Afghanistan

Taliban claims French woman released

By ALISA TANG, Associated Press The Afghan government said it was investigating Taliban claims Saturday that the militants have released a French aid worker who was kidnapped early this month along with another French citizen and three Afghan colleagues. Purported Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said that the French woman …

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Afghan president calls on Taliban to stop fighting

AFP – President Hamid Karzai reiterated his calls for Taliban fighters to put down their arms at a military parade Saturday that showed off Afghanistan’s newly-acquired weaponry and growing army. The president and his cabinet were among scores of dignitaries at a march-past of soldiers and equipment, much of it …

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Efforts to eradicate polio in Afghanistan move forward

Unicef – Afghanistan continues its efforts to eradicate polio in the country. In a nation-wide campaign held from 22-24 April 2007, nearly 7.3 million children were vaccinated, bringing the country – and the world – one step closer to polio eradication. Afghanistan is one of just four remaining polio-endemic countries …

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”Afghanistan’s Role in Iranian Foreign Policy”

By Dario Cristiani, The Power and Interest News Report (PINR) The United States recently accused Iran of increasing its influence in Afghanistan. General Peter Pace, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that “in the last month, we have intercepted in Afghanistan weapons that were made in …

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French hostages are well, Taliban say

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) – Two French aid workers held by the Taliban in Afghanistan are well, the Islamist movement said, a day ahead of an apparent deadline for demands to be met for their freedom. The Taliban, which has beheaded several of its captives, said April 20 French troops must …

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Attacks kill 19 in Afghanistan

AFP – Fresh attacks in Afghanistan killed 19 people, including six soldiers in a roadside bombing, officials said Wednesday, as the Taliban stepped up its campaign against the government. The bomb struck an Afghan army vehicle on Wednesday in Paktika province, which is on the border with Pakistan, army commander …

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Afghanistan ‘will do all it can’ to stop Pakistan border fence

AFP – Afghanistan will use all means to stop Pakistan erecting a fence on their border to stop the movement of Taliban militants, the foreign ministry said. The ministry also denied Afghanistan had apologised for an incident last week in which its troops tore down part of the new fence …

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Afghanistan’s bloody new year

BBC News – The Taleban have threatened that hundreds of suicide bombers will attack the Afghan government and foreign military targets this year. Mark Dummett reports from Kabul on the increasing fear of violence in the country. It seems as if the Taleban’s much-hyped spring offensive may have finally begun, …

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Taliban threatens countrywide attacks in Afghanistan

AFP – Taliban insurgents Saturday vowed a new round of attacks against Afghan and foreign troops in the war-torn country, promising to focus more attention on the relatively-peaceful north. Naming the new drive “Ghazwatul Badr” after the historic battle fought by the Prophet Mohammed some 1,400 years ago, a Taliban …

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Taliban’s elusive leader urges more suicide raids

By Saeed Ali Achakzai, Reuters The fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has urged his followers to step up suicide attacks on foreign and Afghan troops and remain united, according to a Taliban commander. Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent weeks after a winter lull, following last year’s bloodiest …

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