Tag: Afghanistan
Progress or terror for Afghan women?
The Scotsman of Sept. 30 carried a feature on Commander Malalai Kakar, leader of a special department of the Kandahar police force on violence against women—who was gunned down by a presumed Taliban assassin as she walked out her front… Read moreProgress or terror for Afghan women?
Afghanistan: grim prognoses from NATO leaders
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned of a “downward spiral” in Afghanistan if trends continue in comments Oct. 9. “The trends across the board are not going in the right direction,” he told reporters. “I… Read moreAfghanistan: grim prognoses from NATO leaders
Refugees flee Pakistan —for Afghanistan
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that fighting between the Pakistani military and militants in the autonomous tribal districts on the Afghan border has driven 20,000 to flee as refugees into Afghanistan. The exodus from the Bajaur tribal agency… Read moreRefugees flee Pakistan —for Afghanistan
Pakistan: terror in Karachi, Punjab
Three Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militants hurled grenades in an hour-long battle and then blew themselves up after police raided their hideout in Karachi Sept. 26, with authorities saying preventing they prevented major attack in the country’s biggest city. “We have saved Karachi… Read morePakistan: terror in Karachi, Punjab
US and Pakistan: is it war yet?
Pakistani soldiers fired at US OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters that were escorting Afghan and US ground troops along the volatile border Sept. 25, sparking a five-minute ground battle between the countries’ military forces. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, in New… Read moreUS and Pakistan: is it war yet?
Gates: more troops for Afghanistan —with caveats
In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sept. 23 the Pentagon could send thousands more combat troops to Afghanistan starting next spring—but also warned: “I think we need to think about how heavy a… Read moreGates: more troops for Afghanistan —with caveats
Pakistan protests purported US incursion
The US Defense Department has denied that its helicopters flew into Pakistan’s airspace above from across the border with Afghanistan Sept. 22. Pakistani intelligence officials say US two helicopters flew into North Waziristan, but returned to Afghanistan after troops and… Read morePakistan protests purported US incursion
Afghanistan: 11 police dead in hydro-dam attack
Eleven police officers and two insurgents were killed in a rebel attack in western Afghanistan’s Herat province Sept. 21. “We lost 11 policemen. They were attacked while on a patrol in a village near their headquarters in Salama Dam,” said… Read moreAfghanistan: 11 police dead in hydro-dam attack
Pakistan blames al-Qaeda in Marriott blast
Pakistan’s government is blaming al-Qaeda operatives for the deadly Sept. 21 blast at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. The attacker failed to get through a secondary barrier when he crashed his explosive-laden truck into the hotel’s security gates, killing 53… Read morePakistan blames al-Qaeda in Marriott blast
Pakistan army chief blasts US border raids
Pakistan’s army chief harshly criticized the US military for making unilateral cross-border raids from Afghanistan Sept. 12. Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, Chief of Army Staff, said there was “no agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to… Read morePakistan army chief blasts US border raids
Pakistan: Sunni civil war?
At least 25 civilians were killed and 50 injured in an armed attack on a Sunni mosque Sept. 10 in the Maskanai area of lower Dir (NWFP), Pakistan. Unidentified militants threw grenades in the mosque in Banai village, less than… Read morePakistan: Sunni civil war?