Clear challenger to Karzai emerges (UPI)
KABUL, Afghanistan, July 24 (UPI) — Support is growing for Abdullah Abdullah, who is emerging as a clear challenger to Afghan President Hamid Karzai in next month’s elections, observers say.
Afghanistan’s Karzai in debut capital campaign (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai held his first campaign event in Kabul on Friday, pledging to ensure that Western troops respect Afghan citizens a day after snubbing a TV debate with his rivals.
Karzai Snubs TV Debate Before Afghanistan Election, AFP Says (Bloomberg)
July 24 (Bloomberg) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai failed to attend a television debate last night for candidates running in national elections, prompting opponents to accuse him of being unable to defend his record, Agence France-Presse reported.
Break no longer needed after Afghan mission: general (CBC.ca)
The chief of the Canadian army says he now sees no need for the military to take a yearlong operational pause after the scheduled end to Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan in 2011.
Pakistan provides proves to India, Afghan governments for their involvement (People’s Daily)
A Pakistani minister has said that the Pakistani government has given proves to the Indian and Afghan governments regarding their direct involvement in promoting insurgency in southwest Pakistan’s Balochistan. Speaking at the Senate on Friday, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government for the first time has taken the issue on the record with the Indian government in this …
Rival to Karzai Gains Strength in Afghan Race (New York Times)
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is the one candidate who has a chance of forcing President Hamid Karzai into a runoff.
Outrage at Afghan family planning law (Guardian Unlimited)
Eight years after the Taliban were toppled, Janine di Giovanni returns to Afghanistan and sees how a proposed law is instilling fear in its women A few days after the Taliban were toppled in 2001 I was in Kabul. The city was jubilant and full of hope for the future, and I remember talking to some laughing teenage girls in the street. One was excited because she could now go back to school. …
U.S. Shifts Afghan Narcotics Strategy (New York Times)
New American-led antidrug efforts will focus on strengthening enforcement against drug lords and encouraging local farmers to stop planting poppy crops.
Karzai pulls out of Afghanistan’s first televised presidential debate (New Kerala)
Kabul, July 24 : President Hamid Karzai has pulled out of Afghanistan’s first televised presidential debate, which was to take place on Friday, saying he did not have time to prepare.
