2001 in Afghanistan explained

The following lists events that happened during 2001 in Afghanistan.

Incumbents

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

Three Japanese warships with several hundred sailors left port for the Indian Ocean. The goal was to provide the U.S.-led forces with non-combat military support. This was Japan's first mission of this kind since World War II.

Prime minister Wim Kok of the Netherlands announced that 1000 soldiers would join the efforts of the war against terrorism.

U.S. Marines landed in force by helicopter at Camp Rhino south of Kandahar and began preparing it for fixed wing aircraft. They also occupied the main road between Kandahar and Pakistan.

Forces loyal to bin Laden smuggled weapons into Qala-i-Jangi prison near Mazari Sharif, where they were held after surrendering at Kunduz. They attacked the Northern Alliance guards and storm an armory. U.S. Special Forces call in air attacks. During the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi hundreds of prisoners are killed as well as 40 Alliance fighters and one U.S. CIA operative, Johnny Micheal Spann. Spann becomes the first U.S. and Coalition combat casualty. A young American named John Walker Lindh is found in the midst of the rebellion and extradited to the US on terrorism charges.

Four British Special Air Service special forces troops were injured inside Afghanistan and evacuated to hospital in Britain although the time and location of their operation was not known.

December

Taliban deputy interior minister, and "highest ranking Taliban defector to date".[17] According to Peterson this defector described the American bombardment as very effective, "Kabul city has seen many rockets, but this was a different thing" and "the American bombing of Taliban trenches, cars, and troops caused us to be defeated. All ways were blocked, so there was no way to carry food or ammunition to the front. All trenches of the Taliban were destroyed, and many people were killed."

It quoted a Northern Alliance commander, who stated:

"They have got their own program. Last night, they even bombed us. The Americans are going to be restless until Osama is really killed or somebody gives them a document that Osama has been killed."

The article quoted a senior American military official, who stated:

"Look, these Eastern Shura are basically a group of village leaders. So if the al Qaeda in their area have been driven off, and the caves and tunnels around their areas are now safe again to go in, the battle is basically over from their point of view.

"But we want to get a lot of those guys who are now fleeing and trying to get away. We want to get bin Laden. So, yeah, we've got different objectives right now."

U.S. and Northern Alliance forces are aided by so-called Eastern Alliance of ethnic Pashtuns in driving the Taliban from control of all areas of Afghanistan. U.S. attacks target al-Qaeda strongholds in Tora Bora near the Pakistan border. Many al-Qaeda are taken prisoner by U.S, Pakistan and the new UN-approved interim government of Afghanistan. UN peacekeepers move into Afghanistan.

Deaths

Professor Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire estimated that the civilian death toll in the first two months of the war could have been as high as 3,767.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: India joins anti-Taliban coalition . 23 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010401012532/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir010315_1_n.shtml . April 1, 2001 .
  2. Web site: Afghanistan, 1979–2001; Part 2 . ACIG . Cooper . Tom . Troung . Koelich . Marc . 10 February 2008 . 23 December 2014.
  3. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russia-opens-way-for-us-attack-137003/ "Russia opens way for US attack"
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20130310005020/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4587368/ U.S. sought attack on al-Qaida, White House given plan days before Sept. 11
  5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1550366.stm U.S. 'planned attack on Taleban'
  6. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2002/06/05/memo/ Al-Qaida monitored U.S. negotiations with Taliban over oil pipeline
  7. Web site: Afghanistan Combat Zone Executive Order. 14 December 2001. 23 November 2014.
  8. Web site: Attack and counter-attack. David Leigh. The Guardian. 26 September 2001. 23 November 2014.
  9. Web site: 200 reported killed in remote Afghan village. CBC News. October 12, 2001.
  10. Web site: Afghan villagers recount U.S. bombing run. Tampa Bay Times. October 13, 2001.
  11. Web site: US admits lethal blunders. The Guardian. October 14, 2001.
  12. Web site: U.S.. ABC News. ABC News. 23 November 2014.
  13. News: A NATION CHALLENGED: AFGHANISTAN; Survivors Recount Fierce American Raid that Flattened a Village. The New York Times. November 2, 2001.
  14. News: Villagers Describe Deadly Airstrike. The Washington Post. November 2, 2001.
  15. The New Yorker: Fact . . 2008-12-21 . 2005-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050620074508/http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/020128fa_FACT . dead .
  16. Web site: msnbc: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward. . MSNBC . 23 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051216152224/http://www.msnbc.com/news/664935.asp?cp1=1 . 16 December 2005 .
  17. News: A view from behind the lines in the US air war: Special operatives are key to the success of American airstrikes in Afghanistan. The Christian Science Monitor. Scott Peterson. December 4, 2001.
  18. News: As Afghan war winds down, allies are split: Anti-Taliban forces want territory, but U.S. is focused on bin Laden. The New York Times. Michael R. Gordon. December 18, 2001.
  19. Web site: UN Security Council resolution 1386 (2001). 23 November 2014.
  20. Web site: "A Dossier on Civilian Victims of United States' Aerial Bombing of Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Accounting".