The United Nations mission in Afghanistan is calling on all warring parties in the country to protect civilians as fighting is expected to intensify in the coming months.
The U.N. chief in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said in a statement released Saturday that pro-government and Taliban forces “are obliged not to launch attacks on civilian locations or in areas where civilians gather, such as government buildings, bazaars and parks.”
De Mistura said Afghan civilians have paid the price of war for too long. He urged insurgents to not indiscriminately use improvised explosive devices and Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and night raids.
The U.N. statement came hours after the Taliban pledged to launch a spring offensive against the U.S.-led coalition and its allies on Sunday.
In a statement, the Taliban said they will target military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council.
The insurgents also encouraged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
A day earlier, senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition and Western diplomats in Afghanistan warned they expected a surge in militant attacks.
The Associated Press quoted a NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying that the Taliban's announcement Saturday is a “sign of their impotence and desperation.”
The official said NATO expects the Taliban will try to gain a propaganda victory through coordinated attacks and that the coalition has tightened security.
Saturday, April 30th, 2011 at 12:30 pm UTC
Posted 6 days ago
The Taliban has pledged to launch a spring offensive against the U.S.-led coalition and its allies in Afghanistan. The militant group says the operation will begin Sunday, but did not say how long the surge will last.
In a statement released Saturday, the Taliban said they plan to target military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council.
The insurgents urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
The announcement of the militant operation comes one day after senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition and Western diplomats in Afghanistan warned they expected a surge in militant attacks.
The Associated Press quoted a NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying that the Taliban's announcement Saturday is a “sign of their impotence and desperation.”
The official said NATO expects the Taliban will try to gain a propaganda victory through coordinated attacks and that the coalition has tightened security.
Saturday, April 30th, 2011 at 8:20 am UTC
Posted 6 days ago
The Taliban has pledged to launch a spring offensive against the U.S.-led coalition and its allies in Afghanistan. The militant group says the operation will begin Sunday, but did not say how long the surge will last.
The Taliban said in a statement Saturday the targets of insurgent attacks will include military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council.
The insurgents urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
The Taliban said the offensive is being activated to protect Islam and religious values.
The announcement of the militant operation comes one day after senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition and Western diplomats in Afghanistan warned they expected a surge in militant attacks.
Friday, April 29th, 2011 at 6:50 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
The Pentagon says “tangible” progress has been made in the war in Afghanistan, with the Taliban routed from key southern strongholds.
But in its semi-annual report to Congress, the Pentagon also notes that progress is fragile, with difficult fighting ahead as insurgents try to regain momentum and territory from international and Afghan troops.
Friday's report came as NATO and U.S. military commanders warned that Taliban insurgents, aided by the al-Qaida-linked Haqqani network, were planning a series of violent attacks across Afghanistan over the next few days.
The commanders, who did not want to be named, said Friday the assessment was based on recent intelligence reports indicating the possibility of suicide bombings and other high profile attacks, likely concentrated in the east.
The officials say the violence is aimed at casting doubts on recent gains made by the coalition.
The Pentagon report was released Friday and covers the period between October, 2010 and the end of March. During that time, the Pentagon says violence increased due to a greater troop presence, more aggressive operations against Taliban safe havens, and a mild winter.
U.S. officials, who did not want to be named, said violence was expected to peak in the next 12 months.
The Pentagon says the momentum of the insurgents has been arrested and their morale has begun to erode, with friction between Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and their senior leadership in Pakistan.
The report also notes challenges, including a shortage of military trainers to support Afghan forces, as they prepare to take over security responsibility from foreign troops beginning this year.
U.S. President Barack Obama says U.S. forces will begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in July, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai has already announced seven regions where Afghan forces will take control from NATO troops.
The Pentagon also warns that political challenges and slow progress in improving governance could jeopardize gains made in security.
Friday, April 29th, 2011 at 3:15 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
The Pentagon says “tangible” progress has been made in the war in Afghanistan, with the Taliban routed from key southern strongholds.
But in its semiannual report to Congress, the Pentagon also notes that progress is fragile, with difficult fighting ahead as insurgents try to regain momentum and territory from international and Afghan troops.
The report was released Friday and covers the period between October of 2010 and the end of March. The Pentagon attributes an increase in violence during that time to a greater troop presence, more aggressive operations against Taliban safe havens, and a mild winter.
The Pentagon also notes challenges, including a shortage of military trainers to support Afghan forces as they prepare to take over security responsibility from foreign troops beginning this year.
U.S. President Barack Obama says U.S. forces will begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in July, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai has already announced seven regions where Afghan forces will take control from NATO troops.
The Pentagon also warns that political challenges and slow progress in improving governance could jeopardize gains made in security.
Friday's report came as NATO and U.S. military commanders warned that Taliban insurgents, aided by the al-Qaida-linked Haqqani network were planning a series of violent attacks across Afghanistan over the next few days.
The commanders, who did not want to be named, said Friday the assessment was based on recent intelligence reports indicating the possibility of suicide bombings and other high profile attacks, likely concentrated in the east.
The officials say the increase in violence is aimed at casting doubts on recent gains made by the coalition.
Thursday, April 28th, 2011 at 5:45 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
Authorities in Afghanistan have arrested the head of a prison where some 500 inmates, mostly Taliban militants, carried out a daring escape earlier this week.
Afghan troops recaptured 71 of the 488 inmates who fled from Sarposa prison in southern Kandahar province on Sunday through a 300-meter-long tunnel.
Afghan officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, announced Thursday the prison's chief and other officials have been detained for negligence. They refused to give details of the arrests.
Earlier this week, Afghanistan's Justice Minister Abibullah Ghalab said the jailbreak must have involved inside collaborators, but he added that Afghan and international forces should have detected the plot.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying it took five months to complete preparations for the prison escape.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials in the eastern province of Ghazni said insurgents attacked a NATO supply convoy Thursday. The resulting gunbattle killed six militants and at least three private security guards.
Also Thursday, NATO says an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan killed one of its service members.
Thursday, April 28th, 2011 at 3:30 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
Authorities in Afghanistan have arrested the head of a prison where some 500 inmates, mostly Taliban militants, carried out a daring escape earlier this week.
Afghan troops recaptured 71 of the 488 inmates who fled from Sarposa prison in southern Kandahar province on Sunday through a 300-meter-long tunnel.
Afghan officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, announced Thursday the prison's chief and other officials have been detained for negligence. They refused to give details of the arrests.
Earlier this week, Afghanistan's Justice Minister Abibullah Ghalab said the jailbreak must have involved inside collaborators, but he added that Afghan and international forces should have detected the plot.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying it took five months to complete preparations for the prison escape.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials in the eastern province of Ghazni said insurgents attacked a NATO supply convoy Thursday. The resulting gunbattle killed six militants and at least three private security guards.
Thursday, April 28th, 2011 at 12:45 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
Authorities in Afghanistan have arrested the governor of a prison where 500 inmates, mostly Taliban militants, carried out a daring escape earlier this week.
Afghan troops recaptured 71 of the 488 inmates who fled from Sarposa prison in southern Kandahar province on Sunday through a 300-meter-long tunnel.
Afghan officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, announced Thursday the prison's chief and other officials have been detained for negligence. They refused to give details of the arrests.
Earlier this week, Afghanistan's Justice Minister Abibullah Ghalab said the jailbreak must have involved inside collaborators, but he added that Afghan and international forces should have detected the plot.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying it took five months to complete preparations for the prison escape.
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 at 5:10 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
Officials say an Afghan military pilot opened fire on NATO troops in Kabul Wednesday, killing eight U.S. soldiers and an American contractor. It was the deadliest such incident since the war began in 2001.
The Afghan Defense Ministry said the veteran pilot shot and killed coalition troops during an argument inside an Afghan air force meeting room at the Kabul airport. The pilot was killed in subsequent gunfire.
The Pentagon identified all nine victims as American. NATO said those killed were coalition trainers.
Five members of the Afghan security forces also were wounded.
NATO condemned the attack, as did Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who ordered an investigation.
Afghan defense officials rejected a Taliban claim that the gunman was a militant wearing a military uniform.
Wednesday's incident was the latest in a series of attacks by members of Afghan security forces or someone impersonating them.
Earlier this month, an Afghan border guard shot and killed two U.S. soldiers in northern Faryab province. In February, a person wearing an Afghan army uniform killed three German soldiers and wounded six others in Baghlan province.
And last November, an Afghan border policeman killed six U.S. troops during a training mission in eastern Afghanistan.
Also Wednesday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said the government was canceling an annual Victory Day military parade in the capital due to fears of insurgent attacks.
The parade was slated to take place in Kabul on Thursday to celebrate 19 years since the fall of the last communist government. The ministry said it was scrapping the parade due to “security reasons.”
President Karzai survived an assassination attempt during the parade in April of 2008.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials say troops have recaptured 71 of the 488 inmates who used a 300-meter-long tunnel to escape from a prison in southern Kandahar province on Sunday.
Security has been tightened along Kandahar's border with Pakistan, and officials say biometric data on each prisoner will help identify and capture the remaining inmates, most of them Taliban militants.
But Interpol said Wednesday Afghan authorities have not been trained to take photographs and DNA of prisoners, or to share the information with international law enforcement. The group said a lack of training is “an unacceptable gap in global security.”
Afghanistan's Justice Minister Abibullah Ghalab said the jailbreak must have involved inside collaborators, but he added that Afghan and international forces should have detected the plot.
The Taliban claimed responsibility. It said the prison break was five months in the making, with diggers starting the tunnel from under a nearby house.
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 at 3:30 pm UTC
Posted 1 week ago
Officials say an Afghan military pilot has opened fire on NATO troops in Kabul, killing eight coalition soldiers and an American contractor, in the deadliest such incident since the war began in 2001.
The Afghan Defense Ministry said the veteran pilot shot and killed coalition troops during an argument Wednesday inside an Afghan air force meeting room at the Kabul airport. The pilot was killed in subsequent gunfire.
Defense officials rejected a Taliban claim that the gunman was a militant wearing a military uniform.
NATO did not give the nationalities of those killed, but the Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed U.S. defense official who said all of the victims were American.
Five members of the Afghan security forces also were wounded.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack and ordered an investigation.
Wednesday's incident was the latest in a series of attacks by members of Afghan security forces or someone wearing one of their uniforms.
Earlier this month, an Afghan border guard shot and killed two U.S. soldiers in northern Faryab province. In February, a person wearing an Afghan army uniform killed three German soldiers and wounded six others in Baghlan province.
And last November, an Afghan border policeman killed six U.S. troops during a training mission in eastern Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials say troops have recaptured 71 of the 488 inmates who used a 300-meter-long tunnel to escape from a prison in southern Kandahar province on Sunday.
Security has been tightened along Kandahar's border with Pakistan, and officials say biometric data on each prisoner will help identify and capture the remaining inmates, most of them Taliban militants.
But Interpol said Wednesday Afghan authorities have not been trained to take photographs and DNA of prisoners, or to share the information with international law enforcement. The group said a lack of training is “an unacceptable gap in global security.”
Afghanistan's Justice Minister Abibullah Ghalab said the jailbreak must have involved inside collaborators, but he added that Afghan and international forces should have detected the plot.
The Taliban claimed responsibility. It said the prison break was five months in the making, with diggers starting the tunnel from under a nearby house.
