<font face="Times New Roman">AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN</font>
<b><font face="Courier New">MOD-DATE:</font></b><font face="Courier New"> 07/28/06 07:28:44</font><br />
ASIA-JUL28-AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN-NATO/SECURITY<font face="Courier New">ASIA</font><font face="Courier New">: STORY SG260JUL28</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">NATO/SECURITY</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">PESHAWAR</font><font face="Courier New">, PAKISTAN; KABUL AND KANDAHAR,AFGHANISTAN; VARIOUS UNKNOWN</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">LOCATIONS, PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">RECENT FILE </font><br />
<font face="Courier New">NATURAL WITH ENGLISH AND DARI SPEECH</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">DURATION<img src="http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/discussion/images/smilies/13.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Astonished" class="inlineimg" />5:41</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">SOURCE:REUTERS/HANDOUT</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">FEED HISTORY:ASIA</font><br />
<b>INTRO:</b> Fears of Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan mount as NATO gears up for deployment. <b>TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**</b><b>NONE**~ </b> SHOWS: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF FIRE AND SMOKE FROM THE LATEST BLAST IN KABUL 2. POLICE AT THE SITE OF BOMB BLAST IN KABUL 3. MORE OF AFTERMATH PICTURE KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 4. VARIOUS OF AFGHAN POLICE AT KANDAHR STREETS CHECKING THE CARS 5. MORE OF POLICEMEN CHECKING CARS 6. ARMED POLICE GUARDING ON THE STREETS 7. POLICE CHECKING PASSENGER TRAVELING TO THE CITY OF KANDAHAR 8. VARIOUS SHOTS OF KANDAHAR CITY, BUS AND PEOPLE ON THE STREETS 9. (SOUNDBITE) (PASHTO) AJAB GULL, A RESIDENT OF KANDAHAR, SAYING: "Explosions are a big worry here in Kandahar. It's getting worse very day. The situation in Kandahar is worse than anywhere else in Afghanistan." 10. AFGHAN FORMER CABINET MINISTER AND ANALYST DR HAMIDULLAH TARZI TALKING TO REUTERS REPORTER 11.(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) HAMIDULLAH TARZI, SAYING: "I think the increase of foreign troops in the south, and mistakes in their military operations in the south and southeast have caused insecurity in the country, and made the situation worse." OUTSKIRTS OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 12. BRITISH SOLDIERS GUARDING THE STREETS OUTSKIRTS OF CAPITAL KABUL 13.BRITISH SOLDIERS GUARDING 14. VARIOUS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS AIMS HIS RIFLE UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 15.TALIBAN CARRYING ROCKET LAUNCHERS MARCHING THROUGH WOODED REGION 16.TALIBAN MARCHING IN SINGLE FILE WAVING TO CAMERA 17.TALIBAN CARRYING CRUDELY MADE SHORT-RANGE MISSILES ON THEIR SHOULDERS 18.TALIBAN ASSEMBLING A MISSILE FROM PIPES 19.TALIBAN STANDING BESIDE LAUNCHER PAINTED BRIGHT GREEN 20.(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) UNIDENTIFIED TALIBAN SAYING: "Insha Allah (God willing) the Mujahideen (holy warriors) will succeed; victory will be ours.The infidels will be humiliated, insha Allah." 21.VARIOUS OF TALIBAN LOADING MISSILE LAUNCHER 22.TALIBAN (WITH FACE BLURRED OUT) RUNNING AWAY AS LAUNCHER FIRES PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (JULY 05, 2006) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 23.(SOUNDBITE) (English) RAHIMULLAH YUSAFZAI, EXPERT ON AFGHAN AND TRIBALAFFAIRS, SAYING: "Taliban could not fight the Americans and their Allies, so they just retreated into the countryside. They melted into the Afghan villages and now they are back with a vengeance. Because I think they were biding their time and now they feel that the situation is conducive to start fighting and they have done it in a big way now." UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 23.A TALIBAN FIXING HIS MACHINE GUN 24.ARMED TALIBAN STANDING IN A GROUP AND SINGING 25.A TALIBAN CLIMBING UP A ROCKY MOUNTAIN 26.TALIBAN MARCHING THROUGH A BARREN AREA PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN) (JULY 05, 2006) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 27.(SOUNDBITE) (English) RAHIMULLAH YUSAFZAI, EXPERT ON AFGHAN AND TRIBALAFFAIRS, SAYING: "I don't think the Taliban would be able to return to power in the near future. I don't think they have the capacity or they would have the support of the Afghan people that would enable them to recapture power. I think that they know their weaknesses, their shortcomings, and they would not like to capture a city, or a town or even a province because they would not be able to hold on to any of these places if they are captured." UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 28.TALIBAN MARCHING THROUGH RUGGED TERRAIN 29.A TALIBAN CLIMBING UP A HILL OUTSKIRTS OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 21. VARIOUS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS ON PATROL 22. AFGHAN POLICE ON CHECKPOINT NEAR KABUL STORY: Around 1,200 people, including over 60 foreign troops, have been killed in Afghanistan since January this year in a surge of attacks that have come as a surprise to the government and its Western backers. Violence by Taliban insurgents has escalated in Afghanistan this year to its worst level since the militants were ousted in 2001-- fuelling mounting concerns that they could be gearing up to make a come back. To add to the growing fears, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for scores of roadside and suicide bomb attacks, as well as ambushes, raids and assassinations this year. The situation has compelled the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan to accept that undoubtedly "there is a resurgent Taliban problem." The NATO alliance is set to takeover military operations from the U.S.-led military coalition in the violent south of the country on Monday (July 31), thrusting it into what will likely be the toughest combat mission in its history. Though the Afghan government has beefed up security in the capital and the south, there seems to be no sign of a decrease in the level of sporadic attacks on foreign soldiers and civilians. "Explosions are a big worry here in Kandahar. It's getting worse very day. The situation in Kandahar is worse than anywhere else in Afghanistan," said Ajab Gull, a resident in Kandahar. But some analysts feel it is the presence of foreign troops that has exacerbated the situation. "I think the increase of foreign troops in the south, and mistakes in their military operations in the south and southeast have caused insecurity in the country, and made the situation worse," said former Afghan Cabinet Minister and analyst Dr Hamidullah Tarzi. NATO troops, consisting mainly of British, Canadian and Dutch soldiers are pushing into areas where no foreign or government troops have been姊æ˜d where the Taliban with their drug-gang allies are in control. Recent television footage of Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan showed them training and testing weapons in unknown locations in the country. Analysts say in certain provinces, like Kanadahar, Uruzgan and Helmand the Taliban are operating freely and travel in convoys of several vehicles. Rahimullah Yusafzai, a well-known analyst on Afghan and tribal affairs says the Taliban are definitely back and could pose a big challenge in the South and other parts of Afghanistan. "Taliban could not fight the Americans and their Allies, so they just retreated into the countryside. They melted into the Afghan villages and now they are back with a vengeance. Because I think they were biding their time and now they feel that the situation is conducive to start fighting and they have done it in a big way now," said Rahimullah Yusafzai. He added the Taliban were never actually defeated, nor were they killed in large numbers. So they could easily regroup now and "exploit the frustration" that had started setting in among the Afghan people. The troops are meeting much stiffer resistance than expected. Attacks in Kabul are rare but early in July there were two bomb attacks that wounded about 10 people. But Yusafazi said the Taliban know their limitations. "I don't think the Taliban would be able to return to power in the near future. I don't think they have the capacity or they would have the support of the Afghan people that would enable them to recapture power. I think that they know their weaknesses, their shortcomings, and they would not like to capture a city, or a town or even a province because they would not be able to hold on to any of these places if they are captured." A spokesman for the Taliban said they had proved they could strike anywhere and that they could hit targets, regardless of whether they were under "the surveillance and security of foreign forces or thegovernment." He vowed more attacks and said people should stay away from foreign forces and government buildings. In Kabul, the Defence Ministry said Afghanistan's enemies were trying to sow terror and the attacks were aimed at unnerving NATO as it embarks on what looks set to be its toughest mission. NATO forces look likely to be doing more fighting than peacekeeping inthe south when they take over at the end of the month. ENDS<img src="http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/discussion/images/smilies/angry.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Angry" class="inlineimg" />
<b><font face="Courier New">MOD-DATE:</font></b><font face="Courier New"> 07/28/06 07:28:44</font><br />
ASIA-JUL28-AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN-NATO/SECURITY<font face="Courier New">ASIA</font><font face="Courier New">: STORY SG260JUL28</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">NATO/SECURITY</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">PESHAWAR</font><font face="Courier New">, PAKISTAN; KABUL AND KANDAHAR,AFGHANISTAN; VARIOUS UNKNOWN</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">LOCATIONS, PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">RECENT FILE </font><br />
<font face="Courier New">NATURAL WITH ENGLISH AND DARI SPEECH</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">DURATION<img src="http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/discussion/images/smilies/13.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Astonished" class="inlineimg" />5:41</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">SOURCE:REUTERS/HANDOUT</font><br />
<font face="Courier New">FEED HISTORY:ASIA</font><br />
<b>INTRO:</b> Fears of Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan mount as NATO gears up for deployment. <b>TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**</b><b>NONE**~ </b> SHOWS: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF FIRE AND SMOKE FROM THE LATEST BLAST IN KABUL 2. POLICE AT THE SITE OF BOMB BLAST IN KABUL 3. MORE OF AFTERMATH PICTURE KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 4. VARIOUS OF AFGHAN POLICE AT KANDAHR STREETS CHECKING THE CARS 5. MORE OF POLICEMEN CHECKING CARS 6. ARMED POLICE GUARDING ON THE STREETS 7. POLICE CHECKING PASSENGER TRAVELING TO THE CITY OF KANDAHAR 8. VARIOUS SHOTS OF KANDAHAR CITY, BUS AND PEOPLE ON THE STREETS 9. (SOUNDBITE) (PASHTO) AJAB GULL, A RESIDENT OF KANDAHAR, SAYING: "Explosions are a big worry here in Kandahar. It's getting worse very day. The situation in Kandahar is worse than anywhere else in Afghanistan." 10. AFGHAN FORMER CABINET MINISTER AND ANALYST DR HAMIDULLAH TARZI TALKING TO REUTERS REPORTER 11.(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) HAMIDULLAH TARZI, SAYING: "I think the increase of foreign troops in the south, and mistakes in their military operations in the south and southeast have caused insecurity in the country, and made the situation worse." OUTSKIRTS OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 12. BRITISH SOLDIERS GUARDING THE STREETS OUTSKIRTS OF CAPITAL KABUL 13.BRITISH SOLDIERS GUARDING 14. VARIOUS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS AIMS HIS RIFLE UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 15.TALIBAN CARRYING ROCKET LAUNCHERS MARCHING THROUGH WOODED REGION 16.TALIBAN MARCHING IN SINGLE FILE WAVING TO CAMERA 17.TALIBAN CARRYING CRUDELY MADE SHORT-RANGE MISSILES ON THEIR SHOULDERS 18.TALIBAN ASSEMBLING A MISSILE FROM PIPES 19.TALIBAN STANDING BESIDE LAUNCHER PAINTED BRIGHT GREEN 20.(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) UNIDENTIFIED TALIBAN SAYING: "Insha Allah (God willing) the Mujahideen (holy warriors) will succeed; victory will be ours.The infidels will be humiliated, insha Allah." 21.VARIOUS OF TALIBAN LOADING MISSILE LAUNCHER 22.TALIBAN (WITH FACE BLURRED OUT) RUNNING AWAY AS LAUNCHER FIRES PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (JULY 05, 2006) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 23.(SOUNDBITE) (English) RAHIMULLAH YUSAFZAI, EXPERT ON AFGHAN AND TRIBALAFFAIRS, SAYING: "Taliban could not fight the Americans and their Allies, so they just retreated into the countryside. They melted into the Afghan villages and now they are back with a vengeance. Because I think they were biding their time and now they feel that the situation is conducive to start fighting and they have done it in a big way now." UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 23.A TALIBAN FIXING HIS MACHINE GUN 24.ARMED TALIBAN STANDING IN A GROUP AND SINGING 25.A TALIBAN CLIMBING UP A ROCKY MOUNTAIN 26.TALIBAN MARCHING THROUGH A BARREN AREA PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN) (JULY 05, 2006) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 27.(SOUNDBITE) (English) RAHIMULLAH YUSAFZAI, EXPERT ON AFGHAN AND TRIBALAFFAIRS, SAYING: "I don't think the Taliban would be able to return to power in the near future. I don't think they have the capacity or they would have the support of the Afghan people that would enable them to recapture power. I think that they know their weaknesses, their shortcomings, and they would not like to capture a city, or a town or even a province because they would not be able to hold on to any of these places if they are captured." UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 28.TALIBAN MARCHING THROUGH RUGGED TERRAIN 29.A TALIBAN CLIMBING UP A HILL OUTSKIRTS OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 21. VARIOUS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS ON PATROL 22. AFGHAN POLICE ON CHECKPOINT NEAR KABUL STORY: Around 1,200 people, including over 60 foreign troops, have been killed in Afghanistan since January this year in a surge of attacks that have come as a surprise to the government and its Western backers. Violence by Taliban insurgents has escalated in Afghanistan this year to its worst level since the militants were ousted in 2001-- fuelling mounting concerns that they could be gearing up to make a come back. To add to the growing fears, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for scores of roadside and suicide bomb attacks, as well as ambushes, raids and assassinations this year. The situation has compelled the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan to accept that undoubtedly "there is a resurgent Taliban problem." The NATO alliance is set to takeover military operations from the U.S.-led military coalition in the violent south of the country on Monday (July 31), thrusting it into what will likely be the toughest combat mission in its history. Though the Afghan government has beefed up security in the capital and the south, there seems to be no sign of a decrease in the level of sporadic attacks on foreign soldiers and civilians. "Explosions are a big worry here in Kandahar. It's getting worse very day. The situation in Kandahar is worse than anywhere else in Afghanistan," said Ajab Gull, a resident in Kandahar. But some analysts feel it is the presence of foreign troops that has exacerbated the situation. "I think the increase of foreign troops in the south, and mistakes in their military operations in the south and southeast have caused insecurity in the country, and made the situation worse," said former Afghan Cabinet Minister and analyst Dr Hamidullah Tarzi. NATO troops, consisting mainly of British, Canadian and Dutch soldiers are pushing into areas where no foreign or government troops have been姊æ˜d where the Taliban with their drug-gang allies are in control. Recent television footage of Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan showed them training and testing weapons in unknown locations in the country. Analysts say in certain provinces, like Kanadahar, Uruzgan and Helmand the Taliban are operating freely and travel in convoys of several vehicles. Rahimullah Yusafzai, a well-known analyst on Afghan and tribal affairs says the Taliban are definitely back and could pose a big challenge in the South and other parts of Afghanistan. "Taliban could not fight the Americans and their Allies, so they just retreated into the countryside. They melted into the Afghan villages and now they are back with a vengeance. Because I think they were biding their time and now they feel that the situation is conducive to start fighting and they have done it in a big way now," said Rahimullah Yusafzai. He added the Taliban were never actually defeated, nor were they killed in large numbers. So they could easily regroup now and "exploit the frustration" that had started setting in among the Afghan people. The troops are meeting much stiffer resistance than expected. Attacks in Kabul are rare but early in July there were two bomb attacks that wounded about 10 people. But Yusafazi said the Taliban know their limitations. "I don't think the Taliban would be able to return to power in the near future. I don't think they have the capacity or they would have the support of the Afghan people that would enable them to recapture power. I think that they know their weaknesses, their shortcomings, and they would not like to capture a city, or a town or even a province because they would not be able to hold on to any of these places if they are captured." A spokesman for the Taliban said they had proved they could strike anywhere and that they could hit targets, regardless of whether they were under "the surveillance and security of foreign forces or thegovernment." He vowed more attacks and said people should stay away from foreign forces and government buildings. In Kabul, the Defence Ministry said Afghanistan's enemies were trying to sow terror and the attacks were aimed at unnerving NATO as it embarks on what looks set to be its toughest mission. NATO forces look likely to be doing more fighting than peacekeeping inthe south when they take over at the end of the month. ENDS<img src="http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/discussion/images/smilies/angry.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Angry" class="inlineimg" />