You are here
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said that the United States is in ‘well position’ to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July this year. He was speaking during an unannounced visit to the Afghan capital Kabul, where he is discussing the future of US involvement in the conflict-torn country. Gates was speaking alongside President Karzai, who later this month is expected to announce the schedule for the handover of security responsibility from foreign forces to Afghans.1
A United Nations finding has revealed that targeted killings of civilians in Afghanistan have doubled last year. The civilian death has been the highest amongst all the killings and steadily rising by the year. However, the insurgents are responsible for 75% of the killings.2
In other developments, reports noted that US private military firm formerly known as Blackwater is likely to survive an Afghan government clampdown on mercenaries. The decision was made after Hamid Karzai was forced by his western partners to abandon a plan to completely disband private security companies.3
- 1. “US 'well-positioned' to start Afghan withdrawal – Gates”, BBC , March 7, 2011 at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12662121
- 2. “Targeted civilian killings spiral in Afghan war”, Dawn, March 9, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/09/targeted-civilian-killings-spiral-in-afgh...
- 3. “Afghanistan — Blackwater to stay on”, Dawn, March 9, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/09/afghanistan-blackwater-to-stay-on.html