Afghanistan Readies Program to Reintegrate Taliban
10 May 2010
, The Associated Press, 11 May 2010
EXCERPT: "Small pockets of Taliban foot soldiers ready to switch sides are waiting for the Afghan government to roll out a nationwide program to lure them off the battlefield and make peace with their leaders. The plan won't be completed until after this month's peace assembly in Kabul, but according to a 36-page draft, it would attract low-...
Read the post »
Rising Attacks Hamper Anti-Drugs Drive: Afghan Official
10 May 2010
Rising Attacks Hamper Anti-Drugs Drive: Afghan Official, Reuters, 10 May 2010
EXCERPT: "Drug mafias and suspected Taliban militants have increased attacks against officials trying to destroy poppy fields in Afghanistan, but the 2010 harvest may still fall from the previous year, a government official said. Zalmai Afzali, spokesman for the counter-narcotics ministry, said the provinces where the anti-poppy drive faced disruption mostly...
Read the post »
Shootings of Afghans on Rise at Checkpoints
10 May 2010
, The New York Times, 9 May 2010
EXCERPT: "Shootings of Afghan civilians by American and NATO convoys and at military checkpoints have spiked sharply this year, becoming the leading cause of combined civilian deaths and injuries at the hands of Western forces, American officials say. The steep rise in these convoy and checkpoint attacks ? which the military calls 'escalation of...
Read the post »
Karzai to Promote New Peace Plan in Visit to Washington
10 May 2010
, The Independent, 9 May 2010
EXCERPT: "Afghan president Hamid Karzai will arrive in Washington today with a new peace plan that he hopes will persuade a sceptical Barack Obama that it is time to negotiate with the Taliban. After months of criticising the Afghan leader, the visit is an opportunity for the US to attempt to improve a relationship that has dramatically worsened since...
Read the post »
Taliban to Launch Major Offensive in Afghanistan
10 May 2010
Taliban to Launch Major Offensive in Afghanistan, Reuters, 8 May 2010
EXCERPT: "In a statement from an email usually used by Taliban militants, it said the new offensive will begin from Monday and would target foreign troops, Afghan government officials, and foreign diplomats with suicide and roadside bombings. 'In order to expedite the momentum of the Jihadic activities, the Islamic Emirate announces this spring operation by the name...
Read the post »