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Monday, November 5, 2007 Volume 11 Number 205
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Southwestern Asia And The Middle East
TALIBAN INSURGENCY IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN REPORTEDLY SHOWS SIGNS OF INTERNAL DIVISIONDespite continuing instability in southern Afghanistan, recent developments in Musa Qala district, in Helmand Province, indicate a potential breakthrough for the government of President Hamid Karzai, afgha.com reported on October 30, citing the "Daily Telegraph." Nine months after insurgents took over Musa Qala's district center, serious splits have developed between the foreign jihadi fighters and the tribal Taliban-linked militants operating in the area. Leaders of the largest Pashtun tribe in Helmand, the Alizai, are engaged in secret peace negotiations with the government, under the leadership of Mullah Abdul Salaam, a powerful Soviet-era mujahedin commander and former Taliban commander who reportedly survived an assassination attempt ordered by the Taliban leadership after he fell out with them, the news website reported. If the negotiations succeed, thousands of armed tribal fighters loyal to Mullah Salaam will refrain from insurgent activities against the Afghan government and international forces, potentially meaning a major setback for the resurgence of the Taliban movement in the province. MM ANALYSTS REJECT DESCRIPTION OF TALIBAN AS PRODUCT OF PASHTUN TRIBAL CULTURE Pajhwak Afghan News on November 3 quoted Afghan political analysts as strongly rejecting speculation that the Taliban insurgency is a product of Pashtun tribal politics and culture. The observers contended that the rise of Taliban radicalism is not limited to Pashtun communities, and stressed that the harsh economic realities of the tribal areas in both Afghanistan and Pakistan have contributed to alienation, unrest, and militancy in the region. Afghan lawmaker Kabir Ranjbar cited the lack of economic development and public services as the major factors that have turned the tribal areas into fertile ground for extremist operations and recruitment. Political analyst Wahid Muzhda argued that the Taliban does not represent a single Afghan faction. "Being an ethnic Tajik myself, I was with the movement for half a decade. They listen more raptly to Chechens than they did to me, or other Pashtuns, for that matter." MM AFGHAN FINANCE MINISTER, WORLD BANK OUTLINE ANTICORRUPTION MEASURES Afghan Finance Minister Anwar al-Haq Ahadi and Alastair McKechnie, the World Bank country director for Afghanistan, held a joint press conference in Kabul on October 31 to outline measures being taken to fight corruption, Pajhwak Afghan News reported on November 3. Ahadi pledged to push for the prosecution of corrupt officials, but said that "half the battle is already lost" because of widespread corruption in government circles. He stressed that preventing corruption must be a key part of a long-term anticorruption strategy. McKechnie stressed the need for effective budgeting and sound public financial management to minimize corruption, acknowledging that Afghanistan has shown significant progress over the past six years in strengthening public financial oversight. MM U.S. AND AFGHAN OFFICIALS REJECT IRANIAN MINISTER'S ALLEGATIONS Iranian Interior Minister Mustafa Pur Muhammadi, addressing the fourth conference of interior ministers from Iraq's neighboring countries, alleged on October 24 that the United States "has set up terrorist training camps in Afghanistan over the past few years," Pajhwak Afghan News reported on October 27. Pur Muhammadi's statement was apparently a response to comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressing concern over the flow of Iranian arms to Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul on October 26 dismissed the Iranian accusation as "baseless," asserting that U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan have a mandate from the United Nations, and are there to facilitate stabilization and recovery. Afghan officials and analysts also rejected the allegation, describing it as groundless and a reflection of rising tensions and rivalry between the United States and Iran. MM IRAN RESPONDS COOLLY TO ARAB NUCLEAR PROPOSAL Iran on November 3 effectively rejected a proposal for key nuclear-fuel-making activities to be carried out abroad, and reiterated its determination to continue with what it insists is a peaceful nuclear program, agencies reported. The proposal to produce nuclear fuel for Iran was reportedly made by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal in an interview with the "Middle East Economic Digest." Iranian Supreme National Security Council vice-secretary Javad Vaidi said in Tehran on November 3 that the offer was similar to a Russian proposal Iran has already rejected, AFP reported. He said Iran welcomes the idea of a consortium to make fuel abroad, provided Iran can continue with its own fuel-making activities. Reza Talai-Nik, a member of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Fars news agency on November 3 that the proposal would "politely" terminate "Iran's peaceful fuel cycle." He said that in spite of Iran's recent cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the political wrangling over Iran's nuclear program has "once more reached a peak in recent weeks." He said Western governments' demands that Iran halt uranium enrichment and related activities "are not in keeping with our country's nuclear rights." Western powers are waiting for a November 19 IAEA report on Iran's cooperation with the agency before deciding whether to push for a third round of UN sanctions intended to curb its nuclear program. VS IRAN, U.S. ENVOYS MAY MEET AGAIN IN BAGHDAD Iranian and U.S. diplomats may resume talks on Iraqi security in the near future, according to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, Radio Farda reported on November 4, citing agency reports. Crocker said in Istanbul on November 3 that he may soon meet again with Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hasan Kazemi-Qomi, Radio Farda reported, adding that Crocker's statement followed recent expressions of interest in resumed talks by Iranian officials. Iranian and U.S. diplomats met in May and July in Baghdad to discuss Iraq. The two sides agreed to form a three-party committee with Iraq to discuss security issues; that committee met once in August, but it remains unclear what it achieved, Radio Farda observed. Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said in Baghdad on October 31 that Iran would positively consider a request for a renewal of talks, Radio Farda reported. VS IRANIAN AUTHORITIES ARREST YOUNG PEOPLE AT PARTY Police arrested 11 girls and 21 boys at a house party organized by students in the Jahanshahr district of Karaj, a city outside Tehran, ISNA reported on November 3. Iran's religious laws forbid girls and boys from interacting outside their immediate families, and outlaw dancing and drinking alcohol. A police official, Nader Sarkari, told ISNA that police entered the apartment in Karaj after a tip-off, apparently with a court order, and found the guests "in an unnatural state and half-naked, because they had been drinking." The detained, described as students from various Tehran universities, were taken to a police station, Sarkari said, adding that the party was held to celebrate one student's winning a prize in an international academic competition. VS IRAN HANGS TRAFFICKERS, KILLERS The Iranian authorities have executed four convicted drug traffickers in the southern port of Bandar Abbas, "Aftab-i Yazd" reported on November 4, citing ISNA and the Hormozegan provincial judiciary. Police arrested the gang members on two unspecified dates, seizing 8.6 kilograms of heroin, 508 kilograms of opium, and one or two Kalashnikov rifles, ISNA reported. Separately, a 27-year-old man named Asghar, who was convicted of killing a man in a fight on October 11 in a village near Isfahan, central Iran, was hanged in Isfahan on November 3, "Kayhan" and "Iran" reported on November 4. He was initially slated for execution on October 16, but the victim's family agreed to a reprieve if the killer's family left the village. The family either refused or had not left by November 3, "Iran" reported. Iran publicly hanged another man, apparently on November 2, in the town of Kahnuj in southeastern Kerman Province, AFP reported on November 3, citing "Kayhan." The unnamed man was convicted of killing his fiancee's brother four years ago. AFP reported that at least 244 convicts have been executed in Iran so far this year. VS IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY ARRESTS DRUG TRAFFICKERS The Intelligence Ministry arrested 23 suspected drug traffickers and discovered over 6,800 kilograms of various drugs in Iran's eastern and central provinces in a nine-day period to November 3, "Iran" reported on November 4. The ministry was acting in coordination with the governmental Drug Control Headquarters. It also confiscated ammunition and weapons from the suspects, including RGP-7 rocket launchers and Kalashnikov rifles. VS RFE/RL JOURNALIST RELEASED BY CAPTORS IN IRAQ A Baghdad correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who had been missing for nearly two weeks has been released by her captors, RFE/RL announced on November 4. Jumana al-Obaidi, 29, works for RFE/RL's Arabic-language service, Radio Free Iraq. RFE/RL President Jeff Gedmin said "all of us at RFE/RL are very relieved Jumana's ordeal is over." Gedmin added that "journalists like Jumana put their lives on the line every day. They are dedicated journalists, brave people, and Iraqi patriots. We are proud to know them." Al-Obaidi was kidnapped from her car on October 22 while on her way to an interview at the Iraqi Environment Ministry. Her driver, a young man identified only as Abdullah, was shot and killed that morning and his body found dumped in the street. He was in his late twenties and recently married. On behalf of RFE/RL, Gedmin thanked the authorities in Baghdad and media groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, for their support during al-Obaidi's kidnapping ordeal. KR PKK RELEASES TURKISH SOLDIERS, HANDS THEM OVER TO TURKEY Turkish soldiers held captive by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were released and handed over to the Turkish government through Iraqi and U.S. mediators on November 4, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reported. Militants from the PKK, a Turkish-Kurdish separatist group hiding out in the mountains of northern Iraq, captured the soldiers during a battle with Turkish forces in southeastern Turkey two weeks ago. Fu'ad Husayn, the head of the Kurdistan regional president's office, told RFI that the release was made possible by the intervention of regional leaders and efforts by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Husayn said in press statements on November 4 that the efforts exerted by the Kurdish leadership showed the Iraqi Kurds' commitment to dialogue and strong relations with neighboring Turkey. KR IRAQ NEIGHBORS MEETING ENDS Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he was pleased with the outcome of the November 3 meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, of Iraq's neighboring states, RFI reported on October 4. Al-Maliki told reporters in Istanbul that the crisis between Turkey and the PKK did not dominate the talks, which instead focused on international and regional support for improving security and the economy in Iraq. The conference also addressed the Iraqi refugee crisis. Addressing the conference on November 3, al-Maliki told participants, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: "Iraq today is much better than the period during which the Sharm el-Sheikh conference was held six months ago. This is thanks to ongoing efforts to constantly revive national reconciliation, the improvement in the armed forces' capabilities, the cooperation of citizens with our security services, and the effective support of multinational forces." Al-Maliki called on neighboring countries to strengthen their ties with Iraq, respect its sovereignty, and stop favoring one component of Iraqi society over another. The prime minister also asked Iraq's neighbors to stop holding conferences of a sectarian or provocative nature. He reiterated past calls for debt forgiveness, and thanked countries that have moved to reopen their embassies in Baghdad. KR IRAQI PREMIER ANNOUNCES MOVES AGAINST PKK... Prime Minister al-Maliki told participants at the November 4 Iraq neighbors' meeting that Iraq has taken concrete steps to eliminate the threat the PKK poses to Turkey. Al-Maliki said Iraqi "is very determined" to ensure that its relations with Turkey remain strong. "We made a firm decision to shut down all the bureaus of the PKK in Iraq.... We announce today that we have taken strict measures to prevent any facilities from reaching this organization via airports and border crossing points," and have decided to pursue PKK elements in the areas where they operate, al-Maliki said. "We affirm here that the Iraqi constitution obligates us to respect our relations with neighboring states and not to allow our territories to be used as a base or passage for attacks against any states in the region," he added. KR ...AS KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT CLOSES PKK OFFICES The security forces of the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) closed the offices of a political party affiliated with the PKK on November 3, Iraqi media reported. The Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party's (PCDK) offices in Irbil were raided and closed on the grounds that it cooperates with and supports the PKK. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) cited unconfirmed reports on its website that the party's Dahuk and Al-Sulaymaniyah offices were also closed on November 3. The PUK said in its report that the PCDK is "an Iraqi Kurdish party, but its ideology and views are similar to the PKK's." The Kurdish daily "Aso" quoted the head of the Kurdistan region's presidential office, Fu'ad Husayn, as saying the PCDK "has no official license from the Kurdistan regional government." Meanwhile, Fayiq Gulpi, the secretary-general of the PCDK, told "Aso" that the party has been requesting registration since 2004, but received no response from the KRG. "According to the law, a party can operate [legally] if it receives no response three months after submitting an application for a license," Gulpi contended, adding: "We do not cooperate with the PKK and they have no member in our offices. The only thing is that we do not consider [the group] terrorists." Gulpi questioned why the PCDK was allowed to participate in two Iraqi national elections and one regional election if the party is considered illegal by the Iraqi government and the KRG. KR IRAQI LAWMAKER QUITS, CITING POLITICAL CONFUSION Shi'ite lawmaker Salam al-Maliki announced his resignation from parliament on November 4, citing personal and professional reasons, Iraqi media reported. "I declared my resignation one year ago, but some parliamentarians urged me to postpone my decision," said al-Maliki, who served as a minister in the transitional government. "It was for this reason that I retracted my resignation. I have had a strong conviction that I should not continue [working] in this confusing political situation," Iraqi news agencies quoted al-Maliki as saying. "The opportunity to work for building a new Iraq has been fading," he said in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency. KR U.S. FORCES FIND NITRIC ACID DURING RAID U.S. forces operating in southwest Baghdad found 3,000 liters of nitric acid during an October 30 raid, according to a November 5 U.S.-led coalition press release. Soldiers believed the nitric acid was being used to make homemade explosives. The military said the acid was poorly stored and leaking, making it a threat to the local population and their livestock. Coalition forces uncovered what appeared to be a terrorist detention facility and several weapons caches on October 31, the coalition announced in a separate November 5 statement. The operation, carried out in western Samarra, uncovered several weapons caches and a large stash of logistical supplies. Meanwhile, November 4 raids led to the detentions of 23 suspected Al-Qaeda insurgents, including the brother of an Al-Qaeda in Iraq military leader. The coalition also announced several instances of locals coming forward to reveal weapons caches in their communities in recent days. KR
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