Taliban Makes Surprise Return in N. Afghanistan

With US and Afghan forces focused on the southern regions of Afghanistan, the Taliban has popped up in the country’s northern Kunduz province—not only far from its home area but until recently seen as peaceful enough that soldiers and policemen have been transferred from the area to help in other hot spots. And, the New York Times reports, the Taliban is now threatening a key route bringing NATO supplies from Central Asia.

The situation is illustrative of overall complications in Afghanistan, the Times adds, with security now tenuous in spots heretofore considered safe. Worse, Kunduz won’t see much of a boost from the troop surge President Obama is expected to announce next week.
(More Taliban stories.)