Saturday, December 24, 2011

Afghanistan From West To East

And back again:

"Afghan car bomb targets police-friendly merchant" September 28, 2011|By Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times

KABUL - A bombing of a minibus that killed 11 children and five adults headed to an engagement party in western Afghanistan appeared to be a reminder of how long the country has been locked in conflict.

The bomb was probably an old piece of ordnance left over from the Soviet occupation or the civil war that followed, said a spokesman for the provincial governor who noted that the bomb was planted off the road and in a place that is never traveled by NATO or Afghan security forces. He described the explosive as an antitank land mine....

Meanwhile, a suicide car bomber in southern Afghanistan took aim at a local merchant who sold his goods - cooking oil, bread, and wood - to the local police, exploding a car in front of his grocery and bakery, killing a father and son yesterday. The clear message was to discourage anyone who dared to do business, much less work for, the Afghan security forces....

The explosion in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, comes several months after the city’s security was handed over to Afghan forces. Several elders said they felt security had deteriorated since then....

Message: AmeriKa can't leave.

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And the West was considered the peaceful part of the country.

"Yesterday, the Afghan Interior Ministry said five civilians died in twin explosions in the Dangam district of Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.

A civilian vehicle struck a roadside bomb, shortly followed by another blast that hit passers-by running to the scene to help. Two people were wounded, the ministry said.

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"7 die in Afghan insurgent attack; Company near NATO post hit" November 04, 2011|By Ray Rivera and Sharifullah Sahak, New York Times

KABUL - Insurgents attacked a logistics company that works with NATO in the western city of Herat yesterday, igniting a three-hour gun battle that left two Afghan security guards and five insurgents dead, local officials said.

Afghan and coalition forces evacuated 31 civilians from the compound during the attack, which took place about a half-mile from NATO’s regional headquarters in Herat Province, said Sergeant Juan Ardura Santa Engracia, a spokesman for the regional NATO command....

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