Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 27, 2010

Karzai 'Holds Talks' With Haqqani -- Al Jazeera

Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, has met Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of a major anti-government faction, in face-to-face talks, Al Jazeera has learned.

Haqqani, whose network is believed to be based across the border, is reported to have been accompanied to the meeting earlier in the week by Pakistan's army chief and the head of its intelligence services, according to Al Jazeera's sources.

Karzai's office, however, denied on Sunday that any such meeting took place.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghanistan president meets anti-government armed groups -- Calcutta News
Overture to Taliban Jolts Afghan Minorities -- New York Times

NATO: Afghan ops not slowed despite command change -- AP
US to Karzai: New general won't alter Afghan plan -- AP
NATO: Afghan on track despite commander change -- Breitbart/AP
No change in Afghan war strategy: NATO -- Xinhuanet
Mullen Visits Afghan Leaders and Allied Troops -- New York Times
US Military Chief to Reassure Afghans -- Voice of America
On U.S. policy in Afghanistan, who's running the show? -- L.A. Times
'McChrystal downbeat on Afghan war before sacking' -- AFP

Two Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- National Post
Canadian forces’ Afghanistan death toll reaches 150 as two more soldiers fall -- The Record
Two Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- CTV
NATO soldier killed in record month in Afghanistan -- AFP
US service member killed in Afghanistan -- AP
British soldier dies in hospital after Afghan explosion -- BBC
Afghan conflict claims lives of five more members of NATO forces; mainly in roadside bombings -- Today Online/AP
15 insurgents killed by their own bombs in Afghan mosque -- Hindustan Times
18 militants killed in Afghanistan -- Hindustan Times
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, June 27 -- Reuters

NATO "protection" plan means little to Afghan village -- Reuters
Hamid Karzai given timetable by G8 to tackle corruption in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
Karzai condemns corruption, drug smuggling -- AP
Toxic Sand: Another Enemy in Afghanistan? -- Politics Daily
One Battalion’s Wrenching Deployment to Afghanistan -- New York Times
Gillard assures Obama of troop backing in Afghanistan -- The Australian
In Kandahar, many wounds of war treated at Mirwais hospital -- Washington Post
David Petraeus: Back in the line of fire -- The Guardian
Afghanistan: USAID Affiliate Warns of Widespread Hunger -- Eurasianet
After the Taliban, Back to Normal -- Newsweek (Photos)

Counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan a big test for Gen. Petraeus -- Seattle Times/L.A. Times
The 36 Hours That Shook Washington -- New York Times editorial
America’s General, Afghanistan’s Friend -- New York Times opinion
A deadline for Afghanistan -- The Telegraph opinion
Obama walks a tightrope domestically and in Afghanistan -- David Broder, Washington Post
Will there be an Afghanistan Syndrome? -- Eliot A. Cohen, Washington Post
On Leadership: Experts discuss Obama's dismissal of General McChrystal -- Washington Post