Foreign Troops Deploy to Kunar. Provincial security officials say that over 150 foreign troops have been deployed to the city of Assadabad in Kunar province in a bid to strengthen security in the province. If true this would be the first time that ISAF . . oops . . . RS forces have been in the province for a long period of time in over two years. See
"Over 100 Foreign Troops Deployed to Kunar",
Tolo News, November 28, 2015.
Mass Defections in Nuristan Province. According to some news reports (and Taliban statements) hundreds of security personnel and government officials
have defected to the Taliban over the past few weeks in Nuristan province. (
The Long War Journal, Dec 1, 2015).
40% of Released Prisoners Resume Fight. The Afghan Chief of Army Staff says that 40% of the Afghan insurgents detained and
subsequently released from prison are back on the battlefield. (
Tolo News, Dec 2, 2015).
Another U.S. Embassy Warning. The U.S. State Department has
issued an updated warning to its citizens about possible attacks in Kabul. (
Gandhara Blog, Nov 30, 2015).
U.S. Reaffirms Support to Afghanistan. The U.S.-led NATO coalition and the United States has r
eaffirmed its commitment to Afghanistan's security forces and said it will not leave the Afghan forces alone on the battlefield. Hmmmm. (
Tolo News, Nov 29, 2015).
Pakistan Shelling Afghanistan. The Afghan ambassador to the United Nations detailed the attacks that Pakistan has conducted with its heavy artillery shelling from across the border into Afghanistan. He also noted that external support to the Taliban and other terrorist groups was primarily motivated by regional rivalry. Read more in
"Pakistan accused of violating Afghanistan's sovereignty",
Pajhwok Afghan News, December 1, 2015.
What of the IMU? Keeping track of the various groups of the
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) can be difficult but several observers recently gathered to provide their thoughts. Read
"The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Comes Unraveled",
Qishloq Ovozi Blog - Radio Free Europe, November 28, 2015.
Insecurity in Afghanistan and Militias. The Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) have had a difficult fighting season in 2015. The Taliban inflicted many casualties and solidified their hold on several districts throughout the country. In addition, some Taliban groups have rebranded themselves as ISIS - especially in Nangarhar and Zabul provinces.The country has also seen an increase in private militias - some funded by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and others funded by local or regional strongmen (powerbrokers or warlords). Read more in
"Afghanistan's precarious security has officials pointing fingers", by Ali M. Latifi and Mohammaed Aharun Arsalai,
Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2015.