Taliban in Zabul

In this IWPR story, former Zabul governor Hamidullah Tokhi claims that the central government controls only 3 of 11 administrative districts in the Afghan province of Zabul, with the Taliban influencing or controlling the rest. He blames his recently replaced successor, saying that Zabulis wouldn't follow someone from Kandahar. That successor claims everything was just fine when he was in charge. In the Pak Tribune, however, current governor Khyal Muhammad says American efforts against the Taliban in that province are failing. Delegates to the loya jirga testify to IWPR of Taliban strength in the province, and a Kabul source claims they control most of the province as a mobile motorcycle militia.

Last August, there was information (1, 2) suggesting the Taliban had retaken Zabul, followed by Operation Mountain Viper, aimed at driving them out. Trying to get a clear picture from much of Afghanistan is murky, as no one has a real interest in revealing the truth, and Afghan officials have quite clearly picked up the part of democracy where you either blame other people for problems or deny that they exist. Still, one gets the feeling that people intimately tied to the September 11 attacks are there, just waiting to stage their comeback as soon as they get an opening.