Police in eastern Afghanistan say a NATO airstrike has mistakenly killed at least five Afghan security guards who were escorting a convoy of supplies for international troops.
Authorities said the strike happened Tuesday in Ghazni province.
NATO did not immediately confirm the strike.
Also in the east Tuesday, NATO said one of its service members died following an improvised explosive device attack. It did not identify the soldier's nationality or say exactly where the attack took place.
Authorities said the strike happened Tuesday in Ghazni province.
NATO did not immediately confirm the strike.
Also in the east Tuesday, NATO said one of its service members died following an improvised explosive device attack. It did not identify the soldier's nationality or say exactly where the attack took place.
NATO Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 1:05 am UTC
Posted 4 days ago
NATO says one of its service members died Tuesday following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan. The identity of the soldier was not revealed.
In other violence, NATO said Monday that Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in northern Baghlan province.
A NATO statement said that during the search, the force also discovered rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 rifles, grenades and a machine gun and that all weapons were destroyed.
Also in Baghlan, a joint patrol captured a senior Taliban leader believed to have led more than 60 fighters and responsible for numerous suicide bombings throughout the region.
In southern Kandahar province Monday, a combined Afghan and coalition force discovered several drug caches, consisting of almost 1.5 tons of marijuana, seven jugs of wet opium and 200 kilograms of dry opium.
In other violence, NATO said Monday that Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in northern Baghlan province.
A NATO statement said that during the search, the force also discovered rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 rifles, grenades and a machine gun and that all weapons were destroyed.
Also in Baghlan, a joint patrol captured a senior Taliban leader believed to have led more than 60 fighters and responsible for numerous suicide bombings throughout the region.
In southern Kandahar province Monday, a combined Afghan and coalition force discovered several drug caches, consisting of almost 1.5 tons of marijuana, seven jugs of wet opium and 200 kilograms of dry opium.
Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill ‘Numerous’ Insurgents
Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 11:50 pm UTC
Posted 4 days ago
NATO says Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in northern Baghlan province late Sunday.
A NATO statement Monday said that during the search, the force also discovered rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 rifles, grenades and a machine gun and that all weapons were destroyed.
Also in Baghlan, a joint patrol captured a senior Taliban leader believed to have led more than 60 fighters and responsible for numerous suicide bombings throughout the region.
In southern Kandahar province Monday, a combined Afghan and coalition force discovered several drug caches, consisting of almost 1.5 tons of marijuana, seven jugs of wet opium and 200 kilograms of dry opium.
A NATO statement Monday said that during the search, the force also discovered rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 rifles, grenades and a machine gun and that all weapons were destroyed.
Also in Baghlan, a joint patrol captured a senior Taliban leader believed to have led more than 60 fighters and responsible for numerous suicide bombings throughout the region.
In southern Kandahar province Monday, a combined Afghan and coalition force discovered several drug caches, consisting of almost 1.5 tons of marijuana, seven jugs of wet opium and 200 kilograms of dry opium.
Karzai Urges Taliban to Learn ‘Lesson’ From Bin Laden’s Killing
Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 1:25 pm UTC
Posted 4 days ago
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged Taliban militants fighting his government to learn a “lesson” from the killing of Osama Bin Laden and end their decade-long insurgency.
In a speech to tribal elders in Kabul Monday, Mr. Karzai said Bin Laden got the punishment he deserved when U.S. forces killed him the previous day in a raid on his hideout in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. Mr. Karzai's audience applauded the comments and many Afghans welcomed the news, but there were no scenes of public celebrations in the country.
The Afghan president said he hopes Bin Laden's death will help to end the insurgency led by the Taliban, which sheltered the terrorist mastermind while it controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Mr. Karzai appealed directly to the Taliban to “stop fighting.” U.S.-led forces who ousted the Taliban weeks after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Mr. Karzai also said the killing of Bin Laden in Pakistan proves that the fight against terrorism is not in “Afghan villages and houses,” as he put it, but in “safe havens” — a reference to Pakistani tribal regions where many al-Qaida and Taliban militants are based.
Mr. Karzai has long complained that U.S.-led NATO forces have inadvertently killed and wounded too many Afghan civilians in years of operations against the Taliban. But, in Monday's speech, he also expressed “appreciation” for the sacrifices of coalition and Afghan forces in the war.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said one of the main goals of the war is to defeat al-Qaida. U.S. and NATO officials tried to reassure Afghanistan Monday that Bin Laden's death will not weaken their resolve to help that nation defeat the Taliban as well.
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry said the “victory” of Bin Laden's killing “will not mark the end of U.S. efforts against terrorism” and promised that America's “strong support” for the Afghan people “will continue as before.”
NATO said members of the alliance and their partners will continue their mission to ensure that Afghanistan “never again becomes a safe haven for extremism, but develops in peace and security.”
In a speech to tribal elders in Kabul Monday, Mr. Karzai said Bin Laden got the punishment he deserved when U.S. forces killed him the previous day in a raid on his hideout in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. Mr. Karzai's audience applauded the comments and many Afghans welcomed the news, but there were no scenes of public celebrations in the country.
The Afghan president said he hopes Bin Laden's death will help to end the insurgency led by the Taliban, which sheltered the terrorist mastermind while it controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Mr. Karzai appealed directly to the Taliban to “stop fighting.” U.S.-led forces who ousted the Taliban weeks after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Mr. Karzai also said the killing of Bin Laden in Pakistan proves that the fight against terrorism is not in “Afghan villages and houses,” as he put it, but in “safe havens” — a reference to Pakistani tribal regions where many al-Qaida and Taliban militants are based.
Mr. Karzai has long complained that U.S.-led NATO forces have inadvertently killed and wounded too many Afghan civilians in years of operations against the Taliban. But, in Monday's speech, he also expressed “appreciation” for the sacrifices of coalition and Afghan forces in the war.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said one of the main goals of the war is to defeat al-Qaida. U.S. and NATO officials tried to reassure Afghanistan Monday that Bin Laden's death will not weaken their resolve to help that nation defeat the Taliban as well.
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry said the “victory” of Bin Laden's killing “will not mark the end of U.S. efforts against terrorism” and promised that America's “strong support” for the Afghan people “will continue as before.”
NATO said members of the alliance and their partners will continue their mission to ensure that Afghanistan “never again becomes a safe haven for extremism, but develops in peace and security.”
Afghan Taliban Uses Child Bomber at Start of Spring Offensive
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 11:40 pm UTC
Posted 5 days ago
Afghan officials say a 12-year-old suicide bomber killed four people and wounded 12 others Sunday in eastern Paktika province, on the first day of the Taliban's promised spring offensive.
NATO said the bomber detonated his suicide vest in a bazaar full of civilians, a day after the Taliban publicly promised to pay “strict attention” to the safety of civilians in its spring offensive. The attack killed the head of a district council in the Shakeen area and three other people.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the suicide bombing. The NATO mission in Afghanistan called it a “cowardly attack that shows the impotence of the Taliban.”
In other violence Sunday, insurgents ambushed a police vehicle in neighboring Ghazni province, triggering fighting in which two policemen and two civilians died. Also in Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle near the provincial police headquarters wounded 13 people.
In eastern Logar province, insurgents killed at least two people, while in the southern city of Kandahar, a gunmen on a motorcycle killed an Afghan soldier.
In Kandahar's Arghandab district Sunday, Afghan policemen opened fire on each other in a dispute over supplies. One policeman was killed and four were wounded.
The Taliban had warned it would launch its spring offensive against coalition and Afghan forces on Sunday. It said its targets would include military bases and convoys as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council that is trying to negotiate a settlement to the war.
The Taliban also urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of coalition and Afghan forces.
The top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, called on pro-government forces and Taliban militants not to launch attacks on civilian locations or in areas where civilians gather. He also urged insurgents not to use improvised explosive devices indiscriminately, and called on Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and nighttime raids targeting militants.
Afghan Taliban Uses Child Bomber at Start of Spring Offensive
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 10:55 pm UTC
Posted 5 days ago
Afghan officials say a 12-year-old suicide bomber killed four people and wounded 12 others Sunday in eastern Paktika province, on the first day of the Taliban's promised spring offensive.
NATO said the bomber detonated his suicide vest in a bazaar full of civilians a day after publicly promising to pay “strict attention” to the safety of civilians in its spring offensive. The attack killed the head of a district council in the Shakeen area and three other people.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the suicide bombing. The NATO mission in Afghanistan called it a “cowardly attack that shows the impotence of the Taliban.”
In other violence Sunday, insurgents ambushed a police vehicle in neighboring Ghazni province, triggering fighting in which two policemen and two civilians died. Also in Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle near the provincial police headquarters wounded 13 people.
In eastern Logar province, insurgents killed at least two people, while in the southern city of Kandahar, a gunmen on a motorcycle killed an Afghan soldier.
In Kandahar's Arghandab district Sunday, Afghan policemen opened fire on each other in a dispute over supplies. One policeman was killed and four were wounded.
The Taliban had warned it would launch its spring offensive against coalition and Afghan forces on Sunday. It said its targets would include military bases and convoys as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council that is trying to negotiate a settlement to the war.
The Taliban also urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of coalition and Afghan forces.
The top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, called on pro-government forces and Taliban militants not to launch attacks on civilian locations or in areas where civilians gather. He also urged insurgents not to use improvised explosive devices indiscriminately, and called on Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and nighttime raids targeting militants.
Taliban Starts Afghanistan Offensive Using Child as Suicide Bomber
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 8:30 pm UTC
Posted 5 days ago
Afghan officials say the Taliban has started a springtime offensive by using a boy as a suicide bomber in an attack that killed four people and wounded 12 others in the country's east.
The young suicide bomber struck a marketplace in Paktika province Sunday, killing the leader of a district council from the Shakeen area and three other people. A provincial government spokesman said the suicide bomber was 12 years old, but it is not clear how authorities determined his age. It is rare for the Taliban to use suicide bombers that young.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his government issued statements condemning the suicide bombing. The NATO mission in Afghanistan called it a “cowardly” attack that shows the “impotence” of the Taliban.
NATO said the militant group detonated the bomb in a bazaar full of Afghan civilians just one day after publicly promising to pay “strict attention” to the safety of civilians in its annual springtime offensive, which begins after a winter lull in fighting.
At least seven people were killed in other insurgent attacks on Sunday. Insurgents ambushed a police vehicle in the eastern province of Ghazni, triggering a gunfight in which two policemen and two civilians were killed. Also in Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle blew up near the provincial police headquarters, wounding at least 11 people.
Elsewhere, an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province killed at least two people, while gunmen on a motorbike killed an Afghan soldier in the southern city of Kandahar.
Afghan policemen opened fire on each other Sunday in Kandahar's Arghandab district, in a dispute about supplies. One policeman was killed and four were wounded.
NATO also announced the killing of an insurgent leader disguised as a woman in the southern province of Helmand on Saturday. It says the insurgent tried to evade capture by an Afghan and coalition force and drew a gun after being discovered, prompting the joint forces to fire at him in self-defense.
NATO said Afghan and coalition forces also captured five insurgents on Saturday, two in the central province of Wardak and three others in Kandahar.
The Taliban had warned that it would launch the springtime offensive against U.S.-led NATO forces and their Afghan government allies on Sunday. The militant group said its targets would include military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council, a group that is trying to negotiate a settlement to the war.
The Taliban also urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of coalition and Afghan forces. The United Nations has said attacks by Taliban-led insurgents were responsible for three-quarters of all civilian deaths in Afghanistan last year. It said 2,777 Afghan civilians were killed in 2010, a 15 percent increase over the previous year.
The top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, appealed Saturday for pro-government forces and Taliban militants 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 not to use improvised explosive devices indiscriminately, and he called on Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and nighttime raids targeting militants.
Attacks in Afghanistan Kill 11 People on 1st Day of Taliban ‘Offensive’
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 2:05 pm UTC
Posted 5 days ago
Afghan officials say at least 11 people have been killed in a series of insurgent attacks around the country on the first day of a militant springtime offensive declared by the Taliban.
In one of Sunday's attacks, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in a marketplace in the southeastern province of Paktika that killed four people, including the head of a district council in the Shakeen area. Another 12 people were wounded.
A provincial government spokesman says the suicide bomber was 12 years old. It was unclear how authorities determined the bomber's age. It is rare for the Taliban to use suicide bombers that young.
In another attack, insurgents ambushed a police vehicle in the eastern province of Ghazni, triggering a gunfight in which two policemen and two civilians were killed. Also in Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle blew up near the provincial police headquarters, wounding at least 11 people.
Elsewhere, an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province killed at least two people, while gunmen on a motorbike killed an Afghan soldier in the southern city of Kandahar.
The Taliban had warned that it would launch its annual springtime offensive against U.S.-led NATO forces and their Afghan government allies on Sunday. It said the targets would include military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council, a group that is trying to negotiate a settlement to the war.
The Taliban also urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of coalition and Afghan forces.
The top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, issued an appeal Saturday for pro-government forces and Taliban militants 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 not to use improvised explosive devices indiscriminately and called on Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and nighttime raids targeting militants.
In one of Sunday's attacks, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in a marketplace in the southeastern province of Paktika that killed four people, including the head of a district council in the Shakeen area. Another 12 people were wounded.
A provincial government spokesman says the suicide bomber was 12 years old. It was unclear how authorities determined the bomber's age. It is rare for the Taliban to use suicide bombers that young.
In another attack, insurgents ambushed a police vehicle in the eastern province of Ghazni, triggering a gunfight in which two policemen and two civilians were killed. Also in Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle blew up near the provincial police headquarters, wounding at least 11 people.
Elsewhere, an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province killed at least two people, while gunmen on a motorbike killed an Afghan soldier in the southern city of Kandahar.
The Taliban had warned that it would launch its annual springtime offensive against U.S.-led NATO forces and their Afghan government allies on Sunday. It said the targets would include military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council, a group that is trying to negotiate a settlement to the war.
The Taliban also urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of coalition and Afghan forces.
The top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, issued an appeal Saturday for pro-government forces and Taliban militants 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 not to use improvised explosive devices indiscriminately and called on Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and nighttime raids targeting militants.
Deadly Attacks Hit Afghanistan
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 10:45 am UTC
Posted 5 days ago
A wave of deadly attacks hit Afghanistan Sunday.
The Taliban said last week it would launch a spring offensive Sunday against the U.S.-led coalition and its allies.
On the first day of the announced offensive, violence across Afghanistan has killed at least 8 people and wounded about two dozen others.
Afghan authorities say a 12-year-old suicide bomber wearing a vest filled with explosives blew himself up in the Barmal district of the eastern Paktika province, killing four people and wounding 12 others.
In southwest Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle wounded at least 11 people when it exploded near police headquarters.
Also in Ghazni, a gunman killed two policemen and wounded a bystander.
A roadside bomb blast killed a guard in the Charkh district of Logar province.
And, an Afghan soldier was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike in Kandahar city.
The U.N. chief in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, had asked insurgents to not indiscriminately use improvised explosive devices. And he urged Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and night raids.
The Taliban has said it will target military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials.
The insurgents have also encouraged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
The Taliban said last week it would launch a spring offensive Sunday against the U.S.-led coalition and its allies.
On the first day of the announced offensive, violence across Afghanistan has killed at least 8 people and wounded about two dozen others.
Afghan authorities say a 12-year-old suicide bomber wearing a vest filled with explosives blew himself up in the Barmal district of the eastern Paktika province, killing four people and wounding 12 others.
In southwest Ghazni, a bomb planted on a bicycle wounded at least 11 people when it exploded near police headquarters.
Also in Ghazni, a gunman killed two policemen and wounded a bystander.
A roadside bomb blast killed a guard in the Charkh district of Logar province.
And, an Afghan soldier was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike in Kandahar city.
The U.N. chief in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, had asked insurgents to not indiscriminately use improvised explosive devices. And he urged Afghan and coalition forces to better regulate air strikes and night raids.
The Taliban has said it will target military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials.
The insurgents have also encouraged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
UN: All Parties Must Protect Afghans in Spring Offensive
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 6:10 am UTC
Posted 5 days ago
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 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 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 Paktika province Sunday, Afghan police say a suicide bomber blew himself up in the Barmal district, killing at least three people and wounding about 11 others.
The Taliban has said it will target military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council – a group that is trying to develop a negotiated settlement to end the war.
The insurgents have also encouraged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
Senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition and Western diplomats in Afghanistan have warned they expect a surge in militant attacks.
The U.N. chief in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said 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 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 Paktika province Sunday, Afghan police say a suicide bomber blew himself up in the Barmal district, killing at least three people and wounding about 11 others.
The Taliban has said it will target military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council – a group that is trying to develop a negotiated settlement to end the war.
The insurgents have also encouraged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces.
Senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition and Western diplomats in Afghanistan have warned they expect a surge in militant attacks.
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