Counterterrorism Blog

The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a new communiqué from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban) rejecting the formation of new paramilitary security organizations in Afghanistan modeled on the apparent success of the “Awakening” movements in Iraq. The Taliban warned that the Karzai administration “can label these militias with any name it wants, but in fact they are just like those from the former communist-era, such as Gilam Jam ([Abdul Rashid] Dostum's militia)… The nation should not be deceived by these names. The formation of these new militias is testimony to the fact that U.S., NATO, and Afghan National Army and local police forces have suffered total defeat at the hands of the Taliban. They are like a drowning person trying to grab any object floating by. They are repeating the same experience of the communists. The brave nation of Afghanistan will not consider these irresponsible raiders as their defenders, and neither will they dispatch their sons to join these useless ranks.”

An English translation of the communique can be downloaded from the NEFA Foundation website.