Where Taliban go to find warm beds and recruits
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"We obey the orders of Mullah Omar and the commands of Mullah Dadullah," says Akhund. "Every commander visits Mullah Dadullah after every two weeks. He has disguised himself as a cleric at a mosque in Afghanistan, where he delivers lectures and discusses military actions with commanders."
The fighters on the ground have learned to be extra cautious of the possible US attacks.
"We don't use satellite phones or wireless sets," says Akhund. "We convey our messages through trusted men. Usually we use only two code words - for help and when to run away from enemies."
Fortunately, he adds, the Afghan people themselves are giving increasing support to the Taliban.
"From every 10 families, seven to nine families support us," says Akhund. "They provide food to us, give shelter and inform as in advance of any danger. So we don't become target."
A former Taliban leader, who is now hiding in Balochistan, says, "Things are changing. Karzai is losing his control in Afghanistan. Initially we used to hide from our own shadows in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but now we can easily mingle with the locals who extend us all sorts of support."
Indeed, this Taliban leader felt comfortable enough to arrange his own flight schedule at the Quetta branch of Pakistan International Airlines.
Mohammad Jalil (not his real name) is an example of the sort of local support that Taliban now enjoy. Now on a visit to his family in Balochistan, Mr. Jalil regularly works as a cook for a high-ranking Afghan military commander in Kandahar. He passes whatever information he can to his Taliban comrades.
"I work with the government, but I pass secrets to the Mujahideen, sometimes verbally and sometimes by writing it," he says proudly. "Our job is to save Jihadis from the attacks of infidels," He usually passes the information to cohorts at a local hotel in Kandahar.
"We help Taliban because they are fighting for Islam," Jalil says. "It is a dangerous job but our lives belong to Allah and his cause. We don't work for Taliban for any reward or money but they help us and our family whenever we are in need."
The Taliban say they don't purchase weapons from Balochistan as there are plenty in Afghanistan itself.
"Weapons are everywhere since the Soviet days in Afghanistan," says Akhund. "We can fight for another 15 years. We have Kalashnikovs, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, and explosives. We have all kind of weapons. The only thing we don't have is something to counter B-52s."
As an experienced commander, he says he needs more warriors in Afghanistan. Soon he is going back to Helmand province with new guerrillas to fight against the US forces.
But the chilly winds of Afghanistan worry Akhund and other guerrilla fighters.
"Winter restricts our movement so we might have to scale down our military attacks, so we try to intensify political efforts against the infidels and defeat the loya jirga," says on former Taliban leader in Quetta. "But we are also working hard to reorganize and regroup through winter because we want our cause to blossom in spring."
