THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007
10:40 MECCA TIME, 7:40 GMT
Taliban readies Ramadan offensive
The Taliban says it controls most of Kapisa province's Tabag district,
50km north of Kabul
The Taliban says it is launching a major Ramadan offensive amid claims
by US and Pakistani forces that they have killed about 75 suspected
fighters of the anti-government group.
And for the first time, the Taliban claims to control a large area
north of Afghanistan's capital Kabul.
Pakistan's army said on Thursday up to 30 suspected Taliban members
were killed and nine soldiers wounded after fighters attacked a
military checkpoint in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
The fighting in North Waziristan came a day after the Pakistan
military said it had killed 40 fighters in a nearby area.
Major-General Waheed Arshad, a military spokesman, said: "Militants
attacked the post in Nawaz Kot district overnight but troops fought
off their assault."
Air strikes called
Late on Wednesday, US-led forces in Afghanistan said air strikes were
called in to help assist troops under attack in a battle that killed
around 45 Taliban fighters in the central province of Uruzgan.
In video
Al Jazeera gains exclusive access to the Taliban operating freely in
Kapisa
The fighting erupted when the Taliban attacked an Afghan and
multinational-force patrol with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire,
it said in a statement.
The soldiers returned fire and called in air support after confirming
that the attackers were "drawing large amounts of reinforcements".
The battle came on the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Taliban has said it would use the month to launch a new operation
involving suicide bombings, ambushes and other attacks.
Taliban territory
The group also says that it now has a foothold in Kapisa province,
about 50km north of Kabul, and claims most of the northeastern
district of Tagab is under its control.
Al Jazeera filmed a group of about 50 Taliban fighters travelling
unhindered in NowRoz-Abad, in Tagab.
And the unit's commander said there were 25 more groups just like it
spread throughout the province.
Oji Mullah claims to have bought weapons
from the Afghan army
Qais Azimy, an Al Jazeera producer, witnessed the fighters being
greeted warmly by locals.
But the Taliban said they stop and search any unrecognised face owing
to fear of spies.
Oji Mullah, a Taliban commander, said: "All of Tagab except the centre
of the town is under control of the mujahidin. The government has no
control at all, they are sitting in the centre and they run the market.
"Hundreds of mujahidin are in this area. If we want, in two hours, God
willing, we could take all of Tagab."
The group was well armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
And they claimed to buy the weapons from the very people who are
trying to stop them.
"We have old stores of ammunition and the national army are also
selling us weapons because they have very poor discipline," Oji Mullah
said.
"Even the national police are selling to us, maybe the Americans will
start."
Government's stand
The Afghan government rejects the claim as little more than propaganda.
General Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the defence department, said: "The
only organisation which is carrying out military operations in this
area is the Afghan National Army and they have the trust of the people.
"The enemy is under their control, so they [the Taliban] want to build
up distrust in the ANA."
However, Al Jazeera's producer travelled with the Taliban for five
hours in Tabag district and saw no sign of Afghan or American forces.
While filming, a young boy appeared and told the Taliban he had seen
some Americans - five Humvees nearby.
A ripple of excitement spread through the group and Oji Mullah ordered
his men to move out to prepare and attack.
Fields of hashish
The fighters scanned the main road in the distance and then began to
move through fields of hashish to take up their position.
At that point, the Al Jazeera camera pulled out.
Though the Taliban was removed from power in Afghanistan in 2001, it
still has a strong presence in the country.
Nato forces have been battling fighters on several fronts, most
notably in the south of the country, where the Taliban claim to
control swathes of areas including Kandahar and Helmand provinces.
But as the Taliban advances closer to Kabul, the north may become a
new battleground.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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