Special
invitation: Join the New America Foundation today
at 11am for a discussion about counterinsurgency in Afghanistan from a
British perspective, featuring lead British spokesman on Afghan
operations, Maj. Gen. Gordon Messenger (NAF).
Talks about talks
After
yesterday's meeting between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a small
delegation representing Hezb-i-Islami, Afghanistan's second-largest
insurgent group, the country's biggest insurgent movement -- the Taliban
-- promptly denied any involvement in peace talks, while the U.S.
expressed cautious support for the contact between Karzai and Gulbuddin
Hekmatyar's faction (WSJ, NYT, Wash Post, Reuters, Pajhwok, Times). The Hezb-i-Islami delegation, which is
reportedly also seeking meetings with U.S. officials, included
Hekmatyar's son-in-law and deputy, though the details of the discussions
are unknown.
The LA Times reports that since the advent of top
U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal's focus
on decreasing civilian casualties there, debriefings after combat
missions have zeroed in on whether the pilots were certain no civilians
were endangered before dropping bombs or launching missiles (LAT). One pilot commented, "Where once we would use
five bombs, now we will use one."
The nuclear option for Pakistan
The Journal's big
story today reports that ahead of a delegation of Pakistani officials'
visits to Washington this week, Pakistan sent a painstakingly negotiated
56-page document requesting expanded economic and military aid from the
U.S. in return for what some officials believe is an implicit offer to
continue cracking down on the Afghan Taliban (WSJ). The two countries are set to hold a
"strategic dialogue" tomorrow, but some senior U.S. military officials
are cautious: "Anybody who expects straight linear progress out of a
strategic dialogue between these two nations is really kind of naïve.
What it will be is a step forward and then we'll see where they go with
it." Dawn and Reuters have more details on who is meeting who and where (Dawn, Reuters, BBC).
A possible civilian nuclear deal for Pakistan is reportedly on
the agenda for the talks this week, as Pakistan "bristles with
indignation" that India received a deal several years ago while it has
not (Guardian). And the godfather of Pakistan's nuclear
program, A. Q. Khan, may soon be back in court, as the Pakistani
government has filed an application to re-investigate the disgraced
scientist's involvement in proliferation in Iran and Iraq (Wash Post, Independent, BBC,
AJE).
Two "highly experienced" Taliban
militants were arrested recently in Rawalpindi while allegedly planning
to attack the Serena Hotel and the French Club restaurant, sites
frequently visited by foreign diplomats and staff (Reuters, CNN, AP). The two men are accused of ties with Pakistan's
most wanted trainer of suicide bombers, Qari Hussein, and one claimed
he was involved in the attacks on the U.N.'s World Food Program offices
and on Pakistan's Naval Complex in Islamabad last year. Meanwhile, the
Daily Times reports that yet another "key Taliban commander" has been
killed in the country's northwestern Swat Valley, which Reuters assesses
is still subject to a possible Taliban resurgence (Daily Times, Reuters).
Protecting
the homeland
The British government released a trio of
reports yesterday warning that the U.K. faces an increased threat from
al-Qaeda linked militants following a rise in the trafficking of
radiological material (Tel, Tel, CONTEST, National
Security Strategy). The British government's counterterrorism
strategy states, "Contemporary terrorist organizations aspire to use
chemical, biological, radiological and even nuclear weapons" and warns
that smuggling and theft "make this aspiration more realistic than it
may have been in the recent past."
Cutting a rug
A week-long exhibition of hand-made
carpets and handicrafts is currently underway in Mazar-e-Sharif to
celebrate Afghanistan's new year (Pajhwok). Carpet weavers in the north of Afghanistan
are reportedly incorporating white and blue into their traditionally
dark red rugs.
Sign up here to receive the daily brief in your
inbox. Follow the AfPak Channel on Twitter and Facebook.
(2)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE