Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
NATO: Afghan ops not slowed despite command change
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
NATO: Afghan ops not slowed despite command change
By RAHIM FAIEZ and HEIDI VOGT,Associated Press Writers -
Monday, June 28
Send
IM Story
Print
KABUL, Afghanistan – The NATO-led command stressed Sunday that military operations to secure vast areas of Afghanistan would not be delayed by the ouster of its top commander and mounting casualties.
To reinforce the message, NATO announced that more than 600 Afghan and international troops were battling al-Qaida and Taliban forces Sunday in the eastern province of Kunar, which borders Pakistan. Three members of the allied force were killed in the fighting, including two Americans, a military statement said.
NATO and U.S. forces are awaiting the arrival of new commander Gen. David Petraeus, who is taking over from Gen. Stanley McChrystal. He was dismissed by President Barack Obama after he and his aides were quoted in Rolling Stone magazine making disparaging remarks about top Obama administration officials.
There has been concern that the leadership shake-up will further slow a push into the volatile south that has already been delayed by weeks in some areas and months in others. But NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz told reporters in Kabul that the worries are unwarranted and the military is not pausing because of the changes.
"We will not miss a beat in our operations to expand security here in Afghanistan," Blotz said. He added that Petraeus was expected in Kabul in the next seven to 10 days.
The spokesman repeated assurances of many diplomats in recent days that the change in commanders does not mean a re-evaluation of counterinsurgency strategy that McChrystal implemented last year.
The top American military officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, flew to Afghanistan on Saturday to assure President Hamid Karzai that Petraeus would pursue the policies of his predecessor, including efforts to reduce civilian casualties.
Despite those assurances that the war is on track, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said the U.S.-led operation in the Taliban southern stronghold of Kandahar shouldn't move forward until more Afghan security forces can move into the city.
Sen. Carl Levin said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that there are fewer than 9,000 Afghan troops operating in and around Kandahar, the largest city in the south. U.S. commanders had hoped to finish the Kandahar operation in August, but have now acknowledged it will continue into the fall, in part because of public opposition to the increased military activity.
Operations appear to be continuing apace, according to NATO statements.
NATO said "a number of insurgents" have been killed in the Kunar fighting, which the alliance described as an attack against al-Qaida and Taliban leadership in the area. The statement said fighting was continuing Sunday night.
Two recent air strikes in the north, east and south killed at least nine militants, including two local Taliban commanders, NATO and Afghan officials said. No civilians were injured, NATO said.
Eight other militants were killed in a NATO-Afghan military operation in eastern Ghazni province, according to Gen. Khail Buz Sherzai, the provincial police chief.
NATO deaths also are climbing daily. A U.S. service member was killed in a bomb attack in the south, along with two others in the fighting in Kunar.
June has become the deadliest month of the war for NATO troops with at least 93 killed, 56 of them American. For U.S. troops, the deadliest month was October 2009, with a toll of 59 dead.
Blotz said the deaths do show that the fight is getting harder in Afghanistan, but said that does not affect NATO's resolve.
"We are in the arena. There is no way out now. We have to stay on. We have to fight this campaign," he said.
Blotz said about 130 middle- to senior-level Taliban insurgents have been killed or captured in the past four months.
But Taliban attacks against those allied with the government or NATO forces have also surged. In the latest such violence, the headmaster of a high school in eastern Ghazni was beheaded by militants on Saturday, the Education Ministry said. A high school in the same district _ Qarabagh _ was set on fire the same day.
In southern Zabul province Sunday, a roadside bomb attack on a private security company vehicle killed two of those inside and injured three, according to the provincial spokesman, Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Guinea votes in first democratic election since independence AFP - 59 minutes ago
Scarred Kyrgyzstan adopts new constitution: leader AFP - 29 minutes ago
Violence flares for second day on fringe of Toronto talks AFP - 39 minutes ago
Al-Qaeda weakened, as few as 50 in Afghanistan: CIA chief AFP - 54 minutes ago
Pope criticises 'deplorable' Belgian Church raid AFP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
England-Germany World Cup rivalry felt in Afghanistan
'Growth friendly' new theme song of world economies
Merkel's win, Cameron's loss as footie fever hits G20
Guinea votes in first democratic election since independence
G20 agrees to cut deficits in half by 2013: Merkel
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Disgraced millionaire lobbyist takes pizza job
Belgian church mulling legal action after paedophilia raids
Vatican beatifies Lebanon monk
More Most Viewed »
Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts'
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 28 June 2010 G20 agrees to cut deficits in half by 2013: Merkel
NATO: Afghan ops not slowed despite command change
Toronto police fire tear gas on G20 protesters
|
Merkel's win, Cameron's loss as footie fever hits G20
Greece will tame debt with reforms: IMF official
Bolivia mountain bus crash kills 26: report
|
Syria wants Brazil to help Mideast peace: report
|
England edge thriller to seal Australia series
US drone strike kills six militants in Pakistan
Sodden China battles to repair flood defences
No good info on bin Laden for years
Kyrgyz leader says new constitution is approved
CIA chief warns Iran could have nukes ready by 2012
BIS-Taiwan dollar not affected by yuan reform-deputy cbank
G20 draft urges emerging nations currency flexibility
RCOM sells mobile tower assets to slash debt
Germany says Apple must improve data transparency
|
New Apple iPhone hard to find, but not impossible
|
Salesforce sues Microsoft as legal feud escalates
|
ATM security flaws could be a jackpot for hackers
|
Top menswear designers mix cheeky with elegant
E-books pave way for more blockbusters, serials
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Toy Story 3" beats Sandler, Cruise at box office
Pakistan to monitor Google, others for blasphemy
|
"Hurt Locker" star braves real Afghan minefield
Fans scramble for Apple's iPhone upgrade
|
Stevie Wonder lights up 'magic' Glastonbury
Suicide-hit Foxconn hands over staff dormitories
|
YouTube, now with instant vuvuzela sound
|
Sony's PlayStation near deal with Hulu: report
|
Toy Story 3 beats Sandler, Cruise at box office
|
Graft fears as massive cash sums fly out of Kabul: WSJ
Back from the dead, Saab is ready for its revenge
US-TECH Summary
Police clash with G20 protesters, end in standoff
|
Foursquare close to obtaining funding: report
Kyrgyz vote wins 90 percent support
|
Four NATO troops killed as CIA warns on Afghan war
England-Germany World Cup rivalry felt in Afghanistan
Russia alarmed by CIA view of Iran's weapons
|
CIA chief warns of long road ahead in Afghanistan
'Growth friendly' new theme song of world economies
Russia says alarmed by CIA view of Iran's weapons
Five ISAF troops killed in Afghanistan: NATO
|
Four Norwegian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
North Korea rejects U.N. truce talks over ship sinking
|
Medvedev: CIA warning on Iranian nukes 'troubling'
Detained red shirt to run for parliamentary seat
|
NATO: Afghan ops not slowed despite command change
Bangladesh: arms on Pakistan-bound ship from UN
Poland's Komorowski seeks to regain ground in debate
|
Sumo stablemaster offers to resign over scandal
North Korea issues new warning to U.S. over truce village
Tree man faces charges in China: state media
Detained "red shirt" to run for parliamentary seat
CIA chief: Iran could have nukes ready by 2012
Philippine boxer Pacquiao sworn in as congressman
Australia PM Gillard announces cabinet changes
|
N.Korea vows to bolster nuclear deterrent
Hong Kong police smash football gambling ring
Dumped Australian PM misses out on cabinet spot
Art and life in China blur for photographer Mo Yi
Seoul shares end up 0.1 pct; LG Display, Kia rise
China trade pact ushers in new era: Taiwan envoy
S.Korea SK Energy closes CDU, RFCC for maintenance
Taiwan stocks close higher on China deal optimism
Korea Hot Stocks-SBS Media down, LG Display up
PAKISTAN
Japan given 'greater latitude' on deficit
Foursquare close to obtaining funding: report
|
NZ business confidence eases in June
China gives in to G20, sets strong yuan rate
Obama challenges China on G20 stage
"Twilight" finally hits its stride with third film
Departing Showtime boss out-HBOed HBO
Star-spangled Copenhagen, the surprise culinary trend-setter
'King of Pop' Jackson king of memorabilia
BET Awards honor Prince
"Female Forces" lawsuit is next on A&E docket
Bizarre claims keep Jackson's estate lawyer busy
Peter Jackson in talks to direct "Hobbit" movies
Kevin Spacey joins "Horrible Bosses" cast
BET Awards honor Prince
|
Departing Showtime boss out-HBOed HBO
|
Twilight finally hits its stride with third film
|
Toy Story 3 beats Sandler, Cruise at box office
|
Bizarre claims keep Jackson's estate lawyer busy
|
Peter Jackson in talks to direct Hobbit movies
|
Kevin Spacey joins Horrible Bosses cast
|
Female Forces lawsuit is next on A&E docket
|
Ex-Panama dictator Noriega on trial in France
Do-little G20 summit leaves markets unperturbed
|
NATO's June death toll in Afghanistan nears 100
Cut stimulus to save economic recovery: bank chiefs
Israeli inquiry into Gaza flotilla raid opens
|
Israeli inquiry into Gaza flotilla raid opens
Brazil, Dutch eye World Cup quarter-finals place
Afghan campaign steps up in bloodiest month of war
|
Kyrgyz voters back new constitution
West's prisons can keep militant Islam out: study
|
In Quarter of Jerusalem, Armenians fear for future
Iran cancels aid ship to Gaza
Iran wants to punish West, warns of retaliation
|
India struggles with development in Maoist citadel
Over 100 buried in southwest China landslide
|
NATO, civilians give 2 accounts of fatal operation
Sri Lanka president defiant over war probe
More than 100 trapped in China landslide
At least 18 dead in Pakistan gas tanker blast
Australian pair escape charges over Aborigine death
Australia says new 'Karate Kid' too brutal for kids
Explosion in Pakistan's Hyderabad kills 18: police
|
Explosion in Pakistan's Hyderabad kills 18-police
The poor and the dead: Philippines' strange bedfellows
Italy nabs 24 in $3 billion Chinese laundering sting
|
Australia's Greens may block mine-tax deal
Longest-serving U.S. lawmaker Robert Byrd dies at 92
Pakistani stocks lower in cautious trade; rupee eases
Sugarland To Release New Album "The Incredible Machine" In October
Japan starts talks with India on nuclear power
Global Weather-Celsius
More Than 200 Injured In Los Angeles Music Festival
Democrats, Republicans Mourn Death Of Nation's Longest-Serving Senator
G20 promises leave Asian markets unmoved
Lindsay Lohan's Family To Star In Another Reality Show
Seoul shares end up 0.1pct; LG Display, Kia rise
GOP Pounces After Democratic Candidate's Subpoena In Blagojevich Trial
Man Passes Out Drunk In Driveway, Run Over By Roommate
Number Of Childless Women Spikes Since 1970s
Longer Gym Class Time, Healthier Foods Can Lower Childhood Obesity Risks
Statins May Lower Prostate Cancer Recurrance
Michael Jackson's Crystal-Studded Glove Fetches $190,000 At Auction
Apple boasts 1.7 million iPhone 4 sales
|
Australia says new 'Karate Kid' too brutal for kids
Muppets, Oprah, Buddy Holly to get Hollywood stars
Australia says new 'Karate Kid' too brutal for kids
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