Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 8, 2013

U.S. Marines and Georgian soldiers conduct a dismounted patrol during Operation Northern Lion in Mohammad Abad village in Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 24, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alejandro Pena

Insurgents Increasing In East Afghanistan, But Army Sees Gains -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Insurgents have stepped up operations in Afghan border provinces close to Pakistan, one of Afghanistan's top generals said, with militant numbers up on last summer as government forces work to improve security in the volatile east.

Major-General Mohammad Sharif Yaftali, who commands Afghan forces in seven crucial southeast provinces, said insurgent numbers were up around 15 percent on last year's summer fighting months, with an estimated 5,000 insurgents now in his area.

Many were Pakistanis and Chechens, Yaftali said, reinforcing recent assessments by Afghan army chief of staff General Sher Mohammad Karimi that the insurgency's backers in Pakistan had shut Islamic schools to send more fighters across the border.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghan Peace Council member injured; 14 Afghan soldiers, 64 Taliban militants killed -- Washington Post/AP
Afghan forces kill 18 Taliban, lose 5 of own -- AP
Dozens of Taliban militants, 14 Afghan soldiers killed in weekend battles -- Foreign Policy
14 Afghan soldiers killed following IED and militants attack -- Khaama Press
Jawzjan: Top Taliban leaders killed in Afghan, NATO operations -- Khaama Press
Afghan Officials Say More Than 20 Taliban Fighters Killed In East -- Radio Free Europe
Ghazni peace council chief critically injured following IED blast -- Khaama Press
Militants attack NATO supplies convoy near Quetta -- Khaama Press
Afghanistan detains Zakaria Kandahari, accused of murder while allegedly employed by U.S. Special Forces -- CBS
Afghanistan arrests former US translator accused of killing civilians -- Washington Post/AP
Afghanistan holds translator tied to civilian torture allegations -- Reuters
Afghanistan arrests former U.S. translator -- Air Force Times
Interpreter Accused of Torturing and Killing Afghan Civilians Is Arrested -- New York Times
Advisers in Afghanistan savor chance to get out of the office -- Stars and Stripes
Bomb analysis lab in Kabul hunts for killer clues -- Space War/AFP
Indian officials in Kabul to discuss enhanced military cooperation -- Khaama Press
Afghanistan’s looming partition -- Brahma Chellaney, Washington Times