Afghanistan

House Panel Questions Gen. Campbell About Readiness Of Afghan Force

10:40am March 06, 2015

by David Welna

Congress wants to know whether the U.S. military tried to hide problems with the Afghan military force. Afghans are leading the fight against the Taliban — with U.S. troops mostly in the background.

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Survivors of an avalanche walk in the Abdullah Khil village of the Dara district of Panjshir province on Sunday. Nearly 200 people have been killed in north Afghanistan in some of the worst avalanches there for 30 years.

World News

Avalanches Kill Nearly 250 In Afghanistan

3:05pm March 01, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The latest avalanches, in the Panjshir Valley north of the capital, Kabul, have cut off villages in the area for almost a week.

Afghanistan's Shapoor Zadran celebrates as he leaves the field after guiding his team to victory against Scotland in the Pool A game of the Cricket World Cup in Dunedin, New Zealand, on Thursday.

Afghans Make History, Winning Thriller Against Scotland In Cricket's World Cup

2:04pm February 26, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

The win in Dunedin, New Zealand, is a first for Afghanistan at the World Cup. The victory spurred Afghans to celebrate on the streets of Kabul.

Ash Carter Says U.S. Is Considering A Slower Exit From Afghanistan

6:35pm February 23, 2015

The defense secretary said Saturday that the U.S. may slow its withdrawal from Afghanistan to make sure "progress sticks." NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Kate Clark of the Afghanistan Analyst Network.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter (center left) is greeted with a military honor guard as he arrives to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday.

Defense Secretary Carter Hints At Slowing U.S. Exit From Afghanistan

3:51pm February 23, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Ashton Carter, on a surprise visit to Afghanistan, said he was there to assess the situation on the ground and indicated that a "rethinking" of the U.S. troop withdrawal timetable was possible.

World News

New Defense Secretary Makes Unannounced Trip To Afghanistan

7:21pm February 22, 2015

by Philip Reeves

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is in Afghanistan meeting with that country's new president, Ashraf Ghani, and discussing possible changes to the timetable for U.S. troop withdrawals.

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Lebanese-born Rula Ghani is Afghanistan's first lady. The wife of newly elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has her own office in the presidential palace and intends to play a prominent role in public life.

World News

For The First Time, An Afghan First Lady Steps Into The Spotlight

10:51am February 19, 2015

by NPR Staff

In a country where women are seen but not often heard, Rula Ghani intends to play a prominent role. The wife of Afghanistan's new president hopes to help the country's most vulnerable people.

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Captivated Afghans Watch Cricket Team's World Cup Debut

7:56am February 19, 2015

by Philip Reeves

In Afghanistan, an unlikely sport has grabbed the nation's attention. Cricket only took root there a few decades ago, and only took off after the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

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President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, vowing to tap "every resource" to fight terrorism. Two days before the speech, he had signed an Authorization for Use of Military Force passed by Congress.

In White House Memory, A-U-M-F Translates To B-U-S-H

9:26am February 11, 2015

by Ron Elving

Surely it is not a welcome thought for the current White House that it is going to Congress for the Authorization for the Use of Military Force " ... just like President Bush."

Afghan war rugs featuring U.S. drones is a recent trend in the market, says collector Kevin Sudeith.

Arts

'War Rugs' Reflect Afghanistan's Long History With Conflict

9:29pm February 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

Afghanistan has suffered through decades of war. The modern history of violence has seeped into the nation's ancient art of rug making — rugs now feature imagery of tanks, AK-47s and U.S. drones.

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