Takhar

September 14, 2010

In today’s news: very low numbers of Pashtuns are joining the Afghan army despite efforts to increase recruitment. Afghan government disputes NATO account of Takhar airstrike that wounded a parliamentary candidate. Kunar governor says Taliban have agreed to only attack foreign forces, not polling centers, on election day in his province. UNAMA head Staffan di Mistura sees behind-the-scenes Taliban support for some candidates as a move into the political process; other analysts are more skeptical.

September 13, 2010

KABUL, Sept 13 - NATO has acknowledged it may have caused civilian casualties – including election campaign workers – in an airstrike this month. But the military alliance says it is convinced that killed in the strike was a known insurgent leader.

September 13, 2010

In today’s news: SIGAR releases new report on “lessons learned” from 2009 elections. NATO acknowledges it may have caused civilian casualties in airstrike earlier this month on a parliamentary candidate in Takhar. Two killed in Logar yesterday in continuing protests against now-cancelled Quran-burning event. The Obama administration plans to scale back anti-corruption pushes in Afghanistan, the Post and WSJ report. Petraeus issues new contracting guidelines.