Taliban Invades Afghan Villages Following Jailbreak
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Hundreds of Taliban fighters invaded villages just outside Afghanistan’s second-largest city yesterday, forcing NATO and Afghan troops to rush in while frightened residents fled.
The Taliban assault on the outskirts of Kandahar is the latest display of prowess by the militants despite a record number of American and NATO troops in the country.
The push into the Arghandab district — a lush region filled with grape and pomegranate groves that the Soviet army could never conquer — comes three days after a Taliban attack on Kandahar’s prison that freed 400 insurgent fighters.
Those fighters, NATO conceded yesterday, appear to be massing on the doorstep of the Taliban’s former power base. The city of Kandahar lies only 10 miles to the southeast.
The sophisticated and successful jailbreak, followed by the movement into Arghandab, is the latest evidence of the Taliban’s growing strength. America and NATO have pleaded for more troops in the last year and now have 65,000 in the country. But the militants are still finding successes the international alliance can’t counter.
“Three days ago, inside of a 30-minute operation, the Taliban freed hundreds of prisoners, and NATO, the Canadians, the Americans, didn’t do anything,” said Mohammad Asif, 30, of Kandahar. “Now more than 500 Taliban are living in Arghandab. They are occupying the region.”
The government leader in Arghandab, said about 500 Taliban fighters moved into his district and took over several villages. He said families were fleeing even as Canadian, American, and Afghan forces were moving in.
A large river bisects Arghandab’s fertile lands. The east side, closest to Kandahar, is controlled by NATO and Afghan troops, Mr. Farooq said. The area to the river’s west is now controlled by the Taliban.
“The Taliban told us to leave. They are planting mines everywhere,” said Shafiq Khan, who was moving his wife, seven children, and brother out of Arghandab in a small truck late yesterday. Mr. Khan reported that helicopters were patrolling the skies. “The people are scared,” he said by cell phone.
Also yesterday, hundreds of Afghans demonstrated in support of President Karzai’s threat to send troops against Taliban militant leaders in Pakistan, with many protesters saying they were ready to take up arms.
