Friday, January 23, 2009

Suspected U.S. drone fires into Pakistan killing nine

A suspected U.S. drone fired a missile into northwestern Pakistan killing nine people according to local witnesses.

The missile struck a a village near the town of Mirali in North Waziristan, a stronghold of al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

If confirmed, this would be the first unilateral attack by the United States into Pakistan since U.S. President Barack Obama came into power. Islamabad has objected to these attacks claiming that they do not help in the battle against insurgents, and undermine Western-friendly groups within the country.

The U.S. generally has neither owned up to or denied the cross border attacks from Afghanistan.



Boston Globe

Pakistan drone attack kills nine
BBC News - 1 hour ago
A suspected US drone missile attack has killed nine people in north-western Pakistan, local witnesses say. At least one missile hit a house in a village near the town of Mirali in North Waziristan, a stronghold of al-Qaeda and Taleban militants.
Suspected US Missile Strike Kills 9 in Pakistan Voice of America
Suspected US missile strike kills 10 in Pakistan The Associated Press

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

NATO chief congratulates Barack Obama

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer Tuesday congratulated Barack Obama on his inauguration as the new president of the United States.

"President Obama takes up his responsibilities at a time when the international community faces great challenges, but also great opportunities to build a safer, more secure world. The NATO Allies, including the United States, stand together to help reach that goal," said de Hoop Scheffer.

"The United States has played a leading role within NATO since the alliance was founded in 1949. I have no doubt that President Obama will carry on that tradition," he said.

NATO, including the United States, are fighting a war in Afghanistan.




BBC News

NATO chief congratulates Obama on inauguration
Xinhua - 3 hours ago
BRUSSELS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Tuesday congratulated Barack Obama on his inauguration as the new US president.
Video: Afghanistan struggles with unemployment - 20 Jan 09 AlJazeeraEnglish
Afghanistan seeks control over NATO deployments The Associated Press

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Pakistan Parliament rejects "American war"

Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution Friday calling for dialogue with insurgents and an end to military action along its borders.

The move, which was passed overwhelmingly by parliamentarians, is apparently a response to unilateral US attacks across the border from Afghanistan. The resolution vows to halt such attacks against militants based in the tribal border regions.

"We need to prioritise our own national security interests," said Raza Rabbani, a leading member of the ruling Pakistan People's party. "As far as the US is concerned, the message that has gone with this resolution will definitely ring alarm bells, vis-a-vis their policy of bulldozing Pakistan."

Yesterday, suspected US drones attacked a madrasa suspected of links with the Taliban killing 11 people in Pakistani territory.




Reuters AlertNet

Pakistan rejects 'America's war' on extremists
guardian.co.uk - 9 hours ago
Serious doubts multiplied yesterday about Pakistan's commitment to America's military campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban after parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for dialogue with extremist groups and an end to military action ...
Pakistan Plan to Arm Tribal Militias Poses Risks Voice of America
Pakistani tribal militias walk tightrope in Taliban fight International Herald Tribune

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Sunday, July 13, 2008

Battle kills 15 NATO, nine U.S. troops

There was more evidence of a resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan after heavy fighting yesterday killed nine U.S. troops and 15 other NATO military personnel near the Pakistan border.

Many analysts believe that the renewed ability of the Taliban is possible because resources have been diverted away from Afghanistan to the "surge" in Iraq.

The insurgents fought NATO troops with machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.


Times Online

Nine US troops die in Taliban assault on Afghan base
guardian.co.uk - 1 hour ago
The Nato-led effort to subdue the Taliban suffered one its heaviest blows since the 2001 invasion yesterday when nine US soldiers were killed and 15 other Nato troops injured in a day-long battle in a region close to the Pakistan border.
Video: 9 US Soldiers Killed in Afghan Attack AssociatedPress
Heavy Fighting in Afghanistan Kills 9 Americans, Many Insurgents Voice of America

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Sunday, July 06, 2008

Afghanistan fighting worries McCain camp

The John McCain camp is starting to feel some heat over the situation in Afghanistan and the rise of radical Islamism in North Africa.

Barack Obama has argued that the Iraq War has diverted resources from attacking the heart of the al-Qaeda organization.


GulfNews

As Afghanistan boils, McCain keeps focus on Iraq
Christian Science Monitor - 7 hours ago
For voters, a resurgent Taliban may challenge McCain's view that Iraq is the center of the war on terror. By Ariel Sabar | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor WASHINGTON - John McCain has called Iraq the "central front" of the war on terror, ...
McCain Camp Hits Obama Again FOXNews
Lieberman: Obama 'shifting' United Press International

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Monday, June 30, 2008

Afghan Casualties Exceed Iraq Toll

With Washington focusing on the downturn of violence in Iraq since the beginning of the "surge," fighting has more quietly increased in Afghanistan.

In June, more U.S. and NATO troops were killed than in Iraq for the second straight month.

U.S. presidential candidate John McCain has touted the surge as a successful strategy in his campaign speeches.

US, NATO deaths in Afghanistan pass Iraq toll (AP)

In a Wednesday, June 25, 2008 file photo, Canadian soldiers with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) leave an armored vehicle as an Afghan helicopter flies overhead in the Arghandab district after it was recaptured by NATO and Afghan troops from Taliban militants last week in Kandahar province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq, File)AP - Militants killed more U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan in June than in Iraq for the second straight month, a grim milestone capping a run of headline-grabbing insurgent attacks that analysts say underscore the Taliban's growing strength.




Other news from the region:


Washington Post

Would-be Karzai assassins were Afghans
United Press International - 3 hours ago
KABUL, Afghanistan, June 30 (UPI) -- The alleged members of an assassination plot against Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai were mostly government employees, officials said.
No Afghan peace while Taliban have sanctuary - NATO Reuters
Afghan officials linked to attempt on Karzai’s life The Post

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