AFP: Afghan troops and ISAF repulse Taliban from Khak-i Safid district

HERAT, Afghanistan, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) – Taliban extremists briefly captured a third district in western Afghanistan early Monday but were driven out by Afghan forces and their international allies, officials said.

Taliban fighters in about 40 vehicles stormed into Khaki Safed district in the province of Farah around 1:30 am and took the administration headquarters, police and government officials said.

“Government authorities, police and the governor made a tactical withdrawal of the district administration centre,” said General Ekramuddin Yawar, police commander for western Afghanistan.

“Later Afghan police, army and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) went back to the district and retook control at 3:30 am,” he told AFP.

Farah province, which borders Iran, had its Gulistan and Bakwa districts seized by Taliban rebels last week after intense fighting.

Yawar said the rebels had fired some rockets at the district administration building, which was slightly damaged, but there were no casualties to the government forces.

The Farah government spokesman, Mamnoon Rashidi, said it took 90 minutes for troops to take back Khaki Safed.

“Bakwa and Gulistan are in Taliban hands now. The forces are getting ready to retake control of those districts as well,” he said.

The Taliban, in government between 1996 and 2001, have previously overrun several districts in remote parts of Afghanistan but have been easily ejected with the help of the international forces on which the country relies.

They have, however, held the district of Musa Qala, close to Gulistan, since February and the area is considered a Taliban base.

President Hamid Karzai said at the weekend that the capture of remote districts was a result of the weaknesses of his own security forces.

The head of the Farah provincial council, Abdul Kader Daqiq, said his province had warned Kabul that the security forces were not capable of withstanding the Taliban.

“There are not enough police in these places and the army is not doing anything,” he said. “There is an emergency situation in Farah and the government should be careful.”

Farah is a strategic province in Afghanistan because of its border with Iran, across which opium and weapons are smuggled. A key road linking southern and western Afghanistan also runs through the province.

Reuters: Taliban capture third district in Farah

By Sharifuddin Sharafiyar
Reuters
Monday, November 5, 2007; 4:59 AM

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Taliban insurgents have captured a third district in western Afghanistan, local officials said on Monday, defying Western assertions the rebels are unable to mount large military offensives.

The hardline Islamist Taliban relaunched their insurgency two years ago to topple the pro-Western Afghan government and eject the 50,000 foreign troops, expanding their operations further from the mainly Pashtun south where they are strongest.

Western forces say the Taliban’s greater reliance this year on suicide and roadside bombs is a result of heavy battlefield casualties they and Afghan troops have inflicted on the rebels and the insurgents’ inability to hold ground.

But in the last week, the Taliban have captured three districts in the western province of Farah, bordering Iran, forcing lightly armed Afghan police to flee and defying Afghan and foreign forces to retake the lost ground.

First, Taliban rebels captured the Farah district of Gulistan a week ago, then on Wednesday took nearby Bakwa. On Sunday, the insurgents seized Khak-e Sefid without a fight.

“Khake-e Sefid district fell into Taliban hands yesterday without any resistance from Afghan forces,” Qadir Daqiq, a Farah provincial council member told Reuters. A provincial official who declined to be named also confirmed the report.

Taliban forces had been building up around Khak-e Sefid for some days, a Western security analyst said. The rebels in Farah have been receiving arms through a Taliban leader based close to the Iranian border, he said on condition of anonymity.

“There are many Iranians and Pakistanis fighting among the Afghan Taliban,” Farah provincial police chief Abdulrahman Sarjang told Reuters.

POLICE MORALE LOW

Afghan and Western officials have often said the Taliban’s ranks are reinforced with foreign fighters, but have said they have no proof of any assistance at an official level.

Poor morale among Afghan police meant that up to 38 officers had defected to the Taliban in the last week in Farah, the security analyst said, and those that remained were unwilling or unable to put up much of a fight.

“As soon as the Taliban attacked in numbers they did their best to make a tactical withdrawal — they basically got out of there as quick as they could,” he said. “Their motivation is not there to fight.”

Local residents have complained that NATO-led troops, under Italian command in western Afghanistan, have not helped Afghan forces to retake the districts.

“The residents are complaining that foreign forces do not assist Afghan troops to retake the districts,” Maolavi Yahya, district chief of neighboring Delaram told Reuters. “They have been complaining for a week now.”

As fighting in Afghanistan drags on, frustration is growing among ordinary Afghans that their government and its Western backers have not provided security six years after Afghan and U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001 for not handing over al Qaeda leaders in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

NATO commanders admit they have a limited window in which to defeat the Taliban and provide much-needed development before the Afghan public turns against their presence and public opinion in the West, frustrated by growing casualties, calls for the troops to be withdrawn, handing victory to the insurgents.

(Additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi and Jon Hemming in Kabul)

AFP: Another District in Farah falls to Taliban

November 2, 2007

HERAT, Afghanistan (AFP) — Taliban fighters have overrun a second district in western Afghanistan, a district governor said Friday, warning the rebels could be planning to sweep into his own area.
The police and administration heads of the strategic Bakwa district in Farah province had fled after days of attacks by scores of rebels, the official said, after the militants late Monday took the adjacent Gulistan district.
Taliban insurgents have previously overrun several districts in remote parts of Afghanistan, including Bakwa, but are easily ejected by the international militaries here to aid the country’s own weak security forces.
They have, however, held the district of Musa Qala, close to Gulistan, since February and the area is considered a Taliban base.
Bakwa police had made a “tactical withdrawal” to Delaram district after a new Taliban attack late Thursday, said Delaram governor Yahya Riadth.
“Taliban have control over Bakwa district now and the police and district governor have retreated to our district,” he said.
Riadth warned his district, bordered by both Bakwa and Gulistan, could also be attacked.
“The government needs to reinforce our district urgently otherwise we have intelligence reports that the Taliban will attack us from both districts they have captured,” he said.
Bakwa district governor Mawlawi Janan said the district administration centre was burnt down in Thursday’s assault, which police said earlier was carried out by about 100 Taliban.
Officials had been forced to “temporarily” move elsewhere, he said, without confirming his whereabouts.
Farah police chief Abdul Rehman Sarjang said one policeman was killed and one wounded in the heavy fighting in Bakwa overnight. “An unknown number of Taliban were also killed and wounded,” he said.
Bakwa police chief Mohammad Hashim said the withdrawal had been on the orders of authorities but was not significant. “We are ready to take back the district,” he told AFP.
The main road to Iran, one of Afghanistan’s most important trading partners, runs through the volatile district, which has seen a surge in Taliban-linked violence in the past few months.
NATO-led and Afghan security forces were preparing a fresh attempt to regain control of Gulistan, police said.
The Taliban were in government between 1996 and 2001, when they were driven from power for harbouring Al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks.
The hardliners have regrouped to wage an insurgency that is focused on southern and eastern Afghanistan but has gained footholds in other parts of the country, such as Bakwa.
The violence has claimed at least 5,000 lives this year, with most of the dead rebel fighters, according to a tally of tolls released by various officials.
In other attacks linked to the insurgency, a remotely detonated bomb blew up a police vehicle near the border with Pakistan, killing three policemen and wounding three more, Kunar province police chief Abdul Jalal Jalal told AFP.
Elsewhere in the same mountainous province, Taliban militants attacked a police post overnight and killed a policeman and wounded another, Jalal said.
A suicide attacker blew himself up in the eastern town of Sharan, wounding four civilians, most of them taxi drivers, Paktika province deputy police chief Farooq Sangari said.
“The suicide bomber has been torn into pieces and only his head is remaining,” he said.
The target of the blast was unclear as there were no security convoys in the area. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Taliban have carried out scores of such attacks this year.

Milan Il Sole: “Italian Soldiers Engaged in Battle; They Are Fighting 400 Jihadis From Helmand”

Italian Report Details Battle Between Afghan Forces, ‘Jihadis’ in Farah Province

[Report by Gianandrea Gaiani: "Italian Soldiers Engaged in Battle; They Are Fighting 400 Jihadis From Helmand"]

The Taliban have entered in great numbers the sector of Western Afghanistan that is controlled by NATO troops under Italian command. On Monday [ 29 October], around 400 jihadis coming from the southern province of Helmand entered Gulistan District, in Farah Province, the hottest of the four provinces entrusted to NATO’s Regional Western Command, led by Alpine Regiment General Fausto Macor.

According to Abdol Rehman Sarjang, the Gulistan chief of police, the Taliban joined local guerrillas in order to take over the district capital, where “they shot at the local population, killing seven.” Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, has confirmed the conquest of the district, which has 55,000 inhabitants, 80% belonging to the Pashtun ethnic group, while the rest are Tajiks.

Sarjang reported that his officers suffered three losses, but that they killed or injured around 20 Taliban before withdrawing because of the enemy’s greater numbers. “We have had to make a tactical withdrawal,” but the officer confirmed that Afghan and NATO troops are fighting to “regain total control of the district.” This statement could confirm the involvement of the Italian troops deployed in Farah along with 200 US soldiers from the Provincial Reconstruction Team and a Green Berets division — special forces that are, however, under the command of Enduring Freedom.

Precisely in order to oppose Taleban advances, since last year the Italian command has deployed around 100 infantry soldiers from the Rapid Reaction Force and some special forces detachments. So far, no official Italian source has given any information regarding the operations that are under way. According to leaks, Italian troops are not directly involved in the clashes for the time being, but they are thought to be supporting an Afghan Army battalion and the police divisions engaged in the fighting.

The vehicles available include three CH-47 transport helicopters, two unmanned Predator recognition aircraft (which are able to maintain a systematic surveillance of the land for longer) and five Mangusta fighter helicopters (two of which were recently moved from the airport in Herat to the base in Farah).

If the figures given by the police are confirmed, the Taliban offensive under way in Gulistan is the largest in the sector under Italian command. For this reason it seems unlikely that Italian and allied troops are not involved in the fighting, particularly given the weakness of the government’s troops and the fact that Italian and American military advisors train Afghan battalions and accompany them into action.

Gulistan District was previously occupied by the Taliban, who were kicked out of there after heavy fighting in September 2005. This follows the usual tactic of taking control of a district and then withdrawing when allied reinforcements arrived. This is with the exception of Musa Qala, in Helmand [Province], which has been in the hands of Mola Omar’s men for a year now.

[Description of Source: Milan Il Sole-24 Ore (Internet Version-WWW) in Italian -- leading financial and economic daily. OSC EUP20071031058009 31 Oct 07]

Radio Sahar: Twenty-five Afghan police desert posts in west, Taleban say they join them

Excerpt from report by Afghan female-orientated community Radio Sahar on 27 October

[Presenter] Afghan security officials in Herat Province say 25 police officers have deserted their jobs and have taken away their weapons in the Delaram District of Farah Province. At the same time, the Taleban claim these police officers have joined their side. Hami Azad has a report on this:

[Correspondent] Mr Ali Khan, head of the crime prevention branch of the Western Zone Security Command, states that 25 police officers have escaped from the checkpoints in Delaram District of Farah Province and have returned home in the Adraskan District of Herat Province. It is said that these officers have also taken away their weapons with them. In addition, Mr Ali Khan says that they have contacted the elders who had recommended these officers. The elders have agreed to surrender the policemen to security officials.

[Passage omitted: official's remarks, repetition]

On the other hand, the Taleban claim that 25 policemen have joined their side in western Afghanistan. The head of the crime prevention crime branch of the Western Zone Security Command denies this. The official asserts that these policemen must be punished in line with the laws and for deserting their posts.

Some sources attribute the desertions to delays in paying their salaries of these policemen.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women. IAP20071027950063 Herat Radio Sahar in Dari 1230 GMT 27 Oct 07]

Pajhwok: Education official kidnapped in Farah

Text of report in English by Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency website

Herat, 16 October: Unidentified armed men have abducted an official of the education department in Delaram district of the western Farah province.

Abdol Ghafur Sherzai, the head of the education department in the district, was kidnapped by armed men from the main market. A teacher named Mohammad Zaher was also abducted along with Sherzai, officials told Pajhwok on Tuesday.

Provincial chief of the education department Atiqollah said Mohammad Zaher was freed later; however, Sherzai was still in the custody of the abductors.

He said the police had surrounded Shadi village in the district, where they believed the kidnappee had been kept by the armed men.

A police officer, Joma Khan, said they had no contact with the kidnappers. However, a search operation had been launched to recover the education officer, he added.

[Description of Source: Kabul Pajhwok Afghan News (Internet Version-WWW) in English -- Pajhwok Afghan News, established in April 2004, provides daily news and features in Pashto, Dari, English and Urdu. Self-described as "independent," it often reports on security matters and the Taliban activities. It claims to be staffed, managed, and led entirely by Afghans. According to the site, it receives financial support from USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IAP20071016950076 1455 GMT 16 Oct 07]

Radio Sahar: Taleban fighter killed, another injured as they plant mine in Farah

Text of report by Afghan female-orientated community Radio Sahar on 15 October

[Presenter] Two Taleban members were killed and injured as they were attempting to plant a mine in [western] Farah Province. According to local security officials, the two were planting a mine on a highway heading to Bala Boluk District.

[Correspondent] Col Joma Khan, the operations chief of Farah Security Command, said that the two were planting a mine on the road Afghan and NATO troops were about to pass. He said, however, that the mine exploded as they were planting it, killing one of them and injuring another. He added that Taleban members have managed to take their injured fellow to an unknown location. [Passage omitted: Joma repeats above information] Afghan and NATO troops have sustained casualties and damage as a result of roadside bombs and mines this year.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women. OSCIAP20071015950055 1230 GMT 15 Oct 07]

Pagah: Analyst Daad Nurani asserts Iran supporting forces in border areas

Herat, October 11, 2007

Afghan observer Daad Nurani believes Iran has been supporting and organizing forces in the border areas of Afghanistan and also can’t rule out it is supplying weapons to the Taleban. He says Iran is pursing a “policy of double standards” towards Afghanistan and has a “long-term strategy” for western Afghanistan where its reconstruction projects are focused. The following is the text of an interview with the observer, published by the independent daily Pagah on 11 October; subheadings inserted editorially:

Iran has “profound influence” over Afghan politicians

[Reporter] We published an interview with [Mr Najafimanesh], the Iranian general consul in Herat, about Iran’s interference in the security of Afghanistan in the previous issue of Pagah. In that interview, Mr Najafimanesh categorically rejected his government was assisting the Afghan government’s opponents, describing the claims as a psychological war against Iran. We therefore conducted an exclusive interview with Mr Daad Nurani [an Afghan political observer]. However, our readers are the ones who should evaluate and judge [the accuracy of the official's comments]. Mr Nurani, what do you think about Iran’s interference in the security affairs of Afghanistan?

[Nurani] Well, Iran shares a 750km-long border with us and we established relations with this country long ago. Sometimes these relations were good and sometimes they were quite strained and even resulted in aggression and invasion; for instance the incident that took place during the era of President Daud Khan [the first Afghan president in office between 1974 -1979] about the controversy over the waters of Helmand [also called Hirmand]. Iran continued its interference further, particularly after the Russians invaded Afghanistan. The intervention even got stronger during the Taleban period, during which time Iran was generously helping the Afghan forces combat the Taleban. This policy nearly led to a war between the Taleban [and the Iranian government]. My guess is that Iran has already invested in certain spheres in Afghanistan and is now enjoying a profound influence over the political parties, the press and other sectors. On the one hand, the waters of Helmand River flow into Iran and on the other hand it is trying to establish transit with Central Asia [via Afghanistan]. In addition, it has decided to connect the Chah Bahar harbour with Afghanistan and also connect its roads to Tashkent via northern Afghanistan. Iran is keen to expand its influence in Afghanistan because of its geopolitical importance.

Following the Taleban’s regrouping in Afghanistan and the start of the war for the second time, Iran has been constantly supporting the Northern Alliance [jihadi parties and leaders united against the Taleban in the northern provinces and led by late commander, Ahmad Shah Masud] and has been pursuing an identical policy with Afghanistan. However, it was reluctant to do so because of its main enemy, the United States, which by now had established its military presence in the country. Iran was unable to ignore this issue. To that end, Iran has been involved in certain military activities in Afghanistan for some time. It is said that it has organized a number of military bases in the Sapidaba and the Bagh areas in the vicinity of the Shamsabad [located near the border areas] and gathered a group called Hezbollah, which were affiliated to the Iranian government during the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. However, it is still unclear whether Iran is trying to interfere militarily in Afghanistan or prove its influence through supporting this group. We can see that Iranians have enjoyed enormous privileges from the Americans by interfering in Iraq and the USA has not reacted against Iran for quite some time. I think Iran prefers to meddle in the military activities in Afghanistan due to the fact that the Taleban may have a chance to share power with the Afghan government. In addition, the Iranian government has come to realize that the Northern Alliance, which calls itself the government opposition, has established relations with the West and this has overshadowed its ties with Iran. That is why Iran is now searching for new factions, parties and forces to have an impact on the current situation.

Iran supporting “certain” insurgents

[Reporter] Mr Nurani, there have been several reports indicating that Iran is providing weapons for the Taleban? Do you think these reports are true?

[Nurani] I can’t rule out these reports. Iran is contributing to certain groups on the border with Afghanistan. There are strong rumours according to which Iran is supporting Malawi Abdol Hamid, who is commanding the rebels in the Zer Koh area of Shindand District. Iran also had close relations with a number of Taleban leaders during their rule in western Afghanistan, including Mullah Mohammad Rasul, the former governor of Nimroz Province, who is said to be living in Iran at the moment. Malawi Faqir Ahmad Anardarayee also had close relations with Iranian officials. However, I should mention that Iran supported certain groups in the border areas rather than establishing systematic relations with the Taleban administration. Iranian politicians have always focused on the neighbouring areas. You can see that they set up construction projects, including the extension of power cables and building a number of roads, only in Nimroz, Farah and Herat. They are not interested in extending these projects beyond these provinces. I think Iranians have a long-term strategy in western Afghanistan. That is why they have chiefly concentrated on these areas and organize Hezbollah in the border areas.

Iran pursuing “a policy of double standards”

[Reporter] In an exclusive interview with Pagah, Mr Najafimanesh, the Iranian general consul [in Herat Province], said that the stability of Afghanistan is the stability of Iran. What do you think about this?

[Nurani] My guess is that they only chant slogans; for the foreign military forces will be deployed in the borders with Iran once Afghanistan enjoys stability and the foreign forces manage to control security disruption inside the country. The current situation and the current war between the Taleban and NATO and the US forces is in favour of Iran, as there will be no threat against it. Therefore, I don’t think Iranians support stability in Afghanistan.

[Reporter] But the Iranian general consul in Herat Province claims it is illogical if Iran gets involved in reconstruction projects on the one hand and interferes in the country’s security affairs on the other.

[Nurani] Well, those countries that do not have a strong presence and dominant influence generally follow a policy of double standards. With regard to Iran and in view of its current status, you can see that it is not the dominant power in the region. The US navy in the Persian Gulf is extremely dangerous for Iran. At the moment, the US airport in Turkey, the presence of the US and its allies’ 200,000 troops in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan may potentially create a challenge against Iran. As a result, it has no alternative but to follow a policy of double standards in Afghanistan and this might be beneficial for it, at least because of its commercial activities in Afghanistan. Currently, Iran’s [annual exports to Afghanistan] are worth 1bn dollars. A number of its factories specifically produce goods for Afghanistan. It has a long border with Afghanistan and shares many common values, including religion, culture etc. There are also certain groups that have close relations with Iran and this country is keen to continue its presence in the region. However, Iran has been trying to attract the Afghan people’s attention to Pakistan and make them believe Pakistan is their strategic enemy. In addition, it invests only in those projects that in one way or another meet its interests and therefore it has not been eager to provide funds for other projects. For instance, you can see that all those projects it has funded have overt and covert benefits to its commerce, namely the roads built in Herat, the bridge constructed in Nimroz, the power cables extended to Herat and Nimroz and the Mil-e 73 road to be constructed in Farah city. So, one cannot rely on Iran’s reconstruction projects.

[Reporter] But Iranian officials always claim all the reconstruction projects they have embarked upon in a number of provinces were proposed by the Afghan government.

[Nurani] I can’t believe this. You can see that a number of top government officials have had close relations with Iran for a long time and Iran is able to influence these officials and pretend it is the Afghan government which has suggested such projects should be carried out by Iran. I should stress that the Iranian government’s interests have been taken into account in these projects. I specifically mentioned earlier that Iran’s construction projects have obvious effects on certain areas. For instance, we cannot see that Iran has set up a reconstruction project in Paktia or Badakhshan. What has been carried out so far is restricted to the border areas.

With regard to our government’s policy towards the issue, we should accept that Iran has influence over Afghan government policies. When summoned and impeached by the parliament, Foreign Minister Dr Spanta articulated that one of the neighbouring countries, specifically Iran, had a strong role in the impeachment because the minister refused to agree with a number of its projects. I should reiterate that Iran will never invest in those projects that do not meet its interests.

[Description of Source: Herat Pagah in Dari --Sometimes critical of the government and foreign forces. OSC IAP20071013950075 0000 GMT 11 Oct 07]

Kabul’s Rah-e Nejat newspaper: Insecurity, crime threatens Herat, country’s economic hub

3 October 2007

The western province of Herat is mainly attractive for its security, employment and other opportunities. However, the province has witnessed a deteriorating situation recently as the level of crime, abduction and robbery has increased.

Herat is an important economic hub and an important place to attract Afghan and foreign investment. But these factors can put Herat to the list of insecure and unsafe provinces.

Herat borders the provinces of Farah, Ghowr and Badghis and where similar crimes used to take place in Farah a few months ago. The [deteriorating] situation has surprised the people of the province who believe the crimes have been exported to Herat from neighbouring province of Farah.

Speaking about the recent insecurity in Herat Province, Mohammad Rafiq Shahir, head of Herat council of experts, says: The south-western zone, especially Herat, is immune from the insecurity of the south, but some exceptional incidents every now and then take place here because Herat borders the Farah Province. These incidents cannot be considered a serious security threat to Herat.

Insecurity on the rise

Shahir confirms the presence of crimes in Herat, adding that crimes could be worrying. He believes crimes have been imported from the neighbouring provinces of Herat. He said: Such crimes i.e. abduction, levying and murder were happening in Farah Province in the past but have now come under control in that province.

According to Rafiq Shahir, the presence of such crimes in important provinces like Herat could be worrying. A number of people previously working with the government are involved in insecurity incidents in Herat Province. These people have now turned against the government and create problems. This has created doubt among the people of the city.

Rafiq Shahir confirms the report, saying that some people, who have kept their weapons from the past, and those who did not, and do not, enjoy a good reputation in the society, are involved in the insecurity.

On the other hand, according to analysts, provincial authorities have identified those trying to disrupt the security situation in Herat province, but there is no one to take serious measures in this regard, because officials reportedly have their interests involved in all this too.

Opportunist elements

Meanwhile, sometime ago, Sayed Hosayn Anwari, the governor of Herat Province, spoke about the presence of a list of opportunist elements and those trying to disrupt the security situation, but, due to specific observations, did not disclose their names.

Some analysts, including the head of Herat council of experts, says the governor of Herat, in the first hand, should not have spoken about the presence of such a list and when he spoke about it, he should have disclosed the names.

On the other hand, Mr Shahir claims that all incidents that have so far happened [in Herat] somehow have had, and still have, roots within security organizations in the province.

According to Shahir, some people, who have been trusted and considered to protect the public interests, have themselves prepared the ground for insecurity.

There are contradictory remarks about causes of insecurity in a province like Herat which once regarded a symbol of peace. Everyone blames the other side for the insecurity. Everyone tries to take the burden of responsibility off their own shoulders. This would not be desirable for the people.

Not enough police, resources

The governor of Herat has reportedly told a meeting that the lack of a strong police force and necessary resources are the causes of insecurity in the province.

Anwari has added that insecurity has increased in the province and that the police force is also not able to address the problem because the police are in small in number in Herat.

One should ask why is the police structure weak in a province like Herat, and why is this issue raised after rise in insecurity?

This reminds us of the proverb (Prevention is better than cure). The officials make such comments to please the people.

Analysts like Mr Rafiq Shahir say personal relations and the fact that the governor of Herat is under pressure has made it possible for some people to work in government departments [in the province].

Shahir says: As Herat is a good city, Mr Anwari wants to remain as the person in charge here. But there are some people that continue to work in government positions [in the province] as a result of pressure on Anwari from senior government authorities. This forces the governor to take steps with compromise.

According to the head of Herat council of experts, Mr Anwari is moving towards a crisis in the current situation and this might destroy him.

But the governor of Herat, in some cases, has shown serious reaction towards security officials of the province and the police

He has described the police as unsuccessful in ensuring security and also questioned the head of national security and head of criminal investigations department of that province. He has also claimed that unprofessional and unaware people have been recruited into the police.

Sometime after Mr Anwari’s comments, the security commander, head of criminal investigations and the head of intelligence departments of Herat were sacked and were replaced by new officials.

The change of security officials in Herat can be based on different reasons. It is either because the dismissed officials did not have the competence to enforce the law and to work properly or they had lost their positions under the new police reforms.

We can also look at situation in Herat from the economic point of view. As security is an important requirement for trade and investment in the commercial province of Herat, insecurity can prevent traders from investing. If this – lack of investment – happens, it will create unemployment and the unemployment can be a factor for the increasing insecurity.

Herat economy under threat

Khoshal Rasi, head of Herat customs office, claims that insecurity in Herat and on Kabul-Herat highway has remarkably decreased investment.

According to Rasi, a trader makes an investment when he is sure of the productivity and efficiency of his investment, and if there is no security, no trader will agree to invest.

Mohammad Rafiq Shahir also claims that one of the causes of insecurity is the prevention of investment and trade. If there is no investment, people will lose their jobs and resort to different crimes, like abduction, levying, and other crimes. According to Shahir, this has highly concerned the authorities in Herat.

In regard with the abduction of investors and traders, the head of Herat industrial park was recently kidnapped by unknown armed men. One of Herat money exchangers was killed on daylight a few weeks ago.

Herat Province needs internal and external security more than anything else. The provincial authorities should make further and more serious efforts to bring back security that this part of the country once enjoyed.

In addition to safety and security, they should prepare the ground for investment of Afghan and foreign traders.

Insecurity undermines ECO summit in Herat

It should meanwhile it should be mentioned that insecurity in Herat can overshadow the meeting of foreign ministers of ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] member countries, which will be held at the end of the current month [16-20 October] in Herat city. This will also have a negative impact on the reputation of Herat.

Good security in Herat was one of the reasons why the ECO meeting was planned to be held in the province. This has now been overshadowed by insecurity. We hope Herat gets back its security before the meeting is held.

[Description of Source: Kabul Rah-e Nejat in Dari --An eight-page independent daily in hardcopy and internet versions. The Kabul-based paper was launched after the fall of the Taliban by MP Alemi Balkhi. Often publishes editorials and articles on corruption, foreign relations, politics, security, drugs, religion and reconstruction. Generally supportive of the government and the presence of NATO forces in Afghanistan, but can be critical of government policies. Languages: Dari (mainly), Pashto. Circulation: unknown. URL: www.rahenenatdaily.com OSC IAP20071006950072 Kabul Rah-e Nejat in Dari 0000 GMT 03 Oct 07]

AFP: 4 Tons of Liquid Heroin, 1 Ton of Hashish Seized in Western Afghanistan

KABUL, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) – Afghan authorities said Sunday they had seized four tonnes of liquid heroin, one of their biggest hauls yet, as well as one tonne of hashish packed to look like a brand of instant yeast.

The finds were made separately near the border with Iran — one of the main smuggling routes for drugs from Afghanistan, which produces 93 percent of the world’s opium used to make heroin.

The heroin was discovered in the southwestern province of Farah when a drugs laboratory was raided on Saturday, Deputy Interior Minister General Daud Daud told reporters in Kabul. Four men were arrested.

“They used to export the drugs in liquid form as animal medicine to Iran,” Daud said, adding the find was one of the government’s biggest.

“In total 4,030 kilogrammes (8,866 pounds) of heroin was seized and the lab has been destroyed.” A tonne of chemicals used to make the heroin was also discovered, he said.

In the western province of Herat, officials showed journalists a shipping container holding hundreds of 500 gramme packets of a brand of instant yeast called Hollandia.

Inside the wrapping, which included the colours of the Dutch flag, was a second covering around dark hashish that read “Black Gold” and “Pak delight.”

The drugs were found at a customs office at the main border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran, Herat province governor Sayed Hussain Anwari said.

Afghanistan’s opium production this year jumped by around a third to 8,200 tonnes annually, according to the United Nations.

Most of the opium is converted to heroin within the country, it said in its annual drugs survey released in August. The main markets for Afghanistan’s opium include Europe and Central Asia.

The cultivation of cannabis, used to make hashish, increased from 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres) in 2006 to 70,000 hectares this year, the survey said.

[Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong service of the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse. OSC JPP20071007969026 Hong Kong AFP in English 1337 GMT 07 Oct 07]