KABUL - The Taliban are recruiting a growing number of children as suicide bombers as NATO steps up its war against the insurgents. In some of the country's most restive provinces, the Taliban are resorting to threats, inducement and deceit in order to send children to their deaths against US and Afghan targets. A 14-year-old boy has explained how he came close to blowing himself up at a US military base two weeks ago. The Taliban gave Noor Mohammad a simple choice - either they would cut off his hand for stealing or he could redeem himself and bring glory on his family by becoming a suicide bomber. Held in Taliban custody in a different village from his parents, after allegedly stealing mobile phones during a wedding party in his village, the boy went for the second option. He was soon being given basic lessons in how to use a gun, with which he would shoot the guards at a nearby US military base in Ghazni, a violent south-eastern province. He was also fitted with a suicide vest that covered his torso with explosives. He was told that when inside the base he should touch two trailing wires together, killing himself and as many American and Afghan soldiers as possible. Having kitted the soon-to-be martyr out in his outfit, the insurgents took photos and sent him on his way. A tactic pioneered by al-Qaeda but almost unheard of in Afghanistan until 2005, suicide bombing is becoming more popular with insurgents trying to meet the greatly intensified NATO campaign with their own surge of violence. Full Story>>
Children coerced by Taliban to attack http://www.smh.com.au/world/children-coerced-by-taliban-to-attack-20110518-1et7o.html
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