Deadliest year in Afghanistan since the start of the war

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Coalition deaths:

Period.......US.........Other.........Total
2007........99.........101.............200
2006.........98...........93.............191
2005.........99...........31.............130
2004.........52............6...............58
2003.........48............9...............57
2002.........48..........20...............68
2001.........12............0...............12

Intel chief, 3 others, die in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A U.S.-led coalition soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan, while a roadside blast killed a regional intelligence chief and three of his bodyguards in the east on Tuesday, officials said.

The coalition soldier was killed while conducting combat operations in Sperwan Ghar, in Kandahar province, a statement from the coalition said.

The clash also left another coalition soldier and an Afghan policeman wounded, the statement said. Both were evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment. The nationalities of the killed and wounded coalition troops were not released.

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Violence in Afghanistan this year is the deadliest since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. More than 5,300 people have died this year due to insurgency-related violence, according to an Associated Press count based on figures from Afghan and Western officials.

Taliban strengthening:

Taliban overrun Afghan district, dozens killed

AFP

October 30, 2007

HERAT, Afghanistan -- Taliban rebels overran a western Afghan district, sparking a fierce battle Tuesday that left seven civilians and a policeman dead and 20 militants killed or wounded, officials said.

A soldier with the US-led coalition, an Afghan spy chief, and 20 militants were killed in other incidents linked to the spiraling insurgency by the hard-line regime, which was ousted by international forces in late 2001.

Local Taliban carried out the raid on Gulistan district of western Farah province Monday night, and were joined by about 400 rebels from neighboring Helmand, provincial police chief Abdul Rehman Sarjang said.

"Police made a tactical retreat, the battle is ongoing now. No one is in control of the district center at the moment, police are in the outskirts of the district center fighting Taliban," Sarjang said.

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International support waning:

Japan PM forced to withdraw Afghan war backing

Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Tuesday October 30, 2007
The Guardian

Speculation mounted today that Japan's new prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, could be forced to call an early general election after failing to win opposition backing for the country's participation in the US-led war in Afghanistan.
Mr Fukuda and Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Democratic party, met for an hour but could not agree on government plans to extend a naval mission in the Indian Ocean, where Japanese ships have been supplying fuel for US and other coalition forces operating in Afghanistan since 2001.

Mr Ozawa has repeatedly said he would support the mission only if it had UN backing. The naval deployment was a key issue in July's upper house elections, in which members of his party, along with other opposition groups, took control of the second chamber, enabling them to block government legislation.

Attempts to renew Japan's logistical support for coalition forces have been blighted by scandals, including allegations that it secretly supplied additional fuel used by US forces in Iraq. Japan's controversial humanitarian mission in southern Iraq ended last year.

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NATO 'losing' fight in Afghanistan