Tag: Taliban
Efforts for peace with Afghan Taliban in full swing
ISLAMABAD - As the Obama pull-out plan, the Lisbon and NATO deadlines set by the international players for troops' pullout from the troubled regions of Afghanistan draw closer, there is a significant push in behind-the-scene efforts to clinch a deal with Taliban and other insurgent groups. The formation of Pakistan, Afghan joint commission for Afghan reconciliation process is being called a sea change in bilateral relations between both the neighbouring countries, say diplomatic
‘London Taliban’ threatening women without headscarves
LAHORE - Women who did not wear headscarves are being threatened with violence and even death by Islamist extremists intent on imposing Sharia law on parts of Britain, it was claimed on Sunday, according to the Daily Mail, a British newspaper.
The newspaper said other targets of the "Talibanesque thugs," being investigated by the police in the Tower Hamlets area of London, included homosexuals, and stickers had been plastered on public walls stating: "Gay free zone. Verily Allah
The newspaper said other targets of the "Talibanesque thugs," being investigated by the police in the Tower Hamlets area of London, included homosexuals, and stickers had been plastered on public walls stating: "Gay free zone. Verily Allah
Attack on troops shows Taliban danger: experts
KABUL - Two suicide attacks in two days which killed a police chief and five foreign troops in Afghanistan show the Taliban's ability to land heavy blows without even engaging in direct combat, experts say.
As spring brings warmer weather across the country, the traditional fighting season is getting under way, which Western officials say will provide a litmus test of their strategy in the near ten-year war following a US troop surge. But experts warn that Friday's killing of the
As spring brings warmer weather across the country, the traditional fighting season is getting under way, which Western officials say will provide a litmus test of their strategy in the near ten-year war following a US troop surge. But experts warn that Friday's killing of the
Pak-Afghan joint body to reconcile with Taliban
KABUL - Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday engaged in a day-long discourse to remove the trust deficit and shape up indigenous efforts to eliminate terrorism by launching a reconciliatory process with all insurgents - mainly the Taliban.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani flew to Afghanistan on an official visit and held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on issues including terrorism and peace talks with the Taliban before the pair held a joint press conference.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani flew to Afghanistan on an official visit and held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on issues including terrorism and peace talks with the Taliban before the pair held a joint press conference.
Clinton defends Taliban talks
BERLIN - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday voiced understanding for talks with the Taliban, as she mourned late diplomat Richard Holbrooke, an avid proponent of reconciliation in Afghanistan.
At a memorial service, Clinton credited Holbrooke - who died unexpectedly at the age of 69 in December - with setting the troubled US relationships with Pakistan and Afghanistan on the right track as special envoy to the countries. "Those who found negotiations with the Taliban
At a memorial service, Clinton credited Holbrooke - who died unexpectedly at the age of 69 in December - with setting the troubled US relationships with Pakistan and Afghanistan on the right track as special envoy to the countries. "Those who found negotiations with the Taliban
18 Taliban killed in assault on hideouts
PESHAWAR - Troops and paramilitary forces, backed by helicopter gunships and warplanes, targeted Taliban positions in Mohmand Agency near the Afghan border on Thursday, killing at least 18 militants, a regional government official said.
The military has recently mounted an offensive in villages bordering Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar in pursuit of militants linked to Al Qaeda and Taliban who want to destabilise the US ally and impose Taliban-style rule.
"We are
The military has recently mounted an offensive in villages bordering Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar in pursuit of militants linked to Al Qaeda and Taliban who want to destabilise the US ally and impose Taliban-style rule.
"We are
Taliban suicide squad kills three Afghan police
KHOST - Three Afghan policemen were killed Thursday when Taliban militants struck at a police training centre in one of three suicide attacks to hit Afghanistan on the same day.Insurgents are increasingly targeting Afghan security forces, whose role will increase as US-led NATO troops prepare to hand over responsibility for security in seven areas from July and end frontline fighting in 2014.There has also been a recent rash of suicide bombings, a key Taliban tactic, with authorities
Pakistan forces attack Taliban hideouts in border region, kill 18
PESHAWAR - Pakistani troops and paramilitary forces, backed by helicopter gunships and warplanes, targeted Taliban positions in the tribal region of Mohmand near the Afghan border on Thursday, killing at least 18 militants, a regional government official said.
Pakistan's military has recently mounted an offensive in villages bordering Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar in pursuit of militants linked to al Qaeda and Taliban who want to destabilise the U.S. ally and impose
Pakistan's military has recently mounted an offensive in villages bordering Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar in pursuit of militants linked to al Qaeda and Taliban who want to destabilise the U.S. ally and impose
Taliban force famous singer out of Peshawar
PESHAWAR - As extremists are hell-bent to eliminate culture and different forms of art, their fear has compelled famous singer of Pashto Nazia Iqbal to leave Peshawar, as she opted to shift to Islamabad. She is not the first singers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to leave the province, as least 15 well-known figures besides many others have earlier migrated to other areas and even abroad whereas several including Alam Zeb Mujahid left the showbiz world.
Some like Gulzar Alam and Shahinsha
Some like Gulzar Alam and Shahinsha
Six dead as Taliban attack Afghan police centre
KANDAHAR - Six Afghan security personnel were killed on Thursday as Taliban gunmen detonated a bomb hidden in an ambulance at a police centre near the key southern city of Kandahar.
The attack was the latest to target Afghanistan's Western-backed security forces just a few months before US-led NATO troops start limited withdrawals after nearly 10 years of war against the Taliban.
"Insurgents have blown up an ambulance vehicle full of explosives which killed six members of
The attack was the latest to target Afghanistan's Western-backed security forces just a few months before US-led NATO troops start limited withdrawals after nearly 10 years of war against the Taliban.
"Insurgents have blown up an ambulance vehicle full of explosives which killed six members of
US doubts Pakistan’s plan to defeat Taliban
WASHINGTON - Pakistan lacks a robust plan to defeat Taliban militants and its security forces struggle to hold areas cleared of the Al Qaeda-linked fighters at great cost, according to US report released on Tuesday.
"There remains no clear path toward defeating the insurgency in Pakistan, despite the unprecedented and sustained deployment of over 147,000 forces," President Barack Obama's administration said in a report to lawmakers in Congress.
The report highlighted
"There remains no clear path toward defeating the insurgency in Pakistan, despite the unprecedented and sustained deployment of over 147,000 forces," President Barack Obama's administration said in a report to lawmakers in Congress.
The report highlighted
US doubts Pakistan’s plan to defeat Taliban
WASHINGTON - Pakistan lacks a robust plan to defeat Taliban militants and its security forces struggle to hold areas cleared of the al Qaeda-linked fighters at great cost, according to U.S. report released on Tuesday.
The United States wants Pakistan to subdue Taliban fighters using safe havens in its rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. forces across the border in Afghanistan.
"There remains no clear path toward defeating the insurgency in Pakistan, despite the unprecedented
The United States wants Pakistan to subdue Taliban fighters using safe havens in its rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. forces across the border in Afghanistan.
"There remains no clear path toward defeating the insurgency in Pakistan, despite the unprecedented
10 Taliban militants join government in N. Afghanistan
KUNDUZ - A 10-member group of Taliban insurgents renounced insurgency and joined government-initiated peace process in Kunduz province, some 250 km north of the capital city of Kabul, provincial police spokesman said.
"The 10-memeber Taliban group led by Salahuddin renounced insurgency and joined government in Imam Sahib District this morning," Mohammad Harroon said.
He said the ex-insurgents also handed over 10 weapons to security authorities in the district.
With
"The 10-memeber Taliban group led by Salahuddin renounced insurgency and joined government in Imam Sahib District this morning," Mohammad Harroon said.
He said the ex-insurgents also handed over 10 weapons to security authorities in the district.
With
Ski resort re-opened with sking gala at Malam Jabba
MALAM JABBA - More than three years after the Taliban shut Pakistan's most famous ski resort, enthusiasts are again slamming down the slopes trying to prove that the feared insurgents are gone for good.
When Taliban fanatics led by cleric Maulana Fazlullah took control of the scenic Swat valley in 2007, they turned the Malam Jabba resort into their stronghold, blowing up the ski lift and setting fire to the only hotel.
Western holidaymakers and Pakistani skiers became a
When Taliban fanatics led by cleric Maulana Fazlullah took control of the scenic Swat valley in 2007, they turned the Malam Jabba resort into their stronghold, blowing up the ski lift and setting fire to the only hotel.
Western holidaymakers and Pakistani skiers became a
Taliban bomb Sakhi Sarwar’s shrine, kill 42
ISLAMABAD - A double suicide bomb attack outside the shrine of the 13th century Sufi saint Ahmed Sultan, popularly known as Sakhi Sarwar, in Dera Ghazi Khan district killed 42 people on Sunday. Hundreds of people had gathered at the shrine for a ceremony when the attacks took place.
"We have recovered 41 bodies so far," said police officer Zahid Hussain Shah, adding that more than 70 people were wounded. "Both were suicide attackers, they came on foot and blew themselves up when
"We have recovered 41 bodies so far," said police officer Zahid Hussain Shah, adding that more than 70 people were wounded. "Both were suicide attackers, they came on foot and blew themselves up when
Taliban fighters seize Afghan district in remote east
ASADABAD - Taliban insurgents seized a district in Afghanistan's remote northeast after a brief battle with police, provincial officials said on Tuesday, underscoring the difficulty Afghan and foreign forces face in securing the increasingly violent region.
Hundreds of Taliban fighters had captured the Waygal district centre in mountainous Nuristan province in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, said Mohammad Zarin, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Nimatullah Mazabyar, the
Hundreds of Taliban fighters had captured the Waygal district centre in mountainous Nuristan province in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, said Mohammad Zarin, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Nimatullah Mazabyar, the
Taliban seize remote district in east Afghanistan
ASADABAD - Taliban insurgents seized a district in Afghanisan's remote northeast after a brief battle with police, provincial officials said on Tuesday, underscoring the difficulty Afghan and foreign forces face in securing the increasingly violent region.
Hundreds of Taliban fighters had captured the Waygal district centre in mountainous Nuristan province in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, said Mohammad Zarin, a spokesman for the provincial governor.
Nimatullah Mazabyar,
Hundreds of Taliban fighters had captured the Waygal district centre in mountainous Nuristan province in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, said Mohammad Zarin, a spokesman for the provincial governor.
Nimatullah Mazabyar,
