entire world that we defeated the self-proclaimed world’s lone super power."

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WNU Editor: The Taliban have been boasting of victory for 17 years. They are still a long way from winning this war. As for the Afghan military .... they are seeing this as a major blow .... A blow to morale: Afghan generals worry about US withdrawal (AP).

Senior Afghan Taliban Leader Acknowledges That There Are 'Thousands' Of Foreign Fighters In Their Ranks

The image above is from a Taliban video released in Dec. 2016. The video, entitled “Bond of Nation with the Mujahideen,” is replete with imagery and speeches that promote the enduring Taliban-al Qaeda relationship. Al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Nasir al Wuhayshi are shown side by side with top Taliban leaders.

Long War Journal: Taliban commander admits thousands of foreign fighters are embedded within group

In a startling admission, a senior leader in the Afghan Taliban told NBC News that “thousands” of foreign fighters are currently embedded in the group in Afghanistan. The admission is astonishing as the Taliban has attempted to obscure its relationship with al Qaeda, even though it slips up every now and then. FDD’s Long War Journal has maintained for the last eight years that US military and intelligence estimates of between 50 to 100 al Qaeda in Afghanistan (later modified to 200) have been woefully low.

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WNU Editor: Pakistan has probably provided most of these fighters.

Pakistan Releases Jailed Taliban Afghan Founder Mullah Baradar

Baradar is one of four men, including Mullah Omar, who founded the Taliban movement in 1994 [Screenshot Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera: Afghan Taliban founder Mullah Baradar 'released' by Pakistan

Pakistan has released Afghanistan's Taliban leader from prison, a spokesman for the Taliban said on Thursday.

Pakistan has released the Afghan Taliban leader from prison, a spokesman for the Taliban announced on Thursday.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, also known as Mullah Baradar, is a co-founder of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. He was arrested by Pakistani authorities in the southern port city of Karachi in 2010.

Pakistan has released Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and he joined his family on Tuesday, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, told Anadolu Agency.

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WNU editor: From the AP .... Mullah Baradar was the deputy of former Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and was among four who had founded the group in 1994. I do not see how his release will facilitate the "peace process".

More News On Pakistan Releasing Jailed Taliban Afghan Founder Mullah Baradar

Mullah Baradar: Taliban say founder 'freed by Pakistan' -- BBC News
Pakistan Frees Key Afghan Taliban Leader -- VOA
Senior leader Mullah Baradar is free, Afghan Taliban say -- Arab News
Mullah Baradar Freed In Pakistan -- TOLO News
Mullah Baradar’s Release Met With Mixed Reaction -- TOLO News

Report: Taliban Supreme Leader Offers Direct Negotiations With The United States

VOA: Afghan Taliban Chief Renews Call for Direct Talks with America

ISLAMABAD — The leader of Afghanistan's Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, renewed his call Tuesday for direct talks with the United States to end the war, dashing renewed hopes the insurgent group might be mulling to engage in a peace dialogue with the Kabul government.

In his "message of felicitation" on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr festival, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Taliban chief again justified his group's military campaign, citing the presence of U.S.-led foreign "occupation forces" in the country.

"If the American officials truly believe in a peaceful end to the Afghan imbroglio, then they must directly present themselves to the negotiation table so that this tragedy [invasion] the destructive effects of which mainly harm the American and Afghan people can be resolved through talks," Akhundzada said in a statement sent to journalists ahead of the three-days of Eid festivities starting on Friday.

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Update: Taliban supreme leader offers direct negotiations with the United States (Khaama Press)

WNU Editor: The Taliban are denying the reports that they want to enter into negotiations .... Taliban denies it is in ‘secret talks’ with NATO (Long War Journal).

The Afghan Taliban Choose War Over Elections

Suicide bomb attack in Kabul April 30, 2018. Reuters

Ruchi Kumar, The Hindu: Taliban chooses war over elections

The Taliban has turned down an offer from President Ashraf Ghani to join the much-delayed parliamentary elections in Afghanistan. In a speech made earlier this month in Kabul, while launching the voter registration process, the Afghan President appealed to the group that has been waging an increasingly bloody insurgency to shun violence and participate in the democratic process.

“Transparent elections are the only tool through which political reforms can take place and the politics of coercion can be replaced with productive politics,” he said, reiterating his offer to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban made in February. “The Taliban can act as a political party and utilise this opportunity and the peace offer,” Mr. Ghani said. “Afghan people should no longer be subject to suffering from the ongoing war.”

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WNU Editor: In all my years of following the Taliban I can say with confidence that the only time that the Taliban were ever  interested in participating in peace talks was with the expectation that everyone was going to leave, and that they would then assume power. Bottom line .... there is going to be no peace in Afghanistan until the people in Afghanistan say enough is enough .... which I do not see happening any time soon.

The Taliban Are Effectively Using U.S. Night-Vision Goggles In Their Attacks Against Afghan Security Forces

U.S. soldiers are seen through night-vision goggles in the Korengal Valley in 2009. With night-vision devices now in Taliban hands, American commanders may opt to lift restrictions on supplying them to Afghan government forces. (TYLER HICKS/NYT)

Seattle Times/New York Times: The Taliban Have Gone High-Tech. That Poses a Dilemma for the U.S.

U.S. commanders have been forced to consider loosening restrictions on access to night-vision devices for Afghan forces, even though they fear the equipment could be lost or sold underground

WASHINGTON — Once described as an ill-equipped band of insurgents, the Taliban are increasingly attacking security forces across Afghanistan using night-vision goggles and lasers that U.S. military officials said were either stolen from Afghan and international troops or bought on the black market.

The devices allow the Taliban to maneuver on forces under the cover of darkness as they track the whirling blades of coalition helicopters, the infrared lasers on American rifles, or even the bedtime movements of local police officers.

With this new battlefield capability, the Taliban more than doubled nighttime attacks from 2014 to 2017, according to one U.S. military official who described internal Pentagon data on condition of anonymity. The number of Afghans who were wounded or killed during nighttime attacks during that period nearly tripled.

That has forced American commanders to rethink the limited access they give Afghan security forces to the night-vision devices. Commanders worry that denying the expensive equipment to those forces puts them at a technological disadvantage, with potentially lethal consequences.

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WNU editor: Aside from losing this equipment on the battlefield and/or Afghan soldiers selling it to the Taliban, you can also buy this equipment on the black market .... something that I am sure that a lot of arms dealers are happy to sell.

The Taliban 'Show-Off' Their 'Special Forces Unit'

Threat Matrix: Taliban touts “Special Forces Unit”

The Afghan Taliban recently promoted its “Special Forces Unit” that purportedly is operating in the eastern Afghan province of Laghman. Since 2015, the Taliban has advertised its so-called “Special Forces Unit” which is known to have operated in southern Afghan provinces.

These six photos of the “Special Forces Unit” operating in Laghman province were released by the Taliban on its official Telegram account on Nov. 1. The Taliban special forces are seen wearing new uniforms and chest rigs, and are photographed with a captured Afghan Army HUMVEE. The images were captured during the daylight.

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WNU Editor: In broad day-light .... with no worries that they are being watched. That in itself tells me a lot.

Taliban 'Show-Off' In Latest Propaganda Video That They Can Move Freely Throughout Afghanistan

A #Taliban convoy in Nimroz province, #Afghanistan. They gathered in the open for quite a long time. No fear of Coalition air power. pic.twitter.com/ln36SOYLwO

— Long War Journal (@LongWarJournal) October 5, 2017

Military Times: Large Taliban convoy moves through Afghanistan unopposed

WASHINGTON — The Taliban recently uploaded a new propaganda video which features a long Taliban convoy moving freely during the daytime unopposed.

The video titled “Jihadic Process in Nimrooz and Rehabilitation” was published online at the end of September.

The video features a large gathering of Taliban militants and vehicles brandishing large white Taliban flags in the open at daytime. As the vehicles drive away in a column, multiple U.S. up-armored Humvees can be seen.

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WNU Editor: Hmmmm .... a few U.S. Humvees in this convoy.

New Taliban Video Showcases Their Elite Fighters Mimicking The Style And Tactics Of U.S. Special Forces

An elite Taliban unit conducts a patrol in a screenshot from a Taliban propaganda video uploaded to the group's offical website Aug. 30. The Taliban fighters are wearing uniforms and apparel that most resembles western militaries.

Military Times: Taliban mimic American commandos in latest propaganda video

WASHINGTON — A recent Taliban propaganda video uploaded to the group’s official media site appears to show Taliban fighters mimicking the style and tactics of American commandos.

The video, titled “Caravan of Heroes 13,” was posted to the group’s propaganda outlet called Voice of Jihad on Thursday.

The 70-minute-plus video covers various Taliban tactics from assaults and ambushes, to emplacing roadside bombs.

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WNU Editor: These fighters do not look like bearded Taliban fighters with turbans, using old Soviet Kalashnikovs, with sandals being their footwear.

Afghan Taliban Claiming That Russia Is Supplying Them Weapons

Daily Mail: Taliban fighters admit that Russia is supplying them with weapons putting Putin at odds with the West again

* Taliban fighters claim in new video that Russia supplied them with weapons
* Militants in Afghanistan can be seen with sniper rifles and heavy machine guns
* Russia has previously denied it trades with the Taliban in the war-torn country
* US general John Nicholson said in April he was 'not refuting' claims that Russia supplies arms to the militants

Taliban fighters have claimed that Russia is supplying them with weapons including snipers and heavy machine guns.

America's top general in Afghanistan said earlier this year that he was 'not refuting' reports Moscow was providing support, including weapons, to the militant group.

Kremlin chiefs have previously denied trading with the Taliban. But new footage, obtained by CNN, appears to show fighters in possession of improved weaponry which the militants claim was supplied by Russian government sources.

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WNU Editor: Personally .... I would be shocked if the Russian government is supplying the Taliban with weapons. Because of the 1980 - 1988 Soviet-Afghan war .... Russian sentiment towards Afghan militants/Taliban/etc. is overwhelming negative. If Putin authorised such an arrangement .... the blow-back from the Russian public will be enormous. The Kremlin has denied these reports .... and the CNN report that broke this story admits that the weapons could have come from anyone. But these weapons are there, and the origins of where they came from are still unknown.

Update: The Taliban have also gotten their hands on US Special Forces weapons .... Taliban seen with SCAR rifle commonly carried by American commandos (Military Times). More here .... How Did Taliban Fighters Get Their Hands On US Special Operations Gear? (Task & Purpose)

More News On Reports On The Afghan Taliban Claiming That Russia Is Supplying Them Weapons

Videos suggest Russian government may be arming Taliban -- CNN
Russia 'could be arming the Taliban', according to newly emerged video -- The Independent
Videos suggest Russian government may be arming Taliban -- The Hill
Taliban fighters claim Russia is giving them weapons -- NYPost
Russian heavy weaponry seen in hands of Taliban fighters -- Washington Times
Russia Is Arming Taliban in Afghanistan, Afghan Reports Say As New Videos of Russian Guns Emerge -- Newsweek
New video purports to show that Russia is arming the Afghan Taliban -- The Week
Taliban Obtains New Weaponry Funded By Russian Government, Says Report -- The Inquisitr
Russia Could Be Arming Taliban In Afghanistan: Report -- International Business Times

BBC Exclusive: Life In Afghanistan Under The Taliban

BBC: Taliban territory: Life in Afghanistan under the militants

Sixteen years after they were ousted in the US-led invasion, the Taliban have fought their way back to control swathes of Afghanistan. The country remains mired in conflict, and recent months have seen a series of bloody attacks. In the south, key towns are now Taliban territory. The BBC's Auliya Atrafi was invited by the militants to spend four days behind the front line in Helmand province witnessing life under their control.

In the town of Sangin, two dozen men sat cross-legged inside a huge mud compound. Under the full moon, their black turbans cast deep shadows over their sunburned features.

These were the Taliban's special forces; the Red Unit. They sat quietly as they listened to their commander Mullah Taqi telling war stories, gently cradling their M4 machine guns. The M4s, with their night-vision scopes, were one of the main reasons they had captured nearly 85% of Helmand province from less-well-armed Afghan forces.

But these victories had presented Taliban leaders with an unexpected challenge.

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WNU Editor: The Taliban minder has a nice car.

Taliban Control Or Are Contesting 40% Of Afghanistan

Log War Journal: Taliban controls or contests 40 percent of Afghan districts: SIGAR

Both the Taliban and the Afghan government have slightly increased the number of Afghan districts under their control over the past three months, but the security situation remains virtually unchanged, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in its most recent quarterly report to United States Congress.

The Taliban controls 11 districts and influences 34 of Afghanistan’s 407 districts (11 percent), while the Afghan government controls 97 districts and influences 146 (60 percent). Twenty-nine percent of Afghanistan’s districts remain contested. Taliban control of Afghan districts has increased one percent, while Afghan control has increased by 2.5 percent, according to SIGAR.

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WNU Editor: Stalemate (for now).

Afghan Taliban Rejects Peace Talks And Boasts Its Continuing Alliance With Al Qaeda

Long War Journal: Taliban rejects peace talks, emphasizes alliance with al Qaeda in new video

The Taliban rejects “peace talks” with the West and advertises its continuing alliance with al Qaeda in a newly released video entitled, “Bond of Nation with the Mujahideen.”

The video was produced by Manba’ al-Jihad Media for Production, which has long been affiliated with the Haqqani Network and was folded into the Taliban’s media arm years ago. The production was disseminated on the Taliban’s websites and social media, including on accounts affiliated with the group’s spokesman.

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WNU Editor: The Taliban are very blunt on what is their position on peace talks, their alliance with Al Qaeda, and the war. But listening to Washington .... for reasons that escape me .... they seem to be focused on something that simply does not exist .... The role of the U.S. in Afghan-Taliban peace talks (The Hill).