Sean Carberry http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=162643840&ft=1&f=162643840 Sean Carberry is NPR's Kabul Correspondent. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 16 May 2013 03:02:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Sean Carberry http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=162643840&ft=1&f=162643840 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=162643840 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/177323526/U-S-Hands-Over-Nation-Building-Projects-To-Afghans?ft=1&f=162643840 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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]]> 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=162643840 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/15/184250930/heavy-metal-in-kabul-its-the-music-not-the-munitions?ft=1&f=162643840 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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]]> 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=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/179079930/afghans-confront-senstive-issue-of-ethnicity?ft=1&f=162643840 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=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/181823814/afghan-pakistani-forces-exchange-fire-along-shared-border?ft=1&f=162643840 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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]]> Secret Cash To Afghan Leader: Corruption Or Just Foreign Aid? Afghans are expressing mixed feelings on CIA cash payments to President Hamid Karzai. Many say the practice is wrong and symbolizes the widespread corruption in the country, while some see it as just another form of foreign assistance. Wed, 01 May 2013 15:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180313502/secret-cash-to-afghan-leader-corruption-or-just-foreign-aid?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180313502/secret-cash-to-afghan-leader-corruption-or-just-foreign-aid?ft=1&f=162643840 Afghans are expressing mixed feelings on CIA cash payments to President Hamid Karzai. Many say the practice is wrong and symbolizes the widespread corruption in the country, while some see it as just another form of foreign assistance.

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]]> For Afghan Policewomen, Danger Often Comes From Colleagues Afghan policewomen face a high risk of sexual assault, and often it takes place in police bathrooms and changing rooms, a human rights group says. Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/28/179290827/for-afghan-policewomen-danger-often-comes-from-colleagues?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/28/179290827/for-afghan-policewomen-danger-often-comes-from-colleagues?ft=1&f=162643840 Afghan policewomen face a high risk of sexual assault, and often it takes place in police bathrooms and changing rooms, a human rights group says.

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]]> Taliban Says It Will Begin Spring Offensive Sunday The militant group says it will use "every possible tactic" to inflict casualties on foreigners in Afghanistan. They specifically mention insider attacks, a growing threat in recent years. Taliban attacks are up nearly 50 percent compared to this time in 2012, an independent report says. Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/27/179429637/taliban-says-it-will-begin-spring-offensive-sunday?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/27/179429637/taliban-says-it-will-begin-spring-offensive-sunday?ft=1&f=162643840 The militant group says it will use "every possible tactic" to inflict casualties on foreigners in Afghanistan. They specifically mention insider attacks, a growing threat in recent years. Taliban attacks are up nearly 50 percent compared to this time in 2012, an independent report says.

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]]> Foreign Service Officer Died Doing What She Loved In Afghanistan this weekend, a suicide bomber took the lives of several Americans on a mission to deliver books to an Afghan school. Among the dead was 25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff. Coworkers say she was committed to improving the lives of Afghan women and children. Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/08/176543510/smedinghoff-died-doing-what-she-loved?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/08/176543510/smedinghoff-died-doing-what-she-loved?ft=1&f=162643840 In Afghanistan this weekend, a suicide bomber took the lives of several Americans on a mission to deliver books to an Afghan school. Among the dead was 25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff. Coworkers say she was committed to improving the lives of Afghan women and children.

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]]> Young Staffer's Death Binds U.S. Embassy, Journalists The war became much more personal for the U.S. Embassy and most of the journalists in Afghanistan when word came out that one of the five Americans killed by a suicide bomber in Zabul province on Saturday was 25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff. NPR's Sean Carberry says her death reminds the American community in Afghanistan of their bonds with one another. Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/07/176497832/young-staffers-death-binds-u-s-embassy-journalists?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/07/176497832/young-staffers-death-binds-u-s-embassy-journalists?ft=1&f=162643840 The war became much more personal for the U.S. Embassy and most of the journalists in Afghanistan when word came out that one of the five Americans killed by a suicide bomber in Zabul province on Saturday was 25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff. NPR's Sean Carberry says her death reminds the American community in Afghanistan of their bonds with one another.

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]]> Afghans Embrace Educated Pakistanis Afghans tend to blame Pakistan for just about every problem in Afghanistan. Yet thousands of highly skilled Pakistanis decide to brave the insurgency, animosity and poorer conditions to live and work in Kabul. They say that even when times are tough between the two countries, Afghans make them feel welcome. Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/07/176482782/pakistans-tenuous-relationship-with-afghanistan?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/07/176482782/pakistans-tenuous-relationship-with-afghanistan?ft=1&f=162643840 Afghans tend to blame Pakistan for just about every problem in Afghanistan. Yet thousands of highly skilled Pakistanis decide to brave the insurgency, animosity and poorer conditions to live and work in Kabul. They say that even when times are tough between the two countries, Afghans make them feel welcome.

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]]> Afghans Want U.S. To Clarify Troop Level Post 2014 The United States has pledged to remain committed to Afghanistan beyond the year 2014. That's when the U.S. and its NATO allies are set to hand over the security mission to Afghan forces. But the U.S. has not yet said how many troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, and that is causing concern among Afghans. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176300494/afghan-want-u-s-to-clarify-troop-level-post-2014?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176300494/afghan-want-u-s-to-clarify-troop-level-post-2014?ft=1&f=162643840 The United States has pledged to remain committed to Afghanistan beyond the year 2014. That's when the U.S. and its NATO allies are set to hand over the security mission to Afghan forces. But the U.S. has not yet said how many troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, and that is causing concern among Afghans.

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]]> Afghanistan, Pakistan Struggle To Find Common Ground Relations between the two countries have long been problematic but seemed to be turning a corner a few months ago. Now, they are at it again: After a series of diplomatic miscues, each country is accusing the other of hindering peace talks with the Taliban. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175965076/afghanistan-pakistan-struggle-to-find-common-ground?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175965076/afghanistan-pakistan-struggle-to-find-common-ground?ft=1&f=162643840 Relations between the two countries have long been problematic but seemed to be turning a corner a few months ago. Now, they are at it again: After a series of diplomatic miscues, each country is accusing the other of hindering peace talks with the Taliban.

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]]> Afghanistan's Forests A Casualty Of Timber Smuggling Over the past three decades, the U.N. says Afghanistan's forest cover has decreased by about 50 percent — to just about 2 percent of the country's land. The main reason is the illegal harvesting and trade of timber. A visit to Kunar province, near the Pakistan border, reveals that many people, from top officials down, are involved. Mon, 18 Mar 2013 03:25:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174200911/afghanistans-forests-a-casualty-of-timber-smuggling?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174200911/afghanistans-forests-a-casualty-of-timber-smuggling?ft=1&f=162643840 Over the past three decades, the U.N. says Afghanistan's forest cover has decreased by about 50 percent — to just about 2 percent of the country's land. The main reason is the illegal harvesting and trade of timber. A visit to Kunar province, near the Pakistan border, reveals that many people, from top officials down, are involved.

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]]> With Withdrawal Looming, U.S. Troops Shift Their Aim U.S. and other NATO troops are spending less time fighting the Taliban and more time making local Afghan governments self-sufficient. It's a slow process. Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/11/173577857/with-withdrawal-looming-u-s-troops-shift-their-aim?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/11/173577857/with-withdrawal-looming-u-s-troops-shift-their-aim?ft=1&f=162643840 U.S. and other NATO troops are spending less time fighting the Taliban and more time making local Afghan governments self-sufficient. It's a slow process.

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]]> Sniffing Out Bombs In Afghanistan: A Job That's Gone To The Dogs Highly trained dogs are part of the U.S. military's fight against improvised explosive devices, which are the No. 1 killer of civilians and troops in Afghanistan. The dogs can search places that high-tech equipment simply can't. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:31:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/10/173815691/sniffing-out-bombs-in-afghanistan-a-job-thats-gone-to-the-dogs?ft=1&f=162643840 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/10/173815691/sniffing-out-bombs-in-afghanistan-a-job-thats-gone-to-the-dogs?ft=1&f=162643840 Highly trained dogs are part of the U.S. military's fight against improvised explosive devices, which are the No. 1 killer of civilians and troops in Afghanistan. The dogs can search places that high-tech equipment simply can't.

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