Image Source: NATO International Security Assistance Force

General Security Situation

Summary

While International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghanistan forces continue to strike at Taliban strongholds in the south, with Operation ‘Palk Wahel’ beginning on Sept. 19, suicide bombings and kidnappings continued to undermine the security situation across the country.  An emboldened Taliban struck the capital with suicide bombers twice in one week killing over 30 people, including one ISAF soldier.  As international forces battle the Taliban offensive, Afghans and foreign workers continue to contend with criminal activity disrupting relief work and development.  This month, a UN relief convoy bringing food to returning Afghan refugees was also attacked, a Bangladeshi aid worker kidnapped, and an Afghan mine clearing team seized and subsequently released -- actions by various criminal elements in the country. 

Regional Command Capital

Kabul Province

Sept. 24, 2007: Suicide Bomber Kill French Soldier, Injures Afghans

A Taliban suicide bomber killed a French ISAF soldier, and injured at least six Afghans when he blew himself up near a convoy of foreign troops.

Sept. 29, 2007: Suicide Bomber Attacks Bus-load of Afghan Soldiers; 30 Dead

At least 30 people, including two civilians, were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber wearing an Afghan military uniform detonated concealed explosives near a bus full of Afghan soldiers in Kabul.  Twenty-nine people were injured in the blast, which was one of the deadliest in Afghanistan this year.

Regional Command South

Helmand Province:

Sept. 8, 2007: British Take Casualties

Two British soldiers died when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb while on a routine patrol in Lashkar Gah.  A third British soldier and a civilian interpreter were wounded in the attack.  In a separate attack on Sept. 8, two British soldiers were killed in a firefight with the Taliban during a planned operation to disrupt insurgents.  Several other British troops were injured. 

Sept. 10, 2007: Suicide Bombers Kill 26

At least 26 people, including 13 civilians, were killed when a suicide bomber driving a motorized rickshaw detonated next to a bus station.  As many as 45 people were reported wounded in the attack. 

Sept. 13, 2007: Suspected Suicide Bomber Shot

Afghan police shot and killed a suspected suicide bomber, believed to be en route to carry out an attack, outside the main British headquarters in Lashkar Gar.  The man reportedly had explosives strapped to his body.

Sept. 17, 2007: Suicide Bomber Kills Seven Four policemen and three civilians were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside a government building in Nadali.  The bomber reportedly detonated his explosive vest when stopped at a checkpoint by guards.

Sept. 19, 2007: Operation “Palk Wahel” Launched

NATO and Afghan forces launched a major military operation, code-named Palk Wahel, to target and clear Taliban insurgents from the strategic Upper Gereshk Valley.  Approximately 2,500 NATO and Afghan National Army (ANA) troops under British command are participating in the operation. 

Sept. 19, 2007: Civilian Casualties in ISAF Operations

ISAF reports that troops fighting with the Taliban for several hours during a operations to clear the Gereshk Valley of extremists called in an airstrike, and “a number of non-combatants were caught in the attack and killed.” NATO is carrying out an investigation into the incident.

Sept. 22, 2007: Clashes Kill 40 Insurgents, Four Civilians

Four civilians and about 40 insurgents were killed when NATO forces came under attack in the Gereshk district.  The civilian deaths were a result of an airstrike on buildings the fighters were using to attack ISAF troops.  NATO command stated coalition forces were unaware of civilians near the target.

Sept. 25, 2007: Airstrikes Kill Over 60 Insurgents

One coalition member was killed and four others wounded during a combat patrol in the Regay village in an effort to drive out members of the Taliban.  Fighters ambushed the joint Afghan-coalition patrol, and a firefight ensued.  Coalition air support was called in, and more than 60 insurgents were killed in the operation.  NATO reports gave no indication of civilian deaths or injuries; local villagers reported 12 civilians were killed in the airstrikes.

Kandahar Province

Sept. 5, 2007: More than 40 Insurgents Killed

Afghan Police and coalition forces on combat patrol were ambushed by insurgents in the Sha Wali Kot district.  The ensuing battle lasted for nearly 12 hours, and air support was called in.  The fighting left more than 40 insurgents dead according to the U.S. military; no other injuries or deaths were reported. 

Sept. 12, 2007: Three Roadside Bombs Defused, Troops Ambushed

A joint Afghan-NATO patrol found and defused three roadside bombs in the Zhari district, and shortly afterwards was ambushed by Taliban insurgents. A helicopter gunship was called in for support.  According to the provincial police chief, the battle killed 12 militants.

Sept. 25, 2007: Suicide Bomber Kills Five Policemen

A suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into an Afghan police convoy on Tuesday in the town of Spin Boldak, killing five policemen.

Oruzgan Province:

Sept. 4, 2007:  Attack on Firebase Anaconda Thwarted

Around 20 insurgents attacked an observation post east of Firebase Anaconda, but were repelled by ANA and coalition forces with the aid of air support.  Ten insurgents were killed in the fight.  Firebase Anaconda was the site of four separate direct, but largely ineffective, attacks by insurgents in August.

Sept. 13, 2007: Taliban Ambush Afghan-Coalition Patrol

Taliban fighters ambushed Afghan and U.S.-led coalition troops in the village of Deh Rawood.  The troops called in close air support, and the U.S. military reports more than 45 insurgents killed in the fight that followed. 

Sept. 25, 2007: Over 60 Insurgents Killed in Ambush

ANA forces ambushed by insurgents during a combat patrol engaged in a six-hour battle before calling in precision airstrikes.  Coalition reports indicate more than 65 insurgents were killed in the fight, with three civilians possibly injured in the crossfire. 

Zabol Province

Sept. 24, 2007: Taliban Kill Three Men Accused of Spying

Three Afghan men accused of spying for the United States were reportedly executed by the Taliban.  Two victims were shot dead; one was beheaded.

Regional Command East

Lowgar Province

Sept. 15, 2007: Bangladeshi Aid Worker Kidnapped

Noor ul-Islam, an aid worker for the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, was kidnapped from his office by criminals.  The kidnappers were reportedly disguised as police, and have been arrested by Afghan authorities. 

Paktia Province

Sept. 10, 2007: Kidnapped Mine Clearers Freed

Thirteen Afghan members of a mine-clearing team, who were kidnapped on Sept. 6, have been released.  Tribal elders negotiated the release of ten hostages on Sept. 10; the three remaining hostages were released after further negotiations on Sept. 13.  The kidnappers are believed to be criminals; the Taliban deny involvement.

Wardak Province

Sept. 29, 2007: Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Freed

Four employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent (ICRC) who were seized by the Taliban on Sept. 27 were released unconditionally. Two of the employees were from Afghanistan, one from Myanmar, and one from the former Republic of Macedonia.  A Taliban leader stated his men had captured them in error.  The workers were traveling outside of Kabul to help negotiate the release of Rudolf B., a German engineer kidnapped in July, who is still being held by the Taliban. 

Regional Command West

Farah Province:

Sept. 6, 2007: Iranian Arms Intercepted

Explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) were reportedly found among a shipment of weapons from Iran to the Taliban intercepted by ISAF.  Two smaller shipments of similar weapons were interdicted on April 11 and May 3. Reports indicate the flow of such weaponry into Afghanistan is increasing.  On Sept. 22, Adm. William Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command, asserted the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is aiding the Afghan insurgency. 

Sept. 8, 2007: Food Aid Convoy Attacked
A 14-truck United Nations World Food Program (WFP) convoy carrying 500 tons of food was attacked on the Herat-Nimruz highway.  The truck, which was escorted by over 110 armed police, was bringing food aid to Afghan deportees from Iran.  Four police were killed in the fighting. The attackers are believed to be thieves or criminals without political motivation.  According to WFP, there have been over 25 attacks on food convoys in Afghanistan in 2007. 

Herat Province:

Sept. 24, 2007: Two Kidnapped Italian Soldiers Freed

Two Italian soldiers and an Afghan interpreter and driver, who were kidnapped while traveling in the Shindand district, were released during an ISAF operation.  Both soldiers are wounded; the status of the two Afghans is unknown. 

Sept. 25, 2007: Armed Robbery, Kidnapping Increasing

The United Nations has reported over 12 cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and attacks on financial centers in Herat city in September alone, a 50 percent increase from the same period in 2006. 

Regional News

Pakistan

Sept. 12, 2007: “Un-Islamic” Targets Increase in Northwest Frontier

Pro-Taliban activity has increased in recent months in the Swat district.  An ancient Buddha carving sustained minor damage in what is reportedly the first attack of its type in Pakistan.  The choice of target echoes the Taliban’s 2001 destruction of ancient statues in Afghanistan.  Music and video shops in Bannu were also targeted on Sept. 7, when militants reportedly bombed nearly 50 shops. 

Sept. 13, 2007: Extremist Violence in Pakistan Increasing

Reports of fighting between Pakistani troops and pro-Taliban militants near the Afghan border have increased, as well as incidents of kidnapping.  On Sept. 12, officials reported militants attacked a checkpoint in the town of Bannu.  A suicide bomber detonated at the gate of a military barracks on Sept. 13; troops at the base were reportedly officers from a counter-terrorism force.  

Sept. 20, 2007: Bin Laden Declares War on Pakistan
In a new audiotape, Osama bin Laden urged Pakistanis to rebel against President Pervez Musharraf, stating that Musharraf's decision for the military to storm the Red Mosque in July makes him an infidel.  The action, according to bin Laden, “demonstrated Musharraf’s insistence on continuing his loyalty, submissiveness and aid to America against the Muslims ... and makes armed rebellion against him and removing him obligatory.”

For more information on this, please visit the WSI Brussels Blog at www.wsibrusselsblog.org.

Other News

Sept. 19, 2007: United Nations Renews NATO Mandate in Afghanistan

The United Nations authorized NATO troops to stay in Afghanistan for another year in Security Council Resolution 1707.  The Resolution, which passed 14-0 with Russia abstaining, emphasized the “interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan,” stating that progress in security, governance, development and counter-narcotics are all mutually reinforcing.  The resolution called upon states to contribute resources to ISAF, recognizing the need to further strengthen the force.

Sept. 23, 2007: Flash Floods Destroy at Least 100 Houses

Flash flooding in the Khiwa District in Nangarhar killed three people, affected around 300 families, and destroyed at least 100 houses, according to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authorities.  Over 180 families have been displaced by the flooding.

Sept. 24, 2007: Tour Buses Crash, 40 Dead

Two tour buses traveling along the Kabul-Kandahar highway struck in a head-on collision at around 5 p.m.   Forty people, including both drivers, died. 

Sept. 26, 2007: UN Releases 2007 Afghanistan Human Development Report

The Afghanistan Human Development Report for 2007, entitled: “Bridging Modernity and Tradition: Rule of Law and the Search for Justice” was released by the UN Development Programme.  The report focuses on strengthening law and justice to support development in Afghanistan. It suggests – among other policies – the creation of a “hybrid model for Afghan justice” that would institutionalize relationships between the formal justice system and informal dispute settlement, such as Jirgas and Shuras, to make the justice system more efficient and responsive. 

Sept. 27, 2007: Over 2,500 Displaced Families Fled Southern Provinces

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported over 2,500 families have left their homes in Helmand, Kandahar, and Oruzgan provinces over the past two months due to pressure from the Taliban, as well as intense aerial bombing.  There already is an estimated 130,000 internally displaced persons in the south and western provinces of Afghanistan. 

Sept. 28, 2007: NATO Chief Warns Gains in South Could be Lost

While NATO has made military gains in the restive Helmand province over the past six months, Gen. Dan McNeill warned that Afghan security forces might not be able to maintain the ground won or level of security attained if the Taliban regroups over the winter.