Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 17, 2012

Australia To Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan Earlier Than Expected -- CNN

(CNN) -- Australian troops could begin pulling out from Afghanistan in the coming months and may leave the country almost entirely by the end of next year, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Tuesday.

It's the latest announcement of foreign troop drawdowns in Afghanistan, a trend that signals the coalition's confidence in the country's fighting forces and the transition to Afghan security control.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - April 17, 2012 -- ISAF
War in Afghanistan, 17 April, 2012 -- War On Terror News
Afghan Forces Respond to Coordinated Attacks -- US Department of Defense

Taliban offensive halted -- Montreal Gazette/Reuters
Haqqani Network Was Planning Major Attack in Afghanistan: U.S. -- New York Times/Reuters
US Says Haqqanis Behind Afghan Attacks -- Voice of America
Haqqani Network blamed for coordinated attacks in Afghanistan -- Threat Matrix
Officials: Attacks show Haqqani's growth -- UPI

Afghan forces' strengths, failures on display in Kabul siege -- L.A. Times
Afghan Attack Response Shows Improved Forces, Leaders Say -- US Department of Defense
Afghanistan: Overinterpreting the Kabul attack -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

US prepares for last major offensive in Afghanistan -- New York Daily News
Afghan Assaults Signal Evolution of a Militant Foe -- New York Times
NATO ministers to mull Afghan strategy -- AP

Karzai blames NATO and Afghan officials for allowing Kabul attacks -- Christian Science Monitor
Karzai: Taliban Attacks 'Prolong Foreign Presence' -- Voice of America
Afghan leader challenges Taliban “brothers” over attacks -- Euronews
Karzai: Response to attacks shows Afghan forces ready to defend nation -- CNN
Karzai wants 'at least $2 billion' a year from US -- Hindustan Times/AFP
Afghan president: US deal has to specify cash -- CBS

Australian PM sets out Afghan exit plan -- BBC
Australian prime minister says country will pull troops from Afghanistan earlier than planned -- AP
Australia to Begin Afghan Exit a Year Early -- New York Times/Reuters
Australia to withdraw troops from Afghanistan early: PM -- AFP
Australian troops to exit Afghanistan a year early -- The Guardian

Afghan schoolgirls poisoned in anti-education attack -- Reuters
Officials say 150 Afghan schoolgirls poisoned -- CBS
Afghan schoolgirls poisoned by contaminated water, say officials -- The Guardian

Numbers of troops, fighters in various factions in Afghanistan -- Washington Post/AP
Q&A: International troops in Afghanistan -- CNN
Afghanistan: Is Karzai Peace Plan a No-Go? -- Khalil Nouri, Examiner
Crises collide in Afghanistan -- Julian Borger, The Guardian