Leader Of Hizb-e-Islami Offers To Help US Forces
17 August 2009
'Maverick Pro-Taliban Militant Offers To Help US Forces', CNN, 17 August 2009
EXCERPT: "An Afghan militant group is willing to 'help' U.S. and coalition forces, if they prepare to leave Afghanistan, the group's leader said in a statement given to CNN on Monday. 'We are ready to help with the United States and ... other coalition forces if foreign troops announce the time frame for the pulling out their troops from...
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Signs Of Taliban Rift Hearten Pakistan, US
17 August 2009
'Signs Of Taliban Rift Hearten Pakistan, US', Reuters, 16 August 2009
EXCERPT: "U.S. and Pakistani officials meeting on Sunday said they were heartened by signs of a rift between Pakistani Taliban factions after the apparent death of militant leader Baitullah Mehsud. Mehsud was the overall head of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a loose confederation of 13 factions. He is believed to have been killed in a U.S. missile...
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Afghanistan Says Ex-Militia Chief Free To Return
17 August 2009
'Afghanistan Says Ex-Militia Chief Free To Return', Reuters, 16 August 2009
EXCERPT: "Exiled Uzbek General Abdul Rashid Dostum can return to Afghanistan at any time, the government said on Sunday, after his supporters threatened to withdraw backing for President Hamid Karzai in the August 20 election. Karzai is clear favorite to retain the presidency, but unless he secures more than 50 percent of the vote he faces a run-off...
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Threats By Taliban May Sway Vote In Afghanistan
17 August 2009
'', The New York Times, 16 August 2009
EXCERPT: "A group of Taliban fighters made their announcement in the bazaar of a nearby village a few days ago, and the word spread fast: anyone caught voting in the presidential election will have his finger ? the one inked for the ballot ? cut off. So in this hamlet in southern Afghanistan, a village of adobe homes surrounded by fields of corn,...
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