Wire: Taliban Expands in German Battlespace

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that the valleys of northern Afghanistan, patrolled mainly by NATO's 4,000-strong German force, have turned into a battlefield again.

The Reuters news service reported that "The Taliban have made a comeback in several northern provinces," said Mohammad Omar, governor of northern Kunduz province. "The local government here needs more foreign troops in order to root out the Taliban from Kunduz."

Since last year, the Taliban have pressed ahead to try to reclaim their former northern lands -- a setback for U.S.-led forces already struggling to contain an increasingly fierce insurgency in the south, Reuters said.

"There are certainly some areas, including Kunduz, where the insurgency has been strengthening," said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Greg Smith, head of public affairs for U.S. and NATO troops.

"It's a serious situation if left unchecked. [We] are focusing on Kunduz and other areas to reverse that momentum."

See link below for details.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Taliban Expands Grip Over Northern Afghanistan

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