The Taliban fighters who savagely attacked and murdered eight medical aid workers on August 5th were allowed unrestricted freedom of movement through the region by the district police chief. The Australian reports that Kuran Wa Manjan district Police Chief Malik had entered into an agreement with the Taliban in the Badakhshan region."Malik has cut a deal with the Taliban to protect his interests in the mining industry up there," said an intelligence agent who did not want his name made public. "He lets the Taliban use his land to move through as long as they don't cause trouble on his territory." The Afghan government recently brought Commander Malik (a mujaheddin fighter during the Soviet occupation) and his militia into the national police force in an attempt to reign in their activities and assert greater control in the region. However an unidentified intelligence source said. "He still acts outside the government. He lives in a large house in the...(Read Full Post)