The Taliban collection (2006 onwards)

[davidbfpo]

[120mm]

I'm not sure if this will link correctly here, but both Abdur Rahman Khan and the Soviets understood geopolitical reality.

Abdur Rahman Khan resettled Pashtuns in key areas where they a) conducted genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Hazara and b) provided a presence in every district, which lines were redrawn to provide "divide and conquer" in geographically defensible areas.

The Soviets attacked the drainage basins to depopulate these areas and drive them into more easily managed cities.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/afgha...spock-articles

Headwaters in the Central Highlands

Rivers always have relevance, but that significance varies based on their geographic context. In countries like Colombia, for example, many rivers are navigable and serve as transportation avenues through or around physical barriers. In countries like Afghanistan they are the opposite; the rivers there are the physical barriers to movement. Their importance, however, is indisputable in regard to agriculture, which directly relates to Afghanistan’s (ethnic) population distribution, peoples’ livelihoods, resource use, and the country’s overall (in)stability.

That a significant number of major rivers have headwaters in the higher elevations of the country’s Central Highlands—in Bamyan, western Maidan Wardak, and western Ghazni Provinces—in proximity to each other often escapes attention. Control over this area, at least in theory, would allow control over Afghanistan’s lifeblood, if the group who controls it is powerful enough. Hence, this is an important issue when considered in the context of ethnic politics and regional stability.

More at the link.

[davidbfpo]

A CFR InfoGuide Presentation on The Taliban that starts with:

The Taliban has outlasted the world’s most potent military forces and its two main factions now challenge the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. As U.S. troops draw down, the next phase of conflict will have consequences that extend far beyond the region.

Link:http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-organiz...n_ig-012116#!/

[omarali50]

Meanwhile across the border (and yes, they are exactly the same movement)

http://brownpundits.blogspot.com/201...acha-khan.html

[davidbfpo]

A lull maybe here, but the Taliban have 'not gone away' and there are some posts on their recent activity elsewhere.

This article via AP is to say the least not good news. It starts with:

A shadowy, Pakistan-based militant faction is on the rise within the Taliban after its leader was appointed deputy and played a key role in unifying the fractured insurgency. The ascendency of the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, could significantly strengthen the Taliban and herald another summer of fierce fighting in Afghanistan. The firepower it brings to the Taliban was shown by a Kabul bombing last month that killed 64 people, the deadliest in the Afghan capital in years, which experts say was too sophisticated for the insurgents to have carried out without the Haqqanis.

Link:http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:...39695f77be3b55

Even more amazing is that the story relies upon a tape recording of a meeting where Sirajuddin Haqqani addresses a leadership meeting. Now would the Haqqani's associate ISI want that in the public domain?

[davidbfpo]

My title based on an article from The Guardian, which starts with:

The Taliban and representatives of the Afghan government have restarted secret talks in the Gulf state of Qatar, senior sources within the insurgency and the Kabul government have told the Guardian.

Who would try to stop this? According to a:

A western official in Kabul said a spate of arrests by Pakistani security forces of senior Taliban officials suggests Pakistan’s intelligence agencies are trying to “re-establish control over the process”.

A familiar tactic. Plus GIRoA denying the talks have happened.
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...et-talks-qatar

[davidbfpo]

A FDD map tells so much. From:http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/1...061347421.html