Afghanistan

The Places In Between
In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan-surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers. By day he passed through mountains covered in nine feet of snow, hamlets burned and emptied by the Taliban, and communities thriving amid the remains of medieval civilizations. By night he slept on villagers' floors...

Government Refuses to Allow Wiccan Emblem on Soldier’s Headstone
Nevada officials and the wife of a fallen soldier are diligently trying to get the federal government to allow the placement of a Wiccan symbol on the memorial plaque of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, who was killed in Afghanistan last fall. But the government doesn’t approve.

Hard Man in a Hard Country
Profile: Like Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai has become a problem. They are both prickly, proud, independent and difficult to control

Afghanistan: Special Forces Kill Taliban Leader in 'critical Blow' to Insurgency
Defence sources report the death of Bishmullah during a gun battle in Helmand Province

Afghanistan: Nine Us Troops Killed As Taliban Attack Remote Base Close to Pakistan Border
Nato-led effort to subdue Taliban suffers one of its heaviest blows since 2001 invasion

Battle to Save Afghanistan's Shattered Heritage
The international community's indifference is hampering efforts to undo the vandalism of the Taliban regime

Afghanistan: 400 Militants Killed in Us Helmand Mission, Says Colonel
US marines in southern Afghanistan have killed 400 Islamist militants in the past three months, one of their commanders says

Madness in Afghanistan
Simon Tisdall: Sean Murphy's photographs are the perfect illustration of a bleak situation. But what's the west's next move in Afghanistan?

British Soldier Killed Fighting Taliban
Death of Parachute Regiment member brings number of British forces killed in Afghanistan to 107

British Soldier Killed During Fight With Taliban
A British soldier was killed today during a fight with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said

Afghanistan: Up to 75 Killed in Weekend Violence
Western forces in Afghanistan said they killed 55 militants in the eastern province of Paktia, which borders Pakistan

A Nation As Yet Unbuilt
Peter Preston: Afghanistan has never been a successful state. Our involvement there is based on a delusion

First British Female Victim As Bomb Kills Four in Afghanistan
Three SAS reservists also die in attack believed to be deadliest so far on British troops in the country

Explainer: Why Casualties Are Up
War in Afghanistan is entering a crucial stage as Taliban leaders resort to 'terrorist' tactics with the help of foreign fighters

Taliban Fighters Killed By Coalition Troops in Kandahar Crackdown
Nato and Afghan forces killed 20 Taliban fighters in a major offensive on the outskirts of the southern city of Kandahar, it was announced today

Four British Troops Killed in Afghanistan
Dead include first female soldier to be killed since conflict began

Fears of Big Battle As Taliban Fighters Dig in
Gambit comes days after Taliban smashed into Kandahar's main prison, freeing 400 militants

Afghanistan: Kandahar Braces for Taliban Attack As Thousands Flee
More than 4,000 people leave villages after militants destroy bridges and lay mines

More Troops Sent to Fight Taliban
Deployment of further troops will bring total number of soldiers in Afghanistan next Spring to more than 8,000

Government Determined to Stay the Course in Afghanistan
Deployment of extra troops to Afghanistan indicates a desire to build civil infrastructure

These Troops Are Too Few - and Much, Much Too Late
Jason Burke: The latest deployment does nothing to dampen doubts over the west's long-term commitment to rebuilding Afghanistan

Mass Jailbreak By Taliban Stuns Kandahar
Up to 1,000 prisoners, including 400 Taliban militants, on the run in Kandahar after dramatic assault on prison

Afghan Militants Attack Kandahar Prison and Free Inmates
Officials in Afghanistan say Taliban militants have detonated a car bomb at the main prison in Kandahar, killing police and setting prisoners free

Karzai Threatens to Send Troops Into Pakistan
Outburst follows jailbreak by Taliban in Kandahar and further threatens Afghan-Pakistani relations

Afghanistan: Karzai Threatens to Send Troops Into Pakistan to Hunt Taliban
President Karzai inflames border tensions, claiming his country has right to defend itself against insurgents

Afghan Donors Wary As Karzai Shops for More
President wants another $50bn to help rebuild his country, but the international community is growing increasingly nervous about paying out

Not All Deaths in Afghanistan Are Down to the Enemy
Richard Norton-Taylor: Of the 100 British servicemen killed in Afghanistan, more than one in five were the result, not of enemy action, but of accidents

Three Troops Killed By Bomb Were Part of Hearts and Minds Operation
Mission reflects attempts by British commanders to establish good relations with Afghans

Brown Pays Tribute to 100 British Troops Killed in Afghanistan
Prime minister honors soldiers after suicide attack claims three lives, taking British toll in Afghanistan to 100 since 2001

Afghanistan: Brown Praises Troops After British Death Toll Reaches 100
Prime minister pays tribute to courage of troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001

Troops Who Hoped They Would Not Fire a Shot Mourn 100th Comrade
Hope of avoiding conflict was based on bad intelligence and little or no idea of the nature of the enemy

Suicide Bomber Brings British Death Toll in Afghanistan to 100
Three UK soldiers have been killed in a suicide attack in the south of the country, the MoD has confirmed

British Death Toll in Afghanistan Hits 100 As Three Soldiers Are Killed
Suicide attack in the south of the country takes British death toll since start of operations to landmark figure

Fear, Disillusion and Despair: Notes From a Divided Land As Peace Slips Away
As millions across Afghanistan suffer the fallout from social and economic collapse, the West is in danger of losing the peace, finds Peter Beaumont

Refugees in New Afghan Drugs Crisis
Workers expelled by Iran and Pakistan are going home hooked on heroin, reports Peter Beaumont from Kabul

MoD Names Marine Killed By Mine
Death of Royal Marine brings to 97 the number of British military personnel who have died in Afghanistan since 2001

Refugees in New Afghan Drugs Crisis
Workers expelled by Iran and Pakistan are going home hooked on heroin, reports Peter Beaumont from Kabul

Afghan Anti-us Protest Leaves Three Dead
Two Afghans and Nato soldier killed in violent protest against US soldier who used the Qur'an for target practice

SAS Soldier Killed in Afghan Blast
Soldier killed by roadside bomb becomes 96th British armed forces personnel to die since campaign began in 2001

Clegg Warning Over Britain's Afghan Mission
The Liberal Democrat leader believes that the success of British troops in Afghanistan is crucial

Parents Get Message From the Front: 'we Need More Ammo'
Call from Afghanistan left US family frantic after soldier hits redial on his mobile during gun battle

In Ghost Town Where Afghan War Begins, Uk Fights Losing Battle
Garmser is gateway to Afghanistan for insurgents who stream across border from Pakistan

The Boy Who Took Karzai's Bullet
A child of 10 was one of three civilians who died during a botched Taliban attack on the Afghan President

Marine Died in 'unsuitable' Vehicle
A Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan might have survived had more suitable armoured vehicles been available, a coroner said

Funeral Held for Raf Reservist, Killed in Afghanistan Aged 51
Oldest British serviceman to have been killed in current military operations in Afghanistan or Iraq is put to rest in Nottingham

Karzai Survives Taliban Assassination Attempt During Military Parade
Taliban militants attack military parade in central Kabul, killing three people, including an MP

Karzai Survives Assassination Bid at Parade
Afghan president survives assassination attempt after Taliban militants fire gunshots and rockets in Kabul

A Failing Mission
Leader: Mr Karzai lives to fight another day but the battle for Afghanistan is no nearer being won

Roadside Bomb Kills Soldier in Afghanistan
British soldier is killed in south Afghanistan as his vehicle is hit by suspected mine

The Taliban Blowback
The US enlisted the help of the mujahideen to fight the Soviet army in 1980s Afghanistan. But Pakistan, too, began fostering Islamist extremism. Now, Declan Walsh reports, it is suffering the violent consequences

Two British Soldiers Killed on Patrol at Afghan Base
RAF servicemen dead after their vehicle hit a device whilst patrolling Nato's main airbase in Kandahar

Many Pledges But Few New Troops for Afghanistan
Nato leaders reaffirm 'firm and shared long-term commitment' to fighting the war in Afghanistan

Karzai Seeks Bigger Role for Larger Afghan Army
Move cheers NATO leaders unable to reach agreement on new members at summit in Bucharest

Two Marines Killed By Roadside Bomb
Deaths bring total number of British military fatalities in Afghanistan since 2001 up to 91

US Gave $300m Arms Contract to 22-year-old With Criminal Record
Pentagon entrusts 22-year-old previously arrested for domestic violence to be main supplier of ammunition to Afghan forces

22-year Old Awarded $300m Pentagon Contract, According to Report
The Pentagon entrusted a 22-year old previously arrested for domestic violence and having a forged driving licence to be the main supplier of ammunition to Afghan forces at the height of the battle against a resurgent Taliban, it was reported today

President Pays Tribute to Britain and Calls for 'brotherhood'
Sarkozy urges Anglo-French axis for progress in Europe and the world, and pledges more troops in Afghanistan

40% of Afghan Aid Returns to Donor Countries, Says Report
Afghanistan being deprived of $10bn (£5bn) of promised aid, with 40% of money that has been delivered being spent on corporate profits and consultancy fees, according to report by aid agencies.

Peace Hopes in Afghanistan Hit By Aid Shortfall
Afghanistan deprived of £5bn in promised aid, while 40% of aid delivered went on corporate profits and consultancy fees

Afghans Unite to Cheer Their Brave New Stars As The X-factor Comes to Kabul
A TV talent show that challenges gender, tribal and religious boundaries is transfixing the nation's people - and antagonizing religious scholars, reports Vanessa Thorpe

Afghan Civilians Killed in British-ordered Air Strike
Defense sources concede that there is 'high possibility' British aircraft were involved in the deaths of four civilians in an ambush the southern province of Helmand

Afghan Death Toll Soars to 8,000 Last Year
The United Nations has delivered a grim assessment of the conflict in Afghanistan, reporting that violence increased sharply last year and resulted in the deaths of more than 8,000 people, at least 1,500 of them civilians

Afghan Deaths Soar to 8,000
The United Nations has delivered a grim assessment of the conflict in Afghanistan, reporting that violence increased sharply last year and resulted in the deaths of more than 8,000 people, at least 1,500 of them civilians

The Second Man
Tough times lie ahead for the new UN envoy in Afghanistan. But at least, unlike Paddy Ashdown, he evokes no memories of perfidious Albion, writes Julian Borger.

RAF Buys Us Robot Planes to Strike at the Taliban
British pilots poised to attack hostile forces in Afghanistan from computer keyboards in the American desert

Harry's Tour Masks a Deeper Afghan Malaise
Leader: In reporting of the Prince's adventure story the international dynamics have been overlooked

WIll US Involvement in Afghanisthan Work?
Assume that Obama does become President and he does focus on Afghanistan. Is he going to earn the undying gratitude of the Afghan people; and eliminate terrorism? I doubt it.

We Can Persuade Taliban to Be Peaceful - Expelled Eu Man
Two-thirds of insurgents in Afghanistan can be persuaded to abandon violence, says an EU official

We Can Persuade Taliban to Be Peaceful - Expelled Eu Man
Two-thirds of insurgents in Afghanistan can be persuaded to abandon violence, says an EU official

Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Blast is Named
British soldier killed by an explosive device named as Corporal Damian Stephen Lawrence from Whitby, North Yorkshire

MoD Betrayed Troops in Afghanistan, Says Coroner
Coroner criticizes MoD for sending troops to Afghanistan without basic equipment

Afghanistan's Refugee Crisis 'ignored'
Red Cross says unknown number are fleeing homes as villagers are victims of Taliban and security forces

Allies' Refusal to Boost Afghanistan Troops a Threat to Nato, Gates Says
US warns Nato could be destroyed if allied troops are not prepared to fight in Afghanistan

Gates Demands More Troops Willing to 'fight and Die' in Afghanistan
The US defense secretary, Robert Gates, says some allies are not providing troops prepared to 'fight and die' against the Taliban

Nato Crisis Grows Over Afghan Troops
US presses Europe to strengthen fighting force· Alliance could split as credibility is threatened

Miliband and Rice Arrive in Afghanistan
The foreign secretary, David Miliband, and the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, arrived in Afghanistan today as concern continues to grow over the progress of operations against the Taliban and its effects on the unity of Nato

Rice Calls for More Nato Help in Afghanistan
US secretary of state calls on Nato countries to 'share the burden' and contribute more troops to troubled mission

Extra Troops Could Help Hold Musa Qala
Military chiefs are considering sending hundreds of extra troops to southern Afghanistan in the light of the precarious security situation, the Guardian has learned

Nato's Afghan Force Needs Help, Says Rice
Brown says burden must be shared out better · US secretary of state's concern at threat in south

Living in the World of Now
Leader: Whoever claims the White House will have to face the legacy of Bush's record spend on defense and military commitment in Afghanistan

Extra Firepower Sent to Afghanistan As Uk Digs in
Record deployment of paratroopers· Country may be sliding to civil war

One of Bin Laden's Top Six Aides is Killed in Suspected Us Strike
A senior al-Qaida figure in Afghanistan, described by Western officials as one of Osama bin Laden's top six lieutenants, has been killed, it was reported yesterday

Problems on All Fronts As Afghan Mission Reaches Turning Point
Nato tensions | Deployment issues | Testy relations | Taliban | Drugs

Taliban Attacks on Allied Troops Soar By Up to a Third
Attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan surged last year, according to previously unpublished figures from allied military forces fighting insurgents

Rice Heads for London As Afghan Crisis Looms
Row escalates over Nato troop reinforcements · Canada may withdraw unless others do more

One of Bin Laden's Top Six Aides is Killed in Suspected Us Strike
A senior al-Qaida figure in Afghanistan, described by Western officials as one of Osama bin Laden's top six lieutenants, has been killed, it was reported yesterday

Failing State
Leader:It is hard to be hopeful about Afghanistan. Sliding away from progress, the country has begun a fretful, violent descent towards calamity that all the efforts of Nato, aid agencies and Afghans seem unable to stop

Afghanistan Risks Becoming 'failed State', Reports Warn
Continuing violence and economic instability could lead to social breakdown in Afghanistan if military strategy does not change, according to former Nato commander

Karzai Blocks Plan to Give Ashdown Key Role in Afghanistan
Search resumes for UN special representative· Kabul may have seen Briton as too forceful

PM Rejects Afghan President's Denigration of Uk Forces
Downing Street denies British forces in Afghanistan are bungling military operation to defeat the Taliban

US Troops Kill Nine Afghan Policemen
US-led troops today killed nine Afghan policemen after mistaking them for Taliban insurgents

Afghan Journalist's Death Sentence Blamed on Warlords
Real target is brother who revealed abuse scandals · 23-year-old reporter denies mocking Islam

Soldier Killed By Mine is Named
The soldier killed by a roadside mine in southern Afghanistan on Sunday was named yesterday as Corporal Darryl Gardiner, 25, from Wiltshire, a member of the British brigade's reconnaissance force based in Lashkar Gar in Helmand province.

Divisions in Nato After Us Doubts Afghanistan Tactics
Deepening divisions emerge in Nato over Afghanistan after US defense secretary says allies do not know how to fight insurgencies

What Paddy Did Next
Leader: Lord Ashdown has all the right credentials for the post of UN envoy to Afghanistan

Afghan Action Man
Michael White: Unlike Bosnia, Afghanistan has a sovereign government - not to mention two separate foreign armies, Nato and US, in the field, plus warlords. Paddy Ashdown's powers are weaker. But he retains his Tiggerish enthusiasm

US Allies Do Not Know How to Fight Insurgents, Says Gates
Deepening divisions within Nato over its military operations in Afghanistan emerged yesterday after Robert Gates, the US defense secretary, said America's allies did not know how to fight insurgencies

Soldier's Death in Afghanistan Blamed on Helicopter Fault
A British soldier bled to death in Afghanistan because of faulty equipment, compounded by incompetence, according to a military inquiry into the incident

Taliban Attack on Kabul Hotel Kills Seven
Seven people are killed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, during a Taliban attack at the city's sole five-star hotel

Ulster Peace Process Inspired Aid Workers
The Irish peace process inspired one of the two aid workers expelled from Afghanistan last week to reach out to factions allied to the Taliban

Hope of Swift Return As Diplomats in Taliban Row Leave Kabul
The two senior western diplomats expelled from Afghanistan after being accused of talking directly to the Taliban left Kabul early yesterday amid hopes that they could soon be readmitted

Meeting the Taliban: Row Over Talks Exposes Divide
Afghanistan US suspicious of British attempts at engagement· Kabul government split on ethnic and political lines

UN Push to Stop Afghan Expulsions in Taliban Row
UN officials were last night working to prevent the expulsion from Afghanistan of two senior western diplomats who have been accused of holding illegal talks with Taliban leaders in the British theatre of operations in the southern province of Helmand

Turkeys and Socks for the Troops Overseas
The Turkeys have arrived in Afghanistan - and so has the French President. The former after a 10-week journey by ship and truck; the latter by presidential jet. Both bear tidings of goodwill

Run for Your Lives
Why the kite runners had to flee Afghanistan

After The Perfect Storm
Sebastian Junger found fame with his vivid account of a fishing boat engulfed by 100ft waves. His latest work chronicles a different kind of terror, in Afghanistan. By Ed Pilkington

No Hope of Victory Soon in Afghanistan
Jason Burke: Despite the PM's upbeat stance, victory is far in the future. It's crucial we stay committed

We Will Not Negotiate With the Taliban, Insists Brown
Reconciliation hopes in strategy for Afghanistan · UK to give an extra £450m in development aid to 2012

The Poppy: Helmand's Biggest Problem
Recapturing Masa Qala from the Taliban is more than a important morale-boosting event for Nato and Afghan forces, writes Richard Norton-Taylor

Allies Complete Ousting of Taliban From Musa Qala
The retaking of Musa Qala was completed yesterday, with soldiers from the new Afghan national army leading Nato troops into the center of the town

Brown Commits British Troops for the Foreseeable Future
Britain will retain a substantial military presence in Afghanistan for some time, Gordon Brown said yesterday, as he met President Hamid Karzai in Kabul to discuss the country's future

The Afghan War in Microcosm
Musa Qala does not deserve the attention it is currently receiving. A dusty town that is the centre of a district with 35,000 inhabitants in the north of Helmand province, it is a key strategic location neither for the Nato-led ISAF forces and the Afghan National Army that are fighting alongside them, nor for the Taliban.

Afghan Troops Enter Musa Qala
Afghan army troops enter town which has been held by Taliban militants since February

Musa Qala Wrested From Taliban Control, Army Claims
Afghan army troops enter town which has been held by Taliban militants since February

Afghan Battle is Crucial, Brown Tells Troops
Victory in the battle at Musa Qala is crucial to the future of Afghanistan, Gordon Brown said this morning as he made a surprise visit to British troops close to the fighting

'To Screw It Up Would Be Offensive'
It was meant to be a sensitive portrayal of real life in Afghanistan - but The Kite Runner has been plagued by a row over a rape scene. The film's British star talks to Patrick Barkham

Troops Ready for Final Assault on Musa Qala
Battle is first major test of Nato-trained Afghan army· UK soldiers exchange intense fire with Taliban

Suicide Attack Kills at Least 13 on Kabul Bus
A suicide bomber yesterday attacked a minibus carrying Afghan soldiers south of Kabul, killing at least 13 people and wounding 20 others

Taliban Bomber Kills 13 By Ramming Minibus
Suicide bomber kills six Afghan soldiers and seven civilians, including four children, in attack south of Kabul

22 Injured in Taliban Attack
The Taliban today carried out a suicide attack on a Nato convoy that injured at least 22 Afghan civilians to "welcome" the US defense secretary to Kabul

Kite Runner's Afghan Child Stars Forced Into Hiding
Four boys emigrate to avoid tribal reprisals· Film's content made local cast a mistake, says studio

Arab-American Paratrooper Faces Deportation After Afghan Service
Highly decorated sergeant ordered to stand trial· Anti-discrimination committee protests

Bin Laden: Europe Must Quit Afghanistan
The al-Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden, called on European governments to end their military cooperation with the US in Afghanistan in a new audio message broadcast today

VC Hero Was Probably Killed By Friendly Fire
Coroner rules on soldier's death in Afghanistan clash· Ambush occurred at close quarters in maize field

US Airstrikes Kill Civilian Roadworkers in Afghanistan
At least a dozen road construction workers killed by mistake in eastern Afghanistan

British Friendly Fire Kills Danes
British troops killed two Danish soldiers by 'friendly fire' during an operation against the Taliban in Afghanistan, British and Danish defence sources disclosed yesterday

Afghanistan 'falling Into Taliban Hands'
The Taliban has a permanent presence in 54% of Afghanistan and the country is in serious danger of falling into the group's hands, according to a report by an independent think tank with long experience in the area.

Guards Shot Children Dead After Afghan Suicide Blast, Says Un
Many of the 61 children who died in Afghanistan's worst-ever suicide attack were actually shot dead by bodyguards who fired indiscriminately into the crowd after the blast, a UN report said.

Afghan Mps' Bodyguards 'killed Dozens'
An internal UN report has alleged that bodyguards protecting powerful Afghan politicians opened "indiscriminate fire" on a crowd in the aftermath of a suicide bombing two weeks ago, killing dozens of people including women and children

More Us Special Forces to Aid Fight Against Insurgents
The US is seeking to beef up Pakistan's counter-insurgency efforts in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan by expanding an American special forces team in the country to train the Frontier Corps and recruiting local militias to take on the insurgents

Afghanistan and Iraq Wars Cost $1.6trillion
The financial toll of America's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was laid bare yesterday when a congressional committee estimated the cost of both conflicts at $1.6 trillion (£771bn) and rising - $20,000 for every family of four in the US

59 Children Die in Deadliest Afghan Suicide Attack
Anger over boys' presence at high-profile event· Taliban denies involvement in bombing

UK's New Afghanistan Plan: Pay Farmers to Ditch Opium
Troops may target drugs factories as part of strategy to combat Taliban.

Warning Shots Turn Into Lethal New Development As Violence Drifts North
Analysis: Warnings have been coming for months, publicly from independent commentators, privately by concerned officials and military commanders: the insurgent and terrorist threat is growing and spreading north to what has been, until now, the relatively stable and calm part of Afghanistan.

Six Mps Among 50 Killed in Suicide Attack in Afghanistan
Bomber targeted crowd gathered at sugar factory· Taliban deny carrying out deadly assault

Coalition of the Unwilling
Richard Norton-Taylor: Nato's whole mission is in doubt if its members won't provide necessary support in Afghanistan.

MPs and Children Killed in Afghan Suicide Bombing
Suicide bomber kills at least 50 people, including five MPs and several children, in northern Afghanistan.

Japan Pulls Out of Afghanistan Coalition
Government orders navy to end its mission in support of coalition forces after failing to win opposition backing to renew the deployment.

Taliban Causing Afghan Aid Crisis, Says Un
The UN yesterday demanded that the Taliban stop killing aid workers and looting aid convoys so that emergency supplies can reach vulnerable Afghans before the onset of winter.

US Soldier's Family Brings Legal Action Against British Private Security Firm
Erinys guards accused of causing death in Iraq· Authorities close down UK contractors in Afghanistan

PM Urges More Nato Troops for Afghanistan
Gordon Brown yesterday amplified Nato calls for more combat troops in Afghanistan to spread a burden currently being borne by UK, US and Canadian forces.

Afghan Governor Survives Bomb Attack
Governor of south-eastern province escapes unhurt but several people are injured in suicide blast.

UK Backs Plan to Split Taliban From Within
The British government has thrown its backing behind an ambitious Afghan strategy to split the Taliban by securing the defection of senior members of the militant group and large numbers of their followers.

Taliban Sets Out Demands to Afghan President
Contact raises hopes for eventual end to conflict· Militants want control of southern provinces

The New Taliban
In a swath of territory across Afghanistan and Pakistan, a wild and lawless new state is being born. As warlords struggle for control and Islamic militants pour in, Jason Burke travels deep into the region to reveal hidden forces fueling a growing conflict in the front line of the 'War on Terror'.

Paras to Lead Spring Offensive in Afghanistan
Eurofighter to perform first hostile mission· Gurkha officer killed and two injured in explosion

Violence in Afghanistan Has Soared By 30%, Un Report Says
An alarming surge in suicide attacks has fueled a 30% rise in violence in Afghanistan this year, according to the UN.

13 Killed in Kabul Bus Bombing
Suspected Taliban suicide bomber kills up to 12 people on bus in Afghan capital.

12 Reported Dead in Kabul Suicide Bomb
A suspected Taliban suicide bomber killed up to 12 people on a bus in Kabul today, the second such attack in the Afghan capital in four days.

Nato Chief Says Taliban Could Regain Territory
The Taliban could recapture territory in southern Afghanistan won by British troops in fighting this summer, Nato's commander warned yesterday.

165 Taliban Killed in Two Battles in South, Coalition Forces Say
Air and artillery strikes left more than 165 Taliban fighters dead in two battles in southern Afghanistan, the US-led coalition said yesterday.

Elite Uk Troops Rescue Italians in Afghanistan
Eight kidnappers killed in fierce gunfight · Intelligence reports led to use of special forces

Army in Drive Against Taliban
Two thousand British troops, including Gurkhas backed up by armour, were last night engaged in a large-scale operation to drive out Taliban fighters from a strategic area of southern Afghanistan.

British Soldiers Killed on Patrol Are Named
· Victims of Afghanistan attack aged 18 and 23· Interpreter died after airlift to medical center

Roadside Bomb Kills Two British Soldiers in Afghanistan
Two British soldiers were killed yesterday by an improvised bomb in southern Afghanistan. A third British soldier and a civilian interpreter serving with Nato forces were also wounded in the attack, in which 20 suspected insurgents died.

RAF Man Killed in Blast Named
The RAF gunner killed by a bomb attack on a convoy patrolling southern Afghanistan's main airbase was named last night as Senior Aircraftman Christopher Bridge from Sheffield.

Suicide Bomber Targets Nato at Kabul Airport
A suicide bomber blew up a car near an entrance to Kabul's airport today, killing at least one Afghan and wounding several other people, police and witnesses said.

Eradication or Legalisation? How to Solve Afghanistan's Opium Crisis
The Guardian asks experts in the field what can be done to bring production of the drug to an end.

US Bars American Witnesses From Inquests of British Soldiers
American witnesses will not be allowed to travel to the UK to attend inquests into the deaths of British soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

US Kills 100 'insurgents' in Afghanistan Battle
Military says fighting came after convoy of Afghan and US troops came under attack in northern Kandahar.

Eradication or Legalisation? How to Solve Afghanistan's Opium Crisis
The Guardian asks experts in the field what can be done to bring production of the drug to an end.

How Anti-corruption Chief Once Sold Heroin in Las Vegas
Fighting sleaze is no easy task in a country like Afghanistan, as anti-corruption tsar Izzatullah Wasifi can testify. The economy is awash with opium money, and bribery and backhanders are rife, as confirmed by yesterday's alarming UN report.

Army Gets New 'enhanced Blast' Weapon to Fight Taliban
British soldiers in Afghanistan are being supplied with a new "super weapon" to attack Taliban fighters more effectively, defence officials said yesterday.

Afghan Weddings Bring Limos and Bling
Marriage season sees import of a little luxury amid the potholes and poverty.

US Military Suicides at Highest Rate for 16 Years
· Longer and more frequent tours of duty blamed· Troops stretched to cover Afghanistan and Iraq wars

US Feels Heat As Iranian Leader Visits Afghanistan
Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, signaled his determination to counter US global power yesterday by meeting his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, in a demonstration of growing Iranian influence in Afghanistan.

PM Admits Taliban Uses Territory
Pakistan's prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, acknowledged that the Taliban uses Pakistan as a base from which to mount attacks inside Afghanistan but denied the state was secretly supporting them.

UK Officer Calls for Us Special Forces to Quit Afghan Hotspot
High civilian toll as teams rely on air strikes to provide cover.

British Generals Blast 'cowboy' Us Troops
Tension between British and American commanders in southern Afghanistan erupted into the open today as a senior UK military officer said he had asked the US to withdraw its special forces from a volatile area that was crucial in the battle against the Taliban.

Afghanistan Becomes Main Focus for Uk
The Foreign Office has decided that Afghanistan, and not Iraq, is the front line in its battle to defeat terrorism, even if it may take decades to improve the country - as well as far greater international coordination than at present.

Nato Changes Tactics to Avoid Afghan Civilian Deaths
Nato intends to use smaller bombs in Afghanistan in an effort to avoid civilian casualties as it adapts to new Taliban tactics, the alliance said today.

Sectarian Bias is a Blight on a Rare Afghan Good News Story
Jonathan Steele: A blossoming garden in this impoverished city illustrates the Aga Khan's impact. But its benefits should be shared fairly.

Poppy Eradication Risking Lives, Warn Mps
The lives of British soldiers in Afghanistan are being put at risk because failure to develop a coherent strategy for eradicating the country's opium poppies has led to the Taliban forming an alliance with heroin traders, a highly critical parliamentary report warns today.

Failure in Afghanistan Risks Rise in Terror, Say Generals
Military chiefs warn No.10 that defeat could lead to change of regime in Pakistan.

British Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
Two others injured after operation with Afghan troops in Helmand province this morning.

Rebel Cleric Shot Dead As Commandos Storm Mosque to End Siege
At least 58 die after 20-hour battle in Pakistani capital - Assault leads to localized unrest near Afghan border

'Up to 80 Civilians Dead' After Us Air Strikes in Afghanistan
Witnesses claim a village in British-run Helmand was bombed for three hours after the Taliban attempted to ambush a US-Afghan army convoy.

Troops Kill Suspected Militants in Eastern Afghanistan
Locals and human rights groups say three generations of one family were killed in the operation.

Record Opium Crop in Southern Afghanistan
Region set to become world's biggest supplier - Cocaine consumption up in Europe, says UN report

Pentagon Recognises Psychological Damage to Troops
The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, pledged today to improve mental healthcare for the growing number of troops suffering serious psychological injury in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That Other Noble Cause
Spiraling violence and civilian deaths suggest British troops should get out of Afghanistan too. By Richard Norton-Taylor

Enough Murder, Enough Mayhem. Tribes Vow to Fight Talibanisation
Call to arms from moderates abandoned by Islamabad on the chaotic Afghan frontier.

Seven Children Die As Us-led Air Strike Hits Afghan School
>Coalition says al-Qaida used civilians as shields - Aid groups to criticize 'indiscriminate' violence

Report Compares Afghan Civilian Death Tolls
At least 230 civilians were killed during coalition or Nato operations in Afghanistan last year while the Taliban or other insurgent groups killed almost 700, according to a recent study.

Afghan Police Killed By Us Troops in Mistake for Taliban
Rise in civilian casualties cuts support for coalition - Air strike blamed on lack of intelligence-sharing

US Jets Kill Afghan Police
A communications breakdown between US troops and Afghan security forces led today to the killing of seven policemen, mistaken for Taliban, at a remote checkpoint in the east of the country when US forces on the ground called in an air strike.

Afghan Police at Checkpoint Killed By Us Troops in Mistake for Taliban
Rise in civilian casualties cuts support for coalition - Air strike blamed on lack of intelligence-sharing

Civilians Suffering in Worsening Afghanistan Conflict, Says Red Cross
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worse now than a year ago with "civilians suffering horribly", the International Committee of the Red Cross said today.

Afghan Police Mistakenly Killed By Us Friendly Fire
US-led forces mistakenly killed seven policemen in the eastern province of Nangarhar, bordering Pakistan, Afghan officials said today.

The West Has to Accept That There is No Military Solution
The honest way forward in Afghanistan is to understand the south is lost and refocus efforts on Kabul and the north. By Jonathan Steele

Second Female Afghan Journalist Killed in Five Days
A prominent female Afghan journalist has been gunned down inside her home near Kabul, the second such slaying in five days.

Gunmen Kill Afghan Woman Radio Journalist
A prominent female Afghan journalist has been shot dead at her home near Kabul, the second such killing in five days.

Profile: Omar Khadr
Omar Khadr, the Canadian Guantanamo Bay detainee who had all charges against him dismissed today by a military judge, was only 15 years old when he was captured in Afghanistan.

Briton Among Seven Killed in Afghan Attack
Shooting down of helicopter in Helmand province appears to have prompted a bloody retaliation by Nato today.

Hunt for 'traitors' Splits Taliban
Spy mania grips the Afghan rebels as top commanders fall victim to tip-offs by informers to coalition troops.

Britain Calls for Greater Un Involvement in Afghanistan
Britain wants the UN to take the lead role in a 'strategic plan' for Afghanistan amid growing concern about the impact of Nato and US military operations and the failure to get aid to those who need it.

Kite Runner Author Looks Behind the Veil
The Afghan-American writer is venturing under the burka with A Thousand Splendid Suns, his keenly anticipated second novel that follows the trials and triumphs of two Afghan women over the same period.

Taliban's Top Military Commander Killed During Fighting
Taliban insurgents suffered a grave loss when their top military commander, Mullah Dadullah, was killed in fighting in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, it was claimed yesterday.

US-led Forces Admit Civilian Casualties in Afghan Fighting
International forces in Afghanistan concede that a major battle in the south of the country caused some civilian deaths.

Afghan Mps Demand End to Military Offensives
Call comes after reports that 21 civilians died in a wave of US-led air strikes yesterday.

Unemployment, Divorce and Battles for Custody: Us Soldiers' Cold Welcome Home
Extended tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan put strain on troops' home lives.

Afghan Fury Over Uk Troops Telling Farmers They Can Grow Poppies
Adverts promised crops would not be destroyed - Row exposes tension over fighting drugs and Taliban

British Military Sanctions Afghan Poppy Cultivation
Angry Afghan officials have reprimanded British diplomats over a campaign by UK troops in Helmand telling farmers that growing poppy was understandable and acceptable.

Canadian War Crimes Suspect Was Child at Time of Capture
A human rights group today attacked a US decision to file murder charges against a Canadian national and alleged Taliban fighter who was captured in Afghanistan when he was 15.

Killers and Censors Bring Fledgling Media Under Fire From All Sides
US and Kabul officials get tough with journalists amid growing insurgent violence in Afghanistan.

Pentagon Faces Questions on Nfl Star's Death in Afghanistan
Congress to press for more information about friendly fire killing of Pat Tillman.

Report Reveals Steep Rise in Afghan Civilian Casualties
The number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan soared last year as insurgents deliberately targeted non-combatants including doctors and religious leaders

Nine Policemen Killed in Afghan Suicide Blast
Bomber blows himself up on police training ground in northern Afghanistan, killing at least nine policemen and injuring more than 30.

Pentagon Opens Civilian Claim Files Against Military
Chilling accounts of hundreds of fatal encounters between the US military and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing a rare glimpse of the confusion and chaos of daily life in the conflict zones, were released by the Pentagon yesterday under the freedom of information act.

Top Us Generals Reject War Tsar Role for Iraq and Afghanistan
Three retired generals approached by the White House about a new high-profile post overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and reporting directly to the president have rejected the proposed post, leaving the administration struggling to find anyone of stature willing to take it on.

Bush Struggles to Find War Tsar to Oversee Iraq and Afghanistan
Three retired generals approached by the White House about a new high-profile post overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and reporting directly to the president have rejected the proposed post, leaving the administration struggling to find anyone of stature willing to take it on.

Diary
The White House is having trouble recruiting a "war tsar" to oversee its ongoing exciting adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. By Jon Henley

Afghanistan: Relief at Last for Hard-pressed Fusiliers
Uncertain future after Nato capture of Sangin prompts Taliban propaganda push.

Australia Will Double Its Troops in Afghanistan
Australian prime minister John Howard to deploy more soldiers to disrupt the Taliban's command.

Bavaria
Notebook: Welcome to 'The Box' - the last stop before it gets real, the army's saying goes. The sealed space - six miles by 12 miles - will for the next three weeks be the training stage for 6,000 American troops from 104 units being readied for deployment in Afghanistan next month.

Gordon Brown Surprises Troops in Afghanistan
Gordon Brown flew into southern Afghanistan today for a surprise visit to British troops.

Is It The Right Might?
So what is going on in Afghanistan? The US and NATO military forces have been swatting the Taliban like bothersome flies for five years now; but they keep swarming around. They even seem to be breeding. There are a lot more of them now than there were two years ago.

27kg of Opium in a Kitchen - Just Another Day in the Afghan War on Drugs
Despite a more sophisticated counter-narcotics strategy Afghanistan's poppy production is greater than ever, reports Julian Borger in Kabul.

Afghans Admit Doing Deal With Taliban to Free Italian Hostage
Journalist forced to watch execution of driver - Aid agency claims five fighters released

Taliban Frees La Repubblica Reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo
The Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban two weeks ago is released. By Jason Deans.

For Kosovo, New War Fears
World Briefing: In the evolving narrative of the Blair era, the Kosovo intervention is described as a key moment whose perceived success led fatefully on to Afghanistan and Iraq. By Simon Tisdall

Taliban Kidnaps Italian Journalist in Helmand
An Italian journalist has been kidnapped by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province. Daniele Mastrogiacomo was travelling with his Afghan driver and translator outside Lashkar Gah, Helmand's main town, when they were taken hostage.

Taliban Kidnap Briton in Helmand
The Taliban said today they have kidnapped a British journalist and two Afghans in the Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.

MoD Names Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
The two British soldiers who were killed by a rocket attack in southern Afghanistan on Saturday were today named by the Ministry of Defence.

Soldiers Killed By Grenade Named
Two British soldiers killed during a rocket attack on Saturday in southern Afghanistan were named yesterday.

US Airstrike in Kabul Kills Nine Members of Same Family
Afghan confidence in western military forces was further frayed yesterday when an American airstrike on a house near Kabul killed nine people spanning four generations of the same family.

THE AGE OF OCCUPATION: Bury the Dead
The Age of Occupation is a corpse awaiting burial. Only America (Afghanistan, Iraq), Israel (Palestine) and Russia (Chechnya) continue to believe that occupation is a useful foreign policy instrument.

Nato Air Strike 'kills Nine Civilians'
Two incidents involving US forces have left around 19 Afghan civilians dead since yesterday, prompting furious protests against the US and Nato.

Rocket Attack Kills Two British Soldiers in Afghanistan
Casualties bring UK death toll to 50 since 2002 - Street protests after US forces fire on civilians

UK Troops Hamstrung By Afghan Opium Wars
Powerful drug lords in the poppy-filled Sangin valley are emerging as a crucial threat to the British campaign in southern Afghanistan, as the force seeks to consolidate its hold on Helmand province in anticipation of an expected Taliban spring offensive.

UK to Tackle Afghan Drug Lords in No-go Valley
Drug lords in the poppy-filled Sangin valley are emerging as a threat to the British campaign in southern Afghanistan, as the force seeks to consolidate its hold on Helmand province in anticipation of an expected Taliban spring offensive.

Poppy Valley Key to British Hold on Helmand Province
The British effort to consolidate its hold on Afghanistan's Helmand province in anticipation of a Taliban offensive is being threatened by powerful druglords in the poppy-filled Sangin valley.

Britain Switches Tactics to Undermine the Taliban
Britain has launched a "reconciliation" drive to undermine support for the Taliban after Whitehall strategists concluded that a decisive military victory in Afghanistan cannot be won, the Guardian has learned.

Government Confirms Extra British Troops for Afghanistan
Britain is to send extra troops to Afghanistan after efforts to persuade Nato allies to contribute more towards operations in the country failed, the defence secretary said tonight.

Bush Deploys 3,000 Extra Troops to Afghanistan to Take on Taliban
George Bush said yesterday he had ordered 3,200 extra US troops to Afghanistan in expectation of a spring offensive against a resurgent Taliban and he urged European allies to make a similar effort.

Afghans Allow Themselves a Ration of Hope
While southern Afghanistan is racked by a violent insurgency, Kabul is thriving.

US to Urge Nato Spring Offensive in Afghanistan
The US was today expected to urge ministers at a Nato meeting in Spain to launch a spring offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

US to Urge Nato Afghan Spring Offensive
The US was today expected to urge ministers at a Nato meeting in Spain to launch a spring offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

General Calls for More Troops
British commander in Afghanistan reveals how close hard-pressed forces came to defeat in critical five-day firefight last year.

UK to Boost Afghanistan Troop Numbers
The number of British troops in southern Afghanistan will be increased by around 800 by the end of the summer, the defence secretary, Des Browne, said today.

Afghan Amnesty Vote Angers Un
The Afghan parliament has approved an amnesty for warlords and others accused of war crimes, possibly including the Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar.

Afghanistan Approves Amnesty for Warlords
The Afghan parliament has approved an amnesty for warlords and others accused of war crimes that could possibly include the Taliban leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar.

1,000 Afghan Civilians Killed in 2006, Report Says
More than 1,000 civilians were killed in Afghanistan last year, mostly in attacks by the Taliban and other anti-government forces, a human rights group said today.

The Big Afghanistan Push Comes to Shove
Overshadowed by President George Bush's controversial, last-chance bid to salvage American honour in Iraq, the US is mounting a parallel military and reconstruction "surge" in Afghanistan ahead of an anticipated Taliban spring offensive. By Simon Tisdall

Europe Resists Us Pressure to Boost Presence in Afghanistan
Europe appeared last night to be resisting pressure from Washington to pour more money and troops into Afghanistan in expectation of a major campaign in the spring.

Bush to Pump Another $8bn Into Afghanistan
Change of strategy aimed at holding back Taliban - Cash to bolster Afghan army and reconstruction

Interview: General David Richards
Richard Norton-Taylor's interview with the Nato commander in Afghanistan, General David Richards.

Gates Signals Troop Surge in Afghanistan
The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, said yesterday he was "strongly inclined" to send more troops to Afghanistan after a threefold increase in Taliban attacks in the past four months.

Starving Afghans Sell Girls of Eight As Brides
Villagers whose crops have failed after a second devastating drought are giving their young daughters in marriage to raise money for food.

Top Ten Stories of 2006: A Year of Awakening
Jack Random picks the top ten stories of 2006, from the resurgence of the Taliban in the forgotten war of Afghanistan to a stunning midterm election message.

Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Desert Blast
A British soldier was killed and three others injured when their vehicle was hit by an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday.

Dark Days Ahead for Kabul
President Hamid Karzai's lined, care-worn face is as good a record as any of five years of terror and counter-terror in Afghanistan. By Simon Tisdall

UN Urges Condolence Fund Amid 'concern' at Afghan Civilian Deaths
The UN urged Nato to take steps to prevent further innocent deaths after the shooting of at least seven Afghan civilians by British soldiers this month.

French to Leave Afghan South
France is to withdraw all 200 of its special forces engaged in the US anti-terror operation in south-eastern Afghanistan.

Our Enemies Will Burn in Hell With Us, Says Karzai
The embattled Afghan president Hamid Karzai warned yesterday that his country's enemies "will burn in hell with us" if Nato fails to stem a tide of Taliban violence emanating from neighbouring Pakistan.

Afghanistan's Opium Poppies Will Be Sprayed, Says Us Drugs Tsar
Calls for herbicide use follow record harvest - Fears sensitive move will boost support for Taliban

Troops Under Investigation for Kandahar Shooting Spree
Fury in Afghan city after targeted British convoy kills civilians.

Extra Firepower Called for to Rescue Nato From Quagmire
News that the Iraq study group recommends a fresh injection of US combat troops for Afghanistan will come as sweet relief to embattled Nato commanders.

'I Knew Afghanistan Would Be Tough, But I Didn't Think It Would Be This Tough'
In the first of a two-part series on the Afghanistan war, Declan Walsh comes under fire while embedded with US troops in the Pech Valley.

Blair Insists Nato is Winning the War in Afghanistan
PM surprisingly upbeat on progress of conflict - Countries agree deal on troop reinforcements

Afghanistan Set to Dominate Nato Talks
George Bush today appealed to Nato countries for more troops in the war in Afghanistan, while Tony Blair urged the alliance to show "determination".

Nato Deal Likely Over Afghan Troop Deficit
France and other Nato countries which have been resisting Anglo-US pressure for months to send troops to hotspots in southern Afghanistan last night offered a compromise.

The Propagandist: Finding a Voice
After decades of struggle, a writer finds his voice as a propagandist in opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chapter 2 from a work-in-progress: THE DISSIDENTS -- A PATRIOT DIRGE by Jack Random.

Military Alliance Battles to Reinvent Itself
Flaws in Afghan mission among key challenges facing leaders at Latvian summit.

Kabul Goes Mad for Wild Sport
Money, violence, barely contained chaos and an unbridled struggle for power - it has all the elements of a classic battle. But this is sport, not war: a new season of buzkashi, Afghanistan's wild national game, has just begun.

Bleak Camp Bastion - and a Vision of Roses and Saffron
Earlier, Tony Blair - and the rest of the parliamentary lobby - had flown into Camp Bastion, the British headquarters in Helmand province in the south of Afghanistan, the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting involving British troops since the second world war.

Blair Urged to Change Course in Afghanistan
Pakistani president says military force not enough - Security tight for PM's visit to war-torn country

Musharraf Urges New Approach in Afghanistan
Blair told to aid neglected Afghan economy · British fear counter-attack by Taliban in Helmand

Nato Soldier Killed in Southern Afghanistan
A soldier was killed and another two wounded when an explosive device struck a Nato patrol vehicle in southern Afghanistan, officials said today.

Italian Reporter's Abductors Increase Demands
An Italian journalist's Afghan captors added to their demand for the handover of a Christian convert today with an ultimatum for Rome to withdraw its troops from their country.

British Soldier Killed in Helmand Suicide Attack
A British soldier was killed in Afghanistan's Helmand province today in a suicide bombing that also killed two children and injured other troops and civilians.

Soldier Killed in Suicide Bombing of Afghanistan Patrol
· Another marine hurt as two children die in attack · MoD defends use of lightly armoured Land Rovers

There is Never Going to Be a Nato Victory in Afghanistan
The military option is going nowhere. The way forward is to emulate Pakistan by withdrawing troops and making deals. By Jonathan Steele

British Soldiers Hurt in Afghan Suicide Attack
At least one civilian was killed today and several British soldiers injured in a reported suicide attack in Lashkar Gah, southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers Hurt in Afghan Suicide Attack
A number of British soldiers in Afghanistan were injured today, and at least one civilian was killed in a reported suicide attack in Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern province of Helmand, the scene of recent heavy fighting.

New Fears for Kidnapped Italian
Fears grew yesterday for a kidnapped Italian journalist after his captors demanded the return to Afghanistan of a Christian convert who was given refuge in Italy.

Demands Made of Release of Kidnapped Photographer
The kidnappers of an Italian photojournalist have demanded Italy handover an Afghan who converted to Christianity from Islam, according to reports. By Julia Day.

Para Chief Reveals Afghan Supply Woes
British paratroopers fighting the Taliban in southern Afghanistan have been close to running out of rations and supplies, their commanding officer said today.

Afghan Gunmen Kidnap Journalist
An Italian photojournalist working alone in the lawless Taliban stronghold of southern Afghanistan has been kidnapped by gunmen who have accused him of being a spy.

Diary
Freedom of Information Request of the Week: how much has the MoD spent on sweets for Afghan and Iraqi children, of what type, and in what quantity have they been dished out? Now that's what we call a question. By Jon Henley

British Soldiers Prepare for Tough Afghan Winter
· Whitehall says Taliban will keep on fighting · UK general takes over expanded Nato force

Nato Takes Over Afghan Security
Nato has taken command of security across all of Afghanistan, with the international force today assuming control of US troops in the east.

After the Fighting, a Battle for Hope
Nato's anti-Taliban offensive in southern Afghanistan is entering its mopping up phase.

Officers Warn About Plight of British Troops
· Frontline messages tell of Afghanistan casualty rate · Army let down by 'utterly useless' RAF

Officers Warn of British Troops' Plight
· Frontline messages tell of Afghanistan casualty rate · Forces 'need helicopters and reinforcements'

Ministry Accused Over Afghan Casualty Figures
· Major says soldiers' injuries are not reported · Remarks removed from regimental website

Nato to Bolster Afghan Force
Several European countries have agreed to provide the additional 2,000 troops needed in Afghanistan, the alliance's most senior commander, General James Jones has said.

Browne Fears Deeper Afghan Conflict
Des Browne, the defence secretary, warned yesterday that the violence in southern Afghanistan, where British and other Nato troops are engaged in fierce fighting with the Taliban, could escalate into a deeper and more serious conflict.

Afghanistan Hit By Wave of Suicide Bombings
· Canadian soldiers among 19 killed in three attacks · Taliban launches reply to Nato claims of success

Suicide Bomber Kills Four in Afghanistan
A suspected suicide bomber attacked Canadian soldiers handing out sweets to children in southern Afghanistan today, inflicting multiple casualties, a local official and Nato said.

Blair Tells Nato: Send More Troops to Afghanistan
Tony Blair today called on Nato members to contribute more troops to Afghanistan.

UN Urges Nato Crackdown on Afghan Opium
The UN today called on Nato forces to destroy the booming opium industry in southern Afghanistan, where 3,600 British combat troops are battling a resurgent Taliban.

Nato Rows Over Sending More Troops to Afghanistan
· Alliance's top commander disappointed by response · Germany and France under pressure at meeting

Study Highlights Perils of Afghan Service
International forces in Afghanistan are embroiled in the deadliest military campaign since the Bush administration launched its "war on terror" in 2001, an analysis of casualties revealed today.

Nato's Chief Commander Appeals for More Aid for Afghanistan Fight
Nato's top commander has appealed for helicopters, planes and hundreds of extra troops to reinforce the alliance's Afghan force against the Taliban.

Three British Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers died and 12 were injured in Afghanistan yesterday as clashes with the Taliban continued in Helmand province in the south.

Further British Casualties in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan today, the Ministry of Defence said.

British Military Toll Continues to Rise
Three British soldiers have been killed and two seriously injured in ongoing violence in Afghanistan and Iraq today, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Afghanistan - Questions From Kandahar
Leader: Accidents happen, in peace and war, to civilian and military aircraft alike, and signs are that the loss of an RAF Nimrod over Afghanistan, with 14 fatalities, was indeed just an accident. Still, loss of life on this scale inevitably throws harsh light on to Britain's Afghan deployment.

Loss of 14 British Lives in Afghanistan is the Latest Chapter in Long-running Tragedy
The loss of 14 British lives in Afghanistan is just the latest chapter in a long-running tragedy. By Peter Preston

14 British Troops Die in Afghan Air Crash
· Worst military disaster in war on terror · MoD says tragedy was an accident

Peril British Troops Face in Afghanistan 'was Underplayed'
· MoD admits difficulties of task were not conveyed · Officials say struggle with Taliban still in early days

17 Die in Suicide Bombing at Afghan Market
An apparent suicide bomb ripped through a market in Lashkar Gah, the headquarters of British forces in Helmand, yesterday, killing 17 people and injuring 47.

Afghan Market Blast Kills 17
Several children feared dead after suicide bomber targets crowded market in southern Helmand, killing 17 people and wounding 47.

UK General Warns Over Afghanistan Fighting
Fighting in southern Afghanistan is some of the worst faced by British troops since the Korean war, the head of the international security assistance force in the country said today.

British Troops in Afghanistan 'in Most Intense Conflict in 50 Years'
· Nato commander tells of bloody Helmand battles · UK soldiers withdrawn from dangerous areas

US Defends Opium Policy Despite Afghanistan Violence
America's drug tsar, John Walters, today acknowledged that US allies have voiced doubts about the wisdom of opium eradication in parts of southern Afghanistan where insurgents have killed 10 British troops over the past two months.

Soldier Killed in Afghanistan is Named
A British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan's strife-torn Helmand province yesterday has been named as Private Andrew Cutts of the Colchester-based Royal Logistics Corps.

Car Bomb Kills 21 in Afghanistan
A suicide car bomb tore through a crowded marketplace in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least 21 people on a day which also saw the death of four Nato soldiers in a series of attacks.

Four British Soldiers Killed
Three UK soldiers were killed in Afghanistan today and one in southern Iraq in one of the deadliest single days for British troops since the "war on terror" began.

Three Uk Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
An insurgent attack on a patrol vehicle in southern Afghanistan today killed three British soldiers and seriously wounded a fourth.

Texan Family Loses Two Sons to War in Iraq and Afghanistan
A Texas family is mourning the loss of two of its sons in combat, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan - a personal tragedy embodying the US's difficulties fighting on two fronts against tenacious insurgencies.

Texas Family Loses Sons in Iraq and Afghanistan
A Texas family is mourning the loss of two of its sons in combat, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan - a personal tragedy embodying the US's difficulties fighting on two fronts against tenacious insurgencies.

Back Afghan Opium Legalisation, Tories Urge Cameron
Senior Conservative MPs are urging David Cameron to push for the licensing of legal opium farming in Afghanistan as he pays a surprise visit to the country today, Guardian Unlimited has learned.

Afghanistan Close to Anarchy, Warns General
· Nato commander's view in stark contrast to ministers' · Forces short of equipment and 'running out of time'

Britain Sends Extra Troops to Afghanistan
Hundreds of extra British troops are to be sent to hostile southern Afghanistan, the government has announced.

Government Commits More Troops to Offensive
Infantry from the Royal Irish Regiment will go to Afghanistan to reinforce severely stretched British forces battling Taliban militants, the defence secretary Des Browne is expected to announce today.

An Imploding Dust Bowl
Afghanistan has never been a 'successful' state, and we can't create a new civil society at gunpoint. By Peter Preston

Desert of Death Takes Its Toll on Beleaguered Troops
British forced to give up hearts and minds mission to stay alive in Afghan outpost.

Interview: Des Browne, the Defence Secretary
Des Browne, the defence secretary, is due to announce an expansion of the increasingly controversial British mission in southern Afghanistan to MPs early next week after completing negotiations with the Treasury, he told the Guardian.

Minister Calls for Urgent Reinforcement in Afghanistan
More British troops could be sent to trouble-torn southern Afghanistan after defence secretary Des Browne told parliament today that the government was considering sending in fresh forces "as a matter of urgency".

Bipasha Basu: Afghanis’ kisses made John Abraham sick
Abraham fell ill while filming in Afghanistan for his latest movie, Kabul Express, in which he plays a television journalist covering the war against the Taliban.

Fear of Uk Backlash on Afghan War
Britain's military chiefs believe the public is not ready for the inevitable casualties of renewed fighting with the Taliban.

Distempered Days
Growing Taliban violence, drug-smuggling, corruption and deteriorating foreign relations are eroding Afghan president Hamid Karzai's authority, writes Declan Walsh.

Two British Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
· SBS men die after ambush in Taliban stronghold · 12 insurgents killed by artillery and air strike

We'll Beat You Again, Afghans Warn British
Anti-foreigner sentiment has risen sharply in southern Afghanistan as bloodshed intensifies.

Cricket: Afghan Tour Wields Unlikely Success
Nick Greenslade meets the MCC's two unlikey recruits.

Fear Battles Hope on the Road to Kandahar
British commanders believe they can win the fight to bring democracy and peace to Afghanistan. But the Taliban are on the march again and the drug barons' poppy fields are blooming. In this remarkable dispatch an acclaimed writer travels across the badlands of a country at the crossroads.

Zawahiri Call to Rise Up Against 'infidels'
Al-Qaida stepped up its propaganda war against foreign troops in Afghanistanon today through a fresh video by deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urging Afghans to rise against 'infidel invaders'.

Romanian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Blast
A roadside bomb ripped apart a Romanian tank in Afghanistan today, killing one soldier and wounding four others, military officials and witnesses said.

Civilians Caught in Afghan Crossfire
The villagers of Helmand province are finding themselves trapped between Taliban insurgents and violent government soldiers, reports Declan Walsh from Qalat.

Notebook: Kabul
The people of Kabul are a fun-loving crowd. Most of their leisure activities, dog and cockfighting aside, may seem tame by Western standards but they give the million or so citizens of the Afghan capital as much pleasure as any more risque activities. By Jason Burke

RAF Troops to Help Protect Afghan Airfield Base
More than a hundred extra British troops are to be sent to southern Afghanistan in a sign of concern about the worsening security situation.

Captain is First British Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
· Para died rescuing troops caught in attack on patrol · Fears grow over how long forces will have to stay

Afghan Province to Provide One-third of World's Heroin
· Poppy harvest to double in British-patrolled area · £1.1bn from west since 2001 fails to stop trade

UK Fears Record Afghan Heroin Output
The Afghanistan province being patrolled by British troops will produce at least one third of the world's heroin this year, according to drug experts who are forecasting a harvest that is both a record for the country and embarrassing for the western funded war on narcotics.

Western Alarm at Afghan Plan to Arm Villagers
Western diplomats and disarmament experts reacted with alarm yesterday to Afghan government plans to arm hundreds of southern villagers against resurgent Taliban fighters.

British Soldier Killed After Firefight in Afghanistan
A British soldier was killed during a battle against suspected Taliban forces in the Afghan province of Helmand, the first death in action since UK troops were deployed to the area in May.

UN Report Accuses Afghan Mps of Torture and Massacres
· Publication delayed by fears over former warlords · Diplomats unhappy over police chief appointments

Aid Workers Killed in Afghanistan Shooting
Four aid workers were killed by a gunman riding a motorbike in northern Afghanistan today, officials said.

50 Killed in Afghanistan Air Strike
Around 50 Taliban fighters were killed in a US-led air strike in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province today, military and Afghan officials said.

Kabul Violence Flares After Fatal Us Crash
Anti-US riots have broken out in the Afghan capital, Kabul, following a fatal traffic accident involving a US military convoy today.

Trouble Spots Threaten Perfect Storm of Global Crises - Study
· Defence experts warn of worsening world security · Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan identified as flashpoints

Karzai Orders Inquiry After Us Raid Kills 16
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has ordered an investigation into a US-led air strike on a southern village that killed at least 16 civilians early on Monday.

100 Dead in Afghanistan Air Strike
Almost 100 people have been killed in a US-led air strike in southern Afghanistan, the governor of Kandahar province and military officials said today.

Afghan Air Strike Kills More Than 70
More than 70 people have been killed in a US-led air strike in southern Afghanistan, the governor of the country's Kandahar province said today.

Afghan Asylum Seekers in Court After Hunger Strike
More than 30 Afghan asylum seekers appeared in court yesterday after Dublin police broke up a mass hunger strike inside St Patrick's Cathedral at the weekend.

This is Freedom, Say Courageous Women Risking All for Democracy
Afghanistan's female councillors face deaths threats and resistance from their male counterparts.

100 Dead in Afghan Attacks
More than 100 people were killed today in some of the fiercest violence to erupt in Afghanistan in more than four years.

Harrier Jets to Stay in Afghanistan
The defence secretary, John Reid, announced a u-turn today, confirming that a squadron of RAF Harrier fighter jets will stay in southern Afghanistan to support British troops.

Number of Refugees Drops to Lowest Level for 25 Years
· Report says 25 million displaced in own country · Millions return to African states and Afghanistan

British Troops Wounded in Afghan Blast
Two British soldiers in southern Afghanistan suffered minor injuries today in a reported suicide bombing.

Three British Soldiers Injured By Landmine in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers were injured when their Land Rover drove over a landmine in Helmand province.

Seven Children Killed As Rocket Hits School in Afghanistan
A rocket slammed into a school playground filled with children in a mountainous and violent province of eastern Afghanistan yesterday, killing seven and wounding 34.

Afghanistan
Leader: The intention of ensuring that Afghanistan becomes a working democracy after its terrible years as a failed state is a laudable if ambitious one.

Afghan Drugs Barons Flaunt Their Wealth and Power
International initiatives battle to end immunity for kingpins of the heroin trade.

Freed Christian Convert Offered Asylum in Italy
The Afghan man threatened with death for refusing to renounce his Christian beliefs has been freed from prison, after international pressure on Kabul, and is seeking asylum.

British Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Crash
A British soldier has been killed and three others injured in a traffic accident in Afghanistan, it was reported today.

Masters of an Expanded Universe
Nato's mission to Afghanistan is giving new purpose to the alliance and aiding a country that needs all the help it can get, writes Ian Black.

Afghan Leader's Power Barely Extends Beyond the Capital
Kabul is a showcase for post-Taliban achievements. Beyond Kabul, Mr Karzai's control ranges from minimal to non-existent.

Bush Makes First Visit to Afghanistan
George Bush has arrived in Afghanistan for a five-hour stop ahead of his three-day visit to India, where thousands of protesters rallied before his arrival, shouting "Death to Bush".

Nato Will Be in Afghanistan for Years, Says Military Chief
Afghanistan has huge problems and Nato forces will be there for "years and years", the commander of Canada's expeditionary forces, which have taken a lead role in the hostile south of the country, warned yesterday.

Cartoon Protests Continue in Afghanistan and Indonesia
Protesters against cartoons of the prophet Muhammad today burned Danish and US flags in Afghanistan and Indonesia.

Veterans Called Upon to Serve Again
There are 10 veterans of the 'war on terror' in Iraq and Afghanistan up for election in November's congressional elections, and all but one of them is running as a Democrat.

Borderline Hostility
All might seem harmonious between the Afghan and Pakistani presidents - but the countries' mutual border is a source of tension, says Declan Walsh.

Sectarian Battles Kill 32 in Pakistan and Afghanistan
A major Muslim holy day in Pakistan and Afghanistan prompted sectarian chaos yesterday when a suicide bombing and several bloody riots left at least 32 people dead and scores injured.

Four Killed in Afghanistan Cartoons Protest
Four demonstrators were killed in Afghanistan as violent protests against the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad continued.

Two Killed in Afghanistan Cartoons Protest
Two demonstrators were killed in Afghanistan as violent protests against the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad continued.

13 Killed in Afghanistan Bombing
A suicide bomber blew up a guard post outside a police headquarters in southern Afghanistan today, killing 13 people.

Cartoons 'part of Zionist Plot'
· Iran suspends trade ties with Denmark · One killed in Afghan clashes · Danes advised to leave Indonesia

One Dead, Scores Wounded in Afghan Cartoon Protests
* Danes advised to leave Indonesia as protests spread outside Jakarta * 5,000 demonstrators burn effigies in Peshawar * Australia warns its citizens against Middle East travel

12 Killed in Afghanistan Bombing
A suicide bomber blew up a guard post outside a police headquarters in southern Afghanistan today, killing 12 people.

Afghan Fighting Escalates As Uk Deployment Looms
A roadside bomb killed six Afghan policemen and injured five yesterday, sharpening jitters about the impending British deployment to the increasingly dangerous southern provinces.

Netherlands Votes on Troops for Afghanistan
· Controversial plan seen as crucial to future of Nato · 1,400-strong force would be under UK command

British Troops to Stay in Afghanistan Until at Least 2010
British and other foreign troops will be in Afghanistan until at least the end of 2010, according to a plan agreed at an international conference which began yesterday in London.

Afghan Donors Conference Opens
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, said today that his country has made "great strides towards peace, stability and democracy at the opening of a special donors conference in London.

UK to Deploy 4,150 Extra Troops to Afghanistan
A peak of 5,700 British troops will be deployed in Afghanistan over the coming months, the defence secretary, John Reid, announced today.

Reid to Announce New British Troops for Afghanistan
Months of speculation will end tomorrow when the government reveals how many British troops will make up a major new deployment to Afghanistan, it was confirmed today, with reports claiming 3,500 troops will be sent.

Britain Stages Un Summit in Attempt to Speed Up Reconstruction of Afghanistan
· Announcement comes amid upsurge in violence · Taliban threaten suicide attacks on foreign forces

British Troops May Face Suicide Bombers in Afghan Deployment
Thousands of British troops will be exposed to fresh dangers, including a growing threat from suicide bombers, when they are deployed in southern Afghanistan over the coming months, Ministry of Defence officials said yesterday.

Afghanistan
Leader: Afghanistan deserves our help - more rather than less. But the British public and armed forces deserve clearer explanations of what they are being asked to do and for how long they are likely to be doing it.

20 Dead in Kandahar Suicide Bombing
A suicide bomber on a motorbike killed 20 people and injured at least 20 others today in the Afghan border town of Spin Boldak.

Fighting Shy
Dutch courage is waning as Nato faces a crisis of credibility over its latest Afghan deployment, writes Ian Black.

Simple Ceremony Heralds New Era for Afghanistan
After three decades of coups, chaos and bloodshed Afghanistan's parliament reopened yesterday amid hopes that it will root the nation's fledgling democracy.

Warlords and Women Take Seats in Afghan Parliament
· First session of elected body for three decades · New MPs keen to make progress despite cynicism

Earthquake Hits Afghanistan and Sparks Panic in Kashmir
A strong earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of north-eastern Afghanistan late last night, rattling through northern Pakistan and Kashmir, both of which were devastated by another quake two months ago. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries following the earthquake, which happened just before 3am local time.

'Shades of Srebrenica' Overshadow Nato's Mission in Afghanistan
· Dutch insist troops must not be stranded again · Peacekeepers to free up US forces from next May.

No Quick Afghan Exit
The European Union has allocated €1bn (£680m) to Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion.

Troops Await Afghan Order
Camp Bastion is to be "home" for up to 2,000 British troops deploying to south Afghanistan next spring.

UK Tries to Form Coalition to Fight in Afghanistan
British troops to target al-Qaida, Taliban and fill gap left by US withdrawal.

Britain Isolated Over Role in Afghanistan
· Allies reluctant to get involved in war on terror · Tribal feuds and opium trade hinder peacekeeping

Soldier Killed in Ambush in Afghanistan is Named
A British soldier killed in northern Afghanistan was named yesterday as Lance Corporal Steven Sherwood, 23, from Ross-on-Wye, of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry.

British Soldier Killed As Afghan Tensions Rise
A British soldier was killed and five others injured during a gunfight in Afghanistan yesterday, the culmination of a week of bloodshed which has rocked the country as it awaits the results of elections.

British customs officials hurt in Kandahar suicide attack
Four British customs officials were hurt, two of them seriously, in a suicide attack in south-western Afghanistan yesterday.

Reid in Afghanistan for Karzai Talks
The defence secretary, John Reid, today arrived in Afghanistan to hold talks with the country's president and visit British troops.

Afghan Kidnap Suspect Arrested
The "mastermind" behind the gang who kidnapped an Italian aid worker in Afghanistan has been arrested, officials in Kabul said today.

No Avoiding the Rough As Golf Returns to Afghanistan
Enthusiasts defy unusual hazards to stage first charity classic at reopened club.

Let's start afresh
Democracy returns in Afghanistan but survival still remains a tenuous negotiation for the citizens.

Democratic Disillusionment
The low turnout for Afghanistan's parliamentary elections has given Hamid Karzai plenty of reasons to worry, says Declan Walsh.

Warriors of Bloody Afghan Past Fight for Votes
Communists, warlords and former Taliban join in democratic election.

Young and female - a brave new face of Afghan politics
Among the stony-faced mugshots on posters plastered across election-crazed Kabul, one stands out. At first glance it looks like an ad for a Bollywood blockbuster: a close-up of a pretty young woman with an alluring smile against a canary yellow background.

Nato Prepares for Afghan Deployment of Uk Troops
John Reid will tomorrow meet his fellow Nato defence ministers in a Berlin hotel to prepare the ground for the biggest deployment of British troops since the invasion of Iraq.

UK Under Pressure to Stem Afghan Opium Growth
The home secretary, Charles Clarke, and EU interior ministers were today grappling with how to stop the flood of narcotics from Afghanistan, increasingly a responsibility of the UK. The UK is under pressure from EU countries to take a lead role in the fight against heroin production in...

Afghan Gunmen Kidnap Briton in Roadside Ambush
Gunmen kidnapped a Briton and his Afghan interpreter in a roadside ambush that killed three policemen in western Afghanistan yesterday.

Britain may be left to hold the fort in Afghanistan
Parliamentary elections this September in Afghanistan are intended to provide the next showcase moment for the US-led "global war on terror". But according to new independent assessments, security surrounding the polls is threatened by a new wave of insurgent attacks and the stability of the country remains on a knife-edge.

Democracy Was Only an Afterthought
The situation in Afghanistan is one of barely managed chaos. Sidney Blumenthal

UK Court Convicts Afghan Warlord
Zardad found guilty of torture after landmark Old Bailey retrial.

Australia to Send Troops to Afghanistan
Australia is to send 150 troops into Afghanistan to fight the insurgency threatening to derail parliamentary elections due to take place in September, it was announced today.

Navy Seal's body found after failed Afghan mission
The body of a US Navy Seal commando has been located in eastern Afghanistan, bringing to an end an ill-fated mission that has cost the lives of 19 special forces troops and at least 17 civilians in the rugged and inhospitable mountain region that straddles the border with Pakistan.

UK Seeks to Free Troops for Afghanistan
Military commanders are making plans for a major cutback in the number of British forces in Iraq as they prepare to take over responsibility for security in Afghanistan which, they say, the US wants to leave as soon as possible.

US Bombing Kills Afghan Villagers As Search Continues for Soldiers
A second American soldier stranded in Afghanistan was close to safety yesterday as his superiors admitted that civilians died in a "precision" US bombing raid.

US Soldier Rescued After Big Losses in Afghanistan
An American special forces soldier stranded for six days in Taliban territory was rescued yesterday in the only good news from a disastrous mission that cost the US its greatest combat loss in Afghanistan since 2001.

Kabul Police Chief Dies in Mosque Bombing
Afghan authorities blamed al-Qaida for a suicide bombing at a Kandahar mosque yesterday that killed 20 people, including the Kabul police chief.

The Forgotten Occupation: Karzai's Rude Awakening
The recent visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is a reminder that we have broken our promise not to forget the plight of his conquered and occupied nation. It is also a fresh reminder that our media have failed to fulfill their promise to American democracy.

Karzai Accused of Being Soft on Opium Trade
US officials embarrassed the Afghan president on the eve of his meeting with George Bush by leaking the contents of a memo that said he was "unwilling to assert strong leadership" in the country's war against heroin production.

Report Implicates Top Brass in Bagram Scandal
A leaked report on a military investigation into two killings of detainees at a US prison in Afghanistan has produced new evidence of connivance of senior officers in systematic prisoner abuse.

'We Are a Joyous People'
Nawroz celebrations reveal a fragile optimism otherwise hidden beneath the grind of daily life in Afghanistan, writes Declan Walsh.

Three Die in Anti-us Protests
Police clashed with anti-US demonstrators in two Afghan towns yesterday, killing at least three people, as protests spread across the country over the reported abuse of the Qur'an at the US jail in Guantánamo Bay.

Anti-US Afghan Protests Intensify
Police clashed with anti-US demonstrators in two Afghan towns yesterday, killing at least three people, as protests spread across the country over the reported abuse of the Qur'an at the US jail in Guantánamo Bay.

Four Dead After Anti-american Riots Erupt in Afghanistan
At least four people were killed and dozens injured in a riot in eastern Afghanistan yesterday after police fired on demonstrators protesting about reports that the Qur'an had been desecrated by US soldiers in Guantanamo Bay.

Death ends feud of Kabul's last Jews
For Years Afghanistan's last two Jews carried on a bitter feud. From the Taliban tyranny to the American occupation, Ishaq Levin and Zablon Simintov squabbled and plotted against one another in Kabul's Flower Street synagogue.

Afghanistan Names First Female Governor
Ex-minister takes on region that is in some ways one of the world's worst places to be female.

Asia 16 Killed in Us Chinook Crash
A US military helicopter crashed in the south-eastern Afghan desert yesterday, killing at least 16 people: the worst accident of its kind suffered by the Americans since the Afghan war began in 2001.

16 Killed in Us Chinook Crash
A US military helicopter crashed in the south-eastern Afghan desert yesterday, killing at least 16 people: the worst accident of its kind suffered by the Americans since the Afghan war began in 2001.

Afghan Government Accuses Aid Agencies of Wasting Cash
A simmering row between the Afghan government and western aid agencies exploded into the open yesterday with accusations that non-governmental organisations have squandered billions of pounds earmarked for reconstruction.

World Watch
Ian Black: It is heartening to read a book that uses all the tricks of the journalistic trade - and provides a stunningly de