U.S. suspends ban on military assistance to Uzbekistan (02.02.2012)

(Source:RFE/RL)

The United States has temporarily waived a ban on providing military assistance to Uzbekistan because of the country's crucial role in transiting supplies to forces in Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials.

Panetta says U.S. to end Afghan combat role as soon as 2013 (01.02.2012)

(Source:New York Times)

In a major milestone toward ending a decade of war in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Wednesday that American forces would step back from a combat role there as early as mid-2013, more than a year before all American troops are scheduled to come home.

Afghan officials consider own talks with Taliban (30.01.2012)

(Source:New York Times)

Concerned that it is being left out of potential peace talks between the United States and the Taliban, the Afghan government is pushing to open its own direct negotiations with the insurgent group in Saudi Arabia, Afghan officials said on Monday.

Afghanistan to press Pakistan for access to Taliban (30.01.2012)

(Source:Reuters)

Afghanistan will press Pakistan for access to Taliban leaders during a one-day visit to Kabul by Pakistan's foreign minister, with Afghan officials hoping to ease cross-border strains and lay the ground for peace negotiations with the insurgents.

France, breaking with NATO, will speed Afghan exit (27.01.2012)

(Source:New York Times)

President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on Friday that France would break with its allies in NATO and accelerate the French withdrawal from Afghanistan, pulling back combat troops a year early, by the end of 2013.

Karzai meets Sarkozy as French threaten early pullout (26.01.2012)

(Source:Reuters AlertNet)

The French president last week suspended all French training and support operations on the ground and sent his defence minister and armed forces chief to Kabul after four of their soldiers were killed by a rogue Afghan soldier.

Talks with Taliban a long way off, American envoy says (22.01.2012)

No peace talks with the Taliban this week: That was the short message on Sunday from the American envoy charged with starting those negotiations.

Pakistan to re-open NATO routes to Afghanistan – official (19.01.2012)

(Source:Reuters AlertNet)

Pakistan expects to re-open supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan, halted after a NATO cross-border air attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November, but will impose tariffs, a senior security official told Reuters on Thursday.

Seven candidates to run against Turkmen president (18.01.2012)

(Source:RFE/RL)

The candidate list published on January 18 by the Central Election Commission includes nominees drawn from a variety of government ministries and state-owned companies, all of which have voiced their full support for the policies of the president.

UN envoy arrives to help Afghanistan through new period of development (17.01.2012)

(Source:UN News)

Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, will lead the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in what he said would be “a new period” in the Central Asian country’s development.