17 March 2013/05 Jumada l-Ula 1434/27 Esfand 1391/06 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
In Badakhshan Province, a major battle between Mujahideen, Afghan National Army (ANA) and Police (ANP). Mujahideen claim they killed 20 ANA and ANP personnel, and wounded at least 10. The ANA and ANP launched an offensive in Wardaj district. Mujahideen say the fighting lasted all day, but they were able to almost surround the U.S. backed government forces and forced them to retreat. Mujahideen also destroyed three armored vehicles and captured 30 weapons. Only three Mujahideen were killed.
In Kandahar Province, a U.S./NATO led patrol entered Zangawat region’s Gerandi area, in Panjwaee district, in order to retrieve two bodies of personnel that had been killed earlier. Mujahideen ambushed them and a 30 minute long firefight took place. The U.S./NATO led forces eventually left, and two Mujahideen were killed.
Reports that Afghan and U.S./NATO officials are working on a deal to withdraw U.S. SOF personnel out of Maidan Wardak Province. It’s long past the deadline ordered by President Karzai for the SOF troops to get out. Civilians of the province say the U.S. troops are harassing, torturing and killing innocent people.
In Helmand Province, reports that an unarmed Mujahid attacked and then killed two Arbakis (contracted security/mercenaries). He did so by using their own weapons on them. He then took off with their weapons, ammo and a motorcycle. Also, in Marjah district, in the Tarkha Nawar area, reports of sporadic ongoing battles ever since U.S./NATO led forces were brought in by helicopters the day before.
In another controversy involving the U.S., the Bagram Prison (aka Parwan Detention Facility) has yet to be turned over to Afghan officials as promised. The National Ulema Council said if the U.S. does not get out of the prison then all U.S. forces will be considered enemy occupiers by the Council and military action will be taken. President Karzai says he’s agreed with U.S. officials to give yet another week to hand over the prison (boy, the U.S. must have committed a lot of crimes against humanity in there if it’s taking them this long to cover up their evil).
And President Karzai has told British media that the Obama administration has become desperate to work a new security deal. Karzai says under the new deal the U.S. will not leave Afghanistan. For some reason Obama is pushing hard for it, but Karzai says time is on his side now: “The Americans are in a hurry to sign it in three months. We are not in a hurry. We are careful.”
16 March 2013/04 Jumada l-Ula 1434/26 Esfand 1391/05 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
In Kandahar Province, a U.S./NATO helicopter crashed. One crewman was killed. As usual ISAF says there was no enemy activity in the area and they’re investigating the cause.
In Paktika Province, villagers in Tarwa district say Afghan government forces raided their homes. One villager was killed and two were kidnapped.
In Helmand Province, a U.S./NATO drone crashed in Marjah district. After that a U.S./NATO heliborne operation began, battles are reportedly still ongoing.
In Uruzgan Province, a local police commander joined the Mujahideen in Char Chino district.
In Herat Province, Spanish officials announced they are getting their troops out early. Already they’ve closed two bases and are working on closing a third. They hope to have all their troops out by 2014.
15 March 2013/03 Jumada l-Ula 1434/25 Esfand 1391/04 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
In Kunar Province, Mujahideen claim to have attacked a FOB (forward operating base) in Watapur district. They say they killed one U.S. troop and wounded two ANA troops.
In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen report more battles with U.S. and ANA forces in Shulgar district. They claim four U.S. personnel killed and four ANA personnel killed, dozens wounded.
In Logar Province, Mujahideen got four fuelers for the price of one. They say they remote detonated a bomb as one fuel tanker was passing, the resulting fire ball engulfed three other fuelers destroying them as well.
The World Bank announced yet more money for Afghanistan: “The World Bank Group is strongly committed to helping the Afghan people end poverty and build shared prosperity in the years ahead…..We will support programs in areas that the Afghan government has identified as crucial to meeting its development goals, including education, health, irrigation, energy, infrastructure and rural development. We are also focused on improving the government’s capacity to deliver services to its citizens, and on fostering a business climate that unleashes the job-creating potential of the private sector.”-Jim Yong Kim, President of World Bank
14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
In Ghazni or Laghman Province, Mujahideen report they ambushed a U.S./ANA patrol. The report is confusing because it mentions two different provinces. Anyway, Mujahideen say the U.S. forces called in airstrikes afterwards.
In Nangarhar Province, three tribes joined the Mujahideen in Khogiyani district. They promised 250 of their men to help fight the occupation.
And the official number of U.S. personnel expected to remain after the supposed 2014 pullout is slowly creeping up. Now the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, James Cunningham, is asking to keep at least 13600 personnel incountry after 2014. Other U.S. officials stressed that it was just a starting number: “You have to start at 13600. That is the least risk with least amount of people. That allows us to be in the four corners of Afghanistan and continuing to train the Afghan military.”-Duncan Hunter, U.S. Representative from California