Taleban Threaten Afghan Govt With Hundreds of Suicide Bombers

**Cunard** · April 21st, 2007, 07:25 PM

Afghanistan's bloody new year

Saturday, 21 April 2007, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK

The Taleban have threatened that hundreds of suicide bombers will attack the Afghan government and foreign military targets this year. Mark Dummett reports from Kabul on the increasing fear of violence in the country.

The bombers have created a mood of worry and uncertainty in Kabul

It seems as if the Taleban's much-hyped spring offensive may have finally begun, but not in any formal sense, at least not in the contested provinces of southern Afghanistan.

There the British, American and other Nato forces remain on the front foot.

But since the country celebrated Nowruz - the Persian New Year - with picnics, dancing and kite flying competitions about a month ago, the insurgents have stepped up their attacks elsewhere.

In the past week alone, bombers have killed 25 people - most of them policemen and private security guards - in the normally peaceful northern town of Kunduz, in the Taleban's home city of Kandahar in the south and near the eastern border with Pakistan, in Khost.

Kabul has not escaped the violence. Since Nowruz, there have been three suicide attacks on the capital - 10 people have been killed, none of them the intended victims.

It still has to be said that the capital is a great place to be at this time of year.

If you can escape the dust, there is the scent of apple blossom and pine trees in the air. After the long, cold and wet winter, the bazaars are full again and new buildings are going up faster than ever.

More attacks expected

But the head of investigations at the Kabul City Police headquarters is not expecting a prosperous and peaceful year. General Ali Shah Paktiawal is certain that more attackers are on their way.

At least in the 1990s you knew who your friends and enemies were... now you've no idea who wants to kill you

Wazali
Kabul handbag seller

He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a wad of photographs. Some are passport photos of expressionless men in suits, others are of archetypical mujahideen fighters, posing with their rifles on barren Afghan hillsides.

"This man," he tells me, pointing at one of them, "entered Kabul last week. We've been trying to track down these other guys, foreigners, for longer."

For General Paktiawal, a heavy man in a three-piece suit, stopping the bombers is personal.

Police as targets

He says the Taleban have tried to kill him more than 20 times. Three weeks ago they tried to assassinate one of his colleagues.

The suicide bomber waited until his target stepped out of his car, then rushed forward.

But he detonated the explosives too early. Five people walking on the busy pavement were killed in the blast. The detective survived, if more than a little shocked by being hit in the face by the bomber's head.

General Paktiawal's bodyguards doze on bunks in the room next door.

There is no natural light in his office. There are a couple of large, dirty sofas and a running machine and a treadmill, that does not look like it has ever been used.

He tells me I am at risk even talking to him here.

Last year someone managed to poison his green tea. I do not touch the glass of tea I have been given.

'Brainwashed'

He pulls out more photos of the bomb victims and the mangled corpses of the attackers.

Five people were killed in this bomb attack in Kandahar

"They're mostly young men from Pakistan," he says. They're brainwashed in the madrassas, the religious schools, for two or three months, then sent over here." "I'd be able to stop more of them, if only I had more money."

He complains that the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force does not help much.

Their mission is to defend Kabul but their heavily armed, armoured, helmeted, camouflaged squaddies look like they come from another planet, when they walk down streets full of shoppers, schoolgirls and businessmen.

In fact, the main factor preventing the suicide bombers from causing greater devastation seems to be their own incompetence.

Young bombers panic

A study of suicide attacks carried out in the first two months of 2007 by the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation, showed that most bombers only succeed in blowing themselves up.

It appears that many of the young men panic before they reach their targets.

Kabul is by no means a city under siege. There have not been so many attacks that people are scared to leave their homes. But the bombers have created a mood of uncertainty and worry.

The most recent attack took place near parliament, in a part of town that had been flattened by the civil war of the 1990s.

I asked Wazali, who lived through those years of mayhem and now sells handbags from a wooden cart not 100 metres from where the suicide bomber struck, to compare then and now.

"Well, we've got a president now and a government, which is a good thing," he told me.

"Life is much better.

"But in those days, at least you knew who your friends and who your enemies were. There was a frontline, now you've no idea who wants to kill you."

From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 21 April, 2007 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...nt/6577093.stm

Space-Cowboy · April 21st, 2007, 09:33 PM

I wonder if anyone should inform the Taliban that 'suicide' is a sin...

freestyle_uk · April 21st, 2007, 09:52 PM

Following what they follow you can jus tell that the only destination they gonna end up is.... the hell they believe in.

Law of karma is a wonderful thing

. :: a L i ::. · April 21st, 2007, 10:06 PM

None of the suicide-bombers are afghan native (point to be noted) .... its just the new combat way for filty arabs and other neighbouring countries such as Pakistan n Iran to play big politic with lives of innocent afghan ppl!

Space-Cowboy · April 21st, 2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by . :: a L i ::.

None of the suicide-bombers are afghan native (point to be noted) .... its just the new combat way for filty arabs and other neighbouring countries such as Pakistan n Iran to play big politic with lives of innocent afghan ppl!

Iran?

. :: a L i ::. · April 21st, 2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space-Cowboy

Iran?

Yep! recently the afghan army found iranian ammunition in one of the bases which belonged to taliban.

**TaCoMaStUd** · April 21st, 2007, 10:31 PM

Lets just nuke fucking Afghan I swear.

Bamiyan · April 21st, 2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by . :: a L i ::.

None of the suicide-bombers are afghan native (point to be noted) .... its just the new combat way for filty arabs and other neighbouring countries such as Pakistan n Iran to play big politic with lives of innocent afghan ppl!

Hey retard, Iran NEVER supported the Taliban. Iran HATED the Taliban and nearly went to war against those scumbags.

Bamiyan · April 21st, 2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by . :: a L i ::.

Yep! recently the afghan army found iranian ammunition in one of the bases which belonged to taliban.

Yeah right.

freshmanik_13 · April 21st, 2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaCoMaStUd

Lets just nuke fucking Afghan I swear.

eh im down with the tacoma mang

babysmooth · April 22nd, 2007, 02:05 AM

uff..i think everyone needs to get the hell outta afghanistan..stupid sala white lulli wigglin bush..can lick some negro balls

Bamiyan · April 22nd, 2007, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babysmooth

uff..i think everyone needs to get the hell outta afghanistan..stupid sala white lulli wigglin bush..can lick some negro balls

Including Pakistanis and Arabs and other Muslims, right?

April 21st, 2007, 07:25 PM	#1
Cunard Junior Moderator Join Date: Aug 24 2004 Location: Fort McMurray/Edmonton/Vancouver Posts: 18,633 Reputation: 29733791 --> Rep Power: 2973473 Casino cash: $13843	Taleban Threaten Afghan Govt With Hundreds of Suicide Bombers Afghanistan's bloody new year Saturday, 21 April 2007, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK The Taleban have threatened that hundreds of suicide bombers will attack the Afghan government and foreign military targets this year. Mark Dummett reports from Kabul on the increasing fear of violence in the country. The bombers have created a mood of worry and uncertainty in Kabul It seems as if the Taleban's much-hyped spring offensive may have finally begun, but not in any formal sense, at least not in the contested provinces of southern Afghanistan. There the British, American and other Nato forces remain on the front foot. But since the country celebrated Nowruz - the Persian New Year - with picnics, dancing and kite flying competitions about a month ago, the insurgents have stepped up their attacks elsewhere. In the past week alone, bombers have killed 25 people - most of them policemen and private security guards - in the normally peaceful northern town of Kunduz, in the Taleban's home city of Kandahar in the south and near the eastern border with Pakistan, in Khost. Kabul has not escaped the violence. Since Nowruz, there have been three suicide attacks on the capital - 10 people have been killed, none of them the intended victims. It still has to be said that the capital is a great place to be at this time of year. If you can escape the dust, there is the scent of apple blossom and pine trees in the air. After the long, cold and wet winter, the bazaars are full again and new buildings are going up faster than ever. More attacks expected But the head of investigations at the Kabul City Police headquarters is not expecting a prosperous and peaceful year. General Ali Shah Paktiawal is certain that more attackers are on their way. At least in the 1990s you knew who your friends and enemies were... now you've no idea who wants to kill you Wazali Kabul handbag seller He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a wad of photographs. Some are passport photos of expressionless men in suits, others are of archetypical mujahideen fighters, posing with their rifles on barren Afghan hillsides. "This man," he tells me, pointing at one of them, "entered Kabul last week. We've been trying to track down these other guys, foreigners, for longer." For General Paktiawal, a heavy man in a three-piece suit, stopping the bombers is personal. Police as targets He says the Taleban have tried to kill him more than 20 times. Three weeks ago they tried to assassinate one of his colleagues. The suicide bomber waited until his target stepped out of his car, then rushed forward. But he detonated the explosives too early. Five people walking on the busy pavement were killed in the blast. The detective survived, if more than a little shocked by being hit in the face by the bomber's head. General Paktiawal's bodyguards doze on bunks in the room next door. There is no natural light in his office. There are a couple of large, dirty sofas and a running machine and a treadmill, that does not look like it has ever been used. He tells me I am at risk even talking to him here. Last year someone managed to poison his green tea. I do not touch the glass of tea I have been given. 'Brainwashed' He pulls out more photos of the bomb victims and the mangled corpses of the attackers. Five people were killed in this bomb attack in Kandahar "They're mostly young men from Pakistan," he says. They're brainwashed in the madrassas, the religious schools, for two or three months, then sent over here." "I'd be able to stop more of them, if only I had more money." He complains that the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force does not help much. Their mission is to defend Kabul but their heavily armed, armoured, helmeted, camouflaged squaddies look like they come from another planet, when they walk down streets full of shoppers, schoolgirls and businessmen. In fact, the main factor preventing the suicide bombers from causing greater devastation seems to be their own incompetence. Young bombers panic A study of suicide attacks carried out in the first two months of 2007 by the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation, showed that most bombers only succeed in blowing themselves up. It appears that many of the young men panic before they reach their targets. Kabul is by no means a city under siege. There have not been so many attacks that people are scared to leave their homes. But the bombers have created a mood of uncertainty and worry. The most recent attack took place near parliament, in a part of town that had been flattened by the civil war of the 1990s. I asked Wazali, who lived through those years of mayhem and now sells handbags from a wooden cart not 100 metres from where the suicide bomber struck, to compare then and now. "Well, we've got a president now and a government, which is a good thing," he told me. "Life is much better. "But in those days, at least you knew who your friends and who your enemies were. There was a frontline, now you've no idea who wants to kill you." From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 21 April, 2007 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...nt/6577093.stm

April 21st, 2007, 09:52 PM	#3
freestyle_uk Still a Newb Join Date: Jan 16 2005 Location: £A$T London, England Posts: 356 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 21 Casino cash: $1310	Following what they follow you can jus tell that the only destination they gonna end up is.... the hell they believe in. Law of karma is a wonderful thing __________________ [IMG]

April 21st, 2007, 10:06 PM	#4
. :: a L i ::. Addicted Tournaments Won: 9 Join Date: Apr 18 2007 Location: Cheeze Factory Posts: 3,799 Reputation: 805712713 --> Rep Power: 80571297 Casino cash: $65923	None of the suicide-bombers are afghan native (point to be noted) .... its just the new combat way for filty arabs and other neighbouring countries such as Pakistan n Iran to play big politic with lives of innocent afghan ppl! __________________

April 21st, 2007, 10:31 PM	#7
TaCoMaStUd VIP Member Join Date: Nov 20 2005 Location: Dodgers Own Us!!!!! Posts: 4,885 Reputation: 20082 --> Rep Power: 2043 Casino cash: $1901	Lets just nuke fucking Afghan I swear. __________________

April 22nd, 2007, 02:05 AM	#11
babysmooth Regular Poster Join Date: Jan 12 2005 Posts: 633 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 22 Casino cash: $1000	uff..i think everyone needs to get the hell outta afghanistan..stupid sala white lulli wigglin bush..can lick some negro balls __________________

April 21st, 2007, 09:33 PM	#2
Space-Cowboy Banned Join Date: Feb 1 2005 Location: 9th Layer Posts: 35,485 Reputation: 8193035 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $31968	I wonder if anyone should inform the Taliban that 'suicide' is a sin...

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