On Monday the Taliban took credit for a major attack in the southern Helmand Province of Afghanistan, hitting a major military center where some 150 soldiers are stationed. The Taliban claimed dozens killed or wounded in the attack.
The Afghan government confirmed the attack, but told a very different story, insisting they had repelled the Taliban attack. They also claimed a much lower casualty level, saying only one person was wounded.
This is all par for the course for the Afghan War, as the Taliban has been hitting Afghan military sites at a growing rate, and the two sides often tell wildly different stories, particularly as it relates to casualties.
Helmand Province has also been a territory that the Taliban has tended to focus on, trying to take more and more of that area and challenge control over the provincial capital. A major opium hub, control of Helmand is seen as financially important to the Taliban.
“A major opium hub, control of Helmand is seen as financially important to the Taliban.”
I though the Taliban was all about eradicating the drug trade?
You got it. It is financially important to the GOVERNMENT — with us pretending not to see.
After Taliban forces (that came from Pakistan as religious “student” movement – Taliban means students) have been beaten back, Afghan clans started resisting central government controlled by Washington.
Everywhere Government was in charge, poppy production surged — and heroin labs emerged. It is rather simple — only those that controlled air and roads could export heroin. And that is Kabul government with US assistance.
Most heroin trade in Europe is conducted by Albanian gangs. And after US occupation of Kosovo (Camp Bondsteel) — the borders to Albania disappeared.
Which was the first country to recognize “independent” Kosovo? US controlled Kabul government. Since Kosovo till today remains a black hole of crime families run place — I can see at least ONE way the heroin can get out.
While Afghan clans — still inexplicably called Taliban — are nowhere near as fanatical as Taliban movement, they do have their own indigenous economy not reliant on heroin.
Now, are Afghan clansman immune to taking government heroin earned cash? Of course not. Did they participate in growing cash crops to have money for arms? Sure.
But it is the corrupt and foreign dependent Kabul that holds the monopoly in exports. And this remains the head of the corruption snake.
so tired of winning….
there was a cut on one afghan soldiers arm. he merely spit on it and rubbed it with dirt. the taliban however suffered moderate casualties and were permitted by the afghans to remove the bodies peacefully. one taliban shell damaged a vehicle also but that was it.