The Taliban has released a statement on the prisoner exchange that freed Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. The Taliban says that its five “prominent” leaders have been freed in exchange for an American soldier, and that it did not participate in direct negotiations with the US to complete the swap.
Pakistani Military Attacks Kunar With Rockets, Helicopters
The five Taliban commanders exchanged for Sgt. Bergdahl were all deemed “high” risks to the US and its allies by Joint Task Force Guantanamo. All of them were closely allied with al Qaeda prior to their detention. Two of them have been wanted for war crimes by the UN.
Amid drawdown, fears of Taliban resurgence and economic collapse
Mapping special operations forces raids against al Qaeda and allied groups in Afghanistan shows that al Qaeda’s network has remained active in Afghanistan up until ISAF ceased issuing press releases on its targeting in June 2013.
As the US prepares to exit Afghanistan, officials are starting to realize that al Qaeda still maintains a strong presence in the country.
Afghans anxious over Obama plan to end troop presence by 2016
The US will maintain 9,800 troops for training and counterterrorism missions until the end of 2015, halve that number by the beginning of 2016, and then pull out all troops by the end of that year.
North Waziristan offensive “not full-scale operation” – Pakistan
The military launched a limited raid that targeted TIP fighters in a village just outside of Miramshah.
Hafiz Gul Bahadar’s “good Taliban” may end its peace deal with the Pakistani military and government after the military launched punitive raids in North Waziristan.
US airstrikes killed upwards of 10 jihadists in three airstrikes in the Nayzan district in Nangarhar province.
Exclusive: CIA Falls Back in Afghanistan
CIA’s plan to retrench in Afghanistan worries US military
The Khaibar offensive, like previous ones, will target both Coalition and Afghan personnel, and will include suicide attacks.
Taliban promise renewed offensive as NATO leaves Afghanistan
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif urges time for Taliban talks
Taliban can’t be held more than 96 hours decides UK judge
As US draws down, Afghan opium production thrives
Abu Hamza trial: American follower tells terror trial about US jihad training camp
Afghan officials claimed that scores of Haqqani Network fighters and five Afghan soldiers were killed in Paktika province.
Mystery surrounds move of Afghan ‘torturer in chief’ to US amid allegations of agency abuse
A Taliban video shows fighters opening fire on what appears to be a C-130. ISAF has neither confirmed nor denied the claim that one of its aircraft has crashed or been shot down.
Lull Prompts Question: What Are Taliban Up To?
Although Mullah Adbul Qayoum Zakir, a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, has resigned as the military leader, he is still “a member of the Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate and is busy working in other important Jihadi works.”
Attack on Journalist Starts Battle in Pakistani Press
British and Australian navies seize largest ever heroin haul at sea
Afghan Taliban broker ceasefire between rival TTP factions
Pakistan, Ending Its Observance of Cease-Fire, Launches Airstrikes Against Taliban
A police officer guarding the CURE hospital in Kabul turned his gun on Americans, killing three and wounding another.