NEFA Foundation: Interview with Taliban Official in Herat Province

By Evan Kohlmann

The NEFA Foundation has obtained an interview with Sheikh Abdul Manan Niyazi, Governor and Military Official for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (The Taliban) in Herat Province, published in Al-Somood, a monthly Islamic magazine published by the Taliban’s media center. According to Al-Somood, Niyazi has belonged to the Taliban “since the beginning of its establishment and he is…considered to have played a prominent role in the foundation of the movement." Niyazi asserted that “Percentage-wise…the enemy does not control more than 10% of Herat…In Herat there are no areas in which the Mujahidin do not have powerful military strongholds which they control." He added, “we can say with all reassurance that the Mujahideen are concentrated in plentiful numbers in every corner of Herat province, praise be to Allah. We do not feel any scarcity of Mujahedeen and have not suffered from any scarcity up to this time. They resist the enemy with different military procedures and use effective tactics such as exploding mines and improvised explosive devices, fight and flight and surprise raids." Among the operations he highlighted was an attack on Italian forces that “was considered the worst losses suffered by the Italian forces since they came to Afghanistan. This has caused the issue of withdrawing Italian troops to swell during these days and their have been violent debates on this topic."

A copy of the interview with Shaykh Niyazi can be accessed via the NEFA Foundation website.