F L A S H C L U B » afghanistan

U.S. Commanders Want More Firepower for Afghan Border Police

Steven Aftergood — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:44:37 +0000

Former Defense Tech editor Christian Lowe is embedded with U.S. forces in Afghanistan through June 1 and sends us this dispatch from FOB Salerno near the city of Khost in eastern Afghanistan. American troops fighting along the Pakistan border have shifted their emphasis from interdicting insurgent forces flowing through the porous border to hunting down enemy elements as they lay up and refit in towns nearby. The job of patrolling the border is increasingly being put at the feet of the Afghan Border Police who man remote outposts perched on the hills overlooking the approaches from Taliban hotbeds like Miramshah. But increasingly, American units recognize that the border police are in some cases outgunned, patrolling around in unarmored pickups with nothing more than AK-47s and pistols to fend off aggressive assaults by well armed insurgents. One official at a briefing DT sat in on today at the command post for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team at FOB Salerno in Khost, Afghanistan, said some of the border policemen are reluctant to go to work because of it. So units here are pushing higher command to either pair Afghan army units with the border police at some outposts, or start outfitting those vulnerable outposts with heavier weapons and protection

View post:
U.S. Commanders Want More Firepower for Afghan Border Police

Kyrgyz govt claims control in restive south

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 11:53:21 +0000

Source: Reuters * Bakiyev accused of organising seizure of govt buildings * Gunfire in Jalalabad, several wounded * Former Bakiyev adviser arrested near Osh (Adds Jalalabad details, death toll, quotes) By …

Read this article:
Kyrgyz govt claims control in restive south

FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, May 14

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:11:46 +0000

Source: Reuters May 14 (Reuters) – Following are security developments in Afghanistan at 0600 GMT on Thursday: NANGARHAR – Thousands of people in the southeastern city of Jalalabad protested against foreign forces …

Continued here:
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, May 14

Kyrgyz gov’t supporters retake Osh administration

Steven Aftergood — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:02:52 +0000

Source: Reuters OSH, Kyrgyzstan, May 14 (Reuters) – Backers of Kyrgyzstan’s interim government regained control of a key government building in the southern city of Osh on Friday, a day after it was seized by …

Go here to read the rest:
Kyrgyz gov’t supporters retake Osh administration

Kyrgyz government says Bakiyev behind unrest

Steven Aftergood — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:35:56 +0000

Source: Reuters BISHKEK, May 14 (Reuters) – A top official in Kyrgyzstan’s interim government said on Friday that ousted leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev was behind the seizure of government buildings by crowds in the south …

See original here:
Kyrgyz government says Bakiyev behind unrest

Combined Force Kills Dozens of Insurgents

Fri, 14 May 2010 02:51:37 +0000

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases May 13, 2010 – An Afghan-international security force killed more than two dozen insurgents and captured several others while pursuing a senior Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province last night, military officials reported. The combined force went to a compound in the province’s Kunduz district, after intelligence information confirmed the Taliban were staging for a large attack. As the Afghan-led element moved into the target area, it immediately began receiving fire from a mosque and surrounding woods, and then returned fire. Shortly after, several armed men ran toward and fired on the combined force. They were engaged and killed. Other insurgents were killed as they continued to fire on the combined force with machine guns, automatic rifles and hand grenades.

The rest is here:
Combined Force Kills Dozens of Insurgents

Pakistan holds man linked to New York bomb suspect

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:39:03 +0000

Source: Reuters (Adds details, background) WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) – Pakistan has arrested a suspect linked to the Pakistani Taliban who said he helped the man accused of trying to set off a car bomb in New …

See original here:
Pakistan holds man linked to New York bomb suspect

Afghan Perceptions Key to Success, McChrystal Says

Thu, 13 May 2010 20:45:00 +0000

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service May 13, 2010 – Changing the perceptions of the Afghan people about the coalition, their own government and the Taliban will be key to success in that nation, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan said here today. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal told Pentagon reporters that achieving more progress in the counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan will be a slow, deliberate endeavor, because changing perceptions is challenging. Efforts in the country will be directed toward “changing not only the dynamics of security, governance and development, but also the attitudes of a population long pressured by insurgents,” he said. The strategic priority in the country is the development of Afghan national security forces, McChrystal said. “While both the army and police have demonstrated considerable growth,” he said, “significant challenges remain. The bottom line is there’s much more work ahead to mature Afghan security forces

View post:
Afghan Perceptions Key to Success, McChrystal Says

Chile prosecutor: solid case against Pakistani suspect

Steven Aftergood — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:39:23 +0000

Source: Reuters * Prosecutor believes crime was committed * Police search suspected associate’s home * Detainee says U.S. trying to cover up shame over Iraq SANTIAGO, May 13 (Reuters …

See the original post here:
Chile prosecutor: solid case against Pakistani suspect

Obama, Karzai Reaffirm Goals, U.S.-Afghan Partnership

Thu, 13 May 2010 16:00:40 +0000

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service May 12, 2010 – President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai today reaffirmed the shared U.S. and Afghan goals to defeat al-Qaida and to establish good governance and a growing economy in Afghanistan. The two men spoke to the White House press corps after a meeting in the Oval Office this morning. The meeting is part of a four-day visit by Karzai and his ministers to the United States. “Today, we are reaffirming our shared goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida and its extremist allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future,” Obama said. “We are reviewing the progress of our shared strategy and objectives: a military effort to reverse the Taliban’s momentum and to strengthen Afghanistan’s capacity to provide for their own security; a civilian effort to promote good governance and development; and regional cooperation, including with Pakistan, because our strategy has to succeed on both sides of the border.” One reason for the meeting is to assuage Afghan leaders’ fears that the United States will not stay with the nation for the long run. “As we pursue our shared strategy to defeat al-Qaida, I’m pleased that our two countries are working to broaden our strategic partnership over the long term,” Obama said. “Even as we begin to transition security responsibility to Afghans over the next year, we will sustain a robust commitment in Afghanistan going forward.” Karzai thanked Obama for dedicating personnel and financial resources to his country. “Yesterday, I had the honor of visiting Walter Reed Hospital, where I visited with the wounded who had returned from Afghanistan and from Iraq,” Karzai said. “It was a very difficult moment for me, Mr.

Original post:
Obama, Karzai Reaffirm Goals, U.S.-Afghan Partnership

F L A S H C L U B » afghanistan

U.S. Commanders Want More Firepower for Afghan Border Police

Related Posts:

Kyrgyz govt claims control in restive south

Related Posts:

FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, May 14

Related Posts:

Kyrgyz gov’t supporters retake Osh administration

Related Posts:

Kyrgyz government says Bakiyev behind unrest

Related Posts:

Combined Force Kills Dozens of Insurgents

Related Posts:

Pakistan holds man linked to New York bomb suspect

Related Posts:

Afghan Perceptions Key to Success, McChrystal Says

Related Posts:

Chile prosecutor: solid case against Pakistani suspect

Related Posts:

Obama, Karzai Reaffirm Goals, U.S.-Afghan Partnership

Related Posts: