The government resumed mass trials of opposition figures; top aides of former President Khatami have been accused of fomenting a “soft coup.” A spokesman said sanctions will not stop Iran from pursuing its “legal rights” to possess nuclear power.
UN supports Afghan vote fraud probe
US military provided Philippines assistance with communications during raids
CIA abuse cases detailed in report on detainees
The Pakistani-Taliban-is-collapsing meme has taken hold in the blogosphere. From Hot Air: The death of Baitullah Mehsud appears to have done even more damage to the Taliban terrorist network in Pakistan than first thought. Without their charismatic leader to unite them, the Taliban has begun to splinter across ideological and tribal lines, and the council […]
The Taliban killed two intelligence operatives in Nowshera and killed an anti-Taliban Afghan journalist in Khyber. Police arrested six members of the Punjabi Taliban in Sargodha. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl warned the government not to arrest its members or raid its seminaries.
Nearly 1,250 Darul-Islam sect members were deported from Minna in Niger State to their respective Nigerian states of origin. Many members were sent to Sokoto and Kano states. They were escorted by police to ensure that they had safe passage.
Young Guantanamo prisoner back in Afghanistan
Afghan minister claims Karzai poll win, UN says wait
Pak raids unravel Taliban-drugs link
UAE Prosecutor Claims US Man had al-Qaeda Ties
Profile: Hakeemullah Mehsud
Fifteen Iraqis were killed and 21 were wounded during separate bombings that targeted buses north of Al Kut. Securiy forces detained 46 wanted men in Amara, 28 in Karbala, and 13 more in Basrah. A US soldier was killed during combat in Baghdad on Aug. 23.
Iraq: Maliki promises a crackdown that could reach political figures
An update of the status of the Afghan ANAAC. The total cost of building the ANAAC is approximately $5 billion. 
Hakeemullah Mehsud, left, or his body double?. AFP photo. Pakistani intelligence officials and Interior Minister Rehman Maik are now claiming that Hakeemulah Mehsud is dead and his twin brother is standing as the new Taliban chief.From The Times of India: The Taliban, in order to save their image, are giving the impression that Hakeemullah Mehsud […]
The Talibanization of Gaza: A liability for the Muslim Brotherhood
Two NATO solders were killed in an IED attack n southern Afghanistan. Border police killed a senior Taliban commander in Takhar province and detained two drug smugglers in Herat. ISAF and Afghan forces detained four Haqqani Network fighters in Wardak and Paktia provinces. An Afghan civilian turned in an IED facilitator in Laghman province.
Shiite groups announce new alliance minus Iraqi PM
Afghans move toward reconciliation with Taliban
The Majilis supports President Ahmadinejad’s appointee for defense minister; the appointee is wanted by Argentina for his role in the bombing of a Jewish center. The government will put more anti-Ahmadinejad protesters on trial. Foreign Minister spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi told the world to work with, instead of against, Iran’s nuclear power ambitions.
Hakeemullah as Taliban leader
Iran’s Rafsanjani calls for unity, backs supreme leader
NATO commanders press for more resources in Afghanistan
A suicide bomber killed three civilians outside the Peshawar home of the spokesman for Ansar-ul-Islam; the spokesman was killed in a suicide attack on Aug. 22. Security forces detained 51 Taliban fighters in Swat and seven Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members in Karachi. A Taliban tribal leader and three relatives were killed during a shooting in Wana in […]
Waliur Rehman Mehsud claimed Baitullah Mehsud “deputed the organization™s affairs” to him two months ago. The statement challenges the appointment of Hakeemullah Mehsud as the successor to Baitullah. Waliur claimed he would appoint a new leader within five days.
With an increased focus on breaking the links between insurgents and the narcotics industry in Afghanistan, the US has announced, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing held earlier this month, its new initiatives to combat this threat. The most significant and controversial (to some NATO partners like Germany) shift in strategy is to use […]
Makers of military drones take off
Waliur Rehman Mehsud claimed Baitullah deputed him to lead the Pakistani Taliban two months ago and also claimed that the Taliban council would name a new leader within five days. While a leadership struggle exists, reports of open fighting within the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan are incorrect.
Insurgents killed two soldiers and wounded two soldiers and one policeman during an attack on a checkpoint in Narathiwat. Insurgents also killed four government officials and wounded three more in an IED attack in Yala province and killed a village leader in a mosque in Pattani.