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According to a Dari-language media report, about 2,000 jihadi fighters are undergoing training at a former CIA base in Khost province of Afghanistan. These foreign fighters, including members of Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are controlled by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the chief of Haqqani Network and Afghan Taliban's Minister of Interior.
Following are excerpts from the report:
"Sirajuddin Haqqani, The Head Of The Haqqani Network And Taliban Minister Of Interior, Visits This Base From Time To Time"
"Informed Sources: Haqqani Network Trains Foreign Fighters At Former CIA Base In Khost
"Several informed sources in Khost told Afghanistan International that the Haqqani Network is training hundreds of fighters, including members of Al-Qaeda and TTP, at the former CIA base in the province. The sources stated that the number of fighters being trained at this base reaches up to 2,000.
"According to the informed sources, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the Haqqani Network and Taliban Minister of Interior, visits this base from time to time. The sources informed Afghanistan International that Ahmadullah Sarhadi, a close friend of Sirajuddin Haqqani, is in charge of the former Central Intelligence Agency of United States (CIA) base in Khost, and the fighters present at this base are not registered with the Taliban's security institutions.
"Afghanistan International has also spoken with several people who still frequent this base. They stated that about 2,000 fighters, including Afghans, Al-Qaeda militants, and members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, are present there. The sources said that Sirajuddin Haqqani pays each of these fighters a salary of 19,000 Afghanis, but the amount given to the commanders at this base is higher. According to the sources, the identities of the fighters at this base are kept secret, and they hide their faces from the public whenever they go outside.
"Some residents of Khost who have seen these fighters told Afghanistan International that whenever they see them, they are reminded of the former Khost Protection Force soldiers who were trained by the CIA at this base during the previous government. The Khost Protection Force (KPF) was previously active in this province and was trained by CIA operatives, with its funding also provided by the United States.
"According to them, the fighters being trained at this base wear the military uniform of the Khost Protection Force, cover their faces, carry American weapons, and ride in Simorgh, Land Cruiser vehicles, preventing ordinary vehicles from getting close to them."
"Sirajuddin Haqqani Took Control Of The Protection Force Base; This Base Was Established By U.S. Intelligence In 2001 To Fight Al-Qaeda"
"Despite Mullah Hibbatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, collecting Simorgh vehicles from his own men in Kandahar and giving them to his Special Forces, the fighters under Sirajuddin Haqqani continue to use these vehicles. Informed sources also stated that the Haqqani network has organized a special suicide unit and is maintaining it at the former CIA base in Khost.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is wanted by FBI, is Interior Minister of Afghanistan
"The Haqqani Network, led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, is known for its deadly suicide attacks in cities and the use of bomb-laden vehicles during the Republic era [2002-2021]. According to the sources, Sirajuddin Haqqani has kept this suicide group not only to counter any future threats but also to increase the number of his fighters as part of an organized force.
"An individual who frequents the former CIA base in Khost said, 'With each passing day, the presence of fighters increases, and new people are being transferred to this location.'
"According to sources, after the fall of the previous government, Sirajuddin Haqqani took control of the Protection Force base. This base was established by U.S. intelligence in 2001 to fight Al-Qaeda and was later named 'Chapman' after the first American soldier killed in Khost in 2002.
"In 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency trained around 10,000 local residents from Khost at this base and stationed them along the main roads between Khost, Paktia, and Paktika. U.S. forces equipped these soldiers with advanced weapons, enabling them to carry out deadly attacks against the Taliban. The Central Intelligence Agency also conducted a series of drone strikes from this base against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in North Waziristan [region of Pakistan].
"In December 2009, Humam Khalil Al-Balawi, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin, carried out a suicide attack inside the CIA base in Khost, killing eight CIA officers and one Jordanian intelligence officer. After the attack, a video was released of the dead leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, and suicide bomber Hammam Khalil al-Balawi discussing the planning of this attack."
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