Northern Afghanistan flood

It has been awhile due to few problems i couldn't writ .It has been awhile since recent flooding in north and north east of the country forced people out of their homes and lands. Heavy flood claimed 120 people's life,left 1000s without home and any shelter.This all happened in province of Takhar,Kunduz,Samangan,Jawzijan,Faryab. Well as it is clear the government is busy with its own agendas and doesn't wanna help those who need allot . The corrupt Afghan governments officials will only think about the self interest and the balance of their own banks. therefor a group of young people from Europe and inside Afghanistan decided to raise some money to support the flood victims . In a matter of a week 11000 $ has been raised. A commission has been established inside Afghanistan to deliver necessary basic items that were needed in the ground .They already started their trip from capital Kabul to affected areas in the north part of the country. In coming days we will be following that team and will be updating the blog with recent pictures and news from the flooded areas.
The following pictures has been taken today from the first place the team has visited.

Coalition arms convoy comes under attack

Armed Taliban attacked an ammunition convoy of the US-led coalition troops in the southern Ghazni province, sparking a fierce gun-battle with police that left three attackers dead, police said Thursday.
However, Taliban rebut the claim, saying they set ablaze a truck and a police car, killing five cops onboard.
Police chief of Andar district, Colonel Muhammad Nabi Patang, told Newsv Agencies the convoy was carrying ammunitions for the coalition forces from Ghazni to Paktika when it came under attack from armed Taliban.
Patang claimed the clash that lasted for one hour left three Taliban dead and two others wounded, while police remained unhurt.
Talking to this scribe by the telephone from an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected casualties to the Taliban and claimed an ammunition truck and a police car were torched and five people onboard were perished.
He also claimed that in another attack in Qara Bagh district of the same province, they set ablaze two ammunition vehicles, destroyed two cars and killed eight police.
However, Ismail Jahangir, spokesman for Ghazni governor, refuted Mujahid's claims, saying one oil tanker was destroyed in the attack, but no human casualty was occurred.

Woman injured in Samangan suicide blast

A teenager blew up his explosives laden waistcoat in front of the governor house killing only himself and injuring a woman in the northern Samangan province earlier Sunday afternoon, local police officer said.Body of suicide attacker destroyed.As result of explosion nearby governor's office windows shattered.Chief of police said the governor of Samangan were in office while the incident took place.No one from government officials has been injured in the incident and one of police's car has been destroyed .

In mean time local police officers came under fire in Kunduz province.In fighting which took place between armed man and the local police man four police has been injured.

Body of the deputy of oil and Gas Company of Hayratan Port found.

Gul Ahmad Ahmadi who has been kidnapped few days ago has been shot dead by unknown armed man in Northern Province of Balk. His body has been found from south of Mazar-e-Sharif city from a river. Gul Ahmad Ahmadi was deputy of Oil and Gas department of Hayratan port a small town which has border with Termiz city of Uzbekistan through Friendship bridge over Amu Darya. Balkh police said the investigation has been launched, so far no one has claimed the responsibility for the killing. Local police said he might have been killed because of personal reasons. So far his family didn’t comment anything on that. Balkh in north of Afghanistan is relatively peaceful city compared with south with some sporadic incidents.
Mazar-e-Sharif is the fourth largest city of Afghanistan, with population of 300,600 people (2006 estimate). It is the capital of Balkh province and is linked by roads to Kabul in the south-east, Herat to the west and Uzbekistan to the north. Mazari Sharif means "Noble Shrine," a reference to the large, blue-tiled sanctuary and mosque in the center of the city known as the Shrine of Hazrati Ali or the Blue Mosque. The city is a major tourist attraction because of its fabulous Muslim Hellenistic archeological sites. In July 2006, the discovery of new Hellenistic remains was announced.



Hairatan : Afghan-Uzbek Friendship Bridge.


The Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge is a road and rail bridge across the river Amu Darya (formerly Oxus River; the Greeks (Ptolemeus) called it Oxiana palus) connecting the Uzbek city of Termez with the city of Heiratan in the Balkh province in northern Afghanistan. It was built by the Soviet Army in 1982 to supply it is troops in Afghanistan.
It is the only way across the Uzbek-Afghan border, the nearest bridge across the Amu Darya being at Kelif some 120 Km to the west crossing the Turkmen –Afghan border.
The bridge was closed in May 1997 when the Taliban forces took control of the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. It reopened on December 9, 2001 .

Can 20000 new soldiers solve Afghanistan’s problem?

US administration is planning to send 20000 soldiers to Afghanistan in order to bring stability in the country. Well US military officials are hoping that they can achieve the same result as they did in Iraq Surge by outnumbering the troops then. Regarding the US officials new soldiers will be based in troubled cities of south like Helmand,Kandhar or Uruzgan where they can help out Canadian and British soldiers to combat Taliban. In mean time development and reconstruction projects which will be funded by US and other international countries, will be implemented in different areas mainly in south of the country by Afghan government. Tribal leaders will be invited by the Afghan government and international forces to implement security in their own areas and fight back against the Taliban, which means forming of different militia forces in the country. Basically in new strategy US are trying to get tribal and local people or leaders to fight against Taliban. That means they will be paying money and if necessary arming the tribes man and militia forced in the country. Well what about Afghan government? Apparently they will be in the picture and they will be playing key role to implement the new strategy .since fall of the Taliban afghan government were in the centre of attention. Despite spending of billions of Dollars on afghan government expected results were not achieved. Security situation is getting worse, country’s police and army is not trained properly (not enough numbers as well),every office and officials from top to bottom in Afghan government are believed to corrupt ,warlords and people once violated people’s right are appointed in high positions, the list of failures goes on which I don’t want to stop in every one of them as everyone has got full details .So because of those reasons donor countries specially the US this try’s to involve the local people . They might be optimist about that and obviously the 20,000 soldier is considered to be a big number .currently 31000 American soldiers are serving in Afghanistan plus another 20000 from other countries. But there are some doubts about the abilities of Afghan tribal leaders, because they can easily switch the side obviously money plays a key role, but how long you can give them money? In mean time insurgents who are fighting against Afghan Government and international forces are mostly from southern Afghanistan where from the very tribes that International community demanding help .well that would make things worse as well.
So now how much Afghan government is happy about latest arrangements? As it sounds not 100%.Afghan Government of course would welcome any increase of foreign troops. But in mean time they have their own idea for better security in Afghanistan. They want international community to spend more money on training of Afghan Army and police. They want the new soldiers mainly to be deployed in border areas in order to control the border crossing of insurgents from Pakistan. Also put some pressure on in other side of border, Pakistan.
So who you can trust? This the question every ordinary Afghans are asking? Corrupt afghan government? Or international community which by implementing of new strategy they are trying to create militia forces. Well Afghans doesn’t have a good experience from militia forces as well.

15 Road workers kidnapped from Faryab Province.

15 road workers have been kidnapped from Faryab province in the north of Afghanistan. The incident took place late last night Ghormach district of Faryab province.
The workers have been kidnapped in point of gun by unknown armed man. Regarding the officials from the private company workers who have been kidnapped were the ordinary workers who have been working on building the road from Ghormach to Faryab province .Faryab province spokesperson confirmed the incident saying investigation has been launched .It is not the first incident in the area, few months earlier one engineer killed and several others have been kidnapped. So far no one has been claimed the responsibility for the kidnapping.
Ghormach is a district in northeast Badghis province, of Afghanistan.It borders on Turkmenistan to the north, the Almar and Qaysar districts of Faryab province to the east, and Murghab District to the south and to the west. The district centre is Ghormach.
The district population was estimated by the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan at 61956(2003).The United Nations lists 221 villages in the district. Notable localities in this district include Ab-i-Garmak,Arzanak,Du abi,Garband,Husaym,Joy-e-shor,Karez,Khatun,Khushki,Pamakhtu.Petaw,Rangin,Rashid,Sartakit,Sawriwon,Senjetak.

2 American Soldier killed in Northern Afghanistan by Afghan Army Soldier

An Afghan Army soldier killed two and injured one American soldier who were operating in northern Afghanistan on Friday.

18 years old Afghan soldier from 209 Shai Army corps opened fire and killed himself too .

The incident took place late night friday in northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif .
A military source confirmed the incident in a joint statement by Afghan and American coalition forces saying the Afghan soldier was from eastern province of Khust.
"One coalition servicemember was killed today, another died of
wounds, and a third was wounded by an Afghan National Army soldier
who reportedly fired upon them," the statement said.
The Afghan soldier killed himself immediately after the
incident, it said.
Afghan military official said that an investigation will be launched .

In a separate statement Afghan defence ministry expressed their sorrow and said full action will be taken

"It is too early to speculate, but the investigation will bear
out the truth," the minister was cited as saying, adding that "full
corrective action will be taken."

Blast kills 7 people and injures 9

Road side bomb has exploded in eastern Afghanistan killing 7 people including a woman in a min bus.
9 people also injured in incident. The blast happened in Sabri District of Khost Province.
The Road that blast occurred in is constantly used by American, NATO and Afghan Army .
Fighting between Afghan and American soldiers and Taliban brakes out more often in eastern Khost province which has long border with Pakistan.
It is one of unstable regions of Afghanistan.

Afghan interior ministry confirmed the blast saying it has been done by enemies of Afghanistan people.
But Khost Police blames the Taliban for the attack. In mean Time Taliban denied any involvement into incident, saying they are not aware of any blast.

Coalition Forces Bombards District Chief’s House in North

Latest bombing of coalition forces claimed five lives in northern Afghanistan.
Apparently people who lost their lives were all civilians regarding local officials.

The incident happened in the Imam Sahib District of Kudzu province in northern Afghanistan.

Governor of Kunduz Mohammed Omer confirmed the attack saying the coalition forces hit the district chief home.

He also claimed people who died as result of the attack, were all local governments’ officials who were gathered in distract chief’s home.

American lead coalition forces confirmed the attack saying they targeted the Terrorists.

Some reports say Coalition forces arrested 4 people from the house as well.

German troops are mainly based in Kunduz province.

In mean time tens of people in Imam Sahib District of Kunduz province purred in the streets condemning the attacks .shops were closed for several hours.

Kunduz is located in north east of Afghanistan bordering Baglan and Taliqan provinces.Kunduz is separated by a river from Tajikistan and newly build bridge is connecting Afghanistan and Tajikistan in Kunduz.in recent years a lot of people are crossing the border to Tajikistan do businesses or just leisure trips.

Uzbek, Pashtun and Tajik ethnic groups forms the main population of the province. As matter of insurgency is concerned Kunduz is one of the few places in northern Afghanistan that has been witnessing some sporadic attacks.

Kunduz used to be one of the strongholds of Hezb-e-Islami in the northern Afghanistan,
Hezb-e-Islami which is illegal party in Afghanistan taking part in some insurgent activities.

Afghan Election Fever

Finally after weeks of talks and debates about the Afghanistan’s presidential election date, people who were believed to be putting their names forward as candidates emerging and talking about their plans.
Today in capital Kabul former finance minister (Till recently) Anwarul Haq Hahadi leader of Afghan Millat Party( A party which is formed by main Hardliner Pashtons) announced his candidacy for August Election.
He started his speech by criticizing the current government and its policies.
He said a nation will improve and developed only when they have a good leadership.

Indeed a good leadership is vital for any government not only Afghanistan but Afghanistan needs that leadership more then anytime now.
Mr Hahadi, who for last seven years enjoyed a very well position in the government, vital relation with President advising him on important issues as well very good established relation with the west.
He only left his position few months back with intention of putting his candidacy to presidential election.
But one thing for sure many will ask would be why Mr Hahadi didn’t questioned current governments policy when he was in office as policy maker or influential figure? Why he didn’t correct them when he could have?
As President Office today responded saying that Mr Hahadi, himself was part of the current government for past seven years, and doubted his ability to do anything good. As he was part of this bad government that he is talking about.
Let’s hope candidates well talk about their policies rather then pointing fingers.
In coming days we will look at political activities in northern Afghanistan mainly about Uzbeks and who they are favouring and whom they will join a hand.

About North Afghanistan Magazine

Now days with involvements of international community in

Afghanistan, every news and event related to Afghanistan

attracts the interest of different people around the world. For

most of the people as well as the politicians and Media

Afghanistan summarises with Kabul and south and Southeast of

the country because government and the cabinet is based in

Kabul where in south violence attracts every one's attention.

But Afghanistan is more than that, North, West and Central .

North has been always the vital part of Afghanistan .North part

of the country is relatively in peace comparing to the south with

sporadic small incidents. That part of the country in many ways

is different than other parts specially south.Northren part of

Afghanistan is consist of Baglan,Samangan,Balkh,Jawezi-e-

Jan,Saripul,Faryab and where in North East lies Kunduz,Takhar

and Badakhshan.Majority of the people who are living in that

part of the country is mainly Uzbeks.

Businesses are growing there, with active border trading

between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan Turkmenistan.

The aim behind this blog is to provide as much as possible

information about that part of the country as it is un reportered

part of the Region. From breaking news to social event and

cultural activities, we shall update as much as we can.

Just would like to mention that we will be publishing in three languages. English,Uzbek and Dari