Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – A rocket landed in a crowd of civilians near Kabul’s police headquarters Saturday, and a truck full of rockets smuggled into the city under a pile of hay exploded nearby moments later, officials said. At least five people were killed.

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Defense Secretary Robert Gates is asking European allies for more troops to help stabilize Afghanistan, where the government is weak, the insurgency is relentless and casualties are mounting.

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan and NATO-led troops killed, wounded and detained hundreds of insurgents during fighting in the Taliban’s biggest stronghold, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan and NATO forces seized the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala on Tuesday, a symbolic victory for the Afghan government and its Western backers, but one which may do little to stop the insurgents from carrying out attacks.

ARLINGTON, Va. (12/11/2007) – Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Such is the philosophy behind the Army National Guard’s use of an all-Soldier team of agricultural experts to improve agri-business in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters retreated in trucks and motorbikes from a key southern Afghan community they overran last February as Afghan and international troops closed in on the town’s center.

Kabul – After six years of war, thousands of casualties and billions of dollars spent, the Taliban remains a bold force to be reckoned with, and seems far from being eliminated. As the first flakes of snow fall on the mountains, yet another year is passing without any clear hope …

TEHRAN — United Nations representative to Afghanistan Tom Koenings here on Sunday held a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki on recent developments and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. 

12-10-2007 Afghan and NATO troops fought to within a mile (two kilometres) Monday of the southern town of Musa Qala in a major offensive against Taliban insurgents holed up inside, defence officials said.

* Defence ministry spokesman says town has become base for ‘foreign terrorists’ KABUL: A NATO soldier, two children and 12 “terrorists” have been killed in the first day of an operation to retake the southern Afghan town of Musa Qala, the Afghan defence ministry said on Saturday.