KABUL (Reuters) – Almost a decade of neglect has raised serious concerns about whether Afghan security forces will be ready to take over from foreign forces by the end of 2014, a new report said on Tuesday, with serious concerns remaining about rights abuses.

The report, released by British charity Oxfam and three other rights groups, said serious efforts to strengthen the professionalism and accountability of Afghan forces only really began in 2009.

KABUL (Reuters) – Almost a decade of neglect has raised serious concerns about whether Afghan security forces will be ready to take over from foreign forces by the end of 2014, a new report said on Tuesday, with serious concerns remaining about rights abuses.

The report, released by British charity Oxfam and three other rights groups, said serious efforts to strengthen the professionalism and accountability of Afghan forces only really began in 2009.

ASSADABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Twenty-five foreign fighters were killed and wounded by Afghan security forces after they crossed the border from Pakistan, a government official said, the first sign of retaliatory attacks in Afghanistan after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed.

Bin Laden, the architect of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, was killed by U.S. forces in a dramatic raid north of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Monday, sparking fears of revenge by Islamist militants.

KABUL (Reuters) – President Hamid Karzai urged Afghanistan’s Taliban to stop fighting after the death of Osama bin Laden, the Sept. 11 mastermind described by some Afghans as al Qaeda’s “number one martyr”, but his calls are likely to go unheeded.

The reaction to bin Laden’s killing was muted across Afghanistan, where fighting has dragged on since al Qaeda launched the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, in contrast to the joyous scenes in the streets of Washington and other U.S. cities.

KABUL (Reuters) – President Hamid Karzai urged Afghanistan’s Taliban to stop fighting after the death of Osama bin Laden, the September 11 mastermind described by some Afghans as al Qaeda’s “number one martyr,” but his calls are likely to go unheeded.

The reaction to bin Laden’s killing was muted across Afghanistan, where fighting has dragged on since al Qaeda launched the September 11, 2001 attacks, in contrast to the joyous scenes in the streets of Washington and other U.S. cities.

KABUL (Reuters) – The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan is expecting Taliban-led insurgents to launch a series of major attacks across the country over the next week, senior military officials said on Friday.

They said recent intelligence reporting indicated that the attacks planned by the Taliban, supported by the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network and other insurgents, would include suicide bombings.

KABUL (Reuters) – The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan is expecting Taliban-led insurgents to launch a series of major attacks across the country over the next week, senior military officials said on Friday.

They said recent intelligence reporting indicated that the attacks planned by the Taliban, supported by the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network and other insurgents, would include suicide bombings.

KABUL (Reuters) – The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan is expecting a major spike in violence, including suicide bombings, across the country over the next week as Taliban-led insurgents push back against perceived coalition gains, senior military officials said on Friday.

Washington and commanders of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have trumpeted successes against a growing insurgency since 30,000 extra U.S. troops were sent to Afghanistan last year in an attempt to reverse losses before the start of a gradual troop withdrawal from July.

KABUL (Reuters) – The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan is expecting a major spike in violence, including suicide bombings, across the country over the next week as Taliban-led insurgents push back against perceived coalition gains, senior military officials said on Friday.

Washington and commanders of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have trumpeted successes against a growing insurgency since 30,000 extra U.S. troops were sent to Afghanistan last year in an attempt to reverse losses before the start of a gradual troop withdrawal from July.