NATO

Nato apologises for accidental killing of two Afghan boys

3 Mar 2013

Two children, aged seven and eight, were shot dead on Thursday as they tended cattle in southern Uruzgan province, in an incident which could inflame tensions over the conduct of foreign soldiers...

Afghan president to ban requests for foreign air strikes

17 Feb 2013

If he issues the decree as promised, the move would pose a significant new challenge to government troops who have relied heavily on foreign air power to give them an advantage against insurgents...

Dunford takes charge of Nato in Afghanistan

10 Feb 2013

US General Joseph Dunford assumed command of Nato forces in Afghanistan on Sunday, taking over from General John Allen as the coalition prepares to withdraw the bulk of its combat troops by next...

Taliban likens US Afghan role to Vietnam war

2 Jan 2013

The Taliban on Wednesday likened the planned withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan to America’s pullout from Vietnam, calling it a “declare victory and run” strategy.

Desertions from Afghanistan's army pose security risk ahead of Nato exit

19 Dec 2012

Far from home, poorly paid and discriminated against, Mushtaq and Sefadullah are among thousands of Afghans deserting the army in a worrying trend two years before Nato troops leave.

Opinion

Wang Xiangwei

Super ministries may not be the right answer for mainland China

Alex Lo

Church developers remain unbowed by government rules

George Chen

A house is not a home until it becomes affordable

Landmine blast kills 10 Afghan girls

Ten young girls were killed when a landmine exploded on Monday while they were collecting firewood in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, officials said.

Last French fighters out of Afghanistan

France has removed its last combat troops from Afghanistan, two years before the 100,000-strong Nato mission led by the US is due to pull out.

Kidnapped doctor rescued by US troops in Afghanistan

US soldiers killed seven Taliban insurgents in a successful pre-dawn raid to rescue a kidnapped American doctor in eastern Afghanistan yesterday.

AFGHANISTAN

Kidnapped US doctor rescued from Taliban

US soldiers killed seven Taliban insurgents in a pre-dawn raid to rescue a kidnapped American doctor in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, the Nato force in the war-torn country said.

SYRIA

Nato approves Patriot missiles to help Turkey to defend against Syrian attack

Nato has approved Turkey's request for Patriot missiles to defend its border against Syria following a series of blunt warnings to Damascus not to use chemical weapons.

SYRIA CONFLICT

Nato warns Syria against using chemical weapons

Nato told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday that any use of chemical weapons in his fight against rebel forces would be met by an swift international response.