DefenceTalkGHAZNI, AFGHANISTAN: Fighting flared in eastern Afghanistan Monday as Taliban insurgents threatened to storm another provincial capital, two weeks after their lightning capture of northern Kunduz city that marked their biggest military victory in 14 years. The attempt to seize Ghazni city was repelled by Afghan forces but it raised security alarm bells as the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-forces-repel-taliban-attack-on-provincial-capital-of-ghazni-65601/

DefenceTalkPresident Barack Obama has promised a full investigation into an apparent US air strike on an Afghan hospital that killed 19 people, a bombing which the UN said could amount to a war crime. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said patients burned to death in their beds during a raid that continued for more than an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/obama-pledges-probe-into-fatal-airstrike-on-afghan-hospital-65549/

DefenceTalkJalalabad, Afghanistan: The Taliban Friday claimed to have shot down a C-130 military transport plane in eastern Afghanistan, with NATO confirming that 11 people including six US soldiers were killed in the crash. NATO did not confirm the cause of the crash but it comes as Afghan forces — backed by NATO special forces and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taliban-shot-down-crashed-us-c-130-plane-afghanistan-65525/

DefenceTalkKABUL: The Afghan Taliban’s new leader told Kabul on Tuesday it must cancel a security deal with the United States (US) and expel all foreign troops if it wants peace in Afghanistan. Mullah Mansour made the demand in his first message marking the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha since taking charge of the insurgent movement […]https://www.defencetalk.com/no-peace-until-foreign-troops-leave-afghanistan-taliban-chief-65462/

DefenceTalkPeshawar, Pakistan: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants attacked an air force base in the country’s restive northwest Friday, killing at least 17 people in their deadliest assault in months following a major military offensive against them. The military said more than a dozen insurgents entered the residential compound at the base near Peshawar, the gateway […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taliban-gunmen-kill-17-in-pakistan-air-force-base-attack-65430/

DefenceTalkISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military announced that a locally developed drone has carried out its first missile strike, killing at least three “high-profile” militants near the Afghan border. Military spokesman Major-General Asim Bajwa said in a statement the unmanned aircraft named Burraq attacked what he called “a terrorist compound” Monday in the volatile Shawal valley of North […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistan-carries-out-first-ever-drone-strike-65296/

DefenceTalkISLAMABAD: The United States has taken Pakistan into confidence over a new US military alliance to fight the growing global presence of the self-styled Islamic State (IS), sources told DawnNews on Friday. The new alliance, called ‘Sahel to South Asia’ is expected to be announced soon by the White House. “Pakistan has been consulted by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-takes-pakistan-into-confidence-over-anti-is-alliance-65278/

DefenceTalkPakistan’s military on Wednesday said it had killed at least 31 militants in air strikes in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border. It said in a brief statement that militant hideouts were targeted in the Kyber and Shawal tribal districts, with 14 “terrorists” killed in Khyber and 17 killed in Shawal. The death toll could […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistan-air-strikes-kill-31-militants-in-tribal-areas-military-65272/

DefenceTalkKANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan: Airmen assigned to the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron provide world-class close air support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the Afghanistan area of operations. They complete this mission by maintaining, launching and recovering all MQ-1B Predators and MQ-9 Reapers in the country from Kandahar and Jalalabad Airfields. “MQ-1s and MQ-9s account for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reapers-predators-on-the-prowl-in-afghanistan-65146/

DefenceTalkOn Thursday, the US-Kyrgyz cooperation agreement on aid lost its legal force, following a decision made last month by a Kyrgyz government irritated over Washington’s continued interference in its internal affairs. In an article for RIA Novosti, journalist Vladimir Ardaev explained why losing Bishek is an important blow to US plans for Central Asia. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uss-loss-of-kyrgyzstan-means-losing-its-foot-hold-in-central-asia-65111/