Afghanistan wants end to US bombing

28 December, 2001 06:28 GMT

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan is demanding the United States halt its bombing, possibly within days, since almost all remaining border hideouts of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden have been destroyed.

"Their remaining forces are few in number and may be annihilated in a maximum of three days and once this is done there is no need for the continuation of the bombing," Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Habeel told Reuters on Friday.

"We demand America stop its bombing of Afghanistan after this goal is achieved," he said.

"Without the approval of local commanders and the Defence Ministry, America cannot bomb Afghanistan at will," he said.

His remarks come a day after a tribal elder said interim leader, Hamid Karzai, would ask the United States to halt aerial attacks on an eastern province where a convoy of guests to his inauguration was bombed with heavy losses.

The convoy -- apparently double-crossed -- came under attack in eastern Paktia province last Thursday as it was en route to the inauguration of Karzai's government at the weekend, leaving about 65 people dead, witnesses and survivors said.

I looks like there are some Taliban sympathizers still left in Government.

The convoy -- apparently double-crossed -- came under attack in eastern Paktia province last Thursday as it was en route to the inauguration of Karzai's government at the weekend, leaving about 65 people dead, witnesses and survivors said.

They are still bringing this up after we confirmed three al Queda terrorists among the dead? This is a poster for air strikes, not against them.

"Without the approval of local commanders and the Defence Ministry, America cannot bomb Afghanistan at will," he said

Wanna bet, Mohammad?

Where do you get the news alerts and breaking headlines from (what website?)

oh i see. We help them go from occupying less than 10% of Afghanistan to all the country. Now THEY want to dictate terms? I suspect we will stop bombing when General Franks says we stop bombing and not when Karazi or anybody over there suggests.Remember these are the same folks who let Taliban switch sides.

shouldn't it read 'REUTERS' demands halt to bombing?

talk about biting the hand that feeds you, isn't that always the thanks we get? should have made afghanistan a baren desert in the first place. no more foreign aid, no more food, no more of anything. let them make it on their own with their high & mighty new demands! i'm sick of america doing & giving only to be slapped in the face!!

Dear Afghan Spokesman,

As soon as you dig up the Taliban and Al-Qaida leadership, including that
%*!%^$#! Garbage Bin Laden, then we'll stop bombing.
Until then, too darn bad.

US

Once we go home, it's going to be the same old Afghanistan. The war lords will come back out, battle each other and the common people will back in the old grind again. Does anyone think they will just stop growing opium and making herion? The country will once again become refuge for hot heads.

Where do you get the news alerts and breaking headlines from (what website?)

That particular Reuters news alert came from PlanetArabia.com.

See HAL9000 - Links to News Sources (v 1.5) for the full list of links to breaking news.

APNewsAlerts are usually available on the Stockpoint sites, and the broadcast wires. Compuserve AFP via Bablefish/Google is also a good source of breaking news. AFP English language bulletins sometimes appear on Zawya. 123India.com is also a fast AFP link for news about India, Pakistan and Afghanstan.

Alas, our Reuters Market Monitor link in Switzerland is gone. It was good while it lasted.

Where do you get the news alerts and breaking headlines from (what website?)

It is the headline right now at Reuters

Click the link.

Where do you get the news alerts and breaking headlines from (what website?)

They're prolly email alerts which HAL9000 signed up for.

We demand America stop its bombing of Afghanistan after this goal is achieved," he said.

We have not reason or intention of bombing after the terrorists and those who harbor them are killed or captured. What would we bomb, sand and rock? Silly. The thing is, we're not going to trust you to be the sole judge of when this goal is achieved. You aren't OUR Sec. of Defense. If you want the goal to be achieved quicker, you know what to do.

"Without the approval of local commanders and the Defence Ministry, America cannot bomb Afghanistan at will."

Sure we can. We might not be as accurate or efficient in achieving our goal as we would with their help, but that's their choice isn't it?

It really doesn't matter what he says. Right now the U.S. is the real power in Afghanistan. The current government of Afghanistan will play along if they value power and their lives.

Muslims will always be Muslims.

Ya gotta wonder; does the military really want to fly
those remaining daisy cutters back home to America?