Afghanistan

Villagers back in damaged Afghan village

By FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Villagers trickled back to their damaged farms, descending from the hills with their belongings in bundles or on donkeys Tuesday after a NATO operation in their valley killed some 75 suspected Taliban fighters. The latest salvo in the alliance’s campaign to win control of southern …

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Afghan president decries civilian deaths

By ALISA TANG, Associated Press Afghans can no longer accept or understand civilian deaths from international military operations, President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday after officials said 51 villagers were killed during a U.S.-led offensive against the Taliban in western Afghanistan. Despite claims that women and children were among the dead, …

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Probes find 50 Afghan civilians killed in US-led action

AFP – Investigations into a US-led offensive in western Afghanistan at the weekend found around 50 civilians were killed, officials said Wednesday, as President Hamid Karzai summoned the top US general over the casualties. The US-led coalition has said it is not aware of any civilian deaths following the offensive, …

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As Funding Increases, Afghan Forces Range From Ragtag to Ready

KABUL, Afghanistan — Faizal Karim, a sophomore at the National Military Academy here, stood outside a classroom holding his English-language homework assignment. For a group of cadets nearby, a lecture in physics was ending. Bright-eyed, articulate and in a four-year course modeled after the United States Military Academy at West …

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Afghans protest deaths in U.S.-led raid

By RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press A U.S.-led raid Sunday on a suspected militant cell killed as many as six Afghans — including a woman and a teenage girl — and spawned protests by hundreds of angry Afghans chanting “Death to Bush!” The U.S. said four militants were among the dead, …

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Pakistan, Afghanistan agree for anti-terror cooperation

The News (Pakistan) – The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed Monday to fight terrorism and deny training and financing to terrorists in both countries. Brought together by Turkish leaders, the pair issued a joint statement stressing a mutual commitment to fighting terrorism after meeting at Turkey’s presidential palace. “The …

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21 Taliban reported dead in Afghanistan

AP – Afghan and coalition forces clashed with Taliban militants Saturday in separate incidents in the east and south, killing 21 insurgents, officials said. The police and Taliban engaged in a one-hour gun battle in the Alishar district of Khost province, said Wazir Padshah, a spokesman for the provincial police. …

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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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