Mision FAS: Afganistán

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Dos cosillas:

-Tenemos al fotógrafo español Emilio Morenatti herido, con un pie amputado, a causa de un IED contra el convoy donde iba empotrado (norteamericano). Se espara que hoy mismo lo evacuemos a Kabul y España.

-Blog de Mónica Bernabé sobre las elecciones afganas: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/blogs/ele ... index.html

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Pues Bidart, tienes toda la razón:

parece que la cosa no está clara...

Casa Blanca se niega a confirmar muerte de jefe de Talibán en Pakistán

El caso es que hasta ahora no se sabe si Mehsud está vivo o muerto (Hakeemullah Mehsud, primo del susodicho ha prometido una cinta para demostrar que está vivo pero aún no ha llegado a los medios de comunicación).

Por cierto, que tanto Hakeemullah Mehsud como Waliur Rehman Mehsud se dieron por muertos a principios de semana, al parecer durante una reunión para tomar el control tras la muerte de Baitullah Mehsud, estalló un conflicto entre ambos clanes que terminaron matándose unos a otros. Otra noticia falsa (ambos están vivos), obra de OPSIC pakistaní o estadounidense.

En la zona tanto de Waziristán del Sur como del Norte, se están recrudeciendo los combates entre fuerzas talibanes y líderes tribales locales, a ver en qué desencadena esto. Los últimos se niegan a que el extremismo se siga extendiendo por la zona, quieren parar además la desolación que está llegando con los cruentos combates entre Ejército y AQ-Talibán y otras muchas situaciones, como la falta de orden, continuos saqueos, etc, etc.

[Loopster]

Ataque con IED en Herat, un expat muerto y tres contratistas más -probablemente afganos- heridos.

Northern Ireland man caught in blast on his last day in Afghanistan
By Lesley-Anne Henry - Monday, 17 August 2009


The heartbroken widow of a Northern Irish man killed in Afghanistan has spoken of her immeasurable loss.

Stuart Murray, a 40-year-old father-of-two from Ballykelly, was working for a private security company when he was caught up in an explosion in the west of the war ravaged country on Saturday.

It is believed the former Royal Fusiliers soldier had been making his way to an airport when his |vehicle convoy was ambushed by insurgents.

He had been returning home after six weeks working as a security manager in a military compound close to the city of Herat.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from her home at Riverview Cottages in Ballykelly last night, his grief stricken widow, Sheena, said she was “devastated” by his death.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Murray spoke of pride for her husband whom she described as a “dedicated” family man.

“He was the life and soul, very popular, everybody loved him. He was a very dedicated family man who just wanted to provide for his family. We are all just devastated.

“It’s very hard. We are all devastated, but you have to be strong for the children,” she said.

It is thought Mr Murray, who celebrated his 40th birthday only last week, had left Afghanistan a day early hoping to surprise Sheena and their two young children Georgia (8) and Joshua (5).

However, his widow said the exact circumstances surrounding the ambush were still unclear.

She said: “We don’t really know what happened. All we know is that he was travelling and there was an ambush and three people were injured and Stuart was killed. Someone is supposed to be coming to see us to tell us more on Tuesday. He was due to leave on Sunday but he left a day early.”

It was the second time Mr Murray had travelled to Afghanistan for private security work, having been there back in February also for six weeks.

Mrs Murray added: “He was working for Compass as a security manager. He had been out for six weeks at the beginning of the year and had come back in February.

“Obviously I was worried about him going out but he always felt it was safe enough, except for travelling, because he was inside a compound.

“He had been in the Army before we got together. He had been in Bosnia and had done one, maybe two tours of Northern Ireland. He had travelled all over the world with the army.

“He retired in 2006 as a colour sergeant.”

Tributes have also flooded in from public representatives in the Ballykelly area.

SDLP councillor Gerry Mullan, who lives close to the Murray family home, said the local community had been left stunned by the news. “I know the family very well. The family are all devastated,” he said.

“I would like to express my condolences to the family. The whole community is devastated and stunned. We are all deeply affected by it.

“Stuart had been in the Army since he left school at about 16 — he had been in the Army for 21 years and had an exemplary career. It seems so cruel that after living out a boyhood dream and serving for so long, he is killed while out there on a six-week contract. It is very tragic.”

Limavady councillor Leslie Cubitt said Mr Murray was a well known and well respected, hardworking man.

“My sympathies go to his family, if there is anything anyone can do at this sad time, we will.

“He was a good, hardworking man and this is a great tragedy,” he said.

Un despliegue de seis semanas y lo matan cuando iba hacia el aeropuerto para volver a casa para darle una sorpresa a su mujer llegando un día antes... descanse en paz.

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Las cosas se le ponen feas a los partidarios de Mehsud. El líder Bittani dice poseer 5000 militantes armados y que apoyará la lucha contra los talibán en la provincia de Helmand, además de seguir luchando contra los seguidores de Mehsud, Rehman y Hakimullah en el Sur de Waziristán.

Bitani vows to resume jihad in Helmand

http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=79930

Janullah Hashimzada - Aug 17, 2009 - 19:35

PESHAWAR (PAN): Turkistan Bittani, a pro-government tribal leader in Waziristan Agency, has said he is not fighting against the US in the region. He vowed to restart his activities in Helmand province after eliminating his rivals in Waziristan.

Bittani, who has been supporting the Pakistani military in fighting the supporters of slain militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, is leading Abdullah Mehsud's group in the lawless region, bordering Afghanistan.

In a chat with Pajhwok Afghan News over telephone from Tank town of the North-West Frontier Province on Monday, he condemned supporters of the Mehsud group as miscreants.

"They are neither Taliban nor Muslims, but earning Islam a bad name," remarked Bitani, who claimed having 5,000 armed supporters. He said he would soon launch a war on rival commanders Wali Rehman and Hakimullah -- close allies of Baitullah Mehsud.

Mehsud and Bittani are two major tribes of Waziristan fighting against each other. In last week's bloody clash between the two tribes, dozens of people were killed and wounded.

"I am also a Talib, but unlike Baitullah, Hakimullah and others who only kill Muslims and do nothing for Islam," Bitani said, adding Mullah Omar was his leader and his 'jihad' in Pakistan was not against America.

"After dealing with my opponents in South Waziristan, I will go to Helmand to reorganise my leader Abdullah Mehsud's group against foreign forces," vowed Bitani.

Abdullah Mehsud was killed in an army operation in Quetta last year. Bitani said he was cooperating with Pakistan government, but the government was providing him no monetary or arms assistance.

Otra noticia, proyecto AECID para el hospital en Badghis:

Spain pledges $3m in grant to Badghis hospital

http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=79938

Zainab Muhammadi - Aug 17, 2009 - 21:06

KABUL (PAN): Spain has pledged US$3 million in grant to the central hospital of the western Badghis province to improve its health services over the next three years.

A contract in this regard was inked between Dr. Sayed Muhammad Amin Fatemie, public health minister, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, finance minister and David Gervilla Valladoid, head of Spanish International Development Agency here on Monday.

Dr. Fatemie said construction work on the Badghis central hospital has been completed during two years of time.

He said the grant would be spent on improving the hospital's health services including free health services, medicines and necessary equipments.

He said the 100-bed hospital would provide all necessary health services in various departments.

He added Spain had granted 10.7 million dollars in the past to province for its health sector.

Dr. Zakhilwal, the finance minister, said the $3 million grant would be utilized through the development budget of the government.

He said Spain had pledged $159 million dollar in grant to Afghanistan and had provided $134 million already.

mnm/ma

[Zigor]

Ese eterno problema afgano:

http://www.eitb.com/noticias/internacio ... fganistan/

lo que sí es verdad es que como pueblo es muy valiente, porque las amenazas por duras que sean, no amedrentan a una población que vive en guerra ó sometida hace mucho tiempo.

Es muy importante evaluar bien de qué forma se puede lograr la neutralización del movimiento talibán, porque como dice Jesús Torquemada, la amenaza no sólo es para Afganistán, sino para Paquistán, y Paquistán cuenta con armas nucleares. Estrategias complejas...

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Sigue en el aire el asunto sobre la muerte de Mehsud, ahora Hakeemullah Mehsud ha sido elegido (shura talibán realizada en Arakzai) líder del Movimiento Talibán en Pakistán (aunque le han salido detractores).

Para quien no lo conozca, Hakeemullah Mehsud es el responsable del Movimiento en las provincias de Arakzai, Khyber (famoso por atacar el paso logístico de la OTAN), Kurram y algunas áreas de Peshawar.

El portavoz de Hakeemullah Mehsud pasa a ser Azam Tariq.

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Un Chinook británico ha tenido que ser inutilizado por fuerzas propias al realizar un aterrizaje brusco y no poder recuperarse. Esta noticia parece diferente a la que circulaba hace unos días donde un mismo modelo de helicóptero tuvo también que ser inutilizado a causa de fuego enemigo (armas ligeras).

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... nistan.htm

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Herido leve en Afganistán


Un sargento del Ejército de Tierra español ha resultado herido leve esta tarde en Afganistán como consecuencia de un ataque de fuerzas insurgentes a una compañía del Grupo Táctico de Apoyo a las Elecciones.

Según los datos facilitados por el Mando de Operaciones del Estado Mayor de la Defensa, el suceso tuvo lugar en torno a las tres de la tarde (hora local) en las proximidades del paso de Sabzak, a unos 60 kilómetros del Equipo de Reconstrucción Provincial (PRT) de Qala i Naw.

La compañía del Grupo Táctico de Apoyo a las Elecciones recibió un ataque con fuego de fusilería y RPG, que fue repelido. Como consecuencia de dicho ataque, y probablemente a causa del rebote de un proyectil, resultó herido leve en una pierna el sargento del Ejército de Tierra J.E.S.A., que recibió atención médica en el lugar del incidente y posteriormente fue evacuado en helicóptero al hospital Role 2 de la Base de Apoyo Avanzado (FSB) de Herat. El sargento ha informado de su estado directamente a su familia por vía telefónica.

[Oraculo]

Que se recupere pronto!

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Esta información confirma las noticias aparecidas en distintos sitios según las cuales la insurgencia está aumentando su presión sobre las fuerzas de ISaF en el RCW. El otro día atacaron a los mangusta italianos en Farah.

Defense
03:56 pm - Wednesday
Afghanistan: two Italian helicopters under attack
Farah, Afghanistan - No injuries among the troops
(WAPA) - Two Italian army Agusta A-129 Mangusta helicopters have been attacked this morning by Taliban rebels at Pusth Rud, about 20 km North of Farah, in Afghanistan, the Italian command in Herat reported, adding that no injury occurred to any of the soldiers involved.

"The helicopters -major Marco Amoriello, Italian contingent spokesman, stated- intervened in the area following a support request from a base of the Afghan police that was under insurgent attack. The two Mangusta reached the zone in few minutes and, during the support activities, have been shot at. The pilots found and destroyed the source of the threat".

Although they suffered some damages, both the aircraft managed to safely fly back to Farah base, from where they had departed. (Avionews)
(009) 090828155605-1108659 (World Aeronautical Press Agency - 2009-08-28 03:56 pm)

Otra cosa...boom del cultivo de opio en Badghis. Nuestra gestión no puede ser más impotente.

La provincia bajo mando de las tropas españolas aumenta en un 822% el cultivo de opio

MADRID, 2 (EUROPA PRESS) La región de Badghis --en la que España mantiene un contingente de más de 200 militares y un equipo de cooperantes de la AECID al frente de un Equipo de Reconstrucción Provincial (PRT)-- registró el pasado año un aumento del 822 por ciento de la superficie dedicada al cultivo de opio, con un total de 5.411 hectáreas con adormideras, según el último informe de la Oficina contra la Droga y el Crimen de Naciones Unidas (UNODC, por sus siglos en ingles). El documento elaborado por la institución que dirige el italiano Antonio María Costa asegura que Badghis ha experimentado desde 2004 "un continuo crecimiento" en el cultivo de adormidera hasta convertirse en 2009 en "una de las siete principales provincias" en cultivo y producción de opio, por detrás de Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Day Kundi, Zabul y Farah. La superficie dedicada en esta región al cultivo de la planta de la que se extrae la heroína y la morfina ha pasado de 542 hectáreas en 2008 a una extensión total de 5.411 hectáreas en 2009, lo que representa un aumento de 4.824 hectáreas y un 822 por ciento más que el año anterior. "CONOCIDA POR TENER REDES CRIMINALES ORGANIZADAS" En el apartado titulado 'La fuerte correlación entre ausencia de seguridad y cultivo de opio', el estudio de Naciones Unidas, recogido por Europa Press, define a Badghis como una de las provincias "inseguras" y "conocidas por tener redes de criminales organizadas" y subraya que en la zona occidental Afgana (Herat, Farah, Ghor y Badghis) los "elementos antigubernamentales y los traficantes de drogas son muy activos". Esta región ha incrementado en 2009 la producción de opio en más de 200 toneladas, al pasar de 17 toneladas en 2008 hasta 238 toneladas este año, lo que supone un crecimiento del 1.263 por ciento y le sitúa como la región que más ha aumentado la producción de esta droga este año. El informe de la Oficina contra la Droga y el Crimen de Naciones Unidas afirma que Badghis ha sufrido "un continuo aumento" en la superficie cultivada con adormidera desde 2004, con la única excepción de 2008, cuando se redujo a 587 hectáreas por la sequía que sufrió la región. El documento redactado por la UNODC asegura que la mayor parte de la superficie cultivada en Badghis se encuentra en "áreas de difícil acceso" y sitúa a esta región como una de las siete "principales provincias" en producción y cultivo de opio.

Sobre la situación del opio http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db9 ... enDocument

Otro punto de vista

Afghanistan’s wild-wild North
By MATT DUPEESeptember 2, 2009 9:34 AM
As policymakers and analysts continue to examine the ever-evolving insurgency in Afghanistan, the Taliban infiltration into northern Afghanistan is finally receiving some much needed attention. Often billed as “the stable and secure” northern areas, Afghanistan’s northern provinces have been the target of a burgeoning Taliban insurgency since 2004. When analyzing the northern conundrum it is imperative to view the situation as the Taliban do: a two-pronged approach that includes establishing a stronghold in the northwest province of Badghis and severing the resupply routes available through the Herat-Badghis Sabzak Pass, the sole entry into northwestern Afghanistan, while establishing a northeastern jump-off point in northern Baghlan and Kunduz Provinces.

Given the recent security events, it is Kunduz Province that certainly warrants a closer inspection. Violence levels in Kunduz have peaked over the past 18 months, and German intelligence reports, as well as Afghan government and tribal elder testimony, suggest that as many as 80 al Qaeda-linked militants, including Uzbeks and Chechens, are operating in areas southwest of Kunduz City. Operations in Kunduz since May confirm the presence of foreign fighters, as nearly a dozen Uzbek fighters have been detained or killed alongside Taliban foot soldiers in various Coalition operations conducted near Kunduz City. Four Uzbeks were nabbed last week, and a suspected Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan compound was raided around the same time.

There are currently 667 German troops stationed at the Kunduz airfield; of which only 340 are combat-ready. Three districts, Chahara Dara, Dashti Archi, and Iman Sahib are currently in contested control of the insurgents. Two districts in neighboring Baghlan, Baghlan-i-Jadid and Burka, remain outside of government control.

Since violence exploded there this spring and summer, three German troops and four American soldiers have been killed in IED attacks in the province. But it is the German presence in Kunduz, and their lack of operational ability, that has frustrated many in the Afghan government and within ISAF.

Last month’s Operation Adler (Eagle), a one-week offensive launched by German troops into the Chahara Dara district, had little to no effect against the entrenched Taliban fighters led by Mullah Salaam and Mullah Shamsullah.

“The last operation against the Taliban in Chahar Dara was unsuccessful, because the soldiers were hardly prepared to stage air strikes," the long-time governor of Kunduz, Engineer Muhammad Omar, told the media shortly after Operation Adler’s conclusion. "They are overly cautious, and they don't even get out of their vehicles. They should leave, and the Americans should replace them. The Americans would finally provide security."

By the end of the week following the operation, the Chahar Dara district governor confirmed that as many as 100 Taliban had returned to the district. This development, as well as the litany of assassinations against key Afghan government officials in Kunduz, including the failed attempts against President Hamid Karzai’s running mate General Fahim and presidential candidate Mullah Salaam “Rocketi” in Kunduz and Baghlan respectively, highlights the growing dangers of operating in the “stable and peaceful” northern areas.


Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-ma ... z0Pz8qLTOB