SWITCH: Mobile | ePaper | Subscribe

Homes Rentals Jobs Autos Contests

Kabul

By Mirwais Harooni (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned photographs of U.S. soldiers posing with the mangled bodies of Afghan insurgent bombers as "inhuman" on Thursday, calling for a rapid transition from NATO to Afghan security to prevent more such incidents.

Afghans revolted by U.S. troops posing with dead suicide bombers (Graphic photo)

Hashmat Baktash, Laura King Los Angeles Times

Last updated Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 10:43am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Photos showing American servicemen posing for mocking trophy shots with the bodies of Afghan suicide bombers drew expressions of revulsion from Afghans after the pictures' publication Wednesday in the Los Angeles Times.

Initial public reaction was muted, however, in part because many ordinary Afghans, especially those living in rural parts of the country, do not have access to the Internet to view the images. The country's main evening news broadcasts did not show the photos.

Afghanistan, Afghans, Corpses, Photos, Suicide bomber, Terrorism, U.S. Army, International Read more Comments

Afghans transport a boy injured in a bomb blast at the hospital in New Baghlan north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, April 2, 2012. The governor in the northern Baghlan province says twin bomb blasts in the city of New Baghlan on Monday wounded several people, including eight police officers. Governor Abdul Majid said the bombs exploded near a market selling computer equipment. (AP Photo/Javid Basharat)

3 GIs, others killed in Afghan bomb blast

Amir Shah, Patrick Quinn The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 11:59am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed at least 10 people, including three American soldiers, at a park in a relatively peaceful area of northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, part of an increase in violence at the start of the spring fighting season.

Afghanistan, Bombing, Suicide bomber, Taliban, Terrorism, International Read more Comments

n this March 26, 2012, photo, Marine Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan listens during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington. U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan have assigned "guardian angels" — troops that watch over their comrades even as they sleep — and have ordered a series of other increased security measures to protect troops against possible attacks by rogue Afghans. The added protections are part of a directive issued in recent weeks by Allen to guard against insider threats, according to a senior military official. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Afghan policeman shoots to death 9 fellow officers

Amir Shah The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, March 30, 2012 - 2:13pm

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan policeman shot to death nine of his fellow officers as they slept in a village in an eastern Taliban stronghold on Friday, police said, blaming the attack on the insurgents.

Afghanistan shooting, NATO, Taliban, Terrorism, International Read more Comments

An Afghan policemen looks at the wreckage from a crashed Turkish helicopter on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March 16, 2012. A Turkish military helicopter crashed into a house near the Afghan capital Friday, killing several Turkish soldiers on board and young girls on the ground, Turkish and Afghan officials said. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

Turkish helicopter crashes in Afghanistan; 14 dead

Rahim Faiez, Suzan Fraser The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, March 16, 2012 - 9:57am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A Turkish military helicopter crashed into a house near the Afghan capital Friday, killing 12 Turkish soldiers on board and two girls on the ground, Turkish and Afghan officials said.

Afghanistan, Helicopter crash, NATO, International Read more Comments

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks during a news conference at the Kabul, Afghanistan airport, Thursday, March 15, 2012, before departing for the United Arab Emirates. Panetta visited with troops and met with President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan officials during his two-day visit to the country. (AP Photo/Scott Olson, Pool)

Afghans angry over removal of accused US soldier

Amir Shah, Sebastian Abbot The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, March 15, 2012 - 10:33am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan lawmakers expressed anger Thursday over the U.S. move to fly an American soldier accused of killing 16 civilians out of the country to Kuwait, saying Kabul shouldn't sign a strategic partnership agreement with Washington unless the suspect faces justice in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, Afghanistan shooting, Shooting spree, International Read more Comments

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta greets Afghan soldiers following a town hall meeting with coalition forces, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Panetta is also scheduled to meet with troops and with President Karzai during his two-day visit to Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Scott Olson, Pool)

Roadside bomb in Afghanistan kills 8

Laura King Los Angeles Times

Last updated Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - 2:11pm

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A powerful roadside bomb incinerated a minivan in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province Wednesday, killing eight civilians on a day when U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was paying an unannounced visit.

Afghanistan, Bombing, Roadside Bomb, Taliban, Terrorism, International Read more Comments

In this Sunday, March 11, 2012 photo, Afghan Army soldiers stand guard as a crowd gathers outside a military base in Panjwai, Kandahar province south of Kabul, Afghanistan. An Afghan youth recounted on Monday the terrifying scene in his home as a lone U.S. soldier moved stealthily through it during a killing spree, then crouched down and shot his father in the thigh as he stepped out of the bedroom. The soldier, now in U.S. custody, is accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in their homes in the middle of the night between Saturday and Sunday and then burning some of their corpses. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said nine of those killed were children and three were women.(AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)

Taliban vow revenge for Afghans killed by American

Sebastian Abbott The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, March 12, 2012 - 10:32am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Taliban vowed revenge Monday for an "inhumane attack" in which an American soldier allegedly shot to death 16 civilians in southern Afghanistan and torched their bodies -- an assault that has fueled anger still simmering after U.S. troops burned Qurans last month.

Afghanistan, Gunman, Quran burning, Shooting spree, Taliban, Terrorism, International, Military Read more Comments

Afghan policemen collect body parts after one civilian was killed and 11 people wounded when a man blew himself up at a police checkpoint in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 5, 2012. Afghan police say a suicide bomber has killed as well at least two civilians and wounded four others in an attack near an American military base outside of Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

6 British troops killed in massive Afghan blast

Laura King The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 10:29am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Six British troops were missing and presumed dead after a massive blast destroyed their tank-like armored vehicle in Helmand province, British and coalition military officials said Wednesday. It would be the largest loss of British military lives in a single incident in Afghanistan in nearly three years.

Bomb blast, Bombing, NATO, Terrorism, International Read more Comments

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2008 file photo a soldier with the German Army, right, trains Afghan National Police during a drill in the German army camp in Feyzabad, northern Afghanistan. "Shoulder to shoulder" is the mantra of the NATO-Afghan military partnership. Now, after Afghan soldiers and police turned their guns on their foreign partners during outrage over the Quran burnings, even Western advisers - not just combat troops - are looking over their shoulders. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

Western advisers don't trust Afghans anymore

Deb Riechmann The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 10:12am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- "Shoulder to shoulder" is the mantra of the NATO-Afghan military partnership. Now, after Afghan soldiers and police turned their guns on their foreign partners during outrage over the Quran burnings, even Western advisers -- not just combat troops -- are looking over their shoulders.

The deepening distrust is jeopardizing the U.S.-led coalition's strategy of training Afghan security forces and helping government workers so that international troops can go home.

Afghanistan, NATO, Taliban, Terrorism, International Read more Comments

Gunman kills 2 Americans inside Afghan ministry

Amir Shah, Rahim Faiez The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 8:20am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Two U.S. service members were shot dead Saturday by another Westerner inside the Afghan Interior Ministry, officials said.

Afghanistan, Gunman, Protests, Quran burning, Shooting, Terrorism, International Read more Comments

Afghans shout slogans during anti-US protest over burning of Qurans at a military bass in Afghanistan, in Ghani Khail, east of Kabul Friday, Feb. 24,2012. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

General calms troops after 2 soldiers killed in riots over Quran burning

Amir Shah, Patrick Quinn The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, February 24, 2012 - 10:57am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has told his troops that "now is not the time for revenge" for the deaths of two U.S. soldiers killed in riots over the burning of Qurans at an American base.

Afghanistan, Quran, Quran burning, Riots, U.S. Army, International Read more Comments

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 file photo, an Afghan woman, center, peeks inside a hospital while she and others wait for an employee to let them enter, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. An Afghan woman has been strangled to death, apparently by her husband, who was upset that she gave birth to a second daughter rather than the son he wanted, police said Monday. It was the latest in a series of grisly examples of subjugation of women that have made headlines in Afghanistan in the past few months including a 15-year-old tortured and forced into prostitution by in-laws and a female rape victim who was imprisoned for adultery. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen, File)

Afghan woman strangled for bearing girl

Amir Shah The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, January 30, 2012 - 11:08am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan woman has been strangled death, apparently by her husband, who was upset that she gave birth to a second daughter rather than the son he had hoped for, police said Monday.

Murder, Afghanistan, Domestic violence, Strangulation, International Read more Comments

Afghan policemen are seen at the scene of Tuesday's night explosion in Kandahar, south of Kabul, Afghanistan Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Officials say three explosions in a day have killed 13 people in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)

8 NATO troops die in 24 hours in Afghanistan

Laura King Los Angeles Times

Last updated Friday, January 6, 2012 - 10:43am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Eight members of the NATO force were killed in southern Afghanistan in a 24-hour period ending Friday, Western military officials said.

Afghanistan, Bombing, NATO, International Read more Comments

In this Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 file photo, 15-year-old Sahar Gul, is carried into hospital in Baghlan north of Kabul, Afghanistan. According to officials in northeastern Baghlan province, Gul's in-laws kept her in a basement for six months, ripped her fingernails out, tortured her with hot irons and broke her fingers _ all in an attempt to force her into prostitution. Police freed her last week after her uncle called authorities. Horrific images of Sahar, bruised and bloodied, captured on video, transfixed Afghanistan and set off a storm of condemnation. President Hamid Karzai set up a commission to investigate, and his health minister visited her bedside at a Kabul hospital. The in-laws have been arrested _ they deny abusing her _ and a warrant has been issued for her husband, who serves in the Afghan army. (AP Photo/Jawed Basharat, File)

Horrific bride abuse causes outcry in Afghanistan

Kay Johnson The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, January 5, 2012 - 10:53am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Just 15 years old, Sahar Gul has become the bruised and bloodied face of women's rights in Afghanistan. The teenage bride's eyes were swollen nearly shut as she was wheeled into the hospital seven months after her arranged marriage. Black scabs crusted her fingertips where her nails used to be.

According to officials in northeastern Baghlan province, Gul's in-laws kept her in a basement for six months, ripped her fingernails out, tortured her with hot irons and broke her fingers -- all in an attempt to force her into prostitution. Police freed her after her uncle called authorities.

Afghanistan, Women's rights, International Read more Comments

An Afghan man is comforted by relatives outside of a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. A suicide bomber struck a crowd of Shiite worshippers marking a holy day Tuesday in the Afghan capital as scores of people were killed in an unprecedented wave of violence against the minority Islamic sect in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Ahmad Jamshid)

Suicide attacks on Afghan Shiites kill 60

Amir Shah, Rahim Faiez The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - 10:47am

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A suicide bomber struck a crowd of Shiite worshippers at a mosque in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least 55 people in the deadliest of two attacks on a Shiite holy day -- the first major sectarian assaults since the fall of the Taliban a decade ago.

Bombings, Religion, Sectarian violence, Shiites, Suicide bomber, Taliban, Terrorism, International Read more Comments