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Word: mazar (lookup in dictionary) (lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
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Usage:

...would the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif change the strategic equation in Afghanistan...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Are the Taliban Leaving Mazar-i-Sharif? | 11/7/2001 | See Source »

...They still hold Herat, which is a long way from Mazar, and they'd have to move down along the Turkmenistan border to get there. But the Taliban are in a strong position at Herat. So that's one possible retreat. The more obvious choices are Taloqan and Kunduz. But if they're there and the road from Kabul to Mazar is cut, the Taliban forces there face being cut off, because many of the local commanders between them and Kabul may be bought...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Are the Taliban Leaving Mazar-i-Sharif? | 11/7/2001 | See Source »

...they could be looking at another siege situation. A lot of the Taliban fighters in Mazar were not Afghan - they're Chechens, Pakistanis, Saudis and others, and they don't have anywhere to run and hide. They tend to be more extreme and ideologically committed, and they say their death prayers before they go into battle. People had been expecting them to stand to the last man at Mazar. If they go to Kunduz, they may simply be postponing that last stand. Unless they plan to surrender, which nobody is expecting...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Are the Taliban Leaving Mazar-i-Sharif? | 11/7/2001 | See Source »

...Mazar has tremendous historical and religious significance in Afghanistan. It contains a shrine to Ali, the nephew of the Prophet Muhammad who is revered by the Shiite Muslims. And, of course, Hazari ethnic group, which makes up much of the city's population and some 20 percent of Afghanistan, are Shiite - which is why the Sunni Taliban took such delight in taking it from them...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Are the Taliban Leaving Mazar-i-Sharif? | 11/7/2001 | See Source »

...even greater significance are the city's two air strips, which once they're repaired could make a huge difference to the U.S. military campaign - right now planes have to fly from the Arabian sea across Pakistan, often having to refuel before they reach their targets. But flying from Mazar would put U.S. warplanes ten minutes away from their targets. Also, it would open the gates for massive food aid distribution, which is desperately needed on the plain to the south of the city where hundreds of thousands of people had depended on food aid even before the fighting began...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Are the Taliban Leaving Mazar-i-Sharif? | 11/7/2001 | See Source »

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