4 killed in car bomb, gunshots in S Afghanistan
At least four people including three civilians were killed and two injured Monday morning when a truck bomb went off followed gunshots in Kandahar city, the provincial capital of southern Kandahar province, police said.
"So far, three civilians and a suicide attacker have been killed," Deputy provincial police Chief Rahmatullah Atrafi told Xinhua, adding "The car bomb blasted at around 06:30 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) near a foreign institution's building in Kandahar city."
The suicide car bomb targeted a non-governmental organization -- the International Relief and Development (IRD), a police officer near the site told Xinhua.
The police source, who talked in condition of anonymity since he was not allowed to talk to media, told Xinhua that at least four Nepali nationals who serve as security guard for IRD office have also been killed in the pre-dawn attack in second sub- district of the city.
The powerful blast completely destroyed the IRD office building besides damaging several houses around the blast site.
IRD is a non-profit organization involved in reconstruction and development projects in Kandahar province.
Gun fighting is still going on and sporadic firing still could be heard.
Police forces rushed to the site and begun battling an unknown number of armed militants holed up a building near the blast site, a Xinhua reporter near the site said.
"Based on initial reports from the spot, three local civilian have been killed and two others including a Nepali National wounded in Truck-born Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack near the IRD branch in Kandahar city," provincial government said in a statement released here.
Two armed insurgents have taken place inside an animal clinic building and begun small arms firing small arms toward the security forces in the area, they have been facing the hard resistance by the police and will be detained or either killed shortly, the statement added.
Meantime, Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack.
Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported Taliban spokesman in talks with local media via cell phone from undisclosed location said the outfit fighters have carried out a suicide car bomb against IRD office of foreign forces killing several foreign forces and that many Taliban still fighting with Afghan and forcing forces there.
Militancy has been rampant since May this year when Taliban militants announced to launch spring offensive in the war-battered Afghanistan.
Taliban claimed they carried out a suicide car bomb that killed 13 U.S. soldiers and civilian employees with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in capital city of Kabul on Saturday.
The powerful car bomb occured in Darul Aman locality west of Kabul city on Saturday also killed a policeman and three civilians.
English.news.cn 2011-10-31 11:55:48
Monday, October 31, 2011
Car bomb explosion rocks Kandahar in S Afghanistan
Car bomb explosion rocks Kandahar in S Afghanistan
A car bomb exploded and gunshots followed in the south Afghan town Kandahar, local deputy provincial chief told Xinhua.
English.news.cn 2011-10-31 11:38:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)
A car bomb exploded and gunshots followed in the south Afghan town Kandahar, local deputy provincial chief told Xinhua.
English.news.cn 2011-10-31 11:38:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Canadian leaders mourn Afghan war dead
Canadian leaders mourn Afghan war dead
Canadian Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday offered their condolences to the family of a Canadian soldier who was killed in Afghanistan earlier in the day.
Master Corporal Byron Greff, a Light Infantry soldier, was the 158th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan, and was also the first since Canada ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in July.
"On behalf of Canadians and of the government of Canada, I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Byron Garth Greff," Harper said in a statement, adding that the soldier had "paid the ultimate price serving his country."
In a separate statement, Johnston said that even though Canada's mission has changed to a non-combat one, its servicemen and civilians face risks every day in their efforts to rebuild Afghanistan.
Greff, who joined the Canadian Forces in 2001, was killed in the Afghan capital of Kabul when an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) convoy he was traveling in came under attack.
According to an earlier statement by the ISAF, 13 NATO personnel were killed in the incident, for which the Taliban movement has claimed responsibility.
There are some 950 Canadian troops participating in training missions at bases in Kabul and in western Afghanistan. The operation is slated to end in the spring of 2014.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 11:27:50 FeedbackPrintRSS
OTTAWA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Canadian Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday offered their condolences to the family of a Canadian soldier who was killed in Afghanistan earlier in the day.
Master Corporal Byron Greff, a Light Infantry soldier, was the 158th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan, and was also the first since Canada ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in July.
"On behalf of Canadians and of the government of Canada, I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Byron Garth Greff," Harper said in a statement, adding that the soldier had "paid the ultimate price serving his country."
In a separate statement, Johnston said that even though Canada's mission has changed to a non-combat one, its servicemen and civilians face risks every day in their efforts to rebuild Afghanistan.
Greff, who joined the Canadian Forces in 2001, was killed in the Afghan capital of Kabul when an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) convoy he was traveling in came under attack.
According to an earlier statement by the ISAF, 13 NATO personnel were killed in the incident, for which the Taliban movement has claimed responsibility.
There are some 950 Canadian troops participating in training missions at bases in Kabul and in western Afghanistan. The operation is slated to end in the spring of 2014.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 11:27:50 FeedbackPrintRSS
OTTAWA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
11 insurgents killed, 12 injured in Afghanistan
11 insurgents killed, 12 injured in Afghanistan
Eleven insurgents have been killed and 12 others injured when Afghan and NATO-led Coalition forces launched 12 joint operations in different Afghan provinces over the past 24 hours, Afghan Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
"Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan army and Coalition forces carried out 12 joint operations in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul, Logar, and Paktika province over the past 24 hours, killing 11 armed insurgents and wounding 12 other armed insurgents," the ministry said in a statement.
ANP also detained 18 suspected militants besides seizing a handful of weapons and ammunition in the same operations, the statement added.
Separately, ANP also discovered and defused 15 anti-vehicle mines and 25 mortar mine fuses as a result of separate operations in southern Zabul and eastern Paktia province.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to Taliban, however, Taliban militants have yet to make comments.
Taliban militants claimed of responsibility for a suicide car bomb on a coalition convoy in capital city of Kabul on Sunday that left 13 U.S. soldiers and civilian employees with the NATO-led Coalition forces and four Afghans dead in a deadliest attack on foreign troops in Afghan capital of Kabul.
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 14:34:16 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 30 (Xinhua)
Eleven insurgents have been killed and 12 others injured when Afghan and NATO-led Coalition forces launched 12 joint operations in different Afghan provinces over the past 24 hours, Afghan Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
"Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan army and Coalition forces carried out 12 joint operations in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul, Logar, and Paktika province over the past 24 hours, killing 11 armed insurgents and wounding 12 other armed insurgents," the ministry said in a statement.
ANP also detained 18 suspected militants besides seizing a handful of weapons and ammunition in the same operations, the statement added.
Separately, ANP also discovered and defused 15 anti-vehicle mines and 25 mortar mine fuses as a result of separate operations in southern Zabul and eastern Paktia province.
Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to Taliban, however, Taliban militants have yet to make comments.
Taliban militants claimed of responsibility for a suicide car bomb on a coalition convoy in capital city of Kabul on Sunday that left 13 U.S. soldiers and civilian employees with the NATO-led Coalition forces and four Afghans dead in a deadliest attack on foreign troops in Afghan capital of Kabul.
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 14:34:16 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 30 (Xinhua)
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Australia remains committed despite 3 soldiers killed in Afghanistan: PM
Australia remains committed despite 3 soldiers killed in Afghanistan: PM
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defense Minister Stephen Smith on Sunday described the shooting deaths of three Australian soldiers in Afghanistan as a "terrible blow to our nation", but said Australia remains committed.
Three Australian soldiers - a corporal, captain and lance corporal - were killed and seven others were wounded in the incident at Shah Wali Kot in the southern province of Kandahar in Afghanistan on Saturday morning. An Afghan interpreter was also killed in the incident.
"Today is a bitter day for Australia," Gillard said in a press conference in Perth. "Our dead will come home with honor, we will mourn their loss."
Smith said the incident was the single worst loss of Australian life involving firearms or gunshots since Australian troops began operations in Afghanistan in 2001. It was also the first occasion on which Australian members of the mentoring and training taskforce have been killed outside Uruzgan province.
Troops in Afghanistan are in shock, but they are tough and resilient, Smith said, adding that they will find the strength and determination to continue their mission and honor their mates.
While there have been 11 Australian deaths and 43 soldiers wounded in Afghanistan this year, Smith agreed that the incident would naturally prompt the public to question Australia's role in Afghanistan, but said Australia would stay the course.
Gillard also acknowledged that public support for Australia's mission in Afghanistan could waver as a consequence of Saturday's incident, but urged people not to judge the progress Australian forces were making on the one incident alone.
"Despite the gravity of this incident, and the horror of this incident, we are making progress in training members of the Afghan National Army..." she said, "Our mission is a defined one..."
She also said Australia remains committed to the war in Afghanistan, and the mission in Afghanistan was in Australia's "clear national interest" because it was a nation that had been used as a terrorist training base and Australian lives had been lost in terrorist attacks.
If Australia was to pull out, it would leave a vacuum that would be filled by terrorists and the Taliban, the prime minister said.
Of the seven wounded soldiers, Defense Chief General David Hurley said one was being treated for life-threatening wounds, four for serious wounds and two for minor wounds.
General Hurley said it was likely the most seriously wounded soldier would be moved to Germany for further treatment.
General Hurley said an "extensive investigation" would be launched into the attack.
The latest deaths bring to 33 the number of Australian fatalities since the start of the Afghan operation, and 209 have been wounded.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 12:17:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
CANBERRA, Oct. 30 (Xinhua)
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defense Minister Stephen Smith on Sunday described the shooting deaths of three Australian soldiers in Afghanistan as a "terrible blow to our nation", but said Australia remains committed.
Three Australian soldiers - a corporal, captain and lance corporal - were killed and seven others were wounded in the incident at Shah Wali Kot in the southern province of Kandahar in Afghanistan on Saturday morning. An Afghan interpreter was also killed in the incident.
"Today is a bitter day for Australia," Gillard said in a press conference in Perth. "Our dead will come home with honor, we will mourn their loss."
Smith said the incident was the single worst loss of Australian life involving firearms or gunshots since Australian troops began operations in Afghanistan in 2001. It was also the first occasion on which Australian members of the mentoring and training taskforce have been killed outside Uruzgan province.
Troops in Afghanistan are in shock, but they are tough and resilient, Smith said, adding that they will find the strength and determination to continue their mission and honor their mates.
While there have been 11 Australian deaths and 43 soldiers wounded in Afghanistan this year, Smith agreed that the incident would naturally prompt the public to question Australia's role in Afghanistan, but said Australia would stay the course.
Gillard also acknowledged that public support for Australia's mission in Afghanistan could waver as a consequence of Saturday's incident, but urged people not to judge the progress Australian forces were making on the one incident alone.
"Despite the gravity of this incident, and the horror of this incident, we are making progress in training members of the Afghan National Army..." she said, "Our mission is a defined one..."
She also said Australia remains committed to the war in Afghanistan, and the mission in Afghanistan was in Australia's "clear national interest" because it was a nation that had been used as a terrorist training base and Australian lives had been lost in terrorist attacks.
If Australia was to pull out, it would leave a vacuum that would be filled by terrorists and the Taliban, the prime minister said.
Of the seven wounded soldiers, Defense Chief General David Hurley said one was being treated for life-threatening wounds, four for serious wounds and two for minor wounds.
General Hurley said it was likely the most seriously wounded soldier would be moved to Germany for further treatment.
General Hurley said an "extensive investigation" would be launched into the attack.
The latest deaths bring to 33 the number of Australian fatalities since the start of the Afghan operation, and 209 have been wounded.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 12:17:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
CANBERRA, Oct. 30 (Xinhua)
16 foreign troops killed in single day in Afghanistan
16 foreign troops killed in single day in Afghanistan
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) experienced a bloody day in Afghanistan as the military alliance lost 16 service members on Saturday.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden car next to a military convoy in western Kabul at around noon, killing 13 foreign troops and four Afghans, including three civilians and a policeman, according to ISAF and Afghan official statements.
An ISAF spokesman did not identify the nationalities of the dead service members, but all the victims were reportedly Americans.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attack.
Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesman for Taliban, told media from unknown location that a militant named Abdul Rahman carried out the suicide bombing.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the attack as a coward terrorist attack in a statement released by his office.
In an earlier attack in southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, a man in Afghan military uniform shot dead three Australian soldiers and a local interpreter during morning training of Afghan soldiers, an Afghan army officer in the southern region General Abdul Hamid Wardak said.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 23:02:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Abdul Haleem, Zhang Jianhua
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) experienced a bloody day in Afghanistan as the military alliance lost 16 service members on Saturday.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden car next to a military convoy in western Kabul at around noon, killing 13 foreign troops and four Afghans, including three civilians and a policeman, according to ISAF and Afghan official statements.
An ISAF spokesman did not identify the nationalities of the dead service members, but all the victims were reportedly Americans.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attack.
Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesman for Taliban, told media from unknown location that a militant named Abdul Rahman carried out the suicide bombing.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the attack as a coward terrorist attack in a statement released by his office.
In an earlier attack in southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, a man in Afghan military uniform shot dead three Australian soldiers and a local interpreter during morning training of Afghan soldiers, an Afghan army officer in the southern region General Abdul Hamid Wardak said.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 23:02:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Abdul Haleem, Zhang Jianhua
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
13 Americans killed in Afghan bombing
13 Americans killed in Afghan bombing
13 American service members were killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Saturday, local media reported.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 22:01:39 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
13 American service members were killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Saturday, local media reported.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 22:01:39 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
4 killed in suicide car bomb on NATO troops in Afghan capital
4 killed in suicide car bomb on NATO troops in Afghan capital
At least four people were killed on Saturday morning when a suicide car bomb targeted a NATO convoy in western part of Afghan capital of Kabul, Afghan Interior Ministry said.
"At around 11:30 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) Saturday a suicide car bombing targeted the Coalition Forces convoy in Darul Aman Street, Police District 6th area, Kabul City. As a result three Afghan civilians and an Afghan policeman were killed," the ministry said in a statement.
There is no exact number of casualties on NATO-led forces immediately, however, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces in a statement confirmed the incident.
"Initial reports indicate several ISAF service member and local Afghan casualties," the NATO-led ISAF said the statement.
"A vehicle-born improvised explosive device (IED) detonated today in Kabul, causing a number of casualties and severely damaging an International Security Assistance Force vehicle," the ISAF said in the statement, adding "more information will be released as it becomes available."
Meantime, a local private TV channel -- Tolo News quoted an unknown security source that at least three NATO soldiers have been killed in the blast.
The explosion area, near the Afghan parliament building, is cordoned off by ISAF and Afghan police and army forces in precautionary measures.
Local TV footage shows the damaged vehicles burning in fire sending a thick black smoke on the blast site.
Meantime, Taliban insurgents claimed of responsibility for the attack.
A Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in a short message to local media said the a outfit fighter have targeted a foreign troop's bus killing several foreign forces in Darul Aman locality.
The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group announced to launch spring offensive from May 1 against Afghan and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan.
The Taliban outfit has also warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants.
A total of six NATO soldiers and 12 Afghan civilians were killed when a suicide car bomb targeted a NATO convoy in the same locality on May 18, 2010.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 18:20:26 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
At least four people were killed on Saturday morning when a suicide car bomb targeted a NATO convoy in western part of Afghan capital of Kabul, Afghan Interior Ministry said.
"At around 11:30 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) Saturday a suicide car bombing targeted the Coalition Forces convoy in Darul Aman Street, Police District 6th area, Kabul City. As a result three Afghan civilians and an Afghan policeman were killed," the ministry said in a statement.
There is no exact number of casualties on NATO-led forces immediately, however, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces in a statement confirmed the incident.
"Initial reports indicate several ISAF service member and local Afghan casualties," the NATO-led ISAF said the statement.
"A vehicle-born improvised explosive device (IED) detonated today in Kabul, causing a number of casualties and severely damaging an International Security Assistance Force vehicle," the ISAF said in the statement, adding "more information will be released as it becomes available."
Meantime, a local private TV channel -- Tolo News quoted an unknown security source that at least three NATO soldiers have been killed in the blast.
The explosion area, near the Afghan parliament building, is cordoned off by ISAF and Afghan police and army forces in precautionary measures.
Local TV footage shows the damaged vehicles burning in fire sending a thick black smoke on the blast site.
Meantime, Taliban insurgents claimed of responsibility for the attack.
A Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in a short message to local media said the a outfit fighter have targeted a foreign troop's bus killing several foreign forces in Darul Aman locality.
The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group announced to launch spring offensive from May 1 against Afghan and NATO-led troops stationed in Afghanistan.
The Taliban outfit has also warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants.
A total of six NATO soldiers and 12 Afghan civilians were killed when a suicide car bomb targeted a NATO convoy in the same locality on May 18, 2010.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 18:20:26 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Afghan refugees' return figures down to 60,000 in first 10 months
Afghan refugees' return figures down to 60,000 in first 10 months
The UN refugee agency said on Saturday that the number of Afghan refugees returning home has dropped substantially this year, with some 60,000 repatriating from overseas in the first 10 months compared to more than 100,000 over the same period in 2010.
The returnees included 43,000 from Pakistan, about 17,000 from Iran and less than 100 from other countries, the UNHCR said in a statement in its website on Saturday.
The return figure for Pakistan was 59 per cent lower than last year, but returns from Iran rose from 7,500 a year earlier. UNHCR halts its repatriation programme from Pakistan during the winter.
The lack of livelihood opportunities, and shelter and insecurity are the most frequently cited reasons for not returning. Most Afghan refugees in Pakistan live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces and originate from insecure, undeveloped areas of Afghanistan.
Pakistan is currently home to 1.7 million Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in exile for more than a quarter of a century. Half these people were born outside Afghanistan and do not own property there.
The reason for the increase in voluntary assisted returns from Iran appears to be due to economic pressures and the discontinuation of subsidies on basic goods and services by the Iranian government, said the UNHRC.
In total, 5.7 million Afghan refugees have returned alone or with assistance from Pakistan and Iran, representing nearly a quarter of Afghanistan's population.
Despite security problems in parts of the country and economic needs, Afghan refugees are still returning in significant numbers. The government and its partners are working to ensure sustainable reintegration.
But initial findings of a survey launched recently by UNHCR and Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation indicated that around 40 per cent of the returned Afghans have not yet fully reintegrated into their original communities.
Afghanistan's capacity to absorb additional returns is limited. Some families who returned this year will need additional support to make it through the winter. Many others don't have land, shelter, schools and health care. These families need job opportunities to become self-sufficient.
Nearly three million registered Afghan refugees remain in exile in the region today, including the 1.7 million in Pakistan and one million in Iran. UNHCR is calling for international support to help returnees settle back in their homeland.
The refugee agency, with the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, is developing a multi-year (2012-2014) solutions strategy for Afghan refugees.
This will be presented for endorsement by the international community at a conference in early 2012.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 17:19:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
The UN refugee agency said on Saturday that the number of Afghan refugees returning home has dropped substantially this year, with some 60,000 repatriating from overseas in the first 10 months compared to more than 100,000 over the same period in 2010.
The returnees included 43,000 from Pakistan, about 17,000 from Iran and less than 100 from other countries, the UNHCR said in a statement in its website on Saturday.
The return figure for Pakistan was 59 per cent lower than last year, but returns from Iran rose from 7,500 a year earlier. UNHCR halts its repatriation programme from Pakistan during the winter.
The lack of livelihood opportunities, and shelter and insecurity are the most frequently cited reasons for not returning. Most Afghan refugees in Pakistan live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces and originate from insecure, undeveloped areas of Afghanistan.
Pakistan is currently home to 1.7 million Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in exile for more than a quarter of a century. Half these people were born outside Afghanistan and do not own property there.
The reason for the increase in voluntary assisted returns from Iran appears to be due to economic pressures and the discontinuation of subsidies on basic goods and services by the Iranian government, said the UNHRC.
In total, 5.7 million Afghan refugees have returned alone or with assistance from Pakistan and Iran, representing nearly a quarter of Afghanistan's population.
Despite security problems in parts of the country and economic needs, Afghan refugees are still returning in significant numbers. The government and its partners are working to ensure sustainable reintegration.
But initial findings of a survey launched recently by UNHCR and Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation indicated that around 40 per cent of the returned Afghans have not yet fully reintegrated into their original communities.
Afghanistan's capacity to absorb additional returns is limited. Some families who returned this year will need additional support to make it through the winter. Many others don't have land, shelter, schools and health care. These families need job opportunities to become self-sufficient.
Nearly three million registered Afghan refugees remain in exile in the region today, including the 1.7 million in Pakistan and one million in Iran. UNHCR is calling for international support to help returnees settle back in their homeland.
The refugee agency, with the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, is developing a multi-year (2012-2014) solutions strategy for Afghan refugees.
This will be presented for endorsement by the international community at a conference in early 2012.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 17:19:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Suicide car bomb targets NATO troops in Afghan capital
Suicide car bomb targets NATO troops in Afghan capital
A suicide bomber blew his explosive- laden car near a NATO troops' convoy in western part of Afghan capital of Kabul on Saturday morning, police said.
"It was a suicide car bombing that targeted a foreign troops convoy in Darul Aman road at about 11:30 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) Saturday," a provincial police spokesman, Hashmat Stanikezy told Xinhua.
"There might be casualties but details will be released later," he added.
Meantime, a local private TV channel Tolo News quoted an unknown security source that at least three NATO soldiers have been killed in the blast.
The blast occurred in Darul Aman road near the parliament building at about 11:30 a.m., an eye witness, Mustafa told Xinhua.
"It was a suicide bomb blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. local time in Darul Aman road, a number of people got injured," the witness said, adding some injured people were transported by ambulances to nearby hospital.
The area is cordoned off by NATO and Afghan police and army forces.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 16:03:13 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
A suicide bomber blew his explosive- laden car near a NATO troops' convoy in western part of Afghan capital of Kabul on Saturday morning, police said.
"It was a suicide car bombing that targeted a foreign troops convoy in Darul Aman road at about 11:30 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) Saturday," a provincial police spokesman, Hashmat Stanikezy told Xinhua.
"There might be casualties but details will be released later," he added.
Meantime, a local private TV channel Tolo News quoted an unknown security source that at least three NATO soldiers have been killed in the blast.
The blast occurred in Darul Aman road near the parliament building at about 11:30 a.m., an eye witness, Mustafa told Xinhua.
"It was a suicide bomb blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. local time in Darul Aman road, a number of people got injured," the witness said, adding some injured people were transported by ambulances to nearby hospital.
The area is cordoned off by NATO and Afghan police and army forces.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 16:03:13 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Suicide blast shocks eastern Afghan town, kills 1, wounds 5
Suicide blast shocks eastern Afghan town, kills 1, wounds 5
A suicide bombing targeted intelligence department in Kunar's provincial capital Assadabad on Saturday, killing one person and injuring five others, an official said.
"A suicide bomber blew himself up next to the department of National Directorate for Security (NDS) in Assadabad city killing one civilian and injuring five other including three police and a woman," the official told Xinhua but declined to give his name, saying authorized officials would brief the media after investigation.
He also stressed that the attacker was a woman who was perished after her blast.
Meantime, Farooq Sahak the director of health department in Assadabad city confirmed that five injured people have been taken to hospital.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:54:42 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
A suicide bombing targeted intelligence department in Kunar's provincial capital Assadabad on Saturday, killing one person and injuring five others, an official said.
"A suicide bomber blew himself up next to the department of National Directorate for Security (NDS) in Assadabad city killing one civilian and injuring five other including three police and a woman," the official told Xinhua but declined to give his name, saying authorized officials would brief the media after investigation.
He also stressed that the attacker was a woman who was perished after her blast.
Meantime, Farooq Sahak the director of health department in Assadabad city confirmed that five injured people have been taken to hospital.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:54:42 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Afghan soldier kills 3 NATO troopers and interpreter
Afghan soldier kills 3 NATO troopers and interpreter
An Afghan soldier opened fired and killed four people including three NATO soldiers and their local interpreter in Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital city Kabul on Saturday, Afghan army commander in the southern region General Abdul Hamid Wardak said.
"The tragic incident happened during training time in provincial capital Trinkot city this morning when Afghan soldiers were receiving training but unfortunately suddenly a soldier opened fire killing three Australian troopers and a local interpreter," Wardak told Xinhua.
Five more people including an Afghan soldier sustained injuries in the firing, the official confirmed without giving more details.
However, he said investigation has been initiated into the case, adding complete details would be made public after completion of investigation.
This is not the first time that rogue Afghan soldiers kill NATO troopers in Afghanistan. A rogue Afghan pilot opened fire on April 27 this year killing nine people including eight American trainees at Kabul military airport.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:41:15 FeedbackPrintRSS
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
An Afghan soldier opened fired and killed four people including three NATO soldiers and their local interpreter in Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital city Kabul on Saturday, Afghan army commander in the southern region General Abdul Hamid Wardak said.
"The tragic incident happened during training time in provincial capital Trinkot city this morning when Afghan soldiers were receiving training but unfortunately suddenly a soldier opened fire killing three Australian troopers and a local interpreter," Wardak told Xinhua.
Five more people including an Afghan soldier sustained injuries in the firing, the official confirmed without giving more details.
However, he said investigation has been initiated into the case, adding complete details would be made public after completion of investigation.
This is not the first time that rogue Afghan soldiers kill NATO troopers in Afghanistan. A rogue Afghan pilot opened fire on April 27 this year killing nine people including eight American trainees at Kabul military airport.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:41:15 FeedbackPrintRSS
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Suicide blast shocks eastern Afghan town, casualties feared
Suicide blast shocks eastern Afghan town, casualties feared
A suicide bomber targeted intelligence department in Kunar's provincial capital Assadabad on Saturday, casualties feared, an official said.
"A suicide bomber blew himself up next to the department of National Directorate for Security (NDS) in Assadabad city this morning killing and injuring some people around," the official told Xinhua but declined to give his name.
Meantime, Farooq Sahak the director of health department in Assadabad city confirmed that five injured people including a woman have been taken to hospital.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:32:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
A suicide bomber targeted intelligence department in Kunar's provincial capital Assadabad on Saturday, casualties feared, an official said.
"A suicide bomber blew himself up next to the department of National Directorate for Security (NDS) in Assadabad city this morning killing and injuring some people around," the official told Xinhua but declined to give his name.
Meantime, Farooq Sahak the director of health department in Assadabad city confirmed that five injured people including a woman have been taken to hospital.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:32:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Suicide blast shocks eastern Afghan town
Suicide blast shocks eastern Afghan town
A suicide bombing targeted intelligence department in Kunar's provincial capital Assadabad on Saturday, casualties feared, an official said.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:24:19 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
A suicide bombing targeted intelligence department in Kunar's provincial capital Assadabad on Saturday, casualties feared, an official said.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:24:19 FeedbackPrintRSS
ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Explosion rocks Afghan capital, casualties feared
Explosion rocks Afghan capital, casualties feared
A powerful explosion rocked western part of Afghan capital of Kabul on Saturday morning, casualties feared, an official said.
The blast, possibly suicide car bombing, occurred in Darul Aman road near the parliament building at about 11:30 a.m. local time ( 0700 GMT), an eye witness, Mustafa told Xinhua.
"It was a suicide bomb blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. local time in Darul Aman road, a number of people got injured," the witness said, adding the bomber targeted a convoy of foreign troops.
"The blast believed to be a suicide one happened in Darul Aman area with casualties feared," the security official who told Xinhua, adding authorized official would later brief the media.
Afghan police and army commandos rushed to the site while security forces work to keep people away in fears of other security incidents.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:14:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
A powerful explosion rocked western part of Afghan capital of Kabul on Saturday morning, casualties feared, an official said.
The blast, possibly suicide car bombing, occurred in Darul Aman road near the parliament building at about 11:30 a.m. local time ( 0700 GMT), an eye witness, Mustafa told Xinhua.
"It was a suicide bomb blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. local time in Darul Aman road, a number of people got injured," the witness said, adding the bomber targeted a convoy of foreign troops.
"The blast believed to be a suicide one happened in Darul Aman area with casualties feared," the security official who told Xinhua, adding authorized official would later brief the media.
Afghan police and army commandos rushed to the site while security forces work to keep people away in fears of other security incidents.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 15:14:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
4 Afghan civilians killed as unknown armed men open fire
4 Afghan civilians killed as unknown armed men open fire
Four civilians lost their lives on Friday evening as unidentified armed men sprayed bullets on a civil car in Khost province, 150 km southeast of capital city Kabul, police spokesman in the province said Saturday.
"Unknown armed men opened fire on a car in Lakan area outside provincial capital the Khost city Friday evening, leaving four commuters dead," Ziarat Azhand told Xinhua.
The attackers made their good escape, the spokesman said, adding search operation is underway to locate and arrest those behind the bloody incident
He also blamed the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants by Afghan officials for the attack but the outfit fighting the government has yet to make comment.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 14:59:27 FeedbackPrintRSS
KHOST, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Four civilians lost their lives on Friday evening as unidentified armed men sprayed bullets on a civil car in Khost province, 150 km southeast of capital city Kabul, police spokesman in the province said Saturday.
"Unknown armed men opened fire on a car in Lakan area outside provincial capital the Khost city Friday evening, leaving four commuters dead," Ziarat Azhand told Xinhua.
The attackers made their good escape, the spokesman said, adding search operation is underway to locate and arrest those behind the bloody incident
He also blamed the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants by Afghan officials for the attack but the outfit fighting the government has yet to make comment.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 14:59:27 FeedbackPrintRSS
KHOST, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Numerous insurgents including Haqqani network commander detained in E. Afghanistan: NATO
Numerous insurgents including Haqqani network commander detained in E. Afghanistan: NATO
Several anti-government insurgents including a group commander of Haqqani network have been captured during overnight operations in eastern Afghan provinces Friday night, a statement of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) released here Saturday said.
"Afghan and ISAF troops during a joint operation in Nadir Shah Kot district of eastern Khost province captured a commander of Haqqani network and several other militants on yesterday," the statement asserted.
However, it did not reveal the name of the arrested commander or the possible casualties the troops suffered during the operations.
In similar operations, several more insurgents were arrested in Khogyani district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, the statement added.
Haqqani network is the military wing of Taliban outfit operating in the eastern Afghan provinces and the capital city Kabul has yet to make comment.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 14:04:05 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Several anti-government insurgents including a group commander of Haqqani network have been captured during overnight operations in eastern Afghan provinces Friday night, a statement of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) released here Saturday said.
"Afghan and ISAF troops during a joint operation in Nadir Shah Kot district of eastern Khost province captured a commander of Haqqani network and several other militants on yesterday," the statement asserted.
However, it did not reveal the name of the arrested commander or the possible casualties the troops suffered during the operations.
In similar operations, several more insurgents were arrested in Khogyani district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, the statement added.
Haqqani network is the military wing of Taliban outfit operating in the eastern Afghan provinces and the capital city Kabul has yet to make comment.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 14:04:05 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
U.S. says security in Afghanistan improving
U.S. says security in Afghanistan improving
The U.S. Defense Department on Friday touted security progress made by foreign troops and Afghan forces over the past three months in Afghanistan, according to a report submitted to Congress.
The Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, however, acknowledged the eastern border area of the country remains a problem. It indicates that levels of violence fell in other parts of Afghanistan over the period from the beginning of April through the end of September.
Afghan national security forces, the report said, made great strides in the past months in both quantity of recruits and the training. And Afghan units are taking over the security mission in seven areas of the country containing roughly 25 percent of the population.
"Although security continues to improve, the insurgency's safe havens in Pakistan, as well as the limited capacity of the Afghan government, remain the biggest threats to the process of turning security gains into a durable, stable Afghanistan," the report said.
Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan has been battered, the report noted, and coalition and Afghan forces have made gains against the overall insurgency. Still, the report said, the insurgency remains resilient with the safe havens inside Pakistan providing areas for insurgents to recuperate and resupply and plan and train for attacks in Afghanistan.
Insurgents have launched a number of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, the report said. Yet, after five years of increasing insurgent attacks, this past year saw a reduction in such attacks and they continue to decline.
The Afghan security forces continue to make progress, the report said. There are currently about 97,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. By the end of the year, according to the report, that number will drop by 10,000.
By November 2012, the report said, another 23,000 U.S. troops will depart. By the end of 2014, all U.S. combat troops will be out of Afghanistan and hand over security mission to Afghan forces.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 06:40:46 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua)
The U.S. Defense Department on Friday touted security progress made by foreign troops and Afghan forces over the past three months in Afghanistan, according to a report submitted to Congress.
The Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, however, acknowledged the eastern border area of the country remains a problem. It indicates that levels of violence fell in other parts of Afghanistan over the period from the beginning of April through the end of September.
Afghan national security forces, the report said, made great strides in the past months in both quantity of recruits and the training. And Afghan units are taking over the security mission in seven areas of the country containing roughly 25 percent of the population.
"Although security continues to improve, the insurgency's safe havens in Pakistan, as well as the limited capacity of the Afghan government, remain the biggest threats to the process of turning security gains into a durable, stable Afghanistan," the report said.
Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan has been battered, the report noted, and coalition and Afghan forces have made gains against the overall insurgency. Still, the report said, the insurgency remains resilient with the safe havens inside Pakistan providing areas for insurgents to recuperate and resupply and plan and train for attacks in Afghanistan.
Insurgents have launched a number of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, the report said. Yet, after five years of increasing insurgent attacks, this past year saw a reduction in such attacks and they continue to decline.
The Afghan security forces continue to make progress, the report said. There are currently about 97,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. By the end of the year, according to the report, that number will drop by 10,000.
By November 2012, the report said, another 23,000 U.S. troops will depart. By the end of 2014, all U.S. combat troops will be out of Afghanistan and hand over security mission to Afghan forces.
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 06:40:46 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua)
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