Friday, January 14, 2011
Mullen predicts more violence in Afghanistan in 2011
From The Hindu
The United States needs to prepare itself for “more violence and more casualties in coming months,” in Afghanistan, according to Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who also predicted that “The violence will be worse in 2011 than it was in 2010.”
Speaking to journalists at the State Department’s Foreign Press Centre on Wednesday Admiral Mullen said that while the prognosis for even more bloodshed in Afghanistan may be difficult to accept, the longer-term solution would require the U.S. to support an Afghan political process that would include reconciliation with those Taliban fighters who broke off with al Qaeda, renounced violence and accepted the Afghan constitution.
Emphasising a political solution over a military one to the region’s problems, the Admiral argued that U.S. forces remained committed to beginning a “conditions-based withdrawal of American forces in July of 2011 with a goal endorsed by NATO in the Lisbon Summit of being able to fully transition security responsibilities to Afghan forces by 2014.”
He reaffirmed public statements made by Obama administration officials earlier, suggesting that the U.S.’ military presence would diminish in the country from that point onwards even though the task of ensuring that it was supplanted by sufficient Afghan governance capacity continued to remain “severe.”
The Admiral further underscored the importance of action by Pakistan to shut down terrorist safe havens along the Durand Line, saying, “It is absolutely critical that the safe havens in Pakistan get shut down. We cannot succeed in Afghanistan without that.”
Touching upon recent meetings with his counterpart in Pakistan General Ashfaq Kayani, Admiral Mullen said, “He has evolved his military against this threat. This threat is evolving as well, because it’s not just Haqqani Network anymore, or al Qaeda, or Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, or Lashkar-e-Taiba, it is all of them working together in ways that two years ago they absolutely did not.”
Pressing the point that “Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism in the world right now,” he said that neighbouring countries in the region, including Russia, Iran and India, “all have responsibility and we all want to see this resolved as rapidly as possible.”
Labels: Afghanistan, Mike Mullen, violence
Friday, March 05, 2010
Holbrooke regrets remarks on Kabul attack
From The Hindu
Richard Holbrooke, the United States’ Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has apologised for any misunderstandings arising from remarks he made here on Tuesday, suggesting that Indians were not targeted in the February 26 suicide attacks in Kabul.
In a statement here Mr. Holbrooke said, “I regret any misunderstanding caused by my comments on the recent terrorist attack in Kabul, which claimed the lives of 6 Indians and at least ten citizens of other nations”. He went on to clarify that he did not say Indians were not targeted, but that initially it appeared that the target was not an “official” Indian facility.
In the coordinated suicide attacks at two hotels in Kabul up to nine Indians were killed, including two senior Army officers. One attack site was the Park Residence Hotel, regularly used by Indian embassy for its staff and Indians engaged in development work in Afghanistan.
Following the attacks Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna had said, “These barbaric attacks are a matter of deep concern and are clearly aimed against the people of India and the people of Afghanistan”. He said that this was the work of those who were desperate to undermine the friendship between India and Afghanistan.
Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, following Mr. Holbrooke’s comments, senior officials in New Delhi had said, the comments were “absolutely incorrect” and ignored the fact that the terrorists' primary target was a building used by the Indian medical mission.
Earlier this week in Washington Mr. Holbrooke caused a furore when he said, “I don’t accept the fact that this was an attack on an Indian facility like the embassy. There were foreigners, non-Indian foreigners hurt. It was a soft target. And let’s not jump to conclusions”. He further said, “Let’s not draw a conclusion for which there’s no proof”.
Yesterday however he withdrew his statements saying, “We all know that Indian citizens have and continue to be targeted by terrorists, including inside Afghanistan. My heart goes out to the families of all of the victims”. Mr. Holbrooke added that both the Afghan people and international community deeply appreciated the substantial humanitarian and reconstruction assistance that India was providing to Afghanistan.
The willingness of India to take risks and make sacrifices to help Afghanistan was a vital part of the international commitment to Afghanistan's future, Mr. Holbrooke clarified.
Richard Holbrooke, the United States’ Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has apologised for any misunderstandings arising from remarks he made here on Tuesday, suggesting that Indians were not targeted in the February 26 suicide attacks in Kabul.
In a statement here Mr. Holbrooke said, “I regret any misunderstanding caused by my comments on the recent terrorist attack in Kabul, which claimed the lives of 6 Indians and at least ten citizens of other nations”. He went on to clarify that he did not say Indians were not targeted, but that initially it appeared that the target was not an “official” Indian facility.
In the coordinated suicide attacks at two hotels in Kabul up to nine Indians were killed, including two senior Army officers. One attack site was the Park Residence Hotel, regularly used by Indian embassy for its staff and Indians engaged in development work in Afghanistan.
Following the attacks Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna had said, “These barbaric attacks are a matter of deep concern and are clearly aimed against the people of India and the people of Afghanistan”. He said that this was the work of those who were desperate to undermine the friendship between India and Afghanistan.
Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, following Mr. Holbrooke’s comments, senior officials in New Delhi had said, the comments were “absolutely incorrect” and ignored the fact that the terrorists' primary target was a building used by the Indian medical mission.
Earlier this week in Washington Mr. Holbrooke caused a furore when he said, “I don’t accept the fact that this was an attack on an Indian facility like the embassy. There were foreigners, non-Indian foreigners hurt. It was a soft target. And let’s not jump to conclusions”. He further said, “Let’s not draw a conclusion for which there’s no proof”.
Yesterday however he withdrew his statements saying, “We all know that Indian citizens have and continue to be targeted by terrorists, including inside Afghanistan. My heart goes out to the families of all of the victims”. Mr. Holbrooke added that both the Afghan people and international community deeply appreciated the substantial humanitarian and reconstruction assistance that India was providing to Afghanistan.
The willingness of India to take risks and make sacrifices to help Afghanistan was a vital part of the international commitment to Afghanistan's future, Mr. Holbrooke clarified.
Labels: Holbrooke, Kabul attack, violence
Officers injured in Pentagon shooting
From The Hindu
Two officers were injured and the shooter himself killed in a shooting at the Pentagon, headquarters for the United States Department of Defence.
At approximately 6:40 p.m. local time a shooter fired at the officers at the entrance to the Pentagon Metro station outside the Pentagon building, according to a statement released by the Defense Department.
The Pentagon Force Protection Agency officers returned fire, injuring the gunman, it said, adding that the officers’ injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. "The officers acted very quickly and decisively to neutralize the threat," a police spokesman said. The Pentagon was in lockdown for some part of yesterday evening.
According to reports, Chief Richard Keevill at the Pentagon said the shooter, identified as John Patrick Bedell of Hollister, California, spent the last several weeks driving from the West Coast. Police found his car in a local parking garage along with ammunition in his vehicle.
Bedell, 36, died on Thursday night from head wounds received in a volley of fire. There has been no official statement on the possible motive for the attack and the shooting is under investigation; however a report by the Associated Press cited internet postings linked to Bedell pointing to “long-held frustration with the government's reach into the private life of Americans”.
Two officers were injured and the shooter himself killed in a shooting at the Pentagon, headquarters for the United States Department of Defence.
At approximately 6:40 p.m. local time a shooter fired at the officers at the entrance to the Pentagon Metro station outside the Pentagon building, according to a statement released by the Defense Department.
The Pentagon Force Protection Agency officers returned fire, injuring the gunman, it said, adding that the officers’ injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. "The officers acted very quickly and decisively to neutralize the threat," a police spokesman said. The Pentagon was in lockdown for some part of yesterday evening.
According to reports, Chief Richard Keevill at the Pentagon said the shooter, identified as John Patrick Bedell of Hollister, California, spent the last several weeks driving from the West Coast. Police found his car in a local parking garage along with ammunition in his vehicle.
Bedell, 36, died on Thursday night from head wounds received in a volley of fire. There has been no official statement on the possible motive for the attack and the shooting is under investigation; however a report by the Associated Press cited internet postings linked to Bedell pointing to “long-held frustration with the government's reach into the private life of Americans”.
Labels: Penatgon, shooting, violence
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