CTC Sentinel Objective

september 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 9

Combating Terrorism Center at West Point CTC Sentinel Objective . Relevant . Rigorous

Contents Are the Afghan Taliban Involved

FEATURE ARTICLE in International Terrorism? 1 Are the Afghan Taliban Involved in By Anne Stenersen International Terrorism? By Anne Stenersen

Reports 5 The Insurgent-Narcotic Nexus in Helmand Province By Captain Michael Erwin, U.S. Army 8 The Expansion Strategy of Al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula By Gregory D. Johnsen 11 A Profile of Pakistan’s Lashkar-i-Jhangvi By Arif Jamal 14 The Failure of Salafi-Jihadi Insurgent Movements in the Levant By Bilal Y. Saab 18 The Dangerous Ideas of the Neo-Zarqawist Movement By Murad Batal al-Shishani 20 The July 17 Jakarta Suicide Attacks and the Death of Noordin Top By Noor Huda Ismail Afghan Taliban walk through a bazaar in Quetta, Pakistan in 2005. - Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images n a video aired on ABC News frequently use “al-Qa`ida-style” anti- 22 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity in June 2007, Afghan Taliban Western rhetoric, and insurgents have 24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts commander Mansour Dadullah endorsed suicide bombing as a tactic—a

is shown speaking to a group of phenomenon previously unknown in Iaround 300 masked men. The men are Afghanistan. Moreover, the Afghan presented as “suicide bombers” about to Taliban’s most immediate enemies are go on missions in Western countries, in the United States and its allies, who particular to the United States, Canada, they claim have occupied their country the United Kingdom and Germany.1 since 2001. They do not shun attacking The video created considerable media and killing foreigners—civilian as well attention, but was soon dismissed as military—inside Afghanistan. Is it About the CTC Sentinel as “jihadist bravado” rather than only a matter of time before the Afghan The Combating Terrorism Center is an representing a genuine threat. Two years Taliban start engaging more directly in independent educational and research after it was aired, the Afghan Taliban have international terrorism?3 institution based in the Department of Social yet to put Dadullah’s words into action. Sciences at the United States Military Academy, West Point. The CTC Sentinel harnesses The Afghan Taliban movement has Neo-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan (London: Hurst, the Center’s global network of scholars and changed considerably since it was first 2007), p. 13. practitioners to understand and confront formed in southern Afghanistan in 1994, 3 As a starting point, it is essential to distinguish between contemporary threats posed by terrorism and and it has been described by some scholars the various layers of the Afghan insurgency. The Afghan other forms of political violence. as an integrated part of the global jihadist Taliban leadership (Mullah Omar and his shura council, movement.2 Afghan Taliban leaders also referred to as the Quetta shura) gives general directions and speaks on behalf of the organization, while local com- The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, manders in Afghanistan and in the tribal areas of Pakistan the Department of the Army, or any other agency 1 “Inside the Taliban Graduation,” ABC News, June 28, carry out militant activities in the Taliban’s name, often of the U.S. Government. 2007. with a high degree of autonomy. Foreign militant networks 2 Antonio Giustozzi, Koran, Kalashnikov and Laptop: The such as the “Pakistani Taliban” and al-Qa`ida support

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This article assesses the likelihood troops, and Afghan civilians. Foreign Taliban said these retaliations would of the Afghan Taliban carrying out civilians inside Afghanistan have also be limited to attacking Dutch soldiers terrorist attacks in the homelands of been subjected to attacks. This includes inside Afghanistan, and they also NATO countries that are militarily targeted attacks on foreign diplomats claimed to have carried out actual engaged in Afghanistan.4 It argues that and NGO workers, but also terrorist attacks to this end: while individual insurgent commanders attacks against places frequented by have issued threats to attack the West, foreigners. The Afghan Taliban use On our part we pledge revenge— the senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban these attacks to achieve political and Allah willing—on these Dutch are currently uninterested in pursuing propaganda aims and to support the soldiers with the value of their such a strategy. While this may be wider insurgent effort. For example, skulls, who came to our land as due to a number of factors, this article the Afghan Taliban have claimed that occupiers and where most are stresses that such a venture could diplomatic missions from NATO states present in Uruzgan Province. The easily jeopardize the Afghan Taliban are targeted because they have troops killing of two of them yesterday leadership’s sanctuaries in Pakistan. stationed in Afghanistan. After the and the destruction of their At the same time, it cannot be excluded bombing of the German Embassy in tanks are a part of the series of that such attacks could be carried out Kabul in 2008, a Taliban spokesman revenge...9 by lower echelons of the network or by individual sympathizers, especially if Overall, there is little doubt that the opportunity arises. The Baitullah “The Afghan Taliban the Afghan Taliban are hostile to Mehsud-led faction of the Pakistani leadership is probably the West and that they do not shun Taliban has already shown willingness attacking foreigners—civilian as well to exploit such opportunities, making reluctant to carry out as military—inside Afghanistan. Yet, them a greater immediate terrorism actions that would attacking Western targets outside of threat to Western countries than the Afghanistan’s conflict zone is a different Afghan Taliban.5 increase the pressure on its matter. sanctuaries in Pakistan.” Attacks on Westerners Inside Afghanistan Specific Threats and Plots to Attack in Western The Afghan Taliban’s insurgent Countries campaign uses a mixture of guerrilla Mullah Dadullah and his brother warfare and terrorist tactics. Most justified it by saying, “The Germans Mansour Dadullah were the Afghan attacks have targeted Afghan police have forces in the north of Afghanistan Taliban leaders who most explicitly and security forces, international and they are involved in the killing of threatened to take the battle outside innocent Afghans.” The spokesman also Afghanistan’s borders. Mullah Dadullah, the Afghan Taliban insurgency, but they typically have threatened that “the Taliban will target who was a member of the Afghan wider agendas and carry out attacks in their own name. all those countries that have forces in Taliban’s shura council and commander 6 Moreover, in this article it has been assumed that the of- Afghanistan.” in southern Afghanistan, was killed ficial views of the senior Afghan Taliban leadership are in May 2007. He was succeeded by those that are expressed through the official websites, The Afghan Taliban have also expressed his brother, Mansour Dadullah, who communiqués and spokesmen of the Islamic Emirate of enmity toward the West for other subsequently appeared in a series of Afghanistan. Mullah Omar himself stated in 2007: “The reasons than the military “occupation” interviews and propaganda videos. comments of the Islamic Emirate are those which are of their country. Countries that are Mansour Dadullah, for instance, was released by our official spokesmen and our al-Emarah perceived as insulting Islam or the the leader who threatened to dispatch web page.” For more, see Mukhtar A. Khan, “Quetta: Prophet Muhammad, such as Denmark suicide bombers to Western countries 10 The Headquarters of the Afghan Taliban,” CTC Sentinel and the Netherlands, have been directly in June 2007. Interestingly, Mansour 7 2:5 (2009). threatened. The Netherlands received Dadullah was sacked from the Taliban 4 For other studies discussing the internationalization several threats in 2008 after a Dutch in December 2007, officially because he 11 of local conflicts, see Åshild Kjøk, Thomas Hegghammer, politician, Geert Wilders, released the refused to obey the chain of command. Annika Hansen et al., Restoring Peace or Provoking Terror- Islam-critical movie called Fitna. The ism? Exploring the Links between Multilateral Military Inter- Afghan Taliban leadership’s statements 9 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, “Statement from the ventions and International Terrorism (Kjeller: Norwegian encouraged all Muslims of the world Shura Council on the Production of a Film Desecrating 8 Defence Research Establishment, 2003); Brynjar Lia to take revenge against the “insults.” the Qur’an by a Member of Parliament in Holland,” March and Åshild Kjøk, Islamist Insurgencies, Diasporic Support At the same time, however, the Afghan 30, 2008; Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, “Heavy Casu- Networks, and Their Host States - The Case of the Algerian alties Were Inflicted on the Dutch Forces in Uruzgan (in GIA in Europe 1993-2000 (Kjeller: Norwegian Defence 6 “Two Dead in Explosion Near German Embassy,” Der revenge for the film Fitna by Geert Wilders),” March 31, Research Establishment, 2001); Matthew Levitt, ”Could Spiegel, January 17, 2009. 2008; Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, “Killing 8 Dutch Hamas Target the West?” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 7 In 2005, a series of 12 cartoons representing the Occupiers, Including the Son of the Commander of the 30:11 (2007): pp. 925-945. Prophet Muhammad appeared in the Danish Newspaper Dutch Forces, in the Series of Revenge Operations in Re- 5 For more on the European plot that allegedly involved Jyllands-Posten, which sparked a wave of protests across taliation for the Publishing of the Harmful Film ‘Fitna,’” the Baitullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Muslim world. April 21, 2008. see Fernando Reinares, “A Case Study of the January 8 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, “The Eternal Enemies 10 “Inside the Taliban Graduation.” 2008 Suicide Bomb Plot in Barcelona,” CTC Sentinel 2:1 of Islam Have Committed Another Historic Crime!” 11 There was speculation that he was trying to establish (2009). April 1, 2008. an independent power base with support from his al-

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The exact nature of the relationship take action in your capitalist public transportation system.19 In a between the Dadullah brothers and al- department stores and this time, videotaped interview released in August Qaìda is not known.12 Mullah Dadullah’s without warning.15 that year, TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar statements, and those of his brother took responsibility for the plot. He said Mansour, have on several occasions It is not publicly known whether any that the men “were under pledge to contradicted the official statements of members of the alleged group were Baitullah Mehsud” and indicated that the Afghan Taliban leadership. The arrested, but in any case there were the attacks were motivated by Spain’s Dadullah brothers were also known to few indications that the group had military presence in Afghanistan.20 run their own media campaign (through any organizational links to the Afghan There were other indications of links a local “media agency” called Umar Taliban or al-Qaìda. As analysts noted, between the arrested militants and Studio), indicating a certain desire to act the language in the letter as well as the TTP. Notably, one of the group’s autonomously. Ultimately, there were the group’s modus operandi seemed to members claimed to have received few indications that Mansour Dadullah resemble left-wing activists more than training in Waziristan and Afghanistan, had the actual will or capabilities to militant Islamists.16 As far as is known, as well as having met with the TTP’s follow up on his threat. In the two years neither the Afghan Taliban leadership leader.21 after the video was issued, no firm links nor Farouq’s group issued any further have been established between arrested comments in the case. The failure The Barcelona case indicates that the terrorist suspects in Western countries of the Afghan Taliban leadership to TTP leadership is willing to be associated and Dadullah or the Afghan Taliban. publicly refute Farouq’s statement, or with, and possibly also directly involved statements from the Dadullah brothers, in, international terrorist plots. This Another example of threats against the is not necessarily indicative of their is in contrast to the Afghan Taliban, West was a video aired on al-Arabiya tacit approval; the Afghan Taliban which have not yet been associated with in November 2008.13 The video showed leadership generally avoids criticizing any plots to launch attacks in Western a local Afghan Taliban commander members in public to avoid fueling countries. nicknamed “Farouq,” who claimed rumors of splits or disagreements responsibility for killing 10 French within the movement.17 Capabilities and Opportunities soldiers in an ambush in Kabul Province An important reason why the Afghan on August 18, 2008. He warned France Pakistani Taliban a Different Case Taliban leadership is not taking their that they should withdraw from The Pakistani Taliban, which is distinct battle to Western countries may be Afghanistan or “they will hear our from the Afghan Taliban, has a record of the lack of capability. Unlike groups response in Paris.”14 involvement in international terrorism. such as the Algerian Armed Islamic Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), led Group (GIA) or al-Qaìda, which have The local commander’s threats to carry by Baitullah Mehsud until his recent both staged a series of terrorist attacks out attacks in Paris appeared to be death, has made explicit threats to in Europe, the Taliban do not have bravado. In December 2008, however, attack the West, and it has even claimed strong and active support networks in explosives were found in a department responsibility for such attacks. While the West. Most of its foreign support store in Paris, and a group calling not part of the Afghan Taliban, it is networks are believed to be located itself the Afghan Revolutionary Front useful to compare the TTP’s claims in the Gulf region and in Pakistan.22 claimed responsibility. In a letter, the with those of Afghan Taliban militants. Nevertheless, they could theoretically group stated, Some of the TTP’s claims have been coordinate with the al-Qaìda network unsubstantiated, such as in April or other foreign militants present in Send the message to your president 2009 when Baitullah Mehsud claimed Pakistan and Afghanistan to carry that he must withdraw his troops responsibility for a firearms attack out attacks on their behalf; it appears, from our country before the end on a U.S. immigration center in New however, that they have decided of February 2009 or else we will York State, carried out by a Vietnamese against this strategy. For example, the national.18 A more interesting case is Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) has attracted Qaìda allies, and it was feared that he would become a the Barcelona plot, revealed in January volunteers from Europe who have rival to Mullah Omar. See “Dadullah Sacking Highlights 2008, when a dozen Pakistanis and carried out operations in Afghanistan 23 Taliban Rifts,” Jane’s Terrorism and Security Monitor, Jan- two Indians were arrested in Spain and on behalf of the Haqqani network. uary 16, 2008. accused of plotting to attack Barcelona’s In the most publicized incident, a 12 There are few details of this relationship in open sources. It can be noted, however, that besides Shaykh 19 For a detailed analysis of this plot and its international Muhammed Yasir, Mullah Dadullah and his brother 15 “Explosives Found in Paris Store,” BBC, December links, see Reinares. Mansour are the only high-ranking Taliban members 16, 2008. 20 “NEFA Exclusives: Video Interviews with Top Paki- who have been featured by al-Qaìda’s propaganda 16 “Explosives Found in Paris Department Store,” Times stani Taliban Spokesman Maulvi Omar,” NEFA Foun- agency al-Sahab. Online, December 17, 2008. dation, August 29, 2008. 13 “Taliban Threatens to Carry Out Operations ‘in Paris’ 17 The official sacking of Mansour Dadullah by the Tali- 21 Reinares. Unless France Withdraws from Afghanistan,” al-Ar- ban leadership in December 2007 was an exceptional 22 “Taliban’s Foreign Support Vexes U.S.,” Wall Street abiya, November 18, 2008; “Taliban Video Warning to case. Journal, June 1, 2009. France,” Reuters, November 17, 2008. 18 “Pakistani Taliban Chief Claims U.S. Shooting,” Reu- 23 Einar Wigen, Islamic Jihad Union: al-Qaida’s Key to the 14 “Taliban Kill 10 French Troops in Afghanistan,” Reu- ters, April 13, 2009; “FBI Rejects Mehsud’s Claim for NY Turkic World? (Kjeller: Norwegian Defence Research Es- ters, August 19, 2008. Attack,” Dawn, April 4, 2009. tablishment, 2009).

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German national of Turkish origin, leadership is in Afghanistan, and our victory because it had promised to pull Cüneyt Ciftci, carried out a suicide activities are inside Afghanistan.”29 Spanish forces out of Iraq. A document attack against a U.S. military base in Notably, the Afghan Taliban have was circulated on jihadist websites prior Khost.24 The attack was commended also distanced themselves from al- to the attack arguing in favor of such by Jalaluddin Haqqani himself, Qaìda’s global terrorist campaign. a strategy, and it is possible that the illustrating the direct link between the In an interview in 2009, Zabihullah document had inspired the attackers.32 foreign militants and the local group.25 Mujahid said, “Taliban is one thing and It appears that if the Haqqani network al Qaeda is another. They are global Similarly, the Afghan Taliban leadership wanted to send militants to carry out we are just in the region.”30 It should is fully aware of the disagreements attacks in Europe, it would have enough be noted that the Afghan Taliban and fault lines within NATO, and they candidates. Notably, the Sauerland understand that in several European cell—a group of German nationals who “It appears that while countries there is low public support plotted to carry out terrorist attacks in for the war. The Afghan Taliban Germany in 2006—was said to have ties Afghan militants may use have issued statements33 to European with the IJU and had received training foreign volunteers to fight audiences encouraging them to stop in North Waziristan.26 Still, there were supporting their country’s politics and no indications that they were acting on in their local guerrilla war, to stop “serving America’s interests.”34 behalf of the Afghan Taliban or other they seem less interested Nevertheless, one might wonder why local groups, despite the fact that the the Taliban have not sought to better Afghan Taliban have identified Germany in using them to carry out exploit NATO’s weak points. as one of its main enemies. attacks abroad.” The answer may lie in the fact that It appears that while Afghan militants the Afghan Taliban have strong may use foreign volunteers to fight in disincentives for carrying out attacks their local guerrilla war, they seem leadership has not officially denounced abroad. Although not stated directly, less interested in using them to carry al-Qaìda or its activities, and they have the Afghan Taliban leadership is out attacks abroad. When Sirajuddin stated that al-Qaìda and other foreign probably reluctant to carry out activities Haqqani was asked about the foreigners Muslims are welcome to join their that would increase the pressure on its he trained—in particular the militants fight in Afghanistan.31 Nevertheless, it sanctuaries in Pakistan. Since 2001, from the IJU—he stated that “we appears that the Afghan Taliban leaders the Pakistani government has been are concerned with the war here in themselves do not wish to be associated allied with the United States in the “war Afghanistan, and prefer them to carry with al-Qaìda’s global jihadist on terrorism,” but at the same time out attacks here.”27 In another interview strategy. it is widely believed that the Afghan he was even more explicit, saying: Taliban have enjoyed unofficial support One might argue that it is merely a from within Pakistan’s territory. This We have asked our allies whether question of “ideology” and traditions. might explain why the presence of living in Pakistan or any other The Afghan Taliban leadership, Afghan Taliban leaders on Pakistani part of the world to carry out however, is not static and unchangeable; soil has been somewhat “tolerated” by attacks against Americans only in the endorsement of suicide bombing Pakistan since 2001, while a number of Afghanistan and not in any other as a tactic after 2001 is one example al-Qaìda members have been actively country. Our policy is that we of that. A more accurate answer may pursued and arrested. In 2004, the would not interfere in the affairs of be found by looking at the incentives Pakistan Army started to crack down on any other country whether it is an and disincentives the Afghan Taliban Islamic or non-Islamic country.28 leadership may have for carrying out a 32 Brynjar Lia and Thomas Hegghammer, “Jihadi Stra- terrorist attack in the West. tegic Studies: The Alleged Al Qaida Policy Study Preced- This also appears to be the policy of the ing the Madrid Bombings,” Studies in Conflict and Terror- Afghan Taliban leadership. In 2008, Incentives and Disincentives ism 27:5 (2004): pp. 355-375. the official spokesman of the Afghan A possible incentive for the Afghan 33 It should be noted that the Taliban’s propaganda does Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated Taliban to plot attacks in the West would not resemble jihadist “strategic literature” with its quasi- that “the Mujahideen of the Islamic be to create a “Madrid effect.” This neutral analyses and specific strategy recommendations. Emirate are based in Afghanistan, the refers to the terrorist attack carried out Rather, the propaganda aims at justifying the Afghan by militant Islamists in Madrid in 2004. Taliban’s actions in retrospect, and it quotes sources se- 24 “Germany’s First Suicide Bomber in Afghanistan?” The attack was executed shortly before lectively to convey the impression that a Taliban victory Der Spiegel, March 15, 2008. the Spanish elections, and probably is inevitable. 25 “Video: Afghanistan: Veteran Mujahadeen Defies contributed to the opposition party’s 34 The IJU and al-Qaìda have been even more explicit, West,” Adnkronos International, undated. encouraging people in Germany to vote for politicians in 26 Petter Nesser, “Lessons Learned from the September 29 “Interview with Taliban Spokesman Zabiullah Muja- the upcoming elections who want to pull German troops 2007 German Terrorist Plot,” CTC Sentinel 1:4 (2008). hid,” NEFA Foundation, February 1, 2008. out of Afghanistan, and also threatening actual attacks. 27 “Interview with Taliban Commander Sirajuddin 30 “Transcript: Afghan Taliban Spokesman Discusses For example, the propaganda uses the low public support Haqqani,” NEFA Foundation, August 18, 2008. War,” CNN, May 5, 2009. for the war in Germany as “proof” that NATO is about to 28 “Taliban’s Siraj Haqqani Shrugs Off $5m Bounty,” 31 “Agha Jan Mu’tasim: The Struggle in Afghanistan and collapse; it is not written as an explicit recommendation AfPax Insider, July 4, 2009. Opportunities for Dialogue,” al-Jazira, May 10, 2009. to its followers to carry out attacks inside Germany.

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Pakistani militants in the tribal areas, The Insurgent-Narcotic Rais Baghrani largely controls the initially because they were suspected of course of the 100 mile-long valley hiding international terrorists but more Nexus in Helmand starting just north of Musa Qala recently because they have become Province district.4 Sher Mohammed Akhundzada5 a security threat to the regime itself. and his affiliates exert the most Today, Pakistani authorities are under By Captain Michael Erwin, U.S. Army influence in the central region, where increasing pressure to do more about approximately 75% of the province’s the Afghan Taliban’s sanctuaries as for the past four years, there has been population resides. The historically well, especially since these sanctuaries a rising level of collusion between corrupt Baluchi tribe controls a majority are seen as an impediment to the U.S. insurgents and narcotic powerbrokers of the province’s southern region.6 and NATO counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. Together, these distinctly different in Afghanistan.35 Between 2002 and 2005, the Afghan regions of Helmand are responsible Taliban-led insurgency in southern for growing more than half the world’s The Afghan Taliban have consistently Afghanistan focused its attention poppy.7 These leaders and other narco- denied having any organizational primarily in Kandahar and Uruzgan powerbrokers in Helmand have formed affiliation with the Pakistani Taliban, provinces.1 Coalition forces and Afghan a synergistic relationship with Taliban or to have any ambition outside National Security Forces (ANSF) largely insurgents where they work together to Afghanistan at all.36 Under the current left the poppy fields alone in Helmand; plant, protect and harvest poppy fields circumstances, to start engaging in in return, Helmand powerbrokers and then transport the product to drug international terrorism would be too resisted opportunities to attack labs and out of the country; in exchange, risky for its overall strategy. As long coalition forces. Militants launched the Taliban tax the farmers and also as the Afghan Taliban are experiencing sporadic attacks, but nothing similar earn money when the drugs exchange relative success with their present to the level of violence in Helmand hands in neighboring countries. Most strategy, there is a lack of incentive to today. The violence and casualty rates major narcotics leaders have ties to the venture into new territory. in Helmand currently surpass any other government, whether at the national province in Afghanistan.2 Moreover, or local level, and therefore coalition Anne Stenersen is a Research Fellow despite the highest international troop forces cannot target them effectively. and Ph.D. candidate with the Terrorism presence of anywhere in Afghanistan, Research Group at the Norwegian Defence the drug trade originating in Helmand Until 2006, minimal coalition presence Research Establishment (FFI). She holds is still a leading source of revenue for in Helmand clearly signaled to Helmand an M.Phil. in Arabic studies from the the insurgency in the southern part of Afghans that their livelihood of growing University of Oslo and is the author of the the country.3 With a limited number poppies was secure. This changed in book Al-Qaida’s Quest for Weapons of of troops and resources, the hope for the summer of 2006 when coalition Mass Destruction: The History Behind Helmand Province, and indeed the forces entered the province in sizeable the Hype. Her current research focuses entire region, rests on the ability to numbers and were accompanied by a on Islamist insurgencies in Afghanistan break down this relationship, known as and Pakistan. She would like to thank Dr. the “insurgent-narcotic nexus.” 4 Rais Baghrani fought against the Russians in the 1980s Thomas Hegghammer for his assistance and was formerly a high-ranking member of the Taliban with this article. This article will briefly outline the in the 1990s under Mullah Omar’s leadership. In 2005, problems caused by past efforts of poppy after eluding coalition forces for more than three years, eradication, relay recent successful Baghrani accepted amnesty and abandoned the Taliban counter-nexus operations in Helmand movement. He still controls the Baghran Valley, howev- Province, and define the challenges er, which is responsible for growing a significant amount ahead. Furthermore, it will explain of poppy. He is clearly involved in the drug trade, but he the significance of undermining the is no longer an ideological member of the Taliban move- insurgent-narcotic nexus to improve ment. the prospects for mission success in 5 Sher Mohammed Akhundzada is married to President Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai’s sister. He was the former governor of Helmand Province but was removed from office by Presi- A Brief History dent Karzai under pressure from the United Kingdom for The first step to analyzing the current his role in narcotics; an estimated nine tons of poppy was state of the insurgency in Helmand discovered in the basement of his house in 2005. Since Province is to identify the province’s his departure from governorship, violence has skyrock- three primary regions and their eted in Helmand Province. associated powerbrokers. In the north, 6 The Baluchi tribe numbers an estimated 120,000 in southern Helmand and controls the southern-most dis- 1 Personal discussion, MSG Tristan Schlientz, Kanda- tricts, most notably the area called Baram Cha, which is har, Afghanistan, August 2006. the gateway for drugs moving to Pakistan and weapons/ 35 “Taliban’s Sanctuary Bases in Pakistan Must be Elim- 2 Paul Waugh, “1,000 Killed or Wounded in Afghan ammunition moving into Afghanistan. inated,” RAND Corporation, June 9, 2008. Conflict,”London Evening Standard, August 17, 2009. 7 “U.S. Aims to Deprive Taliban of Drug Revenue by 36 “Interview with Taliban Spokesman Zabiullah Muja- 3 Karen DeYoung, “U.S. and Britain Again Target Pop- Promoting Alternate Crops to Opium,” Associated Press, hid,” NEFA Foundation, February 1, 2008. py Crop,” Washington Post, August 2009. June 27, 2009.