afghanistan

8 Dead in Afghan Airstrike

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:13:45 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A U.S.-led coalition airstrike mistakenly hit an Afghan army checkpoint Wednesday, killing nine soldiers and wounding three, Afghan officials said.

The strike hit a checkpoint in the Sayed Kheil area of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan, said Arsallah Jamal, the province's governor.

The U.S. said its forces "may have mistakenly killed and injured" Afghan soldiers in what may have been a case of mistaken identity "on both sides."

"As a Coalition forces convoy was returning from a previous operation, they were involved in multiple engagements," a U.S. military statement said. "As a result of the engagements, ANA (Afghan army) soldiers were killed and injured."

Afghan Civilian Deaths Up 60 Percent

The Associated Press — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:42:14 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A senior U.N. official says the number of civilians killed in fighting in Afghanistan has soared by nearly two-thirds.

The top U.N. humanitarian official, John Holmes, said Sunday that the world body has recorded 698 civilian deaths for the first half of this year, compared to 430 in the first six months of 2007.

Holmes said militants caused most of the civilian casualties this year and that the figures reflected efforts by foreign troops to reduce civilian deaths in military operations.

Karzai Says He Will Send Troops to Pakistan

The Associated Press — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:22:41 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai has issued a warning to militants in Pakistan, saying he will send Afghan troops across the border to combat Taliban insurgents.

Karzai says Afghanistan has the right to self defense, and that when militants cross over from Pakistan and kill Afghans, Afghan forces have "the right to do the same."

Speaking at a Sunday news conference, Karzai warned Pakistan-based Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud that Afghan forces "will go after him now and hit him in his house."

He gave the same warning to Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Karzai has long pleaded for Pakistan and international forces to confront militants in Pakistan, but has never before said he would send Afghan troops across the border.

Afghan Official: 870 Inmates Escaped from Prison

The Associated Press — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:31:42 -0400

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. and NATO troops aided Afghan forces with reconnaissance in a hunt Saturday for 870 inmates who escaped prison after a sophisticated Taliban assault that even NATO conceded was a success for the militants.

A roadside bomb, meanwhile, killed four U.S. Marines sent to southwestern Afghanistan to help train the country's fledgling police. The deadliest attack on American forces this year came one day after the U.S. defense secretary highlighted the fact that more American and allied troops were killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq last month.

Senate Authorizes War Funding Bill

The Associated Press — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:37:26 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thwarted in efforts to bring troops home from Iraq, Senate Democrats on Monday helped pass a defense policy bill authorizing another $150 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 92-3 vote comes as the House planned to approve separate legislation Tuesday that requires President Bush to give Congress a plan for eventual troop withdrawals.

The developments underscored the difficulty facing Democrats in the Iraq debate: They lack the votes to pass legislation ordering troops home and are divided on whether to cut money for combat, despite a mandate by supporters to end the war.

Hoping the political landscape changes in coming months, Democratic leaders say they will renew their fight when Congress considers the money Bush wants in war funding.