DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: ISAF Condemns 'Despicable' Suicide-Bomber Attack

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 14, 2012: The International Security Assistance Force condemned today's "senseless and cowardly" suicide-bomber attack at a wedding in Afghanistan's northern Samangan province that killed at least 19 people, including a member of the country's parliament, and wounded more than 43 others, military officials reported.

A suicide attacker blew himself up at the entrance to a wedding hall in Aybak, the province's capital, officials said, noting the blast killed at least 19 people and wounded more than 43 others.

Ahmad Khan Samangani, a member of the Afghan parliament; Mohammad Khan, the provincial director of the National Directorate of Security; and Lt. Gen. Said Ahmad Samse were among those killed in the attack, officials said.

Regional Command-North is providing medical and surgical assistance to the injured, according to a RC-North news release issued today.

The International Security Assistance Force stated in a release issued today that it "strongly condemns this senseless and cowardly act of insurgent terror that resulted in the murder of innocent civilians. These despicable acts continue to disrupt peace and demonstrate an utter lack of respect for Afghan lives."

"Once again the Taliban have murdered Afghans in cold blood with complete disregard for innocent life or to the sanctity of a wedding," ISAF commander Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen stated in the release. "Their depravity clearly knows no bounds. The disgust of the Afghan people for these criminals only continues to grow.

"ISAF continues to stand with the noble people of Afghanistan and we offer our assistance in solving this crime," Allen continued. "I offer my sincerest condolences and prayers to the family and friends who are suffering from the loss of their loved ones."

ISAF "remains committed to stopping acts of terror together with Afghan National Security Forces in order to build a secure environment that promotes lasting peace and a secure way of life for the Afghan people," the command's release said.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/07/dtn-news-afghan-war-news-isaf-condemns.html

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: U.S.-Pakistan Military Negotiations ‘Very Positive’ According Gen. John R. Allen

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: U.S.-Pakistan Military Negotiations ‘Very Positive’ According Gen. John R. Allen

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 23, 2012: Military-to-military talks between the U.S. and Pakistan, which recently resumed after a lapse, are going well, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan said today.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, International Security Assistance Force commander, acknowledged during a Pentagon press briefing that the issue of reopening Pakistani ground supply routes to NATO is still unresolved. Pakistan closed the routes after a late-November 2011 cross-border attack by NATO forces near a border coordination center in Afghanistan’s Kunar province accidently killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

“I have recently led a team to Islamabad to renew our conversation with the Pakistani military,” Allen said, noting the participants had “a very positive conversation about taking steps and measures necessary to prevent a recurrence of the events of 25 and 26 November.”

He said Lt. Gen. Shir Mohammad Karimi, general staff chief of operations for the Afghan National Army, also traveled to Islamabad for the two-day military talks with Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Pakistani army chief of staff.

“We committed ourselves to recurring meetings … with the idea of creating a constructive long-term relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Allen said.

Allen noted Pakistan has many challenges along its border with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s forces are also fighting an insurgency, he said, and they have taken more casualties in the last two years than the U.S. has in 10 years of combat in Afghanistan.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/05/dtn-news-afghan-war-news-us-pakistan.html