Some more incredible news from the nation of Pashtunistan.
Afghanistan:
The trouble with mercenaries.
The New York Times has a big
story regarding two Afghan security companies thought to be colluding with the insurgents. Compass Security and Watan Risk Management escort NATO convoys. The two firms are tied to Afghan officials and relatives to Hamid Karzai- the largest share holder of one company is one of Karzai's brothers, Qayum Karzai. It is reported that some of the money that went to these firms may have been used to bribe the Taliban. In addtion, these firms are suspected of perhaps trying to make it look like they are very much needed by sometimes posing as insurgents- and in one case, thought to have attacked NATO convoys. The must-read story goes on to detail the overall picture of Afghan-mercenaries, both the official registered kind and the unofficial non-registered kind(which I would generally refer to as an armed band of men, or an armed gang even). One of the many security companies is run by a man who, according to a member of the Interior Ministry, has "laid waste to entire villages". Not surprisingly, that particular security firm is apparently under the influence of another Karzai brother- Hamid Wali Karzai, who runs Kandahar's Provincial Council like Hamid Karzai runs Afghanistan. One NATO official describes Hamid Wali Karzai as trying to bring all of the large security firms in Kandahar under his control. Investigations into allegations of bribery are underway, one by the House subcommittee chaired by Rep.Tierney(D-MA) and another investigation is being conducted through a group working for NATO in Kabul. File this under; why am I not surprised?
The U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan(ahem, AfPak );
"Washington accepts that the final political solution in Afghanistan can involve reformed Taliban in the government if certain "red lines" are respected, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said on Sunday."
Pakistan:
Central FATA:
Clashes continued into Sunday in the Khyber tribal agency between the Taliban and members of another militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Islam. At least 21 are now reported dead, and 9 members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's Swati chapter were said to be captured by the LI forces.
Clashes continue between the army and the Taliban in the Orakzai tribal agency despite the army's declaration of victory last week.
Northern FATA:
In the Bajaur tribal agency, a grand jirga of over a thousand tribal elders led to an agreement that the writ of the Pakistani government will be upheld and the Taliban will be prevented from resurfacing. Note that not all of Bajaur has been cleared of the Taliban.
Pakistan is set to increase defense spending by 17%. That's not surprising, considering where the money is actually coming from.