Afghanistan War Updates -- October 13, 2008

An Afghan policeman stands by a vehicle destroyed in the fighting on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah after Taliban fighters were driven back from the city Photo: REUTERS (Photo taken from the Telegraph)

Scores Die As Taliban Suffer Heaviest Defeat For Months
-- The Telegraph

Taliban fighters suffered one of their heaviest defeats on Sunday when scores were killed in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand.

Apache helicopers, flown by Britain's Army Air Corps, and local security forces inflicted the losses when the Taliban attacked the local capital, Lashkar Gah. This was the first time in months that the insurgents had tried launching a frontal assault on a fixed position.

These highly risky tactics expose them to the superior firepower of their opponents and had been largely abandoned in favour of hit-and-run strikes and attacks on civilian targets.

But Taliban fighters were seen gathering west of Lashkar Gah on Saturday night, apparently preparing to fire mortar bombs at the town. Soldiers from the Afghan National Army intercepted the insurgents on the town's outskirts and called in air strikes from British Army Apaches. British troops are not believed to have taken a direct part in the ground fighting.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Taleban stage audacious 'Tet-style' attack on British HQ city -- Times Online
Large Taliban Attack Repulsed with Air Strikes -- Voice of America
Taleban killed in Afghan battles -- BBC
62 insurgents killed in Afghan battle -- L.A. Times
Afghan violence kills 13: officials -- AFP
Security developments in Afghanistan, Oct 13 -- Reuters
Fierce battles in Pakistan, Afghanistan -- Radio Australia
8 Civilians Killed in Insurgent Attacks in Afghanistan -- Voice Of America
Pakistanis flee as war on Taliban flares up -- Radio Netherlands
British soldier in Afghanistan on Iran spy charges -- Reuters
British commandos found Pakistani military ID on dead Taliban commander -- USA Today
Momentum builds for Taliban negotiations -- UPI
U.S. commander rejects reports of Afghan war being lost -- International Herald Tribune
General Says he Is Hopeful On Afghan War -- New York Times
Afghanistan: A country locked in a spiral of doom -- Times Online
Despite The Defeatism, Our Campaign In Afghanistan Is Going Well (Opinion) -- The Telegraph
Saudi rescue in Afghan war? -- Washington Times (Opinion)
Steady now or lose all (Opinion) -- The Australian
Danger on Pakistan border (opinion) -- Miami Herald