AfghanPak War News Updates -- May 22, 2009

A military helicopter flies over Afghan army soldiers at the site of a blast outside Kabul May 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

New Strategy Treats Afghanistan, Pakistan as Integrated Theater -- Defense Talk

WASHINGTON: The new strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan treats the area as an integrated theater of operations, the Defense Department's policy chief said today.

Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, spoke of the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, dangers from Iran and detainees during a wide-ranging interview with the Defense Writers' Group.

"We have to regard Pakistan and Afghanistan together, because each affects the other so profoundly," Flournoy said. "That said, the strategy calls for different but integrated approaches in either country. In Afghanistan, we are pursuing -- really for the first time -- a fully resourced counterinsurgency strategy with military on the ground and civilian experts as well."

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Afghanistan War News Updates

Troops kill 34 Taliban in major Afghan operation: US -- AFP
US troops seize 16.5 tons of drugs in Afghanistan -- AP
Afghan operation leaves 16 militants dead -- UPI
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, May 22 -- Reuters
New Afghan Force Joins Fight Against Taliban -- NPR
UK backs Afghan efforts to reintegrate Taliban -- Reuters
INTERVIEW - Afghanistan seeks 400,000 soldiers, police -- Reuters
U.S. Pullout a Condition in Afghan Peace Talks -- New York Times
Behind the Scenes: Man in the Pink Boxers -- New York Times
CNN Poll: Americans divided on Afghanistan war -- CNN
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 614 -- AP

Pakistan War News Updates

Refugees Candid About Pakistan's Problems -- NPR
Pakistan allies aid refugees from Taliban fight -- AP
Pakistani army fails to rescue civilian allies in Swat -- McClatchy New
Pakistani Town Fights Off the Taliban -- Wall Street Journal
Pakistani townsfolk take on Taliban -- Globe And Mail
Pakistan: A Humanitarian Crisis -- Global Voice Online
The human cost of war on the Taliban -- The Guardian
US Military Official Alarmed By Growing al-Qaida - Taliban Ties -- Voice of America
Mullen: Pakistan's not as imperiled as some think -- AP