Comments on: Hikmatyar: Bin Laden Alive; Suggests Taliban/al-Qaeda Split http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/hikmatyar-bin-laden-alive-suggests.html Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Abhinav http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/hikmatyar-bin-laden-alive-suggests.html#comment-783 Abhinav Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:06:57 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4766#comment-783 I believe the fact that Gulbuddin Hiqmatyar, who the U.S. has claimed to have killed at least three times, is alive is much bigger news than Osama. <br /><br />Hiqmatyar, as you note, is very well connected with the ISI due to his contacts with them in the 1980s and 1990s - after all, he received the majority share of all funding for the Afghan jihad and specialized in killing Afghans not conducive to his, and ISI's, goals.<br /><br />Hiqmatyar is also very familiar with the terrain through which money, arms and militants travel in and out of Af-Pak, and his continuing contribution to the insurgency in Afghanistan can be compared in a different theater only to someone like the Ba'athist General Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri (who is rumored to have been killed in Iraq, but is he dead?). I believe the fact that Gulbuddin Hiqmatyar, who the U.S. has claimed to have killed at least three times, is alive is much bigger news than Osama.

Hiqmatyar, as you note, is very well connected with the ISI due to his contacts with them in the 1980s and 1990s – after all, he received the majority share of all funding for the Afghan jihad and specialized in killing Afghans not conducive to his, and ISI's, goals.

Hiqmatyar is also very familiar with the terrain through which money, arms and militants travel in and out of Af-Pak, and his continuing contribution to the insurgency in Afghanistan can be compared in a different theater only to someone like the Ba'athist General Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri (who is rumored to have been killed in Iraq, but is he dead?).

]]> By: inks http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/hikmatyar-bin-laden-alive-suggests.html#comment-782 inks Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:52:06 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4766#comment-782 <i>"Ipso facto neo-Talibanism does not imply the return of al-Qaeda."</i><br /><br />I'm pretty sure you're right, Juan.<br /><br />In 2000 the Taliban were dependent on Al Queda for funding and military support fighting the United Islamic Front (the Northern Alliance). <br /><br />More recently the Taliban seem to have learnt some basic economic realities and developed their own funding streams. Fairly obviously they can now fight their own battles.<br /><br />Although it seems unlikely that after a Western withdrawal the Taliban will simply re-conquer Afghanistan. I'd have thought a fractured warlordism is more likely, leaving Al Queda a possible role as mercenaries for one side or another.<br /><br />Given the history of Afghanistan it'd be no great surprise for Karzai to buddy up with Al Queda while the US pays the Taliban to fight him. "Ipso facto neo-Talibanism does not imply the return of al-Qaeda."

I'm pretty sure you're right, Juan.

In 2000 the Taliban were dependent on Al Queda for funding and military support fighting the United Islamic Front (the Northern Alliance).

More recently the Taliban seem to have learnt some basic economic realities and developed their own funding streams. Fairly obviously they can now fight their own battles.

Although it seems unlikely that after a Western withdrawal the Taliban will simply re-conquer Afghanistan. I'd have thought a fractured warlordism is more likely, leaving Al Queda a possible role as mercenaries for one side or another.

Given the history of Afghanistan it'd be no great surprise for Karzai to buddy up with Al Queda while the US pays the Taliban to fight him.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/hikmatyar-bin-laden-alive-suggests.html#comment-781 Anonymous Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:45:17 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4766#comment-781 Everytime the US or NATO kills locals in their own country, those murdered are ALWAYS labeled taliban or insurgents or militants. How does the US know if the dead are who they claim they are? Do the dead have "militant cards" or "insurgent cards" in their pockets that identify them?? Everyone must read Matthew Hoh's resignation letter. Google it. Everytime the US or NATO kills locals in their own country, those murdered are ALWAYS labeled taliban or insurgents or militants. How does the US know if the dead are who they claim they are? Do the dead have "militant cards" or "insurgent cards" in their pockets that identify them?? Everyone must read Matthew Hoh's resignation letter. Google it.

]]> By: chautauqua http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/hikmatyar-bin-laden-alive-suggests.html#comment-780 chautauqua Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:11:58 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4766#comment-780 We must stop this troop surge and get aid to those in need. The video is so clear in showing the suffering. We must stop this troop surge and get aid to those in need. The video is so clear in showing the suffering.

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