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STRATFOR.com
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Stratfor.com: Situation Reports for War on Terrorism
November 21, 2001
A large explosion rocked the presidential palace in Kabul today, AFP reported. The explosion was caused by two artillery shells, and one civilian was injured. No other details are available at this time.
1825 GMT, 011121
An Indian diplomatic mission to Afghanistan arrived in Kabul Nov. 21, IRNA reported. India's embassy closed along with most others in 1996, when the Taliban took over Kabul. The Indian mission included a medical and nursing component which will stay on in the capital, along with the liaison officer of India's Foreign Ministry.
1816 GMT, 011121
Australia is sending 150 of its elite SAS soldiers to join the hunt for al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The troops will be some of the first other than American to be involved in front-line fighting.
1810 GMT, 011121
A U.S. helicopter crash landed in southern Afghanistan Nov. 20, the Pentagon reported. The U.S. Central Command said there were no life-threatening injuries, and that the crew had been evacuated. The crash was not due to enemy fire and the helicopter has been retrieved to help determine the cause of the accident.
1805 GMT, 011121
Britain's only military force in Afghanistan could be called home amid uncertainty about what role they are to play there, the Guardian reported. One hundred troops from the Royal Marine's Special Boat Service landed at Bagram airbase, north of Kabul, last week. They were there to assess the security of the airfield, a potential landing point for aid workers, diplomats and more troops, but their presence, and the possibility of many more troops, has reportedly not gone over well with the United States or the Northern Alliance.
1747 GMT, 011121
A French aircraft carrier and its escort will be sent to the India Ocean to participate in the war against the Taliban, AFP reported. The Charles-de-Gaulle is scheduled to arrive in mid-December.
1729 GMT, 011121
Osama bin Laden has allegedly told his aides and bodyguards to kill him before letting U.S. Special Forces or the Northern Alliance capture or kill him, the Al-Watan newspaper reported. The paper also reported that bin Laden had left a video will urging Muslims to attack American interests everywhere.
1720 GMT, 011121
U.S. General Tommy Franks, head of all U.S. operations in Afghanistan, has for the first officially acknowledged that the use of large numbers of ground troops is imminent, the AFP reported. While visiting Uzbekistan he told reporters there was a good chance that the 2,300 Marines in the Arabian Sea could see action soon in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
1710 GMT, 011121
The BBC reported that U.S. President George W. Bush has offered the Philippines extensive help to fight terrorism. He reportedly offered Philippine President Gloria Arroyo close to $100 million in security assistance and $1 billion in trade benefits. Arroyo earlier ruled out bringing in U.S. military troops to help fight militant Muslims, saying that U.S. military involvement would be limited to technical assistance and training.
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The U.S. ambassador to India said Nov. 21 that Washington and New Delhi were close to reaching an agreement to fight terrorism in both countries. India was reportedly disappointed when Washington picked Pakistan as its key ally in the war against the Taliban. India has longed accused Pakistan of supporting terrorists in Kashmir, Reuters reported.
1605 GMT, 011121
Times of India has reported that two commanders from the Pakistan-based Al-Badr were gunned down by a special operations group of Jammu and Kashmir police. An Indian defense spokesman earlier said that the border police had shot 12 Muslim militants.
1601 GMT, 011121
Fox News has reported that the Taliban will not abandon their homes and will fight for control of the four or five provinces still in their control. The former Afghan ruling militia also reportedly claims to have no idea where Osama bin Laden or other members of al Qaeda are.
1600 GMT, 011121
(Sit-Reps for dates 9/11/01 thru 11/21/01)
(c) 2001 Stratfor, Inc.
Dan
Stratfor.com: Situation Reports for War on Terrorism . . .