'An investment in terror' - What role does Pakistan play in the Taliban's resurgence?

 

The Pakistani government provided help and shelter to the Taliban for many years, while denying it was doing so. The militants' takeover of Afghanistan therefore represents a victory for Islamabad, but one that is fraught with risk.

DW correspondents leave Afghanistan – Is Pakistan safe? | DW News

 

Ten DW correspondents working in Afghanistan have now been able to leave the country - following its takeover by the Taliban. The correspondents entered neighboring Pakistan earlier today. This group includes DW's sole female correspondent in Afghanistan. The situation for journalists on the ground has become increasingly dangerous, with reports of intimidation and violence at the hands of the Taliban. But Pakistan's involvement in Afghanistan extends far beyond aid and taking in Afghan refugees. The 9/11 terror attacks meant it was to play a pivotal role in US operations and policy in Afghanistan. A prime reason for that was Pakistan's support for the Taliban. It formed the basis of co-operation and confrontation with the United States.

Afghanistan: Pakistan intelligence chief arrives in Kabul, as fighting continues in Panjshir Valley

 

Just remember that the Taliban didn't emerge organically from Kandahar. It was an astroturfed by Pakistans ISI. Which armed, trained, gave money and provided intelligence to the group.  Towards the end of the Clinton administration they came close to designating the ISI as terrorist organization because of their continued support of the Taliban and other terrorist groups operating inside Afghanistan. 

Who's behind Islamist terrorism?

 

Who’s financing, planning and commissioning terror attacks in Europe? This investigative documentary follows a trail that leads to Pakistan’s intelligence service, the ISI, which seems not only to fight terror, but sponsor it as well.

Pakistani journalists under attack

 

There’s rising concern about a growing number of attacks on journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan – allegedly at the hands of the country’s powerful intelligence services.

Who are the Taliban? | Start Here

 

The Taliban have been fighting the Afghan government and its allies for decades.

Now the United States is pulling its soldiers out of Afghanistan, and the Taliban seem stronger than ever.

Order A Journalist Killed: Receive A Public Holiday And A Gold Platted Machine Gun

Even though irrefutable evidence exists showing  Mohammad bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi that hasn't stopped the government of Pakistan from declaring a public holiday, having him personally driven about in the Prime Minister's Official vehicle, but perhaps most appropriate was given a gold platted machine gun.  Nothing says free speech, free press and supporting human rights than a gift of a gold platted machine gun to the person who ordered Jamal Khashoggi's murder. But, hey. It's Pakistan the country that helped found and train the Taliban.  Along with providing support to know terrorist groups operating in India controlled Kashmir. Both these countries are considered important allies by the Trump administration. Why not?  Governments and their leaders who show and or support authoritarian rule are greatly admired by Donald Trump.

Mohammad bin Salman has been welcomed with a fighter jet escort, a gold-plated submachine gun and Pakistan’s highest civilian honour on the lavish first leg of an Asian tour aimed at rehabilitating the image of the Saudi Arabian crown prince five months after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

After being personally chauffeured from the airport by the country’s prime minister, Imran Khan, Prince Mohammed signed agreements worth $20bn on Monday, a crucial injection of funds for an ailing economy suffering a foreign-currency crunch and which is currently negotiating its 13th IMF bailout in 40 years.

The day was declared a public holiday in Pakistan, and pictures of the powerful royal dotted the capital Islamabad. In celebration, the Saudis announced the release of more than 2,000 Pakistani prisoners from their jails.

The Caliph: Foundation Part 1

For almost 13 centuries, from the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 to the overthrow of the last Ottoman caliph in 1924, the Islamic world was ruled by a caliph.

Translated from the Arabic ‘Khalifa’, the word ‘caliph’ means successor or deputy.

The caliph was considered the successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

It is a term that has, at times, been abused.

In June 2014, a militant group calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (known as ISIL or ISIS) declared the establishment of a caliphate and proclaimed its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a caliph. This proclamation was rejected by the overwhelming majority of the world’s Muslims.

ISIL had attempted to appropriate a title imbued with religious and political significance – and in doing so had cast a dark shadow over a rich history.

This is the story of the caliph, a title that originated 1,400 years ago and that spanned one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.

Paris attacks: suspects and 'mastermind' Abdel-Hamid Abu Oud holed up in St-Denis raid

• St-Denis: what we know so far
• Who is Paris attacks ‘mastermind’ Abdel-Hamid Abu Oud?
• Salah Abdeslam and another fugitive ‘barricaded in apartment’
• Paris-bound Air France flights diverted in US after threats
• French police hunt new fugitive thought to be involved in Paris attacks
• Germany-Holland football match called off after terror attack warning

4m ago07:24

Two suspects dead, including a woman, in raid

Associated Press confirms French police saying two suspects are dead, including a woman, during the raid.

Separate reports are saying that the third person who has apparently died was a bystander. This has not been confirmed.

24s ago
07:10

French national police have just put out this reminder that the operation is ongoing:

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3m ago07:07

Le Monde and other French media say they have confirmation from police and judicial sources that three of the people targeted in the police operation are dead, including a woman who blew herself up with an explosive belt.

The Guardian has not yet been able to verify this independently.

I will bring you further information as we check it.

3m ago06:58

St-Denis raid: what we know so far

The police operation in St-Denis is ongoing, but here is what we currently know:

• Heavy shooting, including automatic gunfire, and explosions have been reported in St-Denis, a northern Paris suburb. St-Denis is where the Stade de France, one of the targets of Friday’s attacks, is located, although the current operation is in the centre of the suburb, close to the basilica.
• The targets of the raid are the mastermind of the Paris attacks,Abdel-Hamid Abu Oud; as well as Salah Abdeslam and another suspect thought to be a ninth attacker.
• Two or three men are reported to have barricaded themselves in an apartment, exchanging gunfire with officers. It is not confirmed that these men are the suspects named above.
• Shooting began at 4.30am local time (0330 GMT) and has continued in bursts in the hours since. At least seven explosions have been heard.
• Three police officers have been reported injured in the operation, apparently not seriously. At least one person has reportedly died, but this has not been confirmed.
• Roads have been closed off and the police operation is ongoing, with large numbers of police officers and police vehicles in the area. Military reinforcements have also arrived.
• Residents have been told to stay in their homes and away from windows. Some have been moved to a temporary shelter in the town hall. Transport to St-Denis has been suspended and schools will not open on Wednesday.

4m ago06:46

Three heavy trucks carrying around 100 French troops have arrived in Saint-Denis to secure the perimeter of the operation, as they did outside the Bataclan concert hall on Friday night.

Heavily armed police have taken over the centre of the town.

At least seven explosions have been heard at the scene, but the source of the blasts is unclear.

7m ago06:43

Associated Press has spoken to residents of Saint-Denis who are witnessing the siege.

One resident described intense gunfire and explosions during a police operation near the site of one of last week’s deadly attacks.

Baptiste Marie, a 26-year-old independent journalist who lives near the scene of the standoff, told AP:

It started with an explosion. Then there was second big explosion. Then two more explosions. There was an hour of gunfire.

Resident Amin Guizani, 21, said:

There were grenades. It was going, stopping. Kalashnikovs. Starting again.

06:45

Roads to St Denis blocked

Posted at06:45

Police have blocked roads leading to St Denis, the BBC's Anna Holligan - who is at the scene - says. Our correspondent says they are shining green lasers at people who come too close. At least three large military trucks packed with soldiers have also been spotted.

Fate of Abdelhamid Abaaoud still unclear

Posted at06:42

It is still not clear if Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the 28-year-old suspected mastermind of Friday's attacks, is one of the people thought to be inside the apartment in Saint Denis that police are focused on, AFP reports.

He was previously thought to be in Syria.    

The 27-year-old grew up in Molenbeek, a district of Brussels.

He is an associate of Salah Abdeslam, who is on the run and whose brother Brahim blew himself up in Paris.

Brahim died in the Comptoir Voltaire bar, without killing others. They are all believed to have been recruited by IS.

3m ago06:37

It is now just after 7.30am in Paris, meaning the siege in St-Denis has been going on for over three hours.

There are reports of one person dead, and three police officers injured, though apparently not seriously.

Several explosions have been heard in the last few minutes.

At least three military trucks are now on the scene in the centre of St-Denis.

06:33

Jon Henley

BFMTV and other French media have reported that at least one person has been killed in the police assault. His identity is not yet known.

The inhabitants of St-Denis have been ordered to remain inside their homes, behind locked doors, and to stay away from the windows.

Iraq rescue: video shows US prison raid freeing 70 hostages from Isis (video)

Kurdish authorities have released a dramatic video of a hostage rescue against the Islamic state in Iraq on Friday. The raid was carried out in conjunction with US special forces on a compound in northern Iraq, aimed at freeing peshmerga fighters, following intelligence that Kurdish fighters were being imprisoned there by the militant group


A line of panicked men in traditional ankle-length robes are seen running past the camera, some with their hands up, as men scream at them in Arabic, saying “let’s go, let’s go” while gunfire rings out constantly in the background.

The soldiers can be seen walking through a dark room with the black flag of Isis draped on the wall. The rescued hostages are then frisked for weapons and led away. Officials said later that about 20 of those rescued were members of the Iraqi security forces.

AP: Nuclear Smugglers Shopped Radioactive Materials To ISIS And Other Terrorists

"In the age of the Islamic State, it's especially terrifying to have real smugglers of nuclear bomb material apparently making connections with real buyers."

By DESMOND BUTLER, VADIM GHIRDA

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — In the backwaters of Eastern Europe, authorities working with the FBI have interrupted four attempts in the past five years by gangs with suspected Russian connections that sought to sell radioactive material to Middle Eastern extremists, The Associated Press has learned. The latest known case came in February this year, when a smuggler offered a huge cache of deadly cesium — enough to contaminate several city blocks — and specifically sought a buyer from the Islamic State group.

Criminal organizations, some with ties to the Russian KGB's successor agency, are driving a thriving black market in nuclear materials in the tiny and impoverished country of Moldova, investigators say. The successful busts, however, were undercut by striking shortcomings: Kingpins got away, and those arrested evaded long prison sentences, sometimes quickly returning to nuclear smuggling, AP found.

Moldovan police and judicial authorities shared investigative case files with AP in an effort to spotlight how dangerous the nuclear black market has become. They say the breakdown in cooperation between Russia and the West means that it has become much harder to know whether smugglers are finding ways to move parts of Russia's vast store of radioactive materials — an unknown quantity of which has leached into the black market.

"We can expect more of these cases," said Constantin Malic, a Moldovan police officer who investigated all four cases. "As long as the smugglers think they can make big money without getting caught, they will keep doing it."

Trevor Noah calls Isis 'capitalist hypocrites' for selling stolen artifacts to the US (video)

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On his second night hosting Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Trevor Noah admit he was disappointed with Isis for selling ancient artifacts throughout Syria and the Middle East.

“I’m not angry with you, I’m disappointed, because you sold out. And the most embarrassing thing is who you sold out to,” he said, referring to United States art collectors. The South African-born comedian slammed the terrorist organization for claiming their mass murders were out of religious conviction, when they are really "capitalist hypocrites" who make millions of dollars off stolen oil and artifact sales.

“You’ve got to admire someone who makes that much money… and still drives their s**t car to work every single day. They’re like the Warren Buffet of the terrorist organisations.”

Pakistan: Victim or exporter of terrorism?

General Asad Durrani, the former head of the ISI, Pakistan's notorious spy agency, on its role in the "War on Terror".


"They deluded themselves in believing that they were allies. Actually, they were not," says former Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. General Asad Durrani, commenting on Pakistan's rocky relationship with the United States since they allied in the "War on Terror".

In this episode of Head to Head, Mehdi Hasan challenges General Durrani on whether Pakistan is fighting or fuelling international terrorism.

We explore the nation's role as a US ally in the "War on Terror", and investigate claims that it has been backing the Afghan Taliban, whilst its offshoot, the Pakistani Taliban, wages a brutal insurgency at home.


Is Pakistan a rogue state? Or is it stuck between a rock and a hard place? And what role should the military play in a democratic Pakistan?

Isis tricked victims into appearing calm with beheading rehearsals

Islamic State videos featuring ‘Jihadi John’ Mohammed Emwazi were preceded by mock run of killing videos in which they were unharmed

In an interview with Britain's Sky News a former translator for ISI stated that he was ordered by Mohammed Emwazi, the 26-year-old radical known as “Jihadi John” to convince the hostages they were safe just before they were murdered.  

Hostages such as the US journalist James Foley and the British aid worker Alan Henning appeared unafraid when they read messages on camera moments before they were murdered.

Speaking to Sky news from Turkey, Saleh said Emwazi ordered him to reassure the captives. “He would say to me ‘say to them, no problem, only video, we don’t kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don’t have any problem with you; you are only our visitors’.

“So they don’t worry. Always I say to them ‘don’t worry, doesn’t matter, nothing dangerous for you. But at the end I was sure [they would die].”

Saleh also confirmed that Emwazi is the man known as “Jihadi John”, adding that he witnessed Emwazi murder Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

ISIS Executioner 'Jihadi John' Is Named as Mohammed Emwazi

LONDON — The identity of the masked executioner clutching a knife in ISIS beheading propaganda videos was revealed on Thursday.

A U.S. intelligence official confirmed to NBC News that a Londoner named Mohammed Emwazi is the person known as "Jihadi John" in the ISIS videos. The militant's identity was first reported by The Washington Post, which cited "friends and others with familiar with his case." The BBC also named the individual without citing sources.

Emwazi is a Briton born in Kuwait who is known to intelligence services, according to the BBC and the Washington Post.

The Washington Post reported that Emwazi grew up in West London and graduated from college with a degree in computer programming before traveling to Syria in 2012 and joining ISIS.

The Metropolitan Police said it would not confirm the reports and British government officials declined to comment.

Former ISIS member explains why he left terror group (video interview)

A former member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has given CBS News a detailed look at what life is like under the terror group's reign. The man, whose voice is altered and whose face we cannot show, recently left ISIS and is trying to get home. He was interviewed by CBS News correspondent Clarissa Ward.

Abu Ibrahim is one of thousands of westerners who have traveled to Syria to fight jihad.

"A lot of people when they come, they have a lot of enthusiasm about what they've seen online or what they've seen on YouTube," Ibrahim told me. "They see it as something a lot grander than what the reality is. It's not all military parades or it's not all victories."

A convert to Islam, Ibrahim wanted the chance to live under strict Islamic Sharia law so he joined the most extreme group there - ISIS. During his six months with the militants he saw crucifixions. In December, he witnessed the stoning to death of a couple convicted of adultery.

"It was done publicly," said Ibrahim. "There were many hundreds of people there who observed. While seeing someone die is not something anyone would probably want to see, having the actual Sharia established is what many Muslims look forward to."

Ibrahim told me the methods don't strike him as medieval: "It's harsh, it's real but it's the Sharia," he said.

Abu Ibrahim is a real piece of work. He saw nothing wrong in having two people stoned to death after having been convicted of adultery. Would Mr. Ibrahim have the same cavalier attitude if these types of trials and executions were taking place in his home country? Probably not as he would say the accused should be afforded equal protection under the law.

Why Does Shinzo Abe Want Japan Involved In War's?

Following World War II with the American's help a new constitution was written which included Article 9 which prohibits Japan's Self Defense Force from engaging in any armed conflict, even UN Peace Keeping operations.  Their involvment is restricted to humanitarin reflief.  

Shinzo Abe and a large faction of his governing Liberal Democratic Party wants to amend the constitution which would remove article 9 and allow Japanese armed forces to participate in armed conflict which a large majority oppesses.  Prime Minister Abe believes that it will restore Japan's dignity following its defeat in World War II.

After being unable to save two hostages held by Middle Eastern extremists, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said constitutional change will be needed to protect the lives and assets of Japanese citizens.

Abe has said at times that with the current interpretation of Article 9, which forbids both the use of force to settle international disputes and the maintenance of regular armed forces, it is difficult to protect Japanese citizens in a changing security environment.

“The Liberal Democratic Party has already presented a draft amendment to Article 9, and amending it is to carry out our duty of protecting the lives and assets of Japanese citizens,” Abe told the Upper House Budget Committee on Tuesday.

Yet, Japan doesn't have the military wherewithal to carryout any military operation which could lead to, if any Japanese hostages.

Australia's Jihadis

101 East explores why so many young Australians are risking their lives on the brutal front lines of Syria and Iraq.


Bassima El Baf is inconsolable. Her four sons have left the safety of their Australian home for the violent chaos of a war that seems a world away from Sydney.

The brothers, who told their parents they were going to Thailand, sent a text message saying "see you in paradise".

The El Baf boys are believed to be among the latest young Australians to travel to Syria to fight, and their parents can not understand why.

Australia contributes one of the largest number of foreign fighters per capita from any country outside of the Middle East to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

What Happens If Shinzo Abe Gets His WIsh?

Shinzo Abe's lives in world of make believe at least one might describe it that way.  Japan's Prime Minister and his Liberal Democratic Party have this dream of "restoring" Japan.  For them that means the power that was Japan from the turn of the 19th century till the end of World War II a legitimate player in world politics and military power.   It means denying the war crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial army: The Rape of Nanjing, Comfort Women, chemical experiments on civilians and the execution of POW's.  Denial includes revising this history through text books used in Japanese junior and senior high schools.

Upon his return to the Prime Ministers office in December of 2012 he set about making changes not only in policy but in the constitution, specifically article 9 which prohibits the deployment of Japanese soldiers as armed combatants in conflict zones.   Have those ambitions comeback to haunt him with the killing of 2 Japanese hostages by ISIL?

If Mr. Abe would just extricate himself from his delusional   dream world and face the reality of our times perhaps there won't be anymore hostages taken.     

Sunday's announcement of the killing of Kenji Goto, the second of two Japanese hostages captured by Islamic State (IS) militants, represents a major political challenge for the Japanese administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

It also raises important questions about the future security of Japanese citizens at home and abroad, the degree of Japanese public support for the country's increasingly proactive foreign policy, and the prospects in 2015 for government legislation to allow Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to play a more active overseas role.

While there was widespread shock at the two deaths, Japanese public reaction to the hostage crisis in general has been mixed.

Many Japanese responded to the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, using social media to express their solidarity with the victims and their families.

  Given the nature of Japanese politics the probability is high he'll get his wish as public sentiment concerning these changes in policy and the constitution will be ignored. 



 

Pakistan Is It's Own Worst Enemy Where The Taliban Are Concerned

Following the withdrawal of Soviet Forces from Afghanistan in 1988 a political and military vacuum was created Pakistan which shares a long border with that country saw opportunity to influence and perhaps control (from the background) any future government in Afghanistan.  Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) sought to create a proxy movement which could, with ISI's  oversight, funding and training achieve a political and military victory in a country torn apart by war.  Further assistance was provided by Nasrullah Barbar the Pakistan's Minister of the Interior under Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistan founded the Taliban.  

  "In 1994, with the failure of [Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's alliance] attempt to oust [the Afghan] Rabbani [administration], Pakistan found itself in an awkward position. Hekmatyar had proved incapable of seizing and controlling defended territory: in this respect he was a bitter disappointment to his patrons. ... In October 1994, [Pakistani interior minister] Babar [took] a group of Western ambassadors (including the US Ambassador to Pakistan John C. Monjo) to Kandahar, without even bothering to inform the Kabul government, even though it manned an embassy in Islamabad. ... On 29 October 1994, a convoy of trucks, including a notorious ISI officer, Sultan Amir ... and two figures who were later to become prominent Taliban leaders, entered Afghanistan."^[9]    

Following the attacks of 11 September 2001 Pakistan's government claimed they were no longer providing logistical, military training or funding to the Taliban.  It just wasn't true.

It's believed that Pakistan during the rule of General Pervez Musharraf was complicit in providing safe harbor for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.  General Musharraf at one point signed a peace treaty with the Taliban which they promptly broke with attacks in the Swat valley.  

Thus when stories spread of Pakistani military barbarity in the campaign against the Taliban in Pakistan – reports which included the execution of Taliban prisoners in Waziristan, whose bodies were left to lie upon the roads to be eaten by animals – the more certain became the revenge of the Taliban. The children of the military officers, educated at the army school just down the road from the famous Edwardes College in Peshawar – were the softest and most obvious of targets. For many years, the ISI and the Pakistani army helped to fund and arm the mujahedin and then the Taliban in Afghanistan. 

For years, the Pakistani authorities have insisted that the old loyalties of individual military and security police officers to the Taliban have been broken – and that the Pakistani military forces are now fully dedicated to what the Americans used to call the “war on terror”.