Afghanistan War News Updates -- May 3, 2010

U.S. and Afghan soldiers prepare to board a CH-47 Chinook helicopters to return to base after a mission in the village of Kopak, Mohammud-Agha district, Logar province, Afghanistan, April 22, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest

Karzai To Seek Obama's Approval For Peace Deals With Insurgents -- Washington Post

KABUL -- The most meaningful part of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to Washington next week may end up being talks about talks.

Karzai's advisers say one of his main goals for the May 12 meeting is winning President Obama's support for negotiating with insurgent leaders, and for a Kabul peace conference that has been delayed until after the visit.

Although Karzai appears wary of a political deal with the Taliban that might threaten his power, diplomats in Kabul say he is interested in smaller-scale negotiations with individual commanders from the Taliban and another insurgent group, Hezb-e-Islami.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghan government, NATO forces brace for more violence -- Montreal Gazette/Canwest
Afghanistan suicide bomber targets Nato base in Khost -- BBC
Deadly suicide bombing in Afghanistan -- CNN
Bomber targets US base in Afghanistan: police -- Yahoo News/AFP
Suicide blast outside foreign base in Afghanistan -- Washington Post/Reuters
British soldier dies in Afghan attack: officials -- AFP
Two coalition service members, including a British soldier, die in southern Afghanistan -- Thaindian News
Afghans Die in Bombing, as Toll Rises for Civilians -- New York Times
NATO Checks Report Of Afghan Civilian Deaths -- New York Times
Afghanistan reports surge in civilian deaths -- L.A. Times
Bomb Strikes Amid Concern About Afghan Deaths -- New York Times
US Army captain who sets out to build local Afghan government known as a king -- FOX News/AP
Military construction delayed in Afghanistan by push to award contracts to Afghan firms -- FOX News/AP
Push for Afghan Role Delays Military Building -- New York Times/AP
German troops face pitched battles in Afghanistan as insurgency spreads -- Times Online
The grim reality in Afghanistan: Five months into our new strategy, things are looking bleak -- New York Daily News
AFGHANISTAN: War of words over Marjah displaced -- IRIN/Reuters