Cambodia Déjà Vu: the Invasion of Pakistan

William Pfaff / Truthdig May 14, 2009 Last September, during the American presidential campaign, I wrote a column declaring that the United States had again invaded Cambodia, only this time "Cambodia" was Pakistan. President George W. Bush had ordered U.S. ground attacks on the Taliban inside Pakistan's Tribal Territories, without Pakistan's authorization. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Civilians Pay the Price of War From Above

Robert Fisk / Truthdig May 11, 2009 Of course there will be an inquiry. And in the meantime, we shall be told that all the dead Afghan civilians were being used as "human shields" by the Taliban and we shall say that we "deeply regret" innocent lives that were lost. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Silence Meets Despair of Afghan Women

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Apr 2, 2009 Afghanistan's women are no longer in vogue. President Karzai has just signed a law that forces them to obey their husbands' sexual demands and in general again consigns them to lives of brutal repression. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Move Over, President Karzai, Here Comes Your Prime Minister

Staff / Truthdig Mar 23, 2009 In an attempt to weaken Afghan President Hamid Karzai's grip on power, certain powers that be from the West are creating a brand new prime minister position and planning to redirect funds from Karzai's headquarters in Kabul to the provinces. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

America’s Confused Cause in Central Asia

William Pfaff / Truthdig Feb 18, 2009 Exactly what do we think we are doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Are we there to liberalize their forms of religious observance, or conduct a war over theology, or establish permanent NATO bases there, or are we searching for Osama bin Laden? It seems that we are doing all of these things at the same time. But why? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Afghanistan in Crisis

Robert Fisk / Truthdig Nov 30, 2008 The collapse of Afghanistan is closer than the world believes. Kandahar is in Taliban hands -- all but a square mile at the centre of the city --and the first Taliban checkpoints are scarcely 15 miles from Kabul. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Bhutto’s Widower Assumes Presidency in Pakistan

Staff / Truthdig Sep 11, 2008 Asif Ali Zardari, widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, assumed the presidency of Pakistan on Tuesday, concluding a transfer of power that began with the resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf just two weeks ago. Zardari's presidency is likely to be one of conflict, as an ongoing Taliban resurgence and a 26 percent approval rating already riddle his first days in office. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Footage of Slain Afghan Civilians Revives Inquiry Into U.S. Raid

Staff / Truthdig Sep 9, 2008 Cell-phone footage shot by a doctor in a makeshift morgue in Azizabad, Afghanistan, showing rows of dead Afghan civilians, including several children, has led to a renewed inquiry into an American-led airstrike that occurred on Aug. 22. American officials had previously insisted that only seven civilians had been killed in the attack, but they're now having to face the possibility that the actual figure could be as high as 90. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Commits to Afghanistan Escalation

Staff / Truthdig Jul 21, 2008 Before leaving Kabul for Baghdad, Barack Obama spoke to his intention to increase America's troop commitment to Afghanistan by 10,000 soldiers "We have to understand that the situation is precarious and urgent and I believe this has to be the central focus, the central front, in the battle against terrorism," the candidate told CBS. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Begins World Tour

Staff / Truthdig Jul 20, 2008 Barack Obama embarked on his international diplomacy tour -- a key step in raising his profile on the world stage and demonstrating his readiness to take over the American presidency -- with an important first major stop. The Illinois senator landed in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday as part of congressional delegation surveying the current situation in that troubled nation. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Pakistani Militants Suspected in Kabul Bombing

Staff / Truthdig Jul 8, 2008 Details have emerged about Monday's deadly blast at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, raising suspicion that the bombing was done by Pakistani militants associated with the Taliban. The fact that the Indian Embassy was targeted is one substantial indication, considering the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan. The blast killed 41 and injured over 130. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Is This the Year of the Taliban?

Staff / Truthdig Jun 28, 2008 It's been more than six years since the invasion of Afghanistan but, as this Mosaic Intelligence Report illustrates, it looks like the Taliban is actually getting stronger and bolder -- as evidenced by the recent Taliban-led prison break at Kandahar's Sarposa Prison. Could 2008 be the Year of the Taliban? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )