Taliban, the main militant group leading the insurgency, said it had "forced" NATO commanders into the decision by sowing distrust among Afghan and foreign troops Photo: REUTERS
Taliban Claims Credit For NATO Afghan Pull Back -- The Telegraph
The Taliban on Wednesday claimed credit for NATO's decision to scale back joint operations with Afghan security forces, hailing it as the start of their overall defeat in Afghanistan.
The US-led International Assistance Force announced the change in strategy after an unprecedented number of Western soldiers were shot dead by their local colleagues and amid an angry backlash over a US-made film deemed offensive to Islam.
Experts say the move is a setback for NATO's long-held strategy of containing an 11-year Taliban insurgency by training and advising Afghan forces to take over as most of its troops withdraw by the end of 2014.
Read more ....
More News On Afghanistan
ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - Sep. 19 2012 -- ISAF
ISAF captures Taliban leader involved in Camp Bastion attack -- Threat Matrix
Taliban’s new strategy focuses more on high-profile assaults, less on territory -- Washington Post
Once a potential peace partner, group takes credit for Kabul bombing -- Stars and Stripes
Afghanistan Surge Achieved Its Mission, Dempsey Says -- US Department of Defense
An emboldened enemy in Afghanistan -- War On Terror News
NATO halts routine joint patrols with Afghan forces -- L.A. Times
NATO Curbs Joint Afghan Patrols Over Attack Fears -- Voice of America
Pentagon: Pause in joint Afghan operations temporary -- USA Today
NATO chief: Scaling back joint operations with Afghan forces won’t affect drawdown timetable -- Washington Post/AP
Panetta Challenged on View of Taliban’s ‘Last Gasp’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Crocker: Taliban Infiltration Worse Than Estimated -- Military.com
Karzai won't try to stay in office: former US envoy -- AFP
What lies behind Afghanistan's insider attacks? -- BBC
Afghanistan: Green-on
An emboldened enemy in Afghanistan -- War On Terror News
NATO halts routine joint patrols with Afghan forces -- L.A. Times
NATO Curbs Joint Afghan Patrols Over Attack Fears -- Voice of America
Pentagon: Pause in joint Afghan operations temporary -- USA Today
NATO chief: Scaling back joint operations with Afghan forces won’t affect drawdown timetable -- Washington Post/AP
Panetta Challenged on View of Taliban’s ‘Last Gasp’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Crocker: Taliban Infiltration Worse Than Estimated -- Military.com
Karzai won't try to stay in office: former US envoy -- AFP
What lies behind Afghanistan's insider attacks? -- BBC
Afghanistan: Green-on-blue attacks show there's no easy way out -- Sajjan Gohel, CNN
Analysis: NATO pullback heightens doubts about Afghan strategy -- Reuters
Afghanistan: “It’s Just Damage Limitation Now” -- Mark Thompson, Time
NATO scales back in Afghanistan: What does it mean for the U.S.? -- Phil Stewart, Christian Science Monitor
US Military Deaths in Afghanistan at 1,988 -- AP
NATO halts routine joint patrols with Afghan forces -- L.A. Times
NATO Curbs Joint Afghan Patrols Over Attack Fears -- Voice of America
Pentagon: Pause in joint Afghan operations temporary -- USA Today
NATO chief: Scaling back joint operations with Afghan forces won’t affect drawdown timetable -- Washington Post/AP
Panetta Challenged on View of Taliban’s ‘Last Gasp’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Crocker: Taliban Infiltration Worse Than Estimated -- Military.com
Karzai won't try to stay in office: former US envoy -- AFP
What lies behind Afghanistan's insider attacks? -- BBC
Afghanistan: Green-on-blue attacks show there's no easy way out -- Sajjan Gohel, CNN
Analysis: NATO pullback heightens doubts about Afghan strategy -- Reuters
Afghanistan: “It’s Just Damage Limitation Now” -- Mark Thompson, Time
NATO scales back in Afghanistan: What does it mean for the U.S.? -- Phil Stewart, Christian Science Monitor
US Military Deaths in Afghanistan at 1,988 -- AP