Taliban say Marine abuse tape won’t hurt Afghanistan talks (Reuters)
Reuters - A video showing what appear to be American forces urinating on dead Taliban fighters prompted anger in Afghanistan and promises of a U.S. investigation on Thursday, but the insurgent group said it would not harm nascent efforts to broker peace talks.
Iran holds military exercise near Afghan border (Reuters)
Reuters - Iran launched a military maneuver near its border with Afghanistan on Saturday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, days after naval exercises in the Gulf increased tensions with the West and pushed up oil prices.
New defense strategy sets Obama’s gaze on Asia (AP)
AP - In recasting his defense strategy, President Barack Obama is looking beyond the wars he inherited to focus on Asian security risks — mainly China and North Korea — that took a back seat to Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S. mulls transfer of Taliban prisoner in perilous peace bid (Reuters)
Reuters - The Obama administration is considering transferring to Afghan custody a senior Taliban official suspected of major human rights abuses as part of a long-shot bid to improve the prospects of a peace deal in Afghanistan, Reuters has learned.
Wounded Marine inspires AP photographer’s search (AP)
AP - Inside the medevac helicopter in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Cpl. Burness Britt bleeds profusely from his neck. He and two other Marines have just been hit by shrapnel, with Britt's injuries the most serious. The medevac crew chief clutches one of Britt's blood-covered hands as he is given oxygen. I take hold of the other.
8 US soldiers charged in comrade’s death (AP)
AP - Eight U.S. soldiers have been charged in the death of a fellow GI, a Chinese-American who apparently shot himself in Afghanistan after being subjected to what a community activist said were assaults and ethnic taunts from his comrades.
Pakistan army believes NATO attack planned: reports (Reuters)
Reuters - A senior Pakistani military officer said a NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops on the border with Afghanistan last month was pre-planned, newspapers reported on Friday, comments likely to fuel tension with the United States.
Afghan president says attack came from Pakistan (AP)
AP - Afghanistan's president vowed Wednesday to confront the Pakistani government over a devastating suicide bombing against a Shiite shrine in Kabul that he said originated in Pakistan, putting further pressure on already strained relations between the two neighbors.
Blasts across Afghanistan target Shi’ites, 59 dead (Reuters)
Reuters - A suicide attack killed dozens of Shi'ite Muslims at a crowded Kabul shrine on Tuesday, and four others died in a smaller blast in a key northern city, in the worst sectarian violence Afghanistan has seen since the fall of the Taliban.
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