Afghan President, U.S. Clash Over Anti-Corruption Force

Afghan President, U.S. Clash Over Anti-Corruption Force

Karzai, U.S. clash over anti-corruption force. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into the Afghan Major Crimes Task Force, which is nominally under Afghan control but strongly influenced by American and British "mentors," after the force arrested one of Karzai's senior aides in a nighttime raid. Karzai says the task force may be violating Afghan law by using wiretaps to gather evidence, and reportedly interprets the raid as an affront by NATO on his authority. [WSJ]

Ethnic violence in Karachi leaves 47 dead. Most of those killed were ethnic Pashtuns, who have migrated to the city in large numbers in recent years to escape violence in northwest Pakistan. The riots were triggered by the assassination of Raza Haider, the leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which opposes Pashtun migration into Karachi, which it says will "Talibanize" the city. MQM supporters have clashed violently with pro-Pashtun political movements several times over the past few months. [NYT]

Ahmed Rashid: Don't cut ties with Pakistan now. NATO pressure is changing Pakistan's outlook on the West and Afghanistan, argues journalist Ahmed Rashid. The Pakistan army is "seriously going after the Pakistan Taliban for the first time since their eruption six years ago." Furthermore, Afghanistan-Pakistan diplomatic ties, bolstered by a new trade agreement and frequent visits by senior officials of both countries to each other's capitals, are stronger now than at any time in recent memory. But if the West cuts aid to Pakistan, Rashid says, this progress will be placed in danger, and Pakistan could drift even further toward the Taliban. [BBC]

Petraeus directive seeks to avoid civilian casualties. Under a new tactical directive issued today by Gen. David Petraeus, coalition troops in Afghanistan cannot use force if civilians are present, except in cases of self-defense. The directive is very similar to that issued by Petraeus's predecessor as NATO force commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal; many observers had expected Petraeus to give troops more leeway to engage insurgents. [AFP]

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot