IWPR Afghanistan
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International forces and the Afghan army see the recapture of a small town in Helmand as a major victory, but holding onto it could prove more problematic.
NATO spokesmen issue apparently contradictory accounts of operation to seize town from Taleban.
Demonstrators call for the death of those behind a new, unorthodox translation of the Koran.
The Taleban who control this northern district are confident that they will extend their reach to the rest of Helmand over the coming winter.
Most Afghans prefer the traditional, tribal system of justice to state courts, according to a new report.
Private security companies are contributing to the rising tide of lawlessness, according to both Afghan and international experts.
The Taleban have avoided the worst excesses of the past in a bid to win popular support.
The atmosphere is subdued as many residents have left town and local business has declined.
The insurgents are building their network in the province of Badghis, in an attempt to open a gateway to Afghanistan’s north.