The Role Of IED's In The Current Conflict (An Interview With Qari Khairullah Muneeb The Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan Commander For IED Units)

Ramadan 19, 1431 A.H, Monday, August 30, 2010
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Dand district is very closely located to the South of Kandahar city, and some parts of the city come under the administrative control of the Dand district. To the East of Dand lies the district of Pangwai, to the South is the desert, and to the West lays Kandahar Airport.
The proximity of this district to Kandahar city renders this area of vital strategic importance, both in this Jihad and the previous Jihad. The area assumes particular military importance both as an offensive strategic point and a defensive one. Offensively, it serves as a vital “launching point” in any military offensive against Kandahar city, while defensively, it is a natural theatre of operation in defending Kandahar city. It is for these reasons that foreign invaders have always paid particular attention to securing this area, and continue to launch unabated operations to gain control of the area. Despite their immense numbers, the invading forces have failed to seize this area, turning this area into a graveyard for the U.S-NATO invaders forces. Invaders forces and mainstream media outlets admit, that despite their best efforts they continue to suffer heavy casualties, largely due to the placement of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s). In investigating what other tactics the Mujahideen are employing to wreak havoc in the enemy ranks, we report a brief interview with Qari Khairullah Muneeb, the Islamic Emirate’s appointed commander for IED units, in the Dand area.
Alemara: Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: Wa ‘alaykum Assalaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu
Alemara: Dear Mr. Muneeb, could you please introduce yourself?
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: Praise be to God, Lord of all creation. Peace and prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his household, and his companions all together.
“And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.”(Al-Shura: 41)
My name is Qari Khairullah Muneeb, my colleagues call me Muneeb. I am a resident of the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, and I am currently serving as a commander of the Islamic Emirate’s for the IED units in the Dand district of Kandahar province.
Alemara: Could you give us some information on your activities and objectives in the Dand district.
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: In my capacity as the head of the IED units in the Dand district, we have formulated a carefully thought out plan to halt any enemy advancement into the district. The various sectors of the district, including Biad, Mia Dost and Ashraaf, have been divided into 37 sections, with 37 Mujahideen Brigades each one responsible for their respective areas. Each of these brigades is required to exercise their utmost vigilance and determination to stop any incursions into our territories.
Alemara: In the past few months that you have been active in the Dand district, what have the Mujahideen achieved? can you please enlighten us on this point?
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: Since our operations in the region began in April, 2010, so far we have recorded at least 91 major IED attacks in the various parts of Dand, which have caused severe distress to the enemy forces. Most of our IED attacks are aimed at the enemy’s armoured vehicles, however we also emplace anti-personnel mines when faced with ground troops. So far these tactics have proved very successful and have caused wide spread dismay in enemy ranks. We have published a brief report of these operations in a calendar format. This calendar, which is easily accessible, provides detailed records of the type attack, the date of attack, and the names of the Mujahideen brigades responsible for the attack.
Alemara: The American invading forces have openly admitted that around two-thirds of their casualties are the result of IED attacks. Similarly, IED attacks play a central role in breaking the enemy’s morale and their will to resist. Have IED’s been an important part of your tactics, and do you plan to expand the use of these improvised weapons?
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: Yes, recent military experiments in various parts of the country have shown that IED’s, when supplementing ground assault troop manoeuvres, play an important role in defeating the enemy troops. Consequently, the Islamic Emirate has begun to expand its use of IED warfare and in all the major theatres of operations, separate chain of command for IED units have been established. In addition, our Mujahideen are being provided with equipment and training, which enables them to emplace IED’s as professionally as possible.
Alemara: Recently, the enemy forces declared a ban on certain chemical material, viewed as important ingredients for IED’s, and are rigorously trying to stop the transport of these materials. The enemy claims they have been very successful in thwarting your plans. Have these restrictions impeded your operations?
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: No, Alhamdulillah, the enemy has tried these measures in the past few years, but has failed to impede our ability to prepare and place these devices. This is because we utilise very simple and easily accessible material for our IED’s.
This is the special favour of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, that in return for the enemy’s sophisticated technology, He has given us the ability and opportunities that all our Mujahideen are able to easily assemble these mines for emplacement. The fact that, both in Dand and other parts of the country, these IED attacks have multiplied over the past few months, is clear proof that the enemy’s measures have not produced any tangible results. Already in the Dand area we have placed remote-controlled mines in all the different routes available to the enemy, and we have prepared a further 300 hundred mines in case of emergency. This is sufficient proof of the abundance of our resources.
Alemara: In the Jihad against the Soviets, the anti-tank mines employed by the Mujahideen were very powerful. What is the strength of your mines? Are they sufficient to destroy enemy armoured vehicles?
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: Yes, part of our job involves making carefully customised mines able to penetrate the vehicles that we target. In recent times the enemy has increasingly fortified their armoured vehicles but the Mujahideen equalled their challenge by proportionately increasing the strength of their IED’s, thus thwarting yet another of the enemy’s plans.
Alemara: If I may ask you this last question; the enemy is always propagating the claim that the IED’s placed by the Mujahideen actually do more damage to the Afghan civilians than they do to the coalition enemy forces. What is your response regarding this?
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: As the masses have recognised U.S-NATO invaders forces propaganda of committing the crimes themselves and putting the blame on the Mujahideen. One of the reasons why the Mujahideen enjoy the support and trust of the Afghan people is precisely because we pay great attention to preventing any harm to the ordinary Afghan civilians.
Mujahideen remote-controlled mines are placed with a great care of planning and consideration, and always produce the preconceived results. As for the pressure-plated IED’s, the Mujahideen only place them at night, when they have sure intelligence that the enemy is approaching. In those moments, the people are informed well in advance not to venture outside at night until the break of dawn, especially since the enemy might assault their houses.
Alhumdulillah, over the years the civilians have familiarised themselves with Mujahideen tactics and civilian casualties from Mujahideen hands has become non-existent.
Alemara: We thank you once again for sharing your valuable time with us. Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu
Qari Khairullah Muneeb: Wa ‘alaykum Assalaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan