Pepe Escobar via Counter Punch: In the end, everything comes back to Helmand. Why Helmand? My Pashtun interlocutors loosen up and say it with a mouthful: it’s all about the involvement of the CIA in the heroin trade in Afghanistan; “The Americans simply can’t let it go.” Click here to read more (external link).
The Washington Post: The modest number of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan operate with one hand tied behind their backs — at a time when Afghan forces, though fighting hard, are struggling. That should be changed. We should unleash our airpower in support of our Afghan partners in the same way that we support
Khaama Press: Acting Afghan Defense Minister Masoom Stanikzai reiterated that a long term plan is required to fully equip the Afghan Air Force (AAF), admitting the presence of will by the Afghan government and it’s international allies in modernizing the air force. Welcoming the delivery of the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano Light Attack aircraft
VOA News Ayaz Gul January 14, 2016 ISLAMABAD—Officials in eastern Afghanistan say a U.S. drone strike Thursday killed Islamic State’s top commander in the area, which the militants call Khorasan, along with at least 11 other insurgents. The missile attack by the unmanned aircraft occurred in Achin, a volatile district in a remote part of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 14, 2016 An Afghan commission says more than 700 civilians have been killed or injured in the last nine months in the southern province of Helmand. Since the end of March last year, at least 232 people have died and at least 502 have been injured, the Afghan Independent Human
Tolo News: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that Tajikistan’s embassy in Kabul – through an official letter to the ministry – termed mounting insecurity as the main reason behind the closure of the consulates. “The letter has stressed the move will not have any impact on friendly relations between Kabul and Dushanbe,” the MoFA
Khaama Press: Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai has said that majority of militants fleeing military operation in the tribal agencies of Pakistan join Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan. While talking to a seminar in Islamabad, Mosazai said about 60 to 70 per cent militants who have fled Mohmand and Orakzai agencies in the tribal built have
AOPNEWS | January 14, 2016 The Taliban faction loyal to Mullah Mansur posted on their website yesterday a report with a photo of what appears to be members of Afghanistan’s military who have allegedly surrendered themselves to the Taliban in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province. Per the Taliban report, the ‘personnel’ includes 13 soldiers, 13 policemen, six
BBC News: For many in Lashkar Gah the question is whether to stay or go. The battle for control of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the Taliban’s traditional power base, has lasted for months. Lashkar Gah is the capital and in government hands. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama Press: Pakistan’s Foreign Office has asked Kabul to investigate yesterday’s attack on its consulate in Jalalabad city and share the information with Islamabad. “We have requested that details of the investigation should be shared with us,” states a statement released by Qazi Khalilullah, spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Office . Click here to read more (external link).