The Taliban in Afghanistan say they have obtained a government security plan for the grand assembly of leaders, or loya jirga, which opens in Kabul this week.
Afghan security officials have denied that the document is genuine.
If the real security plan was in Taliban hands, it would be a huge embarrassment to the Afghan government.
Afghan security officials have denied that the document is genuine.
If the real security plan was in Taliban hands, it would be a huge embarrassment to the Afghan government.
Attempting to embarrass the Afghan government ahead of a major national assembly, the Taliban on Sunday published what they called the government's secret security plan for the event, including details of troop deployments and cell phone numbers of security officials.
The Taliban emailed the plan - which appeared to carry the signatures of U.S. and Afghan military officials - to news organizations and published it on their website, saying they had obtained it from infiltrators in two government ministries. There is a rundown of security officials with their titles and specific responsibilities and what looks like a police map.
But Kabul's police chief, General Ayub, and a senior intelligence official told the electronic media this was not the government's plan.
It is a plot by those who want to derail the assembly, the general said.
If the security plan was in Taliban hands, it would be a major threat to the more than 2,000 people due to attend the loya jirga.
The Taliban have threatened to attack the assembly, branding it a "slave jirga".
There are two items on the agenda for the meeting - reconciliation with insurgents and Afghanistan's future relationship with the United States.
The plan also says that U.S.-led coalition aircraft would fly over Kabul "intermittently" Monday and Tuesday but would provide "constant" air surveillance on Wednesday, the opening day of the three-day event.
"The leaking of the security plan shows that important government officials are helping us," the Taliban said on their website. The group also claimed it was "a blow" to U.S. officials who have said the Taliban were unable to infiltrate the government of President Hamid Karzai.
"The Taliban are under the full pressure of Afghan national security forces," Sediqqi said. "That is why they lied again about the security plan. They will never succeed in disrupting the jirga."
Regardless, they are a sign of the information war between coalition forces and the insurgency, both of which regularly trade blows and accusations on social media.
: "The vigilant Mujahedeen of Islamic Emirate have acquired the security plans, maps and other documents related to the upcoming supposed loya jirga (National Assembly) by means of its personnel embedded inside the enemy ranks."
The document said the following could be "probable threats" posed by the Taliban:
-- "Suicide attacks with new and dangerous tactics in one or several places continuing for several hours";
-- "Rocket attacks from Kabul city sub-districts or districts outside";
-- "Infiltration of enemy into the lines of security forces."
The Taliban emailed the plan - which appeared to carry the signatures of U.S. and Afghan military officials - to news organizations and published it on their website, saying they had obtained it from infiltrators in two government ministries. There is a rundown of security officials with their titles and specific responsibilities and what looks like a police map.
But Kabul's police chief, General Ayub, and a senior intelligence official told the electronic media this was not the government's plan.
It is a plot by those who want to derail the assembly, the general said.
If the security plan was in Taliban hands, it would be a major threat to the more than 2,000 people due to attend the loya jirga.
The Taliban have threatened to attack the assembly, branding it a "slave jirga".
There are two items on the agenda for the meeting - reconciliation with insurgents and Afghanistan's future relationship with the United States.
The plan also says that U.S.-led coalition aircraft would fly over Kabul "intermittently" Monday and Tuesday but would provide "constant" air surveillance on Wednesday, the opening day of the three-day event.
"The leaking of the security plan shows that important government officials are helping us," the Taliban said on their website. The group also claimed it was "a blow" to U.S. officials who have said the Taliban were unable to infiltrate the government of President Hamid Karzai.
"The Taliban are under the full pressure of Afghan national security forces," Sediqqi said. "That is why they lied again about the security plan. They will never succeed in disrupting the jirga."
Regardless, they are a sign of the information war between coalition forces and the insurgency, both of which regularly trade blows and accusations on social media.
: "The vigilant Mujahedeen of Islamic Emirate have acquired the security plans, maps and other documents related to the upcoming supposed loya jirga (National Assembly) by means of its personnel embedded inside the enemy ranks."
The document said the following could be "probable threats" posed by the Taliban:
-- "Suicide attacks with new and dangerous tactics in one or several places continuing for several hours";
-- "Rocket attacks from Kabul city sub-districts or districts outside";
-- "Infiltration of enemy into the lines of security forces."
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