Insurgency Spreads to Western Provinces
10 December 2007
Waliullah Rahmani, 'Farah Province: The New Focus of the Taliban Insurgency', Terrorism Monitor, 10 December 2007
"With the war in Afghanistan steadily spreading to the north and east of the country, a new front for the Taliban insurgency has opened in the previously secure western regions. The seizure of districts in Farah province by the Taliban and the expansion of insecurity, criminal activity, kidnappings and corruption to the...
Read the post »
Canada's '3-D' Approach Blurs the Line Between Humanitarian Aid, Military Efforts: NGOs
10 December 2007
'', Canada's Coalition to End Global Poverty, November 2007
"Canada's ?integrated? 3D, or whole-of-government, approach encompassing development, diplomacy, defence (and sometime other departments) in Afghanistan has had adverse effects on development assistance and peace-building. In effect, this approach has elevated the military component...
Read the post »
Dutch Extension of Afghan Mission Unpopular at Home
10 December 2007
'Only One-in-Four Dutch Back Afghan Mission', Angus Reid Global Monitor, 8 December 2007
"Few adults in the Netherlands are satisfied with their government's rationale to extend the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan until August 2010, according to a poll by TNS Nipo released by RTL. 24 per cent of respondents agree with the decision, while 43 per cent disagree and 31 per cent have no strong feelings either way.
"On Nov....
Read the post »
Afghan, NATO Forces Recapture Musa Qala
10 December 2007
Graeme Smith, 'Afghan, NATO Forces Recapture Musa Qala', The Globe and Mail, 10 December 2007
"Afghan forces and their foreign allies re-captured Musa Qala today, finally bringing an end to the Taliban regime in their showpiece enclave... For the last 10 months, insurgents have trumpeted their control of the district about 100 kilometres northwest of Kandahar city, and Afghan officials have repeatedly vowed to take it back. A mainly...
Read the post »
UK Pledges Further Afghan Support
10 December 2007
'PM Pledges Further Afghan Support,' BBC News, 10 December 2007
EXCERPTS: "[UK Prime Minister] Gordon Brown has pledged continued UK support for Afghanistan in fighting the Taleban 'for the next few years'. [...] Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Karzai, Mr Brown said military support would continue, as would support for social and economic development, including building schools, developing healthcare, and creating small...
Read the post »