Afghanistan
Aktuelle Einsätze
EUPOL Afghanistan
EU Police Mission in Afghanistan (EU)
Beginn: 06/07
Link zum Einsatz
UNAMA
United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UN-Peacebuilding)
Beginn: 03/02
Link zum Einsatz
ISAF
International Security Assistance Force (UN-Mandatiert)
Beginn: 01/02
Link zum Einsatz
US to give Afghan army new vehicles, weapons (08.10.2008)
(Quelle: RFE / RL) The U.S. military is to provide the Afghan Army with armored vehicles and NATO standard weapons in an attempt to boost the capability of the fledgling force, the U.S. military has said. Violence has surged in Afghanistan despite some 64,000 foreign troops in the country battling a resurgent Taliban militants, and military experts believe that the Afghan Army is the key to the nation's long-term stability.
Gates asks allies to send troops to Afghanistan (08.10.2008)
(Quelle: Washington Post) Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday urged Eastern European leaders to shift their military efforts from Iraq to Afghanistan, where their forces are more urgently needed.
Former Taliban minister denies Afghan peace talks (08.10.2008)
(Quelle: RFE / RL) Former Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil has denied a meeting he attended with Afghan government officials in Saudi Arabia last month constituted peace talks aimed at ending the seven-year conflict.
Germany set to boost Afghan role (07.10.2008)
(Quelle: BBC) The Berlin government has extended the mandate of Germany's military mission in Afghanistan for 14 months and agreed to deploy an extra 1,000 troops there. The decision would keep German troops in Afghanistan until December 2009, boosting their number to 4,500.
UN envoy calls for political ‘surge’ to tackle Afghan security, aid needs (06.10.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today stressed the need for a political “surge” to boost the prospects for peace in the strife-torn nation and to respond to urgent humanitarian concerns such as access for the delivery of vital food aid.
Insecurity looms as Afghans register for 2009 presidential vote (06.10.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) Officials in Afghanistan have begun registering voters for next year's presidential election, in which Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he will seek a second five-year term. The vote in autumn of 2009 will also include elections for the 34 local provincial assemblies and councils in Afghanistan.
Moderate Elements Within the Taliban Key to Ending Violence – Former Afghan Minister (05.10.2008)
(Quelle: Asharq Al-Awsat) Former Afghan Information Minister, Mohammad Siddiq Tashakkuri, has revealed that a number of former Taliban leaders are participating in the initiative raised by Saudi Arabia and Britain to end the violence in Afghanistan
British commander says war in Afghanistan cannot be won (05.10.2008)
(Quelle: RFE / RL) Britain's commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban cannot be won, the 'Sunday Times' reported. It quoted Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith as saying in an interview that if the Taliban were willing to talk, then that might be 'precisely the sort of progress' needed to end the insurgency.
NATO aims at Afghans whose drugs aid militants (02.10.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) NATO forces in Afghanistan will step up attacks on drug lords and narcotics traffickers who are supporting an insurgency that has rebounded in the past year and is responsible for rising violence, the top American commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday.
Commander in Afghanistan wants more troops (02.10.2008)
(Quelle: Washington Post) The new top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said yesterday that more American troops are urgently required to combat a worsening insurgency, but he stated emphatically that no Iraq-style 'surge' of forces will end the conflict there. 'Afghanistan is not Iraq,' said Gen. David D. McKiernan, who led ground forces during the 2003 Iraq invasion and took over four months ago as head of the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan.
Fears over “islamicisation” of judiciary (30.09.2008)
(Quelle: IWPR) Ultra-conservative judges, with fundamentalist views of Islam, are accused of miscarriages of justices. The competence and credibility of the Afghan judiciary is being called into serious question by two controversial convictions which have caused an international outcry.
Karzai sought Saudi help with Taliban (30.09.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) As the Afghan war intensifies and American commanders call for increased troop levels, President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday that he had repeatedly sought the intervention of the Saudi royal family to bring the resurgent Taliban to peace negotiations. But Mr. Karzai said his appeals had failed to yield any talks, and his tone suggested a degree of frustration with the Saudi government for not having acted more decisively. Nor was there any indication that senior Taliban leaders were ready for talks on any grounds that the Karzai government and its Western backers would be likely to accept.
Security situation in Afghanistan “markedly” worse, reports Secretary-General (29.09.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a change of pace and direction in Afghanistan, where the worsening security situation is hampering the efforts of the Government, the United Nations and international partners to rebuild the strife-torn nation. “Despite the enhanced capabilities of both the Afghan National Army and the international forces, the security situation has deteriorated markedly,” Mr. Ban writes in a new report released today.
NATO hopes to undercut Taliban with 'surge' of projects (27.09.2008)
(Quelle: Washington Post) NATO alliance troops facing ever more aggressive Taliban insurgents are planning a winter 'development surge' of civil works projects in eastern Afghanistan designed to win over tribes in regions near the Pakistan border and to prevent their sons from joining the Taliban's ranks, according to military officials here. At the same time, troops will keep up armed pressure with a winter offensive that seeks to get a head start on blunting the Taliban's traditional spring fighting season.
Pakistanis, U.S.-Afghan patrol exchange fire near frontier (26.09.2008)
(Quelle: Washington Post) Pakistani troops and a U.S.-Afghan ground patrol exchanged fire Thursday near a frontier checkpoint, U.S. and Pakistani officials said, in a new heightening of armed tension between allies in the war against Taliban insurgents.
Afghan leader sees 'first' hope in winning anti-terror war (24.09.2008)
(Quelle: Asharq Alawsat) Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said recent leadership change in Pakistan has offered for the 'first time' a hope of winning the 'war on terror' and called for a joint assault on extremist 'sanctuaries' along their common border. He also asked the United States to provide full backing to the new democratically elected administration of President Asif Ali Zardari, who took over from former military strongman Pervez Musharraf, in fighting extremism.
UN hears call for ‘Afghan-ization’ of military, development processes (24.09.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) Afghan ownership of its military, police and development operations are essential to allow the country to counter terrorism and further its reconstruction efforts, the South Asian nation’s President told the General Assembly’s high-level segment today.
Pakistan, Afghanistan discuss joint force to fight insurgents (23.09.2008)
(Quelle: RFE / RL) As security deteriorates in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan and with two diplomats targeted by kidnappers, Kabul and Islamabad are discussing an Afghan proposal to set up a joint force to combat militants on both sides of the border.
Rethinking reconstruction (23.09.2008)
(Quelle: EurasiaNet) The Bush administration reportedly is considering major adjustments in its approach on Afghanistan’s reconstruction, a reflection of the surge in Islamic militant activity in the country. The government reassessment is coming at a time when some experts are saying that drastic changes in approach are needed to prevent Afghanistan from reclaiming 'failed state' status.
US unable to spare Afghan troops (23.09.2008)
(Quelle: BBC) Three extra combat brigades requested by the US commander in Afghanistan will not be available before spring 2009, the US defence secretary has said. The US does 'not have the forces... at this point', Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Last week Gen David McKiernan, the head of the Nato-led force in Afghanistan, said he needed three more brigades on top of planned troop increases. About 6,000 extra troops are set to arrive over the next four months.
Citing rising terrorism, UN extends Afghan security force for another year (22.09.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) The United Nations Security Council today unanimously extended the mission of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for another year and called for it to be strengthened in the face of increased violence and terrorism from the Taliban, Al-Qaida and drug smugglers.
France to bolster Afghan mission (22.09.2008)
(Quelle: Al Jazeera) Francois Fillon, France's prime minister, has said Paris will strengthen its mission in Afghanistan with more helicopters, drones, intelligence-gathering equipment and about 100 extra troops. He made the announcement during a debate in the lower house of the French parliament in which members voted to keep French troops stationed in Afghanistan despite an attack there last month in which 10 soldiers were killed.
Frankreich und die Afghanistan-Debatte: Ein Kampf, der einem Krieg nur ähneln soll (21.09.2008)
(Quelle: FAZ) Just vor der ersten parlamentarischen Abstimmung über den französischen Afghanistan-Einsatz an diesem Montag wurde in Frankreich ein vertraulicher Nato-Bericht über das verlustreiche Gefecht enthüllt, in dem am 18. August zehn französische Soldaten getötet wurden. Darin ist von schweren Ausrüstungsmängeln bei den französischen Truppen die Rede: … .
Eurasian grouping plans regional army near Afghanistan (19.09.2008)
(Quelle: RFE / RL) The Collective Security Treaty Organization, (CSTO), which brings together Russia and a number of other ex-Soviet countries, has announced an ambitious plan to set up an 11,000-strong regional army in Central Asia that will have troops deployed in the vicinity of NATO forces in Afghanistan. The grouping says the move is intended to deal with potential 'challenges to the sovereignty' of its member states. But many observers see it as Moscow's response to possible further NATO expansion and to Washington's decision to deploy an antimissile defense system in Central Europe.
US tells NATO allies to expect to pay for Afghan army (19.09.2008)
(Quelle: RFE / RL) U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned NATO allies that they will be expected to share the cost of a planned expansion of the Afghan National Army. Gates was speaking after NATO defense ministers gathered for an informal meeting in London that was focused on Afghanistan and the alliance's response to Russia after its invasion last month of Georgia.
US commander holds Pakistan talks (17.09.2008)
(Quelle: BBC) America's top military commander, Adm Michael Mullen, has met Pakistani officials to discuss operations along the troubled border with Afghanistan. … The visit comes after Pakistan's army said it would not tolerate incursions. Tension has been rising in Pakistan over an increase in US attacks along the border with Afghanistan.
Gates expresses regret for Afghan civilian deaths (17.09.2008)
(Quelle: Washington Post) Defense Secretary Robert Gates offered the people of Afghanistan his 'personal regrets' Wednesday for U.S. airstrikes that have killed civilians and said he would try to improve the accuracy of air warfare, the imperfect fallback for U.S. commanders who say they don't have enough ground forces for the deepening Afghanistan war.
Many more US troops needed in Afghan war: General (16.09.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) NATO's top commander in Afghanistan said on Tuesday he would need thousands more U.S. troops on top of planned reinforcements as Defense Secretary Robert Gates flew in for an update on the war.
France wants Europe to lift Afghan troop restrictions (16.09.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) France on Wednesday asked its European allies to relax restrictions on troop deployment and operations in Afghanistan just a month after losing 10 soldiers in a Taliban ambush. Limits on troop operations and years of military underspending in Europe outside the United Kingdom and France were damaging the coalition war effort, French Defense Minister Herve Morin said on a visit to Australia.
Afghanistan is in its worst shape since 2001, European diplomat says (14.09.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) One of the most experienced Western envoys in Afghanistan said Sunday that conditions there had become the worst since 2001. He urged a concerted American and foreign response, even before a new American administration took office, to avoid “a very hot winter for all of us.”