Taliban

21 April 2008 -- Pakistan's new government has released an ailing top pro-Taliban militant involved in an insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan, after more than six years imprisonment.

Sufi Muhammad - head of the banned "Movement for the Enforcement of Sharia Law" - was freed Monday under a peace agreement with tribal elders in northwestern Pakistan.

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Ruthless Insurgency, Fragile Government Institutions, Massive Illegal Drug Economy

Head of Peacekeeping Says United Nations Mission Does Not Need Additional Powers, but, in Face of Evolving Situation, Mandate Must Be Sharpened    » read more »

19 December 2007 -- Afghanistan's defense minister is planning a training surge that would increase the number of Afghan soldiers available to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida by as much as 20 percent by the time the weather improves in the spring.

Afghanistan's Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak mentioned the plan Wednesday during a meeting with the top U.S. military commander in the region, Admiral William Fallon. The minister provided details later in a VOA interview.

"Actually, the purpose is that we should be able to have more troops when the fighting season comes," he said.    » read more »

18 November 2007 -- Afghan security officials say Taliban militants have hanged five policeman in southern Afghanistan as a public warning to others.

The Uruzgan province police chief, Juma Gul Himat, describing the incident Sunday, said the five policemen had been abducted two months ago and were mutilated before being killed and their bodies hung from trees.    » read more »

30 September 2007 -- The Taleban says it will never talk peace with the Afghan government as long as foreign troops remain in the country.

Taleban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi said Sunday the militant group has no interest in taking government posts, and is only interested in the withdrawal of foreign forces.

His remarks came a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered government positions to insurgent leaders willing to disarm and join the country's political establishment.    » read more »

14 August 2007 -- The headless body of one of 16 kidnapped Pakistani soldiers was found Tuesday in a tribal area near the country's border with Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials say pro-Taleban militants beheaded the soldier and threatened to kill more unless authorities release 10 of their men.

Gunmen abducted the soldiers on August 9in South Waziristan, a frontier tribal region and stronghold of Taleban and al-Qaida sympathizers.

Residents found the body in the town of Jandola. A note found nearby warned that other soldiers would be killed if the demands are not met.    » read more »

August 7, 2007 -- "My thoughts and prayers go out to the group of 21 South Koreans currently being held by the Taliban, and with their loved ones.

I also extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the two hostages that were mercilessly executed by their Taliban captors last week.

I am hopeful that all of the remaining hostages will be released in good health as soon as possible, and I call on the Government of Afghanistan, the Bush Administration and the rest of the international community to work together with the Government of South Korea towards such an outcome.    » read more »