27 April, 2009

5 militants killed, 10 more arrested in S Afghanistan
Xinhua – China
… Afghan troops backed by Coalition forces patrolled to a compound in Sarkani district in Kunar province of eastern Afghanistan, where suspected Al Qaida …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/27/content_11266847.htm

Pro-Taliban Group Suspends Peace Talks With Pakistan
Bloomberg – USA
Taliban guerrillas have increased their foothold in Pakistan, advancing from the mountainous border with Afghanistan to take over Swat, where militants have …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206
01091&sid=aWx6f8hm9ZaM&refer=india

‘Civilians flee’ Pakistan clashes
Aljazeera.net – Qatar
The district, which lies in the Malakand division of the North-West Frontier province is close to the border with Afghanistan. “Lal Qila in Lower Dir has …
english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/04/200942734754696588.html

Obama leading US ideological shift
Reuters – USA
He has worked to reduce US troops in Iraq and beef up forces in Afghanistan. Ahead lie tests from the Taliban’s rise in nuclear-armed Pakistan, …
www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUSTRE53Q0LS20090427

Op-Ed Contributor Changing the American Mind
New York Times – United States
Yes, Mr. Obama is confronting two low-intensity wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a recession, rising unemployment, a failed auto industry and chronic health …
www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/opinion/26smith.html

Canada making progress in Afghanistan, area mayors hear
Pembroke Daily Observer – Ontario, Canada
CFB PETAWAWA – Our exit strategy from Afghanistan lies primarily in the establishment of a sustainable economic and political system, Canada’s senior …
www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1540848

US endorses Indian role in Afghanistan
Times of India – India
WASHINGTON: The United States has endorsed India’s regional primacy, including the role it is playing in Afghanistan, against strenuous objections from …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/US-endorses-Indian-
role-in-Afghanistan/articleshow/4451937.cms

Body of latest Afghanistan casualty reaches Canada
The Gazette (Montreal) – Quebec,Canada
… Friends and family gathered at a military base in Trenton, Ont., on Sunday as the body of the latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan returned. …
www.montrealgazette.com/Body+latest+Afghanistan
+casualty+reaches+Canada/1535897/story.html

Stakes high as Obama shifts from Iraq to Afghan war
AFP
“Even if we get everything right in Afghanistan — if we have a corruption-free government, if we get counter-insurgency just right — we will not succeed …
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article
/ALeqM5hQC9ddU1nRJzI8RL5I-36apLYaSQ

Afghan blasts, shootings kill 14
AFP
“Planting mines by the enemies of Afghanistan indicates that there is close link between drug traders and the terrorists,” it said. Afghanistan produces 90 …
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/
ALeqM5h6dYlpFmMx0_xCzT-FgqAJtvUhmQ

TheRecord.com – World – Body of latest Canadian soldier to die in …
TRENTON, Ont. – The body of the latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan is due to arrive this afternoon at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario. The body of Maj. Michelle Mendes, a 30-year-old intelligence officer based in Ottawa, …
news.therecord.com/article/526978

The Moderate Taliban in Action “ Ghosts of Alexander
By Christian
This all fits in with the official Taliban mythology of themselves as the saviors of Afghanistan, and their opposition as rapists, thieves, murderers, etc… However, there is a catch. The “bayonet” story has some extra details. …
easterncampaign.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/the-moderate-taliban-in-action/

Iran: Senior diplomat calls for help to stop drug trade …
By Mohammed Ibn Laith
Rome, 24 April (AKI) – Iran needs more international help to stop vast quantities of opium being trafficked from Afghanistan to Europe across its territory, a senior Iranian diplomat has told Adnkronos International (AKI). …
gorillasguides.com/2009/04/26/iran-senior-
diplomat-calls-for-help-to-stop-drug-trade/

26 April, 2009

Five killed in bombings in Afghanistan
United Press International – USA
KABUL, Afghanistan, April 25 (UPI) — Three suicide bombers killed five people and injured another eight Saturday near the governor’s office in Kandahar, …
www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/25/Five-
killed-in-bombings-in-Afghanistan/UPI-27481240682131/

Taliban commander, 5 more insurgents killed in E Afghanistan
Xinhua – China
However the insurgents have vowed to intensify attacks against Afghan government and international troops based in war-torn Afghanistan.
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/25/content_11255079.htm

Source: Petraeus Wants to Release All Photos Showing Detainee …
FOXNews – USA
… they could no longer effectively argue their case to keep sealed the photos showing US troops potentially abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. …
www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/25/source-petraeus-
wants-release-photos-showing-detainee-treatment/

Coordinated Suicide Attack Kills 5 in Southern Afghanistan
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News Officials in Afghanistan say multiple suicide bombers attacked the governor’s compound in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar Saturday,…
www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-25-voa12.cfm

Australian defence minister visits soldiers in Afghanistan
Xinhua – China
CANBERRA, April 25 (Xinhua) — Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon ventured to remote parts of Afghanistan’s Oruzgan Province on Saturday to visit …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/25/content_11255882.htm

Events prompt need for new Pakistan-Afghanistan strategy, experts say
MiamiHerald.com – Miami,FL,USA
By NANCY A. YOUSSEF AND JONATHAN S. LANDAY WASHINGTON — Events in Pakistan and Afghanistan are already overtaking the Obama administration’s month-old…
www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1016569.html

Akbar Ahmed: Lose the lawless tribal areas and you lose Pakistan
Independent – London,England,UK
And if Pakistan loses control of Peshawar, the gateway for US supply lines to its troops in Afghanistan, it would be checkmate for the Western troops there. …
www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/akbar-ahmed
-lose-the-lawless-tribal-areas-and-you-lose-pakistan-1674001.html

Pakistani Taliban confound Obama, Clinton
United Press International – USA
By MARTIN SIEFF US President Barack Obama departs after outlining new policies for Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building …
www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2009/04/24/Pakistani-
Taliban-confound-Obama-Clinton/UPI-76071240586006/

Homeland secretary apologizes to veterans group
The Associated Press
The report says veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan could be susceptible to right-wing recruiters or commit lone acts of violence. …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkV
SQBOOTraMmKRYQrzs_uGGh4-wD97P3D2O3

Analysis: Pakistan flaw threatens US Afghan plan
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A central pillar of US strategy in Afghanistan— enlisting Pakistan to eliminate extremist havens on its side of the border— is being …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5
jKpb28jIhKH4MdWpxb4mN4o1wLUQD97P15TG0

Anzac Day commemorations in Afghanistan a multicultural affair …
Anzac Day commemorations in Afghanistan have been a multicultural affair.
tvnz.co.nz/national-news/multicultural
-anzac-day-in-afghanistan-2674177

Global Voices Online “ Afghanistan: The Tricycle Theater hosts …
By Adil Nurmakov
Post-Thumbnail. No Thumbnail. Colla writes that the London’s Tricycle Theatre organised one of the most comprehensive and challenging arts festivals ever mounted on the subject of Afghanistan. Cancel this reply …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/25/afghanistan
-the-tricycle-theater-hosts-afghan-actors/

Afghanistan becoming Obama’s Vietnam? “ The Early Today
By christarzan
Afghanistan could prove to be a quagmire for President Obama, with the Taliban resurgence a threat to existing U.S. forces, which which will increase by 17000 troops, and to Pakistan’s timid government, according to a report from Joseph …
earlytoday.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/
afghanistan-becoming-obamas-vietnam/

Five policemen killed in suicide attacks in Afghanistan | Sindh Today
By Sindh Today
Kabul, April 25 (Xinhua) Three suicide bombing attacks in south Afghanistan Saturday killed five policemen and injured three, a senior official said. Three suicide bombers in an attempt to target government employees entered the …
www.sindhtoday.net/world/91227.htm

Troops in Afghanistan honour Anzacs – national | Stuff.co.nz
The Anzac Day dawn service was pretty standard and the scenery could possibly be Methven, but for the New Zealand troops serving in Afghanistan that’s where the comparisons end. About 100 of 131 New Zealanders stationed in Bamyan …
www.stuff.co.nz/national/2363649/
Troops-in-Afghanistan-honour-Anzacs