AFGHANISTAN / PAKISTAN ARCHIVE :

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Christian Science Monitor, 31 May 09, by Anand Gopal
The most deadly US foe in Afghanistan
'The Haqqani network, born of the Russian war and nurtured by the CIA, is behind many spectacular assaults in Afghanistan.'

Washington Post, 28 May 09, by R. Jeffrey Smith and Joby Warrick
Nuclear Aims By Pakistan, India Prompt U.S. Concern
'Sometime next year, at a tightly guarded site south of its capital, Pakistan will be ready to start churning out a new stream of plutonium for its nuclear arsenal, which will eventually include warheads for ballistic missiles and cruise missiles capable of being launched from ships, submarines or aircraft.'

New York Times, 28 May 09, by Salman Masood and Mark Mcdonald
Taliban Claim Pakistan Bomb Attack
'A Pakistani militant commander said the bomb attack on Wednesday was in reaction to military operations against militants in the Swat valley.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 May 09, by Issam Ahmed
In Pakistan's terrorist attacks, who gets the blame?
'Many Pakistanis have previously accused the government of provoking the Taliban. This time, residents directed their anger at both sides.'

New York Times, 22 May 09, by
In Afghanistan, a Constant Battle Against Hidden Dangers
[slide show] 'After a suspected explosive was discovered atop a mountain observation post, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team arrived to eliminate the device.'

Christian Science Monitor, 26 May 09, by Huma Yusuf
Pakistan's Taliban rising? Ask the women.
'In a sign of growing militancy, threats against females are swelling in cosmopolitan Karachi.'

New York Times, 13 May 09, by C. J. Chivers
In Bleak Afghan Outpost, Troops Slog On
'Afghanistan is to be President Obama's war, and the Pentagon is retooling its efforts here in ways it hopes will undermine a sprawling insurgency. But as soldiers on the ground await reinforcements, this American operation showed that an old axiom of guerrilla warfare still applied: Where conventional soldiers mass, insurgents usually disperse.'

Washington Post, 13 May 09, by Pamela Constable
Pakistani Commandos Target Taliban Bases
'Army commandos launched aggressive new search-and-destroy operations in the Swat Valley and several surrounding districts in the Taliban-plagued northwest Tuesday, military officials said.'

NewsHour, 12 May 09
Pakistan Asks For More Money to Battle Taliban
'Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was in Washington last week to ask for help fighting the Taliban, the same group that supported the Sept. 11 al-Qaida terrorists and now threatens the stability of Pakistan, one of the world's few nuclear powers.'

New York Times, 13 May 09, by Eric Schmitt and Mark Mazzetti
In a First, U.S. Provides Pakistan With Drone Data
'The United States military for the first time has provided Pakistan with a broad array of surveillance information collected by American drones flying along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, American military officials said Wednesday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 09, by Jason Motlagh
US fights Taliban on another front: public relations
As Afghan insurgents exploit popular anger at civilian deaths, the US is hitting back with its own message.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 09, by David Montero
US 'Afpak' strategy troubles some in US and Pakistan
'American lawmakers say they haven't been briefed on plans, as some in Pakistan describe the administration as "confused."'

New York Times, 12 May 09, by Dexter Filkinshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/asia/13pstan.html?ref=world
Pakistan Says 1.3 Million Flee Fight With Taliban 'Pakistani commandos attacked a large group of Taliban fighters on Tuesday in the contested district of Swat, while the number of civilians fleeing the fighting reached 1.3 million, military officials said.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 09, by Rehmat Mehsud and Ben Arnoldy
Pakistani Taliban under pressure from tribal rival
'A escalating feud could distract Baitullah Mehsud and his 10,000-plus men from fighting Western forces in Afghanistan.'

Washington Post, 07 May 09, by Greg Jaffe
Joint Probe Planned Of Deadly U.S. Strike In West Afghanistan
'The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday he had dispatched a joint U.S.-Afghan team to investigate U.S. airstrikes that killed more than two dozen people in the western part of the country and prompted an outcry from Afghan officials.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Mar 09, by David Montero
Pakistanis flee Swat Valley as military strikes Taliban
'As Army bombs the area, militants are digging in and preparing for ground battle.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 May 09, by Ben Arnoldy and Huma Yusuf
Are Pakistani Taliban finding new foothold in south?
'Analysts say political leaders could strengthen militants' appeal if they do not manage deep ethnic tensions – which resulted in clashes that killed 30 people last week.'

New York Times, 06 May 09, by Salman Masood and Carlotta Gall
Before U.S. Talks, Pakistan Claims Combat Gains
'As the president of Pakistan prepared for talks in Washington on Wednesday, the security forces here, under American pressure to show greater resolve in combating militants, claimed to have killed at least 35 Taliban fighters in hotly contested areas of the country's northwest.'

Asia Times, 07 May 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Al-Qaeda seizes on Taliban's problem
'Taliban operations launched through the Pakistani tribal areas into Afghanistan have been seriously disrupted this year. If more troops are relocated from the border with India to this region, the Taliban will suffer further disruptions. Al-Qaeda sees this as an opportunity.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 May 09, by Ben Arnoldy
Next Taliban conquest? A view from Pakistan's frontline.
'Residents living between the militants and the capital worry their understaffed security forces can't defend their town.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr 09, by Anand Gopal
Taliban announce 'countersurge' in Afghanistan
'The militants have vowed to launch a new offensive against US and its allies, which are preparing to increase troop levels.'

New York Times, 29 Apr 09, by Carlotta Gall and Salman Masood
Civilians Flee as Pakistani Forces Hit Resistance
'The Pakistani forces air-dropped commandos into the main town in Buner on Wednesday and quickly retook control of it from Taliban militants who flooded into the area last week, the military said. But the district was far from recaptured and the military may be in for a hard fight.'

New York Times, 28 Apr 09, by Carlotta Gall and Elisabeth Bumiller
Pakistani Military Moves to Flush Out Taliban
'After a week of strong criticism here and abroad over its inaction, the Pakistani military deployed fighter jets and helicopter gunships to flush out hundreds of Taliban militants who overran the strategic district of Buner last week, the military said Tuesday.'

Washington Post/AP, 28 Apr 09, by Nahal Toosi, AP
Talks With Taliban in Pakistan on Hold After Military Offensive
'A Pakistani military offensive against insurgent hideouts prompted suspension of controversial peace talks with the Taliban on Monday, and the country's president sought additional foreign aid to ensure that its nuclear arms remain in "safe hands."'

New York Times, 29 Apr 09, by Alan Cowell
Britain to Add 700 Troops to Afghan War
'Calling the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan "the crucible of global terrorism," Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed Wednesday that Britain would send an additional 700 troops to Afghanistan to fight alongside American and NATO forces battling the Taliban. But he made clear that the deployment — which had been expected and will raise Britain's commitment to 9,000 from 8,300 — would be intended primarily to build security around the coming elections in Afghanistan and that the extra forces would be withdrawn by early 2010.'

New York Times, 28 Apr 09, by Dexter Filkins
Poppies a Target in Fight Against Taliban
'American commanders are planning to cut off the Taliban's main source of money, the country's multimillion-dollar opium crop, by pouring thousands of troops into the three provinces that bankroll much of the group's operations.'

The Guardian, 23 Apr 09, by Declan Walsh
Taliban oust Pakistani authorities in Swat Valley sharia zone
'Fighters force out judiciary, police, politicians and aid agencies.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr 09, by Issam Ahmed
Pakistani Taliban advance beyond Swat
'They have taken control of Buner next door and made forays into two more districts.'

BBC News, 23 Apr 09
Pakistan bid to stop Taleban push
'The Pakistan government has sent troops to tackle Taleban militants who have advanced into a region just 100km (67 miles) from the capital, Islamabad.'

Washington Post, 23 Apr 09, by Glenn Kessler
Clinton: Pakistani Government 'Abdicating' to Extremist Forces
'The Pakistani government "is basically abdicating to the Taliban and to the extremists," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told Congress yesterday in an unusually blunt statement that reflects the unease within the Obama administration about an agreement authorized by President Asif Ali Zardari last week.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Apr 09, by Anand Gopal
Lessons from Iraq? US creates local militias to fight Taliban
'With echoes of the Anbar Awakening in Iraq, the US is arming, training, and paying Afghans to set up village militias.'

New York Times, 15 Apr 09, by
In Recruiting an Afghan Militia, U.S. Faces a Test
'The hope here is that the militias will come to the aid of the overwhelmed Afghan Army and the police, which take longer to train and equip and number only about 160,000.'

New York Times, 15 Apr 09, by Jane Perlez
Pakistan Rehearses Its Two-Step on Airstrikes
'With two senior American officials at his side, the Pakistani foreign minister unleashed a strong rebuke last week, saying that American drone strikes against militants in Pakistan's tribal areas were eroding trust between the allies.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr 09, by Huma Yusuf
Pakistani Taliban expand influence beyond Swat
'In the same week that the Pakistani Taliban secured their demand for Islamic law in the Swat Valley, they moved into a neighboring district and won the right to preach in mosques there. This success in Buner came with little fighting – unlike in Swat, where they'd battled government forces on and off since 2007. The move suggests that the Taliban, having gained a foothold in Swat, intend to spread their influence more broadly in Pakistan – and may face little resistance in some areas.'

Asia Times, 15 Apr 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Militants open a new front in Pakistan
'When a United States Predator drone recently attacked the tribal headquarters of Baitullah Mehsud it not only missed the Pakistani Taliban leader, it stirred a hornet's nest. Mehsud has vowed to strike back in the urban areas, starting in the port city of Karachi, where the security forces have broken an unwritten agreement and cracked down on Mehsud's supporters.'

New York Times, 12 Apr 09, by C. J. Chivers
In Afghanistan, Soldiers Bridge 2 Stages of War
'... changing expectations have made the soldiers now on the ground a bridge from the older war to a fight that stands to become more invigorated, and hopeful, albeit perhaps more bloody as American units push into longstanding Taliban sanctuaries.'

New York Times, 08 Apr 09, by Richard A. Oppel Jr.
Corruption Undercuts U.S. Hope for Afghan Police
'American soldiers say that bribes and swindles undermine Afghans' faith in government and end up strengthening the Taliban.'

New York Times, 06 Apr 09, by Eric Schmitt and Christopher Drew
More Drone Attacks in Pakistan Planned
'Despite threats of retaliation from Pakistani militants, senior administration officials said Monday that the United States intended to step up its use of drones to strike militants in Pakistan's tribal areas and might extend them to a different sanctuary deeper inside the country.'

New York Times, 05 Apr 09, by Jane Perlez
Time Is Short as U.S. Presses a Reluctant Pakistan
'President Obama's strategy of offering Pakistan a partnership to defeat the insurgency here calls for a virtual remaking of this nation's institutions and even of the national psyche, an ambitious agenda that Pakistan's politicians and people appear unprepared to take up.'

Asia Times, 02 Apr 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
US strikes at Taliban's nerve center
'When the chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke arrive in Pakistan on Monday, their meetings with top military officials will be framed by the contentious Predator drone attack on Wednesday in a Pakistan tribal area.'

New York Times, 30 Mar 09, by Sabrina Tavernise, Waqar Gillani And Salman Masood
Rampage in Pakistan Shows Reach of Militants
'“In our country, at our different borders, arms are coming in, Stinger missiles are coming in, rocket launchers are coming in, heavy equipment is coming; it should be stopped,” Mr. Malik said. “Whoever the antistate elements are, they are destabilizing the country.”'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Mar 09, by Issam Ahmed and Ben Arnoldy
Pakistani police a growing target, Lahore attack shows
'Interior minister says the Pakistani Taliban are behind the attack.'

Washington Post, 26 Mar 09, by Karen DeYoung and Rajiv Chandrasekaran
In Afghan War, U.S. Dominance Increasing
'With more American troops and civilians on the way, NATO is likely to lose clout.'

Washington Post, 26 Mar 09, by Alamgir Bitani, Reuters
Pakistan hopes for U.S. re-think on missiles
'Pakistan wants the United States to reconsider its use of pilotless drones to attack militants, a government spokesman said on Thursday, hours after 11 people were killed in two missile attacks.'

International Herald Tribune, 25 Mar 09, by Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt
Afghan strikes by Taliban get Pakistan help, U.S. aides say
'The Taliban's widening military campaign in southern Afghanistan is made possible in part by direct support from operatives in Pakistan's military intelligence agency, despite Pakistani government promises to sever ties to militant groups fighting in Afghanistan, according to American government officials.'

International Herald Tribune, 25 Mar 09, by Jane Perlez
Nawaz Sharif emerges as a Pakistan power broker
'... as the Obama administration completes its review of strategy toward the region this week, the opposition leader's sudden ascent has raised an urgent question: Can Mr. Sharif, 59, a populist politician close to Islamic parties, be a reliable partner? Or will he use his popular support to blunt the military's already fitful campaign against the insurgency of the Taliban and Al Qaeda?'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar 09, by Huma Yusuf
Pakistan on edge after two blasts
'Government officials warn that foreign Taliban militants have infiltrated the country and could carry out more attacks.'

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Mar 09, by Robert Marquand
Holbrooke: western Pakistan key to resolving Afghanistan war
'The US special envoy told allies at the Brussels Forum that the Talibanization of the region was a top concern.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Mar 09, by Mark Mazzetti
U.S. drone strikes may be cementing Pakistani militancy
'Even as the C.I.A. crosses names off its list of Al Qaeda leaders with each successful strike in Pakistan, Washington is struggling to understand the long-term implications of a push-button conflict. One question is whether the robot wars are only a holding action in a far more complex political and ideological war, against an enemy whose resilience America still does not fully understand.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 Mar 09, by Thom Shanker and Eric Schmitt
U.S. plan would more than double Afghan forces
'A plan awaiting final approval by [President Obama] would set a goal of about 400,000 troops and national police officers, more than twice the forces' current size, and more than three times the size that American officials believed would be adequate for Afghanistan in 2002, when the Taliban and Al Qaeda appeared to have been routed.'

Middle East Times, 19 Mar 09, by Richard Sale
Obama Steps Up and Expands War on Taliban
'The Barack Obama administration is stepping up strikes by U.S. drones against Taliban and al-Qaida targets in Pakistan and intends to spread attacks over a larger geographic area, according to administration officials.'

hristian Science Monitor, 19 Mar 09, by Anand Gopal
Key Afghan insurgents open door to talks
'The Haqqani network has agreed to discuss a peace proposal with government-backed mediators.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 Mar 09, by Sangar Rahimi and Carlotta Gall
Officials link Kabul attackers to Pakistan
'The suicide bombers who stormed the Afghan Justice Ministry and a prison department building in the capital last month were trained in Pakistan's lawless border region, according to Afghan intelligence officials.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar 09, by Saeed Shah and Jonathan S. Landay, McClatchy Newspapers
Why Pakistan's president gave in
'President Zardari lacked the full backing of the Army and US that his predecessor Musharraf enjoyed, Pakistani and US officials say.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Mar 09, by Jane Perlez
Pakistan turns onto an uncertain path
'It was a signal moment in Pakistan's political development: A huge demonstration forced the restoration of a dismissed chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, a symbol of democracy and the rule of law. The army did not stage a coup, but insisted that the government accept a compromise. The deal between President Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the main opposition party, does not herald a solution to the instability of this nuclear-armed nation. Nor does it ensure the Obama administration's primary objective of tamping down the powerful Islamic insurgency that threatens both Pakistan and Afghanistan.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 09, by Thom Shanker and Elisabeth Bumiller
U.S. seeks new Afghan supply routes, even in Iran
'The United States is seeking new supply routes for the war in Afghanistan that would bypass Russia, and has even had logistics experts review overland roads through Iran that might be used by NATO allies, according to military planners and Pentagon officials.'

Washington Post, 11 Mar 09, by Edward Cody
Biden Asks NATO for Aid in Afghanistan
'Vice President Biden told NATO allies here Tuesday that the Obama administration wants their help building a new strategy in Afghanistan because growing security threats there affect all 26 countries in the alliance and because only by working together can they stop terrorist attacks.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Mar 09, by Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt
Afghan civilian deaths a threat to U.S. mission
'The commander of a secretive branch of U.S. Special Operations forces ordered a halt in February to most commando missions in Afghanistan, reflecting a growing concern that civilian deaths caused by American firepower are jeopardizing broader goals there.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 09, by Jane Perlez
Pakistan titans duel amid crackdown
'The unusually tough actions Wednesday and Thursday deepened the popular discontent with President Asif Ali Zardari, whose six months as leader of Pakistan has been marked by a worsening Al Qaeda and Taliban insurgency, a weak economy and what is widely perceived as rule by an accidental leader.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Mar 09, by Carlotta Gall
Taliban and Afghans are in talks
'Even as President Barack Obama floated the idea of negotiating with moderate elements of the Taliban, Afghan and foreign officials here said that preliminary discussions with the Taliban leadership were already under way and could be developed into more formal talks with the support of the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Mar 09, by Ismail Khan
Pakistan strikes deal with border clan to rein in militants
'A major tribe with close ties to the Pakistani Taliban signed an agreement with the Pakistani government to hand over several of the militant group's local leaders, to lay down arms and to stop harboring foreign militants.'

Asia Times, 12 Mar 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Pakistan adds to US's Afghan woes
'The tumult in Pakistan, which is increasingly loosening President Asif Ali Zardari's grip on power, and the next round of fighting in Afghanistan - expected to be the fiercest yet - are inextricably linked and are fast spiraling out of control.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Mar 09, by Sabrina Tavernise
Avoiding Pakistan, new supply route to Afghanistan opens
'A new route to take cargo to American and NATO forces in Afghanistan has opened, American officials said Tuesday, providing an alternative to the primary supply route — through the troubled border with Pakistan — as it comes increasingly under threat.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Mar 09, by Ben Arnoldy
Attack on Sri Lanka cricket team: a sign that Pakistan is unraveling?
'If it is becoming a failed state, Indian officials wonder if they should take a harder – or softer – line with its neighbor.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Mar 09, by Ben Arnoldy
Militant attack on cricket team in Pakistan could backfire
'If militants are home-grown, domestic ambivalence about vilifying such groups could be diminished.'

The Guardian, 04 Mar 09, by Julian Borger
Pakistan poses global security worry, says top US official
'Senior officials in the Foreign Office and the Obama administration have privately expressed concern that Pakistan could prove to be more of a danger to global peace and security in the long run than Afghanistan, because of its nuclear weapons and its highly politicised and Islamicised secret service, the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Mar 09, by Anand Gopal
Many in Afghanistan oppose Obama's troop buildup plans
'Frustration and fear is sparking opposition to plans that would nearly double the size of US forces there.'

Washington Post, 05 Mar 09, by Pamela Constable
Dispute Over Timing of Afghan Vote Turns Messy
'Conflict raises concern about prospects for besieged democracy. ... It also leaves unresolved the critical question of who will lead the country during the summer months, when the Islamist Taliban insurgency is expected to intensify its attacks and thousands of American troops will arrive.'

International Herald Tribune, 25 Feb 09, by Eric Schmitt and Jane Perlez
Attacks on Al Qaeda concentrate its threat to Pakistan
'American missile strikes and Pakistani military raids have reduced Al Qaeda's global reach but heightened the threat to Pakistan as the group disperses it cells here and fights to maintain its sanctuaries, Pakistani intelligence officials said.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Feb 09, by Elisabeth Bumiller
Afghan civilian deaths show limits of air power
'Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, on the Arabian Sea: Every day from the deck of this nuclear-powered aircraft carrier off the coast of Pakistan, two dozen combat planes are catapulted into the sky for the 500-mile trip to southern Afghanistan. There the pilots circle Taliban strongholds like an airborne 911 service and zoom in when American and British troops, spread thin and often panicked, call in airstrikes.'

Voice of America, 25 Feb 09, by Barry Newhouse
Struggle in Swat Valley Highlights Pakistan's Counterinsurgency Troubles
'This week top Pakistani, Afghan and U.S. officials are meeting in Washington to discuss how to counter al-Qaida and Taliban fighters, who now threaten both U.S.-backed governments in the region.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Feb 09, by Issam Ahmed
For Pakistan's Swat residents, uneasy calm
'A tenuous cease-fire has halted Taliban-Army fighting, as negotiations for a permanent deal continue.'

Washington Post, 19 Feb 09, by Pamela Constable, Karen DeYoung and Haq Nawaz Khan
Pakistani Accord Appears Stalled
'A controversial, closely watched peace agreement designed to end Taliban violence in the scenic Swat Valley hung in limbo Wednesday amid criticism in Pakistan and rising concern in Washington.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Feb 09, by Jane Perlez
Pakistan makes a Taliban truce, creating a haven
'The government announced Monday that it would accept a system of Islamic law in the Swat valley and agreed to a truce, effectively conceding the area as a Taliban sanctuary and suspending a faltering effort by the army to crush the insurgents.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Feb 09, by Anand Gopal
Mini-surge to test out US strategy in Afghanistan
'Some 3,000 US troops recently deployed to insurgent-heavy provinces near Kabul.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb 09, by Anand Gopal
Security up at porous Afghan border
'The US, Pakistan coordinate troops to prevent militants from fleeing to either side.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Feb 09, by Eric Schmitt and Mark Mazzetti
The Taliban in Pakistan are raising U.S. fears
'Even as CIA drone aircraft pound Al Qaeda in Pakistan's tribal region, there is growing concern among American military and intelligence officials about different militants' havens in Pakistan that they fear could thwart American military efforts in Afghanistan this year.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb 09, by Anand Gopal
Coordinated Kabul assault shows Taliban strength
'Major incidents like this will certainly affect the debate in Washington, says Waliullah Rahmani, an expert on the insurgency with the Kabul Center for Strategic Studies. "If the insurgents can continually strike at the heart of the heavily fortified capital," he says, "it undermines Washington's faith in the Afghan government to provide security and could push them to send many more troops."'

Asia Times, 12 Feb 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Taliban send a bloody warning
'The United States and Britain are working overtime, with help from Russia, in preparation for what they believe will be the biggest-ever offensive against militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Feb 09, by Eric Schmitt
Afghan arms are at risk, report says
'The American military has not properly tracked tens of thousands of weapons the Pentagon bought and shipped to Afghan security forces, leaving the arms at risk of being stolen or sold to militants, according to a federal report that is to be presented at a House panel hearing on Thursday.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Feb 09, by Salman Masood and Alan Cowell
Pakistan says Mumbai attacks partly planned on its soil
'Pakistan acknowledged for the first time in public on Thursday that parts of the murderous Mumbai terror attacks were planned on its soil and said several suspects were being held. ... India has accused the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of responsibility for the attacks, supported by Pakistani intelligence agencies.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Feb 09, by Jane Perlez
In Pakistan, special envoy from U.S. finds discontent
'What [Richard Holbrooke] heard was a familiar list of requests for more money and arms from Pakistan's top leadership, as well as a litany of complaints about American airstrikes in Pakistan's tribal areas using Predator drones.'

Washington Post, 11 Feb 09, by Karen DeYoung
Pakistan Wants More From U.S.
'Inside the warm welcome and promises of a "new beginning" that Pakistan extended U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke yesterday was a warning that Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb 09, by Warren Richey
Next flash point over terror detainees: Bagram prison
'With Guantánamo set to close, more attention is falling on the US military facility in Afghanistan and those in custody there.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Feb 09, by Salman Masood
Taliban hits supply route for NATO forces in Afghanistan
'... it was not immediately clear how soon the trucks carrying crucial supplies for NATO forces would be able to travel through the Khyber Pass to Afghanistan. More than 80 percent of the supplies meant for American and coalition forces in Afghanistan flow through Pakistan. Attacks aimed at choking the supply lines have become increasingly frequent and brazen, despite the presence of Pakistani security forces in the area.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan 09, by Issam Ahmed
Pakistan tackles Swat, a key militant area
'The Army launched fresh operations this week, following mounting pressure to retake the onetime tourist idyll now controlled by ultraconservative militants.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Jan 09, by Carlotta Gall
A U.S.-Afghan rift grows as raid accounts differ
'U.S. forces are reluctant to share information about future military raids with local officials, fearing that the information will be passed to the Taliban. Added to all that is a complication for U.S. forces here: Many villagers are armed, in the absence of an effective local police force.'

Asia Times, 28-29 Jan 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
On the Militant Trail
Part 1: A battle before a battle
Part 2: Faceless Taliban rule
'The indications are that a major battle will be fought in Pakistan before the annual spring offensive even begins in Afghanistan this year.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Jan 09, by Dexter Filkins
In Afghan south, Taliban fill NATO's gaps
'While the American-led coalition holds the cities and highways, it appears to have ceded much of the countryside to the Taliban, because it lacks sufficient forces to confront them.'

International Herald Tribune, 20 Jan 09, by Richard A. Oppel Jr.
U.S. secures new supply routes to Afghanistan
'The U.S. military obtained permission to transport materials through Russia and Central Asia, the top American commander in the Middle East said.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jan 09, by David Montero
Taliban warn Obama: Leave Afghanistan
'Analysts say the war will be one of the new president's toughest challenges.'

Asia Times, 21 Jan 09, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Pakistan's shift alarms the US
'United States Central Command chief General David Petraeus may have solved one problem by arranging alternative supply routes to the attack-prone ones that currently pass through Pakistan on their way to North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops in Afghanistan. Now he has to deal with Pakistan's military focus on India, at the expense of the troubled tribal areas from where the Taliban draw much of their strength.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan 09, by Shahan Mufti
Pakistan tested by battles with Al Qaeda, Taliban
'The US pursuit of Al Qaeda with airstrikes complicates Pakistan's struggle against the Taliban, who launched their largest attack in months over the weekend.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Jan 09, by Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Pir Zubair Shah
Unusual coordination in Taliban attack on Pakistani soldiers
'In a reversal of usual patterns, the attack involved a large number of Taliban from Afghanistan attacking in Pakistan, signaling coordination among militants on both sides of the border.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan 09, by Danna Harman
How US tries to limit civilian deaths in Afghanistan
'A record number of US troops – and Afghan civilians – died in 2008. Frustration mounts over fighting Taliban insurgents among villagers.'

Christian Science Monitor, 14 Jan 09, by Huma Yusuf
Launch point for Mumbai attacks, Karachi faces rising militancy
'City officials fear Pakistan's commercial capital could be paralyzed if militants become more unified.'

Washington Post, 08 Jan 09, by Pamela Constable and Candace Rondeaux
Pakistan Rejects Indian Accusations, Plays Down Tension
'During a visit to Afghanistan, Pakistan's foreign minister on Wednesday strongly rejected accusations by India that Pakistani government agencies had played a role in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai ... At the same time, Pakistan's powerful intelligence chief said in a rare public interview from Islamabad that his government has no desire to fight a war with India, Pakistan's larger neighbor and longtime rival, and that he views terrorism as the "real enemy" of his country.'

Washington Post, 07 Jan 09, by Pamela Constable
Pakistani, Afghan Leaders Vow Joint Terrorism Fight
'In the past, Afghan and Pakistani officials repeatedly blamed each other for failing to curb Islamist extremism in their respective countries ...'

2008 Afghanistan and Pakistan archive
2007 Afghanistan and Pakistan archive