Afghanistan Update
30
July 2008
No.
38: 17-30 July 2008
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Summary:
- U.S. missile strike in Pakistan draws heavy criticism
- Levels of violence remain high throughout Afghanistan
- NATO to send additional troops to Afghanistan's volatile
south
- Germany resistant to increasing troop deployments
- Obama visits Afghanistan
- French aid workers seized in Central Afghanistan
U.S. missile strike in Pakistan draws heavy criticism
On 28 July, a U.S.
Predator drone fired a missile that reportedly killed
at least 6 people at a madrasa in the South Waziristan
region of Northwest Pakistan. A Pakistani security official
said that Abu Khabab al-Masri, an Egyptian chemist and al-Qaeda
bomb maker, might have been the intended target of the attack.
Two days later, officials verified
that al-Masri was among those killed. Prior to al-Masri's
death, the United States had offered $5 million for information
leading to his capture. The United States has launched controversial
attacks into Pakistan in the past, including an airstrike
last month which resulted in the deaths of 11 Pakistani paramilitary
troops and had damaging effects on U.S.-Pakistani relations
(for more on this airstrike, see BASIC's 12 June Afghanistan
Update).
In a meeting with President Bush on the night of the 28th,
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani implored
his American counterpart to refrain from launching "unilateral"
strikes on Pakistan's territory. Gilani reminded Bush of Pakistan's
commitment to fighting terrorism, stating that his government
is "committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists
who are destroying and making the world not safe." Bush told
Gilani that the United States respects Pakistan's sovereignty
and praised him for his dedication
to fighting terrorism. When asked about the missile strike
by CNN, Gilani said, "Basically Americans are a little impatient.
Therefore in the future I think we'll have more cooperation
on the intelligence side and we'll do the job ourselves."
Levels of violence remain high throughout Afghanistan
The situation on the ground in Afghanistan has continued to
deteriorate, with high numbers of civilian, Afghan police/military,
ISAF, and Taliban casualties in the last two weeks. On 19
July, two
separate attacks occurred on NATO supply convoys. In Southern
Afghanistan's Zabul province, Afghan troops killed 9 Taliban
insurgents who ambushed a NATO convoy, while an International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldier was killed by a roadside
bomb which struck a convoy in Kandahar. On 22 July, Afghan
police reported that a joint
operation between coalition forces and Afghan troops had
resulted in at least 30 dead or wounded Taliban militants.
Taliban fighters attacked
an Afghan army convoy on the highway between Kabul and Kandahar
on 24 July. Afghan Defense Ministry officials reported that
34 or more militants were killed in the fighting, but did
not release the number of casualties suffered by Afghan forces.
On 25
July, a British dog handler and a trained explosives sniffing
dog were killed by insurgent gunfire during a patrol in Southern
Afghanistan. A Danish soldier also died in a separate incident
in Helmand province when the armored vehicle he was traveling
in struck a roadside improvised explosive device (IED). Several
soldiers were wounded in both attacks. That same day, coalition
airstrikes killed 40 militants in Ajristan, a district
which is 124 miles southwest of Kabul and occupied by the
Taliban.
On 28 July, Canadian troops opened
fire on a speeding car in Kandahar, killing a two-year-old
boy and his four-year-old sister. In the past, Taliban fighters
have used civilian cars in suicide bombings. Canadian Defense
Minister Peter MacKay said that the deaths of the two children
were a "horrible circumstance" that resulted when a "horrible
decision had to be taken."
The abovementioned events are only a few examples of the
continuing violence in Afghanistan, where an estimated 2,700
people have died in the first seven months of this year. While
most of the fighting continues to take place in Southern Afghanistan,
this year has seen sharp increases in attacks throughout the
country.
NATO to send additional troops to Afghanistan's volatile
south
NATO countries pledged
to send more troops to help Canadian forces in Southern Afghanistan.
Canada currently has 2,500 troops-with a possible 200 more
on the way-in Southern Afghanistan. The numbers and countries
of origin of the newly committed troops were not released
to the public, but Canadian Foreign Minister David Emerson
said, "We are really talking about a significant increase
in the contribution from other countries and that contribution
has been forthcoming." Canadian officials have recently criticized
their NATO allies for not doing enough to support operations
in Southern Afghanistan. Canada was part of the initial invasion
force in 2001.
Germany resistant to increasing troop deployments
Germany is balking to calls from its NATO allies to increase
its troop presence in Afghanistan. German
Chancellor Angela Merkel had stated her intention to inform
U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama of the limits on
German troop commitments during his visit to Berlin. Parliamentary
mandates limit Germany to a contribution of 3,500 soldiers,
though there are efforts under way to have the mandate increased
to allow for 4,500. Most German soldiers are stationed in
Northern Afghanistan, where they are engaged in CIMIC activities
and are working to develop the country's infrastructure. Many
politicians in the Bundestag and Bundesrat have expressed
the view that the situation in Afghanistan would most likely
improve through steps by the Karzai government to increase
its transparency and effectiveness, rather than through the
contribution of additional Bundeswehr forces.
Obama visits Afghanistan U.S. Democratic presidential
candidate
Barack Obama visited Afghanistan on 19 July and met with Afghan
President Hamid Karzai. During the visit, he was interview
by CBS News and asserted
that "[t]he Afghan government needs to do more, but we have
to understand that the situation is precarious and urgent
here in Afghanistan. And I believe this has to be our central
focus, the central front on our battle against terrorism."
Later in a speech in Amman, Jordan, Obama stated,
"If we responsibly end the war in Iraq, we can strengthen
our military, step up our efforts to finish the fight against
Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, and succeed in leaving
Iraq to a sovereign government that can take responsibility
for its own future. We must act now to reverse a deteriorating
situation." In addition, in his speech in Berlin Obama urged
European countries to step up their commitments to Afghanistan:
"The Afghan people need our troops and your troops; our support
and your support to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaeda, to develop
their economy, and to help them rebuild their nation. We have
too much at stake to turn back now."
Republican presidential candidate John McCain responded to
Obama's remarks by linking the conflicts in Afghanistan and
Iraq, stating
that "[i]f we had lost the war in Iraq, we would have had
much greater problems in Afghanistan. And also, the strategy
that he said wouldn't work in Iraq is the same strategy we
have to employ in Afghanistan. It's not just to increase the
number of troops; it's secure and hold, it's a government
that functions more effectively, it's taking on the narco-traffickers,
it's the issue of Pakistan, which is of course the border
area-it's uncontrolled. So it's got to be an overall strategy.
And Senator Obama does not understand that, just like he didn't
understand the situation in Iraq."
French aid workers seized in Central Afghanistan
Two French aid workers, working for the humanitarian organization
Action contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger) were kidnapped
by gunmen in the early hours of Friday 18 July. The incident
occurred in Day
Kundi, which is approximately 300 km west of Kabul. Reports
indicate that armed men overpowered security guards, seized
the two French nationals, and escaped via waiting vehicles.
Immediately following the incident, crisis centers were set
up by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
in Paris and Kabul in order to obtain the release of the aid
workers "as
soon as possible."
Ten days later a spokesperson for the Afghan Interior Minister
announced that the two remained in Afghanistan and were
in good condition. The spokesperson also confirmed that
the commander of a former armed faction had admitted responsibility
for the kidnapping. The warlord, known as Sedaqat, had allegedly
kidnapped the pair to show his anger with the provincial authorities,
who he believed had sidelined him. There are no reports that
any demands from the kidnappers have been received by authorities.
The kidnapping of both local Afghans and foreign nationals
has been rising rapidly in Afghanistan. In 2007, two other
French aid workers were seized and released amid suspicions
that a large ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
Stephen Herzog, Philip Maxon, and Jamie Wheeler, BASIC
Please note: BASIC does not necessarily endorse comments, editorials,
or reports listed in this update.
Stories and Links:
Afghans say time for Pakistani action on militants, Reuters, 30/07
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2934241320080730?
feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
CIA outlines Pakistan links with militants, Mark Mazzetti and Eric
Schmitt, International Herald Tribune, 30/07 http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/30/asia/30pstan.php
US Senate panel OKs measure to triple Pakistan aid, International
Herald Tribune via AP, 29/07
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/america/NA-US-Pakistan-Aid.php
Obama slams Pak for aiding Mujahideen against India, The Indian
Express, 29/07 http://www.indianexpress.com/story/341612.html
NATO and smugglers gain from subsidised Pak diesel, Zafar Butta,
Dawn, 29/07 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C07%5C29%5
Cstory _29-7-2008_pg7_10
Four civilians killed by British soldiers in Afghanistan, Peter
Walker, Guardian, 26/07
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/26/military.afghanistan1
German Minister Says Afghan Security Worse, Promises Support, Deutsche
Welle, 26/07
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3514924,00.html
Iraq war ties up troops, The Age, 25/07
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/iraq-war-ties-up-troops/2008/07/24/
1216492640990.html
Al-Qaeda member among 35 activists of banned extremist groups arrested:
official, IRNA, 25/07
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0807255241194217.htm
FACTBOX-Military deaths in Afghanistan, Reuters, 23/07 http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSL23991851
Bush law chief seeks conflict declaration on al Qaeda, China
Daily via Reuters, 22/07
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-07/22/content_6866863.htm
Gunmen kill Afghan spokesman, Press TV, 22/07
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=64431§ionid=
351020403
Militants kill four Afghan police brothers, AFP, 19/07 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080722/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunrest
French defence minister pledges Afghan support, AFP, 19/07
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080719/wl_sthasia_afp/
afghanistanunrestfrancenato_080719145926
US considers more troops for Afghanistan, Andrew Ward, Financial
Times, 18/07 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cacb72f2-5485-11dd-ae9c-
000077b07658.html
Al-Qaida draws more foreign recruits to Afghan war, AP, 17/07
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gqv2wf94O5DPAxxMjAGhRRNcuE1QD91VQ2P80
Raid on Afghan militant cell frees 15 hostages, AP, 17/07 http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/17/asia/afghan.php
Commentary, Interviews, and Reports:
Drilling in Afghanistan, Thomas Friedman, The New York Times,
30/07 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/opinion/30friedman.html?ref=
todayspaper
Struggle ahead for Afghanistan, Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould,
Boston Globe, 30/07
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles
/2008/07/30/struggle_ahead_for_afghanistan/
Afghanistan: Not a Good War, Conn Hallinan, Foreign Policy in
Focus, 30/07
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5423
Taliban's war of words undermines Afghanistan's nation building,
Aunhoita Mojumdar, Christian Science Monitor, 29/07
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0730/p04s01-wosc.html
Opinion: More German Troops Can't Help Afghanistan, Peter Philipp,
Deutsche Welle, 28/07
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3518477,00.html
In Pakistan Mountains, Jihadis Train for War, Zahid Hussain, Wall
Street Journal, 28/07
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121721032825288973.html?mod=
google news_wsj
Is Afghanistan a Narco-State?, Thomas Schweich, The New York
Times, 27/07 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/magazine/27AFGHAN-t.html
Blackwater Mixes Business Glitz With Military Grit, CBS News via
AP, 27/07 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/27/ap/business/main4297658.shtml
Taliban Propaganda: Winning the War of Words?, Asia Report,
24/07
http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/asia/south_asia/158_taliban
_propaganda_winning_the_war_of_words.pdf
Over and out: former para on why he quit the Army after Afghanistan,
The Times, 20/07
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4364115.ece
Killing Friends, Making Enemies: The Impact and Avoidance of Civilian
Casualties in
Afghanistan, J. Alexander Thier and Azita Ranjbar, USIPeace
Briefing, July
http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/afghanistan_casualties.PDF
Report on Progress toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan,
U.S. Department of Defense, June http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/Report_on_Progress_toward_Security_and_
Stability_in_
Afghanistan_1230.pdf
BASIC's work is made possible by the generous support of our donors:
the Ploughshares Fund,
the Ford Foundation,
the Joseph Rowntree Charitable
Trust, Polden
Puckham Charitable Foundation, Rockefeller Family &
Associates, and individual contributors to BASIC. We are grateful
to all of them for their support.
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