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US-led attack kills Afghan woman

2011-07-19T08:10:00.001-07:00

At least one woman has been killed and five other civilians injured in a fresh NATO raid in the troubled northeastern Afghanistan, officials say.

Afghan officials say the attack has taken place in Kapisa province on Monday, adding that two of those injured are reportedly in critical condition, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The strike comes a day after six civilians were killed in an air raid by US-led forces in Logar province. Over a dozen civilians were killed in a similar attack in the same area last week.

The US is pressing ahead with its attacks despite angry protests from the Afghan people and government.

Hundreds of civilians have lost their lives in US-led airstrikes and ground operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past few months.

Civilian casualties by US-led foreign forces have also been a major source of friction between Kabul and Washington. President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly condemned the strikes and called on US-led foreign forces to stop killing civilians.

The invasion of Afghanistan took place in 2001 with the official objective of curbing militancy and bringing peace and stability to the country.

More than nine years on, however, Afghanistan remains unstable and civilians continue to pay the price.

Pakistani troops killed in border raid

2011-07-19T08:08:00.001-07:00

Pakistan has accused neighboring Afghanistan of firing mortar shells across the border, killing at least four soldiers and injuring two others.

Pakistani officials say the Afghan army has fired over 20 mortar shells into South Waziristan tribal region, adding that the shells have hit a paramilitary checkpoint.

"More than 20 mortar shells were fired from across the border. Three shells slammed into a paramilitary Frontier Corps check post in Angoor Adda," a security official in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar told AFP.

While the cross-border violence between the two neighbors has risen in recent weeks, Afghan officials are yet to comment on the alleged attack.

Pakistan's army says Afghan militants have killed scores of security personnel in attacks on border checkpoints and villages.

Afghans also blame Islamabad for killing scores of people, who were living in border villages.

Pakistan says the rocket strikes are in response to what it calls attacks against its territory from Afghanistan. However, Pakistan has dismissed allegations that it is targeting civilians.

Afghanistan blames elements within the Pakistani government for supporting Taliban militants, while Islamabad blames Kabul for giving refuge to militants on its side of the border.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is due to arrive in Kabul to discuss the border violence with his Afghan

Zardari, Karzai discuss post-US scenario

2011-07-19T08:05:00.001-07:00

KABUL: President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday reiterated to continue the ongoing fight against terrorism and extremism till the restoration of regional peace. The one-on-one meeting between the two leaders at the presidential palace, focused on a range of issues including bilateral relations and regional situation with specific reference to Afghanistan's scenario after start of leaving of US troops.

President Zardari who arrived here on a day-long visit to offer Fateha and condolence over the death of younger brother of Hamid Karzai.

Briefing media spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari told his Afghan counterpart that Pakistan was a strong supporter of Afghanistan's peace and stability.

He said Pakistan believed that the solution to Afghan problem rested with its people who must be given opportunity to decide about their future.

President Zardari said it was the time to prioritize the well being of Afghan people who had been suffering the effects of war-ravaged economy for decades.

He said Pakistan would act as a supportive neighbour to Afghanistan in its efforts to attain development, peace and prosperity.

The Afghan President Hamid Karzai thanked President Zardari and his delegation for this gesture.

Osama not sheltered by ISI: Gen Nadeem

2011-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
MELBOURNE: Lt. General Nadeem Ahmed (retd), who is part of the commission probing the US raid on the compound of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in an interview to an Australian radio station, said he did not believe any official from the ISI was sheltering bin Laden.

"[When all is] said and done [the] government, army, ISI are not irresponsible people, they would never do such a stupid thing which would show them in such a bad light" he said adding that "irrespective of the USA, I have absolutely not an iota of doubt on this, that no government in Pakistan, no military in Pakistan, no intelligence organisation in Pakistan would do such a stupid thing."

General Ahmed was reluctant to divulge any details of the probe during the interview but did state that the commission had already spoken to air force witnesses and the inquiry would move onto the military, army, ISI, civilians and the US.

He said that US officials had not been asked if they would cooperate, but if they chose not to then the inquiry would put on record that they refused to comment. "We will do our utmost best to find out the details, and I think there are sufficient details available in the country," he said.

He also said the use of fake polio vaccination program by the CIA during the hunt for bin Laden represented a "breach of trust" between the US and Pakistani governments. "This is principally, morally, illegally incorrect" he said.