Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 30, 2012

U.S. Army soldiers conduct a combat patrol in Khowst province, Afghanistan, Jan. 25, 2012. The soldiers are assigned to 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson

U.S.-Taliban Prisoner-Swap Negotiations Waver As Group Refuses To Agree To A Ceasefire -- Daily Mail

Peace talks between the Taliban and the U.S. got started on the wrong foot this weekend as the militant group refused to bow to a U.S. demand of a ceasefire.

The dialogue began this weekend but almost ended abruptly as the U.S. tries to secure Taliban fighters to lay down their arms ahead of prisoner swap negotiations.

But some former Taliban officials are quick to point out that the meetings currently taking place in Qatar are not 'peace talks,' but negotiations on the prisoner exchange.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - January 30, 2012 -- ISAF
War in Afghanistan News - 30 Jan 2012 -- War On Terror News
30 Taliban rebels surrender in Herat, Afghanistan -- Xinhuanet
US, Taliban prisoner release talks fail: report -- Rediff
NATO sticks to transition roadmap in Afghanistan: Rasmussen -- Xinhuanet
Afghan War Allies Risk Fracture Over Troop Withdrawal Timing -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Canadian trainers staying in Afghanistan until 2014: MacKay -- Vancouver Sun/Postmedia News

Afghanistan, Taliban to Talk in Saudi Arabia -- Wall Street Journal
Afghan govt, Taliban to hold talks in Saudi Arabia: Diplomat -- Express Tribune
Kabul Plans Direct Peace Talks With Taliban In Saudi Arabia -- Radio Free Europe
Hamid Karzai plans Taliban talks in Saudi Arabia -- The Telegraph
Report: Karzai "plans talks with Taliban" -- CBS

Top Pakistan Diplomat to Meet Afghan Leaders in Kabul -- Voice of America
Kabul says Pakistan FM to visit for talks on Taliban -- Yahoo News/AFP
Afghanistan to press Pakistan for access to Taliban -- Yahoo News/Reuters

Afghan woman slain for giving birth to daughter -- MSNBC
Afghan accused of strangling wife who gave birth to third girl -- L.A. Times

Sarkozy Unexpectedly Calls Earlier French Troop Exit From Afghanistan -- Bruce Crumley, Time
France's Afghanistan decision raises worries -- L.A. Times

Fear drives new front in Afghan peace talks: analysts -- Al Arabiya News
Taliban talks: Another Karzai tiff with the US? -- Top A. Peter, Christian Science Monitor