Afghanistan's new mining law is intended to boost foreign investment, but critics charge lack of transparency will allow mafias and armed gangs to control the nascent industry.
Israel resumed its bombardment of the Gaza Strip for the 20th day on July 27, as Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal stressed that the group was ready to "coexist with the Jews" but would not tolerate "occupiers." The Israeli assault on… Read moreHamas: we’ll coexist with Jews, but not ‘occupiers’
Ground combat engagements have surpassed improvised explosive devices as the most common cause of conflict-related civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan.
The European Union has called on Afghanistan to conduct a more extensive investigation into vote-rigging in the presidential election which remains contested.
Pakistani air-strikes and ground offensives against militant strongholds in North Waziristan have caused 150,000 to flee the region to overcrowded camps near Peshawar.
US drone strikes on two targets killed at least 16 presumed militants in North Waziristan, ending a nearly six-month halt in the Pakistan drone campaign.
The Islamabad High Court ordered the arrest of former Central Intelligence Agency official Jonathan Banks for his involvement in a 2009 drone strike that killed civilians.
President Obama announced that prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl has been released into US custody in exchange for five detainees held at Guantánamo Bay.
Pakistan government jet fighters bombed what were said to be militant strongholds in North Waziristan, killing at least 60 people—including insurgent commanders, officials said.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan issued its 2013 Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, which found a total of 8,615 civilian casualties.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his administration will release 72 prisoners the United States considers dangerous militants from Bagram prison.
Pakistan’s military partially complied with a Supreme Court ruling by producing before the court several prisoners out of hundreds secretly held without charges.
