US attack blows up arms cache of Afghan warlord

US forces attacked a village of local commander Jan Ahmad and blew up an arms cache belonging to him. The US said the raid was carried out to destroy the weapons.

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The stated role of the remaining US troops in Afghanistan is to advise and train Afghan forces as well as engage in counter-terrorism operations. In exceptional circumstances the Americans can launch attacks on their own as in this case. However, Ahmad the target is a veteran of the Afghan war against the former Soviet-backed regime and also fought later against the Taliban. He appears to be quite popular locally. Ahmad and other local warlords with their own weapons and militia are regarded by the US and often the Afghan government as a threat against them. However, Afghan officials say they were not informed of the raid and that any concern about Ahmad should have been handled by the Afghan government.

The raid resulted in huge protests. Protesters blocked the main highway to Kabul. Ahmad supporters shouted "Death to America" and "Death to the Enemies of Islam". Shops in Charikar the capital of Parwan province remained closed due to the protests.

Public affairs director Colonel Brian Tribus said:"U.S. forces conducted an operation ... to destroy a cache of munitions that could be used to conduct attacks against Afghans and coalition forces." Former commanders and local elders see the raid as politically motivated and perhaps a settling of scores from the hotly contested presidential campaign last election.

Ahmad had supported Abdullah Abdullah who was the opponent of President Ashraf Ghani. Ahmad was among a number of commanders who had threatened to use force to create a rival government to Ghani. However, a compromise was finally worked out. Abdullah, who was made chief executive in a power-sharing government with Ghani called for restraint and for protesters to remain calm. He called on General John Campbell who commands the US forces in Afghanistan to provide further information on the raid. An aide to Ahmad said the raid on Ahmad's home was carried out about 4:30 AM in the morning with US forces descending from helicopters. After searching the home, the soldiers blew up the arms depot.

The largest US base in Afghanistan Bagram is in Parwan. It has been frequently under rocket attack of late but by the Taliban not local warlords. Nevertheless, the US is concerned that local armed warlords might also turn against the Americans. Negotiations involving Ahmad and Parwan officials led to the opening of the highway at noon. Special forces of the Afghan intelligence service have also carried out raids in Parwan during recent weeks The manner of the searches has angered local residents. They found no weapons.

Night raids were very unpopular during the era of former President Karzai who refused to sign the Status of Forces agreement with the US as they were still allowed in "exceptional circumstances". Local authorities had no notice that the Parwan raid would happen. There are about 9,800 US troops remaining in Afghanistan. About 3,000 operate outside the NATO training mission set to end in 2016. There is very little reporting about the activities of US counter-terrorism troops with this raid being an exception. A combat video appended shows them in action last year in Afghanistan.

Bomb kills two US soldiers in Afghanistan

Kabul - According to Interior Ministry spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi the vehicle being driven by the two soldiers was hit by the bomb. The international military coalition (ISAF) provided less detail saying only that two of its members had been killed.

Seddiqi said: "It was a magnetic bomb. It was either attached to the vehicle belonging to the foreigners or it was planted and detonated remotely." Another source said at least three civilians had also been killed in the attack Fox News reported a spate of attacks in which at least 19 Afghans were killed along with the two American soldiers. The Washington Post says that the attack that killed the two Americans was on an ISAF convoy north of Kabul, near the Bagram military base. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahi claimed that they were responsible for the attack.

 Another attack on Saturday morning killed 12 Afghan civilians while they were clearing mines in Helmand province, according to Omar Zwak, a spokesperson for the provincial governor. The Taliban said they were responsible for that attack but claim that the targets were not civilians but were actually soldiers. Three militants were killed as well and four arrested according to authorities. The attack was near the former UK base Camp Bastion.

  Another attack Saturday morning by unknown gunmen killed Atiquallah Raufi, head of the Afghan Supreme Court secretariat, according to a spokesperson for the Kabul chief of police. In the afternoon a suicide bomber in Kabul targeted an army bus killing six members of the army and wounding 18 other people. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

 At the end of this year the US combat role in Afghanistan is set to end and most troops withdrawn. However, nearly 11,000 troops are to remain to train, advise, and assist in Afghan missions. They will also have a limited combat role in counter terrorist missions. In 2016 the number of US forces is scheduled to drop to 5,500. However, there is a partnership agreement that lasts until at least 2024 in which the US makes pledges to support Afghanistan in a number of ways. Recently Afghanistan and the US also signed a bilateral security agreement that former president Karzai refused to sign.

Afghanistan: Angry Crowds protest burning of Koran

Angry crowds are gathering at Bagram Air Force after reports that U.S, troops burned copies of the Koran. Thousands of protesters have been attempting to storm the base. Bagram is the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan.

General John Allen the senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan immediately offered an apology in effect confirming the incident took place. Allen also promised an immediate investigation. Other reliigious materials were also burned.

Allen stated:"When we learned of these actions, we immediately intervened and stopped them," "We are taking steps to ensure this does not ever happen again. I assure you ... I promise you ... this was NOT intentional in any way." One wonders why the items were burned and why they would not check with Afghan workers to find out what was being burned. Obviously some of the workers knew what was being burned. That is how the news came out.

Gen. Ahmad Naseeb of the Afghan defense ministry said he received reports "that the international troops have burned and thrown copies of Koran into the dust bins." Protesters have even closed some roads in the area of the base.

Islam experts say that if copies of the Koran are to be disposed of they are to be buried or released into flowing waters. However the locals do not dispose of the texts at all. Last April there were violent protests in Afghanistan after reports of a Koran burning in the U.S.

The road leading to Bagram has been blocked. Western security forces man the front gate to prevent protesters from entering. Apparently some charred remains of the Koran were smuggled out of the base and used as proof that the event happened. However authorities too obviously have admitted to the event. For more see this article.