...mindless ferocity in a turban...launched attacks on Obe district in western 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.
Waheed Qatali Herat’s governor said Tuesday that the Taliban launched their attacks by demolishing a bridge that connected Obe district with other parts of the Herat province.
Following the destruction of the bridge Taliban attacked government security positions in the region, Qatali said.
The bridge was blown up on Tuesday morning causing transportation problems for the people in Obe district.
Qatali added that the Talibs think by wrecking the bridge they would make it difficult for security forces to get supplies.
According to the provincial governor, three Taliban fighters including their commander were also killed during the ongoing festivities, and it is the Taliban’s first group attack after three days of Eid’s ceasefire.
Taliban so far did not comment on the attack.
This comes as President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
on Monday in an interview with PBS News stressed if the Taliban needs peace, they should respect the gains over decades and foremost women’s rights.
The Taliban are not holding territories in the provinces despite their efforts to capture, President Ghani said, the bully boyz carrying sporadic attacks makes them a destructive force.
"Arghandab was the only district in Kandahar where they tried to hold. And now the people hate them with passion," President Ghani said.
President Ghani reiterated that the key to political settlement is that the Taliban should accept Afghanistan’s political system is based on elections.
"That is the fundamental bottom line. Other things are discussible, negotiable. But if that fundamental issue is not granted, then the question of rights and the question of gains that have occurred in the last 20 years, particularly vis-a-vis women, youth, minorities, all walks of life, will be put into question", the President explained.
President Ghani also mentioned that if there is war, he is not willing to step down but will only hand over the power to an elected successor.
"If there is war, I am the commander in chief. I will not abandon my people. I will not abandon my forces. I am willing to die for my country. I have no interest in power. I’m committed to the principle of ensuring order. Afghan society wants order" he said.
He further elaborated saying terrorism has not completely disappeared from Afghanistan and it has changed, these terrorist networks are not only from the region but from 16 different countries and are trying to return to Afghanistan with their families.
Related:
Herat: 2021-05-16 MoD: Taliban’s Ceasefire Violations Caused Civilian Casualties
Herat: 2021-05-16 Taliban Splinter Group’s Deputy Died after Sustaining Wounds
Herat: 2021-05-14 9 Killed in Kandahar, Kunduz on 1st Day of Ceasefire
Herat: 2021-05-16 MoD: Taliban’s Ceasefire Violations Caused Civilian Casualties
Herat: 2021-05-16 Taliban Splinter Group’s Deputy Died after Sustaining Wounds
Herat: 2021-05-14 9 Killed in Kandahar, Kunduz on 1st Day of Ceasefire