This could either be inspired or a bag of fail. The U.S. has a unique way of trying to pare down the Taliban’s power in Afghanistan: They’re talking about offering money to members if they quit. It’s one with pitfalls – it’ll probably only work temporarily to buy time and loyalty. But it replicates a program that was used in Iraq to strong effect. We’re not sure how we feel about essentially bribing people to switch sides. source
We stand by the people of Afghanistan today, and we will do so tomorrow.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon • Reassuring the people of Afghanistan that the UN will be there even after an attack on UN personnel by the Taliban today. The attack, which killed five and injured nine, was the deadliest attack on UN workers since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. • source
150 peoplethe number of American Special Forces soldiers and support personnel are helping Pakistan – a number that’s doubled in the last eight months source
The military’s movement is faster than in their previous campaigns. But the more they get inside the sanctuary, the more they will be bogged down.
A former North Waziristan government official • Describing the current anti-Taliban campaign in Pakistan in comparison to prior ones. They have had some pretty strong victories, though: The Pakistan army says they’ve captured the stronghold of Kotkai, where current Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud is said to reside. • source
The stakes have become higher, and consequently we are witnessing this surge in acts of terrorism.
A message from the office of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani • Describing why the attacks have gone up lately. 23 people were killed in separate attacks on Friday, and 28 more were injured. It comes at the end of a long week where Pakistani forces started fighting the Taliban head-on. 140 Taliban militants have been killed so far, and the border has been sealed-off. • source