SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 18, 2012
With the German army pulling out of Afghanistan in 2014, hundreds of Afghan workers fear they will become victims of revenge by the Taliban, who have already condemned them as traitors. German authorities are already preparing for a wave of visa applications. By Matthias Gebauer and Shoib Najafizada in Berlin and Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 10, 2012
Washington and Islamabad have barely been on speaking terms since US forces killed Osama bin Laden last year. But with American and NATO troops set to leave neighboring Afghanistan soon, nuclear-armed Pakistan has little motivation to improve relations. Hatred of the US is growing in the country. By Hasnain Kazim and Gerhard Spörl more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 25, 2012
Once again, disturbing images from Afghanistan -- this time showing US soldiers posing with body parts of slain enemy fighters -- have surfaced. Are the perpetrators psychologically ill or has there been an increase in the number of violence-prone recruits finding their way into the American military? By Gregor Peter Schmitz more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 23, 2012
The German military may soon adopt new guidelines that call into question the export of democracy, SPIEGEL has learned. In the future, the Bundeswehr is to take greater account of local traditions and institutions, even if they are violent and corrupt. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 19, 2012
NATO has promised it will provide significant financial support to Afghanistan over the next decade. Reaching agreement on who will pay how much is proving difficult, however. Aside from the US, all member states are doing their best to keep their share as small as possible. By Matthias Gebauer more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 03, 2012
NATO forces are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but the withdrawal poses a massive logistical challenge. The US and its allies are dependent on air hubs in Russia and authoritarian Central Asian republics to transport its troops and equipment home -- and getting those countries to play along is not always easy. By Christian Neef more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 26, 2012
The Taliban have suspended planned secret talks with the US in Qatar to prepare the ground for peace negotiations. They say the atmosphere has been poisoned by the Koran burnings and the massacre committed by a US soldier, and ave accused the US of failing to keep a promise to transfer five Guantanamo to Qatari custody. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 16, 2012
On Thursday, President Hamid Karzai unexpectedly called on Western military forces to end their mission to Afghanistan a year before the planned withdrawal date of 2014. In Friday's newspapers, German commentators speculate on whether this will trigger a rush to exit despite the dangers this presents. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 13, 2012
Tensions are high in Afghanistan following Sunday's alleged massacre of 16 civilians by a US soldier. The incident overshadowed Chancellor Merklel's visit to Bundeswehr troops in the country. German commentators argue that it has also worsened the chances for peace in the country. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 13, 2012
Following this weekend's massacre of 16 civilians the situation intensified in Afghanistan as Angela Merkel arrived for a surprise visit to Germany's Bundeswehr troops deployed there. The German chancellor claims she wants to stick to the planned 2014 withdrawal, but her statements in the region left room for doubts. By Matthias Gebauer and Philipp Wittrock more... [ Forum ]
