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Kharotabad: A Taliban safe haven
Hospital alleges an NGO provides free medical treatment to injured militants.
Hospital alleges an NGO provides free medical treatment to injured militants.
ISLAMABAD: People in Kharotabad are living in constant fear of possible drone attacks in their neighbourhood, considering that over the past six months, the Afghan and local Taliban seemed to covet this part of Quetta as a veritable ‘vacation spot’.
Every four months, Taliban fighters return from war fronts in Afghanistan and rent out dozens of residential accommodations in this vicinity, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Their presence is becoming a major concern for people living in adjoining areas, especially because this is the same area where the US alleges the Quetta Shura is hiding out.
A few madrassahs in Kharotabad are also providing ‘free’ accommodation to these militants.
They move freely as if to defy invisible observers, who they think are keeping a watch over them, making it obvious to them that Kharotabad is a safe haven for the Taliban.
Creating an army
Students from religious seminaries in the province are being recruited for the Afghan Taliban movement, a dime a dozen. They are reportedly ‘trained for jihad’ in Afghanistan by Afghan ‘commanders’, before they are sent on designated terror missions.
At least six to eight new, unarmed recruits leave Kuchlak Bazar, located near Quetta, on brand new 75CC motorbikes every morning, headed towards Afghanistan.
They are, it is learnt, told to avoid travelling on main highways to dodge security forces and instead take lesser known mountainous routes via Kuchlak to Qamar Din Karez town on the Pak-Afghan border.
They also avoid travelling in groups – two persons per motorbike. They are also given Rs5,000 each, in addition to sufficient money for fuel.
A majority of these boys join Taliban with their parent’s consent, while many others embark on this ‘holy mission’ without the knowledge of their guardians.
The ideology faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), led by MNA Maulana Esmatullah and his party members, is a motivating force for these young students of Balochistan.
Mullah Omar’s messages to people in Pakistan and other parts of the world are also sent through Kandahar to Quetta.
Free medical care for war-wounded Taliban
The Afghan and local Taliban who are wounded during their missions in Afghanistan, are reportedly receiving free medical treatment at five prominent private hospitals, a majority of which are situated on the Airport Road.
The administration at these hospitals told The Express Tribune that an international NGO of world repute, funds their medical care.”We are being paid by this NGO for the medical care being provided to the wounded or sick Taliban militants,” the administrator at Dr Abdul Khaliq Memorial Hospital alleged.
The NGO does not allow the police or intelligence agencies access to these “under-treatment” Taliban. The NGO puts up a ‘don’t know’ front “We have not set up any field hospitals in Balochistan to provide medical assistance to the Afghan Taliban or other militants,” the NGO’s head of sub-delegation told The Express Tribune.
However, he said, the NGO is supporting three private hospitals in Quetta for providing medical assistance to wounded people. “Doctors at Ikram Hospital and Imdad Hospital are providing medical assistance to people injured in bomb blasts, firing incidents and other forms of violence.”
Hundreds of patients, mostly Afghans, receive treatment at these private hospitals in the provincial capital, he added.
(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHEHZAD BALOCH IN QUETTA)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (23)
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When name of he hospital, names of localities etc are given, why the silence about the name of NGO?
This is a fairly serious allegation that the Government of Pakistan must investigate.
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My God it is near to me and all my family. God protect us.KHAROT ABAD!!!!!How we get rid of this curse? My advise to my family living nearby: please wear ur helmets, dig ur bunkers and take out ur binoculars and put an observation post(OP) on ur roofs (24/7) BE AWARE OF COMING DRONES!!!!!!! My prayers are with u.
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Qaiser Butt has disclosed the names of Hospitals, Doctors but is not disclosing the name of NGO which he has interviewed .Recommend
This article is one of the most biased article i have seen for a long time. It is one tht will seriously damage the papers integrity. Without proof the writer has attempted to generalise and tarnish a whole community living in Kharotabad. THis community is a simple community and contributes to the economy of Quetta. It enjoys good relations. It is a pretty much self sufficient community where they youth have set up educational and health projects. many of the development that you see is apni madad app.
The writer not even once mentioned that when people like him or other remained silent on the massacre of the Chechyen at the check post it was the people of Kharotabad who testified. This is a first as no one in Pakistan come forward. He needed to share the above mentioned with his readers also.
Whilst all in Quetta sat back the Kharoti arranged the protests, followed the case, and also arranged the funerals in which the Russin embassy atteneded and thanks the people of KharotAbad.
I am hoping you will print my comment for the sake of truth.Recommend
@rehmat:
Investigate??? WHY? Taliban simply cannot hide / stay in this area without the knowledge of the people who matter!!!!!!!!!!
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No wonder when the media played a circus out of law enforcers who shot suspected foreigners who were hostile to the law enforcement agencies, I think unjust bashing of the Police and FC has made put both the agencies on defences and Taliban have gained out of this “drama”
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Drones aren’t going to save you because the GoP hasn’t given the U.S. the O.K. to mount attacks in Baluchistan – that’s why the Talibs see Kharotabad as a safe haven!
Pakistanis are going to have to sort this out themselves. Perhaps you can start by photographing the neighborhoods yourselves and submitting evidence to the police – more than one police district, so it can’t be so easily covered up.
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very much biased article. the writer is hiding all those facts which he hates and is talking about things which are impossible to happen in such an easy way. he is surely living in a dream world. i am very sorry for his such biased articleRecommend
I salute to the Author of this post. He is really the bravest one and has taken the risk to write the fact. We are with you and we love truth. We hope the author and Express Tribune will continue in the same way… Recommend
@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman:
“Investigate??? WHY? Taliban simply cannot hide / stay in this area without the knowledge of the people who matter!!!!!!!!!!”
I mean the NGO should be investigated. Its source of funds should be reviewed.Also I just want to give benefit of doubt to government that just like in OBL case, where they claimed they were not aware – similarly if they are not aware, then using this article as a starting pouint they should investigate those hospitals, NGOs and the people who have been treated there and share information with US.
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If a reporter with a little ingenuity and legwork can determine these facts then the govt of Pakistan obviously knows and their lack of action is further anecdotal evidence of their support of the Taliban. No doubt the American’s have already figured this out and you can expect drone attacks.
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the article titled “kharotabad a safe haven for militants” is no doubt based on bias. the writer has not visited the said place and has not met the community himself. the people over here are much peace loving and do not have any concern for the ongoing insurgency in afghanistan. yes there are some elements who lend their helping hand to taliban and militants which are not limited to kharotabad only but they exist throughout the district and in over all province. the kharoti community protested against the brutal behavior of fc and police with innocent chechans that was undoubtedly manifestation of their boldness and valor.
i request the writer not to nominate and specify a single place for anything bad. your writing can misguide the american and allied forces and can wreak havoc in any place.
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the article titled “kharotabad a taliban safe haven” is no doubt based on bias. the writer has not visited the said place and has not met the community himself. the people over here are much peace loving and do not have any concern for the ongoing insurgency in afghanistan. yes there are some elements who lend their helping hand to taliban and militants which are not limited to kharotabad only but they exist throughout the district and in over all province. the kharoti community protested against the brutal behavior of fc and police with innocent chechans that was undoubtedly manifestation of their boldness and valor.
i request the writer not to nominate and specify a single place for anything bad. your writing can misguide the american and allied forces and can wreak havoc in any place.
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I agree with what the writer said. I have seen them myself. However, why the writer didnt disclose NGO name?
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Our Kharoti friends should read the article carefully. At no point does the author claim that the Kharoti tribe are the ones responsible for this but points out that an area with a significant Kharoti population is a hotbed for terrorism. This should come as a shock to no one. Quetta is infested with terrorists and hatred.
The fact that the people of Kharotabad live in fear is a decision they have made. They can either vehemently protest and force out the terrorists, they can move elsewhere, or they can deal with the consequences. It appears that dealing with the consequences is the chosen path.
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@rehmat:
Agreed on the point of investigation of NGO & Hospital etc!!!
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A damning disclosure by ET and a great embarassment for both govt and intelligence agencies.
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please disclose name of NGO
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@Anjum Kiani:
kharotabadi participation in the chechen incident and their unfaltering support in favour of those dubious characters (not to mention their contempt of the local law enforcement agencies in that incident) just proves that kharotabad is a hot bed for taliban
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@Still Listening:
“law enforcers who shot suspected foreigners “
They were definitely foreigners but you are implying that it OK to shoot them for that reason. Implication being that these were foreiogn terrorists. The fact is that those Chechens were unarmed. One of the people shot was an unarmed pregnant woman. It was also proven that a bribe was asked which the foreigners were unable to give. There is a video that proves that.
So to imply that media raising its voice against corrupt and murderous FC in those case is the reason that the FC is now silent against actual Taliban simply does not hold.
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It is a matter of concern for Quetta. Our agencies must investigate the matter. Terrorists should be packed up in jails. The government is not supposed to put the lives of hundreds of innocent people at risk for providing a safe haven to a bunch of terrorists.
Government! Please take action and make Quetta and Pakistan safe for all Pakistanis. We have trust in the capabilities of our law enforcement agencies. It is only a matter of will. I am confident that if our agencies decide to terminate the terrorists, there is no force in the world that can avert peace in Quetta, Balochistan and Pakistan.Recommend
I think the article is writen in good faith, based on truth but not the whole truth. I am sure the authorities and the agencies are aware of the fects, but the deafning silence from their side is an indication of their involvement. It seems every one has some thing to hide, incluging the writer of this article (by not naming the NGO– footing the bills of the alleged hospitals)
And as usual, it is the innoscents who have to pay the price.
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The article disclosed the names of the doctors and the hospitals putting their lives to risk, But , not the NGO why ? for we don’t know either they really support the militants or not , nothing can be said without an investigation. There is no doubt that Taliban are trying hard to enter make Quetta and adjoining areas their safe heaven and we haven’t seen any action by the law enforcement agencies and I personally don not expect to see any reaction favouring the people of Balochistan by either government and the military establishment . The only reason which I see for taliban to fail to do so till now is the secular and peace loving people of Balochistan. however elements have entered now which are trying to settle the taliban there. A sympathy is also growing in the hearts of the youth of these areas towards taliban ,thanks to our madaris and the so called religious parties. this is what I think is the most dangerous part.
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