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An Afghan National Army officer (R)
gives explanation to Canadian forces during an operation in Kandahar
province, southern Afghanistan, May 13, 2009. Afghan and NATO forces
conducted a joint operation against Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents on
Wednesday, during which a huge amount of narcotics and ammunitions were
discovered. (Xinhua/Stringer)
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Gallery>>> |
KABUL, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Taliban insurgents fighting
Afghan and U.S.-led forces based in Afghanistan have stepped up activities as
they have carried out a series of suicide and roadside attacks since last
weekend.
In the new wave of violence which targeted a U.S.
military base outside Khost city, capital of Khost province in east Afghanistan,
Wednesday morning, at least seven people were killed and 21 others injured. All
the victims were civilians.
Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid who
claimed sending over 30 suicide bombers to Khost province, in talks with media
from unknown location said on Wednesday that a Taliban fighter Zukria carried
out the bombing, inflicting huge casualties on the troops.
According to Taliban claim, Zukria rammed his
explosive-packed car into the gate of U.S. military base in Sahra Bagh area
leaving over three dozen foreign and Afghan troopers dead, a claim rejected by
troops as utterly groundless.
The bloody incident follows the multiple suicide
attacks against government buildings in Khost city Tuesday killing nine people,
including four policemen, and wounding some 30 others.
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Afghan and Canadian forces discuss the
ways of operation in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, May 13,
2009. Afghan and NATO forces conducted a joint operation against Taliban
and al Qaeda insurgents on Wednesday, during which a huge amount of
narcotics and ammunitions were discovered. (Xinhua/Stringer)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
Taliban group said in a statement released to media
from undisclosed hideout late last month, fanatic group vowed to launch spring
offensive dubbed “Nasrat” which means “Victory” across the country from May 1st.
Since the announcement of the threat, the militants
have increased their activities against Afghan, U.S.-led Coalition and the
NATO-led peacekeeping force ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in
the post-Taliban nation.
As sign of spreading influence, the militants have
conducted a series of attacks including suicide ones against government and
international forces' interest in the relatively peaceful northern provinces
over the past couple of weeks. In their targets, Taliban fighters claimed the
lives of four German soldiers in the northern Kunduz province.
Escalation in militancy is seen amid U.S. and allied
decision to send in additional 29,000 troops in the war-shattered Afghanistan
and thousands of them will be deployed ahead of presidential elections which
were set for August 20.
The U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday in
a surprise move sacked General David Mckiernan, the top U.S. and NATO commander
in Afghanistan, and appointed former Special Forces commander General Stanley
McChrystal to oversee President Barack Obama's strategy against the rampant
Taliban-led insurgency.
Meantime, the hard-line militants who vowed to
disrupt the coming elections have repeatedly said they would continue war
against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has
said that boosting military strength would facilitate insurgents to further hunt
foreign soldiers in the post-Taliban land.
Taliban-linked insurgency and conflicts had left over
5,000 people dead with more than 2,100 of them civilians last year. The militant
in the new tactic which carried out mostly in the shape of suicide attacks and
roadside bombings is predicted to claim more lives in Afghanistan.
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Afghan forces burn a pile of raw hashish
discovered during a joint operation in Kandahar province, southern
Afghanistan, May 13, 2009. Afghan and NATO forces conducted a joint
operation against Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents on Wednesday, during
which a huge amount of narcotics and ammunitions were discovered.
(Xinhua/Stringer)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
Clash leaves 6 Taliban, 2 civilians
dead in E Afghanistan
Khost, Afghanistan, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Six Taliban
insurgents were killed Tuesday evening as they came in contact with police in
eastern Afghan province of Paktika, a provincial administration spokesman said
Wednesday.
"Armed Taliban rebels stormed police checkpoint in a
village near provincial capital Sharan Tuesday evening and police returned fire,
killing six rebels on the spot," Hmidullah Zuak told Xinhua. Full story
Suicide car bombing targeting U.S.
military base kills 7 in E Afghanistan
KHOST, Afghanistan, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A suicide
bomber Wednesday morning rushed his explosive-laden car towards the gate of one
U.S. military base outside Khost city, capital of Khost province in eastern
Afghanistan, leaving seven people dead and 21 more wounded, said an official
from Provincial Reconstruction Team(PRT) said.
Moreover, Taliban purported spokesman
Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the responsibility and told media from undisclosed
location that over four dozen of Afghan and Coalition troops were killed in the
blast. Full story
U.S., Afghan, Pakistan leaders meet
amid mounting Taliban threats
WASHINGTON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- For U.S. President
Barack Obama, his meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan
President Hamid Karzai at the White House on Wednesday is of great
emergency. Full story
Thousands flee Swat as Pakistani
forces fight militants
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Thousands fled
for safe places as Pakistani security forces and Taliban-linked militants
Wednesday fought gun battle in the restive Swat valley in the country's
northwest.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who
arrived in Mardan, a main city in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), from the
Swat valley are facing problems to get shelter and food, according to local
press reports. Full story
Taliban claim responsibility for
suicide attack in NW Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Taliban have claimed
responsibility for a suicide attack that occurred in northwestern Pakistan on
Monday, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban in Darra Adam Khel claimed the
responsibility, said the report. Full story
