13 March 2013/01 Jumada l-Ula 1434/23 Esfand 1391
In Badakhshan Province, reports of nearly 300 families fleeing their homes in Akshira village in Wardaj District. Apparently Mujahideen are using the area to prepare for a major battle with U.S. led Afghan National Army (ANA). Provincial government officials believe Mujahideen are about to launch an offensive to take control of at least four districts, including the province’s capital city.
In Kunduz Province, a suicide bomber killed as many as 20 people, and wounded 35, after he blew himself up at a sporting event. Among those killed are the son and the father of the Afghan Speaker of the House. Some reports suggest they were the target of the bomber.
In Baghlan Province, children were playing with what turned out to be unexploded ordinance (UXO). The bomb went off killing six kids and wounding five. Local government officials say the bomb was left over from a recent battle.
In Helmand Province, unconfirmed reports that an explosion killed two U.S./U.K. led personnel. Also, President Hamid Karzai told University students and local elders that the U.S. led War on Terror is a lie, and that some Mujahideen are actually working for the United States! He also stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan must unite in order to fight their own War on Terror.
In Nangarhar Province, 21000 kg (about 20 tons) of morphine and heroin was captured by Afghan and Russian forces. It’s considered the biggest drug bust in years, and is proof that everything the U.S. has done to supposedly stop opium drug production has failed.
U.S. National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, told the U.S. Senate that Afghanistan was too unstable for U.S. forces to pullout: “the Taliban-led insurgency has diminished in some areas of Afghanistan but remains resilient and capable of challenging U.S. and international goals. The coalition drawdown will have an impact on Afghanistan’s economy, which is likely to decline after 2014.”
The German Development Bank just pledged $89 million USD for the construction of an electricity network in Balkh and Samang provinces, and the building of a dam in Baghlan Province.
12 March 2013/29 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/22 Esfand 1391
In Kandahar Province, a U.S. helicopter crashed, killing five U.S. personnel. Mujahideen claim they hit the ‘copter with a rocket, but ISAF said: “The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.”
In Parwan Province, reports that U.S. Bagram air base was hit by rocket attacks.
In Helmand Province, in Khashin district five people were killed after they drove over a landmine. In Musa Qaleh district, a woman and two girls were killed when a mortar round hit their house.
Textron Marine & Land Systems announced they are being paid $113.4 million USD by the U.S. government, to provide Afghanistan with armored vehicles. The deal is being handled by the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The company is currently working to fulfill a 2011 U.S. contract for the same armored vehicles.