The tide turns again
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thousands fleeing violent Pakistani border area to Afghanistan
Though out the 80s and 90s millions of Afghans fled to Pakistan to escape the wars that riddled their country. Now the tide has turned and the Pakistani's are fleeing across the border to Afghanistan.
Escalating violence in Pakistan's lawless tribal border regions has forced thousands to flee to eastern Afghanistan, the UN reported Monday.
The United Nations is reporting that 20,000 Pakistani refugees have fled the northern tribal region of Bajur to Afghanistan's Kunar province to avoid increased fighting.
Pakistan's military is carrying out an offensive in Bajur, a region mostly controlled by militants opposed to the Afghan and Pakistani governments.
According to Pakistani officials, the fighting in Bajur — the most northerly of Pakistan's wild tribal regions — has displaced as many as 500,000 people. Most have found shelter with relatives across northwestern Pakistan, though about 100,000 have taken refuge in camps set up by Pakistani authorities.
Though out the 80s and 90s millions of Afghans fled to Pakistan to escape the wars that riddled their country. Now the tide has turned and the Pakistani's are fleeing across the border to Afghanistan.
Escalating violence in Pakistan's lawless tribal border regions has forced thousands to flee to eastern Afghanistan, the UN reported Monday.
The United Nations is reporting that 20,000 Pakistani refugees have fled the northern tribal region of Bajur to Afghanistan's Kunar province to avoid increased fighting.
Pakistan's military is carrying out an offensive in Bajur, a region mostly controlled by militants opposed to the Afghan and Pakistani governments.
According to Pakistani officials, the fighting in Bajur — the most northerly of Pakistan's wild tribal regions — has displaced as many as 500,000 people. Most have found shelter with relatives across northwestern Pakistan, though about 100,000 have taken refuge in camps set up by Pakistani authorities.
Happy 2nd Birthday to Kabul Korrespondence
Sunday, September 28, 2008
It has been 2 years since the Kabul Korrespondence (formerly Argusphotography blog) landed on the cyber-arena. In that time we have brought you many political, cultural, weird and wonderful snippets of life in Afghanistan.
The country where this was transmitted from has changed a lot in the last two years , some for the best, some for worse. But with the original vision still in place K.K. strives to bring all that is real, relevant and interesting from what we believe to be one of the most unique, yet misunderstood countries in the our world.
2008
2006
We hope that you have not only enjoyed, but also learnt from reading this free flow of information. And no matter how bad the situation gets here we will endeavour to continuing bringing this information to you.
See you in 2 years more time, inshallah......
KK
The country where this was transmitted from has changed a lot in the last two years , some for the best, some for worse. But with the original vision still in place K.K. strives to bring all that is real, relevant and interesting from what we believe to be one of the most unique, yet misunderstood countries in the our world.
2008
2006We hope that you have not only enjoyed, but also learnt from reading this free flow of information. And no matter how bad the situation gets here we will endeavour to continuing bringing this information to you.
See you in 2 years more time, inshallah......
KK
Blue Oyster Bar Plans to open in Central Afghanistan...
'Wananbe' Cops
THE Intelligence service and police have arrested five men for infiltrating the police department in Logar province.
Three of the men, who are accused of dressing up in police uniforms, setting up illegal checkpoints to extort money from drivers and kidnapping, were Taliban fighters, the National Directorate of Security said on Saturday.
The men were arrested after security forces stormed a house where they were holding a man from Khost to ransom.
Last week, Afghan soldiers arrested four men for posing as policemen in police uniforms in the western province of Farah
KK
:-)
THE Intelligence service and police have arrested five men for infiltrating the police department in Logar province.
Three of the men, who are accused of dressing up in police uniforms, setting up illegal checkpoints to extort money from drivers and kidnapping, were Taliban fighters, the National Directorate of Security said on Saturday.
The men were arrested after security forces stormed a house where they were holding a man from Khost to ransom.
Last week, Afghan soldiers arrested four men for posing as policemen in police uniforms in the western province of Farah
KK
:-)
Quote from Afghanistan
An Afghan wise man once said: "If you have a problem with your finger, chop off your hand"
Brilliant!
KK
Brilliant!
KK
See for yourself
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
On my recent trip to Europe almost everyone asked me: "Is it getting worse over in Afghanistan?"
Source: CSIS.
Source: CSIS.
A new THREAT in the War on Terror:
Cheese!
Or should I say Fromage! Dont read this aloud people may be listening.
I flew through Charles D'Gaulle Airport and had to go through another security check. A pleasant man with a long list told me that I was not aloud to carry (soft) cheese on board the flight!
Since when has cheese been a threat to national security? And since when has a country like France, who prides its self on having the best cheese in the world, labeled cheese in the hands of the wrong person, as a potential dangerous weapon?
Well actually I ate some pretty stinky cheese while in France, some people might consider that dangerous...
In the end I convinced the lovely baggage staff to wrap my cheeses and Salami (watch them too) in a plastic bag and load it on as under the plane luggage. I arrived in Dubai (where I write to you from now) and the cheese was there, safe and ready for consumption.
Personally I prefer Italian cheese.
KK
Or should I say Fromage! Dont read this aloud people may be listening.
I flew through Charles D'Gaulle Airport and had to go through another security check. A pleasant man with a long list told me that I was not aloud to carry (soft) cheese on board the flight!Since when has cheese been a threat to national security? And since when has a country like France, who prides its self on having the best cheese in the world, labeled cheese in the hands of the wrong person, as a potential dangerous weapon?
Well actually I ate some pretty stinky cheese while in France, some people might consider that dangerous...
In the end I convinced the lovely baggage staff to wrap my cheeses and Salami (watch them too) in a plastic bag and load it on as under the plane luggage. I arrived in Dubai (where I write to you from now) and the cheese was there, safe and ready for consumption.
Personally I prefer Italian cheese.
KK
Taliban breaks it own world record!
Suspected Taliban militants have kidnapped 156 civilian labourers who were traveling in three buses in southwestern Afghanistan, Afghan authorities said Monday.
"They were working for a construction company which is contracted to build facilities for the ANA (Afghan National Army)," he said. The provincial governor, Roh-Ul Ameen, confirmed the mass abduction."We are trying through tribal elders to secure their release." The group was captured in the Bala Buluk area, where Taliban have previously been active.
This one, if confirmed to be the work of the Taliban, would be the largest abduction by the Al-Qaeda-linked militia. Their last world breaking record was twenty-three South Korean hostages were kidnapped in the central province of Ghazni a year ago. Two were killed before the remainder were released after controversial talks between the Taliban and South Korean government.
"They were working for a construction company which is contracted to build facilities for the ANA (Afghan National Army)," he said. The provincial governor, Roh-Ul Ameen, confirmed the mass abduction."We are trying through tribal elders to secure their release." The group was captured in the Bala Buluk area, where Taliban have previously been active.
This one, if confirmed to be the work of the Taliban, would be the largest abduction by the Al-Qaeda-linked militia. Their last world breaking record was twenty-three South Korean hostages were kidnapped in the central province of Ghazni a year ago. Two were killed before the remainder were released after controversial talks between the Taliban and South Korean government.
Quote of the Day
Thursday, September 18, 2008
EVIL spelt backwards is LIVE!
KKMC and Jude Law exchange perceptions of Afghanistan
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"Dinner and drinks tonight are round the corner at a UN encampment or safe house. Catherine Mbengue, Unicef's representative here, is host to a group of guests who remind me of characters in a Hunter S Thompson book: motorbike-riding photographers, chain-smoking journalists and quirky foreign diplomats."
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article4747000.ece
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article4747000.ece
Propaganda at its finest
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Journalists warned to get out of Afghanistan
AUSTRALIAN journalists in Afghanistan have been targeted by terrorists and were warned yesterday by the Federal Government to consider leaving the country.
"Credible reports suggest terrorists may be targeting journalists, including Australians, in Afghanistan," an updated travel advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says.
"We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan. If you are [there], you should consider departing."
The advisory had previously warned of the continuing strong threat of kidnapping against Westerners, including journalists and those working for non-government and international organisations.
The department yesterday contacted senior management at large Australian media outlets to advise them of the threats and is seeking to contact freelance journalists in Afghanistan. At least four Afghan journalists have been killed there in the past year.
AUSTRALIAN journalists in Afghanistan have been targeted by terrorists and were warned yesterday by the Federal Government to consider leaving the country.
"Credible reports suggest terrorists may be targeting journalists, including Australians, in Afghanistan," an updated travel advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says.
"We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan. If you are [there], you should consider departing."
The advisory had previously warned of the continuing strong threat of kidnapping against Westerners, including journalists and those working for non-government and international organisations.
The department yesterday contacted senior management at large Australian media outlets to advise them of the threats and is seeking to contact freelance journalists in Afghanistan. At least four Afghan journalists have been killed there in the past year.
Aina Photo Agency is offically launched at Perpignan 2008
The one and only 100% Afghan Aina Photo Agency was present at the 20th Anniversary of the Visa por I'mage Photojournalism Festival in the South of France this week.
APA was showing their images in the Collectives room along with some of the finest photographic collectives in the world.
A special thanks to Karin and Julia for all their work this week
KK
APA was showing their images in the Collectives room along with some of the finest photographic collectives in the world.
A special thanks to Karin and Julia for all their work this week
KK
Stallone explores Soviet roots with vodka deal
Reuters
- Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, mighty destroyer of Soviet opponents in the "Rambo" and "Rocky" movies, now plans to advertise Russian vodka. Russian vodka producer Synergy said on Friday it had signed a one-year contract with Stallone, who will appear in television and newspaper advertisements for the vodka brand Russian Ice, starting September 1. Sources valued the deal at $1 million.
Stallone, whose film character John Rambo killed Soviet troops by the dozen in Afghanistan and whose Rocky Balboa humiliated Soviet boxer Ivan Drago will advertise the product under the slogan: "There is a bit of Russian in all of us."
"The advertising campaign concept was based on the fact that the actor has Russian roots," Synergy said in a statement, referring to Stallone's great-grandmother, Rosa Rabinovich, from the Ukrainian town of Odessa.
The Rambo and Rocky movies were banned in the Soviet Union, but were hot property in the country's underground VHS market.
Stallone, whose film character John Rambo killed Soviet troops by the dozen in Afghanistan and whose Rocky Balboa humiliated Soviet boxer Ivan Drago will advertise the product under the slogan: "There is a bit of Russian in all of us."
"The advertising campaign concept was based on the fact that the actor has Russian roots," Synergy said in a statement, referring to Stallone's great-grandmother, Rosa Rabinovich, from the Ukrainian town of Odessa.
The Rambo and Rocky movies were banned in the Soviet Union, but were hot property in the country's underground VHS market.
ROXY MORON ROXS DA HOUSE
Im very very proud to announce that my dear brother is staging his first gig with his new band ROXY MORON this month. If you are living in Melbourne, please go down and support him, I guarantee it will rock!
US puts up bin Laden 'wanted' posters in Afghanistan
AFP -
Massoud Hosseini
The United States is erecting billboards in Afghanistan offering hefty rewards for Osama bin Laden, Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar and US Al-Qaeda member Adam Gadahn, the embassy said Saturday.
Ten of the large Rewards for Justice boards were being erected countrywide, two of them in Kabul, embassy spokeswoman Corina Sanders told AFP. They show a portrait of the turbaned Gadahn flanked by those of Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden and Mullah Omar.
The US government's Rewards for Justice website offers up to 25 million dollars for information leading to the arrest of bin Laden, 10 million for Mullah Omar and one million for Gadahn. "We are doing this because we believe there is a lot of untapped information here in Afghanistan," Sanders said.
Massoud Hosseini
The United States is erecting billboards in Afghanistan offering hefty rewards for Osama bin Laden, Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar and US Al-Qaeda member Adam Gadahn, the embassy said Saturday.
Ten of the large Rewards for Justice boards were being erected countrywide, two of them in Kabul, embassy spokeswoman Corina Sanders told AFP. They show a portrait of the turbaned Gadahn flanked by those of Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden and Mullah Omar.
The US government's Rewards for Justice website offers up to 25 million dollars for information leading to the arrest of bin Laden, 10 million for Mullah Omar and one million for Gadahn. "We are doing this because we believe there is a lot of untapped information here in Afghanistan," Sanders said.
Afghanistan: the good ol' days may have past
Attacks against aid workers in Afghanistan have spiked this year. Last months attack on the IRC workers brings the number of aid workers killed in militant attacks to at least 23 compared with 15 killed in all of 2007, according to a recent report from ANSO, a security group that works for aid organizations in the country.
ANSO said 2008 was on track to be the deadliest year for aid workers in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
ANSO said 2008 was on track to be the deadliest year for aid workers in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
