Konar Province, where Qari Ziaur Rahman, is based, on the border with Pakistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
ASADABAD (PAN): As many as 136 artillery shells were fired from Pakistan into Dangam, Shegal and Narai districts of eastern Kunar province over the past 24 hours, injuring three residents, an official said on Thursday.
Two people were injured in Dangam and a third in Nari during the latest in a series of the cross border shelling, Deputy Governor Mohammad Amin Tokhi told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He claimed 20 household also perished as a result of the shelling that caused property damage to residents.
Nearly 4,000 artillery shells have so far been fired into border districts over the past five months, displacing 1,400 families, officials say.
from Pajhwok by Khan Wali Salarzai on Aug 30, 2012 - 17:12
SANAA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's police forces arrested three al-Qaida suspects, including a Syrian national, at an airport in the country's western port city of al-Hodayda late on Wednesday, a security official said.
The three men were arrested upon their arrival at the airport of the Red Sea city of al-Hodayda, the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity, adding that they were flying from the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
The arrest took place after the police received an intelligence tip-off, the official said, noting that security measures have been tightened around the country's airports.
Backed by the United States, the Yemeni transitional government has been strengthening its anti-terror campaign since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February after a year of political upheaval where al-Qaida branch captured several cities in the lawless parts of the country.
The militants were recently either captured or hunted by the security authorities after a U.S.-backed offensive in June, which routed the militants out of their strongholds in the southern province of Abyan.
Combating al-Qaida network is one of the challenges confronting Hadi, who has promised to reform the army, restore security and uproot the resurgent branch of al-Qaida, locally known as Ansar al- Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law).
11 Armed Taliban Killed, Five Wounded and 14 Arrested by Afghan National Police
Counterterrorism:
During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army,
NDS and Coalition Forces launched eight joint clearance operations in
Baghlan, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Kandahar, Maidan Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and
Helmand provinces.
As a result of these operations, 11 armed Taliban were killed, five
wounded and 14 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.
Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and
confiscated one PKM machine gun, one AK-47 assault rifle with six
magazines, three pistols, one radio handset, two heavy rounds, 11 light
rounds, five different types of mines, two hand grenades and 3500 kilos
chemical materials.
Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused three
anti-vehicle mines as a result of security operation in Helmand
province, yesterday.
Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained seven individuals accused
of assault, murder and carrying illegal weapon without license in the
Shakar Dara, 5th, 13th and 15th Districts of Kabul-City.
According to local authorities in eastern Logar province of Afghanistan, anti-Taliban public uprising has started from Pul-e-Alam district of in this province.
Provincial security chief Gen. Ghulam Sakhi Rogh Lewanai said a wide spread pubic uprising against the Taliban militants have started in Pul-e-Alam district from Wednesday onwards.
He said the uprising will possibly expand across the Logar province.
Public uprising against the Taliban militants started from Andar district of eastern Ghazni province and later expanded to the southern regions of the country.
Hundreds of residents of eastern Ghazni province started armed campaign against the Taliban militants in this province.
In the meantime Logar provincial security chief said local residents in Logar province are armed with light weapons.
According to reports around 2000 local residents have taken part in the uprising and majority of them are younger Afghan boys under the age of 18 years old.
However Taliban militants group deny reports over public uprising and said anti-Taliban militia groups funded by Afghan government and United States are involved in war with the Taliban militants.
Public uprising in various provinces of Afghanistan also created concerns among the Afghan parliament members who are believing that arbitrary uprising will lead to serious security challenges in the future for the Afghan government.
Afghan lawmakers urged the government to closely monitor the groups who are fighting the Taliban militants.
from KHAAMA By Sadaf Shinwari - Thu Aug 30, 2:05 pm
ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least five members of the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot were killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout Wednesday night, a government official told Xinhua.
Three U.S. drone-fired missiles struck an al-Qaida vehicle in the Qatan area in Hadramout, leaving at least five terrorists dead at the scene, the local government official said on condition of anonymity.
"An al-Qaida car carrying wanted terrorists was completely destroyed in the aerial attack, killing all passengers," the official said.
A huge explosion rocked the Qatan area during the air bombing, a local resident told Xinhua anonymously, adding that military aircraft are still hovering over several al-Qaida-held sites in Hadramout's suburbs.
The United States has beefed up anti-terror cooperation with the Yemeni government since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February, after a year of political upheaval that allowed al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula to capture several cities in the south.
The al-Qaida militants were recently either captured or hunted by the security authorities after a U.S.-backed offensive in the southern Abyan province three months ago, routing the militants out of their strongholds that they had controlled for nearly a year.
Combating al-Qaida network in the restive south is one of the challenges confronting Hadi, who has promised to reform the army, restore security and uproot the resurgent branch of al-Qaida, locally known as Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law).
KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an
operation to arrest a Taliban insurgent responsible for planning
attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Hisarak district,
Nangarhar province, today.
During the operation the security force detained two suspected insurgents.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
South
An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected
insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in Nad ‘Ali
district, Helmand province, today. The Taliban leader organizes
insurgent operations against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Nad’
Ali.
In Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province today, an Afghan-led security
force, supported by coalition troops, detained numerous suspected
insurgents and seized multiple weapons during an operation to arrest a
Taliban explosives supplier. The explosives supplier organizes
improvised explosive device attacks and provides explosives and weapons
to insurgents in the area.
Also in Panjwa’i, an Afghan and coalition security force detained
several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban
facilitator during an operation in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province,
today. The Taliban facilitator provides improvised explosive devices
and weapons to fighters in the district.
Afghan and coalition officials confirmed today that one the insurgents
detained during an operation in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, on
Aug. 21 is a Taliban leader. The leader conducted attacks in Panjwa’i
district and directed the insurgents under his control to carry out
direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks throughout Kandahar.
East
An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected
insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader responsible
for attacks in Andar district, Ghazni province, today. The leader
directs improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition
forces.
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed 14 insurgents,
detained eight and cleared 10 improvised explosive devices during
operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 29.
Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely
cleared three IEDs, two in Ghazni district and one in Qarah Bagh
district.
Kapisa province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nijrab district.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed four insurgents during an engagement in Tagab district.
Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained six
insurgents during engagements in Khowst, Sabari, Bak and Gurbuz
districts. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for
questioning.
Khowst province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed five
insurgents during engagements in Darah Ye Pech and Watahpur districts.
Laghman province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed an insurgent during an engagement in Qarghah’i district.
Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely
cleared two IEDs, one in Kama district and one in Shinwar district.
Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely
cleared two IEDs, one in Sar Rowzah district and one in Sharan district.
Paktiya province
Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained two insurgents during
engagements in Jaji district. The detained suspects were transferred to
a base for questioning.
Parwan province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Bagram district.
Wardak province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed four insurgents during an engagement in Jaghatu District.
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayyidabad district.
(Reuters) - Australia suffered its worst combat losses since the Vietnam War when five troops were killed in Afghanistan, officials said on Thursday, prompting Prime Minister Julia Gillard to return home early from a regional Pacific leaders' conference.
Officials from the Australian Defence Force and the NATO-led coalition said three Australians had been killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday by an Afghan wearing a soldier's uniform, bringing to 45 the number of NATO-led coalition troops killed in rogue shootings this year.
Australian officials later announced another two troops had died in a helicopter crash in the south on Thursday.
"This is news so truly shocking that it's going to feel for many Australians like a physical blow," an emotional Gillard told reporters in the Cook Islands, where she was attending a forum of Pacific islands leaders.
Gillard said she would cut short her visit and return to Australia later on Thursday for briefings on the deaths.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to lead a U.S. government team to the 16-member forum from Friday.
The alarming rise in the number of rogue shootings and other attacks has increased pressure on coalition members to fast-track withdrawal plans.
Under the current timetable, most foreign combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, handing security responsibility to their Afghan counterparts.
Opinion polls in Australia say Australians overwhelmingly want their troops out of Afghanistan, although Gillard ruled out any early exit.
"We are there for a purpose and we will see that purpose through," Gillard said.
Australia's neighbour New Zealand said last week it would accelerate the withdrawal of its troops after three more were killed by a roadside bomb.
HUNT
Australian and Afghan forces are hunting for a man in an Afghan army uniform who shot and killed the three Australian soldiers at a patrol base in Uruzgan province, where around 1,500 Australian troops are based.
Fifteen coalition troops have been killed in similar incidents this month alone.
Australian Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin told reporters in Canberra the gunman used an automatic weapon at close range.
Binskin said the other two Australians, both special forces soldiers, were killed when their helicopter was attempting to land during an operation in neighbouring Helmand province.
He said there was no sign the accident was caused by enemy action but refused to give further details.
The deaths marked Australia's worst day in the war in Afghanistan, which it joined in late 2001. A total of 38 Australian troops have been killed there since the war began.
NATO-led forces have increased security to try to counter the increase in insider shootings, including requiring soldiers to carry loaded weapons at all times on bases.
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Martin Dempsey visited Kabul last week to discuss the worrying increase in rogue shootings. U.S. President Barack Obama also expressed his "deep concern" over the insider attacks.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for many of the incidents as evidence of their ability to infiltrate Afghan security forces, raising worrying questions about the readiness of Afghan forces to take over.
Afghanistan's government said last week it would re-examine the files of 350,000 soldiers and police to help curb rogue shootings of NATO personnel.
(Reporting by Rob Taylor and Amie Ferris-Rotman in KABUL and James Grubel in CANBERRA; Editing by Paul Tait and Michael Perry)
from REUTERS KABUL/CANBERRA | Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:37am BST
--- ISAF Joint Command KABUL, Afghanistan – Two International Security Assistance Force service
members died following a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan
today.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
According to operational reporting, there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash.
It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.
Map of the Gulf of Guinea, (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
LOME (Reuters) - A Greek-operated oil tanker seized off Togo was tracked down on Wednesday off the coast of Nigeria under the control of pirates, the ship's operator and Togolese authorities said.
The seizure early on Tuesday of the ship, which is operated by Golden Energy Management, underscored the growing risks to ships in the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy is rising but still not as common as off the coast of Somalia.
"The vessel is presently sailing off the coast of Nigeria under the control of pirates who have the intention to steal the cargo," Golden Energy Management said in a statement.
The firm said they were in touch with a French naval ship that was nearby.
The crew are believed to be in good health and unharmed, the statement added. The Greek coastguard said there were 24 people on board, none of whom were Greek.
Colonel Inoussa Djibril, spokesman for the Togolese army chief of staff, confirmed the ship had been located on Wednesday morning in Nigerian waters with pirates onboard.
According to the International Maritime Bureau's website, there have been eight attacks and attempted attacks off the coast of Togo since January. from REUTERS Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:19pm GMT
ISLAMABAD (PAN): Eight Pakistani troops and four rebels were killed during a fierce gun-battle in the country’s northwestern tribal region of Waziristan near the Afghan border, officials said on Wednesday.
The clash in the Saroki sub-district of south Waziristan broke out after a group of heavily armed insurgents attacked a military post in the Badr area. Eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and 10 others were wounded in the attack, a security official said on condition of anonymity.
Four attackers were killed and 10 others were injured when the troops returned fire, he said.
Another security official, however, put at nine the number of Pakistani soldiers killed in the clash that lasted six hours. He said a dozen soldiers were injured.
A spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Ehsanullah Ehsan, told Pajhwok Afghan News more than a dozen soldiers were killed in the assault and several others were seized.
Without giving any figure for casualties suffered by the rebels, Ehsan said both sides used heavy weapons.
After the clash, security officials had cordoned off the area and had a search operation.
from Pajhwok by Qaiser Yousafzai on Aug 29, 2012 - 17:42
Local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on Wednesday revealed the facts behind the beheading of 17 Aghan civilians including 2 women by Taliban militants in Kajaki district in this province.
Helmand provincial governor media office following a statement announced that individuals involved behind the beheading of 17 Afghan civilians have been recongized by local intelligence officials.
Taliban militants on Sunday beheaded 17 Afghan civilians including 2 women in Kajaki district at Roshanabad area.
Based on the preliminary investigation reports the civilians were beheaded by Taliban militants due to the participation of men and women in a musical party however local officials today said that the civilians were killed due to insider problems among the two prominent Taliban leaders.
The statement issued by Helmand provincial governor media office said Mullah Abdul Bari district chief of the Taliban group and a senior Taliban leader ordered to behead the 17 Afghan civilians.
According to reports the two Taliban commanders had illicit relations with the two women however provincial governor media office did not comment in this regard.
The local residents were arrested and imprisoned by the local villagers to prevent the futher broadcast of the issue.
Local officials said Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Bari district chief of the Taliban group ordered his commanders to behead the two women along with the imprisoned villagers.
Local intelligence officials said Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Bari had given the order to hide the issue and punish the local villagers.
The two Taliban commanders who slaughtered the local villagers were recognized as Mullah Syed Gul and Mullah Wali Mohmmad however it is yet not clear if the two Taliban commanders have been arrested or not.
The incident took place in Sarkali village in Dasht-e-Roshan area at Kajaki district.
The source further added two Taliban commanders recognized as Mullah Syed Gul and Mullah Wali Mohammad had issues among themselves over the two women and the local residents contacted the office of the two Taliban commanders to resolve the issue.
Beheading of the civilians were strongly condemned by Afghan president Hamid Karzai and rights organizations in the country.
KABUL (PAN): National Directorate of Security (NDS) agents arrested six would-be suicide bombers with a large amount of explosives in capital Kabul, an official said on Monday.
NDS deputy spokesman Shafiqullah Tahiri said the detainees were arrested with a huge amount of Potassium Chloride and explosives-laden vehicles in the 8th police district of Kabul City.
The insurgents planned to carry out attacks in Kabul and neighbouring Parwan provinces, he added.
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