News from Afghanistan, April 11, 2006

[icymist]

Below are some news articles out of Afghanistan today.

Afghans Blame Taliban for Kids' Deaths

By NIMATULLAH KARYAB
Associated Press Writer

April 11, 2006, 2:51 PM EDT


ASADABAD, Afghanistan -- A rocket slammed into a packed school yard Tuesday near a U.S.-led coalition base in eastern Afghanistan, killing seven children and wounding 34 other people. Police blamed Taliban militants for the explosion at the Salabagh School in Asadabad, about 105 miles northeast of Kabul, in volatile Kunar province near the Pakistani border.

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But in January, a school headmaster was beheaded in front of his family after refusing to close his school. In October, gunmen shot and killed another principal in front of his students.

The Taliban claim that educating girls is against Islam and they even oppose government-funded schools for boys because they teach subjects besides religion.
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N.Zealand extends Afghan deployment
Apr. 11, 2006 at 7:10AM
New Zealand will extend its military presence in Afghanistan until September 2007, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Tuesday.
The deployment of a 120-strong Provincial Reconstruction Team had been due to expire this September, the New Zealand Herald reported.
But Clark, saying it was in everyone's interests that Afghanistan had a stable government, said the PRT provided a valuable contribution to this aim.
New Zealand has taken part in military operations in Afghanistan since December 2001, and the reconstruction team has been deployed since September 2003.

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Karzai seeks tripolar ties with India, Pak

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 (New Delhi):


Afghanistan favoured a tripolar structure involving India and Pakistan for economic betterment and quicker progress of the region.

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New Delhi has been complaining of Pakistan not allowing transit facilities for its goods to Afghanistan, forcing New Delhi to take a longer and expensive route.

When pointed out that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has linked giving such a facility to the resolution of the Kashmir problem, Karzai evaded a direct reply, saying it was an issue between India and Pakistan.
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