">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Afghan leader: US strategy better than expected
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Afghan leader: US strategy better than expected
By SEBASTIAN ABBOT,Associated Press Writer AP - Sunday, March 29
KABUL - Afghanistan's president said Saturday that the new U.S. strategy for the worsening conflict in his country is "better than we were expecting" and provides the right solutions for the problems afflicting the region.
ADVERTISEMENT
President Hamid Karzai praised U.S. plans to strengthen Afghanistan's army and police and provide greater civilian aid to help rebuild the country. He also welcomed President Barack Obama's focus on countering militant sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan, which has been a point of tension between Afghan and Pakistani officials.
"This is better than we were expecting as a matter of fact. We back it," Karzai told a news conference Saturday, a day after Obama announced the details of the new U.S. strategy. "It is exactly what the Afghan people were hoping for and we were seeking."
The plan also supports reaching out to more moderate members of the Taliban with the hope of persuading them to lay down their weapons. Karzai praised this aspect as the most important.
"In this strategy, the most important issue is Taliban reconciliation and peace talks as President Obama mentioned in his speech," Karzai said.
Obama's plan seeks to disrupt and defeat al-Qaida and its allies who have made a comeback following the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban, but many of the militants fled south and east into Pakistan where they have been launching cross-border attacks against Afghan and international forces alongside al-Qaida.
The new U.S. strategy includes 4,000 additional troops to help train Afghanistan's army and police. The plan also calls for hundreds of additional civilians to help with Afghan reconstruction and billions of dollars in additional civilian aid to Pakistan to improve people's lives and curtail the influence of Islamic militants.
In announcing the new plan, Obama also criticized the level of corruption in the Afghan government and said it needed to reform to deliver basic services to its people. The issue of corruption has been a source of tension between the Afghan and U.S. governments, but Karzai said Saturday that the new U.S. strategy was focused on the right issues, including corruption within his government and militant sanctuaries in Pakistan.
The U.S. and Afghanistan have repeatedly urged Pakistan to crack down on militants in its territory. The Pakistani government has pledged to do so, but many Afghan and Western officials suspect officers within the country's spy agency of supporting the Taliban, which Pakistan helped bring to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s.
Afghan and international forces have stepped up their operations in southern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border. Troops and police killed 14 militants during two operations in the area, officials said Saturday.
Afghan and coalition forces killed 12 militants Friday during a clash that erupted as troops raided a compound in Helmand province, the U.S. military said.
The troops encountered gunfire from in and around the compound as they approached, a U.S statement said. The troops returned fire and called in support to counter the threat from militants who were concealed in a line of trees and maneuvering in a field, it said.
Some of the militants inside the compound in Nahr Surk district tried to use women and children as shields during the battle, and calls by the troops for the civilians to leave were not heeded, the military said. One child received a minor injury and was treated by coalition troops, it said.
U.S. and NATO officials say militants regularly operate out of homes and portray dead fighters as civilians to stoke public anger and turn residents against foreign troops. The issue has caused tension between the Afghan government and international forces.
Also in the south, Afghan police killed two militants and captured two others during an operation in Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, the Interior Ministry said.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Hundreds of Tibetans protest in NepalAP - 1 hour 21 minutes ago
China marks 50 years of direct control over TibetAP - 1 hour 46 minutes ago
Thai PM defiant as protest enters third dayAFP - 1 hour 49 minutes ago
Pakistani forces kill 26 militants in Mohmand regionReuters - 2 hours 43 minutes ago
Pakistan's Zardari backs Sharif govt return in PunjabReuters - Sunday, March 29
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Hot tea linked with throat cancer
Pope 'publicly distorted' condom science: Lancet
US consumer spending up for second month
UK economy hit by worst slide since 1980
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Saturday, 28 March 2009 Italy's Josef Fritzl arrested for incest and abuse
| International
|
Russia to boost Arctic troops to defend resources
| International
|
Pink Panther jewel thief suspect held in Cyprus
| International
|
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
| Technology
|
New technologies coming to Web start-ups' rescue
| Technology
|
No more oil rigs for ousted American Idol Sarver
| Entertainment
|
Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews
| Entertainment
|
No. 1 lady detective series?
| Entertainment
|
Welcome to Hawaii Pacific Teleport
Singapore News
Bolshoi Theatre may not reopen till 2013: report
Singapore News
Singapore News
Iraq to move Iranian opposition group: official
Japan deploys defense for North Korea rocket launch
| International
|
Iran, Venezuela revise ties ahead of Chavez visit
China turns to Buddhism to calm Tibet, Taiwan tensions
| International
|
Obama widens war against al-Qaida in Afghanistan
Brown calls for global unity on crisis, IMF reform
Guatemala finds Mexico drug smuggler training camp
| International
|
Suicide bomb in Pakistan mosque kills about 50
Russia, Azerbaijan in talks on gas deal: Gazprom
Pakistan's ISI still linked to militants, U.S. says
| International
|
Fallujah is test case for post-US Iraq
US consumer spending up for second month
Malaysia readies for new PM promising reform
| International
|
US judge orders Iran to pay $25M for Hamas killing
Fresh fighting in south Philippines kills 27 people
| International
|
Afghanistan backs US plan as fighting rages
Turkey's local polls set to give Erdogan reform boost
| International
|
Major dates in Fallujah's war
Obama makes Pakistan center of Al-Qaeda war
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
| Technology
|
NEC to quit PC market abroad with Asia-Pacific exit
| Technology
|
Obama puts Pakistan at center of Al-Qaeda war
Americans spend eight hours a day on screens
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 599
Google to expand TV ad service to online video
Official: Intel predicts rising Afghan violence
New technologies coming to Web start-ups' rescue
Grim US newspaper ad revenue figures released
UN chief hails Obama's new Afghan strategy
Google to cut 200 sales, marketing jobs
Outcry after new Ground Zero tower loses 'Freedom'
Turkish PM raises objections to Rasmussen's NATO bid
Russia to end Chechnya anti-terror mission
Mexico wants more U.S. funding for drugs battle
Republican in court over N. Ireland killings
'Italy's Fritzl' sequestered daughter for 25 years
British PM eyes royal reform: reports
Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants
| Entertainment
|
British Airways ends direct flights to Bangladesh
Rapper T.I. sentenced to one year on gun charges
| Entertainment
|
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
Devoted music fans pay top dollar for deluxe sets
| Entertainment
|
Japan OKs deployment of missile defense system
Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews
The Dead aim to foil scalpers with charity auction
| Entertainment
|
Morkel, Boucher trump Hussey and Australia
Radioactive material found in China: state media
French visits to patch up ties in China
Former Thai PM Thaksin points finger of blame
Japan says ready to shoot down NKorea missile
India's Spice puts bid for fraud-hit Satyam on hold: report
Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants
Thai ex-PM adds to calls for gov't to resign
Vietnam Q1 growth lowest in decade: official
The Dead aim to foil scalpers with charity auction
Afghan president welcomes new US strategy
China Construction Bank profits up 34 percent
Vanessa Redgrave reschedules Cathedral appearance
China ready to contribute more to IMF fund
Rapper T.I. sentenced to one year on gun charges
Pakistan targets 350 bln rupees in T-bill auctions
Smithsonian unveils 6 design models for new museum
Australia sets conditions on China mine purchase
CNBC's Dylan Ratigan leaving `Fast Money'
No more oil rigs for ousted "American Idol" Sarver
Madonna applies to adopt girl in Malawi
Courtney Love's apparent online rants now in court
Longtime NBC newsman Irving R. Levine dies at 86
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
Markets soar on stimulus plan despite WTO warning
Singapore News
Singapore News
Singapore News
Pakistan spies under heat in new US strategy
Kabul hails US plan as "better than expected"
Militants destroy 12 NATO trucks in Pakistan
Venezuela, Iran FMs meet ahead of Chavez visit
Madonna due in Malawi to adopt second child
Soros sees risk of Britain needing IMF bailout
US space shuttle heads back home
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
Australia turns the lights out for Earth Hour
Medvedev, Obama to agree arms declaration: Kremlin
Pacific switches off lights for Earth Hour
American Language Center to reopen in Syria
Obama team takes its climate change agenda abroad
New US strategy better than expected: Karzai
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
NEC to quit PC market abroad with Asia-Pacific exit
California politician wants to censor online maps
Thousands in London for pre-G20 march
EU ministers seek to reassure Balkan nations
Pakistan's Zardari backs Sharif govt return in Punjab
Pakistan president moves to end political crisis
Afghan president backs new US strategy for war
China marks "emancipation" of Tibet with new holiday
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
'Thousands' of Chinese workers heading to Vietnam
Taiwan's ruling party wins key by-election
S.Korea vice fin min sees "good signs" in econ -reports
Nehru relative arrested in India
Pakistani cenbank buys 9 bln rupees of T-bills
Afghan leader: US strategy better than expected
Philippine troops near militants' base withdraw
Heigl says she'll stay if 'Grey's' will have her
Report: North Korea launch would go before UN
Guests for the Sunday TV news shows
CNN likely third-place network in prime-time
Burst Indonesia damn kills 77, 100 still missing
Death toll from Indonesia dam burst rises to 77
Dam bursts near Indonesian capital, killing 77
Dam bursts near Indonesian capital, killing 69
Death toll in Indonesia's dam burst climbs to 69
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights