Afghanistan

Press freedom under attack in Afghanistan

Supposedly temporary restrictions on freedom of expression in the run-up to Afghanistan’s presidential vote are drawing protests from country’s press.

Afghanistan

US shifts Afghan opium strategy

US Marines and Afghan forces destroyed hundreds of tons of opium and heroin in Helmand, in raids that officials say are part of a shift in counter-narcotics strategy.

Afghanistan

Pakistan: sharia or “bloody revolution”?

Maulana Abdul Aziz warned that Pakistan faces a “bloody revolution” unless sharia law is announced nationwide. A bomb blast at the home of another cleric left at least nine dead.

Afghanistan

US bombs Pakistan —again

At least 10 militants were killed in another presumed US drone strike on Pakistan’s tribal areas. There have been an estimated 35 US strikes since last August, killing over 340 people.

Afghanistan

Pakistani warplanes pound North Waziristan

Pakistani jet-fighters ran bombing raids over North Waziristan tribal region, killing seven people near Miramshah. Taliban militias have imposed a ban on any tribal councils holding peace talks.

Afghanistan

Pakistan plays Sufi card against jihadis

Pakistan’s government is establishing a Sufi Advisory Council, with an aim of combating extremism by promoting Sufism and its pacifistic vision of Islam.

Afghanistan

Pakistan: Sufi Mohammad arrested?

Militant cleric Sufi Mohammed, who brokered the failed Swat Valley peace deal, has been arrested and transferred to a “safehouse” in Peshawar, an unnamed official told Italy’s AKI news service.

Afghanistan

US bombs Pakistan —again

At least 45 were killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s South Waziristan region. Those killed had been attending a funeral for others killed in a US drone strike earlier in the day.