Obama says defeat of al Qaeda is “within reach”

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday reminded Americans that he has wound down two unpopular wars since taking office more than three years ago and said the defeat of al Qaeda is “within reach.”

“My fellow Americans, we have traveled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war. (more…)

2 American officers killed in Afghan Interior Ministry

Two American officers were shot dead at close range in Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry on Saturday, a U.S. official said, as rage gripped the country for a fifth day over the burning of (more…)

Army arrests supects in kidnapping of Liban Lait owner

Suspects in the abduction of Ahmed Zeidan, the owner of Liban Lait, were arrested earlier today according to a statement by the Lebanese army. (more…)

Taliban spokesman denies that leader Mullah Omar is dead

A Taliban spokesman sayhttp://www.yalibnan.com/wp-admin/media-upload.php?post_id=27757&type=image&TB_iframe=trues the group’s phones and website were hacked, and text messages sent out saying their reclusive Afghan leader Mullah Mohammed Omar is dead — a claim the group has denied. (more…)

Obama sets course for exit from Afghanistan

President Barack Obama announced a plan on Wednesday to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in a first step toward ending the long, costly war and returning America’s focus toward it’s own troubled economy. (more…)

Taliban denies report that Mullah Omar is dead

Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency said it is investigating reports that Taliban leader Mohammad Omar and some of his top commanders have left their hideout near the Afghan-Pakistan border and cannot not be located. (more…)

Pakistan suicide bomber was a woman

A woman covered in a head-to-foot burqa carried out a suicide bombing that killed more than 40 people in Pakistan, government officials said on Sunday, adding to security challenges confronting the U.S. ally. (more…)

Suicide attacker kills 13 in Pakistan

Pakistani police say a suicide bomber has killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 50 others in the northwestern Swat Valley. This is the third deadly attack in Pakistan this week. (more…)

Taliban militants strike central Kabul, attack hotels

Taliban militants attacked a luxury hotel and two guest houses favored by foreigners in the center of Kabul early Friday, killing at least 17 people, including some foreigners, and injuring at least 32.

Pakistan captures two more senior Taleban leaders

Pakistan has captured two more leaders of the Afghan Taleban, Afghan officials revealed today, in the latest indication of a new level of cooperation between US and Pakistani intelligence agencies.
Mullah Abdul Salam and Mullah Mir Mohammad were the “shadow governors” of the northern Afghan provinces of Kunduz and Baghlan respectively, running the Taleban’s increasingly powerful parallel administrations there.
They were detained 10 days ago by Pakistani intelligence agents in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s south-western province of Baluchistan, according to Engineer Mohammad Omar, the official governor of Kunduz. Timesonline