 RFE/RL Afghanistan Report 18.05.2009 A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Afghanistan.For more stories on Afghanistan, please visit and bookmark our Afghanistan page . |
 Congress Win Likely To Boost Regional Stability India is looking forward to the prospect of a stable central government after the governing Congress-led bloc scored an impressive victory in national elections that will enable it to return to power with a robust mandate. But as the country celebrates, its new government will face the arduous task of boosting stability in a region engulfed in crisis and conflict. More Inspired by The Atlantic's mock "World Leaders" Facebook group, RFE/RL presents a Facebook-style summary of last week's events. More  Afghan Dentist Tries To Heal National Wounds Anarkali Honaryar once dreamed of flying an airplane, but instead devoted her career to protecting the rights of Afghan women and religious minorities so that they, too, can pursue their dreams. For her contributions to human rights and democracy, the 25-year-old dentist and rights campaigner has been named Person of the Year by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. More  Letter From Washington: The Invisible Scars Of War The military establishment in Washington is still trying to come to terms with what happened on May 11 at a U.S. Army base in Iraq called Camp Liberty. That’s where a U.S. Army sergeant walked into a clinic for troops suffering from stress-related disorders and shot five people dead. More Now either NATO believes it is winning the war in Afghanistan or it has hired the erstwhile Iraqi information minister, the much-appreciated but rarely factually correct Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf, to run its media campaign. More  Violence, Rivalries Hamper Afghan Trade Dreams A visit to Pakistan to attend an economic development conference has rekindled the Afghan president's dream of turning his country into a hub for regional trade. But violence and rivalries threaten to turn that vision into a mirage. More While the Pakistani military claims to be killing scores of Taliban fighters in its fresh offensive in the western Swat Valley and in the surrounding Malakand region, according to a BBC Urdu Service study only 38 percent of western Pakistan’s Pashtun border region is under government control. More  Probe Into Phosphorus Claims In Afghanistan Afghanistan's government is investigating claims that highly flammable white phosphorus was used last week in Farah Province during a battle between the Taliban and U.S. forces. The U.S. military denies using phosphorus there, and it has accused the Taliban of using the incendiary ammunition against civilians. More Inspired by The Atlantic's mock "World Leaders" Facebook group, RFE/RL presents a Facebook-style summary of last week's events. More  U.S. Commander Brings Promise Of 'New Thinking' The United States has announced the replacement of its top general in Afghanistan, a few weeks after U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled a new strategy aimed at ending the nearly eight-year conflict. More  Through The Eyes Of An Afghan Cartoonist RFE/RL broadcaster Hozhaber Shinwary is one of Afghanistan's best-known editorial cartoonists. His bold drawings are meant to "encourage people to stop for a second, think, and be aware of what is happening all around them.” More  Fears Of Massive Humanitarian Crisis In Pakistan As residents make the arduous trip to the western Pakistani city of Mardan, they prepare to join the hundreds of thousands who have already sought refuge from recent fighting between the Pakistani military and hard-line Islamist militants. The exodus now threatens to complicate Pakistan's efforts to contain an expanding Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency. More  Afghan Private Schools Offer Glimmer Of Hope Since the authorities opened the way for private investment into Afghanistan's education system nearly two years ago, more than 300 private schools have opened, from Kabul to remote provinces. Parents' welcoming of private schools is seen by many Afghans as a further sign of growing stability. More  Pakistani Public Opinion Swings Against The Taliban As the Pakistani military prepares to fight a decisive battle against the Taliban in the western Swat Valley, the public mood in Pakistan has visibly turned against the Taliban. Analysts maintain that the change in public perceptions might prove crucial in denying the extremists public support and mobilizing the state to confront them head-on instead of trying to contain and appease them through peace agreements. More  Taliban Class War In western Pakistan’s embattled Swat Valley, the Taliban are thought to have exploited class rifts between landless peasants and wealthy landlords. More |
