US defense secretary Chuck Hagel makes first visit to Afghanistan

Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel has arrived in Afghanistan in his first trip to the country as defense secretary in a bid to to make his own assessment about America’s longest war as it enters its final stretch.

During his visit to Afghanistan Hagel is expected to meet with commanders and hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whose recent orders to curtail military activity underscore an often tense relationship with the 66,000 American forces there.

Before leaving for Kabul on an unannounced visit Hagel told reporters, “I need to better understand what’s going on and make my own assessment and listen to our commanders”.

He said it was his first trip to Afghanistan since a mid-2008 visit with then-Senator Barack Obama during Obama’s campaign for the presidency.

Hagel’s visit to Afghanistan comes amid president Hamid Karzai’s order that U.S. special operations forces leave within two weeks because of allegations that Afghans working with the commandos were involved in abusive behavior and torture.

The order comes despite worries that it could leave the region more vulnerable to al-Qaida and other insurgents. U.S. officials have said they have seen no evidence that American forces were involved in the abuse of Afghan civilians.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - 08 Mar 2013, 9:40 pm
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US Secretary of Defense arrives in Afghanistan

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan this evening, his first visit as secretary of defense. He provided the following message to ISAF personnel.

To All ISAF Personnel:

This is my fifth trip to Afghanistan, but my first trip as the United States Secretary of Defense. Over the course of my visit, I look forward to meeting many of you and seeing the extraordinary work that you are accomplishing every day. Whether you are in combat, logistics, medical support or intelligence, whether you are working in a headquarters or going out on patrol, whether you are on the ground or in the air, your contributions to the fight are invaluable.

What you are doing here in Afghanistan will help ensure that al Qaeda does not re-establish the safe haven they had before Sept. 11, 2001. You are working under stressful and difficult conditions, and you have my profound gratitude, and the gratitude of the American people, for your service and your sacrifices. You have my full support, and I will do everything I possibly can to help you succeed and come home safely to your families. I have no higher priority as Secretary of Defense than your safety, success, and welfare.

I believe that we are at a very important moment in this campaign, with the Afghan National Security Forces on the verge of stepping into the lead for all combat operations across the country. As the 2013 fighting season gets underway, the ANSF will be doing more and more of the fighting, and relying on you for support, training, and advice. The choices you make on the battlefield, the professionalism and honor you carry forward, and the relationships and trust you build with our Afghan partners are all essential to the success of this campaign.

Even as we move into more of a support role, this remains a dangerous and difficult mission. We are still at war, and many of you will continue to experience the ugly reality of combat and the heat of battle. But the goal we have established – to have Afghans assume full responsibility for security by the end of 2014 – is clear and achievable.

So as I begin my time as Secretary of Defense, I look forward to hearing from you, seeing this war from your vantage point, and working to make sure you get what you need to finish the fight and come home safe. This is a decisive time – and with your continued professionalism, dedication and sacrifice, I believe we can make history and help forge a more peaceful future for the people of Afghanistan, for the region, and – in turn – for the world.

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Afghan security forces attack US base in Kapisa

Tagab District (in Green) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Lisa Lundquist - March 8, 2013 - LWJ

Earlier today, uniformed Afghan security forces attacked a US military base in eastern Kapisa province, killing a civilian contractor. Three Afghan troops are also said to have been killed in the incident.
A statement issued by ISAF today said: "Individuals wearing Afghan National Army uniforms turned their weapons against International Security Assistance Force members in eastern Afghanistan today, killing one ISAF-contracted civilian."
According to Khaama Press, "several" armed men, said to be Afghan National Army soldiers and Afghan police officers, attacked the base in Kapisa City "while Afghan soldiers were leaving the military base and a verbal conflict started between US and Afghan soldiers."
The attackers were equipped with "equipped with Humvee armoured vehicles and modern military equipment," Khaama Press reported.
The Khaama report stated that one US soldier and one Afghan soldier were killed in the attack, and that no one was injured. According to ISAF, however, it was a civilian US employee, not a US soldier, who died in the incident.
In response to an inquiry by The Long War Journal as to details of the attack, ISAF stated:

We can confirm that one ISAF-contracted civilian died when three individuals wearing Afghan National Security Forces uniforms and driving an ANSF vehicle forced their way on base and turned their weapons against International Security Assistance Force service members and civilians today in eastern Afghanistan. All three individuals were killed during the engagement and the area has been secured by ISAF and ANSF. Afghan and coalition officials are looking into the circumstances of this incident.

Today's attack is the second green-on-blue, or insider, attack on Coalition forces in Afghanistan this year. The previous attack took place on Jan. 6 in Wardak province. Last year, green-on-blue attacks accounted for 15% of Coalition deaths. The attacks have tapered off in recent months as partnering of Afghan and Coalition troops has been reduced. [See LWJ special report, Green-on-blue attacks in Afghanistan: the data.]

Update: The Associated Press reports that the attack took place in the Tagab district of Kapisa province, and that three US soldiers were also wounded in the attack. According to AP, the Taliban claimed in a statement that the attackers were from the Afghan army.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/03/afghan_security_forc_1.php#ixzz2MzRA5s33
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from Pajhwok
By Javed Hamim Kakar Mar 8, 2013 - 19:33
 
KABUL (PAN): Three individuals dressed as Afghan security men killed a NATO contractor in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, the coalition's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

ISAF said in a statement that one "ISAF-contracted civilian" was killed, the second "insider" attack this year.

The attackers, who drove an Afghan security vehicle, were killed during the engagement. The assailants forced their way to the base in eastern Afghanistan, the statement said, but declined to give the nationality.

"We can confirm that one ISAF-contracted civilian died when three individuals wearing Afghan National Security Forces uniforms and driving an ANSF vehicle forced their way on the base and turned their weapons against ISAF service members and civilians ."

The site has been secured by ISAF and ANSF and Afghan and coalition officials were looking into the circumstances of the incident, the statement said.


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ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Individuals wearing Afghan National Army uniforms turned their weapons against International Security Assistance Force members in eastern Afghanistan today, killing one ISAF-contracted civilian.

The incident is currently under investigation.

It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.

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from KHAAMA

By Ghanizada - 08 Mar 2013, 3:59 pm

 

According to reports several armed militants attacked a US military base in eastern Kapisa province of Afghanistan on Friday.

The incident took place in Kapisa city and unconfirmed reports suggest that the armed men are Afghan national army and police officers.

The assailant armed men are also equipped with Humvee armoured vehicles and modern military equipment and at least one US soldier has reportedly been killed following the clashes.

In the meantime a local government official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the incident took place while Afghan soldiers were leaving the military base and a verbal conflict started between US and Afghan soldiers.

The source further added at least one US soldier and one Afghan soldier were killed during the clashes and no one else was injured.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) following a statement also confirmed the report and said, “Individuals wearing Afghan National Army uniforms turned their weapons against International Security Assistance Force members in eastern Afghanistan today, killing one ISAF-contracted civilian.”

ISAF further added, “The incident is currently under investigation.”
 

Related articles

• Afghan security forces attack US base in Kapisa (longwarjournal.org)
• US military base attacked Kapisa city of Afghanistan (khaama.com)
• Afghan Soldiers Attack US Base (mypetjawa.mu.nu)
• Afghan Security Forces With American Supplied Equipment Attack U.S Base (patdollard.com)

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Explosion near Herat governor compound, 4 injured

According to reports at least two Afghan civilians were injured following an explosion in western Herat province of Afghanistan.

The incident took place early Thursday morning near the provincail governor compound.

Provincial scurity chief confirming the report said the explosion took place after explosives packed in a motorcycle went off, injuring four civilians.

He said the incident took place near the sports stadium where the National Front — main political opposition coalition of the Afghan government had a gathering.

In the meatime local residents and eyewitnesses in the area said another explosion was also heard near Guzara district highway.

No group has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - 07 Mar 2013, 11:21 am

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Bin Laden son-in-law detained overseas, brought to New York

(Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors unsealed an indictment against a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden on Thursday that charged him with conspiracy to kill Americans, after U.S. government sources said he was arrested overseas and brought to New York.

Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a militant who appeared in videos representing al Qaeda after the September 11 attacks in 2001, had initially been picked up in Turkey and was brought to the United States in an operation led by Jordanian authorities and the FBI, the sources said.

The Turkish government deported him to Jordan, the sources said, where local authorities and the FBI took custody of him. He was brought to the United States in the last few days, a law enforcement source said.

U.S. officials including Attorney General Eric Holder announced the indictment on Thursday, saying he would be arraigned on Friday at U.S. District Court in lower Manhattan, only blocks from the site of the World Trade Centre, which was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

Abu Ghaith becomes one of the highest-ranking al Qaeda figures to be brought to the United States for civilian trial. When Holder previously announced plans to try defendants in the September 11 attacks in the same courthouse, he was forced to back down by public opposition, and the trials were moved to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

New York police were less concerned Abu Ghaith's case would present a security problem than they were about the trials of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others charged with plotting the attacks, a law enforcement source said.

"It's not the same. It doesn't rise to that level," said the source, who is familiar with the department's views and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The indictment accused Abu Ghaith of acting in a conspiracy that "would and did murder United States nationals anywhere in the world," listing actions before and after September 11, 2001.

"Among other things, Abu Ghaith urged others to swear allegiance to bin Laden, spoke on behalf of and in support of al Qaeda's mission, and warned that attacks similar to those of September 11, 2001 would continue," the indictment said.

It cited a May 2001 gathering at a house in Kandahar, Afghanistan, alleging Abu Ghaith urged guests to swear allegiance to bin Laden, and it says bin Laden summoned Abu Ghaith on the evening of September 11, requesting his assistance.

Bin Laden and Abu Ghaith appeared together the next morning, when the defendant warned the United States and its allies that a "great army is gathering against you" and that "the nation of Islam" would do battle against "the Jews, the Christians and the Americans," the indictment alleges.

Continue & Read More from Reuters here

(Editing by Warren Strobel and Cynthia Osterman)
By Mark Hosenball and Daniel Trotta
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK | Fri Mar 8, 2013 12:05am GMT

Related articles

• Former bin Laden spokesman in US custody (longwarjournal.org)

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Nigeria: Boko Haram - Jonathan Gives Condition for Amnesty

The president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, at the Nuclear Security Summit, in 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Against the backdrop of calls for the granting of amnesty to adherents of the Jama'atul Ahlus Sunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, the federal government has indicated that adherence to this is predicated on the physical appearance of the leadership and elements of the group.

President Goodluck Jonathan gave this condition Thursday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Yobe State, where he paid a one day visit.

Although the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had faulted the call for amnesty as an anti-dote to the current problem of Islamists insurgence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa'ad had pioneered the request ahead of the president's visit to Yobe Wednesday.

from allAfrica/THISDAY
By Muhammad Bello, 7 March 2013

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Eleven militants killed in Pakistan Orakzai, Khyber

PESHAWAR: Eleven suspected militants were killed in action by security forces in the northwestern tribal regions of Khyber and Upper Orakzai, DawnNews reported on Friday.

Security forces also destroyed several militant hideouts during the operation.
In Khyber tribal region’s Tirah Valley, the forces used fighter jets to target insurgent positions, killing three suspected militants and destroying several of their hideouts.

Fresh clashes between the Tehrik-i-Taliban  Pakistan (TTP) and Ansarul Islam (AI) militants erupted in Bar Qamber Khel area of Khyber tribal regions Tirah valley claiming the lives of at least 11 militants.

In Orakzai’s Nindar Mela and Utmela areas, eight militants were killed during shelling by fighter jets and three insurgent hideouts were also destroyed.

Orakzai and Khyber are among Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in the northwest, where Pakistani Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked militants are said to have carved out strongholds.

In another incident three children were injured when a concealed explosive device exploded in Ali baba market in Pabbi area. The three boys were aged between 7-12 years.

from DAWN

Zahir Shah Sherazi 

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Mar. 08., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared three improvised explosive devices and detained 13 suspected insurgents during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, March 7.

Nangarhar province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Behsud district.

Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected insurgents during operations in the Behsud district. The suspected insurgents were transported to a base for questioning.

Ghazni province
Coalition forces detained five suspected insurgents during operations in the Ghazni district. The suspected insurgents were transported to a base for questioning.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Khowst district.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Gurbuz district.

Afghan National Security Forces detained five suspected insurgents during operations in the Gurbuz District. The suspected insurgents were transported to a base for questioning.

Logar province
Afghan Uniform Police detained a suspected insurgent during operations in the Baraki Barak district. The suspected insurgent was transported to a base for questioning.

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