Afghanistan http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1149&ft=1&f=1149 Afghanistan en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:53 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Afghanistan http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1149&ft=1&f=1149 Afghan Mineral Treasures Stay Buried, Hostages To Uncertainty Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:53 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/18/184775139/Afghan-Mineral-Treasures-Stay-Buried-Hostage-To-Uncertainty?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/18/184775139/Afghan-Mineral-Treasures-Stay-Buried-Hostage-To-Uncertainty?ft=1&f=1149 Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt.

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]]> Select Young Afghans Chosen As Commandoes In Training From the Afghan capital Kabul, Morning Edition's Renee Montagne talks to Gen, Joseph Dunford, the commander of all U.S. and international forces there. They discuss the challenges of the current situation on the ground, and look ahead to the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014. Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700634/select-young-afghans-chosen-as-commandoes-in-training?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700634/select-young-afghans-chosen-as-commandoes-in-training?ft=1&f=1149 From the Afghan capital Kabul, Morning Edition's Renee Montagne talks to Gen, Joseph Dunford, the commander of all U.S. and international forces there. They discuss the challenges of the current situation on the ground, and look ahead to the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014.

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]]> At Least 13 Dead, Including Americans, After Attack In Kabul A suicide bomber in a car reportedly blew up himself and the vehicle as a NATO convoy passed by. Afghans who were nearby by, as well as some people in the convoy, were killed. Dozens of others were injured. The militant group Hizb-i-Islami has taken responsibility for the attack. Thu, 16 May 2013 07:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184429561/at-least-13-dead-including-americans-after-attack-in-kabul?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184429561/at-least-13-dead-including-americans-after-attack-in-kabul?ft=1&f=1149 A suicide bomber in a car reportedly blew up himself and the vehicle as a NATO convoy passed by. Afghans who were nearby by, as well as some people in the convoy, were killed. Dozens of others were injured. The militant group Hizb-i-Islami has taken responsibility for the attack.

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]]> U.S. Hands Over Nation-Building Projects To Afghans U.S. reconstruction teams have spent a decade building roads, bridges and other pieces of infrastructure that are badly needed in Afghanistan. But now the international effort is winding down, and it's not clear how much the Afghans will be able to do on their own. Thu, 16 May 2013 03:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/177323526/U-S-Hands-Over-Nation-Building-Projects-To-Afghans?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/177323526/U-S-Hands-Over-Nation-Building-Projects-To-Afghans?ft=1&f=1149 U.S. reconstruction teams have spent a decade building roads, bridges and other pieces of infrastructure that are badly needed in Afghanistan. But now the international effort is winding down, and it's not clear how much the Afghans will be able to do on their own.

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]]> Car Bomb Hits NATO Convoy In Kabul; 6 Dead A Muslim militant group, Hizb-e-Islami, claimed responsibility for the early morning attack. The powerful explosion rattled buildings on the other side of Kabul and sent a pillar of white smoke into the sky in the city's east. Thu, 16 May 2013 03:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184395376/car-bomb-hits-nato-convoy-in-kabul-6-dead?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184395376/car-bomb-hits-nato-convoy-in-kabul-6-dead?ft=1&f=1149 A Muslim militant group, Hizb-e-Islami, claimed responsibility for the early morning attack. The powerful explosion rattled buildings on the other side of Kabul and sent a pillar of white smoke into the sky in the city's east.

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]]> Heavy Metal In Kabul? It's The Music, Not The Munitions When 23-year-old musician Solomon "Sully" Omar left Denver for Afghanistan — his parents' homeland — his hopes for Kabul weren't high. But he discovered a music scene that was "alive and breathing," bursting with "crazy metal and dub step." Wed, 15 May 2013 16:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/15/184250930/heavy-metal-in-kabul-its-the-music-not-the-munitions?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/15/184250930/heavy-metal-in-kabul-its-the-music-not-the-munitions?ft=1&f=1149 When 23-year-old musician Solomon "Sully" Omar left Denver for Afghanistan — his parents' homeland — his hopes for Kabul weren't high. But he discovered a music scene that was "alive and breathing," bursting with "crazy metal and dub step."

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]]> A Songwriter And An Army Dad Share One Touching Story The song "I Drive Your Truck" is a No. 1 country hit. It began with a father's remembrance of his son, who was killed in action in Afghanistan — and a songwriter who just happened to be listening. Wed, 15 May 2013 17:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184246172/a-songwriter-and-an-army-dad-share-one-touching-story?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184246172/a-songwriter-and-an-army-dad-share-one-touching-story?ft=1&f=1149 The song "I Drive Your Truck" is a No. 1 country hit. It began with a father's remembrance of his son, who was killed in action in Afghanistan — and a songwriter who just happened to be listening.

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]]> Young Afghan Entrepreneur Capitalizes On Opportunities Fahim Hashemi, 33, built a conglomerate from scratch. He owns a TV channel, an airline and supplies the Afghan National Army with boots and fuel. He got his start early in the war as a translator to U.S. and British forces. Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184132968/young-afghan-entrepreneur-capitalizes-on-opportunities?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184132968/young-afghan-entrepreneur-capitalizes-on-opportunities?ft=1&f=1149 Fahim Hashemi, 33, built a conglomerate from scratch. He owns a TV channel, an airline and supplies the Afghan National Army with boots and fuel. He got his start early in the war as a translator to U.S. and British forces.

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]]> Afghan Taxes Weigh Heavily On U.S. Contractors, Report Says A U.S. audit shows that American firms working in Afghanistan have been hit with nearly $1 billion in taxes since 2008. Much of what's been taxed should have been exempt from such levies according to agreements with the Afghan government, auditors say. Tue, 14 May 2013 07:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/14/183865455/afghan-taxes-weigh-heavily-on-u-s-contractors-report-says?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/14/183865455/afghan-taxes-weigh-heavily-on-u-s-contractors-report-says?ft=1&f=1149 A U.S. audit shows that American firms working in Afghanistan have been hit with nearly $1 billion in taxes since 2008. Much of what's been taxed should have been exempt from such levies according to agreements with the Afghan government, auditors say.

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]]> Younger Generation Poised To Lead Afghanistan's Future Afghans under 35 make up about 75 percent of the country's population. Each one of them was born into war and endured their country's nearly unbroken string of conflicts. And they've come of age as Afghanistan struggles to establish itself as an autonomous country. Tue, 14 May 2013 04:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183821219/younger-generation-poised-to-lead-afghanistans-future?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183821219/younger-generation-poised-to-lead-afghanistans-future?ft=1&f=1149 Afghans under 35 make up about 75 percent of the country's population. Each one of them was born into war and endured their country's nearly unbroken string of conflicts. And they've come of age as Afghanistan struggles to establish itself as an autonomous country.

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]]> Afghans Confront Sensitive Issue Of Ethnicity Afghanistan is set to issue new national IDs that will have a person's ethnicity embedded in it electronically — but not printed on it. That's renewed debate over a divisive issue in a country made up of many different groups. Wed, 08 May 2013 02:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/179079930/afghans-confront-senstive-issue-of-ethnicity?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/179079930/afghans-confront-senstive-issue-of-ethnicity?ft=1&f=1149 Afghanistan is set to issue new national IDs that will have a person's ethnicity embedded in it electronically — but not printed on it. That's renewed debate over a divisive issue in a country made up of many different groups.

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]]> Afghan-Pakistani Forces Exchange Fire Along Shared Border Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are on the rise again following two border clashes in the space of a week. The trouble was apparently sparked by Pakistan's decision to erect a new border gate despite Afghan objections. Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/181823814/afghan-pakistani-forces-exchange-fire-along-shared-border?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/181823814/afghan-pakistani-forces-exchange-fire-along-shared-border?ft=1&f=1149 Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are on the rise again following two border clashes in the space of a week. The trouble was apparently sparked by Pakistan's decision to erect a new border gate despite Afghan objections.

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]]> The Hidden Cost Of The Drone Program One expert says the administration is operating drones with a "kill-not-capture" policy, adding that you don't get intelligence from those killed. But there's also a human toll — from the pilots who remotely operate the drones to those people who live in the areas that are targeted. Sun, 05 May 2013 17:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/181403067/the-hidden-cost-of-the-drone-program?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/181403067/the-hidden-cost-of-the-drone-program?ft=1&f=1149 One expert says the administration is operating drones with a "kill-not-capture" policy, adding that you don't get intelligence from those killed. But there's also a human toll — from the pilots who remotely operate the drones to those people who live in the areas that are targeted.

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]]> Seven U.S. Troops Die In Attacks In Afghanistan A roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan killed five members of the U.S. Army Saturday, according to military officials. In a separate incident, a member of the Afghan National Army turned his weapon on coalition troops, killing two Americans. Sat, 04 May 2013 12:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/04/181115866/five-u-s-soldiers-die-in-roadside-bombing-in-afghanistan?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/04/181115866/five-u-s-soldiers-die-in-roadside-bombing-in-afghanistan?ft=1&f=1149 A roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan killed five members of the U.S. Army Saturday, according to military officials. In a separate incident, a member of the Afghan National Army turned his weapon on coalition troops, killing two Americans.

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]]> An Unexpected Festival Paints A Different Version Of Kabul In a land where music was once banned, the Sound Central alternative arts and music festival is in its third year of showcasing the growing cultural scene in Afghanistan. Several thousand Afghans are attending this year's festival featuring live music, poetry, short films, painting and skateboarding. Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/04/181053777/an-unexpected-festival-paints-a-different-version-of-kabul?ft=1&f=1149 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/04/181053777/an-unexpected-festival-paints-a-different-version-of-kabul?ft=1&f=1149 In a land where music was once banned, the Sound Central alternative arts and music festival is in its third year of showcasing the growing cultural scene in Afghanistan. Several thousand Afghans are attending this year's festival featuring live music, poetry, short films, painting and skateboarding.

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