GeoVision, Inc.
Archival News (1997 to 2002)

  

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Panjsher Valley, Afghanistan - Another "hot" summer of fighting with more people killed and little real estate exchanging hands. In June the Taliban attempted to take Panjsher Valley from the South and failed. In July they tried again via Nahrin, west of Panjsher Valley. In August the Taliban tried to gain control of Taloqan and failed with many people being killed. Massoud then gained some ground in the South east while the Taliban soldiers were busy in the North. Isn't it time for everyone to stop fighting?

There is good fishing in Anjuman pass, crops to raise and children that would like to play games with their parents.

-MrGary

Kalamazoo, MI - Mohammad Es'Haq e-mailed out the following press release after talking to Ahmad Shah Massoud last night...

" Washington, DC - June 19: Preparations for launching a major offensive by the Pakistanis and the Taliban against the Mujahideen in Shemali and Kunduz fronts of Afghanistan have been almost completed and fighting could start any moment. This was revealed by Ahmad Shah Massoud whose forces are preparing themselves for the defense of the territory they control.

Massoud said 2500 fresh Pakistani fighters have reached Afghanistan, around 1500 of whom are stationed in Shemali Front and the remaining in Kunduz. He said, General Saeeduz Zafar of the Pakistan army has been appointed to command the operation and Brigadier Ershad will serve as his deputy. Ershad has already reached Afghanistan and Zafar is expected to reach Kabul soon. He said based on the evidence available the fighting this year will be as severe as the fighting of last summer.

Massoud said his forces were ready to put up a tough resistance against the Pakistanis and their Taliban surrogates and asked all Afghans to pray for the success of the defenders of independence and territorial integrity of the country. The Mujahideen have learned that the Pakistan air force has assigned a number of warplanes based in Kamra Air Base to take part in support missions inside Afghanistan. In the fall of 1988 and summer of 1999 Pakistani fighters from the same base took part in the operations against the Mujahideen. The Mujahideen repulsed the Taliban's attacks on Salang some weeks ago inflicting heavy casualties on them.

Forces loyal to the Islamic State of Afghanistan control 25 percent of the territory of Afghanistan and enjoy sympathy and support of a large section of the Afghan population."

-Mr. Gary

Kalamazoo, MI - As Summer battles heat up around Kabul, the Afghanistan capital, President Clinton orders ban on U.S. trade with and investment in the 85 percent of Afghan territory under Taliban control. Official figures show the United States exported $7 million in goods to these areas last year and brought in imports worth $17 million.

About 15 percent of Afghanistan is controlled by a rival group lead by Ahmed Shah Massoud.

Clinton's trade ban includes the provinces of Kandahar, Farah, Helmund, Nimruz, Herat, Badghis, Ghowr, Oruzghon, Zabol, Paktia, Ghazni, Nangarhar, Lowgar, Vardan, Faryab, Jowlan, Balkh, and Paktika.

For more detailed information, see http://www.treas.gov/ofac.

-Mr. Gary

Pittsburgh, PA - Winter sets in and fighting slows as Afghanistan enters its 20th year of war. All parties of the Great Game appear to have turned their attention from winning battles to internal problems. The Taliban strategy remains to win militarily but they have not succeeded in moving Massoud. They, however, refuse to negotiate a settlement. Massoud and the Alliance of the North only have to prevent Taliban victory during the next few months to receive a moral victory. They have accomplished this effectively so far. This, however, is not a strategy for long term success. Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgistan continue to deal with their own differences and distrust rather than deal with the Afghanistan situation. The US has pulled back its political staff and concentrated on Osama Bin Laden. Narwaz Sharif has to be concerned with Pakistan's internal problems and two serious attempts at his assassination.

-Mr. Gary

Kansas City, MO - Heavy fighting on three fronts continues between The Alliance and the Taliban. International sources are placing pressure on Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgistan to stop assisting the Northern Alliance with military supplies. The US has yet to condemn Pakistan for its support of the Taliban with equipment and manpower. However, military experts in Pakistan are reported to believe that there is now a coordination between Iran and India to place pressure on Pakistan. There is a genuine fear that the Iranian and Indian exercises might be linked to the situation in Afghanistan.

According to the Dr. Jassim Taqui in the Oct 14th issue of the Frontier Post, "There could be two scenarios: First, Iran would attack Afghanistan through some stage of its ongoing military exercise. The target could be Kabul, Mazar-E-Sharif and Bamiyan. By conducting military exercises closer to the Pakistani border in Sindh and Punjab, the Indian objective might be to prevent Pakistan to come to the rescue of Afghanistan and to completely neutralize Pakistan. Second, the Iranian and Indian military exercises might aim at pressurizing Pakistan to "tame" Taliban in Afghanistan and to force them to accept the formation of broad-based government in Afghanistan."

-Mr. Gary

Washington DC - The arms companies must be smiling as the US, Russia, and Iran consider shooting expensive missiles into Afghanistan. The US is upset over Osama Bin Laden's involvement in international terrorism which killed Americans. Iran is upset over the killing of their diplomats by Taliban soldiers at Mazar-E-Sharif and the Sunni Moslem Taliban killing Shiite Moslem Afghans in Bamiyan. Russia is worried about the spread of the Taliban form of Islam and the loss of oil reserves. The UN envoy for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been flown to the region to search for solutions as world powers reach a boiling point.

On the ground, the Taliban forces and the soldiers of Ahmad Shah Massoud started what they consider to be the decisive battle before Winter. The major battle ground will be only 15 miles (25 kilometers) from Kabul. Fighting also has started between the two last powers in Kapisa and Baghlan provinces.

Could this be the beginning of World War Three?

-Mr. Gary

Kabul, Afghanistan- All is jubilant and secure in Kabul as the Taliban, with the assistance of Pakistan, take over Mazar-E-Sharif. Rumor in Peshawar, Pakistan and in Kabul is that another 2,000 students primarily from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam in Pakistan will be joining the Taliban within a few days. Now the Taliban will concentrate on the Hisbe-e-Wahdat, commanded by Karim Khalili in Bamiyan. If successful, the Taliban will then take on Ahmed Shah Massoud.

As the Taliban moves against the Hisbe-e-Wahdat, tension from Iran will increase. Iran is already concerned over a Pakistani controlled Afghanistan. The US support for Pakistan's backing of the Taliban is continuing to weaken because of the Taliban support of Osama Bin Laden, increase in poppy production, and its policy towards women.

-Mr. Gary

Peshawar, Pakistan- So much for peace talks! US envoy Bill Richardson's peace drums are silent as another American white knight rides off into the sunset after a very short tour of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The catastrophic earthquake in Takhar Province left more than 4,500 dead.

Battles are now being fought in the field and political conference rooms. Active fighting is taking place in the provinces of Kunduz, Faryab, Wardak, Kapisa, Konar, and Kabul. The Taliban appear to be gaining some ground in Kunduz, due to infighting amongst General Aburrasheed Dostum's commanders. There is little change in the front line north of Kabul. Last week, the Taliban dropped some bombs in the Charikar area and Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud shot some missiles into the Kabul airport area. In Konar, the battles between the Kom and the Kshto tribes over water and lumber continue. Three Kshto villages were destroyed and burned by the Kom tribesmen. Over 75 people were reported dead.

The US Government, which was previously but unofficially undeclared behind the Taliban last year, appears to be moving into a more neutral position. Secretary of State, Madeleine K. Albright, publicly warned Pakistan that Washington would no longer condone the Taliban's barbaric policies, particularly toward women and children.

Other countries active in the Afghanistan Great Game line up as follows:
Taliban: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
Alliance of the North: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, India and Iran,

The Alliance of the North continues to hold the official positions with the United Nations and maintains consulate offices in over 100 countries. There are reports of large arms shipments. In April, the Afghan News stated that "In March 6th Washington Times, national-security reporter Bill Gertz quoted US Intelligence officials as saying that Ukraine had 'recently' shipped 55 cargo plane loads of arms and ammunition to the Taliban by air via Peshawar, Pakistan."

In that a decisive battle between the troops of Ahmed shah Massoud and the Taliban appears currently to be out of the picture, the only long range solution available is a reuniting of the Pashtuns, which is the largest tribal group in Afghanistan. Their political influence and manpower behind either Ahmed Shah Massoud or the Taliban would create an imbalance of power within Afghanistan and break the stalemate.

-Mr. Gary

Atlanta, GA- The Afghanistan picture brightens as tribal leaders and foreign governments search for peace. The Afghan warring parties have agreed to meet on April 27th to discuss a peace plan under UN and OIC auspices in Islamabad, Pakistan. A cease-fire is now in affect.

One of the key members in this action is Bill Richardson, who holds cabinet status in the US government as Washington's ambassador to the United Nations. Mr. Richardson is the most senior Western official to visit Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion of 1979. His efforts are supported by Japan, Germany, Britain and are in conformity with the UN and US State Department plan.

The Afghan factions have agreed on the following issues: 1) stopping new military offensives, 2) exchanging prisoners, 3) cooperating on humanitarian aid, 4) preventing Afghan soil from being used for terrorist activities, 5) stopping the cultivation of poppy growing, 6) lifting the blockade of Hazarajat, and 7) concessions on women's rights, etc.

With this peace announcement, GeoVision, Inc.'s President, Gary Bowersox, released a bulletin that he has received permission from both the Alliance of the North and the Taliban to proceed with the planned Summer Expedition to the gem and mineral area of Afghanistan. Information on this Expedition can be reviewed on the internet at http://www.gems-afghan.com/news.htm

-Mr. Gary

Honolulu, Hi-The Afghanistan battlegrounds are now covered with snow. Bad weather conditions have curtailed the fighting in many areas. There has been some talk of peace. However, the U.N. reports arms, money and supplies are still being sent to preferred factions by outsiders. All parties to the war are currently discussing a selection of religious scholars to represent them in peace talks. This may be disrupted by differences between the U.N. and the Pakistan government over how to administer the situation.

-Mr. Gary

Seattle, WA-During the last two months both sides continued to battle over the Mazar-E-Sharif territory. Many people were killed but little ground was gained or lost by either side. With the start of Winter the year appears to be ending with only some faint talks of a peace conference and shortage of food.

Problems between General Malik and General Dostum appear to be solved with General Dostum returning from Turkey and sharing command in the North with General Malik.

The last formal list of leaders of the Northern Alliance reads as follows:
Prime Minister, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Rawan Farhadi;
President, Professor Burhannuddin Rabbani;
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdul Malik;
Minister of Defense, Mr. Ahmad Shah Massoud;
Minister of the Interior, Mr. Haji Mohaqiq;
Vice President, Mr. Ahmad Shah Massoud;
Vice President, General Abdul Ghaffar, Party: Jumbish Milli;
Vice President, Mr. Sadiq Parwani, Party: Hezbi Wahdat;
Vice President, (To be submitted after further consultations).

The President of Turkmenistan announced on November 10, 1997 his support for Unocal (USA) to head an international consortium to build a pipeline from his country via Afghanistan to Pakistan.

Yar Mohabbat, charge d^affairs in Washington D.C., announced on October 14, 1997 the new Afghanistan Embassy (USA)

GeoVision, Inc. announced the 7th Symposium of Gems and Minerals of Afghanistan to be held in Tucson, AZ (USA) on February 4th and 5th, 1998. Information is on line at: http://www.gems-afghan.com/7-symposium.

-Mr. Gary

Chicago, IL-Decisive battles have been delayed. Ahmed Shah Massoud continues bombarding front lines of the Taliban troops around Kabul while attempting to take control of Kunar and the Jalalabad area. If accomplished, this would cut the Taliban supply route from Pakistan. Both sides have offered peace talks with no results.

The newly named Prime Minister for the Northern Alliance, Abdul Rahim Gaffurzai, was killed when his plane crashed at Bamiyan airport. This was a major loss as he was one of the few career diplomats from Afghanistan with service at the United Nations.

The US State Department ordered the Afghan Embassy in Washington D.C. to close on August 21st. The closing statement commented that the US wanted to remain neutral.

-Mr. Gary

Austin, TX-Decisive battles for Kabul and Herat could start any minute. Ahmed Shah Massoud's troops are gathering and repairing bridges to deliver heavy equipment to the front lines at Kabul. General Abdul Malik is amassing troops to attack Herat. Residents of Kabul are fleeing once again. The Taliban are arresting Kabul Tajiks, Ismailis and Shiites in an attempt to stop an uprising within Kabul. For two weeks the Taliban and the Northern Alliance have been battling within rocket and artillery range of one another with some villages changing hands many times.

The Taliban are actively recruiting troops in Pakistan to replace the large number of soldiers lost in and around Mazar-I-Sharif and Pul-I-Khumri.

The UN attempts to bring peace have been stalled pending the outcome of the forthcoming battle over Kabul.

Stay tuned to this page for word of any changes in Kabul.

-Mr. Gary

Rochester, MN- Damage control and attack were the key elements to Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud's campaign during the last 30 days. Throughout the month major battles with rockets, artillery, and aircraft continued in Northeastern Afghanistan. The Taliban and their associates (Pakistan) were caught in an over-committed position in Mazar-i-Sharif and Pul-I-Khumri. When the Salang tunnel was blown up Taliban soldiers were trapped and surrounded in Pul-I-Khumri. By June 15th, the Taliban had lost all the territory conquered since January.

Currently, General Abdul Malik is neutral and regarded as undependable by both sides. General Dostum has dropped out of the situation by moving to Turkey. Ismail Khan was captured and turned over to the Taliban. The Taliban Foreign Minister, Abdul Mohammad Gous, and Northern Military Commander Razzaq were captured by the northern opposition.

Russia and the USA appear to have backed down on active support for either side. The US State Department has been reported to have announced the establishment of a commission to seek political, military, trade, investment, and energy cooperation with Uzbekistan. The US Department of State allowed Yar Mohammed Mohabbatt, Charge de Affairs, Afghanistan Embassy, Wash D.C. (appointed by Pres. Rabanni's government) to retain his position after a claim by Seraj Jumal, secretary, that he represented the Taliban.

When the Taliban attempted to disarm the civilian population of Marzar-i-Sharif and convert them to their form of Islam, the people revolted and routed thousands of Taliban from the area, killing hundreds. There have been reports from Kabul, Kunar, and Herat of civil resistance and disturbances in response to the Taliban. This resistance may have been responsible for the exploding of an ammunition dump near the Bala Hisar Fort in Kabul.

Stay tuned for more reports as fighting continues.

-Mr. Gary

Wash. DC- During the last month, military action heated up on all fronts as predicted. Unpredicted, however, was the mutiny of General Abdul Malik Pahlawan (Uzbek) and some of his troops in Faryab province. Some people believe this break with General Roshid Dostum was a result of General Malik's brother's (Rasul Pahlivan) assassination last year. During this mutiny, renowned Commander Ismail Khan was captured and handed over to the Taliban. For years Commander Ismail Khan controlled the Herat area, part of the planned oil pipeline route. Ahmed Shah Massoud sent additional troops to General Dostum who replaced General Malik with Alen Razem, a former air force commander.

Pakistan expelled anti-Taliban Afghan provincial governor, Haji Abdul Qadeer, of Nangarhar. Haji's son Zahir had been killed by the Taliban and paraded on a vehicle through Jalalabad.

Ex-Saudi citizen Osama Bin Laden has moved to Kandahar, headquarters of the Taliban. He is regarded as one of the world's most wanted terrorists who has declared Jihad against the US. He is believed to be involved with two bombings in Saudi Arabia including the one killing 24 American soldiers and funding the plot against President Mubarak of Egypt.

Joining the move to Kandahar was the International oil and gas consortium. They are now renting offices in Kandahar with the desire to build a USD$2.7 Billion oil pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan.

Christopher Kremmer, Herald Correspondent in Kandahar wrote "When Russian troops occupied Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, gas was exported to the former Soviet Union. The country also has untapped oil potential."

The first known report was from Alexander the Great in 328 B.C. "Nothing says more for men's moods than how they interpret an omen, and as Alexander left Balkh in the spring of 328 for another year's fighting, he chanced on a very revealing one. When camp was pitched by the river Oxus two springs welled out of the ground near the royal tent, the one of water, the other of a liquid which gushed forth no different in smell or taste or brightness from olive oil, though the earth was unsuited to olive trees." (Fox, Robin Lane. 1974. Alexander the Great, Great Britain, The Dial Press.)

The undersigned and his party of three also witnessed oil in Badakhshan while exploring Badakhshan for the historic ruby/spinel mines described first by Marco Polo.

This now has become a war over oil!!

-Mr Gary

During the last month military action continued with fierce battles between the Taliban forces and the Supreme Council for the defense of Afghanistan. The battle areas were primarily in Bagdhis, Bamiyan, Shebar Pass, Ghorband Valley, and Herat Areas.

An ammunition dump in Jalalabad exploded, killing a reported 50 people and wounding over 100.

World aid continued with reports of Germany ($2.0 mil), Great Britain and Netherlands ($10mil), Canada ($7-12mil), and Japan ($10mil) in US Dollars.

Pakistan authorities banned the export of wheat to Afghanistan.

UNDCP reported plans to work with the Taliban who control 95% of the country's drug-producing areas.

It has been reported that the Taliban leader Mullah Omar declared himself leader of Muslims worldwide. Central Asian leaders have taken this as a threat.

Who's backing who in this fight for leadership of Afghanistan:

                      Supreme Council                  Taliban
Inside Afghanistan:
                      Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud     Mullah Mohammed Omar
                      General Rashid Dostum
                      Shi'ite Karm Khalili
                      Governor Ismael Khan
Outside Afghanistan:
                      Tajikistan                      Pakistan
                      Uzbekistan                       Saudi Arabia
                      Kazakstan                       United States(undeclared)
                      Kyrgistan                        Unocal
                      Iran                             Turkmenistan
                      India
                      Russia

Massoud, with medium range scud missile launchers in Panjsher, has established supply air support in Southern Tajikistan and Iran. Dostum recently received 500 tanks from Uzbekistan and Russia. Russia has deployed four mechanized units 50 miles north of the Afghanistan border at Termez. In addition, they have over 25,000 troops in Tajikistan on the Afghanistan border. The Taliban have been receiving arms shipments via Turkmenistan.

As the long winter ends, the passes of the Hindu Kush will be open for spring military operations. The questions are: (1) Will Pakistan continue to support the Taliban? (2) Will Turkmenistan, Unocal and Saudi Oil Co. accept Iran's offer to build the oil pipeline thru Iran rather than war torn Afghanistan? (3) Will the US Government commit to a policy position on Afghanistan? Secondly, will it support its position? (4) Now that the Taliban have been forcing farmers to leave their lands and Pakistan has banned wheat export, who is going to feed the Taliban army?
Dark Clouds in the near future.

-Mr. Gary

Since our last update, the Taliban forces have advanced into the Ghorband Valley where the Shiite Muslims have stalled their advance 100 miles north of Kabul.

The Iranian government still recognizes Burhanuddin Rabbani, now in the north with Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, as President of Afghanistan. The Iranians hosted the Afghan warring factions at a conference, except for the Taliban.

General Rashid Dostum blew up the strategic Salang Highway north of Kabul to stop Taliban advances. His forces are reported to have killed 350 Taliban soldiers in Qala-I-Nau, 330 miles west of Kabul. Diplomats claim Dostum is getting money from Iran and Russia. He also received support from Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgistan by announcing a joint plan of action in case the Taliban bring the war to the border of Afghanistan.

The Taliban continues to ban television, music, women working and going to school, and the use of paper products (paper could be the product of recycled pages of the Muslim holy book, the Koran). They arrested two French aid workers and four Afghans at a luncheon sponsored by a French organization with Afghan women present. The arrested French are not allowed to shave and are to stand trial for fraternizing with Afghan women. Journalists are not to photograph or film people, as it violates tenets of Islam unless they are from a warring faction.

The United Nations attempted to broker peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, but the participants did not appear at the meeting.

Reports are that the Unocal pipeline has been postponed indefinitely due to security problems in Afghanistan.

Even GeoVision did not escape the Taliban banning. All books and magazines published outside Afghanistan are now banned. We have not received any special permission for our book - GEMSTONES OF AFGHANISTAN.

-Mr. Gary

As the New Year begins, the Afghans continue their battles for control of Afghanistan. The Taliban, backed by Pakistan, possibly the U.S., and Saudi Arabia, control Kabul, the capital. However, the recent alliances between commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, General Dostum, and the Shiites provides the opposition with a major experienced force not to be counted out. Once again outside influence via oil money will have to be considered in the equation.

Sources close to the situation have informed us that Taliban soldiers overran two opposition strongholds north of Kabul today (Gulbahar and Jabel-o-Siraj). They are now moving towards the Salang tunnel.

Earlier this week Rashid Dostum dropped at least four bombs on Kabul.

The Taliban troops are forcing over 50,000 people to leave their homes North of Kabul and walk through the snow to the city. This is due to the fact that many of these people will remain loyal to Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud and could instigate problems for the Taliban.

Talks continue on how to build the two billion US dollar plus pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan. This is an American/Saudi project (Unocal/Delta).

-Mr Gary