27 Afghanis, NATO Soldiers Killed During Fighting Between Taliban Fighters and NATO Occupation Forces

Suicide bombing rocks E Afghanistan, killing 15

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-29 15:46:00

KABUL, April 29 (Xinhua) --

A suicide bombing targeting Afghan police in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday inflicted casualties on civilians, a press release of the Alliance issued here said.

"Initial reports indicate that a suicide bomber murdered and injured civilians in the district center," the press release added.

The incident occurred in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province and caused no damage on ISAF forces, it added.

"If the goal of the (Taliban fighters) was to target ISAF troops operating in the area, they failed," said Brigadier General Carlos Branco, ISAF spokesperson stressed in the press release.

However, local officials say that the bloody attack left 15 persons dead and injured 25 others, almost all of them civilians.

No groups or individuals have claimed responsibility but the Taliban fighters often conduct such attacks to destabilize the Afghan government and international troops based in the post-Taliban central Asian state.

Earlier, one witness identified himself as Ahmad Wali told Xinhua from the spot that a number of people were killed in the suicide bombing, possibly including the district chief and district police chief.

Fighting between Taliban fighters and NATO occupation forces have left over 450 people dead so far this year in war-torn Afghanistan, where Taliban fighters recently have vowed to launch the "Spring offensive" to intensify their guerrilla-style attacks on national army and NATO foreign troops.

Editor: Jiang Yuxia

Dozen Taliban fighters killed in E. Afghanistan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-28 18:30:25

KABUL, April 28 (Xinhua) --

A dozen of Taliban fighters have been killed during a clash in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military said on Monday.

Editor: Pliny Han

1 NATO soldier killed, 4 wounded in S. Afghanistan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-28 13:18:22

KABUL, April 28 (Xinhua) --

One soldier serving the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed and four soldiers were wounded in an engagement with Taliban fighters during a patrol in southern Afghanistan Sunday, an ISAF statement issued here Monday said.

Without elaborating, it said the wounded soldiers were transported to an ISAF hospital to receive treatment.

The ISAF did not release the casualty's nationality, quoting a policy.

"Next of kin have been notified," it added.

A total of 47,000 troops contributed by 40 nations are deployed in Afghanistan to help with stabilization and reconstruction under the flag of NATO-led ISAF with a UN mandate.

Editor: Song Shutao

NATO launches Taliban offensive in S Afghanistan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-29 19:30:22

KABUL, April 29 (Xinhua) --

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) kicked off a new anti-Taliban operation in a restive district of Helmand province in south Afghanistan to improve security, a statement of the alliance said Tuesday.

"The goal of this cooperative operation is to enhance the security for the Afghan citizens of one district in Helmand province," the statement added.

Nonetheless, it did not specify the place of the operation and the number of soldiers involved in, but added the operative was launched on Monday.

Dubbed "Azada Wosa" or "Be Free," according to Afghan officials, the operation would cover Garmsir district where Taliban militants have been using as safe haven to target Afghan government interests.

More than 7,000 British troops within the framework of ISAF have been stationed in Helmand province to stabilize security in this militancy-hit and poppy growing region.

The newly launched operation has been supported by 2,300-strong U.S. Marine unit to fight Taliban fighters opposing the NATO occupation of their country.

The Afghan government with the support of international troops recaptured Musa Qala from Taliban last February, and the new operation indicates that the government is determined to enhance security in the far-flanged southern region.

More than 60,000 NATO-led ISAF and the U.S.-led Coalition forces have been serving in Afghanistan to boost security in the post-Taliban nation.

British PM: NATO's Afghan mission in trouble

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-29 18:52:10

LONDON, April 29 (Xinhua) --

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told his allies that NATO's mission in Afghanistan was "critically" short of key troops and equipment, the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Brown has repeatedly tried to persuade allies including France and Germany to bear more military burden in Afghanistan, but the daily said his efforts had largely failed.

The newspaper said according to a "confidential Foreign and Commonwealth Office paper" it obtained, there was a catalog of problems and weaknesses in Western attempts to stabilize the country.

The three-page document, which summarized the British view of Afghanistan, was drawn up at Brown's request to be distributed to Western allies.

In a list of "critical areas to fill," the document said NATO would still need three infantry battalions, more helicopters, more aircraft and more training teams to help the Afghan army.

It also raised concerns about the situation after November this year, when more than 2,300 U.S. Marines are to be withdrawn from the south, where British forces are based.

Brown has also identified policing and justice as vital to the survival of democracy in Afghanistan, but the document admitted that efforts to train and support Afghan police were going badly.

Britain has 7,800 troops in Afghanistan as part of a 47,000-strong NATO deployment to fight Taliban-backed resistance fighters and bolster the elected Afghan government.

Editor: Jiang Yuxia

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