Afghanistan's Economic Fortunes
16 April 2008
Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, 'Afghanistan's Economic Fortunes', Council on Foreign Relations, 15 April 2008
EXCERPT: "Afghanistan remains a country at war facing huge economic development challenges. But Finance Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, in Washington for the spring IMF/World Bank meetings, says in the event of improved security and reforms in foreign aid, the country has prospects for steady long-term gains. He points to the natural resources...
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Infamous Taliban Leader Killed In Pakistan
16 April 2008
'Infamous Taliban Leader Killed In Pakistan', CBS News, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "A senior Taliban commander who became a hero to Islamic militants for his role in shooting down a U.S. helicopter in 2005, killing all 16 special forces troops aboard, has been killed by Pakistani security forces, officials and Taliban militants tell CBS News. Mullah Ismail, a notorious Taliban commander from the Afghan province of Kunar, was killed in a shootout...
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US Administration: Contracting Fraud Loophole Was Mistake
16 April 2008
'', Associated Press, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "Bush administration officials acknowledged Tuesday [15 April 2008] they mistakenly added a multibillion-dollar loophole to a planned crackdown on contract fraud, then urged Congress not to get involved in fixing it. Instead, the officials said, they have removed the loophole ? an exemption for overseas projects ? from proposed rules...
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Polish, French FMs Discuss Afghanistan, EU Affairs
16 April 2008
'', China View, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "Polish Foreign Minister Rodoslaw Sikorski and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner met here on Tuesday [15 April 2008] to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the EU eastern policy. Kouchner is here to attend ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The two ministers...
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NATO Making Mistake In Afghanistan: Turkish Minister
16 April 2008
'NATO Making Mistake In Afghanistan: Turkish Minister', The Telegraph, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "NATO is courting disaster in Afghanistan by relying too much on force to defeat the Taliban, Turkey's foreign minister said yesterday [15 April 2008]. Ali Babacan rejected the criticisms from British and US officials that have been directed recently at Turkey and other Nato members for refusing to deploy their troops to the country's troubled south...
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Militants Detained As Weapons Facilitators In Southern Afghanistan
16 April 2008
'', China View, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "The U.S.-led Coalition forces have arrested 12 suspected militants as Taliban weapons facilitators in an operation launched on April 12 in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, said a Coalition statement issued here on Wednesday [16 April 2008]. Coalition forces searched in Garm Seer district of Helmand province targeting a known...
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Norwegian Officers May Be Sent To Southern Afghanistan
16 April 2008
'Norwegian Officers May Be Sent To Southern Afghanistan', Aftenposten, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "Norwegian Defence Minister Anne-Grete Str?m-Erichsen, on a visit to Afghanistan, has stated that Norwegian officers may be sent to the most troubled region of the country as part of their mission to train and lead Afghani troops. From October, 50 Norwegian officers are to begin service training Afghani forces, after which they will be...
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UN Envoy Hopeful Of Improvements In Afghanistan
16 April 2008
'UN Envoy Hopeful Of Improvements In Afghanistan', Canada.com, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "The United Nations' new special envoy to Afghanistan said today he's received promising indications from both Afghan and foreign players that they will support a more co-ordinated effort to rebuild the country and battle Taliban insurgents. But Kai Eide, appointed to deal with concerns about scatter-gun development projects and the failings of a Afghan...
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UNHCR Suspends Refugee Returns to Afghanistan
16 April 2008
'UNHCR Suspends Refugee Returns to Afghanistan', Voice of America, 15 April 2008
EXCERPT: "The United Nations has temporarily suspended its voluntary return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, because of a roadblock in the tribal areas on the road to Afghanistan. The U.N. refugee agency says a local tribal dispute is hampering the returns. It says the roadblock along the Peshawar-Torkham highway has left hundreds of homebound Afghans stranded....
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Search On For Canada's Military Chief Successor
16 April 2008
'Search On For Hillier's Successor As Canada Considers General's Legacy', CBC News, 16 April 2008
EXCERPT: "The search has begun to replace Gen. Rick Hillier, the outspoken chief of Canada's defence staff who announced his retirement on Tuesday [15 April 2008]. Hillier, a strong advocate of Canada's military intervention in Afghanistan, said that he will step down in July. 'I have chosen to retire from the Canadian Forces and end my...
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