Afghanistan

Suicide bomber tests Afghan security at loya jirga meeting

Afghan forces killed a suicide bomber trying to enter the site of high-level loya jirga meeting that starts Wednesday. Recent attacks and a report that the Taliban obtained security details of the meeting have Kabul on edge.
Clinton urges Pakistan to get tougher on terrorists

If Secretary of State Clinton asks Pakistan to carry out targeted operations against the Haqqani network on her visit this week, she is likely to be met with a frosty response, say analysts.
Why political activism isn't working in Afghanistan

Despite the billions of dollars of international money spent to develop a democratic culture in Afghanistan, few understand what one politician is trying to accomplish by her hunger strike.
Afghanistan still world's top opium supplier, despite 10 years of US-led war

Despite increased eradication efforts in Afghanistan, opium cultivation rose by 7 percent in 2011 as compared to last year, according to a new United Nations report. Production is up 61 percent.
As Afghan war hits 10-year mark, falling land prices signal fear over future

The 10-year war in Afghanistan brought an influx of foreign cash helped boost real estate values. But since Obama set in motion a US withdrawal this summer, security concerns are driving land prices down.
India, Pakistan, and the US: Can anyone bring peace to Afghanistan?

Afghanistan wanted to secure peace on its own. But after major setbacks, other nations, like Pakistan, India, and the US are set to play big roles in Afghanistan for years.
US soldiers feel new sense of urgency in Afghanistan war

The prevailing attitude among US soldiers is that while their remaining time on the ground may be limited, they have plenty of time to prepare Afghan forces to adequately replace them.
Plot to assassinate Afghan President Karzai foiled

The foiled assassination plot comes after a wave of high-level assassinations in Afghanistan blamed on the Haqqani network, including last month's killing of former Afghan President Rabbani.
Pressuring Pakistan, Afghanistan's Karzai signs deal with India

Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership with India today that allows arms transfers and military training in India. The move puts pressure on Pakistan to rein in militants.
Terrorism & Security
Karzai visits rival India amid tensions with Pakistan

Afghan President Karzai arrives in India today to discuss economic and security partnerships amid a recent volley of Afghan accusations against Pakistan, India's longtime foe.
Afghan Army's next hurdle: logistics

If the Afghan Army is to take over security in Afghanistan, it must be able to effectively resupply weapons, food, and other supplies without foreign air support or technical assistance.
Global News Blog
US Embassy shooting in Kabul heightens concerns about Afghan security

An Afghan US Embassy employee in Kabul killed an American in an annex known to be used by the CIA. The incident raises further questions about the reliability of America’s Afghan partners.
Terrorism & Security
US suspects Pakistan's hand in Kabul embassy attack

The US suspects that Pakistani intelligence encouraged militants to attack the US Embassy and NATO compound in Kabul last week.
Global News Blog
Good Reads: Why the assassination of former Afghan president Rabbani matters

The assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani scuppers any further chance of negotiation with the Taliban, which could mean a grinding war until the US withdrawal in 2014.
Killing of former Afghan President Rabbani imperils Taliban peace talks

Former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, a prominent peace council official trying to negotiate a reconciliation deal with the Taliban, was assassinated Tuesday.
Who's really behind the Kabul attacks?

The Taliban claim responsibility for recent Kabul attacks, but the US pins blame specifically on the Pakistan-based Haqqani network in what some see as a bid to salvage Taliban peace talks.
Terrorism & Security
US ambassador to Afghanistan downplays Kabul attack as security doubts grow

Although Ambassador Crocker downplayed Tuesday's Kabul attack as 'not a very big deal,' they may have undermined US and Afghan assertions that Kabul's security situation is stable.
Global News Blog
Good Reads: Taliban's Kabul attack, looming demise of Al Qaeda... and the euro

Today's top stories include a report that the Taliban attack on Kabul may have been a 'last gasp.' Also; how Al Qaeda is being eclipsed by its affiliates. And is the eurozone on its last leg?
Backchannels
Afghan life expectancy has improved by 20 years since 2001?

The US ambassador to Afghanistan said so in a recent interview, and it's a stunning statistic if true. But it's probably not.
Taliban attacks near US embassy in Kabul raise questions of infiltration

Insurgents have targeted Kabul landmarks before, but this attack’s proximity to the city’s most secure zone raises questions about Taliban infiltration into even the most sensitive ranks.
Global News Blog
Good Reads: An Afghan periled, a Pakistani reporter killed, and journalism after 9/11

Among the legacies of 9/11 is a more dangerous world for journalists and civilians working in conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. Here are a few stories that tell of the growing risks.
Global News Blog
Good Reads: Global sympathy post-9/11, low Afghan Army recruiting, and the battle for Afghanistan

You're busy. We get that. But don't miss these takes on the world's waning sympathy for the US after 9/11, why Afghans are reluctant to join the Army, and the fight in Afghanistan.
Afghan war: What some local officials are willing to do for peace

Some local Afghan officials are hoping to end the decade-long Afghan war by negotiating with the Taliban – province by province.
Global News Blog
US commission finds widespread waste and corruption in wartime contracts

Wartime contracting is more prone to waste than in-house spending because it is harder to keep tabs on the money and motives of the private contracting firms, says a bipartisan legislative commission.
Flag lowered on British town's tradition of honoring Iraq and Afghanistan war dead

For four years, the town of Wootton Bassett has honored the Afghanistan and Iraq war dead who were brought home via a nearby Royal Air Force station. With the base's closure, another town will now take up the tradition.