Salem-News.com Afghanistan articles Page 6

Taliban Shadow District Governor Killed in Herat Province

Adraskan district chief Haji Lal Mohammad Omarzai confirmed that the shadow governor and deputy governor of the Taliban group in Shindand were killed during the operations.

(KABUL) - According to local authorities in western Herat province of Afghanistan, Taliban shadow district governor for Shindand was killed during a military operation by Afghan special forces.

A local security official in Adraskan district confirmed the report and said seven other militants were also killed during the operation.

Taliban Militants Lay Down Arms in N. Afghanistan

More than 4,000 militants, according to Afghan officials, have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rejected by Taliban outfit as baseless.

( PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan Xinhua) - Fourteen members of the Taliban insurgent group laid down arms and surrendered in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan Province on Saturday, provincial police chief Aminullah Omarkhil said.

"A total of 14 Taliban militants handed over their weapons to police and joined the peace process in Dande Ghori district on Saturday morning," Amarkhil told newsmen at a press conference.

Sharif In Kabul Pledges Support For Peace Talks

Relations between the two countries have been marked by tensions, with Afghanistan often accusing Pakistan of aiding Taliban leaders sheltering across the border.

(KABULRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) - During a visit to Kabul, Pakistan's prime minister has said he supports Afghan efforts to seek peace with the Taliban. Nawaz Sharif was speaking after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on November 30. He said the recent release of a senior Taliban leader shows he is committed to helping bring peace to Afghanistan.

"I have assured my brother, President Karzai, that Pakistan would continue to extend all possible facilitation for the Afghan peace process," he said.

AFGHANISTAN: The Duvet Project (Winter 2013-14)

Scores of people, including children, have frozen to death over the past few winters in Kabul.

(KABUL) - In late 2012 and early 2013, many of you were part of a crucial project that helped many hundreds of people in Kabul, Afghanistan survive winter’s freezing temperatures.

We’re writing to again invite your participation in “The Duvet Project,” which aims to make and deliver heavy wool-stuffed coverlets, (duvets), free of charge, to families in need of warmth as they face harsh winter weather.

10 More Years in Afghanistan

The U.S. public has been telling pollsters we want all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan "as soon as possible" for years and years.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - When Barack Obama became president, there were 32,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He escalated to over 100,000 troops, plus contractors. Now there are 47,000 troops these five years later.

Measured in financial cost, or death and destruction, Afghanistan is more President Obama's war than President Bush's. Now the White House is trying to keep troops in Afghanistan until "2024 and beyond."

Don`t Cry For Me, Karzai

With Karzai not playing nice anymore and following the same pattern all these setup leaders did, he probably won't last much longer.

(COLORADO SPRINGS) - Who is Hamid Karzai? What offer is he waiting for from the US? Is this to be another Noriega situation?

To some, Hamid Karzai has been a key person of interest for a long time now. To others, he just sort of came out of nowhere, and was made leader of a country undergoing a huge globalized makeover. It seems this started for Karzai back in the 80s while part of the Mujahidin that were fighting the soviets during that war in Afghanistan. Karzai was working with the CIA as a contact/contractor, and is still on the payroll today.

Afghan Elders Support Immediate Signing of US Security Deal

Karzai shocked Washington by saying that he would not sign the pact until after the April 2015 presidential elections.

(KABUL) - Even as tribal elders discuss the details of a 10-year security pact with the United States, controversy is swirling over the Afghan president’s announcement that he would delay signing the deal for several months.

In a direct rebuke to Hamid Karzai, the head of a 2,500-strong gathering of tribal and community leaders on Saturday said if the assembly approves the so-called Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States, the deal should be signed right away.

Karzai to Delay Signing Afghanistan Security Pact

Karzai's latest move jeopardizes international funding for Afghanistan, and comes after he gave an impassioned speech to 2,500 tribal, community and elected leaders, voicing his support for the pact.

(KABUL VOA News) - A national assembly of Afghan leaders continues to consider a new security pact with the U.S. on Friday following an abrupt move by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Karzai surprised U.S. and Afghan officials on Thursday when he said he is considering delaying the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement until after the April 2014 Afghan presidential elections.

1 Million Christmas Cards for POW Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl

Five years later, an American Prisoner of War in Afghanistan is remembered.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Bowe Robert Bergdahl is a United States Army soldier who has been in the captivity of the Taliban-aligned Afghanistan Haqqani network since June 2009. This will be Bowe Bergdahl’s fifth (5th) Christmas in captivity.

Bowe supporters started a campaign to let the White House know, we have not forgotten him.

Afghan Senators to Boycott Jirga

The Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami Party condemned the Jirga last week, saying that even considering prolonging U.S. involvement in Afghan affairs was a crime against the country.

(KABUL) - A number of Afghan Senators on Sunday voiced criticisms of the upcoming Loya Jirga and said that they would not participate in the gathering.

The Loya Jirga, which will convene on Thursday, will bring together thousands of government, religious and tribal leaders from around the country to discuss the Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).