DTN News - AFGHAN WAR: Troops Rescue Kidnapped US Doctor In Afghanistan

Asian Defense News: DTN News - AFGHAN WAR: Troops Rescue Kidnapped US Doctor In Afghanistan

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP/Yahoo Singapore
(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - December 9, 2012: US soldiers killed seven Taliban insurgents in a successful pre-dawn raid to rescue a kidnapped American doctor in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, the NATO force in the war-torn country said.

The mission was launched when intelligence showed that Dr Dilip Joseph was in "imminent danger of injury or death", NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

Joseph was abducted on December 5 by Taliban insurgents in the Surobi district of Kabul province.

"Today's mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to defeating the Taliban," said General John Allen, the commander of US and ISAF forces in Afghanistan.

"I'm proud of the American and Afghan forces that planned, rehearsed and successfully conducted this operation. Thanks to them, Dr Joseph will soon be rejoining his family and loved ones."

Joseph was now "undergoing evaluations", the statement said, without giving further details.
A security source told AFP that the doctor had been involved in building clinics in Afghanistan but details of his capture were not immediately available.

Hazrat Mohammad Haqbeen, the district governor of Surobi told AFP that the man was kidnapped along with an Afghan colleague who was released in return for a ransom earlier in the week.

And "today the American national was freed in an operation. We don't know the details of the operation," Haqbeen told AFP.

He said the men were kidnapped in Surobi but were held in a village in the Qarghayi district of the neighbouring province of Laghman. The governor said the US citizen was visiting a clinic when captured.

An ISAF spokesman said the rescue had been launched when multiple intelligence sources indicated that he was in immediate danger. "We felt we had to act now," he told AFP.
Seven of the doctor's captors were killed in the operation, which involved combined US and Afghan forces, he said.

He gave no further details of where the doctor had been held or on the rescue operation itself, saying they could be announced later in the day.

Surobi outside Kabul had been under the control of French troops until April this year, when responsibility for security was handed to Afghan forces as part of France's accelerated withdrawal from the country.

France ended its combat mission in Afghanistan last month, two years before allied nations contributing to the 100,000-strong US-led NATO force are due to depart.

Surobi, about 50 kilometres east of Kabul and along a key highway linking the capital to neighbouring Pakistan, experiences sporadic Taliban-linked terrorism.

General Emam Nazar, the former commander of the 3rd Brigade of the Afghan army, told AFP in April that 80 to 100 insurgents were based in Surobi.

"Sometimes our enemies appear on the highway, but they can't resist us. Our forces smash them. It happened several times but they never got out of it alive," he added.

When French troops were stationed there, two French journalists were abducted in December 2009 and held for more than 500 days before being released in a secret deal which reportedly involved ransom.

Westerners are a prize target for the Taliban Islamists, who have waged an 11-year insurgency since being toppled from power in a US-led invasion in 2001. Regular gangsters not linked to the rebels are also involved in the kidnappings.

In June, NATO special forces rescued two foreign women working for a Swiss-based charity who had been kidnapped and held in a cave in Afghanistan's remote and mountainous northern Badakhshan province. Five captors were killed in the raid.

MORE ABOUT THE STORY

• Raid rescues U.S. citizen kidnapped by Afghan Taliban
• France ends combat mission in Afghanistan
• Taliban attack on Afghan NATO base kills five
• Suicide bombers attack U.S. base in Afghanistan
• Afghan spy chief 'wounded by underpants bomber'
• US weighs post-2014 force of 10,000 troops in Afghanistan
• Afghan 'revenge' attack kills three, wounds 90

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP/Yahoo Singapore
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DTN News - AFGHANISTAN WAR NEWS: Taliban On The Offensive In Jalalabad, Suicide Attack On Afghan NATO Base Kills 5 - December 2, 2012

Asian Defense News: DTN News - AFGHANISTAN WAR NEWS: Taliban On The Offensive In Jalalabad, Suicide Attack On Afghan NATO Base Kills 5 - December 2, 2012

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP
(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - December 2, 2012: Almost 2 years back, DTN News issued a special report image captioned "Taliban On The Offensive December 25, 2010".The ground reality has worsened in Afghanistan with increase in causality of Afghan and ISAF forces nearing the withdrawal date of 2014 for foreign security elements.

Why are the Taliban on the offensive? The reply is straightforward, President Obama’s Afghan strategy is not working. The Taliban are gaining confidence from increased news coverage and political strength from Iran and other elements, who are supposed to be fighting along side the NATO ISAF coalition forces against insurgency. On December 25, 2010, the Taliban are on the offensive attacking NATO ISAF troops with rockets from safe distance near Pakistan border.

 Taliban insurgents launched a major suicide attack Sunday against a NATO base at an Afghan city airport, killing five people and wounding several foreign troops, officials said.

Nine attackers were also killed, some blowing themselves up in two vehicles at the perimeter gate of the Jalalabad airport and others shot as they attempted to storm the base, police said.

NATO helicopters fired on the insurgents as they followed up the car bombing with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and small arms fire.

The Taliban claimed insurgents had entered the airport, which is close to the eastern border with Pakistan, but this was denied by NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"Insurgents including suicide bombers attacked the perimeter of the Jalalabad air base this morning," a spokesman told AFP. "None of the attackers succeeded breaching the perimeter.

"I can confirm that there were helicopters involved in the coalition response to the attack.

"A number of ISAF forces were wounded," he added, noting that it was ISAF policy not to disclose the number of those injured.

The airport complex has multiple layers of security, with the NATO base set well back from the first entrance, which an Afghan official said had been breached.

Three Afghan guards were killed and 14 wounded, while two civilians also died and four others were injured, police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal told AFP.

"First there was a car bombing next to the entrance followed by gun attack by the insurgents," a senior Afghan security official said. "They couldn't reach NATO forces and they were killed in the area between the first and second gates."

The Taliban claimed their militants had entered the airport and caused heavy casualties.

"First a fedayee (suicide bomber) mujahid... detonated a car bomb causing the enemy heavy casualties and losses and removed all the barriers," the Taliban said on their website.

"After the attack other fedayee mujahids entered the base... and started attacking the invading forces in the base."

The hardline Taliban Islamists have waged an 11-year insurgency against the Afghan government, which is backed by 100,000 NATO troops, since being overthrown in a US-led invasion for harbouring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The airport has come under attack on two previous occasions this year.

On February 27, six civilians, an Afghan soldier and two local guards were killed in a suicide car bomb attack, but NATO troops escaped unhurt.

The airport also came under attack on April 15, when the Taliban launched their spring offensive with a series of commando-style assaults across Afghanistan.

The latest assault comes as the usual summer fighting season should be drawing to a close and shows that the insurgency remains resilient as NATO forces prepare to withdraw in 2014.

With the end of the US "surge" in Afghanistan, the Taliban have survived the biggest military onslaught the West will throw at them.

The last of the extra 33,000 soldiers President Barack Obama deployed nearly three years ago left in September, and the vast majority of the remaining NATO force of more than 100,000 will follow by the end of 2014.

One of the aims of the surge was to put so much pressure on the Taliban that they would come to the negotiating table, but the insurgents called off early contacts in March, accusing the United States of constantly changing its position. 

A series of explosions followed by gunfire rocked the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad early Sunday as its airport came under an attack claimed by the Taliban, witnesses and officials said.


The Taliban said in a telephone call to AFP that they had launched an assault including a suicide bombing on the airport complex, which contains a major NATO base.

Militants had entered the airport, they said. An Afghan government official confirmed that clashes had taken place within the airport complex.

A guard said that after the initial huge explosion the airport had come under fire from rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and small arms.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

The hardline Taliban Islamists have waged an 11-year insurgency against the Afghan government, which is backed by 100,000 NATO troops, since being overthrown in a US-led invasion for harbouring al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

A spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force confirmed that there had been "multiple explosions in the vicinity of Jalalabad airport", but had no further details.

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Top US General Visits Troops In Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) MARJAH, Afghanistan - December 25, 2010: The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan crisscrossed the country on Saturday, visiting coalition troops on Christmas at some of the main battle fronts in a show of appreciation and support in the tenth year of the war against the Taliban.Gen. David Petraeus started his Christmas visit by traveling by helicopter

from the capital, Kabul, to the northern province of Kunduz, telling troops with the U.S. Army's 1-87, 10th Mountain Division that on this day, there was "no place that (he) would rather be than here" where the "focus of our effort" was.

The northern part of the country has seen increased fighting, with the Taliban increasing their attacks as NATO focuses its sights on the militant movement's southern strongholds. Petraeus was briefed on the situation in the region by German Maj. Gen. Hans-Werner Fritz, the commander of NATO's northern regional command.

Petraeus handed out commemorative coins to troops who had served for 3 or more years since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and awarded several medals, including three purple hearts. He then went by helicopter over desert mountain peaks to the western province of Farah, where the Italian army's 7th Alpini is stationed.

The U.S. general's visit coincided with one by Gen. Vincenzo Camporini, the Italian chief of defense general staff. Petraeus congratulated the Italian soldiers on the "progress that has been achieved in the first few months that this unit has been here."

Petraeus's next stop was the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Helmand province, scene of some of the heaviest fighting recently between the Taliban and NATO-Afghan forces.

Marjah has become a symbol of the problems facing NATO troops in Afghanistan. More than 7,000 U.S.-led NATO ground troops launched a nighttime invasion of the region of farming hamlets last February to rout insurgents and cut off their income from the drug trade. NATO officials said the effort would pave the way for the Afghan government to move in aid and start delivering public services.

Marine Maj. Gen. Richard Mills on Dec. 7 declared that the battle in Marjah was "essentially over." But the campaign took longer than NATO officials had hoped, and illustrated the complexity of trying to wrest control of an area where Taliban influence remained strong.

Efforts to create a civilian government in Marjah have been painfully slow, and U.S. troops struggled against roadside bombs and sniper attacks from an enemy that could blend in with the local population.

It is not known when U.S. troops could be withdrawn in significant numbers from Helmand as heavy fighting continues elsewhere in the area, including the Sangin district where Marines took over from British forces.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP
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DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: ISAF Senior Leader Outlines ‘Insider Threat’ Response

Asian Defense News: DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: ISAF Senior Leader Outlines ‘Insider Threat’ Response

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Karen Parrish - American Forces Press Service
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 5, 2012: Coalition forces and Afghan government leaders are attacking the issue of insider threats in Afghanistan on several levels, a top commander in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said today.

Army Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, commander of ISAF Joint Command, spoke with Pentagon reporters via satellite from the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Insider attacks, which have cost 45 ISAF lives so far this year, occur when an Afghan soldier or policeman, or an enemy impersonating one, deliberately kills or injures a coalition member. Terry told reporters the degree of insurgent involvement in such attacks varies.

“I sense these actions are driven by fear of an increasingly stronger and more capable Afghan national security force … [as the] insurgency is continuously degraded and discredited,” the general said.

Afghanistan’s army and police forces and the nation’s leaders, from President Hamid Karzai through the Interior and Defense ministries and down to provincial and district governor levels, are “seized by” the issue and committed to stopping it, Terry said.

Terry offered his condolences to the families of those who have been killed in the attacks. “We will never let them be forgotten,” said.

The general said the rise in attacks over the summer may reflect the adaptive nature of an enemy whose bombing, assassination and intimidation campaigns are turning Afghanistan’s people against the insurgency. “The reality is we're going to face this,” he said.

An Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman announced today that hundreds of Afghan soldiers have been detained or removed from service. Terry said while he has not yet heard the particulars about those actions, the Afghan Interior and Defense ministries seek to limit insider attacks by examining their recruiting procedures and looking for ways to vet possible recruits more closely.

He noted the coalition is helping in the effort, analyzing data on past insider attacks to determine trends and identify threat factors. With that information, plus the ministries’ findings, “we can better focus our vetting and screening efforts,” the general said. “In other words, go back in and look at specific populations that we think are at risk.”   

The eight-step vetting process for recruits includes background and criminal checks, medical and drug screening, interviews and references, Terry said. The Afghan ministries are examining those processes to ensure they’re as secure and verifiable as possible, he added.

“In addition to that, they're looking at increased efforts to improve the living conditions for their soldiers,” the general noted, “and also how they prepare their soldiers for leave periods, and then specifically how they address those soldiers once they return from leave.”

Terry said his own Army experience tells him soldiers are most vulnerable to outside influence when they’re away from their units, and he suggested Afghan military leaders consider leave periods as critical for their attention. 

Another initiative, he said, is a counterintelligence program that places people trained in countering insider attacks “inside of the formations, so that we can identify some of this threat before it actually materializes out there.”

Terry said some 25 percent of insider attacks since 2007 have involved either direct enemy planning or insurgent support to an attacker. Some of the remaining attacks are personally motivated by things such as perceived insults, he added, noting the overall issue features some cultural factors coalition leaders also are examining.

“I would just say that what we all recognize is that this is society that's really been traumatized by 30-plus years of war,” Terry said. “It also has a gun culture.”

In Afghan culture, resolving grievances and disputes often involves “the barrel of a gun,” he said.

“As we look toward cultural sensitivity … and greater understanding of the culture and of the religion, I think we also have to understand what this country and what this population [have] gone through over time,” Terry said.  

Because of cultural attitudes toward social factors such as friendship and hospitality, Terry said, “I fundamentally believe, … and this is based on my experience of three tours over here, … that [the] closer you are in terms of relationship and friendship with the Afghan partners, probably the safer you are.”

Within their own ranks, ISAF forces are emphasizing cultural sensitivity training and building relationships with Afghan partner forces, Terry said.

Meanwhile, Afghan units are gaining strength and capability, he said, noting Afghanistan’s army and police forces are getting close to 350,000 people fielded.

“I don't, frankly, see that slowing down,” he said.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Karen Parrish - American Forces Press Service
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DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: ISAF Condemns 'Despicable' Suicide-Bomber Attack

Asian Defense News: DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: ISAF Condemns 'Despicable' Suicide-Bomber Attack

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources ISAF Joint Command News Releases ~ American Forces Press Service
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 14, 2012: The International Security Assistance Force condemned today's "senseless and cowardly" suicide-bomber attack at a wedding in Afghanistan's northern Samangan province that killed at least 19 people, including a member of the country's parliament, and wounded more than 43 others, military officials reported.

A suicide attacker blew himself up at the entrance to a wedding hall in Aybak, the province's capital, officials said, noting the blast killed at least 19 people and wounded more than 43 others.

Ahmad Khan Samangani, a member of the Afghan parliament; Mohammad Khan, the provincial director of the National Directorate of Security; and Lt. Gen. Said Ahmad Samse were among those killed in the attack, officials said.

Regional Command-North is providing medical and surgical assistance to the injured, according to a RC-North news release issued today.

The International Security Assistance Force stated in a release issued today that it "strongly condemns this senseless and cowardly act of insurgent terror that resulted in the murder of innocent civilians. These despicable acts continue to disrupt peace and demonstrate an utter lack of respect for Afghan lives."

"Once again the Taliban have murdered Afghans in cold blood with complete disregard for innocent life or to the sanctity of a wedding," ISAF commander Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen stated in the release. "Their depravity clearly knows no bounds. The disgust of the Afghan people for these criminals only continues to grow.

"ISAF continues to stand with the noble people of Afghanistan and we offer our assistance in solving this crime," Allen continued. "I offer my sincerest condolences and prayers to the family and friends who are suffering from the loss of their loved ones."

ISAF "remains committed to stopping acts of terror together with Afghan National Security Forces in order to build a secure environment that promotes lasting peace and a secure way of life for the Afghan people," the command's release said.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources ISAF Joint Command News Releases ~ American Forces Press Service
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Afghan Security Forces, ISAF Counterparts Kill Senior al-Qaida Leader

Asian Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Afghan Security Forces, ISAF Counterparts Kill Senior al-Qaida Leader
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. - American Forces Press Service
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 29, 2012: Afghan security forces and their International Security Assistance Force partners killed a senior al-Qaida leader in Kunar province May 27, a senior Defense Department spokesman told reporters at the Pentagon today.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little conducts a press briefing at the Pentagon, May 29, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“As a result of their efforts, alongside their coalition counterparts, they achieved a significant operational success in Kunar province … with the death of Sakhr al-Taifi,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

Sakhr al-Taifi, al-Qaida’s second-highest leader in Afghanistan, had commanded foreign insurgents and directed attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces, Little said.

“He frequently traveled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al-Qaida leadership,” the press secretary said. “He also supplied weapons and equipment to insurgents in the east and managed transport of insurgent fighters into Afghanistan.”

Little said security forces identified Sakhr al-Taifi and another al-Qaida terrorist in Kunar province’s Watahpur district, and took careful steps to ensure no civilians were in the area before conducting a precision airstrike.

A follow-on assessment determined no civilians were harmed in this operation, he added.

“This operation is another example of our ongoing efforts to degrade and weaken al-Qaida’s leadership,” Little said, “and a reminder of the mission we are pursuing -- to ensure that Afghanistan, never again, becomes a safe haven for al-Qaida or its militant allies.”

However, “despite the unprecedented pressure we have applied, al-Qaida remains a threat to our forces and to our homeland,” he said. “And we will continue to pursue our goal of dismantling and ultimately defeating them.”

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. - American Forces Press Service
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