NATO withdraws Afghanistan staff after US advisers killed

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/228625.html

NATO on Saturday pulled all its staff out of Afghan government ministries after two U.S. military advisers were shot dead in the interior ministry, as anti-U.S. protests raged for a fifth day.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying it was in revenge for the burning of Qur'ans at a U.S.-run military base - an incident that forced U.S. President Barack Obama to apologize to the Afghan people. Thejakartaglobe

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"For obvious force protection reasons, I have also taken immediate measures to recall all other ISAF personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul," said U.S. General John Allen, commander of NATO's international security assistance force. news24.co

The two advisers, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, were shot in the back of the head, according to Western officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information. Huffington Post

U.S. officials said the assailant - who has not been identified by name or nationality - remained at large and a manhunt was underway. Huffington Post

Britain said its embassy was also temporarily withdrawing all civilian mentors and advisers from Afghan government institutions in Kabul. Thejakartaglobe

The latest deaths come hard on the heels of the killing of two American troops on Thursday when an Afghan soldier turned his weapon on them at their base in eastern Nangarhar province as demonstrators approached. Thejakartaglobe

US uncertain about Afghanistan pullout

US Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159911.html


The top US military official has cast doubts about the time of a withdrawal from Afghanistan and the number of American forces to leave the violence-wracked nation.

The head of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen reiterated that the Pentagon does not know how many soldiers will be pulled out in July and predicted a rise in violence throughout the year.

“As difficult as it may be to accept, we must prepare ourselves for more violence and more casualties in coming months. The violence will be worse in 2011 than it was in 2010 in many parts of Afghanistan,” AFP quoted Mullen as saying on Wednesday.

The US military chief stated that the drawdown would depend on the level of Afghan security forces' readiness in taking control.

He pointed out the “fragile gains” the US-led NATO forces have made in the country but did not fail to claim that the Taliban were losing the war especially in dangerous areas like the Kandahar province.

On Tuesday, US Vice President Joe Biden said Washington will not withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in the previously announced deadline of 2014, if Kabul does not want it to do so.

Biden's remarks are contradictory to an earlier pledge by President Barack Obama for a major drawdown of troops from the war-ravaged country by July 2011.

In 2001, the US and its allies invaded Afghanistan under the pretext of wiping the country off terrorism. However, the US-led occupation of Afghanistan has failed to establish security in the country .

Violence and terror attacks remain commonplace almost a decade after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Statistics indicate that 2010 was the deadliest year for both the civilians and the foreign troops fighting in the country.