Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 29, 2011

SUNSET SILHOUETTE - The sun sets behind U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jamie R. Johnson, a platoon sergeant assigned to Bayonet Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, Task Force No Slack, as he patrols Afghanistan's Kunar province, March 17, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell

Taliban Overrun Remote Afghan District -- Military.com/AP

KABUL, Afghanistan -- About 300 Taliban fighters on Tuesday overran the tiny capital of a remote and mountainous district in northeast Afghanistan, forcing police to retreat from their small outpost in the area, an official said.

The takeover was another indication of the deteriorating security situation in the north and east of the country, and a sign that the Taliban are preparing for a spring offensive against Afghan security forces and coalition forces.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Taliban fighters seize district in Afghanistan's remote east -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Taliban capture Afghan district: police -- Yahoo News/AFP
Taliban take Afghan district capital -- UPI
Afghan police say Taliban overrun remote district in northeast -- Canadian Press

UK pays Afghan civilians over deaths, injuries -- AP
MoD pays £1.3m compensation to Afghans for death, injury and damage -- The Guardian
Helmand civilians caught between the Taliban and a hard place -- The Guardian

Former Afghan minister arrested on corruption charges -- Reuters
Senior Adviser To Afghan President Charged With Embezzlement -- Radio Free Europe
Afghan ex-minister arrested over graft case -- AFP

Afghan Elite Borrowed Freely From Kabul Bank -- New York Times
Kabul Bank future undecided: central bank -- AFP

AFGHANISTAN: Military drawdown could hit aid flows -- IRIN
New and old information operations in Afghanistan: What works? -- Washington Post
Crumbling new school exposes Afghan struggle -- Des Moines Register
Russia says willing to open dialogue with Taliban -- Reuters
Is the U.S. Ready to Negotiate With the Taliban? -- Joshua Foust, The Atlantic
Taliban talks could be closer -- Jonathan Steele, The Guardian
U.S. Strategy - Or the Lack Thereof -- Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely, US Army (Ret), Family Security Matters