Afghan Conflict: Russian Political Leader Meets With Massoud

[Insaanistan]

As Afghanistan Hurdles Towards Civil War, the West Needs to Support the NRF

The continued existence of the National Resistance Front in much of the northeast of Afghanistan put it as a main contender for international support. If a full blown civil war does break out (as opposed to the current conflict), the NRF would be the largest non-fundamentalist group opposed to the Taliban. Their interpretation of Islam and opposition to the Taliban mean that their control over the country would likely bring back women’s education and help protect marginalized groups, given they receive UN assistance.

Heavy Clashes in Badakhshan
Both NRF and Taliban sources report heavy clashes in the province that borders Tajikistan. It seems at least 34 Taliban and 42 resistance fighters have been killed so far.

[Nora Xent]

Yeah I stand by my previous opinion:
Without any outside help, the taliban is going to stay in control and the NRF will never be able to overthrow them. I wish this wasn't the case but it is.

[Laasmistan]

Afghanistan is a prime example of why major world powers just need to stay out of the affairs of smaller countries. The current issues do date back all the way back to the Soviet intervention. (Yes, the USSR was imperialist as well, that's historical fact.)

[The Panjshir Valley]

Yeah I stand by my previous opinion:
Without any outside help, the taliban is going to stay in control and the NRF will never be able to overthrow them. I wish this wasn't the case but it is.

I do think, however, that the NRF will be able to perforate Taliban control over the Tajik border along Takhar & Badakhshan Provinces by summer or autumn of next year.

If the NRF can assert symmetrical control over a few patches of the Tajik border (say, by road access from within Takhar & Badakhshan becoming hotly contested enough to interrupt transit), then there will invariably be more foreign journalists entering the northeast to cover the conflict.

That will be the precursor to fishing for solid international support; the combination of verifying whatever strategic & operational gains the NRF would have made by that point, as well as reporting on the emirate's atrocities & oppression in the northeast.

[Fahran]

Afghanistan is a prime example of why major world powers just need to stay out of the affairs of smaller countries. The current issues do date back all the way back to the Soviet intervention. (Yes, the USSR was imperialist as well, that's historical fact.)

The Taliban have largely survived and thrived as well due to extensive Pakistani support. The difference here is that the US and USSR withdrew their support from their allies while the ISI never really did. That might change now that they're going to have to deal with the Taliban governing across the border, but only time will tell.

[The Panjshir Valley]

Kabul Explosion Kills Two Passengers In A Toyota Corolla, NRF Sources Claim Taliban Interrogation Director For The GDI's District 40 Was Targeted

[Insaanistan]

Ahmad Massoud Appears at Conference in Tajikistan Calling on the Taliban to Allow Legitimate Elections

NRF Seeing Success But Warns of Influx of Foreign Fighters to Afghanistan

Map of Anti-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan

As Russia & Pakistan Take a Harsher Stance Against the Taliban, US Seems to be Taking a Slightly Warmer Stance Towards the NRF

[Fahran]

Ahmad Massoud Appears at Conference in Tajikistan Calling on the Taliban to Allow Legitimate Elections

NRF Seeing Success But Warns of Influx of Foreign Fighters to Afghanistan

Map of Anti-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan

As Russia & Pakistan Take a Harsher Stance Against the Taliban, US Seems to be Taking a Slightly Warmer Stance Towards the NRF

At this point, it's probably fair to conclude that the Taliban won't ever completely stamp out the insurgency for much the same reason that their insurgency was never completely stamped out. The terrain makes it too easy for irregular forces to hide and set ambushes, and, beyond that, there's not enough internal cohesion to bring everyone to the table without serious concessions.

[Insaanistan]

Ahmad Massoud Interviewed by Turkish And German Media

[The Panjshir Valley]

Taliban Attack On Andarab Resistance Front Base Kills Commander Ali Mohamed Andarabi & Captures About A Dozen Fighters

I also referenced a few other social media sources on the matter since the article was published

[Laasmistan]

Afghanistan is a prime example of why major world powers just need to stay out of the affairs of smaller countries. The current issues do date back all the way back to the Soviet intervention. (Yes, the USSR was imperialist as well, that's historical fact.)

The Taliban have largely survived and thrived as well due to extensive Pakistani support. The difference here is that the US and USSR withdrew their support from their allies while the ISI never really did. That might change now that they're going to have to deal with the Taliban governing across the border, but only time will tell.

Plenty of ethnic Pashtuns in Pakistan, that's why. Taliban is almost exclusively Pashtun.

[Fahran]

Plenty of ethnic Pashtuns in Pakistan, that's why. Taliban is almost exclusively Pashtun.

I think that's a bit of a simplification. The Pakistani regime has employed Pashtun militants as proxies in Afghanistan and India historically, but I wouldn't argue that they did so because they're well-disposed towards Pashtuns as an ethnic grouping on the whole. They do it because promoting Islamist extremism has proven beneficial to the ISI and has allowed them to effectively fight against both the Soviets and Indians.

[Insaanistan]

Frustrated with the Taliban, US Officials Meet Anti-Taliban Figures

[The Panjshir Valley]

Frustrated with the Taliban, US Officials Meet Anti-Taliban Figures

I don't like how Atta Noor got lumped in with the NRF. The old figures responsible for hollowing out the country through their corruption must not have a place in the country's future.

[Insaanistan]

Frustrated with the Taliban, US Officials Meet Anti-Taliban Figures

I don't like how Atta Noor got lumped in with the NRF. The old figures responsible for hollowing out the country through their corruption must not have a place in the country's future.

Neither do I. While he certainly seems to be part of the Supreme Council of Resistance, I’ve seen no indication he could correctly be identified as part of the NRF.

[Stellar Colonies]

Afghanistan’s Taliban Ban All Education for Girls (The Wall Street Journal)

...

In addition to barring women and girls from education, the Taliban have imposed a raft of rules to govern female behavior.

Women now need a male guardian to travel more than 48 miles, or to undertake basic tasks such as entering government buildings, seeing a doctor or taking a taxi. They are banned from nearly all jobs, except medical professions and, until Wednesday, teaching. Women also can no longer visit public parks.

...

[Laasmistan]

Afghanistan’s Taliban Ban All Education for Girls (The Wall Street Journal)

...

In addition to barring women and girls from education, the Taliban have imposed a raft of rules to govern female behavior.

Women now need a male guardian to travel more than 48 miles, or to undertake basic tasks such as entering government buildings, seeing a doctor or taking a taxi. They are banned from nearly all jobs, except medical professions and, until Wednesday, teaching. Women also can no longer visit public parks.

...

I hate stuff like this. Westerners see this and think it's Islam, but in reality it's the Taliban.

[Fahran]

Afghanistan’s Taliban Ban All Education for Girls (The Wall Street Journal)

...

In addition to barring women and girls from education, the Taliban have imposed a raft of rules to govern female behavior.

Women now need a male guardian to travel more than 48 miles, or to undertake basic tasks such as entering government buildings, seeing a doctor or taking a taxi. They are banned from nearly all jobs, except medical professions and, until Wednesday, teaching. Women also can no longer visit public parks.

...

And the apologists said we were fear-mongering. I'll count it as a point of progress that women aren't wholly banned from the medical profession, but I do need to read up to see if the idiotic insistence on gender segregation has been implemented there as well.

[Laasmistan]

Afghanistan’s Taliban Ban All Education for Girls (The Wall Street Journal)

...

In addition to barring women and girls from education, the Taliban have imposed a raft of rules to govern female behavior.

Women now need a male guardian to travel more than 48 miles, or to undertake basic tasks such as entering government buildings, seeing a doctor or taking a taxi. They are banned from nearly all jobs, except medical professions and, until Wednesday, teaching. Women also can no longer visit public parks.

...

And the apologists said we were fear-mongering. I'll count it as a point of progress that women aren't wholly banned from the medical profession, but I do need to read up to see if the idiotic insistence on gender segregation has been implemented there as well.

It's actually sort of odd because this Taliban regime has actually been more moderate than the previous one. Granted, it's not a high bar at all. It's really not hard to be more progressive than 90's Taliban.

[Fahran]

It's actually sort of odd because this Taliban regime has actually been more moderate than the previous one. Granted, it's not a high bar at all. It's really not hard to be more progressive than 90's Taliban.

More progressive than the old Taliban, less progressive than the majority of medieval Islamic polities.

[Thermodolia]

Ahmad Massoud Appears at Conference in Tajikistan Calling on the Taliban to Allow Legitimate Elections

NRF Seeing Success But Warns of Influx of Foreign Fighters to Afghanistan

Map of Anti-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan

As Russia & Pakistan Take a Harsher Stance Against the Taliban, US Seems to be Taking a Slightly Warmer Stance Towards the NRF

At this point, it's probably fair to conclude that the Taliban won't ever completely stamp out the insurgency for much the same reason that their insurgency was never completely stamped out. The terrain makes it too easy for irregular forces to hide and set ambushes, and, beyond that, there's not enough internal cohesion to bring everyone to the table without serious concessions.

Iirc it was hard for us to keep control over that region too

[Laasmistan]

It's actually sort of odd because this Taliban regime has actually been more moderate than the previous one. Granted, it's not a high bar at all. It's really not hard to be more progressive than 90's Taliban.

More progressive than the old Taliban, less progressive than the majority of medieval Islamic polities.

Yea, pretty much.

[Insaanistan]

And the apologists said we were fear-mongering. I'll count it as a point of progress that women aren't wholly banned from the medical profession, but I do need to read up to see if the idiotic insistence on gender segregation has been implemented there as well.

It's actually sort of odd because this Taliban regime has actually been more moderate than the previous one. Granted, it's not a high bar at all. It's really not hard to be more progressive than 90's Taliban.

The higher ups have been trying to moderate a bit in some respects (mainly in regards to Shiā Muslims and women) in order to be more palatable to the rest of the world. Much to their chagrin, their fighters are much more idealistic and intent on implementing the so-called “Islamic emirate” that has been drilled into their heads for 20 years.

[Laasmistan]

It's actually sort of odd because this Taliban regime has actually been more moderate than the previous one. Granted, it's not a high bar at all. It's really not hard to be more progressive than 90's Taliban.

The higher ups have been trying to moderate a bit in some respects (mainly in regards to Shiā Muslims and women) in order to be more palatable to the rest of the world. Much to their chagrin, their fighters are much more idealistic and intent on implementing the so-called “Islamic emirate” that has been drilled into their heads for 20 years.

Yea, makes sense since the first regime was pretty universally condemned. Funny thing is that this one seems to be as well so their attempts to appear more moderate are not really helping.

[Saiwania]

Afghanistan’s Taliban Ban All Education for Girls (The Wall Street Journal)

[box]

I suppose all there is left to do now (if they're not a man) is to escape, or to become the mothers and house wives the Taliban wants them to be.