Pakistani woman watches Taliban take over town she loves

[babylonsister]

Pakistani woman watches Taliban take over town she loves
From Stan Grant
CNN


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Gul Bibi and her three children fled the Taliban's bloody interpretation of Islamic law in Pakistan's Swat Valley, hoping one day to return.

But now that the Pakistani government has recognized Taliban rule in the region in exchange for a temporary cease-fire, she said those hopes have been dashed.

She warned that the government's deal with the Taliban will have worldwide implications.

"The whole point is, if it's not contained to Swat, it's going to spill all over in Pakistan and the West also doesn't realize the seriousness of the situation," Bibi said. "Probably your next 9/11 is going to be from Swat."

The chief minister of North West Frontier Province announced on Monday that the Pakistani government will recognize the Taliban's interpretation of strict Islamic law, or sharia. The Taliban's interpretation of sharia has included banning girls from school, forcing women inside and outlawing forms of entertainment.

more...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/17/pakistan.taliban/index.html

[Marrah_G]

1. I cannot wait for the day that the last of the Taliban is wiped off the face of the earth

They serve absolutely NO GOOD to anyone. They harm EVERYONE they come in contact with.

[datasuspect]

2. the christian or the muslim taliban?

[Marrah_G]

3. OFFS- Do not even fucking compare the two

It is ignorant and insulting for the women living in the state supported HELL that the Taliban brings.


Taliban....it has a fucking meaning. It is a specific group. There are no "Christian Taliban"

You people who pull this BS out of your ass every time the topic comes up REALLY piss me off.

Here is a god damn clue:

Taliban restrictions and mistreatment of women include the:

1- Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applies to female teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul.

2- Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative such as a father, brother or husband).

3- Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers.

4- Ban on women being treated by male doctors.

5- Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any other educational institution. (Taliban have converted girls' schools into religious seminaries.)

6- Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe.

7- Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.

8- Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

9- Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. (A number of lovers are stoned to death under this rule).

10- Ban on the use of cosmetics. (Many women with painted nails have had fingers cut off).

11- Ban on women talking or shaking hands with non-mahram males.

12- Ban on women laughing loudly. (No stranger should hear a woman's voice).

13- Ban on women wearing high heel shoes, which would produce sound while walking. (A man must not hear a woman's footsteps.)

14- Ban on women riding in a taxi without a mahram.

15- Ban on women's presence in radio, television or public gatherings of any kind.

16- Ban on women playing sports or entering a sport center or club.

17- Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with their mahrams.

18- Ban on women's wearing brightly colored clothes. In Taliban terms, these are "sexually attracting colors."

19- Ban on women gathering for festive occasions such as the Eids, or for any recreational purpose.

20- Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.

21- Modification of all place names including the word "women." For example, "women's garden" has been renamed "spring garden".

22- Ban on women appearing on the balconies of their apartments or houses.

23- Compulsory painting of all windows, so women can not be seen from outside their homes.

24- Ban on male tailors taking women's measurements or sewing women's clothes.

25- Ban on female public baths.

26- Ban on males and females traveling on the same bus. Public buses have now been designated "males only" (or "females only").

27- Ban on flared (wide) pant-legs, even under a burqa.

28- Ban on the photographing or filming of women.

29- Ban on women's pictures printed in newspapers and books, or hung on the walls of houses and shops.

Apart from the above restrictions on women, the Taliban has:

- Banned listening to music, not only for women but men as well.

- Banned the watching of movies, television and videos, for everyone.

- Banned celebrating the traditional new year (Nowroz) on March 21. The Taliban has proclaimed the holiday un-Islamic.

- Disavowed Labor Day (May 1st), because it is deemed a "communist" holiday.

- Ordered that all people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic ones.

- Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth.

- Ordered that men wear Islamic clothes and a cap.

- Ordered that men not shave or trim their beards, which should grow long enough to protrude from a fist clasped at the point of the chin.

- Ordered that all people attend prayers in mosques five times daily.

- Banned the keeping of pigeons and playing with the birds, describing it as un-Islamic. The violators will be imprisoned and the birds shall be killed. The kite flying has also been stopped.

- Ordered all onlookers, while encouraging the sportsmen, to chant Allah-o-Akbar (God is great) and refrain from clapping.

- Ban on certain games including kite flying which is "un-Islamic" according to Taliban.

- Anyone who carries objectionable literature will be executed.

- Anyone who converts from Islam to any other religion will be executed.

- All boy students must wear turbans. They say "No turban, no education".

- Non-Muslim minorities must distinct badge or stitch a yellow cloth onto their dress to be differentiated from the majority Muslim population. Just like what did Nazis with Jews.

- Banned the use of the internet by both ordinary Afghans and foreigners.

And so on...



Many of the anti-women rules that Taliban practiced were first of all the rules formulated and practiced by Rabbani-Massoud government after they came to power in 1992, but no one talk about them and it is painful that today even they are called the champaions of women's rights!!

ON November 8, 1994 the UN Secretary-General presented the interim report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan prepared by Mr. Felix Ermacora, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/84 of 9 March 1994, and Economic and Social Council decision 1994/268 of 25 July 1994.

Parts of the report about women's rights sitaution says:


The Special Rapporteur's attention has been drawn to the Ordinance on the Women's Veil, which is reported to have been issued by a nine-member professional committee of the High Court of the Islamic State of Afghanistan and which reads as follows:

"A denier of veil is an infidel and an unveiled woman is lewd".

"Conditions of wearing veil:

1. The veil must cover the whole body.
2. Women's clothes must not be thin.
3. Women's clothes must not be decorated and colourful.
4. Women's clothes must not be narrow and tight to prevent the seditious limbs from being noticed. The veil must not be thin.
5. Women must not perfume themselves. If a perfumed woman passes by a crowd of men, she is considered to be an adulteress.
6. Women's clothes must not resemble men's clothes.

"In addition,

1. They must not perfume themselves.
2. They must not wear adorning clothes.
3. They must not wear thin clothes.
4. They must not wear narrow and tight clothes.
5. They must cover their entire bodies.
6. Their clothes must not resemble men's clothes.
7. Muslim women's clothes must not resemble non-Muslim women's clothes.
8. Their foot ornaments must not produce sound.
9. They must not wear sound-producing garments.
10. They must not walk in the middle of streets.
11. They must not go out of their houses without their husband's permission.
12. They must not talk to strange men.
13. If it is necessary to talk, they must talk in a low voice and without laughter.
14. They must not look at strangers.
15. They must not mix with strangers."

[datasuspect]

8. well then

by all means we must exterminate them. maybe we need a final solution to the taliban question.

there were some europeans in the early 20th century that developed some really effective mass production killing techniques.

hell, we have a nuclear arsenal, we should just make afghanistan, well maybe south asia (just to be safe), into a field of glass.

[Marrah_G]

11. All the taliban yes, all the citizens in the region, no

I think you are completely clueless about who and what the Taliban are.

[datasuspect]

13. our financial policies and the residues of colonialism helped create the third world.

when you have a basically illiterate population, mired in middle ages religiosity, coupled with zero opportunity, and extreme poverty . . . things like the taliban sometimes just happen.

[Marrah_G]

15. You are truly clueless about the history of that area.

[datasuspect]

20. if an anonymous poster on the internet says so,

it must be right.

do i really need to tell you to google "british imperialism in afghanistan" or "crimean war?"

geez.

[Dorian Gray]

18. I like your passion

Marrah! And I agree. The Taliban needs to be eradicated from any leadership role in Afghanistan. I hope the people there can stand up to them and not allow their regressive rule come back.

[Marrah_G]

32. Thanks Dorian

It's a topic I am extremely passionate about. After my boys leave home I am hoping to go back to school. Originally the plan was to become a vet tech for the spca but a few months ago I decided I wanted to go for international womens studies. I am marrying an airline employee and will be able to travel alot for free.

[ThomWV]

4. I'm not sure how to distinguish between the two

[Marrah_G]

5. Really Tom? Really? Here is a clue okay?

Taliban restrictions and mistreatment of women include the:

1- Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applies to female teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul.

2- Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative such as a father, brother or husband).

3- Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers.

4- Ban on women being treated by male doctors.

5- Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any other educational institution. (Taliban have converted girls' schools into religious seminaries.)

6- Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe.

7- Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.

8- Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

9- Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. (A number of lovers are stoned to death under this rule).

10- Ban on the use of cosmetics. (Many women with painted nails have had fingers cut off).

11- Ban on women talking or shaking hands with non-mahram males.

12- Ban on women laughing loudly. (No stranger should hear a woman's voice).

13- Ban on women wearing high heel shoes, which would produce sound while walking. (A man must not hear a woman's footsteps.)

14- Ban on women riding in a taxi without a mahram.

15- Ban on women's presence in radio, television or public gatherings of any kind.

16- Ban on women playing sports or entering a sport center or club.

17- Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with their mahrams.

18- Ban on women's wearing brightly colored clothes. In Taliban terms, these are "sexually attracting colors."

19- Ban on women gathering for festive occasions such as the Eids, or for any recreational purpose.

20- Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.

21- Modification of all place names including the word "women." For example, "women's garden" has been renamed "spring garden".

22- Ban on women appearing on the balconies of their apartments or houses.

23- Compulsory painting of all windows, so women can not be seen from outside their homes.

24- Ban on male tailors taking women's measurements or sewing women's clothes.

25- Ban on female public baths.

26- Ban on males and females traveling on the same bus. Public buses have now been designated "males only" (or "females only").

27- Ban on flared (wide) pant-legs, even under a burqa.

28- Ban on the photographing or filming of women.

29- Ban on women's pictures printed in newspapers and books, or hung on the walls of houses and shops.

Apart from the above restrictions on women, the Taliban has:

- Banned listening to music, not only for women but men as well.

- Banned the watching of movies, television and videos, for everyone.

- Banned celebrating the traditional new year (Nowroz) on March 21. The Taliban has proclaimed the holiday un-Islamic.

- Disavowed Labor Day (May 1st), because it is deemed a "communist" holiday.

- Ordered that all people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic ones.

- Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth.

- Ordered that men wear Islamic clothes and a cap.

- Ordered that men not shave or trim their beards, which should grow long enough to protrude from a fist clasped at the point of the chin.

- Ordered that all people attend prayers in mosques five times daily.

- Banned the keeping of pigeons and playing with the birds, describing it as un-Islamic. The violators will be imprisoned and the birds shall be killed. The kite flying has also been stopped.

- Ordered all onlookers, while encouraging the sportsmen, to chant Allah-o-Akbar (God is great) and refrain from clapping.

- Ban on certain games including kite flying which is "un-Islamic" according to Taliban.

- Anyone who carries objectionable literature will be executed.

- Anyone who converts from Islam to any other religion will be executed.

- All boy students must wear turbans. They say "No turban, no education".

- Non-Muslim minorities must distinct badge or stitch a yellow cloth onto their dress to be differentiated from the majority Muslim population. Just like what did Nazis with Jews.

- Banned the use of the internet by both ordinary Afghans and foreigners.

And so on...



Many of the anti-women rules that Taliban practiced were first of all the rules formulated and practiced by Rabbani-Massoud government after they came to power in 1992, but no one talk about them and it is painful that today even they are called the champaions of women's rights!!

ON November 8, 1994 the UN Secretary-General presented the interim report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan prepared by Mr. Felix Ermacora, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/84 of 9 March 1994, and Economic and Social Council decision 1994/268 of 25 July 1994.

Parts of the report about women's rights sitaution says:


The Special Rapporteur's attention has been drawn to the Ordinance on the Women's Veil, which is reported to have been issued by a nine-member professional committee of the High Court of the Islamic State of Afghanistan and which reads as follows:

"A denier of veil is an infidel and an unveiled woman is lewd".

"Conditions of wearing veil:

1. The veil must cover the whole body.
2. Women's clothes must not be thin.
3. Women's clothes must not be decorated and colourful.
4. Women's clothes must not be narrow and tight to prevent the seditious limbs from being noticed. The veil must not be thin.
5. Women must not perfume themselves. If a perfumed woman passes by a crowd of men, she is considered to be an adulteress.
6. Women's clothes must not resemble men's clothes.

"In addition,

1. They must not perfume themselves.
2. They must not wear adorning clothes.
3. They must not wear thin clothes.
4. They must not wear narrow and tight clothes.
5. They must cover their entire bodies.
6. Their clothes must not resemble men's clothes.
7. Muslim women's clothes must not resemble non-Muslim women's clothes.
8. Their foot ornaments must not produce sound.
9. They must not wear sound-producing garments.
10. They must not walk in the middle of streets.
11. They must not go out of their houses without their husband's permission.
12. They must not talk to strange men.
13. If it is necessary to talk, they must talk in a low voice and without laughter.
14. They must not look at strangers.
15. They must not mix with strangers."

[ThomWV]

7. Yes, really. And those are not clues - those are abuses against women

And I agree with you that they are a hateful thing and should be eliminated from the face of the earth. However I do not reserve that verdict for just your causes, I apply it to my own too - and for me there is no difference between your hated Taliban and my hated Christians.

[Marrah_G]

9. I find that incredibly insulting to the plight of women suffering under the Taliban

But your opinion is your own.

I have no great love for the Christian extremists.... but the two cannot compare.... one has absolute power and control where they reside, one has all the weapons, one inflicts real and devastating injuries on a daily basis.

When is the last time you saw a woman driven into a stadium on the back of a pickup truck and executed for the crime of being raped?

[datasuspect]

12. you do realize you'd have to exterminate most of the muslim third world,

as they hold similar views regarding the treatment and the social status of women, to assuage your passion vis a vis this issue.

[Marrah_G]

16. No, 1/3 of the Muslim world does not. The Taliban are in a league all their own.

We are not talking about Sharia law, or strict muslim laws........The Taliban are a completely different type of organization.

Please do some research.

These men are monsters.... sadists, slavers, murderers, drug dealers and rapists.

[datasuspect]

21. then ask this guy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5079800&mesg_id=5079800

[Donald Ian Rankin]

19. Not exterminate, just change the minds of.

Wiping out Muslims would be the greatest crime the world has ever seen by several orders of magnitude; wiping out Islam would be a very good thing indeed (other religions too, but Islam most of all).

Trying to change people's minds by force of arms is a stupid & wicked idea. Trying to bring about cultural change by cultural means is not. Of course, it will never achieve anything like an end to Islam, or even to Islamic abuses of human rights, but it can and will improve the situation to some extent over time.

[Marrah_G]

23. Ummm I never said to wipe out Muslims.

Just one group of thugs who rule through brute force and have literally enslaved the people around them through fear. The local people obey the Taliban out of fear, not because they agree with them.

I think people just do not understand the magnitude of what is done to the women by these men. Either that or because it is just women, they do not care.

I wonder...would these people have been the same ones justifying slavery in the 1800's? Women under the Taliban are treated far worse and the world looks away.

[datasuspect]

24. you cannot propose extermination for any group of human beings

and not look like some fringe-dwelling radical.

[babylonsister]

26. That's ridiculous. Wiping out Islam, because 'we' don't approve?

:eyes:

[Marrah_G]

29. I am with you on that. My beef is not with Islam but with groups that enslave women in horrific ways

[Donald Ian Rankin]

31. I, not we.

And yes, the notion of convincing all the people in the world who are wrong about important things to change their minds is of course ridiculous. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be a good thing if it were to happen, though.

[Prometheus Bound]

14. Did you know that some Taliban commanders are starting to accept the idea of girls' education?

Did you know that in 2007 Mullah Omar issued an edict declaring music and parties permissible.

Did you know that the Taliban leadership has been moderating its message in other areas to win popular support, including religious judges' listening to tribal elders and reversing hard-line decisions by the religious council?

Isn't it better to let the people of Afghanistan alone to work out their own future?

I mean they did have a democratic government for a short while in the late 70s before the Americans got involved and fucked them up.

[Marrah_G]

17. I abolutely agree that American involvement fucked up things badly in the 70's

Other then that, I cannot believe you actually are defending the Taliban.

[Prometheus Bound]

22. I'm sure you agree with me that their new flexibility is a good thing.

If being more progressive is what it takes to win over the people, they seem to be willing to adapt.

And another thing about them is that they are incorruptible.

It would be rather patronizing of me to think that I might be able to chart a better future for the people of Afghanistan than they can themselves.

If they are willing to accept the new more liberal Taliban in 80 per cent of the country, who am I to say they should choose bombs, warlords and criminals instead?

[Marrah_G]

25. I think their new "flexibility" is a lie.

The people of Afghanistan obey them out of fear, not out of agreement.

I think trusting men like that is foolish indeed. I think defending such people is disturbing indeed.

[olegramps]

30. Just who is imposing these restrictions on women?

It would appear to me that these restrictions must have the sanction of the majority of the community to be imposed. Just what would you like us to do. Invade their communities and impose our concepts on them.

Everyone who has been raised within the liberal secular culture of the West finds these restrictions to horrible. But, if they choose to live under Shria Law just what am I to do to combat it? As for the remarks regarding Christian Talibanism, while not being a severe, there is a degree of validity for the comparison since some Christian Fundamentalists hold women to be subservient to men. They preach a with drawl from the main stream, home schooling and that women belong at home and not in the job market. I don't have to belabor this point since it has been well documented.

When I watched the documentary on the indoctrination of children at these Christian summer camps I didn't find them much different than what I have read about the Islamic indoctrination schools.

[Lost in CT]

6. When they set fire your daughter for holding hands in public or reading a book.

that should help you make the distinction.

[Marrah_G]

10. Thank you for getting it.

[leftynyc]

36. Marrah_G - I'm in complete

agreement with you on this issue. No compromise with people like this.

[leftynyc]

35. That's bullshit

When the Christian right (who I hold no love for) starts banning women from schools and blowing up their schools, we'll talk. Until then, this cultural relativism makes the person invoking it look idiotic.

[datasuspect]

39. using terms like "cultural relativism" without knowing what they mean

makes a person look idiotic.

[leftynyc]

45. Oh really.

Does it not mean understanding ones actions and beliefs in relation to one’s culture? Yes, I believe it does. Comparing our Christian right wing (who are mere annoyances and haven’t gotten any town, city or state to sign on to having the ten commandments as law) with the Taliban who IS the law in the Swat valley is idiotic. Unless, of course, the people in the Swat valley have the choice to follow the Taliban's rules which we both know they don't. Congrats on going 2 for 2.

[datasuspect]

47. so you actually take the position that we DON'T live in a de facto theocracy?

now i've heard everything!!!

[leftynyc]

50. Of course we don't live in a theocracy

That's absurd. We just had a President, during his inaugural address, acknowledge people without faith. Would that happen under the taliban? What's stopping you (other than good tast) from screaming from your rooftop that G-d is a lie. Absolutely nothing. Nobody is going to arrest you for non-belief and nobody is going to cut your head off for having a different religion or holding hands with your boyfriend (whether your a man or a woman). What a joke your post is.

[Lost in CT]

51. We don't live in anything resembling a theocracy...

That is an insult to those who suffer under true oppression every day.

[truebrit71]

42. Both.

.

[Diclotican]

27. babylonsister

babylonsister

The Swat Valley in Pakistan, have been the next Afghanistan,where the Talian rule is the law, it is just in a little enclave of the wast Frontier that the Pakistani government for the moment have the power and where the Taliban have not power at all. How long this will be before also this two areas are influenced or inside the power of Taliban is just a guess.. But I guess not to long..

To make a temporary cease fire with Taliban are not very vice, because the Taliban have managed to rebuild itself to a large extent. After Tora Bora the Taliban was in rug and almost destroyed - but just almost. And today you can se for yourself that Taliban are alive and living pretty well. They have not been sleeping for the last 7 year, but rather influenced and tacked control over large parts of the SWAT valley, and are today maybe a big danger for the whole republic of Pakistan. Because they will not stop just with the SWAT valley, sooner or later you will find groups of Talibani not just there but also in the capital of Islamabad, and so on.. And then you might have another round of war - and temporary cease fire, before the Taliban are going forward again.. The Taliban must be stooped, by all means.. Not just military, but also by other means, because a Taliban dominated Pakistan are no good news for the world I am afraid... If you thing Iran under Khomeini was bad, then you have do X this with 10 or maybe 100 in Pakistan. Who by the way many have the sympathy of Taliban. Because they are been seen as far less corrupt than the government who are corrupt to the core.. Very few honest politicians in Pakistan this days. And the few who are are either shot or out on the sidelines where they can not doing mutch...

Diclotican

[anonymous171]

28. If more people feel that way they should rise up against the Taliban.

It's time people started overthrowing their own tyrants instead of making us fight for them.

[Marrah_G]

33. That is like asking why the slaves in the south did not simply free themselves.

When you have no power, no weapons and your captors are the most brutal of men, rising up is not always possible without a little help.

[bigtree]

34. we tried to influence the direction of their leadership with colonialism

. . . and outright government overthrow and installation.

I don't know that the U.S. has any credible means of influencing the fate of the Taliban other than the 'eradication' aims which are self-defeating and wrong. I would argue that it is the inherent corruption of the U.S. imperialism in the region which has drawn so many to support or defend the Taliban and their resistant stance against the foreign invaders and weapons-mongers.

I guess you believe there is some credible or even effective role for our nation's defenders to play in all of that. I disagree.

[Marrah_G]

38. I believe that the neocons were unwilling and incapable of helping the people there.

I believe Obama may find much better ways to make things work out for the benefit of the people.

[datasuspect]

40. like 17,000 more soldiers?

[bigtree]

41. I'm anxious to see the diplomatic 'surge'

. . . that many within the administration have promoted - a coordination of non-military aid and assistance. I'm not optimistic though, that the military moves won't overshadow all of those.

[Marrah_G]

43. I have not given up hope - the result would be horrifying.

[Blackhatjack]

37. The Pakistani Govt weakness here confirms it's the most dangerous state...

We are worried sick about Irani extremists obtaining control of a nuclear bomb.

However, we have here a country which ALREADY HAS NUCLEAR BOMBS ceding significant recognition and control of territory to an extremist Islamic faction.

Aside from the danger posed by the Taliban being granted safe sanctuary in a territorial district, we now have the possibility that they will grow in influence sufficient to bring down the Pakistani Govt and come into immediate possession of actual nuclear weapons mounted on delivery systems which can be launched on a moment's notice.

The significance of this action for the rest of the world should not be underestimated...

[truebrit71]

44. BINGO!!!! Pay attention folks...THIS POST HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD...

...the subjugation of women is a crime no doubt, but the bigger issue here is the high probability that the Taleban will wind up controlling the entire country...

The first exchange of nuclear weapons will be in this region because India will not sit idly by..

[Blackhatjack]

46. You are chillingly correct ... India is paying close attention and may strike first if challenged

The Pakistan/India confrontation may quickly move to crisis status because India will interpret this action by Pakistan as evidence that the Pakistani Govt might not maintain institutional control over nuclear weapons aimed directly at them.

This is very serious since military action is not always based upon responding to a first strike.

Deterrence, which was key to maintaining the status quo between the US and USSR during the 'Cold War', requires that both sides act rationally in determining that neither can execute a 'first strike' on the other without incurring unacceptable losses from those weapons which survive the first strike.

Deterrence does not work if the other side is irrational, driven by religious extremism, and is willing to suffer their own total devastation in order to carry out the attack.

[datasuspect]

48. the taliban already practically controls the entire country

and has already for quite some time.

[Blackhatjack]

49. The area ceded here to the Taliban had a Govt troop/insurgent ratio of 4-1 ...

The Taliban is powerful, but they have waged a mostly guerilla strategy. Just like here, the Govt had approx 12,000 troops with trucks and arsenals compared with approx 3,000 insurgents.

The Central Govt of Pakistan is not improving the situation by 'bargaining' with the Taliban, and this will definitely be watched carefully by India.

[NeedleCast]

52. This is pretty much why I have no issues with more troops to Afghanistan

As a person who was in Afghanistan during the early days of the war, I've seen up close and personal just how bad things were under Taliban rule.