Taliban

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Bhutto's Death Just Pakistan's Latest Unsolved Mystery

Political deaths many; 'truth never comes out'

(Newser) - Moments after Benazir Bhutto was killed—whether by gun, bomb, or hitting her head on a sunroof—came another disturbing image. Workers hosed blood from the streets, washing away potential evidence, the Washington Post reports—and ensuring yet another whodunit to Pakistan's long list of unsolved political murders. "I...

Al-Qaeda Killed Bhutto, Pakistan Says
Al-Qaeda
Killed Bhutto,
Pakistan Says

Al-Qaeda Killed Bhutto, Pakistan Says

Reported causes of ex-PM's death include shrapnel, blow to head

(Newser) - The suicide bomber who killed Benazir Bhutto belonged to a militant group with links to Al-Qaeda, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry told GEO-TV today, fingering Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an outlawed Sunni group blamed for hundreds of killings.The US State Department considers the group a terrorist organization with links to the Taliban. The...

Did the US Do Enough for Bhutto?
Did the US
Do Enough
for Bhutto?

Did the US Do Enough for Bhutto?

American officials too trusting of Musharraf security, say critics

(Newser) - Finger pointing has begun in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto—and several fingers are pointing at Washington, reports Time magazine. Critics say the White House is so committed to supporting President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the war against terror, that the US has been too...

Afghanistan Deports EU, UN Diplomats
Afghanistan Deports EU,
UN Diplomats

Afghanistan Deports EU, UN Diplomats

Pair accused of meeting, paying Taliban leaders

(Newser) - Two veteran diplomats left Afghanistan today after failing to refute accusations that they’d met with the Taliban, Reuters reports. A UN spokesman said the men were only “speaking to people on the ground,” and would return, but Afghan officials were resolute about barring the EU and UN...

Bhutto Killing: Who Did It?
Bhutto Killing: Who Did It?

Bhutto Killing: Who Did It?

With ex-PM targeted by Taliban, aides fault security, suspect 'rogue elements' in military

(Newser) - There are no official suspects in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto at a political rally today, but suspicion centers on Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants who made death threats against her in recent months, targeting her as pro-American. Bhutto aides are already faulting Pakistan's military establishment  for not providing adequate...

UK-Taliban Secret Talks Come to Light

Despite denials, British intelligence organized series of 'jirgas'

(Newser) - British intelligence agents held a series of secret talks with leading members of the Taliban this summer, reports the Telegraph. At jirgas in Afghanistan, the country's secret service attempted peace negotiations and offered "mentoring." Details of the meetings—as many as a half dozen—emerged just as Afghan...

Euro Envoys Booted by Afghanis for Taliban Talks

Diplomatic row over alleged Taliban meeting

(Newser) - European officials were scrambling today to block Afghanistan's ordered expulsion of two high-ranking foreign officials because of an alleged link to Taliban insurgents, the BBC reports. Afghan authorities claim that the men, one an Irish envoy from the EU and the other a British UN official, met with Taliban members...

US Billions in Pakistan Wasted
US Billions in Pakistan Wasted

US Billions in Pakistan Wasted

Money earmarked for war on terror diverted to shore up regime

(Newser) - Billions of dollars the US gave to Pakistan to bolster counterterrorism efforts against al-Qaeda apparently have been diverted to prop up President Pervez Musharraf's government and finance weapons systems aimed at India, reports the New York Times. Because the US has failed to properly monitor military aid programs, progress against...

Sarko Stalwart Against Taliban
Sarko Stalwart Against Taliban

Sarko Stalwart Against Taliban

French president says he'll commit more troops to Afghan conflict

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy said today the international community must prevent Afghanistan from falling back under extremist rule, the BBC reports. The French president made a quick visit to Kabul to reaffirm his support for the US-led operation, saying France would commit more troops in the near future. France currently has about...

Hollywood Is 'Like Al-Qaeda,' Says Everett

It's no wonder Jodie waited so long to come out, gay star rails

(Newser) - The fact that Jodie Foster finally came out of the closet last week doesn't mean Hollywood is getting more tolerant of gay actors, British actor Rupert Everett fumed in an interview in the Times of London. "It's the opposite," he said. "She is 45 and she just...

Troubled Afghan Mission Under Review

Prospect of failure in 'forgotten war' prompts probes, if not surge

(Newser) - With insurgent violence in Afghanistan soaring to the highest level since 2001, the Bush administration and NATO have begun three sweeping reviews of a mission that was considered a success, but now seems increasingly threatened. Lack of coordination in fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda, rising opium production, and the weakness...

UK Wants to Talk to Taliban
UK Wants to Talk to Taliban

UK Wants to Talk to Taliban

Brown to announce major revision of Afghan strategy, rankling Washington

(Newser) - Just back from Kabul, Gordon Brown is poised to announce a major strategic revision in Afghanistan that will involve dialogue with the Taliban. Senior British officials believe that treating the loose-knit organization as a unified terrorist actor is counterproductive, the Independent reports, and they want to move from fighting militants...

NATO &amp; Afghan Forces Rout Taliban
NATO & Afghan Forces
Rout Taliban

NATO & Afghan Forces Rout Taliban

Taliban leaves stronghold as UK Prime Minister arrives

(Newser) - Taliban troops retreated from their last major stronghold in the southern town of Musa Qala in Afghanistan yesterday, ceding control to NATO and Afghan troops, the New York Times reports. After heavy bombardment and a troop attack, the Taliban was overcome by "heavy casualties," said a local police...

40 Taliban Die in Afghan Clashes
40 Taliban Die in Afghan Clashes

40 Taliban Die in Afghan Clashes

Three days of battle latest sign of Taliban surge

(Newser) - Some 40 Taliban insurgents were killed in three days of clashes with Afghani and US-led foreign forces in the mountainous Shah Wali Kot district in southern Kandahar province, reports AP. Forces launched pitched battles against various pockets of Taliban strongholds in the area and called in airstrikes.

Osama Tape Cautions Europeans
Osama Tape Cautions Europeans

Osama Tape Cautions Europeans

Al-Qaeda leader urges withdrawal from Afghanistan

(Newser) - A new audio tape has Osama Bin Laden calling for European nations to sever military ties with US forces in Afghanistan. Cable network Al Jazeera today broadcast portions of the tape, in which a voice resembling Bin Laden's denies allegations that the Taliban, then ruling Afghanistan, knew of the Sept....

Taliban Reclaiming Afghanistan
Taliban Reclaiming Afghanistan

Taliban Reclaiming Afghanistan

Now established in 54% of country and headed for Kabul

(Newser) - The Taliban is rapidly regaining control of Afghanistan, according to a report released by the Senlis Council, an independent think tank. The insurgency has established a permanent presence in 54% of the country, including "important road arteries," and the Taliban's goal of reaching Kabul in 2008 seems "...

40 Taliban Militants Killed in New Pakistan Battle

Area residents continue to flee as militants dig in

(Newser) - Dozens of Taliban militants have been killed in new fighting in northwest Pakistan, reports AP. Pakistani security forces moved into the Swat valley in the latest battle against supporters of hardline Islamic cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who is calling for Islamist rule in the area. Militants from Afghanistan have been crossing...

US Aims to Enlist Tribes in Pakistan

Proposal would train, pay tribes to fight Taliban and al Qaeda

(Newser) - The US military would like to enlist Pakistani tribesmen in the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda, importing the strategy that's been used successfully in Anbar province in Iraq. The classified proposal would see more American military trainers heading for Pakistan—where we have only 50 troops now—and...

US Seeks 'Plan B' in Pakistan
US Seeks 'Plan B' in Pakistan

US Seeks 'Plan B' in Pakistan

American officials cast around for a new leader should Musharraf totter

(Newser) - As Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf continues to crack down on opponents, the US is losing faith in his ability to survive, the New York Times reports. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will meet with Musharraf tomorrow in an effort to help calm the situation, but administration officials are already...

Afghan Blast Killed 59 Children
Afghan Blast Killed 59 Children

Afghan Blast Killed 59 Children

Death toll reaches 75; police have detained two suspects

(Newser) - The death toll from Tuesday's suicide bombing in northern Afghanistan has been revised up to 75, CNN reports, including 59  schoolchildren who had come to greet the visiting dignitaries who were the target of the attack. The blast also claimed five teachers, six lawmakers, and five of their guards. Police...

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