Top US military officer reviews Afghan militia program to combat violence on Kabul’s doorstepFORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff began a review Wednesday of a new community-based defense program recently deployed to combat rising violence in a province on the doorstep of Kabul. Deep blue mountain lakes declared Afghanistan’s first national parkKABUL — A cascading collection of deep-blue high-mountain lakes became Afghanistan’s first provisional national park Wednesday, as the violence-plagued nation took a big first step toward protecting one of its finest natural treasures. Pakistani Taliban who dominate Swat Valley tighten their grip on neighboring districtISLAMABAD — Taliban militants from Pakistan’s Swat Valley are tightening their grip on a neighboring northwest district closer to the capital — patrolling roads, broadcasting sermons and spreading fear in another sign that a government-backed peace deal has emboldened the extremists to spread their reign. Top Pentagon commander visits troops on Kabul’s doorstep, reviews new militia programFORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is reviewing a new community-based defense program recently started in an increasingly violent province on the doorstep of Kabul. Despite millions in donations, Afghan students still waiting for their textbooksKABUL — Day laborer Sayed Sekander spent more than half a day’s pay on textbooks for his third-grade son, stuffing them into a dirty rice sack to take home. He will wait before buying any for his two daughters. Top Pentagon commander visits troops on Kabul’s doorstep, reviews new militia programFORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is reviewing a new community-based defense program recently started in an increasingly violent province on the doorstep of Kabul. Amid war, Afghanistan declares a series of azure lakes its first national parkKABUL — Violence-plagued Afghanistan on Wednesday named what is expected to be its first national park. US says 1 insurgent killed in clash in eastern AfghanistanKABUL — International and Afghan troops killed one insurgent and detained six other suspects Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. forces said. Analysis: Defying early doubters, Clinton is off to a drama-free start as Obama’s top diplomatWASHINGTON — When President Barack Obama chose Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of state, skeptics foresaw trouble: a clash of ego and ambition, a conflict of policy priorities between former campaign rivals. Senate report says Bush policies led to prisoner abuses at Gitmo and in Iraq and AfghanistanWASHINGTON — The brutal treatment of prisoners by the military at Guantanamo Bay, Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and Afghanistan was systematic and a direct result of the CIA’s early use of harsh interrogation tactics, according to a Senate report. The 232-page report released Tuesday by the Senate Armed Services Committee came less than a week after President Barack Obama released the Aug. 1, 2002 memo that justified the use of severe methods by the CIA. Taliban take up armed patrols in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, nearby district amid peace deal worryISLAMABAD — Taliban militants are setting up checkpoints in a district next to Pakistan’s Swat Valley, a lawmaker said Wednesday, spurring fears that a government-backed peace deal imposing Islamic law in the area has emboldened the insurgents to expand their reign. Taliban take up armed patrols in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, nearby district amid peace deal worryISLAMABAD — Taliban militants are setting up checkpoints in a district next to Pakistan’s Swat Valley, officials and witnesses said Wednesday, spurring fears that a government-backed peace deal imposing Islamic law in the area has emboldened the insurgents to expand their reign. Obama official: US sharing sensitive info with Afghans to cut civilian deathsWASHINGTON — The United States is increasing cooperation with the Afghan military, including sharing sensitive information about suspected extremists, in hopes of reducing civilian deaths that undermine support for the military mission in Afghanistan, a top Pentagon official said Tuesday. Top Asian News at 7:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 6:31 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 6:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 5:30 p.m. GMTQINGDAO, China — A future Chinese aircraft carrier may worry neighboring navies because Beijing has not specified what role the warship would play in the region, the U.S. chief of Naval Operations said Tuesday. China, meanwhile, said a more powerful navy would not pose a threat as it mulls adding its first aircraft carrier to an increasingly sophisticated fleet. Top Asian News at 5:00 p.m. GMTKATMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s prime minister fired the army chief Sunday after a struggle over admitting former Maoist rebel fighters to the military, sparking mass protests and jeopardizing the survival of the country’s first elected government. The army chief’s dismissal prompted a key political party to withdraw from the ruling coalition and frayed already tense relations between the government, dominated by former Maoist rebels, and the military they long fought. Top Asian News at 4:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 4:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 3:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Afghan gov’t says it’s had ‘good discussions’ with Taliban militants, though no breakthroughsKABUL — The Afghan government has held “good discussions” with Taliban militants as it seeks a way to end an increasingly the bloody insurgency against Afghan, U.S. and NATO forces, the president’s spokesman said Tuesday. Top Asian News at 3:01 p.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — A torturous wait by the families of 23 captive Filipinos ended Tuesday as Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker after holding the crew for more than five months in the Gulf of Aden. Catherine Borretta broke into tears after receiving a mobile phone message that her husband Rodell — a second mate on the Philippine ship MT Stolt Strength — was released with the others. Top Asian News at 2:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Afghan govt says it’s had ‘good discussions’ with Taliban militants, though no breakthroughsKABUL — The Afghan government has held “good discussions” with Taliban militants as it seeks a way to end an increasingly the bloody insurgency against Afghan, U.S. and NATO forces, the president’s spokesman said. Minister says Kazakhstan faces recession unless economic stimulus package is sped throughALMATY, Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan’s once-booming economy will slip into recession unless the government speeds through a multibillion dollar stimulus package, the country’s economy minister warned Tuesday. Father of Afghanistan education minister kidnapped by gunmenKABUL — Taliban militants kidnapped the father of Afghanistan’s education minister in a central province, while a Predator drone crashed in the country’s east, officials said Tuesday. Top Asian News at 6:00 a.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Tens of thousands of civilians fled Sri Lanka’s northern war zone in a record exodus ahead of the government’s deadline Tuesday for separatist Tamil rebels there to surrender, officials said. More than 39,000 civilians arrived at military checkpoints on Monday, within hours of a military operation that saw Sri Lankan soldiers break through a barrier that the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected to defend their ever-shrinking slice of territory along the northern coast. Top Asian News at 5:30 a.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Tens of thousands of civilians fled Sri Lanka’s northern war zone in a record exodus ahead of the government’s deadline Tuesday for separatist Tamil rebels there to surrender, officials said. More than 39,000 civilians arrived at military checkpoints on Monday, within hours of a military operation that saw Sri Lankan soldiers break through a barrier that the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected to defend their ever-shrinking slice of territory along the northern coast. AP Interview: Taliban who control Pakistani resort valley say bin Laden welcome to set up shopMINGORA, Pakistan — Pakistan was trying to end bloodshed when it let the idyllic Swat Valley fall under Islamic law last week. Instead, it has emboldened the Taliban and prompted an invitation — however improbable — for Osama bin Laden. |
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