Several school girls poisoned in capital Kabul

Several school girls were poisoned in a high school in capital Kabul on Wednesday morning.

A school teacher in Sultan Razia high school said the incident took place after the students entered to their classrooms which was sprayed with the toxic material.

According to the school teacher the students were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment purposes using three ambulances.

In the meantime Afghan education ministry officials confirmed the report and said around 20 school girls have been taken to the hospital so far.

Sultan Razia high school is located in the 7th district of Kabul city in Chel Situn area where hundreds of students are attending their studies on daily basis.

This comes as over 60 school girls were poisoned due to unknown reasons in the capital city of northeastern Takhar province last month.

The incident took place in Bibi Maryam girls high school early Sunday morning on 19 of April last month, and the students were taken to hospital for treatment purposes.

Several dozen of gas attacks against girl schools have been reported across Afghanistan over the past couple of years.

No group or individual has claimed the responsibility for the incidents so far. Radical Islamic groups and anti-government militants had in the past been blamed for such gas attacks.

from KHAAMA
By Meena Haseeb - 01 May 2013, 11:29 am

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6 Afghan police officers shot dead by their comrade in Takhar

Districts of Kunduz. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At least 6 Afghan local police officers were shot dead in a suspected insider attack in northeastern Takhar province of Afghanistan on Thursday night.
According to local authorities in Takhar province, the incident took place after the local police officers including thier commander were poisoned and shot dead.

Khwaja Ghar district governor Mullah Omar confirming the refport said the incident took place in Mullah Quli Shahrwan area located between Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province and Khwaja Ghar district of Takhar province, while the local police officers were sleeping.

Mr. Omar further added the police officers were initially poisoned by one of their comrade and were later shot dead.

He said investigations have been started in this regard and no suspect has been arrested so far.

According to Mullah Omar the local police officers belong to Kunduz province.

Several Afghan security forces have been shot dead by their comrades during insider attacks across the country however yesterday’s incident in Takhar province was the firs such attack in this province.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 26 Apr 2013, 10:32 am

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Over 60 school girls poisoned in Takhar province of Afghanistan

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in north-eastern Takhar province of Afghanistan, at least 48 school girls were poisoned due to unknown reasons in the capital city of Takhar province on Sunday.
The officials further added, the incident took place in Bibi Maryam girls high school early Sunday morning and were taken to hospital for treatment purposes.

Provincial public health chief Dr. Hafizullah Safi confirming the report said the main reason behind the poisoning of the school girls is still unknown.

Mr. Safi further added that majority of the students were discharged from the hospital and medical tests did not confirm the specific reason behind the pisonining of the girls.

On Thursday, a total of 17 students were hospitalized after a similar incident in a girl high school in the same city, some 245 km north of Kabul.

Several dozen of gas attacks against girl schools have been reported across Afghanistan over the past couple of years.

No group or individual has claimed the responsibility for the incidents so far. Radical Islamic groups and anti-government militants had in the past been blamed for such gas attacks.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - 21 Apr 2013, 3:32 pm

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Apr. 08., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a facilitator with ties to multiple terrorist organizations during an operation in Ishkamish district, Takhar province, today.

The facilitator is believed to be an improvised explosive device expert who has done work for the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. He owns a residence suspected of being used exclusively for building and distributing IEDs for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also alleged to be heavily involved in the financial aspect of the insurgency, generating funding support of continued terrorist activities.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

During another operation today in a different area of Ishkamish district, Takhar province, an Afghan and coalition security force killed Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator, Juma Khan. Khan utilized his residence as a staging point for IMU terrorists, offering safe haven and weapons storage for fighters as they prepared for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also had a history of procuring and distributing weapons and ammunition to his fellow insurgents. As a result of the operation, the security force also seized multiple grenades, one AK-47 with magazines, a pistol belt with magazines, and ammunition.

East

The Wardak Provincial Response Company, aided by coalition forces, detained known insurgent Juma Gul in Jalrez district, Wardak province Saturday.

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2 blasts kill 8 Afghans, wound 8

KABUL, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Eight Afghans were killed and eight others sustained injuries as two blasts hit the restive Helmand province in the south and relatively peaceful Takhar province in the north on Thursday, officials confirmed.
In the first blast which took place in the premise of a Medressah or religious school in Marja district of the southern Helmand province with Lashkar Gah as its capital 555 km south of Kabul, five people were killed and six others injured, provincial administration spokesman Farid Zirak said.

"An explosive device, apparently a suicide vest, exploded inside a Medressah in Shin Ghazak village of Marja district at around 07:00 a.m. local time, leaving five seminarians dead and injured six others," Zirak told Xinhua.

He also did not rule out Taliban involvement in the deadly incident, saying the militants often carry out such attacks to terrorize people.

A similar violent incident claimed the lives of three people including a district governor and injured two others in the relatively peaceful Takhar province 245 km north of Kabul Thursday morning, police spokesman in the province Abdul Khalil Asir said.

"Abdul Manan Hakimi, the governor of Ashkamish district, along with two others were killed and two others sustained injuries as a mine exploded near his house at 08:30 a.m. local time today," Asir told Xinhua.

The deadly incident happened minutes after the district governor came out of his home to go somewhere, he added.

Thursday's bombings happened while Afghans were celebrating Nawroz or New Year, falling on March 21, the first day of the year 1392 in Afghan calendar, amid tight security across the country.

President Hamid Karzai in his message congratulated all Afghan citizens on the occasion of 1392 new year and Nawroz, hoping that this new year be blessed with peace, security and progress for Afghanistan.

from XINHUA
Editor: Chen Zhi
2013-03-21 15:56:22

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Suicide blast in residential house in Takhar province

According to local security officials in north-eastern Takhar province of Afghanistan, an Afghan kid was injured following a suicide bomb blast in this province.

The incident took place around 3pm local time after the suspected suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a residential house.

Provincial security commandment spokesman Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai confirming the report said the incident took place in the 3rd district of Takhar city

after Afghan security forces launched an investigation to detain the suicide bomber.

Mr. Ahmadzai further added a small kid of the house owner was injured following the blast and Afghan security forces arrested the house owner in

connection to the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - 06 Mar 2013, 4:12 pm

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Militant commander killed in Takhar

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): A Taliban commander was killed and three of his associates were captured alive in a joint military operation by Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops in the Ishkamish district of northern Takhar province, an official said on Thursday.
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) facilitator, Mazlum Yar, also known as Qari Asrar and Tufan, planned and executed improvised explosive device attacks targeting government officials, as well as Afghan and coalition forces.

He facilitated suicide bombers throughout Takhar and Baghlan provinces. Prior to his death, he was organising IED emplacement for an impending attack, the Takhar police spokesman Abdul Khalil Aseer told Pajhwok Afghan News. The detained suspects are under investigation.

from Pajhwok
By Pajhwok Report Jan 10, 2013 - 12:53   

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5 dead in Takhar, Kunduz incidents

Map of Afghanistan with Takhar highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): Five people were killed in two separate incidents in northern Takhar and Kunduz provinces, an official said on Sunday.

Robbers entered a house in the Sayab area of Bangi district on Saturday night, killing the owner, Takhar police spokesman, Abdul Khalil Aseer, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Before the house owner could fire at the robbers, they shot him dead, Aseer said, adding one of the guests also sustained injuries in the shooting.

The thieves managed to flee the area, but one of them was killed and a second injured as a result of infighting for unknown reason, the police spokesman said.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the fighters attacked a vehicle of the deputy district chief, damaging his car and killing Qayamuddin, an agent of the National Directorate of Security (NDS). However, officials rejected the claim as baseless.

Three robbers were killed and a fourth arrested when a group of robbers fled from the Bangi district of Takhar to the Khanabad town of Kunduz. The fleeing thieves clashed with a local illegal armed group, said the deputy head of Khanabad district, Kudratullah Safi.

from Pajhwok
By Hidayatullah Nov 25, 2012 - 14:19   

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Deadly blast hits Takhar province, district mayor killed

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in north-eastern Takhar province of Afghanistan, a number of high level government officials were killed following an explosion in this province.

Provincial governor spokesman Faizullah Tawhidi confirming the report said the incident took place in Eshkamesh district after an explosive planted on a roadside went off.

Mr. Tawhidi further added a number high level government officials including district mayor, provincial high peace committee member along with three others were killed following the blast.

No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Mon Aug 13, 1:33 pm

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21 Taliban killed, 7 wounded and 12 arrested by ANP (Aug.01.2012.)

Publish Date: Aug 01, 2012

21 Taliban killed, seven wounded and 12 arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched six joint clearance operations in Balkh, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktiya, Herat and Helmand provinces.

As a result of these operations, 21 Taliban were killed, seven wounded and 12 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated four rocket launchers, two PKM machine guns, seven AK-47 assault rifles with 40 magazines, 10 heavy rounds, four different types of mines, 13 hand grenades, 2kg explosive materials, two suicide vests and two motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Afghan National Police discovered and defused two anti-personnel mines a as a result of security operation in the Farkhar District of Takhar province, yesterday.

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained seven individuals accused of theft and assault in the Deh Sabz, 7th and 8th Districts of Kabul-City.

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IMU suicide bomber detained in Takhar province

file photo

According to local authorities in north-eastern Takhar province, Afghan security forces detained a suicide bomber having connection with the Jendullah Group of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate for Security (NDS) following a statement said provincial NDS forces in Takhar province arrested a suicide bomber in cooperation with the local residents in this province.

The source further added the detained suicide bomber was recognized as Tokhtar son of Khal Mohammad and is a resident of Eshkamesh district of northern Takhar province.

NDS officials following the statement confirmed the detained suicide bomber has connections with the Jendullah Group of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

He was detained along with a suicide vest containing at least 6.5 kilograms of explosives, NDS officials said.

According to reports the detained suicide bomber was looking to carry out a suicide blast in Takhar province.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Tue Jun 26, 1:35 pm

Related articles

• IMU suicide bomber detained in Takhar province (khaama.com)

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Around 100 school girls poisoned in northern Afghanistan

According to local authorities in northern Sar-e-Pul province, more than 100 school students were poisoned in this province and were taken to hospital for treatment purposes.

The officials further added the incident took place early Saturday morning at Hazrat Imam Zada Yahya high school and the main reason behind the poisoning of the students were unknown.

Provincial education chief Abdul Ghafoor Sar-e-Puli said an investigation has been started in this regard to find out the facts behind the incident.

This comes as several school girls were poisoned in Takhar, Bamiya and Kabul provinces of Afghanistan.

A number of suspects in this regard were recently detained by security forces in northern Takhar province, and the main motive behind the attack was to prevent Afghan families from sending their daughters to schools.

In the meantime Dr. Mohammad Haroon chief of the provincial hospital said around 118 school girls were taken to the hospital this morning who were poisoned and the health condition of majority of them are better and were sent back to their homes.

He said the health officials have not found any signs of toxicant gases, adding that the students were feeling headache, fever and nausea.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Sat Jun 23, 3:07 pm

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7 suspects linked to poisoning students nabbed

TALOQAN (PAN): Seven suspects, including a Taliban designated district chief and a woman, alleged involved in poisoning school students in northern Takhar province were arrested, officials said on Tuesday.

More than 500 students of several girls’ schools were poisoned in the capital Taloqan, Farkhar and Rostaq districts over the past month.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqub, Taliban’s appointed district chief for Khwaja Ghar, along with two others, including the woman, were detained in Kunduz, while three others arrested from a girls’ school on the outskirts of Taloqan, Mustafa Rasouli, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said another individual was also nabbed as he was trying to spray lethal chemical inside a classroom in the province.

The woman suspect was a Pakistani who had introduced herself as a doctor. Besides, the seven, five others were also picked up on Monday for investigations.

Meanwhile, a source from the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghan probe agency, said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was behind poisoning the students.

During a meeting with the provincial Ulama, tribal elders and influential people, officials had announced a $2,000 (200,000 afs) reward to capture those involved in the heinous crime.

An education ministry report revealed that more than 1,200 students, mostly girls, had been poisoned in Takhar, Khost, and Balkh and Bamyan provinces.

from Pajhwok
by Nadar Azizi on Jun 5, 2012 - 12:41

Related articles

• At least 120 girls students poisoned in Takhar province (khaama.com)
• Some 160 Afghan Schoolgirls Ill After Suspected Gas Attack (rferl.org)
• Afghan girls poisoned in second anti-school attack (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)

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65 school girls poisoned in north-eastern Takhar province

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in north-eastern Takhar province at least 65 school girls were poisoned at Farkhar district in this province.

Provincial governor spokesman Mustafa Rasooli said the students were taken to hospital for treatment purposes and a number of them discharged from the hospital.

In the meantime local officials said at least 4 suspects including a Pakistani woman have been detained in connection to the poisoning of school girls in this province.

This is the 6th time that the schools have been poisoned in north-eastern Takhar province recently. The school girls were on Sunday poisoned at Nahid Shahid high school at Farkhar district.

No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the poisoning of school girls however there are fears of militants groups behind the incident who oppose girls’ education in the country.

from KHAAMA

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Afghan girls poisoned in second anti-school attack

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Reuters) - More than 120 schoolgirls and three teachers have been poisoned in the second attack in as many months blamed on conservative radicals in the country's north, Afghan police and education officials said on Wednesday.

The attack occurred in Takhar province where police said that radicals opposed to education of women and girls had used an unidentified toxic powder to contaminate the air in classrooms. Scores of students were left unconscious.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), says the Taliban appear intent on closing schools ahead of a 2014 withdrawal by foreign combat troops.

"A part of their Al Farooq spring offensive operation is ... to close schools. By poisoning girls they want to create fear. They try to make families not send their children to school," NDS spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said.

Afghanistan's Ministry of Education said last week that 550 schools in 11 provinces where the Taliban have strong support had been closed down by insurgents.

Last month, 150 schoolgirls were poisoned in Takhar province after they drank contaminated water.
Since 2001 when the Taliban were toppled from power by U.S.-backed Afghan forces, females have returned to schools, especially in the capital Kabul. They were previously banned from work and education.

But there are still periodic attacks against students, teachers and school buildings, usually in the more conservative south and east of the country, from where the Taliban insurgency draws most of its support.

(Reporting by Mohammad Hamid in Taliqan and Mirwais Harooni in Kabul; Editing by Rob Taylor and Jeremy Laurence)

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Afghan schoolgirls poisoned in anti-education attack

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Reuters) - About 150 Afghan schoolgirls were poisoned on Tuesday after drinking contaminated water at a high school in the country's north, officials said, blaming it on conservative radicals opposed to female education.

Since the 2001 toppling of the Taliban, which banned education for women and girls, females have returned to schools, especially in Kabul.

But periodic attacks still occur against girls, teachers and their school buildings, usually in the more conservative south and east of the country, from where the Taliban insurgency draws most support.

"We are 100 percent sure that the water they drunk inside their classes was poisoned. This is either the work of those who are against girls' education or irresponsible armed individuals," said Jan Mohammad Nabizada, a spokesman for education department in northern Takhar province.

Some of the 150 girls, who suffered from headaches and vomiting, were in critical condition, while others were able to go home after treatment in hospital, the officials said.

They said they knew the water had been poisoned because a larger tank used to fill the affected water jugs was not contaminated.

"This is not a natural illness. It's an intentional act to poison schoolgirls," said Haffizullah Safi, head of Takhar's public health department.

None of the officials blamed any particular group for the attack, fearing retribution from anyone named.
The Afghan government said last year that the Taliban, which has been trying to adopt a more moderate face to advance exploratory peace talks, had dropped its opposition to female education.

But the insurgency has never stated that explicitly and in the past acid has been thrown in the faces of women and girls by hardline Islamists while walking to school.

Education for women was outlawed by the Taliban government from 1996-2001 as un-Islamic.

(Reporting by Mohammad Hamid; Writing by Jack Kimball, Editing by Rob Taylor and Sanjeev Miglani)

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Four suicide bombers detained in Takhar province

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local security officials in north-eastern Takhar province, Afghan security forces detained at least 4 suspected suicide bombers in this province.

A provincial intelligence official in Takhar province said, the suspected suicide bombers were detained last evening following a military operation in this province.

The official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, the 4 suspected suicide bombers were detained along with their suicide vests and explosves based on an intelligence report.

In the meantime an Afghan intelligence service member was killed during a separate military operation in this province.

In a separate incident at least 3 people were killed and 3 others were injured following armed clashes between the Talian militants and Afghan national security forces in this province.

Police chief for the 2nd district of Taloqan city along with an Afghan intelligence were killed while a Taliban commander was killed and three other militants were injured during the clashes.

Provincial police chief for north-eastern Takhar province Mahmood-ul-Hassan confirming the incident said, the incident took place on Sunday at Aq-Masjid where two Afghan security officials were killed along with a Taliban commander and three other militant were injured.

Mr. Hassan further added, the attack was planned by Afghan security forces to kill and detain the militants in this province.

Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the operation.

from KHAAMA

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At Least 20 Injured In Afghan Attacks

KABUL -- At least 20 people have been reported injured in two explosions in Afghanistan -- one targeting a supply convoy for NATO-led forces, and the second targeting a bank in the northeast.

The Interior Ministry said a suicide car bombing on February 29 targeted nonmilitary vehicles of a NATO provincial reconstruction team in Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand Province.

Seven people, including two children and a policeman, were injured. A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said no one in the convoy was injured.

Also on February 29, a bomb exploded outside the private Kabul Bank in Taluqan city, the provincial capital of northern Takhar Province.

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports that 13 civilians were injured, including five in critical condition.


from RFE/RL

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