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| In Afghanistan, Taliban Go on an Image Offensive | In Afghanistan, Taliban Go on an Image Offensive |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — Even with their spring offensive under way, the Taliban seemed bent on showing their softer side on Monday. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Even with their spring offensive under way, the Taliban seemed bent on showing their softer side on Monday. |
| The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the group calls itself, first announced that four of the eight Turkish citizens captured late last month after their helicopter made an emergency landing in Logar Province had been released, with the other four to follow soon. The Taliban characterized the move as a “good-will gesture.” | The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the group calls itself, first announced that four of the eight Turkish citizens captured late last month after their helicopter made an emergency landing in Logar Province had been released, with the other four to follow soon. The Taliban characterized the move as a “good-will gesture.” |
| Then the main Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, released a statement extolling the virtues of polio vaccinations, urging Taliban commanders to support the efforts of international organizations working to eradicate the disease. While that has been the Taliban leadership’s position for some time, aid groups welcomed the commitment, particularly given the Pakistani Taliban’s campaign against polio workers next door. | Then the main Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, released a statement extolling the virtues of polio vaccinations, urging Taliban commanders to support the efforts of international organizations working to eradicate the disease. While that has been the Taliban leadership’s position for some time, aid groups welcomed the commitment, particularly given the Pakistani Taliban’s campaign against polio workers next door. |
| Over the past 10 years of war, the Taliban has grown adept at working the public relations machine. Although their views and tactics are extreme, they have increasingly sought to curate an image as a serious political organization and a viable alternative to the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. | Over the past 10 years of war, the Taliban has grown adept at working the public relations machine. Although their views and tactics are extreme, they have increasingly sought to curate an image as a serious political organization and a viable alternative to the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. |
| “This is part of the Taliban war to win support among the public,” said Wahid Muzhda, a former Taliban foreign ministry official. | “This is part of the Taliban war to win support among the public,” said Wahid Muzhda, a former Taliban foreign ministry official. |
| The insurgents are a constant presence on Twitter. They also release statements moments after major events and are easily accessible to the press corps in Afghanistan — often more so than Mr. Karzai’s government or the international coalition forces. | The insurgents are a constant presence on Twitter. They also release statements moments after major events and are easily accessible to the press corps in Afghanistan — often more so than Mr. Karzai’s government or the international coalition forces. |
| In March, when Mr. Karzai accused the Americans of effectively working toward similar ends with the Taliban to destabilize the country to justify a Western presence here, the Taliban quickly responded with an essay-like statement ridiculing the president. When the United Nations releases reports criticizing the Taliban for its record on civilian casualties, the group responds with bullet points refuting the findings. In some pockets of the country, the insurgents have softened their stance on schools and education. | In March, when Mr. Karzai accused the Americans of effectively working toward similar ends with the Taliban to destabilize the country to justify a Western presence here, the Taliban quickly responded with an essay-like statement ridiculing the president. When the United Nations releases reports criticizing the Taliban for its record on civilian casualties, the group responds with bullet points refuting the findings. In some pockets of the country, the insurgents have softened their stance on schools and education. |
| “The Taliban are just trying to convey a kinder, gentler image, but people shouldn’t be fooled,” Col. Thomas Collins, a spokesman for the coalition forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. “They’re adept at using social media and other means to get their message out, but death and destruction are the underlying messages they can’t hide.” | “The Taliban are just trying to convey a kinder, gentler image, but people shouldn’t be fooled,” Col. Thomas Collins, a spokesman for the coalition forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. “They’re adept at using social media and other means to get their message out, but death and destruction are the underlying messages they can’t hide.” |
| Underscoring that point, 11 civilians, including four women and four children, were killed when a roadside bomb in Kandahar struck a vehicle in Kandahar Province on Monday. The Afghan Interior Ministry blamed the Taliban for the attack. And in a separate attack, three members of the international military coalition were killed a car bombing in the south. | |
| Still, for a movement born in Afghanistan’s southern villages and often thought of as parochial, the statement on polio was surprisingly outward looking, citing international medical research to support its position. | Still, for a movement born in Afghanistan’s southern villages and often thought of as parochial, the statement on polio was surprisingly outward looking, citing international medical research to support its position. |
| “According to the latest international medicine science, the polio disease can only be cured by preventive measures; i.e., the anti-polio drops and the vaccination of children against this disease,” the statement read. The United Nations Children’s Fund, which manages the vaccination program in the country, said it welcomed the sentiment. | “According to the latest international medicine science, the polio disease can only be cured by preventive measures; i.e., the anti-polio drops and the vaccination of children against this disease,” the statement read. The United Nations Children’s Fund, which manages the vaccination program in the country, said it welcomed the sentiment. |
| Inoculation efforts have, on occasion, been stymied in the past when insurgents attacked health care workers, especially in the restive Eastern parts of the country along the Pakistani border. And securing access for heath care workers access depends heavily on local leaders, another issue that has made aid delivery uneven in parts of the country. | Inoculation efforts have, on occasion, been stymied in the past when insurgents attacked health care workers, especially in the restive Eastern parts of the country along the Pakistani border. And securing access for heath care workers access depends heavily on local leaders, another issue that has made aid delivery uneven in parts of the country. |
| Though the Taliban’s position on vaccinations was mostly known, the relatively quick release of the Turkish hostages — all identified as engineers — was somewhat more surprising. | Though the Taliban’s position on vaccinations was mostly known, the relatively quick release of the Turkish hostages — all identified as engineers — was somewhat more surprising. |
| At the time of the abduction, after bad weather forced a civilian helicopter to land in a mountainous area of Logar Province largely controlled by the Taliban in April, Afghan officials were worried the men might be transported into nearby Pakistan. The concern was that the Taliban might use them as bargaining chips in a prisoner swap, or opt to charge a hefty ransom for their release. | At the time of the abduction, after bad weather forced a civilian helicopter to land in a mountainous area of Logar Province largely controlled by the Taliban in April, Afghan officials were worried the men might be transported into nearby Pakistan. The concern was that the Taliban might use them as bargaining chips in a prisoner swap, or opt to charge a hefty ransom for their release. |
| The insurgents still hold four of the Turkish engineers, along with 3 others from the helicopter: an interpreter and two pilots. | The insurgents still hold four of the Turkish engineers, along with 3 others from the helicopter: an interpreter and two pilots. |
| The Taliban said that the decision to release the captives was made for the sake of “humanitarian sympathy and for the honor of the Turkish Islamic nation.” The group added that they hoped the gesture would help bring the Afghans and Turks closer together. | The Taliban said that the decision to release the captives was made for the sake of “humanitarian sympathy and for the honor of the Turkish Islamic nation.” The group added that they hoped the gesture would help bring the Afghans and Turks closer together. |
Sangar Rahimi contributed reporting. | Sangar Rahimi contributed reporting. |