Transcripts For KQED Frontline 20151118 : vimarsana.com

Assassinations. Could you point out the areas where the taliban has a strong presence . Frontline is with the police unit hunting the taliban. Tonight, two new reports, one exclusive hour of frontline. Frontlinis made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. And by the corporation for public broadcasting. Major support for frontline is provided by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. More information is available at macfound. Org. Additional support is provided by the park foundation, dedicated to heightening Public Awareness of critical issues. The john and Helen Glessner family trust, supporting trustworthy journalism that informs and inspires. The ford foundation, working with visionaries on the front lines of social change worldwide. At fordfoundation. Org. The wyncote foundation. And by the frontline journalism fund, with major support from jon and jo ann hagler. Narrator journalist Najibullah Quraishi is heading into dangerous territory in kunar province, eastern afghanistan. For more than a decade, najibullah has covered the war between the taliban and the americanled coalition. Now he is investigating a new story. Quraishi i have been embedded with the taliban many, many times. But when i first heard about isis in afghanistan, i was shocked. I was thinking why isis in afghanistan, what they are doing in my country . Theyre completely different than the taliban. They are not after one country or one place or one district. Their aim is to have their groups, to have their networks all over the world. Narrator as isis has been fighting for control of territory in iraq and syria, it has announced branches and affiliates in at least ten other countries. For the past year, its been gaining ground in afghanistan. But no journalist has been ableo get inside isis territory here and film them in action the group is notorious for its kidnappings and brutal executions. Quraishi i was waiting for over eight months to get access to isis. I was very excited as a journalist that i was going to meet this group, but i was remembering my wife, my sons. Then i was thinking, maybe you wont come back again, they might kill you, they might kidnap you, they might do something wrong. Narrator najibullah arrives in the district of shaigal. This used to be al qaeda and taliban territory. Isis gunmen seized control a year ago. Abu rashid, the most Senior Commander in the village, used to be a member of the taliban. But in 2014, after isis declared an Islamic State, or caliphate, in iraq and syria, he defected. translated yes, we were fighting holy war as taliban. Our holy war was just, because there was no caliphate then. But god says when there is a caliphate, you must join the caliphate. There is a caliphate now, so we have left the taliban. We are fighting holy war under caliphs leadership. We want the islamic system all over the world, and we will fight for it. Narrator though still small in number, isis now claims to control territory in several districts across eastern afghanistan especially in the provinces of kunar and nangarhar. Many fighters have defected from other groups because isis pays more. Quraishi the commander told me isis offering them 700 per month. Once they join isis they get a normal salary. And they can feed their families. Afghanistan is a poor country and they have to do something, they have to work something, and 700 is a lot in afghanistan. Narrator here, isis fighters live among the locals and seem to control every aspect of village life. They take local wives, collect taxes and even run the village school. The fighters say that all local children are educated by the Islamic State from the age of three. Narrator the teacher, abdullah, spends a few minutes explaining the theory of jihad, or holy war. Then he moves on to its practice. Narrator when the children struggle with his questions, the teacher whispers the answers. hammer clicks abdullah giving instructions hammer clicks hammer clicks translated sharia law tells us that children should be given all essential skills. So we teach them and give them military training, to prepare them in mind and body. So they are set on the right path and each generation will learn and teach in turn. translated yes, of course its right, as we see from the prophets young companions. Those companions were vying with each other to take up arms. So this enthusiasm, spirit and desire is in our children and in our women, too. Time will show what we can do for gods religion. We are always ready to sacrifice for it. Narrator in the fields, the gunmen spread out to avoid attracting attention from american drones. They say that several hundred afghan isis fighters have been killed in targeted strikes since july. The commanders carefully choreograph their interviews with najibullah. Their message is clear the taliban are puppets of pakistan, whereas isis answers only to god. translated the taliban take their orders from pakistani intelligence. Those people dont accept the caliphate. But we are free and our aim is only to seek gods happiness. We want islamic law on earth. We answer to no one. We welcome the caliphate. Narrator no one knows for sure how many fighters isis has in afghanistan. Afghan officials estimate there are currently 1,000 and that the number is growing. According to commander abu rashid, they are also attracting jihadists from around the world. translated yes, thank god, there are foreign fighters across the region. Many have joined us from overseas. They have come from saudi arabia and europe. But you cant speak to them now. Narrator suddenly, the commanders tell najibullah he has to leave. They see his presence as a security threat. The story of isis in afghanistan begins with an execution. In june 2014, 12 taliban commanders in the province of nuristan were captured and killed by a group of masked men. At the time, nobody knew who the killers were. Quraishi that group was isis. They were no one else, they were isis. They were just showing their power. It was their first threat to show the taliban we are much more powerful than you guys and we are much worse than you guys. Narrator najibullah has now crossed into talibanheld territory. Hes arranged to meet a Senior Commander for kunar province. A footsoldier guides him to the taliban hideout in a forest just 15 miles from the isiscontrolled village. For more than a decade, Mowlavi Samad has led the talibans fight against the u. S. And its allies in this district. Now hes fighting on another front, against isis. translated we do not agree with those who want isis here in afghanistan. We dont agree because under the taliban we are already islamic. There is no power vacuum here, so why start using this name . Some of our brother taliban have become dissatisfied and raised their flags against us. But we pray that the faithful Wont Take Part in this war, because its divisive. The Prophet Muhammad said, wherever there is intrigue, dont get involved narrator these taliban fighters face an uncertain future. In july 2015, the movement announced the death of its founder and leader, mullah omar. Off camera, some of the insurgents in this village tell najibullah they are now thinking of defecting. Quraishi theyre saying in the coming future there will be no taliban anymore. They would be all joining isis. Narrator the taliban remain by far the most powerful militant group in afghanistan. gunfire but the isis campaign against them is brutal. people singing in video last summer, isis drove the taliban out of achin district in in the Eastern Province of nangarhar. Ten village elders, some of whom were taliban, were then taken to a remote hillside and forced to kneel on explosives. Quraishi the first time when i saw that propaganda video, i was thinking, what they are doing . Why are they so harsh, why are they so crazy . I never seen before Something Like this. Not in the taliban time, in the government, or other insurgency in afghanistan. Never. It was horrible to watch. loud explosion narrator since isis began gaining ground in eastern afghanistan, more than 17,000 families are thought to have fled their homes. translated this is our home now. We brought the animals with us. Narrator until recently, agh jan and his family lived in the district of achin, where isis executed the taliban with landmines. translated peoples lives used to be good in our district. It was very peaceful. Then all these fighters appeared. They made life bitter for local people. translated at first they were all together, but then they split. Some went to Islamic State and others to the taliban. They became enemies. Their fighting hurt lots of ordinary people. Now the situation is terrible. Neither the taliban nor the Islamic State care about ordinary afghans. Whichever group is in control, they beat us. We really dont know one from another. You cant stand up to them. If you try, they come in the night and kill you with your children. Your children will be made to watch as you are beheaded. Narrator after isis took control of his village, agh jan and his family decided to flee to the city of jalalabad. Other parents begged him to take their children with him. translated we got a truck at night and put all the children in. These are all little kids. We accept all the hardship for their sake. Our lives are wrecked, but at least these children might have a future. car honking narrator najibullah is on the road again. Hes traveling throughmiles fro. The taliban and isis may be fighting each other here, but they have a common enemy the afghan government. Since the u. S. Began withdrawing troops in 2011, Afghan Forces have struggled to contain the taliban, who are now in control of several key districts across the country. And this fall, isis fighters began to launch direct attacks on government outposts here. Najibullah has arranged to accompany a local police unit on the front lines. translated this area is called khirabaad. We are here to search and destroy. The enemy is over there. Narrator mali Mohammad Alam leads a 25man police militia. Resources and equipment are scarce. Enemy lines are just a few hundred yards away. translated the government pays our salary, but they dont supply us. We bought the rockets ourselves, in cash. We buy the bullets and everything. We arent given a budget for it. We buy them from the boys wages the rockets, bullets, everything. Narrator the chief says he is willing to use brutal tactics against the taliban and isis. translated we captured two people yesterday. They were spies. We tortured them a bit. The human rights people tell us not to. But if we dont torture or beat them, how can we get anything out of them . The human rights people should let us torture them or finish them off. Otherwise our job is impossible. Narrator the locals tell najibullah they see little difference between the police and the insurgents. translated we are fed up, the children are fed up, the women are fed up. translated to be honest, none of them. If we say anything about any of them, theyll come and get us. I swear to god were fed up with all of them, you know . Theyll just drag you outside and beat you until blood comes out of your nose. Narrator suddenly the visit comes to a halt. translated i cant take you any further. The enemy is nearby and you are unarmed. We could run into the enemy at any time, you never know. That is enemy territory. Well take you back to your car. translated yes, its dangerous to take you any further. We might not get you back alive. Narrator najibullah has made contact with another isis cell. Narrator chapa dara district used to be home to the taliban and al qaeda fighters loyal to Osama Bin Laden. Now it is home to isis. The commander here is named mawlawi. A few weeks ago, he declared this district part of the global Islamic State. translated now isis is here and by gods will its spreading. Since we started doing jihad, no american has come to this area. No heretics come here. This area is under our control. We aim to bring the islamic system to kunar, across afghanistan, and even the world. Narrator commander mawlawi tells najibullah he must come with him deeper into isis territory. Quraishi i didnt know where we were going. If they decided to hurt me or kidnap me, there was nothing i could do. I honestly didnt know if i was going to get back. Narrator after an hour of walking, the commander introduces najibullah to two teenagers bashrullah, who is 13, and naimatullah, who is 17. He says they are training to be isis suicide bombers. translated i told the elders a year ago that i wanted to do it, and im ready whenever they give the order. Im ready now, god willing. Narrator the fighters here say they are focused on attacking the afghan government, not the taliban. The commander says he wants to use the two teens to kill a progovernment warlord named jandad. translated ill kill jandad in kunar and avenge the blood of our fighters. translated he is a heretic and a slave of infidels. He serves them. He killed our fighters, he jailed my friends, and killed prisoners. translated yes, i have. translated yes, i have practiced that. My commanders showed me how. translated here in afghanistan. translated theyre foreigners. Narrator najibullah presses the boys about their foreign trainers. Narrator but it seems to be a sensitive subject. Narrator the boys tell najibullah they are ready to carry out their Suicide Mission as soon as the order comes. translated i want to do this for allah, and to avenge our fighters against the unbelievers. Our commanders get their orders from isis. If they prepare a car bomb, wherever they say do it, i will do it. translated yes. translated no. Were here in afghanistan. We see all the fighters. We learn from them. God willing, we want to be like them bird squawking narrator in the isisheld district of shaigal, the group is using many techniques to groom Young Children to fight and die for the Islamic State. Narrator the fighters tell najibullah they receive propaganda videos directly from isis in syria and iraq. They say they show the videos to the village children every day. Quraishi i was asking them why they are watching in front of these Young Children . They said they should learn, they should know from now, and its normal for them. Narrator the videos dont just show attacks and atrocities. This an isis military school for children, somewhere in the middle east. gunfire quraishi all these videos, theyre just telling them how to kill people, how to behead and how to become suicide bombers. And their main thing is to kill infidels. This is their aim and they are clearly telling this is in quran. So what does the child believe . What does he think . He thinks yes, i am muslim, and hes telling me the truth. Narrator najibullah films the afghan children copying what theyve just watched. Quraishi when i saw these Young Children, i was really, really upset, really sad. I was thinking about afghanistan future. Afghanistans next generation. What we have next . These children who learn how to kill people, how to do jihad, how to behead, how to fire . This would be afghanistan . I was thinking maybe the war will never end. Never. And the people will keep suffering from war. Narrator isis in afghanistan may still be in its infancy. But the movement has already shown how quickly it can grow. And its commanders here have grand ambitions for the next generation of isis soldiers. translated the garden of the caliphate wants a river of blood from us. Faith and belief demand blood. You must sacrifice to gain eternal life. God will expand this beautiful caliphate everywhere. Coming up next. Across the border in pakistan, frontline is with a police unit fighting the terror. These taliban members sound the alarm to tell people in the area that the police are here. In the streets of karachi. You can see these two guys being shot, shots being fired on them. The battle against the talibn they were trained for traditional policing, but it is not traditional policing. They are fighting taliban. They are fighting a fullfledged war. Starting right now, the taliban hunters. Narrator karachi, pakistan. Officer ijaz bajwa heads the citys Counterterrorism Police unit. His team is on the new front line of an escalating war with the Pakistani Taliban. Narrator officer ijaz has received a tip that two militants are planning an attack from a hideout in karachis slums. Reporter mobeen azhar is accompanying the police on the raid. Narrator the unit is informally known as the taliban hunters. Narrator the Pakistani Taliban, or ttp, used to have only a small underground presence in karachi. Most of its fighters were based in the remote tribal areas near the afghan border. But over the last few years, thy have been gaining ground here in the countrys commercial capital a city of over 20 million people. The team is heading into one of the most notorious slums, ittehad town, a ttp stronghold. Narrator the team enters ittehad town in the early hours of the morning. The streets are empty. The final approach towards the target house is on foot. dogs barking narrator the police say if they are spotted entering the slums, taliban watchmen often sound an alarm as a call to arms for local militants. No one knows how many men are inside and who could be watching. gunshots narrator the suspects open fire. gunshots narrator the priority now is getting out of the slum. bell ringing so there was gunshots fired. And they took a gun magazine from one of the suspects. Theyre now taking him to the compound. As soon as we got in there, there was the sound of a kind of an alarm. And a few of the officers told me that these taliban members sound the alarm to tell people in the area that the police are here. Thats why we have to make a quick exit right now. We have to get out of the area. siren wailing narrator the police say they believe the suspects were in the final stages of planning to kidnap a prominent businessman. Theyll be put in solitary confinement for the next five days. Human Rights Groups have accused the karachi authorities of abusing the militants they capture in the fight against the taliban. Officer ijaz says the harsh conditions in his jail make suspects more likely to talk. The Pakistani Taliban first emerged in 2007. Their Violent Campaign to topple the government made headlines last year with the attack on a school in peshawar that left 132 children dead. sirens wailing this was a wellplanned massacre a bloody eighthour rampage, executed without mercy. man crying narrator over the last 18 months, the Pakistani Army has been trying to force the taliban out of their sanctuary in north waziristan, a remote region near the afghan border. The military campaign has had an unintended consequence. Thousands of taliban have taken refuge in the slums of karachi. They use the city as a base to raise money through crime and kidnapping, and to launch more attacks. The battle against the militants here falls mainly to the police, not the army. Officer ijaz and his team monitor the taliban and other extremist groups from this surveillance center. Could you point out the areas where the taliban has a strong presence . Urangi, baldir, saeedabad, ittehad town. These areas. Then we have surjani, we have sarabghot area. So basically the slums are encircling the city and these slums, they are very dangerous. Narrator its from these slums that the taliban have been organizing their attacks. Please show us the blast. This white bus with blue stripes, this is coming. And here you go. Narrator this suicide bombing was carried out at rush hour in a busy marketplace. Police say 6 people were killed and 52 injured. But the militants most common tactic is targeted assassination. You can see these two guys being shot. Shots being fired on them. Narrator here, two shia preachers are gunned down by taliban members on motorbikes. One is killed instantly. Police, journalists and anyone opposing taliban ideology is a potential target. These two guys will fire the next guy going on a motorbike in blue dress. Narrator this man rides his motorbike during rush hour. His killer is just a few feet behind him. The gunman strikes and drives away unchallenged. Officer ijaz says his men have limited resources to take on the taliban. Narrator captured taliban suspects are detained in officer ijazs compound. This particular suspect, hes iy on suspicion of killing some of Law Enforcement personnel and were interrogating him, st things to extract. Because we he some physical and material evide against him and we need his conn or his side of the story too. For better chance of a convicti. Narrator this man, mansoor, is accused of multiple targeted assassinations. Ijaz insists that his face remains covered, to stop him from seeing the officers. He says if mansoor is ever released, he could try to target the police who questioned him. Mansoor agrees to be interviewed. But officer ijaz stays in the room to monitor what he says. Narrator ijaz suddenly interrupts to ask his own questions. Narrator mansoor says he is proud to have killed the police officers. Hes now awaiting trial. Officer ijaz says he can hold suspects for up to 28 days for interrogation. If his team cant extract a confession or get other solid evidence in that time, he has to let them go. I got to the compound about ten minutes ago and as soon as i got here i could hear screaming from the interrogation area down there. You can see two suspects that are up against the wall right now. Narrator its now five days since the raid and capture of the two taliban suspects. Officer ijaz agrees to bring them out of their cells to be interviewed. Once again he insists that their faces are covered, and that he sits in. I need to ask you something, officer ijaz. You know when i arrived at the compound, i did hear some screaming from one of the interrogation rooms, but the Human Rights Commission of pakistan has expressed concerns about the use of torture. What techniques do you use . Y. Narrator ijaz says that these prisoners have already confessed to a kidnapping plot. Over the last year, officer ijas his team has captured more than 200 militants. Yet, terrorist attacks in karac. Last may, a taliban splinter grp killed 43 civilians in an attack on a bus. The killers had recently pledge loyalty to isis. Next time. This is the al qaeda that Osama Bin Laden only dreamed of. The intelligence continued to point to what could happen. The view was, this is iraqs problem. Let them deal with it. The growth of isis was noted, and the deterioration of the iraqi forces was missed. If you threaten america, you will find no safe haven. Go to pbs. Org frontline to read an interview with filmaker Najibullah Quraishi about his reporting from inside isis territory i honestly didnt know if i was going to get back. And see more of our ongoing coverage of isis then connect to the Frontline Community on facebook and twitter. Visit us on youtube for even more original frontline reporting. Now you can get original short frontline documentaries. Then sign up for our newsletter at pbs. Org frontline. Frontlinis made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. And by the corporation for public broadcasting. Major support for frontline is provided by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. More information is available at macfound. Org. Additional support is provided by the park foundation, dedicated to heightening Public Awareness of critical issues. The john and Helen Glessner family trust, supporting trustworthy journalism that informs and inspires. The ford foundation, working with visionaries on the front lines of social change worldwide. At fordfoundation. Org. The wyncote foundation. And by the frontline journalism fund, with major support from jon and jo ann hagler. For more on this and other frontline programs, visit our website at pbs. Org frontline. Frontlines isis in afghanistan is available on dvd. To order, visit shoppbs. Org or ca1800playpbs. Frontline is also available for download on itunes. Mother what are you doing . Possibilities, your day is filled with them. Dance instructor reach up, energy in the finger tips. Collapse. Woman t. V. , play downton abbey. And pbs helps everyone discover theirs. Anytime, anywhere. Father up in the sky, you might see it. Pbs, were with you, for life. Running has its roots in the creation of the universe. Our elders tell our young people to run early in the morning. We call it. 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