Afghanistan

Afghan soldiers and contractors are taught about the workings of a diesel-powered electrical generator at Forward Operating Base Nolay in Helmand province.

World News

How To Build An Afghan Army, In A Million Difficult Steps

12:57pm September 09, 2013

by Sean Carberry

As the deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan approaches, Afghans have taken over the lead combat role in places like restive Helmand province. But U.S. forces are still engaged in major training efforts to make sure the Afghan-led security is sustainable.

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U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter near Dahla Dam, Afghanistan in July 2012.

Pain, Loss And Tears Come With Medal Of Honor

4:04pm August 26, 2013

by Doreen McCallister

Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter received the nation's highest military honor. He feels privileged, but says "I would never tell any soldier or service member, 'Hey, go out and get the Medal of Honor', because of the amount of pain and loss and tears that has to be shed in order to receive it."

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Afghanistan and Pakistan, countries that have a history of tense relations, played their first soccer match in nearly 40 years when they met Aug. 20 in Kabul. Afghanistan (in red) won 3-0.

World News

For Pakistan And Afghanistan, Soccer As Reconciliation

5:03am August 26, 2013

by Sean Carberry

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been tense for years. A recent soccer game seemed to ease the friction, at least temporarily.

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Lawyers For Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales To Ask For Leniency

12:43pm August 22, 2013

by Martin Kaste

The sentencing hearing for Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales continues near Tacoma, Wash. He's pleaded guilty to attacking two Afghan villages last year, massacring 16 men, women and children. Because of the guilty plea, Bales is guaranteed a life sentence. The only question is whether he'll have a chance at parole.

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Zang-e-Khatar, or Danger Bell, makes fun of government officials and other powerful figures in Afghanistan. Cast members are shown performing a skit during a taping of the show.

World News

Despite Many Threats, Afghan TV Satire Mocks The Powerful

9:10pm July 23, 2013

by Sean Carberry

Afghanistan's top political comedy sketch show mocks aspects of day-to-day life in hopes of shaming the government to clean up its act. The cast of Zang-e-Khatar, or Danger Bell, has tackled everything from corruption to bad roads, and they've received death threats for doing it.

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Afghan soldiers take positions following a clash with Taliban fighters on the outskirts of the eastern city of Jalalabad on July 7. The U.S. is trying to organize peace talks, but the latest effort has been put on hold while the fighting continues.

Despite Repeated Tries, Afghan Peace Efforts Still Sputter

4:48pm July 20, 2013

by Sean Carberry

The latest effort, like others before it, has gone nowhere. With American combat troops planning to leave by the end of next year, the opportunities for peace talks are dwindling.

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Scot Paltrow is a special enterprise correspondent for Reuters.

Investigation Reveals A Military Payroll Rife With Glitches

4:29pm July 16, 2013

A new investigative report from Reuters special enterprise correspondent Scot Paltrow details how the antiquated and error-ridden payroll system for the U.S. military is erroneously cutting soldiers' paychecks and causing terrible hardship.

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Photos depict scenes at the $34 million command center in Camp Leatherneck, completed in November. U.S. troops will never use the facility, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction says.

'A $34 Million Waste Of The Taxpayers' Money' In Afghanistan

6:22pm July 11, 2013

by Bill Chappell

A new U.S. facility in Afghanistan offers 64,000 square feet of space for more than 1,000 military personnel. Finished last November, it cost tens of millions of dollars. It will never be used for its intended purpose, a military inspector says, and it could be demolished.

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ANA soldiers plot coordinates on a map with the help of their American trainers.

From Front-Line Soldier To Trainer, An Afghan Odyssey

3:55pm July 05, 2013

by Tom Bowman

Sgt. Chris Cunningham has served five tours in Afghanistan, surviving some of the past decade's most horrific fighting. These days, his excitement about war has been replaced by a grim wisdom — and the heavy responsibility of teaching Afghan soldiers and honoring fallen comrades.

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National

American Soldier Pleads Guilty In Afghan Massacre

10:26pm July 03, 2013

Army Sgt. Robert Bales pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing 16 Afghan civilians in a nighttime massacre. Audie Cornish talks with NPR's Martin Kaste, who listened to Sgt. Bales recount the killings at a military court hearing in Washington state. Bales has struck a deal with prosecutors that will spare him the death penalty.

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