NewsMine — war-on-terror — afghanistan — US-war — 2003 — Viewing Item

Troops afghan guerillas skirmish { September 15 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Afghan-Fighting.html http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Afghan-Fighting.html September 15, 2003 U.S. Troops, Afghan Guerrillas Skirmish By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 12:43 p.m. ET KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Guerrillas fired mortars and machines guns at U.S. soldiers in eastern Afghanistan, an area that has seen repeated clashes in recent months, officials said Monday. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, N.Y., came under attack Saturday as they patrolled near a U.S. base in Paktika province a few miles from the border with Pakistan, the American military said in a statement. The guerillas, believed to be al-Qaida or remnants of the Taliban, traded fire with the U.S. troops for about an hour before fleeing toward the Pakistan border. There were no reported casualties. The battle was the latest in a series in the south and east of the country that suggests a growing boldness by Taliban and their al-Qaida allies. Suspected Taliban militants in the neighboring province of Paktia have recently threatened to cut off the nose of anyone who listens to music or men who shave their beards -- violations of their strict interpretation of Islam, said Provincial Governor Asadaullah Wafa. Mohammed Yar, a man who lives in the province, said about 200 Taliban militants visited a local bazaar Saturday and issued a similar warning and distributed leaflets threatening ``heavy punishment'' for anyone who cooperates with U.S. forces in the rugged border region. In another attack Saturday, two rockets landed near a U.S. base in neighboring Khost province, said a statement issued in Bagram, the headquarters for American forces in Afghanistan. In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said ``the backbone of the terrorists has been broken,'' but a small number of Taliban and al-Qaida have regrouped. ``We should arrest, neutralize all terrorism ... in the bordering area of Pakistan-Afghanistan,'' he said, calling for better cooperation among U.S., Afghan and Pakistani forces in the area. Officials have said they suspect that militants have increased their activities to mark the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, which prompted the U.S.-led operation that swept the Taliban from power at the end of 2001. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press

2 cia operatives killed 2 us sf killed afghanistan Afghan allies turn enemies Afghanistan highest troops since war began { August 19 2003 } Bomb kills tree { June 9 2003 } Friendly fire probe Major afghan offensive launched No charges killing canadians Troops afghan guerillas skirmish { September 15 2003 } Two soldiers afghan fight { April 26 2003 } Us afghan coalition left 5 militants dead Us forces kill 18 { January 28 2003 } Us jets attack taliban hideout { August 26 2003 } Us kills 8 in afghan assault { December 10 2003 } Us soldier dies from wounds { October 31 2003 } Files Listed: 15

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.