Showing posts with label Kandahar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kandahar. Show all posts

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Breakaway Taliban Faction Aided by NDS


A breakaway Taliban faction is being helped by the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS). The NDS is Afghanistan's version of the U.S. FBI and CIA combined. The faction supported by the NDS and the main stream Taliban have recently clashed causing casualties on both sides. Infighting among Taliban factions is not a new occurrence; however, the NDS provided support to a Taliban faction is not a commonplace event. In recent days the NDS has been supporting the 'Renouncers' - with weapons, safe passage, intelligence support, and medical support. This seems to happen most in Helmand province which the Afghan government has great difficulty in controlling. Read more in a news report entitled "Afghan Government Quietly Aids Breakaway Taliban Faction", The New York Times, June 19, 2017.


Friday, April 24, 2015

SIGAR Report: Vacant Kandahar Industrial Park

During an inspection SIGAR found one active business in the $7.8 million Shorandam Industrial Park in Kandahar. It was originally planned to accommodate 48 businesses. It appears that the set up of a power generator by U.S. forces on the industrial compound causes Afghan businesses to shy away from the site. The power generator is no longer there but the site still remains largely vacant. Read Shorandam Industrial Park: Poor Recordkeeping and Lack of Electricity Prevented a Full Inspection of this $7.8 Million Facility, SIGAR 15-50 Inspection Report, April 2015.

www.sigar.mil/pdf/inspections/SIGAR-15-50-IP.pdf

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

7th ID to form Kandahar HQs

Recent news reports indicate that the U.S. intends to maintain a presence in Kandahar into the foreseeable future. Perhaps into 2016. The Army is sending the 7th Infantry Division headquarters from Joint Base Lewis-McChord on a year-long deployment to Kandahar airfield in a few months. The hqs could stay on through the 2015 fighting season into early 2016. This would be a change to the "Kabul Centric" approach originally contemplated for 2016. It appears that the "hub and spoke" concept of 2015 (RS HQs in Kabul with TAACs in Gamberi, MeS, Herat, and Kandahar) will survive into 2016. The Germans are likely to stay in MeS beyond 2015. And now the Americans in Kandahar. Can the Italians be convinced to stay on in Herat? Read more in a news report by McClatchy DC dated February 24, 2015.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Video - "88 Days to Kandahar"

The former CIA station chief in Islamabad, Robert Grenier, discusses the time just after 9/11 when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. The video, hosted by Peter Bergen of New America, features Grenier - a long-time CIA operative. He discusses the few months when he found himself directing the "southern campaign", helping in the defeat of the Taliban, and assisting the rise to power of Hamid Karzai. Grenier also looks at the serious mistakes made by the United States in Afghanistan and offers some recommendations for the future. Grenier believes the U.S. should adopt a sustainable effort in Afghanistan. A phrase used in the video is "Go Long, Go Light". The video, entitled "88 Days to Kandahar", is 90 minutes long and posted on YouTube.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=resL0ZngkR0

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Kandahar PCoP & Cross-Border Opns

The Provincial Chief of Police (PCoP) for Kandahar has authorized his forces to respond to insurgent attacks from across the Afghan-Pakistan border. He states that insurgents will fire there weapons within 100 meters of Pakistani forces. The Ministry of Interior says that the support PCoP Raziq's actions. Read more in "MoI Backs Raziq to Respond to Cross Border Attacks", Stars and Stripes, December 22, 2014.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Kandahar - Uncertain Future

A reporter, Declan Walsh, visits Afghans (Governor Wesa, former Governor Sherzai, etc.) and provides us their insight of what the future of Kandahar may look like. Read more in "Made Rich by U.S. Presence, Many in Kandahar Now Face Uncertain Future", The New York Times, December 9, 2014.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

COMISAF Visits Kandahar

General John Campbell visited the Train Advise Assist Command - South (formerly known as RC South) to gain an appreciation of the progress being made in the transition from the ISAF mission to the Resolute Support mission. He visited Kandahar Air Field as well as Camp Hero - the headquarters of the ANA 205th Corps. He also met with the provincial governor - Dr. Tooryalai Wesa. Read more in "COMISAF visits Kandahar", DVIDS, November 17, 2014.

Monday, November 10, 2014

General Abdul Raziq

Kandahar is much safer now than several years ago. At one time the Taliban reigned supreme in the streets. But an Afghan police official (some say warlord) has tamed the city to an acceptable level. This security comes at a cost - in corruption, human rights, and governance. The police chief, Lt. Gen. Abdul Raziq, has ensured a degree of security within the city and some of the surrounding areas; however, some of his actions (and those of his police and private security force) are fueling the insurgency at the same time. Read more in "Powerful Afghan Police Chief Puts Fear in Taliban and Their Enemies", The New York Times, November 8, 2014.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Women Making Strides in Education in Kandahar Province

Women are making some gains as both students and with employment as teachers in Kandahar province. The province is a stronghold of the Taliban and during the Taliban reign women were disadvantaged with little opportunity for education or employment. However, some progress is being made. Learn more in "Afghan Women Work, Learn and Make Gains in Former Taliban Base", Voice of America, January 14, 2014.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Progress in Kandahar Province

An article posted on the Brookings website wrote by Michael O'Hanlon and Michele Flournoy paints a positive picture of the military situation in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. They cite a decrease in violence, an Afghan army and police assuming more of the security role, the diminishing of the criminal patronage network of Karzai's brother (now deceased), a bustling economy, and other factors. Read their article in "Kandahar and Hope", Brookings, March 21, 2013.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Canada Issues Final Afghan Report

The Canadian government issued a final report on Canada's participation in the Afghan War. The report documents the successes and failures of the Canadian role in Afghanistan. Some of the successes include an increase in education, agriculture and medical access. Some projects that were not too successful included polio eradication and elimination of Afghan government corruption. Read more about the report in "Final Afghan report quietly released", Canada.com, March 29, 2012.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Afghans Not Quite Ready to Secure Kandahar

A recent news article points out reasons why the Afghans may not be ready to secure Kandahar Province once the U.S. "surge" troops depart in by September 2012. Read "Wake-up call: Struggles in Kandahar show Afghan troops not ready to lead", Stars and Stripes, March 28, 2012.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Canadians Reflect on the War in Afghanistan

Canadians were (and are) staunch allies in Afghanistan.  They have operated across the full-spectrum of activities with civic action, aid workers, running a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), being responsible for one of the provinces and committing conventional combat troops and their special mission units to the fight. The Canadians lost over 150 of its Soldiers and suffered many more wounded.  Read some reflections on the war by some Canadians in "Was it worth it? Canadians reflect on the war in Afghanistan", The Globe and Mail, February 6, 2012.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Report on Maiwand District, Kandahar, Afghanistan

In mid-2010 the fight for Kandahar Province began.  Significant progress has been made (at a tremendous cost) but more work has to be done.  As the security gains are consolidated, moves to increase governance and development are underway in an effort to tie the local communities to the district and provincial government.  Kandahar Province is made up of many districts - one of these districts is Maiwand District. The Institute for the Study of War has recently published a report by Paraag Shukla entitled Battlefield Update: Task Force Dreadnaught in Maiwand District, Kandahar. The document is available online here.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Renewed Effort to Stop Opium Production in Kandahar Area

There is a renewed effort to stop the cultivation of poppies in the Kandahar region of Afghanistan.  Read more in "Afghan-Canadian governor orders eradication of opium farms in Kandahar", The Globe and Mail, February 20, 2011.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Taliban Motorbike Assassins Still Active in Kandahar

Despite the increase in security around and in Kandahar Taliban assassination squads are still active in the city.  One of their favorite tactics is killing people while mounted or transporting themselves on motorbikes.  Read more in "Taliban assassins on motorbikes strike fear in Afghanistan", The Star, February 9, 2011.  Read more war news on Kandahar.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Canadian's in Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Finish Development Projects

The Canadian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Kandahar has transferred its ownership of the PRT to the United States.  However, there are still some Canadian civilians working there completing development projects that were started earlier.  In addition, the Canadians are transferring some projects over to local Afghan officials - a task that PRTs were formed to do - start projects and then get the local Afghans to run them.  Read more in "As combat mission winds down, civilians in Kandahar rush to complete projects", The Vancouver Sun, February 9, 2011.  Read news about military operations and local governance in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Kandahar Battle Still Unresolved

The Taliban are continuing their attacks in the city of Kandahar and the surrounding region.  Although many gains have been made by coalition forces on the ground - a result of the troop surge - some critics worry these are temporary.  The status of who has won "the battle of Kandahar" may be revealed later this year once Spring approaches and the traditional fighting season in Afghanistan resumes.  In the meantime coalition troops continue to put pressure on Taliban fighters, IED networks, and the shadow government in the Kandahar region.  Read more in "Crucial test looms for key Afghan battleground", AFP Google, February 13, 2011.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Assessment of the Security of Kandahar

A recent news article has provided an assessment of the apparent state of security in Kandahar and around the city. Read more in "Kandahar: Safer for good or just safer for now?", Stars and Stripes, February 3, 2011.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Kandahar PRT Located at Camp Nathan Smith Transitions from Canada to U.S.

As the Canadians transition from a combat role to a training role in Afghanistan various moves will be made over the next year.  One is the transitioning of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) from Canada to the U.S. military.  The PRT, located at Camp Nathan Smith, was turned over to the Americans this past month.  The KPRT is a mix of Soldiers and civilians from Canada (now the U.S.) and has been led by the Canadians since 2005.  Most PRTs number about 50-100 personnel.  Read more about the KPRT in the article below.
See "Canada turns Kandahar reconstruction team over to the U.S.", The Vancouver Sun, January 12, 2011.