KABUL – Amid political bickering in Washington and Brussels, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which assumed command of international military operations for Afghanistan last October, is struggling to assert a new image – one that Afghans can get their minds around. “We are determined to build the NATO brand …

The Afghan government admitted yesterday it had struck a deal with Taliban kidnappers to secure the freedom of an Italian hostage. An Italian aid agency said Daniele Mastrogiacomo, a journalist with La Repubblica newspaper, was freed only after five Taliban militants had been released from prison.President Hamid Karzai’s spokesmen admitted …

The Iranian ambassador to France said that there reside two important points in Iran’s nuclear case i.e. recognition of Iran’s right in compliance with the NPT rules and regulations for the use of peaceful nuclear technology and presentation of guarantees concerning non-diversion of Iran’s nuclear program to military.