 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Taliban attacks on NATO forces likely to increase: report
London (AFP) May 24, 2006 NATO forces are likely to come under increased attack from the former ruling Taliban in the year to come as the United States withdraws some of its troops from Afghanistan, a report suggested Wednesday. "This year will be crucial for Afghanistan as well as for NATO as it expands its mission to the south," the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in "The Military Balance 2006", which was published Wednesday. "The Taliban, taking advantage of what they perceive to be an opportunity during the switch from US to NATO deployments, are likely to continue to increase their operational tempo -- not least because they know that casualties amongst European NATO member states may mobilise domestic opinion in those states against 'the war'." Attacks by the hardline Islamists have increased in recent months, mainly in the central and southern provinces of Afghanistan. Suicide bombings have become more frequent but the preferred method continues to be guerrilla-style tactics. Wednesday's edition of The Times newspaper in London quoted a man who claims to lead Taliban fighters in the lawless southern Helmand province as warning British Prime Minister Tony Blair against sending more troops to the country. "My message to Tony Blair and the whole of Britain is: 'Do not send your children here. We will kill them'," he told the daily, adding that hundreds of his men were prepared to become suicide bombers. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is increasing its presence in Afghanistan from 9,000 troops to 15,000 to ease the burden on the United States, which will now pull out some 2,000 soldiers from Operation Enduring Freedom. The remaining US forces -- which will retain overall control for anti-terrorist operations -- will now be re-deployed to the east of the country. Meanwhile NATO, with Britain in overall command, will focus on reconstruction and protective security efforts as well as counter-narcotic operations. In a summary of the report, IISS director John Chipman said controlling the number of insurgents crossing Afghanistan's porous eastern border with Pakistan was also a "critical issue" for the success of the NATO operation. "With some 80,000 Pakistani troops trying to exercise control amongst a hostile local population on their side (of the border), it is hard at this juncture to see how more can be done," he said. "Yet, in order for NATO forces to succeed, border control, and better liaison with Pakistan must be considered central to the success or failure of the mission, which involveds some 5,700 British troops." Related Links
India, Pakistan hold talks on pullout from world's highest battlefield
New Delhi (AFP) May 23, 2006 Top officials from nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan launched two days of talks Tuesday on troop withdrawal from a Himalayan glacier in disputed Kashmir, the defence ministry said. "The talks on Siachen glacier started this morning. They are likely to go on through the day," an Indian defence ministry official said. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
