Salem-News.com Afghanistan articles Page 11

5 US Troops Killed in Afghan Helicopter Crash

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

(KANDAHAR VOA) - U.S. officials say five American members of the NATO-led coalition force died when their helicopter crashed in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan.

Local officials said there were no survivors of the crash, which took place Monday during a heavy rainstorm. Those authorities say there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.

Did a Plane Really Hit the Pentagon?

I remember national news reports, or should I say accounts, of the plane having "bounced" off the lawn in front of the Pentagon before it struck. I remember just nodding my head, it wasn't something to question at the time...

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - I had a friend ask the other day if I'd heard about the strange circumstances behind the crash of the Boeing 757 jet into the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001.

What he told me sent a chill down my spine, I almost wish I could have gone longer without knowing it.

Karzai: U.S., Taliban Holding `Daily` Talks

Karzai and Hagel were expected to meet in private.

(KABUL Radio Free Europe) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that representatives of the Taliban have been holding talks "on a daily basis" with the U.S. government.

Karzai said the talks have taken place in "European and Gulf countries," despite the fact that the Taliban reportedly broke off contacts with the United States last year.

Hagel, Karzai Press Conference in Kabul Cancelled

The Karzai government also alleged that U.S.-led forces working alongside Afghans were abusing and arresting university students.

(KABUL VOA News) - U.S. officials say security concerns forced the cancellation of a scheduled news conference Sunday in Kabul with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Authorities did not elaborate on the security issues, but a day earlier, two suicide bombings -- one in Kabul and the other in Khost -- killed 19 people.

Situation of Afghan Women Improving, Official Says

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Afghanistan has reported that Afghan women continue to suffer from the effects of the Taliban- led violence and armed conflicts.

(KABUL Xinhua) - Although the situation of women in the post-Taliban Afghanistan has been improving, it still has a long way to go in gender equality.

This statement comes from Public Health Minister Suraya Dalil, who also calls for empowering women in society.

Minister Claims School Arson Not the Work of Taliban

The analysts also commented that such statements might be a way to encourage more support for the Taliban to support the upcoming elections in 2014.

(KABUL TOLOnews.com) - Minister of Education Farooq Wardak has raised the ire of political analysts with claims that the recent arson of Afghan schools is not the work of the Taliban.

Wardak said the anti-government groups operating in Afghanistan do not have any intention or aim to set schools alight...

Afghan Civilians Suffer Casualties in Australian Troops Operation

Australian has around 1,000 troops under the NATO serving in Afghanistan.

(KABUL Khaama Press) - An incident allegedly involving civilian casualties took place during an Australian military operation in Afghanistan.

The Australian Defence Force and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, has confirmed that Australian troops were involved in an “operational incident” in north-west Uruzgan, ABC news reported.

Taliban Attack On Afghan Police Checkpoint Kills 17

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed the attack for the militants in a phone call to French news agency AFP.

(KABUL Radio Free Europe/Radio Libert) - Afghan officials say a Taliban attack on a police checkpoint in the country's east has left 17 people dead.

The details of the predawn attack are unclear, and officials said they were investigating how the militants breached security at the post in Ghazni Province.

Senior Taliban Leader Captured in Eastern Afghanistan

Afghan police, army and coalition forces detained a total of 22 armed Taliban insurgents.

(KABUL Xinhua) - A senior Taliban leader was arrested Sunday morning in eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

ISAF said Afghan and coalition forces say the senior Taliban leader and three other insurgents were in Khugyani district.

Interview: History Shows You Invade Afghanistan At Your Peril

"One thing to state clearly is that Afghanistan is a difficult place to rule -- for anyone to rule." - Author William Dalrymple

(Kabul Radio Free Europe/Radio Libert) - A new book, "Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan 1839-1842," draws on Afghanistan's violent history to provide lessons for its future.

"The Return of a King" is about the first British assault on Afghanistan. In 1839, 18,000 East India Company and British troops marched through the Bolan and Khojak passes and conquered Afghanistan...