Afghanistan: February 10, 2003

Archives

Rockets are still being fired at peacekeepers and US bases, and still missing. The rockets are inherently inaccurate, and are usually fired by timer or remote control because the reaction is often so swift that the firing troops would be caught if they set them up and fired several salvos. Such a tactic would enable the firing troops to adjust their aim. But they would likely be under attack before that could happen. In January there were 46 attacks, 38 in December and 63 in November.

More leaflets appeared in the villages along the Pakistan border, calling for resistance to foreign troops. The leaflets mentioned Islamic radical warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

The new national army continues to have problems. Low pay makes it difficult to recruit good troops, and many recruits desert to work for warlords at higher pay. Many of the new officers are also of low quality. The American Special Forces trainers believe that they can overcome these problems.

Rebels set off a bomb 25 kilometers outside of Kandahar, injuring three government officials. This was the latest attack on the government by unnamed assailants. It is believed the attacks are by Taliban diehards and followers of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close