KABUL, (Reuters) – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hopes to ease India’s concerns that Osama bin Laden’s death may hasten a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during a visit to Kabul that began on Thursday.

While Washington has said the killing of bin Laden will not affect its mission in Afghanistan, India is worried it may lead to speedier pullout of U.S. troops, leaving it exposed to an unfriendly, Pakistan-dominated neighbourhood and unfettered militancy in its backyard.

KABUL (Reuters) – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hopes to ease India’s concerns that Osama bin Laden’s death may hasten a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during a visit to Kabul that began on Thursday.

While Washington has said the killing of bin Laden will not affect its mission in Afghanistan, India is worried it may lead to speedier pullout of U.S. troops, leaving it exposed to an unfriendly, Pakistan-dominated neighborhood and unfettered militancy in its backyard.

KABUL, May 12 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
hopes to ease India’s concerns that Osama bin Laden’s death may
hasten a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during a visit to
Kabul that began on Thursday.

While Washington has said the killing of bin Laden will not
affect its mission in Afghanistan, India is worried it may lead
to speedier pullout of U.S. troops, leaving it exposed to an
unfriendly, Pakistan-dominated neighbourhood and unfettered
militancy in its backyard. [ID:nL3E7G32YR]

KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan Taliban have issued a statement acknowledging the death of Osama bin Laden after al Qaeda confirmed its leader had been killed by U.S. forces, but said his death would only revitalize their fight against the “occupiers” in Afghanistan.

While other militant groups across the world were quick to denounce bin Laden’s killing, the Taliban, who once sheltered the al Qaeda leader, were slow to comment in the hours after his death, saying they needed proof he had been killed.

KABUL, May 5 (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s former intelligence
chief, who has launched a national campaign urging Afghans to
reject a plan by President Hamid Karzai to negotiate with
insurgents, went one step further on Thursday by threatening to
take his protest to the streets.

The threat risks further instability in Afghanistan at a
time when violence is at its worst in 10 years and could
complicate U.S. and NATO-backed efforts to find a political end
to the war as foreign troops look to withdraw.

KABUL (Reuters) – More than 36 hours after al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in a U.S. raid in Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban who once sheltered him, finally reacted by questioning whether he was actually dead.

The Afghan Taliban may not be convinced — even though other Islamic militant groups have been quick to denounce bin Laden’s killing — but most analysts say the delay reflects a growing desire to distance themselves from al Qaeda’s global ambitions.

KABUL (Reuters) – The Taliban declared the start of a spring offensive across Afghanistan Saturday, warning they would target foreign troops, as well as Afghan security forces and top government officials, in a wave of attacks including suicide bombings.

In a statement, the hardline Islamists warned Afghan civilians to stay away from public gatherings, military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan government centers and buildings, as these would be the focus of attacks starting on May 1.

By Jonathon Burch

(Reuters) – An audacious jailbreak organised by the Taliban that freed hundreds of prisoners could have a devastating effect on efforts to quell a growing insurgency and underscores the weakness of the Afghan government and its security forces.

The Taliban wasted little time in crowing about how they were able to orchestrate the mass escape from the main jail in Kandahar in Afghanistan’s south, freeing about 500 inmates on Monday under the noses of Afghan and foreign security forces.

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai will announce within days the first districts and provinces where Afghanistan’s army and police forces will take over security responsibility from international forces over the next few months.

Here are some questions and answers about Afghanistan’s security forces and whether they are ready to take over:

Kabul (Reuters) – The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said on Wednesday it was investigating yet another air strike that had apparently gone wrong, this time killing two children, and had suspended one of its commanders and grounded a helicopter crew.

Civilian casualties caused by foreign troops are a major source of tension between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Western allies. They also anger Afghans, complicating efforts to win their support for a war that has brought only misery for most people.