The Taliban say Ghani achieved nothing.

Returned home to a pile of

resignations, deep disagreements, insulting condemnations and
disappointments. He lost of khan-e-Sheen, and Kandahar airport
was attacked during this period.
December 8-10, 2015, Heart of Asia Conference, in Islamabad, Ghani
attended after keeping his visit tentative till the last moment.
Given a rousing welcome. 21 gun salute; Nawaz and all services
chiefs in attendance.
Afghan Intelligence
December 9, 2015.

Chief,

Rahamatullah

Nabil

resigned

on

Mohammad Massoud Andarabi, Nabils successor who hails from

Andarab district of Baghlan is a Tajik, but known to be loyal to power.
1. It is everybodys guess now that Nabils resignation has been
forced by Pakistani ISI. The ISI is doing it for the second time.
In 2012, the then President Karzai was also asked by Pakistan to
remove him because he was vigorously anti-Pakistan. Sources in
Islamabad say that during President Ghanis visit to Islamabad,
Pakistani authorities told him that National Directorate of
Security (NDS) Chief Rahmatullah Nabil was opposed to talks
between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Kabul. The
Pakistani allegations are listed below:
a. The revelation that Mullah Omar was dead was announced
by NDS a day before the second round of talks was to be
held on July 29, 2015, to derail the talks.
b. NDS has been engaged in spreading rumours against
Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor Akhtar and there is a
repeated attempt to undermine his control over Taliban by
aiding and abetting infighting within Taliban and
establishing contact with Taliban leaders opposed to
Mansoor.
c. NDS is actively encouraging the rival leaders to rise in
revolt against Mansoor in a bid to divide Taliban so that
talks could not be held.

d. Afghan President has become a victim of NDS propaganda

machinery and the false rumour of Mansoors death
recently, which was announced from the Presidential office,
was designed by NDS to further derail the process of
dialogue.
e. NDS is operating closely with R&AW of India and sheltering
TTP terrorists in Afghanistan and allowing them to launch
attacks on Pakistan security forces.
f. In view of the above, the NDS has to be contained. If
Ghani is serious about talks, he must take some drastic
measures to revamp NDS and bring in people who would
be favourable towards Pakistan.
2. The Afghan President was also made to listen to some intercepts
which establish collaboration of the NDS with rival Taliban
leaders.
3. The Pakistani Army is very much upset about the way Afghan
intelligence has been functioning. They are disturbed by the fact
that an important section of the Taliban is leaning towards Daesh
or IS and becoming more hardline than the Taliban day by day.
The Pakistani ISI reportedly argued that this rival faction might
emerge as a more popular force inside Afghanistan. It has
convinced Ghani that NDS is playing a dangerous game by
tolerating IS at the cost of the Taliban.
4. The Taliban also look at NDS from a slightly different angle.
Rather than alleging NDS-RAW connection, they say that NDS is
doing all this at the behest of CIA: Many analysts are of the
belief that these recent rumors were the work of Kabul regime
intelligence in coordination with the American espionage
institutions who in turn instructed key regional media outlets to
publish everything that was being handed to them in return for
funds and discard every reaction and statement of the Taliban
spokespersons.
5. Pakistani intelligence has also pointed out that replacing Nabil is
not going to change the working style of NDS, because the whole
2

organisation is controlled effectively by the Panjsiris. Therefore,

in the coming days, there may be an attempt by Pakistani ISI to
put pressure on Ghani to reshuffle the top positions and bring in
people who would be softer towards Pakistan.
6. Mohammad Massoud Andarabi, Nabils successor who hails from
Andarab district of Baghlan is a Tajik, but known to be loyal to
power. Whether he will continue in the position for long, remains
to be seen. Andarabi Tajiks are regarded as less rebellious than
Panjsiris, and that could be one of the reasons why he may be
retained, and asked to toe Ghanis official line rather than
undertake independent and adventurous intelligence operations.
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-intelligence-chief-rahmatullah-nabilresigns-1795
Nabil said the innocent Afghan civilians were martyred and beheaded in Kandahar
airfield, Khanshin district of Helmand, Takhar and Badakhshan at the same Nawaz
Sharif was delivering his speech, once calling the enemy of Afghanistan as Pakistans
enemy.
In parts of his message, Nabil was apparently criticizing President Ghani for his
remarks in Islamabad today, saying At least 1,000 litres blood of our innocent
people spilled which was similar to the red carpet where we did a cat walk. But the
one who was present with us in the gathering and made an announcement from
Quetta city of Pakistan under the name of Taliban, using the ISI computer to claim
the glory. And we became so much apprehended and excited with 21 artillery gun
salute that we agreed regarding the execution of 40 assaults/operations against the
enemies of Pakistan and promised to soon launch a large operation against Mullah
Fazlullah in a bid to keep our 60-year-old friend glad.
Frustrated with the growing interference of Pakistan in internal affairs of Afghanistan
and President Ghanis approach, Nabil questioned regarding the 5000-year-old
history of Afghanistan saying it has kneeled to a 60-year-old history.

Omar sacks Dadullah on charge of

disobedience

P UB LISH ED DEC 30, 2007 12:0 0A M

KANDAHAR, Dec 29: The leader of Afghanistans Taliban, Mullah

Mohammad Omar, has sacked one of his key military commanders,

accusing him of not obeying orders, a rebel spokesman said on

Saturday.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed read to this reporter over the
telephone a statement issued by Omar that said Mullah Mansoor
Dadullah was sacked because he disobeyed orders of the Islamic
Emirate of Taliban. The statement did not give details.
Mullah Mansoor Dadullah succeeded his elder brother the Talibans
top military commander Mullah Dadullah who was killed in an Afghan
and Nato operation in May. Dadullah, the mastermind of Taliban
military operations, was the most high-ranking Taliban commander to
be killed since the rebels launched an insurgency following the toppling
of their government in a US-led invasion in 2001.

Taliban claim build-up under way

P UB LISH ED AP R 19, 2010 12:0 0A M

KANDAHAR The Taliban are moving fighters into Kandahar,

planting bombs and plotting attacks as Nato and Afghan forces
prepare for a summer showdown with insurgents, according to
a Taliban commander with close ties to senior insurgent
leaders.
Nato and Afghan forces are stepping up operations to push Taliban
fighters out of the city, which was the Islamist movement's
headquarters during the years it ruled most of Afghanistan. The goal is
to bolster the capability of the local government so that it can keep the
Taliban from coming back.
The Taliban commander, who uses the pseudonym Mubeen, told said
that if military pressure on the insurgents becomes too great we will
just leave and come back after the foreign forces leave.
Mubeen said that in the first years after the Taliban were routed,
fighters had to survive in the mountains, rarely making forays into
Afghan towns and villages. He attributed the Taliban comeback to deep
resentment especially among ethnic Pashtuns to the presence of
foreign military forces and public disgust with the Afghan government.
''Our brothers are already here and ready,'' he said. Our people are
skilled now. They know a lot of things, how to make things more
difficult and to be more sophisticated in our attacks.

Mubeen said Taliban fighters had received better training, although he

would not say where and by whom.
''But we were interested to get the training and we understood that we
needed the training,'' he said.
Mubeen said the Taliban's main goal in the war is the establishment of
sharia, or Islamic law, in Afghanistan. When they ruled the religious
militia enforced an antiquated and regressive interpretation of Islamic
law that appalled the West, including publicly amputating hands and
feet for theft and carrying out public executions.
''We want sharia. That is first. Everything else comes after that,'' he
said. ''People want sharia and then development.''

Mullah Mansoor was one of two senior Taliban figures named

by Mullah Omar to replace the No. 2 commander, Mullah Abdul
Ghani Barader, who was arrested in Pakistan in February.

Fazlullah has joined hands with killers of

Taliban, says splinter group
BUREAU REPORT

UP DATED SEP 05 , 2014 08 :27 AM

PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and its

splinter group Jamaatul Ahrar (JA) are on a collision course as
the latter has accused TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah of joining
hands with people involved in the killing of militant
commanders.
The JA spokesman said that Fazlullah should reveal the names of
people who killed Nadeem Abbas alias Inteqami, who was the TTP
leader for Rawalpindi, Asmatullah Shaheen and Tariq Mansoor Afridi.
It is the first time that a Taliban-linked group has acknowledged the
death of Nadeem Abbas, who escaped from police custody in Peshawar
in August, 2011, and was reportedly involved in several acts of
terrorism.
In 2011, Abbas and another TTP leader Zakim Shah were brought to
the Khyber College of Dentistry for treatment. They ran away when
being moved back to the central jail in Peshawar.
5

Asmatullah Shaheen, who was an acting chief of TTP, was killed

outside his residence in Miramshah, North Waziristan, in February last
year.
Ehsan also clarified that JA had no links with the Janud Khurasan
group and that Ahrarul Hind had merged with JA. He said a majority of
TTP commanders in Malakand division had joined JA.
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2014

Mullah Omars deputy Obaidullah captured

ISMAIL KHAN

P UB LISH ED MA R 02, 2007 12:0 0A M

PESHAWAR, March 1: Pakistani security forces have captured Mullah

Obaidullah Akhund, deputy to the elusive Taliban chief, Mullah
Mohammad Omar, from Quetta, a federal government official has told
Dawn.
Mullah Obaidullah was arrested on Monday, the official said, requesting
anonymity due to sensitivity of the matter.
The Taliban leader carries a $1 million reward and is the most senior
Taliban figure captured since the ouster of the puritanical militia from
power in November 2001.
Hailing from Punjwai district of Kandahar province, Mullah Obaidullah
Akhund was widely considered as the military chief of Taliban forces.

He was on Americas most wanted list and was a member of

the 10-man Taliban Leadership Council announced by the
Taliban supreme leader in June 2003.
The official, however, said the arrest of Mullah Obaidullah, who
was defence minister in the ousted Taliban regime.
Former Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi, who was captured by
Pakistani security forces in Quetta in 2005, had told the media in
March 2005 that Mullah Omar had told Mullah Obaidullah to initiate an
attack that would send a clear signal to the world that the Taliban were
a force to be reckoned with.
Nato officials and western diplomats consider Mullah Obaidullah as one
of those closest lieutenants of Mullah Omar. The other two were Mullah
Akhtar Osmani and Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor.
6

Mullah Osmani, who was a former Taliban army chief, was killed in a
US airstrike in Helmand in December last year.
His arrest came the day US Vice-President Dick Cheney arrived in
Islamabad on an announced visit to deliver what was widely believed
to be a warning that the new Democratic Congress could cut aid unless
Pakistan became more aggressive in hunting down Taliban and Al
Qaeda operatives.
That Mullah Obaidullah was close to Mullah Omar was also evident
from the fact that 14 commanders appointed by the Taliban leadership
for two war zones in southern and eastern Afghanistan had been asked
to report directly to the 10-member leadership council, which was later
expanded to 18 members.
Mr Hakimi had said that the council was supervised by Mullah
Obaidullah and Mullah Beradar, who were to report matters directly to
Mullah Omar.
JUI-I holds public meeting to mourn Omars death
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-IslamIdeological, a pro-Taliban political
party, on Friday held a condolence reference and a public meeting to
mourn the demise of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar in
Balochistans capital city. Maulana Abdul Qadir Looni, provincial

chief of the JUI-Ideological, and Senior JUI-Ideological leaders

Abdul Sattar Chishti and Qari Mehrullah were also present.

Son of Jalaluddin Haqqani captured in

Afghanistan
AFP

P UB LISH ED OC T 16, 2014 12:4 1P M

Anas Haqqani, the son of the network's founder Jalaluddin

Haqqani, was arrested late Tuesday along with Hafiz Rashid,
another commander, by the National Directorate of Security
(NDS), the Afghan intelligence agency, officials said.
Dadullah says he is indispensable to Taliban - Newspaper - DAWN ...
Jan 10, 2008 ... Mullah Mansoor Dadullah said: I have not been expelled from the
movement. I have served the Taliban and without me the movement would ...
www.dawn.com/.../dadullah-says-he-is-indispensable-to-taliban

Taliban commander Dadullah captured Newspaper -DAWN.COM

Feb 12, 2008 ... QUETTA, Feb 11: Security forces
captured an important Taliban
commander, Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, along

The clash
occurred in Gowal Ismailzai village of
Balochistans Qila Saifullah district.
with five other Taliban after a ...

www.dawn.com/news/.../taliban-commanderdadullah-captured

TIMERGARA: Taliban warn of suicide attacks in

Doog Darra

P UB LISH ED MA R 02, 2009 12:0 0A M

TIMERGARA, March 1 Dir Taliban have threatened to carry out suicide

attacks against their opponents and district administration in Doog
Darra area of Upper Dir if they did not stop organising volunteers
against militants to expel them from the area.
Talking to Dawn by telephone from an unspecified location on Sunday,
district chief of Dir Taliban Hafeezullah said that Mullah Mansoor had
been appointed as their new spokesman in the district.
He welcomed the peace deal between NWFP government and Maulana
Sufi Mohammad, however, he made it clear that Taliban would restart
their activities if the proposed Nizam-i-Adl regulation was not enforced
forthwith. Now the ball is not in the court of Taliban but in the court of
government, he added.

Kidnappers release video of former ISI officers

P UB LISH ED AP R 19, 2010 12:0 0A M

Videos of two former ISI officers, who went missing last month, have
been released by unknown militants. - (File Photo)
PESHAWAR A little known militant group acknowledged on
Monday that it was holding two former ISI officers, Colonel
(retd) Imam (Sultan Amir) and Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid
Khwaja and threatened to execute them if its demands were
not met within 10 days.

An email sent along with the video footage demanded the release of
senior Taliban leader Mullah Baradar, Mullah Mansoor Dadullah and
Maulavi Kabir.
The group calling itself Asian Tigers, an unusual name for a militant
group in Pakistan, is also reported to have demanded a $10 million
ransom for journalist Asad Qureshi who also has been missing along
with the two retired ISI officers.
In the video clip, Col (retd) Imam is heard saying that his real name is
Sultan Amir (Tarar) and he served in the Pakistan Army for 18 years,
11 of them in the Inter Services Intelligence.
I had consulted with Gen Aslam Beg (former army chief) about
coming here, Col Imam said.
Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid Khwaja said he had served in Pakistan
Air Force for 18 years and in the ISI for two years.
I came here on the prodding of Gen Hameed Gul, Gen Aslam Beg and
ISI's Col Sajjad, Khalid Khwaja was heard as saying in the video.

Pakistan to free top Taliban prisoner Mullah

Baradar
AGENCIES | DAWN.COM

UP DATED SEP 10 , 2013 07 :46 PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will release former Afghan Taliban second-incommand, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as soon as this month to help
advance peace efforts in neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistans foreign
policy chief said on Tuesday.
Baradar is one of the four men who founded the Taliban movement in
1994, and is believed to be a close aide and one of the most trusted
commanders of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the spiritual leader of the
Taliban. He was captured from the port city of Karachi in February,
2010.
Haqqani network and JuD banned
IRFAN HAIDER UPDATED JAN 22, 2015 09:01AM
ISLAMABAD: In a significant move towards the execution of the
National Action Plan against terrorism, the interior ministry has

included the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and the Haqqani network in the list
of proscribed outfits, it has been learnt.
Talking to Dawn.com, an interior ministry official said the United States
had sought a ban on the Haqqani network and the Jamaatud Dawa but
the matter was being delayed.
FO announces postponement of second round of Afghan peace talks
Jul 31, 2015 ... In view of the reports regarding the death of Mullah Omar and the
resulting ... Mullah Mansoor had been cooperating with Pakistan in the ...
www.dawn.com/news/1197512

Jalaluddin Haqqani is dead, say Taliban

sources
DAWN.COM | ALI AKBAR

UP DATED JU L 31, 2015 11:4 0P M

While news of Jalaluddin Haqqani's death had been making

rounds for almost a month now, multiple credible sources in
Taliban confirmed today that he had died of illness almost a
year
ago.
Mullah Mansoor welcomes Zawahiri's pledge of loyalty - World ...
Aug 15, 2015 ... KABUL: The Taliban's new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor on
Friday, welcomed Al Qaeda chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri's pledge of allegiance ...
www.dawn.com/news/1200614

Analysis: Afghan Taliban face challenge of

surviving as cohesive force
ISMAIL KHAN

P UB LISH ED JU L 31, 2015 06:4 3A M

It is now confirmed that the 55-something Mullah Muhammad Omar

Mujahid died of multiple organ failure following a protracted illness a
year and a half ago and was quietly buried in Afghanistan a secret
very few within the Taliban hierarchy, including his trusted lieutenant
deputy Akhtar Muhammad Mansoor, knew.
So closely guarded was the secret that even Omars eldest son, the
26-year-old Muhammad Yaqoob, was kept in the dark, till he began
agitating and demanding to see his father, sources familiar with the
background told Dawn.
Thats when Yaqoob, and his principal backer, Zakir, a senior Taliban
military commander, sacked by Akhtar Mansoor in April 2014, began
whispering about the likelihood of Omars possible death.

10

Head of Talibans Qatar office quits

AFP

P UB LISH ED AU G 05 , 2015 06 :47 AM

KABUL: The head of the Talibans Qatar-based political office

has stepped down, a statement said, a high-profile resignation
highlighting discord over the Afghan movements recent power
transition. Underscoring the deepening internal divisions, Tayeb Agha
stepped down on Monday as head of the Talibans political office, set
up in Qatar in 2013 to facilitate peace talks.

In order to live with a clear conscience and abide by the principles of

Mullah Omar, I decided that my work as head of the political office has
ended, Agha said in the statement published on a website regularly
used by the Doha office and confirmed by a Taliban source.
I will not be involved in any kind of (Taliban) statements... and will
not support any side in the current internal disputes within the
Taliban. He added that consensus should have been sought from
militant strongholds inside Afghanistan over the new leaders
appointment.
The Taliban source said Mansours aides were trying to convince Agha
to withdraw his resignation but his statement adds to a growing chorus
of dissent in the movement over the increasingly bitter political
transition.
The death of Mullah Omar was kept secret for two years, Agha said.
I consider this a historical mistake. The Taliban have not given details
of when and where Omar died but the Afghan government said it
happened in Karachi in April 2013.
The Taliban continued to release official statements in the name of
Omar, who had not been seen in public since the Taliban were toppled
from power in 2001, as recently as last month.

Many militants reportedly oppose what they see as Pakistans

attempt to force the Taliban into direct peace talks with the
Afghan government. Mansour and his two newly named
deputies influential leaders Haibatullah Akhundzada and
Sirajuddin Haqqani are seen as close to the Pakistani
military establishment.
Mullah Mansoor welcomes Zawahiri's pledge of loyalty - World ...

11

Aug 15, 2015 ... KABUL: The Taliban's new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor on
Friday, welcomed Al Qaeda chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri's pledge of allegiance ...
www.dawn.com/news/1200614

Mullah Mansoor welcomes Zawahiri's pledge of loyalty - World ...

Aug 15, 2015 ... KABUL: The Taliban's new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor on
Friday, welcomed Al Qaeda chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri's pledge of allegiance ...
www.dawn.com/news/1200614

Taliban leaders swear allegiance to Mullah

Mansour
BAQIR SAJJAD SYED

P UB LISH ED AU G 01 , 2015 06 :59 AM

The supreme council agreed that he is the appropriate and eligible

person, according to the requirements of Shariah, to lead the Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan, a statement issued by spokesman Zabihullah
Mujahid said on behalf of the Taliban shura.
The statement described Mullah Mansour as Emir-ul-Momineen or the
leader of the faithful a tag used by Mullah Omar during his life.
The dissenting leaders were identified as Mullah Muhammad Hassan
Rahmani, Mullah Abdul Razzaq, Mullah Muhammad Rasool, Mullah
Abdul Qayum Zakir, Haji Baz Muhammad, Mullah Rauf, Hafiz Majeed,
Mullah Omars brother Mullah Abdul Manan, son Maulvi Muhammad
Yaqoob and representatives of Mullah Dadullah.
The group wanted to get Mullah Omars son elected as the new leader.
But Mansour's willingness to join in Pakistan-backed peace talks with
the Afghan government this year sparked fears among some
commanders, who worry he is too close to Pakistani intelligence
officials.
The Afghan insurgents fear Pakistan wants to manipulate their
movement for its own ends, worries Yaqoob referred to.
"Our enemy is the US-backed Afghan government," he said. There are
some Islamic countries which are also standing alongside our
enemies.
Some militias affiliated to the Taliban have already pledged
allegiance to Islamic State, the group dominating Iraq and Syria.

12

Yaqoob, 27, stopped short of claiming the leadership.

"If unity can return with my death, I am willing to carry out suicide,"
he said. "We are ready for whatever order the council gives us. We are
ready to work in any capacity, whether on a high level or a lower
level."

Mullah Omar died of Hepatitis C in Afghanistan,

claims son
REUTERS

PU BL IS H ED S EP 14, 201 5 03:2 8P M

Facing dissent, Afghan Taliban meet to resolve

leadership dispute
AP

U PD ATED A UG 05, 2015 02:3 1A M

On Tuesday, about 200 high-ranking Taliban members and

commanders met in Quetta with Mullah Omar's brother Mullah Abdul
Manan and son Mullah Yaqub, said Mullah Hameedullah, a member of
the Taliban's unity council, which effectively functions as a dispute
resolution committee.
We discussed the problems of both sides and in the end Mullah
Omar's family gave authority to the Unity Shura that whatever
decision they take they will agree to it and accept it, Mullah
Hameedullah told The Associated Press. He said the council would next
meet with Mullah Mansoor.
Mullah Yaqub confirmed he had attended the meeting but gave
no further details.
Lately, Taliban fighters have been defecting to the Islamic State group
in northern Kunduz province, and the two rival militant groups have
increasingly fought it out there.
The IS, which already controls about one-third of Syria and Iraq, is
thought to have a small but growing presence in Afghanistan.
The Kunduz governor's spokesman, Abdul Wadood Wahidi, said about
50 Taliban fighters in the province's Archi district joined the IS three
days ago after being offered money. This set off fierce fighting
between the rivals and the Taliban arrested the defectors, he said.

13

Afghanistan-based TTP men sneak into

Peshawar, storm PAF camp, Badaber
MANZOOR ALI

P UB LISH ED SEP 19 , 2015 06 :44 AM

PESHAWAR: In what appeared to be a precisely planned and executed

attack, terrorists displayed their ability to breach the security of an Air
Force camp near here on Friday and carried out one of the deadliest
assaults on a defence installation on the southern fringes of the
provincial capital.
Twenty-nine people, among them personnel of the Pakistan Air Force
and military and some civilians, lost their lives and all 13 militants who
had stormed the camp were also killed.
The Darra Adamkhel chapter of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a five-minute, twenty-nine seconds video sent to reporters on
Friday, the TTP groups leader Khalifa Mansoor alias Omar Naray is
seen saying goodbye to a group of 16 militants which, it said, was
departing for the attack on the PAF camp.
The group now based in Afghanistan was also behind the attack on the
Army Public School in Peshawar in December last year which left 145
people dead, 136 of them students.

Afghan Taliban factions issue contradictory Eid

messages
REUTERS

UP DATED SEP 22 , 2015 09 :34 PM

14

Mansoor Dadullah was appointed as second deputy for Rasool,

who was named the leader of the splinter group in a mass
gathering of dissident fighters on October 3, in the remote
southwestern province of Farah, according to an AFP reporter
who attended the meeting.

Afghan Taliban breakaway faction challenges

new chief Mansour
AFP

P UB LISH ED NO V 05 , 201 5 07:5 0P M

Rasool, aged 45-50, who was believed to be close to Omar and served
as the governor of southwestern Nimroz province during the group's
rule emerged as the leader of a breakaway faction of the Taliban in the
first formal split and refused to accept Mullah Akhtar Mansour as
Amirul Momineen on 4 November 2015. Announcement to this effect
was made in Bakwah district in Farah province.

We don't accept him as our leader. He was not elected lawfully

in accordance with Sharia to lead the group, said Rasool,
wearing glasses and a black turban and flanked by heavily
armed fighters.

He appointed four deputies Mullah Baz Mohammad Haris, Abdul

Manan Niazi, Mansoor Dadullah and Shir Mohammad Akhundzada
but did not reveal the number of followers his group has.

15

ISIS Wilayat Khorasan

High Council of Afghanistan Islamic Emirate
The fighting started from early Saturday (November 7, 2015) morning
in Khak-i-Afghan and Arghandab districts of Zabul province. About 60
fighters of Mullah Dadullah and 20 of Akhtar Mansour have been
killed, Ghulam Jilani Farahi the deputy police chief for the province
told AFP, adding 30 others were injured. Among the dead militants who
were fighting for the breakaway group are "foreign fighters from
Uzbekistan," Farahi said
Also on Sunday, the bodies of seven minority Shiite Hazaras who were
kidnapped in October from neighboring Ghazni province by gunmen
were found dead in Zabul. The seven Hazara bodies three women
and four men all have been beheaded and were brought by tribal
elders to a hospital in Shah Joy district, Jawad Waziri district governor
for Shah Joy said. 'IS to benefit' from Taliban infighting in Afghanistan
Three senior figures in the Taliban's Qatar political office set up to
facilitate talks with Kabul, including its chief Tayeb Agha, resigned in
August to protest his appointment.

Taliban section claims Mansour injured in

internal firefight
REUTERS

UP DATED DEC 03, 2015 10:5 0A M

PESHAWAR: Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has been wounded

in Pakistan (in Kuchlak north of Quetta close to the Pak-Af border) in a
shootout between senior members of the outlawed movement, Taliban
sources said on Wednesday, while the groups main spokesman denied
it.
Mansour, whose authority is disputed by rival factions, was wounded
when fighting broke out over strategic issues in the house of senior
leader called Mullah Abdullah Sarhadi, two senior Taliban members
said. He said five senior Taliban members died on the spot and over a
dozen including Mullah Mansour suffered serious bullet injuries.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the incident took place.
This is a rumour which is completely baseless. Akthar Mohammad
Mansour is totally fine and nothing has happened to him, he told
Reuters.
16

Taliban to issue Mullah Mansours audio

message as proof of life
REUTERS

PU BL IS H ED ABOUT 13 HOURS AGO

http://shahamat-english.com/leader-of-islamic-emirate-amir-ulmumineen-mullah-akhtar-muhammad-mansoor-ha-releases-audiomessage-concerning-latest-rumors-and-few-other-subjects/

Leader of Islamic Emirate, Amir ul

Mumineen Mullah Akhtar
Muhammad Mansoor (HA),
releases audio message
concerning latest rumors and few
other subjects
ago 1 hour - 4 views

The leader of Islamic Emirate Amir ul Mumineen Mullah Akhtar

Muhammad Mansoor (may Allah safeguard him) talks about
the latest enemy rumors and a few other subjects to
Mujahideen through communication radios. The audio message
can be downloaded from the link provided below.
1. Amir ul Mumineen rejects enemy rumors about his
injury/death, says he hasnt seen Kuchlak (Quetta) in years.
2. Some weak/hypocrite people also picked up rumor and even
considered it their act to try an confuse the ordinary people.
3. Sends deepest condolences to families of children martyred
in Maidan Wardag province by enemy forces, says Emirate
established to wipe tears of such victim.

17

4. Real meaning of this message is that be confident, we are

not fighting for power/Emirate. Our real goal is shariah & it will
be followed strictly.
5. The world/Kabul regime/everyone should realize why the
Taliban are fighting:
There is no differences between real Mujahideen/leaders of
Emirate.
Verbal differences does not mean escalation to armed conflict,
the Muslims should never be concerned about this because the
goal of the Emirate is known which is raising the word of Allah
(SWT), establishment of Islamic government and safeguarding
the life, property and honor of the people and Muslims and
they have accepted death, injury, prison and all other
hardships in this path.
Everyone needs to realize that such rumors which seek to
afflict Muslims with pain is nothing new, this has been ongoing
since establishment of Emirate rather since the time of the
Messenger (SAW) but they used to have patience therefore all
Mujahideen, Muslim Ummah and
Ulama/Leaders/Commander/members of the Emirate also need
to understand that no such incident has occurred and no such
incident shall ever occur between us over power/leadership.
We have Ulama and astute leaders which can resolve,
intervene in such matters and never let it escalate to such a
state.
There is no difference between a Talib and Mujahid, those who
have deviated from righteous path cannot misuse the name of
Talib, he has been labeled by Shariah with many other known

18

names, some are called Sahib ul Fasad (those who spread

mischief), some Murtad (apostates) and some hypocrites.
Those who have spread this rumor should taste how it really
feels like in real life.
I didnt want to talk about this rumor but was compelled to give
confidence to the Mujahideen and ordinary Muslims.
Those who associated this rumor to themselves, it only
exposed their weakness, they only seek to harm the ordinary
Muslims.
Media must realize their journalistic ethics, must not spread
biased baseless news.
Muslims should be confident and realize that this media war is
not new, such claims will be repeatedly circulated, take
assurance in the publications/words of the spokesmen of
Islamic Emirate. Rest assured that even if I dont reject such
claims myself next time, this doesnt mean something has
happened.
Mujahideen should focus on their work, dont listen to such
baseless rumors and propaganda that negotiations have
begun, their is no more fighting and other lies.
We will also make political maneuvers alongside with our
military efforts but when we deem it necessary. It will not be
done because of signals by others or pressure or force.
We are not fighting for power, everyone must realize that the
demands are easy, raising the word of Allah and establishment
of Islamic government that is practically enforced in
Afghanistan or else our Jihad will continue.

19

Every Muslim should take confidence in the words of the

spokespersons in every subject, it shouldnt concern us
whether the enemy believes in it or not.
Pray for the Mujahideen worldwide.

https://archive.org/download/NewPaygham2015/NewPaygham
2015_vbr.m3u

'I'm alive': Afghan Taliban issue message from

'leader' Mullah Mansour
AFP

P UB LISH ED ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO Sunday 6 December 2015

"I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive,"
the man purported to be Mansour says in a relaxed drawl.
Multiple reports citing intelligence and insurgent sources had stated
that Mansour was wounded or killed on Tuesday in a firefight at an
insurgent gathering in Kuchlak.
"I didn't have a fight with anyone, no meeting was held and I have not
been to Kuchlak (near Quetta in Pakistan) in years." the message
added.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1224543/im-alive-afghan-taliban-issuemessage-from-leader-mullah-mansour

20

The security situation in Indias immediate South Asian neighbourhood

remained largely unchanged. While some countries showed
improvement in the security and political situation, there was political
turbulence leading to worsening of the internal security situation in
some others. In terms of fatalities in violent incidents, there was an
overall decrease in the numbers of people killed in South Asia.
However, this did not reflect the ground reality in terms of continued
threats to security in most of the countries.
At the regional level, pending SAARC motor vehicle agreement, a subregional agreement was signed among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and
Nepal (BBIN) for Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo
Vehicular Traffic amongst them on June 15, 2015. This was deemed as
a major initiative to boost sub-regional economic development through
mutual cross-border movement of passengers and goods.
Afghanistan
The Taliban withdrew its unilateral ceasefire in April 2015 and launched
its spring offensive targeting roadways, power networks and crude oil
trucks and pipelines almost on a daily basis. Taliban made its presence
felt in the north and briefly took control of Jawand, the largest district
in Badghis in May and Kunduz in late September 2015.

21

At the same time, reports of several rounds of semi-official and official

reconciliation talks between Afghan Taliban and the Government in
Kabul started pouring in during the first half of the year, especially
since May. There were informal talks in Doha, Qatar 1, in Iran2, in
Urumuqi in Xinjiang, China, in May 2015, in Dubai 3, UAE, and in Oslo
in Norway4 in June 20155, as well as official talks in Muree, Pakistan on
July 7, 20156. These talks were mediated by Pakistan and three top
Taliban leaders, Mullah Abbas Akhund, Abdul Jalil and Abdul Razzak
had an interaction with the Afghan government delegation led by
Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai and other members i.e., senior
leader Mullah Abbas Durrani, Azizullah Din Muhammad, a senior
member of the Afghan High Peace Council. American and Chinese
representatives also participated as observers. The delegates decided
to meet soon for a second round dialogue. Muree talks were disowned
by the Qatar office which was tasked with the job of negotiating with
the government in Kabul since 2013. However, these talks were
disowned by the Qatar office subsequently, indicating division within
the Taliban ranks on the issue of reconciliation facilitated by Pakistan.
In spite of it, there were reports that the Taliban would go ahead with
the talks in Muree again on July 31, 2015. In the meanwhile, the
Taliban had issued a message on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr attributed
to Mullah Omar on July 14, 2015, endorsed political endeavours
concurrently with armed jihad. However, on July 29, a brief statement
from the office of the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, said that it had
credible reports that Mullah Omar, the Taliban Chief, had died two
years ago in Pakistan. On July 30, 2015, the Taliban officially accepted
Mullah Omars death and released a statement that Mullah Akhtar
Mohammad Mansoor was chosen by the Leading Council of the
Islamic Emirate, authentic scholars and venerable people of the
country. The news of Mullah Omars death and subsequent reports
that Omars family had differences with the new leader led to
cancellation of the talks. The second round of official dialogue could
not take place during the year apparently because of divisions within
the Taliban rank.
1

http://shahamat-english.com/full-text-of-the-statement-delivered-by-the-delegation-of-political-office-ofthe-islamic-emirate-in-the-international-pugwash-research-conference/
2
http://shahamat-english.com/remarks-of-spokesman-of-islamic-emirate-regarding-visit-by-high-rankingdelegation-to-iran/
3
http://shahamat-english.com/remarks-of-spokesman-of-islamic-emirate-regarding-meetings-held-indubai-by-members-from-political-office/
4
http://shahamat-english.com/delegation-of-islamic-emirate-meets-with-a-few-countrymen-in-norway/
5
http://shahamat-english.com/clarification-of-islamic-emirate-regarding-participation-at-internationalconference-in-oslo/ & http://shahamat-english.com/full-text-of-the-statement-delivered-by-head-of-thepolitical-office-of-the-islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-in-oslo-conference-forum/
6
http://mofa.gov.pk/pr-details.php?mm=MjkyNg,,

22

Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai as the head of the Political Office

and Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi as his deputy.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh went for parliamentary elections in January amid poll
boycott by the principal opposition party Bangladesh National Party
(BNP) and its allies. All efforts aimed at resolving the differences
between BNP and the ruling Awami League government over the issue
of reinstatement of provision of a neutral caretaker government before
elections, which was removed from the constitution following ALs
resounding electoral victory in 2008 elections, had failed leading to the
oppositions resolve not to participate in the elections despite
persuasions by diplomats from various countries. The results were
clear. The ruling party won uncontested in 127 seats and winning
another 107 seats easily to secure 234 out of total 300 elected seats.
Jatiya party came second with 34 seats. Despite this, the government
led by AL had expressed its desire to reopen negotiation with BNP,
which the latter refused, which also put to rest the international
concern about the non-representativeness of the elections due to nonparticipation of the BNP.
The AL government led by Sheikh Hasina went on to consolidate its
position further by concentrating on economic development at home
and adopting pragmatic foreign policy abroad. The year saw successful
conclusion of the process of trial by the international crimes tribunal
set up by the AL government in 2009 to investigate and prosecute
suspects in the genocide committed in 1971 by the local collaborators
of the Pakistan Army the Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams during
the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Indias relationship with Bangladesh further improved with the visit of
the new foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in June 2014, when she
expressed her governments commitment to address Bangladeshi
concerns over sharing of Teesta waters and implementation of the
Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). Relaxation of tourist visa norms for
Bangladeshi nationals below 13 and above 65 years of age was also
received well in Bangladesh. The Prime Ministers announcement in
November that he would push for the passage of 119 th amendment to
ratify the LBA raised the hopes of resolution of a long festering issue
between the two countries. The agreement was reached at after
detailed surveys by representatives from both countries and as per its
terms India would hand over 111 enclaves in Assam and Paschim
23

Banga and get 57 enclaves in return from Bangladesh. The Arbitration

Tribunal on the India-Bangladesh Maritime Delimitation delivered its
ruling on July 7, 2014, which settled the long-running maritime issue
between the two countries according to international law. The two
governments welcomed the judgment.
Bhutan
Bilateral relationship between India and Bhutan went from strength to
strength during the year with the newly elected prime minister paying
his first foreign visit to Bhutan on June 15-16, 2014. During his visit,
Shri Modi reaffirmed his governments commitment to develop
cooperation and enhance bilateral ties. He inaugurated the Supreme
Court building of Bhutan, which was built with Indian assistance. The
two nations renewed their commitment to meet the 10,000 MW target
in hydropower cooperation by 2020. The Indian prime minister laid the
foundation stone of the 600 MW Kholongchu Hydroelectric project
which would be developed with Indian assistance. India-Bhutan
developmental and economic cooperation has ensured a sound and
healthy bilateral engagement which is a model for other states of the
region.
Maldives
The newly elected President Yameen Abdul Gayoom visited India in
January 2014 as his first foreign destination and emphasized on
working towards strengthening precious ties his country shared with
India. In March 2014, in the third NSA-level meeting in New Delhi,
Maldives, India, Sri Lanka strengthened their desire to work together
to fight terrorism and piracy in the Indian Ocean region. In May, Indian
Army Chief visited Maldives and held extensive discussion with defence
and security officials there. The Maldivian defence minister Mohammad
Nazim visited India in October 2014. India and Maldives agreed to
have shared maritime action plan to ensure maritime security.
However, following Maldivian Presidents visit to China in August 2014
and President Xi Jinpings return visit to Maldives, there were concerns
about Maldivian interest in Chinas proposal to develop its proposed
Maritime Silk Route and subsequent signing of contract with a Chines
company names Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) to upgrade
Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) in Male. The cancellation of
the earlier contract with GMR, an Indian company to renovate the
same airport has and awarding it to a Chinese company been cited as
an indication of the new governments policy of de-emphasising its
relationship with India. In the midst of all this, in early December
24

2014, India responded to distress call for supply of drinking water from
Maldives, when its lone desalination plant caught fire leading to an
acute shortage of water. Two Indian Navy vessels INS Deepak, a
tanker vessel, and INS Sukanya, a patrol vessel, along with five
aircraft including two C-17 Globemaster-III and three IL-76 were
pressed into service to transport water to Maldives to ward of the
crisis.
Nepal
The Second Constituent Assembly went ahead with its efforts to build
consensus on various issues to conclude the process of finalizing the
constitution. The coalition government of Nepali Congress and CPNUML responded to Indias sensitivities on security related issues and
bilateral understanding on defence and security improved during the
year. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Nepal in August 2014,
first by an Indian PM in 17 years, rejuvenated bilateral ties and
brought new warmth and vigour to India-Nepal relationship. Shri
Modis announcement of a credit line of US$ 1 billion and his assurance
to Nepal of the Indian intent to take the relationship to greater heights
through close strategic and economic cooperation were received well in
Nepal. The signing of Power Trade Agreement (PTA) and Power
Development Agreement (PDA) between the two countries
immediately after the trip signaled the advent of new tempo in
bilateral engagement.
Pakistan
After protracted internal discussion on the pros and cons of a military
operation in the tribal areas, Pakistan finally launched Operation Zarbe-Azb on June 14, 2014 in North Waziristan, which was the principal
base of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The operation resulted in
massive displacement of civilian tribal population and flight of militants
across the Durand Line into Afghanistan. The army resorted to heavy
air and ground attack to gain control of the terrain in North Waziristan,
however, it could not capture any high-value militant. The country
witnessed a temporary lull in militant activities, and apparent division
of TTP, with one section expressing its willingness to work with the
Pakistan while another section pledged its loyalty to the Islamic State
of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In September 2014, militants struck at
Karachi naval dockyard, apparently with the help of insiders in the
Pakistan Navy, which pointed to internal schisms within the Pakistan
security establishment on the issue of taking on the radical elements.

25

The political scenario in Pakistan deteriorated since August 2014, when

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lader Imran Kahn staged his Azadi March
along with the Inquilabi March of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) led by
Mualana Tahirul Qadri, in protest against alleged rigging of
parliamentary elections of 2013 by Nawaz Sharifs party. The
protesters laid seize on the capital city and brought Nawaz Sharif
government to a standstill. It was widely believed that both Imran and
Qadri were backed by forces within the security establishment and the
main aim of such a political move was to corner Nawaz Sharif and
weaken his position. Nawaz could weather this storm with
unprecedented show of support by leaders of main opposition parties,
but certainly emerged from the crisis much weaker.
There were efforts by Pakistan military to keep the Line of Control
active throughout the year. This had its inevitable negative impact on
the overall atmosphere. Amid all this, the cancellation of foreign
secretary level talks between India and Pakistan in August, in response
to the Pakistani High Commissioners meeting with Kashmiri
separatists on the eve of the scheduled talks, disregarding the request
from Indian foreign office, led to a new low in bilateral relations. There
were reports in Pakistan media about the jihadi groups like Lashkar-eTaiba,
Jaish-e-Muhammad,
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
and
Hizb-ulMujahideen being readied for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. The
desperate terror attacks on army camps in Jammu and Kashmir in
response to record participation of Kashmiris in assembly elections
indicated the lack of Pakistani interest in resumption of bilateral talks.
The informal handshake between the two prime ministers in
Kathmandu during the SAARC summit could not revive the prospects
for talks.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka continued to court international opprobrium by expressing its
reservations about initiating internal mechanisms to deal with
allegations of war crimes during the final stages of the war. The
government put up fierce resistance to investigation by United Nations
and refused to cooperate with international community in the process.
Faced with international isolation abroad, the government termed
international efforts as a motivated attempt to humiliate Sri Lanka
which infringed upon its sovereignty and hoped to garner popular
support at home through its show of defiance. However, the provincial
elections in Uva in September 2014, made it quite clear that the
popularity of Rajapaksa government was shrining very fast. Such
realization led to President Rajapaksas decision to hold presidential
26

election one year before his tenure would end to secure yet another
term as President before his popularity declined any further. Rajapaksa
government did not make any progress on the issue of political
reconciliation to address the ethnic question.
During the year, Sri Lanka-China relations grew further. There were
reports of Chinese submarines docking at Sri Lankan ports while on
escort mission to anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden in Somalia.
While Sri Lanka continued to express its willingness to cooperate with
India on the maritime front, its growing strategic relationship with
China was perceived as a matter of concern by strategic analysts in
India.

27