'Alarming' rate of drug use among women, children
KABUL — The 18 women sit cross-legged on metal beds, wearing long, loose dresses and nightgowns, their heads completely covered with shawls. They do not want us to see them. Some of them are holding babies in their laps.
They are addicted to heroin and opium, products of Afghanistan's richest and cruelest crop, poppies. Some of their infants are addicted, too. FULL POST
4 presidents, 1 resort, multiple issues
The presidents of Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan held a quartet meeting in Russia's southern Black Sea resort of Sochi Wednesday, where they discussed the international battle against terror and the war on drugs, as well as economic issues, according to the Kremlin.
Earlier in the day, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev held bilateral talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, the Kremlin said on its website.
(Photo above: Three of the four presidents — Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai.) FULL POST
U.N. sees increase in humanitarian workers targeted
Calling for the protection of humanitarian workers in Afghanistan, the United Nations says there have been 47 incidents of direct intimidation of U.N. staff and aid workers in the first six months of this year.
In addition, 19 U.N. staff members and aid workers have been attacked, 63 U.N. staff members and aid workers have been abducted and seven U.N. staff members and aid workers have been killed. FULL POST
Makeshift Taliban prison found
Security forces in southern Afghanistan found 27 shackled Afghan men in a makeshift Taliban prison compound, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said on Wednesday. FULL POST
