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A
faxed copy of the Pushtu language leaflet circulated in Spin
Boldak
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CHAMAN,
Pakistan, June 17 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Taliban
fighters formed death squads to target Afghan officials in order to
avenge the deaths of fellow fighters killed by the U.S. forces and
their "proxy" Afghan government, according to pamphlets
distributed in Afghanistan's restive southeast.
The
Pashtu-language pamphlets, circulated across the Afghan border town of
Spin Boldak, opposite the Pakistani town of Chaman, also urged local
people to join the fighting against the government of Hamid Karzai,
reported Agence France-Presse (AFP) Tuesday, June 17.
"We
will very soon start attacks, similar to the campaign by Arab
mujahedin. Taliban have already directed the mujahedin to launch
(such) attacks," the AFP quoted one of the alleged leaflets as
saying.
The
pamphlets placed Spin Boldak district chief Syed Fazaluddin Agha, a
local leader and a suspected "agent" of Karzai's government
"on the hit list."
Another
leaflet quoted by the AFP said Taliban fighters "give them
(alleged agents) notice of 10 days to give up their government
jobs."
It
also urged the local people to "stop spying for the forces of
non-believers" and not to cooperate with Karzai's "puppet
regime."
"We
will soon capture American agents and we reserve the right to avenge
the death of Taliban," said one of the pamphlets.
"They
are claiming that the Taliban have formed suicide attackers and will
soon start their operations.
"They
are threatening that they will take revenge against district officials
for recent killings of Taliban," Spin Boldak district official
Khalid Khan told AFP by telephone.
On
Wednesday, June 4, some 40 suspected Taliban
fighters were killed in what is believed to be one of the deadliest clashes
with government troops since Taliban was ousted in 2001.
The
pamphlets are said to be signed by Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Usmani, a
deputy of the vanquished Taliban's fugitive spiritual leader, Mullah
Omar.
Usmani
is on a list of Taliban commanders sought by the Afghan government and
believed to be hiding in western Pakistani borderlands, according to
AFP.
On
a visit to Pakistan in April, Karzai named Usmani among the top four
Taliban leaders understood to be operating out of mountains straddling
Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, north of the twin frontier towns
of Spin Boldak and Chaman.
However,
Islamabad strongly rebuffed
accusations that Taliban forces were regrouping inside the country and
also denied the presence of any alleged terrorists wanted by Kabul on
Pakistani soil.
Many
Afghan officials, suspicious of Pakistan for its previous nurturing
and support of the Taliban, have accused it of offering sanctuary to
fugitive extremists in its remote tribal border regions.
Afghan
and U.S. forces hunting the fugitives have come under repeated attacks
along the southeastern border, leading to suspicions that anti-U.S.
and anti-Karzai
groups have been regrouping on the Pakistani side.
Increasing
atrocities and violation of rights of Pashtuns in areas where
non-Pashtuns hold power are reported every day, said AFP.
U.N.
Warns
In
a related development, the U.N. issued Tuesday a warning of further
bombings in the Afghan capital following the deadly attack on German
peacekeeping troops.
A
taxi packed with between 100 and 500 kilograms (220 and 1,100 pounds)
of explosives blew up alongside a bus carrying ISAF soldiers to Kabul
airport, where they were due to fly home after completing their
six-month tour of duty.
The
notice issued to all U.N. personnel and seen by AFP warned of possible
attacks in the next two or three days by bombers using two Japanese
motorbikes and two Japanese cars.
Possible
targets include high-ranking Afghan government officials, the U.S.
ambassador and top commanders from the U.S. military or the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), it said.
There
have been several bomb alerts in the capital over the past few days,
with one explosive device discovered Monday, June 16, outside a high
school.
Western
intelligence sources have suspected that a "terrorist" cell
headed by a foreigner has been operating in Kabul over the past three
months.
U.S.-led
forces toppled Taliban after refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden who
was blamed by the United States for the 9-11 attacks.
