- Reaction score
- 2,548
- Points
- 1,260
This, from Al Jazeera English service (excerpts from manual, translated by AlJazz, here):
This part intrigues me:
Counterpoint this, from Newsweek, from a bit of a bio on Mullah Omar's 2 i/c:
Does Mullah Omar read Newsweek? Or is he really trying to rein in outliers? Hmmm...
- edited to fix spelling -
The Taliban in Afghanistan has issued a book laying down a code of conduct for its fighters.
Al Jazeera has obtained a copy of the book, which further indicates that Mullah Omar, the movement's leader, wants to centralise its operations.
The book, with 13 chapters and 67 articles, lays out what one of the most secretive organisations in the world today, can and cannot do.
It talks of limiting suicide attacks, avoiding civilian casualties and winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the local civilian population.
Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from the capital, Kabul, said every fighter is being issued the pocket book entitled "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Rules for Mujahideen".
The book sheds considerable light on the structure, organisation and aims of the group, he said....
This part intrigues me:
Mullah Omar is quoted as saying that creating a new mujahideen group or battalion is forbidden.
"If unofficial groups or irregular battalions refuse to join the formal structure, they should be disbanded," Omar says.
Individual Taliban commanders have so far had a fair degree of autonomy, often deciding what operations to conduct and how to run the territory that they control.
Our correspondent said the regulations seem to be an attempt by Mullah Omar to bring all of the Taliban under his control.
"We have in the past had a lot of different groups in Afghanistan operating under the umbrella of the Taliban," Bays said.
"But it says in these regulations that if you find an irregular battalion that is not obeying orders then what you have to do is find that battalion and then disarm them."
Counterpoint this, from Newsweek, from a bit of a bio on Mullah Omar's 2 i/c:
.... Current and former insurgents are divided over whether Baradar would be as effective a peacemaker as he is a general. "I get the feeling that he is not as tough and hardline as Mullah Omar," says Akhund, the Helmand subcommander. Mullah Hamdullah, a senior Taliban intelligence operative from Ghazni province, agrees: "He's not an extremist like some commanders. If there were ever to be negotiations, Baradar would be the best man to talk to."....
Does Mullah Omar read Newsweek? Or is he really trying to rein in outliers? Hmmm...
- edited to fix spelling -