Al-Qaida regrouping, Afghans say

Associated Press

GARDEZ, Afghanistan – Al-Qaida and Taliban fighters are regrouping in the mountains of eastern Paktia province and just over the border in Pakistan, urging the faithful to wage holy war against U.S. forces, Afghan officials say.

U.S. officials and Afghan sources estimate 4,000 to 5,000 foreigners who fought for the Taliban and al-Qaida remain inside Afghanistan. Many of them are believed to be in Paktia and other provinces along the Pakistan border.

They are receiving support from a variety of groups, including Kashmiri separatists, Islamic militants in Pakistan and some former officials of Pakistan’s intelligence service, according to Afghan sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We have Chechens, Arabs, Pakistanis in the mountains,” Ziarat Gul Mangal, deputy intelligence chief of Paktia province, said as he gestured toward the sun-drenched mountains to the east.

He said at least one pocket of fighters, including Chechens, Arabs and Afghans, were recently found in the mountains near Gardez.

“They had just started to reorganize there,” Mangal said without giving any numbers. But he added: “We found weapons – a lot of weapons.”

U.S. officials in Afghanistan consistently refuse to discuss details of American operations against remnants of al-Qaida and the Taliban, three months after the hard-line militia’s nationwide rule collapsed.

However, U.S. special forces and other covert troops are known to be operating in Paktia province, a rugged area south of the capital, Kabul.

U.S. officials have noted a significant regrouping of fighters believed to be Taliban or al-Qaida in Paktia province, and Air Force Brig. Gen. John Rosa Jr. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday the regrouping consists of “hundreds” of fighters.

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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