Defense ministers from NATO countries, meeting for a second day in Krakow, continue to discuss Pentagon calls to deploy more troops to Afghanistan. And with the impending eviction of U.S. forces from an air base in Kyrgyzstan, Washington's plan to send an additional 17,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan faces logistical complications as well.
Afghan Health Minister Said Mohammad Amine Fathami told RFA that the abductors planned to transfer the hostages to Pakistan for unknown reasons.
The announcement comes amid reports that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev has signed a bill approved by lawmakers on February 19 to evict U.S. forces from a key air base near Bishkek to supply operations in Afghanistan.
U.S. President Barack Obama recently called his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul to affirm the new U.S. administration's support for Turkey's "leading role" in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus. Indeed, Iraq and Afghanistan are the two areas where Turkey could help the United States and the West.
NATO defense ministers have gathered in Krakow, Poland, for two days of talks expected to focus on a review of the alliance's operations in Afghanistan. NATO says the challenges ahead include getting more troop contributions for the fight against militants, and to help provide security for the country's presidential elections in August.
Pakistan and Afghanistan will send their foreign ministers to Washington next week for talks on the Obama administration's review of regional security issues, U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke has said.
Kyrgyzstan's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to approve a government proposal to close a U.S. air base in the Central Asian nation.
Pakistani officials have agreed to let local judges in the Swat Valley practice Shari'a law, in exchange for a pledge from pro-Taliban militants to refrain from attacks. Is the deal a necessary compromise, or could it open the door to abuses of human rights -- and create new safe havens for militants?
In the first major military decision of his presidency, U.S. President Barack Obama is significantly strengthening the combat presence of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
The Afghan government said the idea of installing an interim government until the August presidential election would be unconstitutional.
Iran and Tajikistan are discussing the creation of a Tajik-Afghan-Iranian TV network with Iran providing the equipment, Afghanistan providing the air time, and Tajikistan providing the studios.
U.S. forces killed at least one child, video footage obtained by Reuters on February 18 showed, in an air strike in western Afghanistan that Afghan police say killed 12 civilians and U.S. forces said killed 16 militants.
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