An American official in Afghanistan says, “We assess that the primary focus of attacks in northern provinces such as Kunduz is to create a perception that the insurgency is spreading like wildfire. But I think it’s more of an ‘information operations’ success.”
Amidst Obama’s quandary of whether to approve the request of US generals for additional troop surges in Afghanistan, the Taliban are now springing surprise attacks on foreign coalition forces. The insurgents seem to have even widened their attacks in Afghanistan, with particular campaigns against German and Italian troops. Some call this move as the group’s ‘strategic planning.’
Deftly, ‘the Afghan Taliban leadership operating out of Pakistan has surprised the US military by countering its offensive in southern Afghanistan with a shrewd expansion into the north and west of the country.’
According to senior American military and intelligence officials, the Taliban have widened their Afghan attacks from their base in Pakistan. Officials say, “Senior Taliban leaders, showing a surprising level of sophistication and organization, are using their sanctuary in Pakistan to stoke a widening campaign of violence in northern and western Afghanistan.”
Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s assessment of the war ‘specifically tied the Taliban to “some elements” of Pakistani intelligence.’
According to an intelligence official, “They’ve outmaneuvered us time and time again. The Taliban is trying to create trouble elsewhere to alleviate pressure caused by the southern offensive.” A new strategic move in the war in Afghanistan is the deployment of more CIA operatives to heighten intelligence operations.
