Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

Canadian Troops Complete Large Operation In Southern Afghanistan

'Canadian Troops Complete Large Operation In Southern Afghanistan', CBC News, 28 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Canadian soldiers have just completed one of their largest operations ever in southern Afghanistan, killing 21 insurgent fighters and capturing several others, according to the Canadian military. Operation Janubi Tapu 2 — or 'southern vulture' — was aimed at reducing the ability of the insurgents to attack Kandahar city from the nearby Zhari district, the military said. The head of the Canadian battle group, Lieut.-Col. Roger Barrett, called the operation a complete success. More than 500 soldiers, most of them Canadians, along with some British commandos, joined Afghan national security forces and their U.S. mentors in the three-day attack. Fifteen militants were killed in an early morning raid and six were detained Wednesday, he said, while another six were killed in an air strike while setting up a mortar Thursday morning. Soldiers detained 20 others during the operation, as well as locating and destroying several weapons caches. There were no Canadian injuries."

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See also:
'Driving out the Taliban', Toronto Star, 28 November 2008
'Coalition forces strike into heart of Zhari district - killing 21 Taliban', The Canadian Press, 28 November 2008

Related posts:
'Canada's strategy in Afghanistan to change', 31 October 2008
'NATO cannot be in Afghanistan forever: Canada's PM', 3 October 2008
'Canada's engagement in Afghanistan - Setting a course to 2011', 16 June 2008

Afghanistan Not In Crisis: UN Security Council

'Afghanistan Not In Crisis: UN Security Council', AFP, 28 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan is not in a security crisis and disillusionment and recriminations about its situation should be avoided, a UN Security Council team said at the end of a three-day assessment tour. There were even reasons for 'cautious optimism,' the delegation told reporters before wrapping up a visit which comes as attacks linked to the insurgency led by the Islamic Taliban are at record levels. n his meeting with the team on Tuesday, President Hamid Karzai demanded a'timeline' for the end of largely UN-mandated international military intervention in Afghanistan. The country is a key battleground for the US-led 'war on terror' launched in 2001 with the invasion that toppled Afghanistan's Taliban regime for harbouring Al-Qaeda after the September 11 attacks on the United States. Karzai also said it was 'unacceptable' that pockets of his country were in control of Taliban insurgents despite the presence of nearly 70,000 international troops."

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See also:
'Afghanistan: Press conference by Security Council Mission', ReliefWeb / UNAMA, 27 November 2008
'UNSC mission: UN continues to assist Afghanistan', China View, 25 November 2008
'Visiting Security Council team holds talks with top Afghan officials', UN News Centre, 25 November 2008

Related posts:
'UN Security Council on fact-seeking mission in Afghanistan', 21 November 2008
'Aid agencies ask the UN for support', 25 September 2008
'UN extends Afghanistan force mandate', 23 September 2008
'NGOs call for separation of UN political, humanitarian roles', 9 July 2008

Afghans Riot In Kabul After Civilian Killed

'Afghans Riot In Kabul After Civilian Killed', Swissinfo, 28 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Dozens of angry Afghans pelted police with stones after a U.S. military vehicle struck a van and one civilian was killed and three wounded in the Afghan capital Friday, officials and witnesses said. Seething resentment against the presence of some 65,000 foreign troops is growing in Afghanistan after scores of Afghan civilians have been killed in a series of mistaken air strikes this year. The incident began when a U.S.-led coalition struck the minivan and it skidded off a main road in eastern Kabul and hit a shop, the U.S. military said. A security contractor's vehicle also travelling along the road was then surrounded by an angry crowd and the driver called for assistance, but managed to leave before troops from a nearby British base arrived at the scene, a NATO spokesman said. It was not clear if the civilian died in the traffic incident or was shot afterwards, but the NATO-led force said none of its troops had fired any shots. But the quickness with which ordinary Afghans turned to violence illustrates the depth of resentment against the presence of foreigners in their country, many of whom drive aggressively at great speed to avoid the threat of suicide bombers."

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See also:
'British troops in fatal Kabul shooting', The Guardian, 28 November 2008
'NATO forces kill insurgents in eastern Afghanistan', China View, 28 November 2008
'Can freedom endure in Afghanistan?', Metro UK, 28 November 2008

Related posts:
'Karzai admits failure in securing Afghanistan', 29 October 2008
'2008 Afghanistan's "worst year": Minister', 14 October 2008
'Civilian deaths rose 39% in first eight months: UN', 16 September 2008
'NATO ties strained over civilian killings', 4 September 2008

Britain To Consider Afghanistan Troop Request

'Britain To Consider Afghanistan Troop Request', The Associated Press, 28 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Britain will carefully examine any request from the incoming U.S. administration to send more troops to Afghanistan, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in an interview published Friday. The U.K. government had previously said it should first be up to other allies to provide additional personnel as NATO seeks to increase its forces in Afghanistan. But Miliband and Defense Secretary John Hutton said separately that Britain — which boosted its force in Afghanistan in June — could be prepared to offer more troops. Britain contributes around 8,000 to a 50,000-strong NATO mission and is the second largest military presence in the country after the United States. Britain's defense ministry said Miliband's comments were not a guarantee that the U.K. will in future send more troops, but acknowledged that the option will be looked at, if a request is made."

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See also:
'UK to "look hard" at troop calls', BBC News, 28 November 2008
'Miliband awaits "Obama strategy" on Afghanistan', Reuters UK, 28 November 2008

Related posts:
'Miliband denies UK troops claim', 25 November 2008
'"Extra UK troops" for Afghanistan', 14 November 2008
'Britain to NATO members: Help more in Afghanistan', 12 November 2008
'Britain's troops have paid high price for Afghan progress', 7 August 2008

Drugs Finance Taliban War Machine, Says UN

'Drugs Finance Taliban War Machine, Says UN Drug Tsar', United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 27 November 2008

EXCERPT: "The Afghan Opium Survey 2008 released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that opium has become less important to the Afghan economy due to a decrease in cultivation, production and prices. However, opium finances the Taliban war economy and is a major source of revenue for criminal groups and terrorists. Opium cultivation in 2008 declined 19% to 157,000 hectares. Production was down by 6% to 7,700 tons. The Survey shows that prices are also down by around 20%. As a result, the value of opium to farmers dropped by more than a quarter between 2007 and 2008, from $1 billion to $730 million. The export value of opium, morphine and heroin (at border prices in neighbouring countries) for Afghan traffickers is also down, from $4 billion in 2007 to $3.4 billion this year.  The area of arable land in Afghanistan used to grow opium dropped from 2.5% to 2.1% between 2007 and 2008, and one million fewer people were involved in opium cultivation this year. The Afghan opium problem is therefore shrinking in size and becoming more concentrated in the south-west of the country where 98% of the opium is grown."

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See also:
'U.N. reports that Taliban is stockpiling opium', The New York Times, 27 November 2008
'Afghan opium supply outstrips demand', United Press International, 27 November 2008
'Sharp drop in Afghan poppy crop', BBC News, 27 November 2008
'NATO countries split on help for Afghan drug war: top UN official', AFP, 27 November 2008

Related posts:
'Could pomegranates replace poppies?', 21 November 2008
'UN: High food prices help Afghan drop opium crop', 14 November 2008
'NATO is set to end its hands-off policy on the heroin trade', 6 November 2008
'US, UN differ on Afghan opium ebb', 24 October 2008
'Opium cultivation in Afghanistan down by a fifth: UNODC', 26 August 2008

French Aid Worker Pleads For Release On Kidnap Video

'French Aid Worker Pleads For Release On Afghanistan Kidnap Video', The Telegraph UK, 27 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Dany Egreteau, the French aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan earlier this month has appeared in a video pleading for the payment of a ransom. In the film, Mr Egreteau is shown streaked with grime and held in chains, while unseen captors point the muzzles of two assault rifles at his head as he describes his captivity as a 'nightmare'. The 32-year-old, who works for Solidarite Laique, a not for profit group working to promote education and health care, was seized on Nov 3 in the Afghan capital Kabul. A passing Afghan driver who attempted to intervene to save him was shot dead. During the short one-and-a-quarter-minute film Mr Egreteau identifies himself and his family before pleading for an unspecified ransom to be paid as quickly as possible. He says he has been held blindfolded in a small room and is going 'totally mad'. He says: 'I cannot move, it's a nightmare, please pay this money ... Please do it quickly, it's a nightmare here.' Mr Egreteau repeatedly promises to repay whoever pays his ransom."

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See also:
'Kidnapped aid worker targeted by error: colleagues', The Associated Press, 27 November 2008
'Afghanistan kidnappers' chilling film of French hostage Dany Egreteau', The Mirror, 27 November 2008

Related posts:
'Increasing kidnapping cases worsen security situation', 3 November 2008
'"Taliban" kidnap 14 road workers in Afghanistan: ministry', 27 October 2008
'Security issues curb Afghanistan recruitment', 23 October 2008
'Kidnappers target the rich, influential in Afghanistan', 30 September 2008

Anger With Government After Suicide Attack

'Anger With Government After Suicide Attack', The National (UAE), 28 November 2008

EXCERPT: "A suicide attack near the US Embassy in Kabul killed four people on Thursday, adding to a growing sense of anger and despair inside the capital. The car bomber detonated himself about 8.30am local time, just as US civilians were entering the massive fortified compound 100 metres away for Thanksgiving celebrations. Soon afterwards Afghans were directing their anger towards the government and foreign troops, who they accused of failing to maintain security even in the most heavily guarded parts of the capital. Mohammed Qadir was setting up his juice stall in the local shopping area where the blast happened. 'Suddenly I heard the explosion and fell down,' he said. 'I went to the scene and saw lots of dead bodies. One man was on a bicycle. I tried to pull him up but his head had been completely blown apart. There were also dead people from the municipality. We can’t say for sure that this was the Taliban or al Qa'eda because we have lots of enemies. I blame the government because they cannot close our borders'. The dead and injured all appear to have been Afghans caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Witnesses denied seeing any foreign soldiers when the attack occurred, contradicting a statement from the interior ministry that an American convoy was driving past. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying international troops were indeed the target."

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See also:
'Suicide bomber targets U.S. convoy in Kabul; at least 4 killed', The Washington Post, 27 November 2008
'Kabul car bombing kills at least 4 and wounds 17', The International Herald Tribune, 27 November 2008

Related posts:
'Afghan insurgency stronger than ever', 19 November 2008
'In the hands of the Taliban, life is cheap', 31 October 2008
'Bomb-disposal experts "think through bomber's eyes" in Afghanistan', 23 October 2008
'Over 60 percent of suicide bombers are physically disabled', 22 October 2008

Winter Of Hunger Looms In Afghanistan

'Winter Of Hunger Looms In Afghanistan', The Associated Press, 27 November 2008

EXCERPT: "The farmer squats barefoot on packed earth in front of his two-room mud house. He has looked at his bags of wheat, he says, and counted the days. Ghulam Sakhi, 50, says his family will run out of food in mid-January — only a third of the way through Afghanistan's frigid winter. As the days shorten and the nights grow colder, this winter threatens to be Afghanistan's most desperate in nearly two decades. Life has always been hard in this poor, war-ravaged land, but this year a combination of drought, high food prices and Taliban attacks on supply routes could leave a bigger shortage than emergency food aid can cover. In a country already struggling to combat a strengthening Taliban insurgency, it's a crisis that is testing an overstretched government's limits. Day Kundi, the central province where Sakhi lives, is usually one of the hardest hit by snows and food shortages, but is also relatively peaceful. So Sakhi's family worries less about war and more about simply being forgotten. The couple and their nine children depend on flatbread made from wheat to survive the winter in a barren mountain valley dotted with dusty almond trees and the occasional sheep. They drink water, or tea if they have a little extra money. Once snow blocks the roads in mid-December, the entire town of Nili lives off stored food until spring."

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See also:
'Food insecurity may cause deaths this winter - government', IRIN News, 27 November 2008
'World Food Programme: food shortages are still a threat', Pak Tribune, 26 November 2008
'Security, funding worries trouble Afghan food aid', Reuters India, 25 November 2008
'Worsening security situation forces UN to consider new shipping routes into Afghanistan', Voice of America, 25 November 2008

Related posts:
'ADB gives 30 million dollars to rebuild agriculture', 24 November 2008
'Drop in fuel, food prices raises hopes for food insecure', 17 November 2008
'Pakistan looting stops food aid convoys to Afghanistan', 14 November 2008
'Afghan famine poses greater risk than Taliban', 30 October 2008
'War and drought threaten Afghan food supply', 19 September 2008

Afghan Leader Complains US, NATO Aren't Succeeding

'Afghan Leader Complains US, NATO Aren't Succeeding', The Associated Press, 26 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan's president sharply critiqued the seven-year Afghan war Wednesday, complaining that U.S. and NATO troops haven't made life better. The criticism came a day after he accused foreign forces of undermining him with a 'parallel government' in the countryside. The back-to-back barbs aimed at the international community's handling of the fight with the Taliban and the rebuilding of Afghanistan underlined President Hamid Karzai's increasing frustration with a conflict that has gotten bloodier each year. 'We haven't accepted the international community so our lives would get worse. We accepted them so our lives would get better,' Karzai said Wednesday. 'We can accept some destruction — even some civilian casualties — if we have hope for a future of security and peace ... but this (style of) fighting can't be the only way forever.' During a meeting Tuesday with a U.N. Security Council delegation, Karzai called for the international community to set a timeline for ending the war, although he didn't mention a specific date. He asked how — given the number of countries involved and the amount of money spent in Afghanistan — 'a little force like the Taliban can continue to exist, continue to flourish.'"

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See also:
'Karzai says US, NATO created 'parallel' government', The Associated Press, 26 November 2008
'Afghan president says he's powerless to stop US airstrikes', Voice of America, 26 November 2008
'"Help us fight corruption," MPs plead to UN', Quqnoos News, 26 November 2008
'Karzai seeks UN help to curb civilian deaths in Afghan conflict', Bloomberg, 26 November 2008

Related posts:
'Airstrikes in Afghanistan increase 31 percent', 6 November 2008
'Karzai admits failure in securing Afghanistan', 29 October 2008
'Afghans to Karzai: You failed us', 22 October 2008
'Villagers say 18 civilians killed in NATO air strike', 17 October 2008
'NATO ties strained over civilian killings', 4 September 2008

Rocket Hits NATO Truck Depot In Pakistan

'Rocket Hits NATO Truck Depot In Pakistan', The Associated Press, 26 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Suspected militants fired a rocket Wednesday that hit a terminal for trucks carrying supplies to NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan, underscoring the insurgents increasing hold over parts of northwest Pakistan. The rocket was one of two fired late in the day in the region's capital, Peshawar, said police officer Abdul Qadirwhich. The city, which sits along the supply route from Pakistan to Afghanistan, has seen an upsurge in violence in recent weeks, including the slaying of an American working on a U.S-funded aid project. Neither of the rockets caused serious damage or any injuries, he said. Qadir said officers were not sure whether the truck terminal was the target of the attack. The rockets are normally fired into the city from hills on its outskirts some 10 kilometers (7 miles) away. Up to 75 percent of the supplies for Western forces in landlocked Afghanistan pass through Pakistan. Peshawar is a key stop for convoys en route to the Khyber Pass and on to Western Afghanistan."

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See also:
'Pakistani Taliban commander vows increased attacks', AFP, 26 November 2008
'Pakistani Taliban shrug off U.S. missile strikes', Reuters, 26 November 2008
'Four killed in Taliban gun battle in NW Pakistan: police', AFP, 26 November 2008

Related posts:
'Russia gives NATO land bridge to Afghanistan', 20 November 2008
'NATO Troops fire at insurgents in Pakistan', 18 November 2008
'US supply trucks get armed escorts in Pakistan', 17 November 2008
'Pakistan looting stops food aid convoys to Afghanistan', 14 November 2008
'NATO's political will "wavering" in Afghanistan', 20 October 2008