-
The only constant is change. -
It basically says that the Taliban are supported by the ISI and they have mutual interests. The taliban needs the ISI for sanctuary and the ISI needs the Taliban to curb Indian influence.
The idiot author forgot to mention that millions of dollars come to the Taliban from Arab states for the purpose curbing Iran's influence. There are many countries in the region that would love for the Taliban to succeed because the alternative would mean devastation for those countries. Just like in the 80's the Americans, Arab states, and Pakistan would have ****ted in their pants if the Majahadeen had failed against the Soviets.Last edited by khushal; 07-25-2011, 06:46 AM. -
foreignpolicy.com?
now thats what i call unbiased source.NOTComment
-
Originally posted by khushal View Post
Iran also supports the Taliban to prevent American hegemony.Comment
-
hahaha it's better source than Taliban propaganda MinistryOriginally posted by graveyardofempires View PostComment
-
actually most of the documentaries and factual news available on the Taliban are by a few Western media sources. Here are some examples.
Religious Reasons for the Taliban Attack on the Intercontinental Hotel
James Fergusson: Religious Reasons for the Taliban Attack on the Intercontinental Hotel
Posted: 6/29/11 12:04 PM ET
It was probably only a matter of time before the Taliban attacked Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel. Perched on a hill in the western Karte Parwan district and visible for miles around, this concrete behemoth of a building is perhaps the most conspicuous symbol of 'modern' Afghanistan -- an icon that used to appear on the backs of the nation's banknotes. Loved and hated in equal measure by three generations of Afghans, the 'Intercon' was the first international luxury hotel in the country when it was opened in 1969 by the modernizing king, Zahir Shah.
These days the Intercon, refurbished five years at a cost of $25m, is more than just a hotel. Its upper floors serve as the headquarters of foreign NGOs; the conference rooms off its cavernous lobby are used so regularly for meetings with VIPs that they have become an important cog in the Karzai government's infrastructure. The road that leads to the airport has recently been repaved and widened; when foreign dignitaries are in town, which is often, it is partially closed to allow their speeding motorcades to reach the hotel unimpeded by local traffic. You can tell who tends to stay at the $150-a-night Intercon from its official website, which carries a direct link to the website of the U.S. State Department (tagline: 'Diplomacy in Action'), and a page of background information on the country.
As a target for the Taliban, the hotel's symbolic value could hardly be greater. The regime has always been aware of the risk -- which is what makes this attack so tactically impressive, as well as a devastating piece of propaganda for the Taliban. Hotels are soft targets, and have frequently been attacked in Kabul in the last few years -- particularly hotels favoured by foreigners. In one of the most infamous episodes in January 2008, a squad of Taliban disguised as policemen breached the city centre's Serena hotel, killing six, including two Norwegians.
The ejection of infidels from Afghanistan is perhaps the most consistently stated of the Taliban's political ambitions. After the Intercon attack a Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed that one of their fighters had called on a mobile phone, saying:We have gotten onto all the hotel floors and the attack is going according to the plan. We have killed and wounded 50 foreign and local enemies. We are in the corridors of the hotel now taking guests out of their rooms -- mostly foreigners. We broke down the doors and took them out one by one.This reported account is remarkable less for its similarity to the Mumbai hotel atrocity of November 2008 than for how far it deviates from what actually happened. Only one infidel foreigner -- a Spaniard -- has so far died as a result of the Intercon attack. The mobile phone caller seems to have been guilty of wishful thinking to the point of self-delusion. Why? And what is it about the Taliban and their convictions that make killing foreign hotel guests worth dying for?
Part of the answer lies in Islamic eschatology, and the coming of the Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer of Islam. According to the Hadith -- the traditional 'sayings' of the Prophet Mohammed -- the Mahdi will be accompanied by an army "led by mighty men, with long hair and beards." This army will come from the East, and march towards Mecca beneath a black flag; the hadith talk about "the black flags of Khorasan," an ancient term for Afghanistan. In other words, Afghanistan is no ordinary Muslim country, but the wellhead of the holiest army in Islam -- the Taliban. For true believers, therefore, the soil of Afghanistan is literally sacred, and the mere presence of infidels on it wholly insupportable.
The second and overlapping reason is that the Taliban are almost entirely a Pashtun organization -- and resistance to foreigners is written into the Pashtun DNA. They have fought off invaders for thousands of years, from Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great to the colonial British, the Soviets and, now, Nato. Violent resistance has always worked for the Pashtuns, who today are the largest and arguably the most successful tribal society in the world.
According to Ghani Khan, a famous mid-20th century Pashtun poet, killing and vindictiveness are a historical characteristic, a part of the national psyche. "When the Pashtun is a child," he wrote, "his mother tells him: 'The coward dies but his shrieks live long after,' and so he learns not to shriek. He is shown dozens of things dearer than life so that he will not mind about dying or killing. He is forbidden colourful clothes or exotic music, for they weaken the arm and soften the eye. He is taught to look at the hawk and forget the nightingale." As Pashtuns, in other words, the Taliban would probably have resisted to the death even in pre-Islamic times; Islam merely added the incentive of martyrdom in a sacred cause.
Some Pashtuns believe that "Khorasan" refers not just to Afghanistan but specifically to the 'Pashtun belt' that stretches across the south of the country and up into north-west Pakistan. No wonder the region is so steeped in the cult of martyrdom, and so thickly dotted with the shrine-like graves of the warrior fallen.Comment
-
so iran hasn't supported iraqi fighters either?There are people today who think that admitting God’s absolute greatness decreases the value and importance of humans in the creation, as if God and mankind are rivals competing in greatness and power. Meanwhile I feel that whenever our perception of God’s greatness increases, with it we become greater, because we are the creation of a great God.
Sayyid QutbComment
-
Come on Randolph. I did not say that. I am saying that the Karzai administartion and the Iraqi administration are both more loyal to Iran than they are to the US. Iraq is different than Afghanistan. Iran has supported Shia fighter in Iran. IM not seeing any credible evidence that Iran would like to see the Taliban succeed in Afghanistan.Originally posted by randolph85 View PostComment
-
what western media would give the truth about iran? they are all anti iran propagandists. the claims that iran is supporting the taliban with arms is from american army.Comment
-
its not about wanting the taliban to succeed. its about sticking it to the US.Originally posted by khushal View PostThere are people today who think that admitting God’s absolute greatness decreases the value and importance of humans in the creation, as if God and mankind are rivals competing in greatness and power. Meanwhile I feel that whenever our perception of God’s greatness increases, with it we become greater, because we are the creation of a great God.
Sayyid QutbComment
-
so what exactly should one get from this?Originally posted by Mostafa1919 View Post
So what? So what if Iran, Pakistan, China, Russia, and a few other countries' interests are that the US is out of Afghanistan? How does this take away any legitimacy to the Afghans who are opposed to the US occupation?
How? If X wants to kick Y out, and Z also wants to see Y out, does Z's interest in wanting to see Y out trump X's main reasons to kick Y out?
WHy the heck should X give a rats asss what Z wants?
X wants to kick Y out for their own reasons.
X=Afghans
Z=all countries that want to see US out.
Y=US and NATOLast edited by Guest; 07-28-2011, 01:16 AM.Comment
-
So why is there peace in Iraq? Why are they not sticking it to them there?Originally posted by randolph85 View Post
Besides, they are already doing that in Iraq and in Afghanistan through diplomacy rather than direct clashes. In Iraq they support the secular shias as well as the religious shias, they do this to control both sides of the coin. Both sides have pledged loyalty to Iran.
In Afghanistan the best outcome they could hope for is Persian speaking afghans in a coalition with Shia Hazaras ruling Afghanistans policies and that is exactly what is happening. The Taliban are a threat to that particular hope.
The Iranians are much more intelligent than to just clash with the US head on when the US is actually playing into Iran's own interests. Iran was contained when Saddam was on one side and the Taliban on the other side, they are no longer contained. The US is losing leverage in the middle east and they are doing their best to create a new managerial system to replace the old system of managing it with military dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
One of the reasons the Arab world especially the Sunnis is shaken up is that they fear they are losing their hold on power in the region, the people have lost all confidence in their leaders, they need to shake it up so new leaders that can bring answers to their problems can emerge. The Arab spring is more of a reaction to this fear, if they do not react, they will be the losers for the next century or more.
The US's best hope today is to somehow bring the Seculars to rule Iran, if that happens then their hegemony in the region is no longer threatened.Last edited by khushal; 07-28-2011, 02:00 AM.Comment
-
Because Iraq has oil that Iran can have...where as Iranian see Pashtun Taliban as a bunch of illiterate fools they can use as their toys ...at Pashtuns expense and the Taliban blind and ignorant as they are......will fall for it hook line and sinker because their impulse is just to react not to think and assess.Comment
Tweet
Comment