Taliban Commanders Who Are Being Freed In Afghanistan Are Returning To The Fight

Freed Taliban Commander Now Leads The Fight In Northern Afghan Province -- Threat Matrix

TOLOnews reports on a senior Taliban leader who was recently freed by the Afghan government and has now returned to lead the Taliban in Badghis province. Maulawi Ghulam Mohammad served as the deputy governor for Ghor province before the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attack.

Maulawi Ghulam Mohammad, a senior Taliban commander who was released last month from the Bagram Prison, has reportedly joined the Taliban again and gone on a rampage against security forces, casting doubts on the wisdom of the Afghan government's efforts to have Pakistan release militants in order to kick-start peace talks with the insurgent group.

The Taliban commander was said to have rejoined the group right after he was released and has since killed 13 Afghan Local Police (ALP) officers and injured 20 others in Badghis province within a span of one month.

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More News On Afghanistan

NATO investigates civilian deaths in Kunar drone strike -- Khaama Press
NATO to investigate drone strike after Afghans say civilians died -- Reuters
NATO Soldier Dies In Afghanistan -- RTT
Taliban ambush on Afghanistan police convoy leaves 16 dead, 24 kidnapped -- CBS
Taliban kill 23 Afghan police, abduct 24 others in Badakhshan -- Khaama Press
Afghanistan's top female police officer dies after shooting -- The Guardian
'A very brave woman': Gunmen kill one of Afghanistan's most senior female cops -- NBC
Gunman in Afghanistan puts spotlight on the dangers facing Afghan policewomen -- Christian Science Monitor
Taliban kill election commission head in Afghanistan's north -- Reuters
Afghan intelligence foil attack on military base in Kunar -- Khaama Press
Former Afghanistan senator joins Taliban -- UPI
Former Afghan senator join Taliban group in northern Afghanistan -- Khaama Press
U.S. ready to begin major drawdown of troops, equipment from Afghanistan -- McClatchy news
Afghans flock to colleges, even as Taliban loom -- AP
Blood Money: Afghanistan’s Reparations Files -- The Nation
U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan -- New York Times

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Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 15, 2013

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael R. Brown II checks the seal around a C-130 Hercules aircraft ramp after releasing cargo during an airdrop mission over Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2013. Brown, an aircraft loadmaster, is assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marleah Miller

Afghan Peace Negotiator Doubtful Of New Doha Talks With Taliban -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The resumption of peace talks between the Taliban and Afghanistan in Qatar has become increasingly unlikely with fresh talks in Turkey or Saudi Arabia a more realistic option, a senior Afghan peace negotiator said on Wednesday.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the capital of the Gulf State of Qatar, Doha, were announced in June only to be cancelled in a row over the Taliban displaying their banner and flag, a reminder of their repressive rule over Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

The Doha office was closed within 24 hours of its opening.

Many supporters of the peace process say Taliban involvement is essential to ensure security at next year's presidential election and stability following the departure of most foreign troops from the country next year.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghan soldier who shot Australians hunted down and killed -- The Guardian
Afghan soldier who attacked Australian troops has been shot dead -- Khaama Press
Afghan commandos detain 26, find explosives in eastern Afghanistan -- Dvids
French soldier found dead in Afghanistan -- Global Times
RC-East commander predicts hike in insurgent attacks in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
Afghans Lead the Fight in Afghanistan, General Says -- Patch
Ex-NATO chief: 15,000 troops should stay in Afghanistan -- Global Post/AFP
US commander insists for significant post-2014 presence in Afghanistan -- Khaama Press
How long will Regional Command-Southwest in Afghanistan survive? -- Military Times
Karzai nominates presidential candidate as Afghanistan prepares for 2014 -- Foreign Affairs
Female member of Afghanistan's parliament kidnapped by Taliban -- FOX News/AP
Two ISAF-Generals: Good Progress In Afghanistan – Interview -- Eurasia Review
Afghanistan’s 15,000-troop option -- James Stavridis, Foreign Policy/Star-Telegram

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Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 14, 2013

ISAF Commander General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. tours key facilities in the Kabul Base Cluster. Flickr

Afghanistan's Future Depends on Foreign Soldiers: U.S. Commander -- New York Times

KABUL — Afghanistan's future security will remain dependent on international troops for many years after most foreign combat forces leave by the end of 2014, the U.S. commander of the NATO-led force in the South Asian country said.

With the formal security handover to Afghans closing in, intense debate is underway about how many troops the United States and its mainly NATO allies should leave behind to conduct training, support and counter-terror operations.

The White House favors about 7,000 U.S. troops, but some in the U.S. military would prefer two or three times as many.

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More News On Afghanistan

Explosion rocks Takhar province, 16 killed or injured -- Khaama Press
US commander insists for significant post-2014 presence in Afghanistan -- Khaama Press
Afghan army's future depends on govt reforms: NATO -- FOX News/AFP
Afghanistan, US and India hold trilateral summit next month -- Khaama Press
Afghan peace negotiator doubtful of new Doha talks with Taliban -- Reuters
Too soon to leave Afghanistan, Russia says -- UPI
NATO Pullout From Afghanistan 'Too Hasty' – Russian Defense Official -- RIA Novosti
Female Afghan MP taken hostage -- FOX News/AFP
Afghan lawmaker and her three children kidnapped by Taliban -- NBC
Female Afghanistan MP taken hostage -- Global Post
Afghanistan: MP Fariba Ahmadi Kakar abducted in Ghazni -- BBC
Taliban demand release of prisoners to free abducted MP Fariba Kakar -- Khaama Press
Afghan interpreters petition delivered to Downing Street -- The Guardian
Afghan interpreters petition delivered to Cameron -- BBC
Afghanistan: Look At All That Loot -- Strategy Page
The 15,000 Troop Option: Plotting the course for post-2014 Afghanistan. -- James Stavridis, Foreign Policy
US Military Deaths in Afghanistan at 2,126 -- AP

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Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 13, 2013

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Morin, left, points as U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Doug Palmer, right, scans a culvert for improvised explosive devices in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2013. Morin and Palmer are assigned to Engineer Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, Combined Task Force Dragoon. U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Joshua Edwards

The Dead Afghan’s Tale: How Afghanistan’s Poorest Bear The Brunt Of The War -- Time

The young boy does not say a word. His eyes water as he turns away, staring out the window or at the mud walls of his family home in Dasht-e-Qala, in Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province. Just across the river and over the hills lie Tajikistan and the vast expanse of Central Asia.

Abdul Basit has seen what no 7-year-old should see. He saw the dead body of his father Yoldash, an Afghan police officer, who was chopped up into six pieces by the Taliban and left to rot in the sun for nearly 30 days in western Farah province. The Afghan government did not even send a search or rescue mission for him. When Basit and his uncle Gul-Murad finally arrived to pick up the corpse, Yoldash’s two hands and half of his torso were missing.

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More News On Afghanistan

Official: Bodies of 8 Afghan civilians abducted, then killed by insurgents, found by highway -- FOX News/AP
Taliban kill 8 abducted civilians in Ghazni province -- Khaaza Press
Graveyard explosion leaves 5 killed or injured in Kandahar -- Khaama Press
Afghan 'insurgents' now called 'enemies of Afghanistan' -- Stars and Stripes/USA Today
High profile attacks on women in Afghanistan undermine rights campaign -- Reuters
Hackistan: Afghan cyber guerrillas step up attacks on Pakistani websites -- Stars and Stripes
President Karzai to visit Pakistan on 26 August -- Khaama Press
Cholera outbreak infects about 1,500 in Afghanistan; 1 dead, 100 critical -- CTV/AP
US Watchdog Slams Afghanistan Aid Waste -- Voice of America
Afghanistan the “Saudi Arabia of lithium” -- Khaama Press
Afghan talent shows spotlight culture clash -- Stars and Stripes
Afghanistan's Amelia Earhart -- The Daily Beast
China well-placed to reap rewards in Afghanistan -- Shaukat Qadir, The National

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Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 12, 2013

Dangerous parts: Eastern province Paktia is one of the more dangerous regions of Afghanistan for foreign soldiers

Three American Soldiers Killed In Enemy Attack Sunday In Eastern Afghanistan -- Daily Mail

* The soldiers were killed in Paktia province, according to the International Security Assistance Force

Three American soldiers were killed in an attack in eastern Afghanistan Sunday.

According to a statement released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, the three soldiers were killed in an enemies of Afghanistan attack in the eastern Paktia province.

The ISAF doesn't identify soldiers' nationalities, but U.S. officials confirmed that these were American soldiers.

The three deaths bring total U.S. fatalities in Afghanistan to 89 this year.

Paktia province is one of the deadlier regions of Afghanistan for foreign soldiers.

Today, soldiers in the area rarely engage in combat.

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More News On Afghanistan

Three U.S. soldiers killed in eastern Afghanistan -- Reuters
NATO: 3 Soldiers Killed in Eastern Afghanistan -- Voice of America
3 American soldiers killed in eastern Afghanistan -- FOX News
String of explosions kill or injure 11 in Uruzgan -- Khaama Press
U.S. commander in Afghanistan says deal to allow foreign troops beyond 2014 is priority -- New York Daily News/AP
Dunford: Winning in Afghanistan is ‘Achievable’ -- USNI
AP Interview: US commander says security deal will send clear signal to Afghans, Taliban -- AP
Top US general says Afghan-US security agreement vital -- Khaama Press
Australia: Defence announces end to combat duties in Afghanistan -- The Age
US to deliver 24 C-130 aircraft to Afghan Air Force: MOD -- Khaama Press
Last JBLM Stryker Brigade to leave Afghanistan sees progress -- Seattle Times
UN renews concerns on Afghan Local Police misbehavior allegations -- Khaama Press
Karzai’s elder brother meets Taliban officials in Dubai -- Khaama Press
Afghanistan agrees to hold talks with Taliban in Turkey, Saudi Arabia -- Khaama Press
Taliban denies reports on talks with Afghan gov't -- Global Times/Xinhua
Officials confident Afghanistan’s April elections will lead to a peaceful transfer of power -- Washington Times
Deadly flooding hits Afghanistan again -- Stuff.co.nz
At least 22 dead in flooding in Kabul province, Afghanistan -- UPI
Afghan contractor accused of stealing $77m in U.S. funds -- Khaama Press
China well-placed to reap rewards in Afghanistan -- The National
Three Chinese Murdered in Afghan Capital, One Missing: Embassy -- Reuters
Prostitution allegations cited in Chinese citizens death in Kabul -- Khaama Press
Chinese put on alert in Afghanistan -- China Daily
How to Read Afghanistan -- Vanessa M. Gezari, New York Times
The Dead Afghan’s Tale: How Afghanistan’s Poorest Are Bearing the Brunt of the War -- Mujib Mashal and Dasht-e-Qala, Time

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Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 9, 2013

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno speaks to soldiers on Forward Operating Base Azizullah, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Bell

Local Cease-Fire Deals Could Hasten Afghan Peace -- USA Today

Afghan commanders cutting local peace deals with the Taliban as U.S. forces withdraw.

As U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan, some local leaders are making cease-fire and other agreements with local insurgent groups, a trend that carries risks but could also help hasten peace, military officials say.

To date, the agreements have been made without relinquishing Afghan military authority or allowing the Taliban to expand influence, coalition officials say.

"We have not seen a geographic expansion of insurgent influence as a result of local agreements, nor have we identified areas in which the Taliban has increased its capabilities or established local safe havens as a result of such agreements," said Matt Sherman, a coalition political adviser.

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More News On Afghanistan

Operations in Logar province leaves 200 militants dead -- Khaama Press
Attack in Afghanistan leaves troops injured -- The Local
Graveyard picnic bomb kills 14 women and children in Afghan east -- Reuters
14 die when bomb explodes at cemetery in Afghanistan -- CNN
Family members among 14 killed by bomb buried in grave -- UPI
3 Chinese citizens killed, 2 missing in Afghanistan: Chinese embassy -- Xinhuanet
'It's their fight now': Afghan soldiers on their own -- Army Times
Afghan Air Force provides close-air support in historical combat mission -- US Air Forces Central Command
The NATO-led Effort In Afghanistan Is "in The Red Zone," Says ISAF Chief -- RTT
Sputtering War on Drugs In Afghanistan -- Military.com
Karzai’s elder brother meets Taliban officials in Dubai -- Khaama Press
John Sopko, watchdog for U.S. reconstruction spending in Afghanistan, battles bureaucrats -- Washington Post
To American Watchdog on Afghan Reconstruction, Bluntness Is a Weapon -- New York Times
Voices from Afghanistan -- Sydney Morning Herald

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