Afghanistan

Yemeni says bin Laden was at Tora Bora

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A doctor who treated wounded al-Qaida fighters at Tora Bora in Afghanistan has confirmed Osama bin Laden was at the mountain stronghold as U.S. and Afghan forces attacked — and said the al-Qaida chieftain seemed concerned about only his own welfare.

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Fifty more Taliban said killed in new Afghan clashes

KABUL (AFP) – More than 50 insurgents were killed in fresh fighting between Taliban-led rebels and soldiers from Afghan and international forces, the US-led coalition and police said Wednesday.Troops pounded suspected militants in the central province of Ghazni in battles that ended early Wednesday, the coalition said, adding that “several …

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Afghan gov says Taliban kidnapper killed

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan forces said Tuesday that they killed a Taliban commander behind the kidnapping of South Korean church workers, less than a week after the hostages were let go under a deal seen as a propaganda coup for the hard-line Islamic militia A Taliban spokesman denied any of …

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Afghan Taliban vow to kidnap, kill more foreigners

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s Taliban plan to abduct and kill more nationals from foreign countries whose troops serve under NATO and the U.S. military in the country, a spokesman for the Islamic movement warned on Monday.The vow comes just days after the Taliban released 19 South Korean hostages after their …

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Ex-hostages say Taliban beat them for refusing to convert

SEOUL (AFP) – Some of the South Korean Christian aid workers held hostage by Afghanistan’s Taliban said they were beaten for refusing to convert to Islam and protecting female captives, a hospital chief said Monday.We found through medical checks that some male hostages were beaten,” Cha Seung-Gyun told reporters after …

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Scores of Taliban said killed in Afghan, NATO raid

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) – Military forces fought major battles with Taliban just outside Kandahar city that Afghan police said killed more than 120 rebels, although the US military issued a much lower toll.Afghan and international soldiers raided what they said was a Taliban headquarters in an operation that started late …

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No health problems for SKorean ex-hostages

SEOUL (AFP) – The South Koreans who were held hostage for six weeks by Afghanistan’s Taliban have no serious health problems, a hospital official said Monday. The 19 Christian aid workers arrived home Sunday after Seoul government negotiators reached a deal for their release, and were taken to Sam Anyang …

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Calling all tourists to Bamiyan

Breakfast is being prepared at the Abdul Hamid Hotel. The proprietor, Abdul Hamid, is rushing around with his helpers preparing a meal of unleavened Afghan bread and a thick white butter, and omelettes. This is a popular breakfast stop, about two hours up from Bamiyan town into the hills on …

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British war on Afghan drugs ‘complete failure’: vice-president

LONDON (AFP) – Britain’s battle against the drugs trade in southern Afghanistan has been a total failure, the troubled country’s vice-president said Sunday.The drugs eradication policy is simply too soft and it is time to get tough, Ahmad Zia Massoud wrote in the British weekly newspaper The Sunday Telegraph. Poppy …

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