Taliban Continue Operations, Pak And Coalition Casualties Reported
Mar 23, 2004, By Zafir Jamaal, JUS

Taliban ambushed a Pakistani army convoy as it moved to join a counterterrorism offensive against al-Qaida militants near the Afghan border, killing at least 12 soldiers and wounding 15, officials said Tuesday. Mujahideen fired rockets that hit at least six army trucks in the ambush near Sarwakai, about 30 miles east of Wana, the main town of the South Waziristan tribal region.

Some of the trucks were carrying fuel and were destroyed by fire in the attack Monday, a government official in Sarwakai said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, American and Afghan forces have fought off a Taliban and Al Qaida offensive on the Afghan border. According to Afghan commander, Zakam Khan these fighters were trying to enter Afghanistan to escape the Pakistani attack. After their attempt failed, the group was forced back to the area of fighting in Wana. In the attack, at least three Taliban were martyred and 7 or 8 were wounded. There are mo reports yet on casualties on the Afghan side.

Taliban Mujahideen have attacked the Lawara military base, firing 20 rockets and hailing it with machine guns. No reports of casualties have yet been received. The base houses 1,000 American and Afghan soldiers. After the attack, helicopters from the base retaliated, forcing the Mujahideens to retreat. The Taliban issued a statement pertaining to another attack on a convoy near the Lawara military base but Americans have denied that claim. No other details are available.

According to AFP, the military activity in Khost, Paktika and Paktia have increased. In Paktika, American forces have also increased their operations against Taliban and Al Qaida.

In a fire fight between Taliban and American soldiers in the ongoing operation Mountain Storm , two Afghan soldiers were killed and five Taliban were martyred. In other attacks in Afghanistan, six Coalition and Afghan soldiers have been killed and four Taliban martyred. In Gyan, Paktika, a patrolling party was ambushed and one Afghan soldier was killed. In Khost, three Coalition soldiers were wounded when their party was ambushed

In Ouruzgan, Taliban ambushed a Coalition patrol unit, killing 2 Coalition soldiers and wounding two others. Four Taliban were martyred in that attack. Also in Ouruzgan, American bombing killed 6 afghan civilians including women and children. Many more were also wounded. American planes bombed a village after two American soldiers were killed. Apparently three Afghan lives equal an American.

Taliban spokesman Abdul Lateed Hakimi has said that Taliban movement is not taking responsibility for the tape that was shown on Al Jazeera that had Taliban threatening Pakistan over the operation in Wana. He said that while the infamous backstabbing by Pakistan was the first of its kind in their history, the Taliban have more important tasks in front of them. He said that the Taliban are concentrating at the moment on American forces in Afghanistan and do no intend to harm Pakistan or any other country. He denied that the man on the tape was a member of the Taliban.

In Northern Waziristan, an organization named Mujahideen distributed pamphlets calling for a jihad and boycotting the government. The tribes are called to assist their brothers in Southern Waziristan, where the Pakistani operation is still underway. The pamphlet says that they should not leave their brothers in this time of need. (JUS)

Source:
Jihadunspun.com