Strategic SSI - Afghanistan - WikiLeaks DSR 25 MAY 10.pdf · Ordinance Recovered: 20 May, Kapisa...

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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan

DAILY SITUATION REPORT 25 MAY 2010

SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES RELEVANT TO SSSI PERSONNEL AND CLIENTS

The suicide/VBIED attack threat in Kabul city is still high with two more Threat Reports that were received. The Peace Jirga that is scheduled for Kabul was postponed for a second time on 24 May 10. The latest information is that the Peace Jirga will now take place in Kabul over the period 02 to 03 Jun 10, and that the two days before the start of the Peace Jirga will be utilized for preparations. It can be expected that the period 31 May to 03 Jun 10 will also be marked on the calendars of the insurgents. Therefore the threat levels will be elevated over that period, and so will the ANSF deployments and traffic congestion in the city also be.

MAJOR COUNTRY WIDE EVENTS

Kabul: Escalation of Force incident at the KAIA South Gate. No casualties

Helmand: Insurgents captured and beheaded an IM interpreter

Kunar: 15 x Workers kidnapped from INGO Project Site – 11 Released




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan Threat Reports Received Last 3 Days

BREAKDOWN OF INCIDENTS REPORTED FOR AFGHANISTAN IN SSSI DSR FOR PERIOD 24 TO 25 MAY 10

24 May: Faryab: Reportedly three suicide bombers infiltrated

25 May: Herat: Threat of a possible multiple suicide attack on the RTC

25 May: Kabul: Threat of a possible suicide VBIED attacks on Camps Warehouse and Phoenix

25 May: General: Insurgents may use construction vehicles to enter Military Installations

24 May: Kabul: Threat of a possible suicide VBIED attack on Pole Charki Prison




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan

Table illustrating the number of Killed and Wounded, Captured and Arrested as per the reporting’s of the SSSI DSR.

IM ANSF PSC/FN LN INSURGENTS KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA

01 May 2 0 0 4 17 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 15 4 8 02 May 0 0 0 0 7 0 2 2 0 2 9 0 14 4 1 03 May 1 3 0 7 1 2 2 3 3 8 20 3 1 3 4 04 May 2 5 0 2 11 2 1 0 0 3 5 0 5 4 11 05 May 2 3 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 6 2 6 18 6 3 06 May 3 29 0 1 6 7 0 0 0 3 23 0 32 8 12 08 May 1 1 0 2 4 0 1 2 0 3 2 7 6 0 6 09 May 0 3 0 5 8 1 0 0 0 15 29 6 22 0 8 10 May 4 6 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 10 3 5 11 May 1 4 0 2 9 0 1 4 0 11 4 2 17 2 12 12 May 0 5 0 5 10 4 0 0 0 12 25 3 34 20 21 13 May 3 1 0 4 5 0 0 3 0 1 7 0 5 10 0 15 May 1 0 0 1 5 3 1 2 0 14 0 0 22 10 6 16 May 0 3 0 10 5 0 1 0 0 4 3 1 76 15 13 17 May 3 4 0 9 29 0 5 1 0 18 7 8 12 4 7 18 May 5 12 0 8 25 0 0 0 0 2 3 5 38 23 3 19 May 6 5 0 6 12 0 1 2 0 15 47 2 11 1 26 20 May 2 8 0 10 20 0 0 1 0 5 4 6 22 6 8 22 May 0 3 0 2 8 0 6 7 0 1 5 1 5 3 1 23 May 2 16 0 6 16 0 0 0 0 5 14 0 6 6 1 24 May 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 7 0 4 13 0 18 25 May 2 4 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 17 12 7 25 43 6 TOTAL 40 115 0 90 215 19 24 30 3 155 221 61 409 175 180

(Kindly note that these are from the SSSI DSR and are not official statistics and may differ from those released by ISAF or other agencies and organisations.)




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan SECURITY INCIDENTS REPORTED FOR PERIOD 24 TO 25 MAY 10

CENTRAL REGION

Ambush: 23 May, Kabul Province, Surobi District, Tangi Valley – Just before noon insurgents ambushed a PSC escorted IM contracted convoy with SAF and RPGs. One LN driver was WIA and several tankers were damaged. The route was blocked for approx two hours. Escalation of Force: 24 May, Kabul Province, Kabul City, District #15 – At approx 15h00 a taxi approached the KAIA South Gate with speed, and the guards at the gate engaged with SAF. No casualties were reported, but two men exited the taxi and fled the scene. Miscellaneous: 24 May, Kabul Province, Kabul City, District #9 – During the afternoon rush hour on the Jalalabad Road, approx 16h35, a small LN boy run onto the road near the Green Village crossing and was run over by a PSC SUV. The PSC medic immediately assisted the boy, and the PSC medevaced the boy to a medical facility. Injuries to the boy appear not to be fatal. Insurgency: 24 May, Kabul Province, Kabul City – A Threat Report was received on a possible suicide VBIED attack against Pole Charki Prison. Reportedly the suicide attackers arrived in the city on 24 May in order to conduct attacks during the planned Peace Jirga. No further detail is available Insurgency: 25 May, Kabul Province, Kabul City – A Threat Report was received on a possible suicide VBIED attack against IM facilities Camp Warehouse and Camp Phoenix. Reportedly the suicide attackers arrived in the city on 24 May. No further detail is available.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan Demonstration: 25 May, Kabul Province, Kabul City, District #2 – Just before noon a group of approx 300 ANSF veterans staged a peaceful demonstration between the Ghazi Stadium and the Pashtunistan square protesting the lack of pensions and benefits. Ordinance Recovered: 20 May, Kapisa Province, Mahmud-e Raqi District – During the day the Police located and seized a BM-1 Rocket. Mine: 22 May, Kapisa Province, Nejrab District – During the day a mine detonated on a farmland in the Khome Zergar Area. Five men working on the farmland was KIA. Remark. It is possible that this mine was an old UXO. IED: 20 May, Parwan Province, Charikar District – During the day the Police located and defused an IED near the District Administrative Centre. Ordinance Recovered: 20 May, Logar Province, Baraki Barak District – During an early morning joint IM/ANSF search operation an undisclosed amount of explosives, several hand grenades and a quantity of other ordinance was seized from a compound. No arrests were made. Ambush: 22 May, Logar Province, Phule Alam District, Phule Alam City – During the morning insurgents ambushed the vehicle transporting the Baraki Barak District Governor. The District Governor escaped unhurt, but one of his bodyguards and one Police member were WIA. IED: 22 May, Logar Province, Baraki Barak District – A Police vehicle detonated an IED. No casualties were reported. IED: 20 May, Wardak Province, Nerkh District – During the day a construction vehicle detonated an IED in the Khwajeh Agan Area. No casualties were reported. Murder: 22 May, Ghazni Province, Andar District – The Andar District Chief of Police was shot and killed by insurgents near the District Hospital just before noon. Attack: 22 May, Ghazi Province, Muqor District – During the night of 22/23 May insurgents attacked and took over a Police checkpoint. The insurgents seized some weapons and a Police vehicle. No casualties were reported. Ambush: 22 May, Ghazni Province, Deh Yek District – Just before noon insurgents ambushed an ANA supply convoy. An ANA QRF responded to the scene, and in the fire fight seven insurgents were KIA, and five more insurgents were WIA. Insurgent media claims later stated that several ANA members were killed, but this was denied by the ANA. Ambush: 24 May, Ghazni Province, Muqar District – During the morning insurgents ambushed an ANSF on Highway 1 enroute from Kabul to Kandahar. During an approx two hour fire fight 7 insurgents were KIA, and 30 more insurgents were WIA. No other casualties were reported. IED: 22 May, Uruzgan Province, Deh Rawood District – During the day a joint IM/ANSF patrol detonated an IED. Two IM members were KIA, and four more IM members were WIA. One LN interpreter was also KIA.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan WESTERN REGION

Ambush: 20 May, Faryab Province, Pashtun Kowt District – During the morning insurgents ambushed a group of government officials as they were travelling in the Qezal Qaleh Area. The Police escort repelled the attack and no casualties were reported. Murder: 22 May, Faryab Province, Dawlat Abad District – During the day insurgents shot and killed a tribal elder while he was attending to his live stock. A group of approx 15 insurgents on motorcycles drove up to him and then opened fire. The tribal leader had provided security for polling stations during last year's election and planned to attend an upcoming Peace Jirga in Kabul. Two associates of the elder were also wounded in the attack. Attack: 22 May, Faryab Province, Shakh Qeysar District – During the night of 22/23 May insurgents attacked a Police Checkpoint with RPGs and SAF. The Police repelled the attack and killed three insurgents, wounding four more insurgents. No other casualties were reported. IED: 21 May, Badghis Province, Murghab District – During the day a joint IM/ANSF patrol located and defused two pressure plate IEDs. IED: 22 May, Herat Province, Koshk District – During the day an IM patrol vehicle detonated an IED in the Darzak Area. No casualties were reported. Insurgency: 25 May, Herat Province, Herat City – Threat Report received on a possible multiple suicide attack on the RTC. No time frames were reported. Remark. The same tactics by the insurgents could be used if the attack is conducted. By implication it can be expected that the insurgents will make use of ANSF uniforms, and as reported more than one suicide attacker can be involved. As was seen in other attacks the first strike with at least one suicide attacker will be at the main entrance of the facility, supported by SAF from insurgents in the street, in order to breach the gap for more suicide attackers to enter the facility for attacks on pre-determined targets.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan Attack: 21 May, Ghor Province, Pasaband District – During the night of 21/22 May the insurgents launched an attack on the District Administrative Centre. Die Police repelled the attack by killing three insurgents. One LN was WIA during the fire fight. No other casualties were reported. IDF Attack: 21 May, Ghor Province, Leyneh District – During the night of 21/22 May the insurgents launched an IDF attack on the District Administrative Centre. Five incoming projectiles were recorded. No casualties were reported. Feud Attack: 23 May, Ghor Province, Shahrak District – Early during the morning two pro-government militia groups clashed in the Joreh Area due to an argument between the rival leaders. No casualties were reported. Attack: 23 May, Ghor Province, Shahrak District – During the night of 23/24 May a group of insurgents attacked a Police checkpoint in the Joreh Area. The Police repelled the attack. Three insurgents were KIA, and three more insurgents were WIA. Kidnap: 18 May (Late Report), Farah Province, Bala Boluk District – During the day insurgents kidnapped six workers of a construction company. Three of the kidnapped workers were released during a Police operation on 20 May. The whereabouts of the other three workers is still unknown. Ordinance Recovered: 21 May, Farah Province, Bala Boluk District – During the day an IM patrol located and seized a cache in the area. The cache contained 8 x Detonation Devices for linking several charges to one initiator, four pressure plate initiating devices, 20 meters of detonation cord, five remote control initiation devices and approx 40 x Battery Packs. Remark. This is the first time that the possibility of daisy chain type IEDs appears in this region. This can be an indication of a possible change in tactics initiated by the insurgents. Attack: 21 May, Farah Province, Bakwa District – During the morning insurgents attacked an IM patrol with SAF in the Golojan Kalay Area. During the fire fight one insurgent was KIA. No other casualties were reported. Success: 22 May, Farah Province, Bala Boluk District – Ten insurgents, including a local insurgent commander, surrendered to the Police at the District Administrative Centre. This is a direct result of the government’s amnesty program. Kidnap: 22 May, Farah Province, Bakwa District – During the day insurgents kidnapped an undisclosed number of workers of a road construction company. The Police reacted and attacked the insurgent location. During the fire fight one insurgent was killed, and one more insurgent was wounded. The Police also managed to arrest two insurgents and free one of the kidnapped workers. IED: 24 May, Farah Province, Pusht Rod District – During the day a minibus travelling on the route from Pusht Rod District to Khaki Safed District detonated an IED. Five LNs were KIA and eight more LNs were WIA.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan NORTHERN REGION

Attack: 22 May, Balkh Province, Chahar Boluk District – During the day insurgents attacked a Police patrol vehicle with SAF in the Aq Teppeh Area. No casualties were reported. Attack: 22 May, Balkh Province, Chahar Boluk District – During the afternoon insurgents attacked a foreign commercial company vehicle with SAF in the Gur Teppeh Area. No casualties were reported. Attack: 22 May, Kunduz Province, Imam Sahib District – During the day insurgents attacked a Police Border Post in the Muzakera Khana Area. No casualties were reported. IED: 21 May, Takhar Province, Bangi District – During the day the Police located and defused an IED in the Mullah Kheyl Area. Success: 23 May, Takhar Province, Yanghi Qaleh District, Omar Kheyl Area – During the day a group of ten insurgents, including their commander, surrendered to the Police as part of the government amnesty program. Sabotage: 22 May, Baghlan Province, Phule Khumri – During the evening insurgents attacked and damage two mobile phone masts. Murder: 22 May, Baghlan Province, Khinjan District, Quraish Kalay Area – During the evening insurgents fired on a civilian car which was on its way Andarab District. Three LNs were KIA, including two teachers. Attack: 20 May, Badaghshan Province, Faizabad District – During the night of 20/21 May insurgents attacked an IM patrol vehicle. No casualties were reported.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan EASTERN REGION

IDF Attack: 20 May, Laghman Province, Qarghai District – During the night of 20/21 May insurgents launched several mortar bombs towards a joint IM/ANSF post. No casualties were reported. IDF Attack: 20 May, Kunar Province, Asadabad District – During the day insurgents launched 3 x Mortar Bombs towards an IM installation near Yar Gul. No casualties were reported. Kidnap: 20 May, Kunar Province, Marah Warreh District – During the day a large insurgent group kidnapped fifteen Afghan workers from an INGO project site. Eleven of the kidnapped workers were released on 22 May, and the whereabouts of the other four is still unknown. IED: 21 May, Kunar Province, Sirkanay District, Nawa Area – During the morning a civilian vehicle detonated an IED, woundeing the driver. Ambush: 21 May, Kunar Province, Manogai District, Sunzary Area – Late during the evening insurgents ambushed an IM logistics convoy. No casualties were reported. Murder: 21 May, Kunar Province, Terezai District, Munday Khel Area – Just after noon at prayers insurgents killed a Mullah. Murder: 22 May, Kunar Province, Sirkanay District – During the evening insurgents shot and killed a tribal elder in the Pasht Area. IED: 20 May, Nangarhar Province, Bati Kowt District – During the afternoon the Police located and defused and IED in the Chardahai Area. Attack: 20 May, Nangarhar Province, Hesarak District – Late afternoon insurgents attacked the District Administrative Area with machine guns and SAF. No casualties were reported.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan IED: 21 May, Nangarhar Province, Shinwar District – During the morning the Police located and defused a RCIED in the vicinity of the Ghani Kheyl Hospital. SOUTH EASTERN REGION

Attack: 21 May, Paktya Province, Gardez District, Ibrahim Kheyl Area – During the day insurgents fired shots at a local PSC. No casualties were reported. IED: 21 May, Paktya Province, Gardez District, Golwaleh Area – During the day an ANA vehicle detonated an IED. Three ANA members were WIA. IDF Attack: 22 May, Paktya Province, Gardez District – Early during the morning insurgents fired a rocket towards the Police HQ. No casualties were reported. IDF Attack: 20 May, Khost Province, Bak District – During the day insurgents launched several rockets towards the District Administrative Centre. No casualties were reported. IDF Attack: 20 May, Khost Province, Tani District – During the day insurgents launched several rockets towards a Border Police Post. No casualties were reported. Success: 22 May, Khost Province, Khost District – During the day the NDS arrested two insurgents as they were preparing to conduct a suicide attack. Both the arrested insurgents are from Pakistani origin. IED: 21 May, Paktika Province, Dileh District, Khosh Amand Area – During the day an ANA vehicle detonated an IED. One ANA member was WIA.




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan SOUTHERN REGION

Crime: 22 May, Helmand Province, Nad-E Ali District – During the day the ANSF located and seized 150 Kg of opium. One suspect was arrested. Attack: 22 May, Helmand Province, Sangin District – During the night of 22/23 May three separate SAF were recorded where insurgents fired a few accurate shots at the IM in the Blenheim and Shugar Areas. No casualties were reported. Attack: 22 May, Helmand Province, Nad-E Ali District – During the night of 22/23 May six separate SAF were recorded where insurgents fired a few accurate shots at the IM. No casualties were reported. IED: 22 May, Helmand Province, Musa Qaleh District – Four separate IED attacks against IM patrols were reported as the IM patrols are clearing the areas far south of the District Administrative Centre. No casualties were reported. Murder: 22 May, Helmand Province, Nahre Serraj District, Gershk Area – During the day insurgents captured an IM interpreter and beheaded him. Intimidation: 21 May, Kandahar Province, Kandahar City, District #6 – A UN Agency compound received a letter from the insurgents accusing the UN workers as spies, and threatening them with death if they do not resign their jobs. Ordinance Recovered: 22 May, Kandahar Province, Panjwai District – During the day an IM patrol located and seized a cache containing machine gun ammunition and an assortment of other ammunitions pieces. Attack: 22 May, Kandahar Province, Daman District, Kandahar Airfield – During the evening from approx 19h30 till approx 23h59 insurgents attacked the Kandahar Airfield Base with Rockets, Machine Guns and SAF. The coordinated attack was sprung by between five and nine rockets, of which a few impacted inside the base. The IDF was followed by a ground




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan attack with machine guns and multiple SAF against the northern perimeter of the base. At no stage the perimeter of the base was breached, and it basically comes down to a stand-off attack. Remark. This attack was reported as an open source report before, and is now reported to form part of the statistics. Most reports refer to several people being wounded inside the base during the attack, but the only one that can be regarded as confirmed is one TCN IM Contractor that was wounded. There are also claims in open sources that one IM helicopter was damaged during the attack, but this is not confirmed. Attack: 22 May, Kandahar Province, Zhari District – Early during the evening insurgents attacked a Police checkpoint in the Pashmul Kalay Area. No casualties were reported. Operation: 22 May, Kandahar Province, Arghandab District – During the night of 22/23 May a joint IM/ANSF operation was launched in the Bibi Haweh Kolachi Area. The insurgent commander for Southern Arghandab and Dand was captured during the operation. Crime: 22 May, Kandahar Province, Spin Boldak District, Spin Boldak Town – During the night of 22/23 May the Border Police discovered 1 500 liters of drug processing chemicals and 1 330 Kg of Hashish during a vehicle search. No arrests were made. IED: 22 May, Kandahar Province, Panjwai District – During the morning the Police located and defused two IEDs in the Nakhonay Area. Ambush: 23 May, Kandahar Province, Zhari District – Early in the morning insurgents ambushed a PSC escorted IM contracted logistical convoy with machine guns and SAF near Senjaray. No casualties were reported. Crime: 22 May, Zabul Province, Qalat District – During the day the ANSF stopped and searched a truck near Qalat, as the ANSF suspected it could be a VBIED. The ANSF arrested a man after the found ⅔ ton of opium on the truck. Operation: 22 May, Zabul Province, Shah Joy District – A joint IM/ANSF operation was launched during the night of 22/23 May, resulting in the capturing of an insurgent.

SPECIAL INTEREST NEWS

The attack was the deadliest this year on foreign troops




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan Seven arrested for Kabul attack on Nato convoy BBC News 25 May Afghan authorities say they have arrested seven people in connection with last week's attack in the capital, Kabul, which killed six Nato soldiers. Four colonels - three of them American and one Canadian - died in the car bombing which killed 18 people. At least 52 people were injured in the deadliest attack this year on foreign troops in the Afghan capital. Most of the victims were Afghan civilians caught in the blast when the bomber targeted a Nato-led convoy. The bomber struck close to the parliament during rush hour. The seven included one schoolteacher and were taken into custody over the last week, the spokesman for Afghanistan's intelligence service, Saeed Ansari, said on Monday. Mr Ansari said the group was responsible for at least seven other attacks in the capital since last year, including last February's attack on a guesthouse frequented by foreigners in which six Indians were killed.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Afghan Peace Conference Delayed For Second Time Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 24, 2010 Afghan officials said a conference to discuss peace prospects with the Taliban had been postponed for a second time. The gathering of tribal elders and other community leaders had been expected to begin on May 29, but the start of the three-day conference is now scheduled for June 2. One of the organizers, Najeeb Amin, said the delay will allow more time for delegates to travel to the capital and register. The conference, known as a loya jirga, was postponed from early May to allow President Hamid Karzai to discuss his peace plans during a visit to Washington earlier this month. No representatives of the Taliban are due to attend the event.

WEATHER FORECAST

Afghanistan Weather for Wednesday 26 May 2010 Kabul Jalalabad Mazar Kandahar Herat

Clear

31° C | 10° C Clear

37° C | 22° C Clear

32° C | 20° C Clear

41° C | 23° C Clear

31° C | 16° C

Farah Khost Kunduz Gardez Fayzabad

Clear

39° C | 24° C Clear

34° C | 21° C Clear

32° C | 20° C Clear

28° C | 11° C Rain 20%

31° C | 12° C




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan CALENDAR

02 Jun – 04 Jun 10 - Peace Jirga 19 Aug 10 - National Day. 10 Sep - 11 Sep 10 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 18 Sep 10 - Parliamentary Elections. 16 Nov - 17 Nov 10 - Eid-al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

Note. Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last up to several days, depending on the region.

NEWS / INFORMATION

UK defence secretary insults Afghans Press TV / May 24, 2010 UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox has branded Afghanistan "a broken 13th-century country," sparking fury in a country where thousands of British troops are stationed. During an interview with The Times which was published on Saturday, Fox made the controversial statement in reference to making a distinction between the British military and humanitarian aims in Afghanistan. He proclaimed, "We are not in Afghanistan for the sake of the education policy in a broken 13th-century country. We are there so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened." Fox went on to state, "We can't afford to see Afghanistan roll backwards into a failed state that could become a base from which terrorist campaigns can be launched anywhere in the world." The interview was published as Fox headed to Afghanistan's Helmand province, accompanied by Foreign Secretary William Hague and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell. Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed indignation at his remarks during a meeting with the British officials. A senior Afghan government spokesman asserted that the comments showed a lack of "mutual respect" and "trust" on the part of the British government, and went on to say, "We see Britain as still a colonial, orientalist and racist country that they should have this view. Dr. Fox really believes what he said, and he is not alone. London and Kabul must move on or things will be more difficult."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UK army bomb disposal chief resigns Press TV / May 24, 2010 The British Army's top bomb disposal officer has resigned after expressing concerns about the shortage of new recruits in Afghanistan. UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Colonel Bob Seddon, principal ammunition technical office of the Royal Logistics Corps, would step down in January over concerns about the pressures on his team operating in




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan Afghanistan. "I am very concerned over the pressures they are facing in Afghanistan," The Sun newspaper quoted Seddon as saying in a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Monday. "We've broadened our training and selection but it will take time before these measures come into play. The existing cohorts are going to be under pressure," Seddon said. A British Army's spokesman confirmed in a statement that the top officer has resigned and will leave his post and the Army in January next year. "The Army remains committed to the counter IED (improvised explosive devise) effort which is the number one priority in Afghanistan," the spokesman said. The UK coalition government says its top foreign policy priority is the strategy for Afghanistan, where Britain has 9,500 troops battling Taliban militants. Some 285 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2001. Three-quarters of these soldiers have been killed by booby-trap bombs laid by the Taliban.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Quqnoos May 24, 2010 President Karzai has ordered that no more private aviation companies would be granted with license to operate in Afghanistan The decision comes a week after a private airliner with 44 people on board crashed in Salang, north of Kabul. In his decree issued on Monday, Karzai said the reason for the decision was that the Kabul International Airport could not accommodate more aircrafts. The Afghan president also ordered the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to technically examine all the planes operating in the country as an effort to avoid a repeat of last week's incident. Karzai also stressed on the requirement of professional training of pilots and aircraft engineers, warning the disqualified staff and planes not at the international standards would be forced to stop functioning. Five aviation companies are operating in Afghanistan, of which four are passenger airlines and the fifth is a cargo company.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Afghan gov't urged to take measures for release of hostages held by Taliban GHAZNI May 24, Xinhua Deputy to Provincial Council of Ghazni province in south Afghanistan on Monday called on government to ensure the safe release of 13 more hostages held by Taliban militants. "We call on the government to take immediate step for the safe release of the 13 abductees from Taliban clutch,"Amanullah Kamrani told Xinhua. He also said that government negligence enabled Taliban militants to execute 11 innocent people including students in Andar district. Taliban militants abducted 24 people including students over the past one week and so far have killed 11 of them on charge of spying for Afghan and NATO-led troops, according to Kamrani. Locals in Ghazni city the capital of same name Ghazni province publicly mourned the murder of 11 people by militants on Sunday. President Hamid Karzai also in a statement condemned the incident and instructed concerned authorities to bring those behind the bloody incident to justice. On the other hand, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from undisclosed location said that the insurgents had executed four persons on charge of spying for the




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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan establishment, a claim rejected by the official as baseless.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Afghan government accountant sentenced for corruption BBC News 25 May An Afghan anti-corruption court has sentenced a government accountant to 15 years in prison for corruption. Mohammad Noor, who worked for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, was arrested on arrival last year at Kabul airport carrying $350,000 (£240,000). Prosecutors said it was a bribe and that he was carrying it for his boss, Sidik Chakari, who was then the minister for religious affairs. Mr Noor denied the charge. Mr Chakari, a British citizen, is now in the UK. Prosecutors have also charged him with corruption and are seeking his extradition.

ACRONYMS

Strategic SSI - Afghanistan - WikiLeaks DSR 25 MAY 10.pdf · Ordinance Recovered: 20 May, Kapisa...

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