Afghanistan War News Updates -- December 30, 2011

Afghan National Army commandos stand guard during a clearing operation in Ghorak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 26, 2011. Afghan and coalition forces have partnered to conduct clearing operations to disrupt insurgent safe havens in the area and provide stability in the region. U.S.Army photo Sgt. Christian Palermo

US Hopes To Renew Talks With Taliban For HQ Office, Gitmo Prisoner Transfer; Karzai Has Doubts -- Washington Post/AP

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration hopes to restore momentum in the spring to U.S. talks with the Taliban insurgency that had reached a critical point before falling apart this month because of objections from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. and Afghan officials said.

One goal of renewed talks with the insurgents would be to identify cease-fire zones that could be used as a steppingstone toward a full peace agreement that stops most fighting, a senior administration official told The Associated Press — a goal that remains far out of reach.

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More News On Afghanistan

U.S. renews push for talks with Taliban -- CBS/AP
U.S. Wants Taliban Office for 2012 Talks -- Time/AP
Taliban to Open Office as US Looks for Afghan Political Solution -- ABC News
US mulls transfer of high-risk Taliban prisoner in peace bid -- The Guardian

NATO soldier, 4 Afghan civilians killed as joint raids kill and capture Taliban commanders -- Washington Post/AP
Afghan-Nato raids kill, capture Taliban commanders -- DAWN/AP
Afghan-led Force Captures Taliban Leader -- US Department of Defense
Combined operations kill one, detain 13, seize weapons in eastern Afghanistan -- Dvids
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Dec 30 -- Reuters
4 Killed in Afghan Bomb Blast -- Voice of America
Roadside bomb kills four civilians in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Two French troops shot dead by Afghan soldier, officials say -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan: Taliban blamed as attacks kill 12 -- SFGate/Washington Post
Taliban Attacks Kill 13, Reflect Strategic Shift -- Wall Street Journal
Afghan, Coalition Forces Partner to Destroy Explosives -- US Department of Defense

Director: Agency to get aggressive with fraud, waste in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
Afghanistan cracks down on contractors -- Washington Post
Music In Afghanistan A Sensitive Subject -- NPR
Afghanistan's best-case scenario -- Jonathan Kay, National Post