Defender of Orphans Contends With Afghan Corruption

Afghan forces take control in former Taliban hotspots

Terrorism alert: ‘Punjab is home to banned organisations’

Security forces arrested an Abu Sayyaf fighter thought to be involved in the beheading of 11 members of the Philippine Marines and the kidnapping of American tourists. The suspect, Boy Abdulphata, who is known as Boy Phata, was nabbed by a joint military and police operation in Kumaralang village, Isabela City in the province of Basilan.

The commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps backed away from recent threats to close Strait of Hormuz. Iran postponed long-range missile tests and signaled it was ready to reopen talks on its nuclear program. The US imposed further sanctions on financial institutions that deal with Iran.

Taliban mastering modern technology to circulate message

The Taliban killed two soldiers in a bombing in North Waziristan and two children in a bombing that targeted an anti-Taliban tribal leader in Landi Kotal.

AP Exclusive: US sets up new grassroots counter-extremism unit in Pakistan

National Front Accuses Afghan Govt of Supporting Taliban

Maldives Closes Hundreds of Resort Spas After Muslims Complain of ‘Anti-Islamic’ Activities

Nigeria’s Jonathan declares state of emergency

Islamist fighters halt Yemen peace march: witnesses

US in $3.5 billion arms sale to UAE amid Iran tensions

Reports of Deadly Shootout in Xinjiang Region of China

President Karzai welcomed US Vice President Biden’s statement that the Taliban are not the enemy. The Taliban killed a British soldier in Helmand. Security forces captured two Taliban commanders and several fighters in Kandahar and Paktia.

Ethiopian troops attacked Shabaab forces in the town of Beledweyne; Shabaab claimed their forces repelled the assault. A clan in Puntland blamed Shabaab for killing a prominent cleric.

Armed men believed to be members of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb attacked a newly built military barracks in northeastern Mali and destroyed part of the complex. A leading Touareg separatist group in northern Mali is willing to join the fight against AQIM.

Saif al Adel, Sheikh Yusuf al Ayiri, and Sheikh Abu al Hasan al Sa’idi fought in the Battle of Mogadishu, according to Shabaab’s emir.

Al Qaeda sends fighters to Libya

Clampdown on Al-Shabaab opens corridors for relief flow

Tensions rising over drone secrecy

Changed by Iraq, Military Asks What Will Stick

Egypt Promises to End Crackdown on Nonprofits After Outcry From US and Europe

The military killed six Taliban fighters in North Waziristan. The Taliban killed two people in a mortar attack in South Waziristan and killed two more in a bombing in Bajaur. The Baluch Liberation Army claimed the bombing that killed 14 people in Quetta.

The Taliban killed four civilians in Uruzgan and two ISAF soldiers in the south. Security forces killed three Taliban leaders and detained 11 fighters.

The Kenyan military denied Shabaab’s claim that 11 of its troops were killed during fighting near Qooqani. The Kenyan military said only one of its soldiers were killed, while five Shabaab fighters were also killed.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula killed Abu Ali al Hakim, a Houthi military commander, in Kataf. AQAP killed Hakim using a “sticky” bomb that was attached to his car.
