http://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.rferl.org/img/rssLogo.gif http://www.rferl.org en-US Copyright 2009 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:29:54 +0000 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL A grand inauguration ceremony on November 19 will mark the beginning of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s second term in office. Karzai is expected to use the opportunity to announce new anticorruption measures in an effort to quell criticism from both Afghans and his Western backers. http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzai_Inauguration_Brings_Anticipation_Of_Change/1881057.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzai_Inauguration_Brings_Anticipation_Of_Change/1881057.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:36:16 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzai_Inauguration_Brings_Anticipation_Of_Change/1881057.html#relatedInfoContainer Pakistani officials have reacted harshly to a recent U.S. media report that questioned the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Pakistani experts don't discount the threat extremism poses to the stability of the nuclear-armed Muslim state, but express confidence that adequate measures are in place to ensure that Pakistan's nukes remain in safe hands. http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Officials_Say_Nuclear_Arsenal_In_Good_Hands/1875399.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Officials_Say_Nuclear_Arsenal_In_Good_Hands/1875399.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:32:17 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Officials_Say_Nuclear_Arsenal_In_Good_Hands/1875399.html#relatedInfoContainer In the wake of his reelection, President Hamid Karzai is facing intense international pressure to move decisively against the corruption that affects all aspects of life in Afghanistan. But what is the scale of corruption in the country, how does it systematically undermine efforts to establish stability, and what would it take to stem the growing menace? http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghanistans_Karzai_Faces_Pressure_To_Confront_Corruption_Menace/1871516.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghanistans_Karzai_Faces_Pressure_To_Confront_Corruption_Menace/1871516.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:34:13 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghanistans_Karzai_Faces_Pressure_To_Confront_Corruption_Menace/1871516.html#relatedInfoContainer President Hamid Karzai has vowed to form a government that will include all Afghans. But to form a workable government -- one that can deliver security and economic prosperity to Afghans, reconciliation with the Taliban insurgency, and a recalibration of the country's rocky relationship with the international community -- Karzai will have to overcome immense obstacles. http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Second_Term_Karzai_Faces_Immense_Task_In_Afghanistan/1868603.html http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Second_Term_Karzai_Faces_Immense_Task_In_Afghanistan/1868603.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:25:38 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Second_Term_Karzai_Faces_Immense_Task_In_Afghanistan/1868603.html#relatedInfoContainer Karzai has been presented with an opportunity to pull off his political rebirth. His first task will be to reach out to Abdullah and other political opponents so that political friction won’t morph into violence. He can also potentially turn a page in his relationship with the international community. http://www.rferl.org/content/Abdullahs_Withdrawal_Creates_Uncertainty_But_Also_Opportunities/1866339.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Abdullahs_Withdrawal_Creates_Uncertainty_But_Also_Opportunities/1866339.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:06:06 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Abdullahs_Withdrawal_Creates_Uncertainty_But_Also_Opportunities/1866339.html#relatedInfoContainer In the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated the Obama administration's resolve to help Islamabad in its complex struggle against extremism. Experts suggest that while Clinton's visit might be a good start to improving ties between Washington and Islamabad, much more will be needed to establish a stable relationship. http://www.rferl.org/content/USPakistan_Cooperation_Tops_Clintons_Agenda_In_Lahore/1864246.html http://www.rferl.org/content/USPakistan_Cooperation_Tops_Clintons_Agenda_In_Lahore/1864246.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:36:05 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/USPakistan_Cooperation_Tops_Clintons_Agenda_In_Lahore/1864246.html#relatedInfoContainer As campaigning for Afghanistan's November 7 presidential runoff begins, incumbent President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah are competing not only for votes. Facing an uncertain political landscape, the candidates' camps are also trying to strengthen their respective bargaining positions. With the electorate worried by renewed threats of violence and disheartened by the brazen fraud and protracted controversies that marred the first round, the political alignments in Afghanistan ... http://www.rferl.org/content/With_The_Runoff_On_The_Horizon_A_View_Of_Afghanistans_Rocky_Political_Landscape/1862664.html http://www.rferl.org/content/With_The_Runoff_On_The_Horizon_A_View_Of_Afghanistans_Rocky_Political_Landscape/1862664.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:27:20 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/With_The_Runoff_On_The_Horizon_A_View_Of_Afghanistans_Rocky_Political_Landscape/1862664.html#relatedInfoContainer Former Spanish diplomat Francesc Vendrell, who served as a special envoy for Afghanistan for the United Nations and the European Union, weighs in on the ongoing political crisis in Afghanistan. http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_UN_Envoy_To_Kabul_Suggests_Emergency_Administration_For_Afghanistan/1860564.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_UN_Envoy_To_Kabul_Suggests_Emergency_Administration_For_Afghanistan/1860564.html Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:01:57 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_UN_Envoy_To_Kabul_Suggests_Emergency_Administration_For_Afghanistan/1860564.html#relatedInfoContainer U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has just wrapped up a three-day visit to Central and Eastern Europe, where he offered his assurances of the United States’ commitment to the region. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, Biden said he believes he has successfully laid to rest fears that U.S. efforts to improve relations with Russia could come at the expense of Washington's allies in Eastern Europe. http://www.rferl.org/content/Biden_Says_Trip_Has_Laid_Eastern_Europes_Reset_Fears_To_Rest/1859724.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Biden_Says_Trip_Has_Laid_Eastern_Europes_Reset_Fears_To_Rest/1859724.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:00:54 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Biden_Says_Trip_Has_Laid_Eastern_Europes_Reset_Fears_To_Rest/1859724.html#relatedInfoContainer With fraud, insecurity, and logistical nightmares wearing on Afghan voters, the expectations for the country's November 7 presidential runoff are low. What do voters in remote parts of Afghanistan think about the prospects for the runoff, and what steps are being taken to lure them to polling stations again? http://www.rferl.org/content/Are_Afghanistans_Voters_Prepared_To_Vote_Again/1858670.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Are_Afghanistans_Voters_Prepared_To_Vote_Again/1858670.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:05:18 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Are_Afghanistans_Voters_Prepared_To_Vote_Again/1858670.html#relatedInfoContainer After the October 18 suicide attack in southeastern Iran that killed at least 42 people, the extremist group Jundallah is suddenly at the center of international attention. The group champions the cause of Iran’s Baluchi minority, but it may also be taking on a new role: as a pawn in a complicated chess game between states in the region. http://www.rferl.org/content/Jundallah_Profile_Of_A_Sunni_Extremist_Group/1856699.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Jundallah_Profile_Of_A_Sunni_Extremist_Group/1856699.html Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:38:25 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Jundallah_Profile_Of_A_Sunni_Extremist_Group/1856699.html#relatedInfoContainer With Afghanistan's Electoral Complaints Commission set to issue its findings on allegations of fraud in the country's August 20 vote, some believe a second round vote is likely. But with Afghans weary of rising insecurity and their distrust in the election process at a peak, the country faces a difficult road in the event a runoff is held, or if incumbent President Hamid Karzai is named the first-round winner. http://www.rferl.org/content/Whatever_The_Outcome_Afghan_Election_Decision_Comes_With_Complications/1853828.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Whatever_The_Outcome_Afghan_Election_Decision_Comes_With_Complications/1853828.html Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:21:46 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Whatever_The_Outcome_Afghan_Election_Decision_Comes_With_Complications/1853828.html#relatedInfoContainer Two Pakistani cities have come under lethal attack by militants. The ongoing violence is seen as an attempt by extremists to prevent the military’s impending offensive against the South Waziristan tribal region, which is considered a vast sanctuary for Pakistani and Afghan extremists and Al-Qaeda. http://www.rferl.org/content/As_Pakistan_Hit_By_Terror_Attacks_Military_Girds_For_Waziristan_Offensive/1852606.html http://www.rferl.org/content/As_Pakistan_Hit_By_Terror_Attacks_Military_Girds_For_Waziristan_Offensive/1852606.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:52:50 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/As_Pakistan_Hit_By_Terror_Attacks_Military_Girds_For_Waziristan_Offensive/1852606.html#relatedInfoContainer In the wake of a daring and bloody attack against Pakistan's army headquarters and claims of a successful Taliban attack on a military convoy, Pakistani aircraft have been pounding suspected militant hideouts in the Bajaur and South Waziristan tribal regions along the Afghan border. The bombing campaign is expected to be followed by a major ground offensive against Taliban ensconced in South Wazirstan, but some analysts suggest that it will do little to stem the militant threat in the long term. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ground_Offensive_Appears_Imminent_After_Brazen_Attack_On_Pakistani_Military_Headquarters/1849762.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ground_Offensive_Appears_Imminent_After_Brazen_Attack_On_Pakistani_Military_Headquarters/1849762.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:41:35 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Ground_Offensive_Appears_Imminent_After_Brazen_Attack_On_Pakistani_Military_Headquarters/1849762.html#relatedInfoContainer With U.S. legislation that would triple aid dollars to Pakistan awaiting a presidential signature, the Pakistani military's top brass has publically aired "serious concerns" over parts of the bill, arguing that it would harm national security. http://www.rferl.org/content/Military_Opposition_At_Loggerheads_With_Government_Over_US_Aid_Bill/1847101.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Military_Opposition_At_Loggerheads_With_Government_Over_US_Aid_Bill/1847101.html Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:05:21 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Military_Opposition_At_Loggerheads_With_Government_Over_US_Aid_Bill/1847101.html#relatedInfoContainer Amid protests in Kabul by political activists and nongovernmental organizations against the United Nations' role in Afghanistan's contentious presidential election, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has increasingly found itself mired in infighting among some of its top diplomats. http://www.rferl.org/content/Controversy_Grows_Over_UN_Missions_Role_In_Afghan_Election/1845941.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Controversy_Grows_Over_UN_Missions_Role_In_Afghan_Election/1845941.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:17:56 +0000 News The Taliban in Pakistan has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed five people at the offices of the UN's World Food Program in Islamabad on October 5. The bombing and recent media interviews by some Pakistani Taliban leaders suggest that the group is attempting a comeback despite the recent killing and arrests of its senior leaders. http://www.rferl.org/content/With_UN_Bombing_Pakistani_Taliban_Attempts_A_Comeback/1845108.html http://www.rferl.org/content/With_UN_Bombing_Pakistani_Taliban_Attempts_A_Comeback/1845108.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:56:32 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/With_UN_Bombing_Pakistani_Taliban_Attempts_A_Comeback/1845108.html#relatedInfoContainer Unnamed Pakistani security officials claim the fugitive leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan was killed in a late-August missile strike. There are still some doubts. But if it proves true, the death of Tohir Yuldash would deal allied militants -- including Al-Qaeda -- another blow in the region. http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Agents_Say_IMU_Leader_Militant_Killed/1841609.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Agents_Say_IMU_Leader_Militant_Killed/1841609.html Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:41:11 +0000 News As Western governments push for Afghan forces to take on a greater role in countering the violent insurgency, critics have expressed doubts as to whether the Afghan military can at this stage play a serious role in stabilizing the country. http://www.rferl.org/content/Difficult_Prospects_For_Building_A_Viable_Afghan_Army/1841331.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Difficult_Prospects_For_Building_A_Viable_Afghan_Army/1841331.html Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:15:37 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Difficult_Prospects_For_Building_A_Viable_Afghan_Army/1841331.html#relatedInfoContainer In exclusive interviews with RFE/RL, Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq and former Spanish diplomat and peacemaker Francesc Vendrell weigh in on how to resolve the current postelection crisis in Afghanistan. http://www.rferl.org/content/Two_Perspectives_On_Resolving_The_Afghan_Postelection_Crisis/1838557.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Two_Perspectives_On_Resolving_The_Afghan_Postelection_Crisis/1838557.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:29:17 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Two_Perspectives_On_Resolving_The_Afghan_Postelection_Crisis/1838557.html#relatedInfoContainer As Kabul grapples with the aftermath of a controversial election, Washington is in the midst of an intense debate over its future course in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama is reportedly looking into the possibility of an all-out effort to back Afghan nation building that military commanders might welcome. But some senior administration officials are reportedly urging him to concentrate on the narrower goal of targeting militant leaders. http://www.rferl.org/content/Divisions_On_Way_Forward_In_Afghanistan/1836633.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Divisions_On_Way_Forward_In_Afghanistan/1836633.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:31:04 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Divisions_On_Way_Forward_In_Afghanistan/1836633.html#relatedInfoContainer Criticism and anger are mounting over the rescue of a "New York Times" journalist from Taliban militants. An Afghan colleague and British commando were among the four who died in the accompanying shoot-out, and Afghan journalists and British media are among the groups clamoring for the details. http://www.rferl.org/content/Killing_Of_Afghan_Journalist_Raises_More_Uncomfortable_Questions__/1820593.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Killing_Of_Afghan_Journalist_Raises_More_Uncomfortable_Questions__/1820593.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:27:11 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Killing_Of_Afghan_Journalist_Raises_More_Uncomfortable_Questions__/1820593.html#relatedInfoContainer Three weeks after Afghanistan's presidential elections, final results are still not in and allegations of fraud grow by the day. It's threatening to plunge the country into even-deeper crisis and is giving Afghanistan's international backers a big headache. http://www.rferl.org/content/Postelection_Crisis_Complicates_Afghan_Quest_For_Stability/1819013.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Postelection_Crisis_Complicates_Afghan_Quest_For_Stability/1819013.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:31:29 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Postelection_Crisis_Complicates_Afghan_Quest_For_Stability/1819013.html#relatedInfoContainer In a speech before parliament, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected criticism over a deadly air strike in Afghanistan ordered by the German military and called for an agreement by the end of this year to transfer more responsibility for security to Afghan officials. http://www.rferl.org/content/Merkel_Rejects_Criticism_of_Germanys_Role_in_Afghanistan/1818055.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Merkel_Rejects_Criticism_of_Germanys_Role_in_Afghanistan/1818055.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:50:49 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Merkel_Rejects_Criticism_of_Germanys_Role_in_Afghanistan/1818055.html#relatedInfoContainer As reports of voting irregularities continue to pile up in Afghanistan, casting a shadow over the still-untallied presidential election, key European countries have called for an international conference to discuss the country's future. http://www.rferl.org/content/EU_Leaders_Call_For_Afghan_Conference_Amid_Growing_Uneasiness/1816565.html http://www.rferl.org/content/EU_Leaders_Call_For_Afghan_Conference_Amid_Growing_Uneasiness/1816565.html Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:28:56 +0000 News A deadly NATO air strike in northern Afghanistan highlights the growing insecurity in this part of the country as well as the cost of military operations. http://www.rferl.org/content/Scores_Feared_Dead_After_NATO_Afghan_Air_Strike/1814529.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Scores_Feared_Dead_After_NATO_Afghan_Air_Strike/1814529.html Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:38:49 +0000 News Afghanistan's southern Kandahar Province has a special place in the country's history, having been home to Afghan kings and the ruling elite for centuries. But this vast desert region is now one of the most insecure areas in Afghanistan and a microcosm of what went wrong in the country after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kandahar_Province_Presents_Critical_Test_For_Afghanistans_Future/1813247.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Kandahar_Province_Presents_Critical_Test_For_Afghanistans_Future/1813247.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:45:46 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Kandahar_Province_Presents_Critical_Test_For_Afghanistans_Future/1813247.html#relatedInfoContainer France is hosting a meeting of special representatives from 27 countries to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. Among those attending will be U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. But discussions are being overshadowed by growing allegations of fraud in the country's recent presidential and regional elections. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Meeting_In_Paris_Overshadowed_By_Vote_Fraud_Claims/1813189.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Meeting_In_Paris_Overshadowed_By_Vote_Fraud_Claims/1813189.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:32:22 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Meeting_In_Paris_Overshadowed_By_Vote_Fraud_Claims/1813189.html#relatedInfoContainer After days of confusion and claims of outright victory by each of the top two contenders in the August 20 presidential elections, Afghan election authorities have announced the first partial results. With only 10 percent of the total votes counted, incumbent Hamid Karzai is in the lead with just over 40 percent of the tally. But his top rival, Abdullah Abdullah, is close behind, with nearly 39 percent. http://www.rferl.org/content/Early_Results_Show_Afghan_Election_Too_Close_To_Call/1807348.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Early_Results_Show_Afghan_Election_Too_Close_To_Call/1807348.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:40:18 +0000 News Taliban threats and attacks appear to have succeeded in keeping turnout low in several provinces during Afghanistan's presidential and provincial-council elections on August 20. But as the dust settles and the vote-counting begins, some observers are arguing that people's participation in the election and the security effort that preceded it ultimately signify a Taliban setback. http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_The_Taliban_The_Main_Loser_Of_Afghanistans_Elections/1804919.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_The_Taliban_The_Main_Loser_Of_Afghanistans_Elections/1804919.html Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:08:19 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_The_Taliban_The_Main_Loser_Of_Afghanistans_Elections/1804919.html#relatedInfoContainer Afghan President Hamid Karzai's campaign team has claimed victory in the first round of the country's presidential election. Karzai's campaign chief, Deen Mohammad, told Reuters that Karzai had secured the outright majority needed to avoid a run-off in October. http://www.rferl.org/content/Mixed_Turnout_Violence_Seen_On_Afghan_Election_Day_As_Vote_Count_Begins/1804215.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Mixed_Turnout_Violence_Seen_On_Afghan_Election_Day_As_Vote_Count_Begins/1804215.html Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:54:44 +0000 News On the eve of presidential and provincial-council elections, restive Helmand Province is a litmus test for the state of security in Afghanistan. Considered home to the country's Taliban insurgency and drug trade, the holding of elections in this vast desert province could determine the ultimate success or failure of stabilization efforts in the country. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghanistans_Helmand_Province_Becomes_Electoral_Litmus_Test/1803253.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghanistans_Helmand_Province_Becomes_Electoral_Litmus_Test/1803253.html Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:02:35 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghanistans_Helmand_Province_Becomes_Electoral_Litmus_Test/1803253.html#relatedInfoContainer On the eve of Afghanistan's presidential and regional elections, one of the country's most notorious militia commanders has emerged from exile. General Abdul Rashid Dostum's return to Afghanistan, where the ethnic Uzbek boasts a significant following, is seen as a boost to incumbent President Hamid Karzai's reelection chances. But the accusations of widespread human rights abuses that led to Dostum's exile in Turkey remain. http://www.rferl.org/content/Dostum_Returns_Controversial_To_Afghanistan_From_Exile/1802368.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Dostum_Returns_Controversial_To_Afghanistan_From_Exile/1802368.html Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:19:39 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Dostum_Returns_Controversial_To_Afghanistan_From_Exile/1802368.html#relatedInfoContainer In a live television debate in Kabul, Afghan President Hamid Karzai received staunch challenges from two of his main opponents in next week's presidential election. http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Landmark_Debate_Afghan_Presidential_Contenders_Challenge_Karzai_On_Corruption_Warlords/1800957.html http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Landmark_Debate_Afghan_Presidential_Contenders_Challenge_Karzai_On_Corruption_Warlords/1800957.html Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:05:17 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Landmark_Debate_Afghan_Presidential_Contenders_Challenge_Karzai_On_Corruption_Warlords/1800957.html#relatedInfoContainer While most Afghan presidential contenders campaign from fortified headquarters or travel in armored cars with gun-toting bodyguards, one candidate is getting his message out to remote corners of Afghanistan in a rickety minibus. Meet Ramzan Bashardost -- according to the polls, the third most popular candidate among the 35 contenders. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Gandhi_Running_a_PeopleCentric_Election_Campaign_/1799754.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Gandhi_Running_a_PeopleCentric_Election_Campaign_/1799754.html Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:11:06 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Gandhi_Running_a_PeopleCentric_Election_Campaign_/1799754.html#relatedInfoContainer Peace, reconciliation, and economic development are the key themes of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's election manifesto. Unlike his challengers, he has the arduous task of defending his past performance and selling his future vision to an increasingly skeptical Afghan electorate. http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzai_Hangs_On_To_Frontrunner_Status/1799197.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzai_Hangs_On_To_Frontrunner_Status/1799197.html Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:29:17 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzai_Hangs_On_To_Frontrunner_Status/1799197.html#relatedInfoContainer On a bright summer day, amid the towering mountains surrounding the Panjshir valley north of Kabul, locals recently voiced their support for Abdullah Abdullah. http://www.rferl.org/content/Abdullah_Abdullah_Karzais_Main_Challenger/1796599.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Abdullah_Abdullah_Karzais_Main_Challenger/1796599.html Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:41:06 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Abdullah_Abdullah_Karzais_Main_Challenger/1796599.html#relatedInfoContainer If confirmed, Baitullah Mehsud's death would mark the demise of Pakistan's most wanted fugitive and deprive Al-Qaeda of a reputed "key facilitator" long pursued by U.S. counterterrorism forces in the region. Taliban leaders were said to be meeting to name a successor. http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Taliban_Chiefs_Death_Would_Have_Broad_Implications/1794879.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Taliban_Chiefs_Death_Would_Have_Broad_Implications/1794879.html Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:20:14 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_Taliban_Chiefs_Death_Would_Have_Broad_Implications/1794879.html#relatedInfoContainer When a small band of armed "refugees" crossed the Pamir Mountains from Tajikistan and seized a small village in Kyrgyzstan 10 years ago this week, they did not appear to pose much of a threat. It has since become clear that the storming of the international stage by IMU gunmen shattered Central Asian hopes that it could escape Pakistan- and Afghanistan-style Islamist insurgencies. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ten_Years_After_IMU_Raids_Central_Asia_Still_Battling_Militants/1794035.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ten_Years_After_IMU_Raids_Central_Asia_Still_Battling_Militants/1794035.html Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:28:19 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Ten_Years_After_IMU_Raids_Central_Asia_Still_Battling_Militants/1794035.html#relatedInfoContainer A former academic and World Bank executive who was once in the running to head the bank and the UN is introducing a new kind of politics in Afghanistan. In a country ravaged by foreign invasions and internal friction, presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani is running on a broad reform agenda with a manifesto of a prosperous, peaceful future. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ashraf_Ghani_Afghanistans_Unlikely_Politician_/1793394.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ashraf_Ghani_Afghanistans_Unlikely_Politician_/1793394.html Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:27:44 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Ashraf_Ghani_Afghanistans_Unlikely_Politician_/1793394.html#relatedInfoContainer Mullah Mohammad Omar, the reclusive leader of Afghanistan's Taliban, has issued an updated book outlining the rules of conduct for his fighters. The guide is seen as an effort to consolidate his grip over the Taliban ranks and to offset the West's new counterinsurgency strategy. http://www.rferl.org/content/New_Taliban_Rule_Book_Aims_To_Win_Afghan_Hearts_And_Minds/1790002.html http://www.rferl.org/content/New_Taliban_Rule_Book_Aims_To_Win_Afghan_Hearts_And_Minds/1790002.html Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:26:25 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/New_Taliban_Rule_Book_Aims_To_Win_Afghan_Hearts_And_Minds/1790002.html#relatedInfoContainer British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has delivered a major speech on Afghanistan at NATO headquarters in Brussels, with an emphasis on reconciliation with elements of the insurgency. He also called for finding ways to improve governance at the local level and for the development of a regional stability strategy whereby Afghanistan's neighbors contribute to and benefit from its stability and development. http://www.rferl.org/content/British_Foreign_Secretary_Outlines_Future_Afghan_Strategy_In_Brussels/1786447.html http://www.rferl.org/content/British_Foreign_Secretary_Outlines_Future_Afghan_Strategy_In_Brussels/1786447.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:02:07 +0000 News Afghans tuned in to the first televised debate of the presidential campaign on the evening of July 23, but while they had the opportunity to watch two top contenders face off, President Hamid Karzai was noticeably absent. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidential_Debate_Takes_Place_Without_Karzai/1784668.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidential_Debate_Takes_Place_Without_Karzai/1784668.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:28:47 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidential_Debate_Takes_Place_Without_Karzai/1784668.html#relatedInfoContainer Insecurity is peaking and international debate about Afghanistan's future is intensifying as the country's August 20 presidential election approaches. Amid the deadliest month for international forces since they entered Afghanistan in 2001, Western capitals are critically examining their role in an eight-year-old conflict that has no clear end in sight. http://www.rferl.org/content/Reconciliation_Emerges_As_Possible_Endgame_In_Afghanistan/1783890.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Reconciliation_Emerges_As_Possible_Endgame_In_Afghanistan/1783890.html Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:06:57 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Reconciliation_Emerges_As_Possible_Endgame_In_Afghanistan/1783890.html#relatedInfoContainer As a two-month-old military offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley and the surrounding region winds down, Pakistani authorities are saying that residents who fled the fighting can begin going home. Some 2 million displaced must now decide whether to face an uncertain future in Swat or continue living under harsh circumstances camps and settlements. http://www.rferl.org/content/Swat_Valleys_Displaced_Between_Hope_And_Fear_In_Pakistan/1773979.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Swat_Valleys_Displaced_Between_Hope_And_Fear_In_Pakistan/1773979.html Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:32:57 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Swat_Valleys_Displaced_Between_Hope_And_Fear_In_Pakistan/1773979.html#relatedInfoContainer U.S. regional envoy Richard Holbrooke recently announced that Washington will move away from emphasizing the eradication of opium poppy to stem drug production in Afghanistan, and will instead focus on stopping trafficking, enforcing drug laws, and substituting crops. But officials in Kabul are skeptical about the potential success of this strategy. http://www.rferl.org/content/Shift_In_Afghan_Antidrug_Policy_Draws_Mixed_Reaction/1772447.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Shift_In_Afghan_Antidrug_Policy_Draws_Mixed_Reaction/1772447.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:03:08 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Shift_In_Afghan_Antidrug_Policy_Draws_Mixed_Reaction/1772447.html#relatedInfoContainer A massive military offensive involving thousands of U.S. Marines has been launched against Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province, considered by many to be the country's most insecure region. With thousands of Marines and hundreds of Afghan police and soldiers involved, the operation is seen as a key challenge in turning around the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and improving security for the August 20 presidential election. http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Marines_Launch_LargeScale_Offensive_In_Helmand_Province/1767764.html http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Marines_Launch_LargeScale_Offensive_In_Helmand_Province/1767764.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:51:19 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Marines_Launch_LargeScale_Offensive_In_Helmand_Province/1767764.html#relatedInfoContainer The campaign for Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election is gathering momentum in Kabul. Election posters for incumbent President Hamid Karzai and his 40 challengers compete for space and attention on the city’s walls and lamp posts. But some in Kabul are calling for a delay in the election as concern mounts about what is happening -- or not happening -- in the country's south and east. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidential_Election_Campaign_Under_Way_Underwhelmingly/1761630.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidential_Election_Campaign_Under_Way_Underwhelmingly/1761630.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:39:45 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidential_Election_Campaign_Under_Way_Underwhelmingly/1761630.html#relatedInfoContainer Opinion polls suggest Hamid Karzai is well ahead of rival candidates in the upcoming Afghan election. But one of his key election maneuvers is raising critical questions about governance, accountability, and the rule of law. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidents_Alliances_With_Warlords_Raise_Concerns/1757355.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidents_Alliances_With_Warlords_Raise_Concerns/1757355.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:40:21 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Presidents_Alliances_With_Warlords_Raise_Concerns/1757355.html#relatedInfoContainer As campaigning for the upcoming presidential election officially kicks off in Afghanistan, insecurity in remote areas of the country remains a key concern. Improving the security situation was a prime reason for postponing the vote until August 20, but large swaths of the Afghan countryside have yet to be tamed. http://www.rferl.org/content/Insecurity_Prompts_Concerns_About_Afghan_Presidential_Vote/1755528.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Insecurity_Prompts_Concerns_About_Afghan_Presidential_Vote/1755528.html Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:19:22 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Insecurity_Prompts_Concerns_About_Afghan_Presidential_Vote/1755528.html#relatedInfoContainer