Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Wed 04/24/2024 View Tue 04/23/2024 View Mon 04/22/2024 View Sun 04/21/2024 View Sat 04/20/2024 View Fri 04/19/2024 View Thu 04/18/2024
2020-01-11 Afghanistan
Who Was Taliban Commander Nangialai, Killed in Shindand Strike?
[ToloNews] A US dronezap on Wednesday in Shindand district, Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province, killed Mullah Nangialai, a key commander of the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
’s splinter group led by Mullah Rasul, according to multiple sources.

Continued from Page 2



There were reports of over 30 civilians killed in the attack, but casualty numbers and other details from the Defense Ministry are still pending. A spokesperson for US forces in Afghanistan confirmed US involvement in the assault, saying it was carried out at the request of Afghan cops.

Questions have been raised about why Mullah Nangialai was targeted, especially considering that his leader, Mullah Rasul, allegedly has maintained ties with the Afghan government and has fought against those Taliban groups loyal to Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah.

Mullah Nangialai became well-known after reports of the death of Taliban-founder Mullah Mohammad Blinky Omar
...a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality. Died of an unspecified ailment in a Pak hospital...
emerged back in 2015. When Mullah Akhtar Mansour announced himself as leader of the group, Mullah Rasul announced his opposition to Mansour and formed a new faction in Shindand, Herat, where US forces had a base.

Rasul made Nangialai his commander, as well as the designated governor of Herat.

Both factions ‐ Mullah Rasul’s and Mullah Mansour’s -- fought against each other and lives were lost on both sides.

"Nangialai was one of those who cooperated with the government--the National Directorate of Security
...the Afghan national intel agency...
--but he had tensions with Mullah Samad over the past years that left dozens dead," MP Sattar Hussaini said.

Some politicians from Herat said Nangialai kept some kind of relationship with the government when he was under pressure from the Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah. But Mullah Rasul, the leader of the splinter faction, on many occasions denied any ties with the government.

"He (Nangialiai) raised the flag of the Taliban and the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Afghanistan at the same time and during the past three years, he has caused many deaths of innocent people," said Sayed Taha Sadiq, an MP from Herat.

According to Herat residents, Nangialai was the son of Amanullah Zerkoh, a former Taliban commander who fought against pro-Ismail Khan fighters for years and was killed in such conflicts.

Mohammad Ismail Khan is a former mujahideen leader who served as minister of energy and water under former president Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...A product, and probably the sole product, of the Southern Alliance...
"Recently, Mullah Rasul became completely pro-Iranian and they were operating in Shindand and they had a huge influence in the west (of Afghanistan)," retired general Atiqullah Amarkhil said.
Oh? How utterly fascinating.
Posted by trailing wife 2020-01-11 00:00|| || Front Page|| [10 views ]  Top

#1 I think the real question is was he 'austere' or 'revered'.
Posted by Cesare 2020-01-11 08:32||   2020-01-11 08:32|| Front Page Top

#2 How about "Revered for his austerity"?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-01-11 08:35||   2020-01-11 08:35|| Front Page Top

09:51 DarthVader
09:50 Besoeker
09:43 Crusader
09:41 MikeKozlowski
09:18 ed in texas
09:16 ed in texas
09:15 ed in texas
09:12 ed in texas
09:08 ed in texas
09:07 ed in texas
09:04 ed in texas
09:02 Whiskey Mike
08:45 Besoeker
08:34 Skidmark
08:32 MikeKozlowski
08:28 Cesare
08:26 Besoeker
08:23 Warthog
08:21 Warthog
08:16 Grom the Reflective
08:11 Skidmark
08:01 alanc
07:59 Skidmark
07:56 Besoeker









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com