Taliban leader rejects talks with Afghan government

Oct. 3, 2008

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A senior Taliban commander on Friday rejected reconciliation with what he called the "puppet" Afghan government, the latest in a series of pronouncements from both sides on potential peace talks.

White House official doubts Taliban claim

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Mullah Omar, the Taliban head in Afghanistan, will likely not renounce his group's violent ways under a new proposed deal, a White House official said Monday.

Karzai would protect Omar for peace talks

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday he would guarantee security for Mullah Mohammed Omar if the Taliban leader takes part in peace talks.

U.S.: 37 Afghan civilians died in fighting

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Thirty-seven Afghan civilians died during fighting last week between U.S. forces and Taliban militants near Kandahar, officials acknowledged.

Afghan police allegedly aided Taliban

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Taliban forces pulled off a deadly surprise attack against U.S. soldiers last summer with the help of Afghan police, a Pentagon report alleged Tuesday.

Afghan captors free Bangladeshi workers

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Two Bangladeshi relief workers were freed from their Afghan kidnappers in an operation to rescue them, officials said Sunday.

'Mini-jirga' seeks Taliban peace talks

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Pakistani and Afghan tribal and political leaders say they'll seek peace talks with Taliban insurgents in a bid to reduce violence along their common border.

U.S. may talk with Taliban leaders

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The Bush administration says it is undertaking a "wide ranging" review of its Afghanistan war policies that could include making contacts with Taliban leaders.

Nine killed by U.S. missile in Pakistan

BANNU, Pakistan, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A U.S. missile killed nine people Friday at an Islamic school in Pakistan where a suspected militant leader was thought to be staying, an analyst says.

Grants awarded to combat Afghan corruption

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Corruption in Afghanistan's government has prompted the United Nations to award grants supporting three Afghan civil groups encouraging greater accountability.

Pitched battles reported in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Coalition and Afghan forces waged pitched battles with militants this week, leaving dozens of insurgent fighters dead, military officials said Wednesday.

Afghan security forces improving

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The British defense secretary said during his first official trip to Afghanistan that Afghan security forces are becoming more capable of conducting operations.

Coalition arrests four Afghan militants

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have detained four suspected Taliban and al-Qaida militants in a pair of operations.

Official says Taliban killed 40 hostages

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- At least 40 people kidnapped from a bus in southern Afghanistan have been killed by Taliban militants, an official said Sunday.

Senior Afghan provincial official slain

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A senior provincial official was killed by gunmen in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and five Taliban militants were slain in Ghanzi province Tuesday, officials said.

Momentum builds for Taliban negotiations

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. and British officials have concluded there can be no military victory over Taliban insurgents, Time Magazine says.