Kidnapped German aid worker freed in northern Afghanistan

Location map for Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Afghan security forces freed a German citizen from the unknown hostage takers in this province.
Provincial security chief Gen. Imamuddin Mutmaein confirming the report said the German citizen used to work in a non-governmental organization in the central city of Faizabad.

Gen. Mutmaein further added that the unknown gunmen had kidnapped the German citizen from Batash village on Sunday.

He said Afghan security forces managed to free the kidnapped German citizen following a military operation conducted in Argo district at Danishmandan village on Sunday night.

At least three suspected individuals were also arrested in connection to the incident.

This comes as unknown gunmen kidnapped at least five foreigners including 2 female doctors in remote mountains of Faizabad district earlier last year.

The aid workers employed by Swiss-based aid group Medair were making their way from Faizabad city in rugged northeast Badakhshan province to visit flood-stricken areas when they were abducted about half-way to their destination.

The kidnapping of foreigners has become relatively common in parts of Afghanistan since U.S-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001, heralding a 10-year anti-insurgent war.

In 2010, 10 foreign medical workers, including six Americans, were killed in Badakhshan in an attack blamed on insurgents.

from KHAAMA
By Meena Haseeb - 25 Mar 2013, 10:58 am

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Taliban abduct 10 Afghan soldiers, 1 doctor in Badakhshan

According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Taliban militants abducted at least 10 Afghan national army soldiers along with a doctor in this province.

Provincial governor spokesman Abdul Maroof Rasukh confirming the report said the individuals were abducted by Taliban militants during a military operation in Wardoj district around 3 days back.

Mr. Rasukh furhter added that negotiations have been started to free the army service members along with the doctor from the Taliban hostage.

This comes as Taliban militants abducted at least 20 Afghan national army soldiers a few weeks back and murdered 16 army personnel in Wardoj district. The remaining army soldiers were released by Taliban militants following negotiations by tribal elders.

from KHAAMA
By Ghanizada - 25 Mar 2013, 11:13 am

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Heavy clashes in Wardoj district leaves 43 Taliban dead

According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Afghan security forces took control of various security check posts during clashes with the Taliban militants.
Security check posts including “Barabara and Ghano” were under the control of Taliban militants during the past one week, which was confirmed by security officials in Wardoj district.

Wardoj district governor Dawlat Mohammad Khawar said heavy clashes took place between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants which started at 8 pm on Thursday night and continued until 3 am on Friday morning.

Mr. Khawar further added, Afghan security forces made a tactical withdrawal from the security check posts in a bid to prevent civilian casualties.

In the meantime provincial governor spokesman said a vast military operation was conducted in Wardoj district which resulted in death of 43 Taliban militants and control of the security check posts were taken by Afghan security forces.

There are no reports if Afghan security forces and civilians have suffered any casualties during the clashes but provincial governor spokesman said Afghan security forces have seized weapons and explosives during the operation and control of the Wardoj district is with the Afghan security forces now.

Wardoj district has been one of the most volatile region in north-eastern Badakhshan province during the recent months, and around 278 families left the area due to unrest in this district.

Militants have increased their attacks on Afghan security forces in Wardoj district, and around 15 Afghan police officers were recently abducted by Taliban militants who were later released after local tribal elders brokered talks with the militants.

A spokesman for the Taliban militant group Zabiullah Mujahid also claimed that several Afghan police vehicles were destroyed during the clashes with Taliban militants.

from KHAAMA
By Ghanizada - 22 Mar 2013, 2:55 pm

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Taliban abduct and kill 16 Afghan soldiers in Badakhshan

Districts of Badakhshan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to reports Taliban militants group handed over the dead bodies of 16 Afghan national army soldiers to local officials in north-eastern Badakhshan province.
The soldiers were reportedly shot dead by Taliban militants following a fire gun battle in Wardaj district on Monday.

Taliban militants group following a statement confirmed, “A deadly fighting was reported in northern Badakhshan province on Monday. Mujahideen officials said the fight flared up in Wardaj district of the province at about 1:00 p.m. local time and went on till the evening hours of the day,  killing more than15 puppets and wounding a number of the enemy troops.

Mujahideen captured some 12 puppet soldiers as well as seizing 37 heavy and light machine guns and rockets and 2 ranger vehicles from the possession of the enemy amid fighting, whereas 2 Mujahids became martyr and one more hurt during the fighting.

About 8 enemy’s vehicle are said to have been destroyed in Monday’s fighting”

In the meantime local officials in Badakhshan province said Taliban militants released seven Afghan police officers who were captured during the gun battle in Wardaj district.

The officials confirmed that Afghan security forces suffered heavy casualties during the gun battle and several others were captured by the Taliban militants.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 05 Mar 2013, 10:27 pm

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8 policemen, 6 rebels dead in Badakhshan clash

FAIZABAD (PAN): Eight policemen and six Taliban fighters were killed, while 13 others, including two policemen, wounded during a clash with Taliban in northeastern Badakhshan province, officials said on Wednesday.

The clash erupted late Tuesday when a group of militants stormed police checkpoints in Shera area of Ordowj district, said Col. Sakhidad Haidari.

The provincial deputy police chief told Pajhwok Afghan News that both sides suffered causalities -- with the death of eight security men and six rebels in the skirmish.

However, Governor’s spokesman, Abdul Raof acknowledged losing eight security personnel and the detention of two other injured policemen, and verified two Taliban fighters killed and another two injured.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman while claiming responsibility for the attack, said 26 policemen were killed, two detained, as well as one of their fighters killed in the fight.

He added currently Taliban have full control of four checkpoints of the security personnel, torched six vehicles, seized some weapons and explosives during the raid.

from Pajhwok
by Farid Tanha

Related articles

• 8 policemen, 6 rebels dead in Badakhshan clash (pajhwok.com)
• Taliban attack police check post in Badakshan, 8 killed (khaama.com)

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ISAF captures IMU facilitator in northeastern Afghanistan

file photo

By Bill Roggio - May 24, 2012 - LWJ

Coalition and Afghan special operations forces captured an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) facilitator during a raid today in Badakhshan province. The raid took place just one day after two foreign and two Afghan aid workers were among five people kidnapped in the province.

The combined special operations team captured the IMU facilitator and "several other insurgents" during a raid in Badakhshan's Argo district, the International Security Assistance Force stated in press release. ISAF said the IMU facilitator "was responsible for acquiring and transporting explosive materials and improvised explosive devices for attacks against Afghan and Coalition forces throughout the district."

Students in the province are protesting the raid, and claimed that their fellow classmates as well as teachers were among those detained, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.

Today's raid occurred just one day after two female foreign aid workers, whose nationalities have not been reported, and three Afghan males, including two aid workers, were kidnapped in the same province. The aid workers are employed by Medair, a Swiss relief agency, according to Reuters.

ISAF has conducted four raids against the IMU in Badakhshan since September 2011, and another in August 2010 that targeted a Taliban operative who aided "foreign fighters," according to ISAF press releases compiled by The Long War Journal. The IMU is known to have a presence in the districts of Argo, Faizabad, and Kishim.

The IMU continues to maintain a close working relationship with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Haqqani Network. The Pakistan-based terror group has integrated into the Taliban's shadow government in the north, and conducts operations with the Haqqani Network in the east. In addition, the IMU has been involved in several high-profile suicide attacks and assassinations in Kabul and in the north.

ISAF has stepped up its targeting of the IMU's leadership cadre over the past several months. Coalition and Afghan commandos have targeted top IMU leaders and associates in 18 raids in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Faryab, Kunduz, Takhar, Logar, and Wardak provinces since Jan. 29. Two of those raids have taken place this month, nine occurred in April, and four in March. In the course of those raids, special operations forces have killed the IMU's past two commanders for Afghanistan; the raids have also resulted in the capture of three senior facilitators and the death of another.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/05/isaf_captures_imu_fa_1.php#ixzz1vsINv8on

Related articles

• ISAF captures IMU facilitator in northeastern Afghanistan (longwarjournal.org)

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14 armed insurgents killed in Badakhshan and Paktiya provinces and 2 others arrested in Kandahar province

Publish Date: May 16, 2012

14 armed insurgents killed in Badakhshan and Paktiya provinces and two others arrested in Kandahar province

As a result of conflict between Afghan National Border Police and armed insurgents in the Zazai Aryoub District of Paktiya province, last night at 01:30 am, nine armed insurgents were killed.

Also, Afghan National Police confiscated nine AK-47 assault rifles during this conflict.

In the meantime, Afghan National Border Police, Afghan National Civil Order Police and Afghan National Army launched a joint operation in the Bashin region, Argo District of Badakhshan province.

As a result of this operation, five armed insurgents were killed.

Also, during this operation, Afghan National Police discovered amount of light and heavy weapons.

Additionally, Afghan National Border Police arrested two armed insurgents with amount of weapons and 166 radio handsets in the Spin Boldak port, Kandahar province.
 

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Taliban kill four Afghan police, capture 16

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dozens of Taliban rebels have stormed police posts in the remote northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan overnight, killing four officers and capturing at least 16 others.

Two policemen were injured and three others were missing after an intense battle in the mountainous province's Wardaj district, deputy provincial governor Shamsul Rahman Shams said.

"A big number of the Taliban carried out the attacks. The police were overpowered," he said from the provincial capital town of Faizabad.

"16 police were captured by the Taliban and taken away. Three others are also missing but we don't know what has happened to them," Shams said.

The rebels seized two police trucks and a quantity of ammunition.

Afghanistan's security forces, including about 170,000 police, are being trained, equipped and largely paid by a US-led NATO military coalition that has about 130,000 troops fighting the Taliban.

Mostly American, the force is scheduled to withdraw by the end of 2014 and hand over all security responsibilities to local forces. When the troops leave Afghanistan will have a total police and army force of 352,000.

Compared to their army counterparts, Afghan police are undertrained and underequipped and suffer more casualties in Taliban attacks.

 from RTE

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KHAAMA report:

According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province heavy casualties were incurred to Afghan national police forces following armed clashes with anti-government armed militants in this province.

Provincial security chief Sakhidad confirming the report said the incident took place at Wardaj district after a number of the armed Taliban militants attacked a police check post.

He also said at least 3 police officers were killed and 3 others were injured following the incident while 16 others were taken hostage by the Taliban militants.

According to Mr. Sakhidad there were 43 Afghan national police service members in the check post and there are no news regarding the 21 other police officers who have gone missing following the clashes.

According to reports Taliban militants did not suffer any casualties.

 

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10 militants killed in Afghan police operations

Afghan Interior Ministry officials following a press release on Saturday announced at least 10 armed militants were killed following military operations by Afghan national police forces.

The source further added, the miliants were killed during 8 separate military operations conducted by Afghan national police in coordination with the Afghan army, Afghan intelligence and international coalition security forces.

The operations were conducted at Nangarhar, Badakhshan, Kandahar, Helmand and Paktia provinces of Afghanitan, interior ministry officials added.

Interior Ministry officials also said at least 1 militant was injured and 14 others were also detained during the military operations.

Afghan security forces also seized some weapons, ammunitions along with explosives during the military operations. Anti-government armed militatn groups yet to comment regarding the operation.

from KHAAMA

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3 policemen killed, 11 missing in NE Afghanistan

Districts of Badakhshan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen were killed and 11 others were missing following an attack launched by Taliban militants in northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan, a provincial government spokesman said on Tuesday. "An unspecified number of armed militants launched an attack on a police check point in Wardoj district Monday night leaving three policemen with Afghan Border Police dead,"spokesman Abdul Maruf Rasikh told Xinhua.

The missing policemen may have been kidnapped by militants in the mountainous province, 315 km northeast of capital Kabul, the spokesman said.

Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the incident. Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told local media via cell phone that Taliban fighters had launched an attack on a police check point in Badakhshan, killing 10 policemen.

He claimed that the militant group made captive 11 policemen besides seizing their weapons and a vehicle.

Afghan and NATO military officials said recently that impressive Taliban-led attacks would occur in the coming weeks and months as spring and summer, known as "fighting season", draw near.

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16 militants killed in Afghan-NATO military operations

Kabul, 01/22/2012 - According to officials in the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan, at least 16 armed militants were killed in joint Afghan and NATO troops operations across the country.

Afghan Interior Ministry following a press release on Sunday said, the militants were killed in Afghan and NATO troops operations at Kabul, Kapisa, Kandahar, Helmand, Wardak and Khost provinces of Afghanistan.

The source further added, at least 10 other militants were also injured during the operations.

In the meantime Afghan Defense officials said, an Afghan National Army helicopter crashed in north-eastern Badakhshan province on Sunday morning.

The officials following a statement said, the emergency landing of the Afghan Army helicopter was due to worse weather conditions.

The statement further added, there were casualties as a result of the Afghan army helicopter emergency landing in Badakhshan province.

from KHAAMA

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