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Pakistan
Pakistan playing cynical game with CIA contractor, says official
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ISAF statement on the withdrawal from Pech Valley
US Army Sergeant David M. Pooler, of 1st Platoon, Able Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, scans the area across the Kunar River as he provides security in the Noorgal district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, May 1, 2010 as part of a community development council meeting. US Army photo by Specialist Lorenzo Ware. Below is ISAF’s official press release on the withdrawal from the Pech Valley in Kunar province: Coalition forces are repositioning from the Pech Valley to locations along Highway 7 to block insurgent infiltration along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. “Afghan forces will take the…
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Afghanistan
Afghanistan – ISAF plans ‘better targeting’ of insurgents in border regions
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Afghanistan
‘Increasing Taliban violence mirrors government weakness’ – Afghan opposition leader
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Pakistan attempts to trade CIA contractor for convicted al Qaeda operative Aafia Siddiqui
ABC News reported today that Pakistan attempted to exchange CIA contractor Raymond Davis for convicted al Qaeda operative Aafia Siddiqui. This should come as no surprise, as speculation about a possible prisoner exchange first appeared in the Pakistani press just days after Davis’ arrest. ABC News reports: The government of Pakistan offered to trade a CIA contractor currently jailed in that country for a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected by U.S. intelligence to be an al Qaeda operative. According to a senior American administration official and a Pakistani official involved in the negotiations to free CIA contractor Raymond Davis, the Pakistani government…
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Pakistan
Police arrested 45 people whose phone numbers were on Raymond Davis’ cell phone. Pakistan attempted to trade Davis for convicted al Qaeda operative Aafia Siddiqui.
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Afghanistan
The Taliban killed four ISAF soldiers in attacks in the south, east, and west, and executed two Afghan contractors in Kandahar. Security forces captured a Taliban commander in Kandahar.
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Afghanistan
The CIA and Pakistan’s ISI: on the high ground
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Malaysia
Malaysia media laws raise concern
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Somalia
The Burundian military claimed that 80 Shabaab fighters and seven Burundian troops have been killed over the past several days during fighting in Mogadishu. Shabaab established an immigration and customs office in Baidoa.
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Iran
Security forces arrested opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, according to an opposition website. ISAF’s spokesman said Iran is arming the Taliban. Iran said the logo for the 2012 Olympics spells the word “Zion,” and threatened to boycott.
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Yemen
President Saleh said he was prepared to form a unity government, but the opposition parties rejected the arrangement. Suspected al Qaeda fighters killed two soldiers in Zinjibar in Abyan.
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Libya
Forces loyal to President Gaddafi have launched counteroffensives to take back Zawiyah in the west and Misrata in the east. Gaddafi’s son, Saif al Adel, was seen on videotape attempting to rally Gaddafi loyalists.
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European Union
The EU has failed the Arab world
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Germany
Erdogan urges Turks not to assimilate: ‘You are part of Germany, but also part of our great Turkey’
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Italy
Libya – Italy repudiates friendship treaty, paving way for future military action
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Bahrain
Pressure for change builds across Arab world
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Hezbollah
In Lebanon, Hezbollah is watching, and waiting out, the Arab uprisings
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Iraq
Iraqi women work to halt bombers, but paycheck is elusive
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Al Qaeda
Libya blames Islamic militants and the West for unrest
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France
Libya quashes protest in Tripoli; West to aid east
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Australia
We must engage Muslim Brotherhood, says Kevin Rudd
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Afghanistan
Afghan government peace program would increase the risks of civil war, Afghan justice group warns
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Al Qaeda
Spy war threatens Pakistan-US ties
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Al Qaeda
How the Taliban lost its swagger
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Al Qaeda
A military juggling act in Pakistan
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Pakistan
The Taliban destroyed two NATO fuel tankers in Mangocher. Police arrested a US security contractor for visa violations. The ISI asked the CIA for information about its operatives in Pakistan.
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Afghanistan
The Taliban killed 14 Afghans in a double bombing at a dog fight in Kandahar and two ISAF soldiers in IED attacks in the south and east, and kidnapped a Canadian “tourist” in Ghazni. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban commanders and fighters in Zabul, Kandahar, Helmand, Kabul, and Logar. The Afghan peace council downplayed Taliban attacks and criticized ISAF for civilian casualties.
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Iraq
Security forces killed five “terrorists” in Sulaimaniyah and detained 19 wanted men in Diyala. A suicide bomber killed only himself in Sulaimaniyah. Twenty-seven protesters were wounded in Maysan.
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Muslim Brotherhood
Kamal al Halbavi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, praised Iran’s attempts to unify the Muslim world and lauded President Ahmedinejad. “He is the bravest man in the Muslim world and we (in Egypt) need innocent, honest and brave leaders like him.”
