Coalition forces are bracing themselves for a full-scale attack by the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar, four days after a suicide attack on the city's main jail freed 400 insurgent fighters.
The Taliban have taken control of around ten villages in the Arghandap region, north of Kandahar, meeting minimal resistance. Bridges have been destroyed and mines laid in a major show of force by the insurgent group. NATO and Afghan forces have responded by flying in four planeloads of soldiers into the city, imposing a curfew and setting up a defensive perimeter. The Taliban incursion has forced an estimated 4,000 civilians to flee their homes a week before harvest in the lush grape-growing region.
The toD verdict: A similar show of strength in Arghandap in 2007 lasted only a few days before the Taliban was forced to retreat under heavy bombardment by NATO and Afghan forces. Even if this latest offensive proves to be no more than a flexing of muscles, it nonetheless exemplifies the desperate lack of progress being made in providing security to southern populations, and preparing for the eventual exit of coalition forces. Another failed harvest only pushes more young and desperate Afghans into the arms of the insurgents.
Gordon Brown's announcement that he was sending a further 230 British soldiers to Afghanistan has a certain lack of lustre, coming on the back of the Kandahar jail break that freed almost twice as many Taliban fighters. Of course, quality beats quantity, and these soldiers will focus on the vital tasks of reconstruction and training of the Afghan army and police. But the numbers are still paltry and the nation-building task they face almost impossibly huge. Seven years since the invasion, and the abject failures of the west to provide stability, confront the warlords, and offer alternatives to poppy-growing become ever-more apparent. Meanwhile, the Taliban's shift in recent months to terrorist tactics is yielding propaganda coups and strategic victories that are sapping the dwindling will of the coalition partners. Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.
Sign up to receive toD's daily security briefings via email by clicking here
Nigerian rebels reject peace summit
Oil rebels in Nigeria have refused to take part in a peace summit organised by the government for next month. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), who are responsible for an extended campaign of oil pipeline bombings and kidnappings of foreign workers, told Reuters that the summit would not succeed. A spokesman for the group said: "MEND has made its position very clear that it will not be a part of the jamboree called a summit. Unlike other groups that go back and forth to be appeased with bribes, MEND has people with integrity,"
Help needed for civilians caught in Mount Elgon violence
Ongoing violence between the militia and government forces in the Mount Elgon district of Kenya has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, many of whom are experiencing "attacks, torture, and degrading treatment." A report by Medicins Sans Frontieres says those caught up in the two-year-old conflict with the Sabaot Land Defence Force militia, who are angry about a land allocation scheme, lack access to basic services, clothing, shelter and food. Remi Carrier, MSF head of mission, said: "Medical aid alone can not answer the numerous needs of the people in Mount Elgon. They require protection from violence, increased assistance, and for more attention to be paid to their plight."
Chadian rebels capture eastern towns
As Chadian rebels progress towards the eastern border with Sudan, the UN refugee agency UNHCR has been forced to suspend operations in the border zone due to security fears. The rebels took the eastern town of Am-Zoer today, bringing them within 40 miles of Abeche, the centre of international humanitarian operations along the frontier. Late on Monday, the Chadian president Idriss Deby angrily accused the European Union military force in the region of "closing its eyes" to the killings of civilians and refugees. Other reports say the rebels might be heading towards the capital of Ndjamena after briefly occupying three other eastern towns and facing fierce fighting with government troops.
Pakistan mosque explosion kills four
An explosion at a Shia mosque in northwest Pakistan has killed at least four people, including one child, and left two others injured. No group has yet taken responsibility for the attack in the town of Dera Ismail Khan on Monday. The explosion occurred as the congregation was leaving the mosque after evening prayers. Police officials believe the attack was caused by a remote controlled device.
