Bomb Blast in Western Afghanistan Kills 10

Ambush new grads traveling in Kunar province

(AP) - The Taliban claimed today that it kidnapped 50 Afghan policemen in northeastern Afghanistan—part of the insurgents' murder and intimidation campaign against anyone affiliated with the US-backed government. Militants ambushed the policemen yesterday afternoon after being tipped off that they would be traveling in Kunar province, a Taliban spokesman said. The policemen from Nuristan province had just finished their training to join the Afghan National Police, he said. More»

19 cops cut a deal with insurgents, sack, burn station

(NEWSER) - An entire Afghan police station defected to the Taliban today, with as many as 19 officers joining insurgent fighters in sacking and burning their own station, the New York Times reports. The lone remaining cop of the station southwest of Kabul—the chief—said that the turncoats took their guns, trucks, uniforms, and food with them. More»

US hopes for similar deals throughout Afghanistan

(NEWSER) - In a groundbreaking pact, an entire Afghan tribe has pledged to join with the US-backed government to fight the Taliban. The 400,000-strong Shinwari tribe, which controls key areas on the Pakistan border, will battle insurgents, burn down homes harboring Taliban fighters, and contribute one military-aged male from each family in the event of a Taliban attack. The US, in exchange, will bypass the corrupt local government and channel $1 million in development funds directly to the Shinwaris, Dexter Filkins writes in the New York Times . More»

Culprit escapes after turning weapon on training team

(NEWSER) - Five British soldiers died in Helmand province yesterday after a rogue Afghan cop opened fire on a group of Afghan policemen and their British mentors drinking tea together. The mentors had been training the Afghans for two weeks when one of the trainees turned his weapon on them without warning. The gunman then fled the scene on a motorbike. More»

(AP) - A massive truck bomb near Kabul killed 25 people today, including 13 primary school students, and sent pieces of the vehicle flying more than a mile from the blast, reports the AP. The truck overturned in the road last night, and when police arrived this morning to clear the way the bomb detonated. Another two schoolchildren were wounded and three others are still missing. More»