The airing of leaked police recordings of Toulouse al-Qaeda adept Mohammed Merah sparks condemnation in France—and new legal inquiries into his March killing spree that critics claim took place because of serious intelligence failures.
Af-Pak
Taliban Terror or Mass Hysteria: Who Is Poisoning Afghanistan’s Girls?
A recent spate of incidents in which dozens of girls have been forced from school, feeling sick, has set Afghanistan in a tizzy over what the source of the mysterious maladies may be.
Exclusive: French Officials Detail “Big Coup” Bust of Key Al-Qaeda Enabler
French counter-terror authorities tell TIME about a Tunisian arrested on suspicion of being a central figure in al-Qaeda’s activity on the internet and in the terrorist network’s recruitment, and fund-raising.
Pakistan Reopens Afghan Supply Routes, but Larger Diplomatic Crises Loom
Pakistan’s decision to reopen the overland supply routes into Afghanistan may be a slight boost for Washington-Islamabad ties, but there’s much more wrangling ahead as the U.S. steps up its plans to withdraw from Afghanistan by …
Countering al-Shabab: How the War on Terrorism Is Being Fought in East Africa
Two bombings of churches in Kenya pointed to the resurgence al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups in East Africa. But a TIME investigation into how the region’s countries (and the U.S.) are handling groups like Somalia’s al-Shabab …
Must-Reads from Around the World, July 2, 2012
In today’s roundup: Potential U.S.-Pak deal on reopening NATO supply route, Burma gets a new American ambassador and warnings of more riots in the U.K.
“It’s a sign that Kabul is still insecure – whenever the insurgents want to go anywhere and attack, they can.”
No, Prime Minister: Pakistan’s Highest Court Plunges Country into Uncertainty
In a controversial ruling, Pakistan’s Supreme Court axed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani—a verdict that speaks volumes of the enmities and uncertainties haunting the country
The Taliban Halts Polio Vaccines—and Pakistan’s Kids Will Pay
In Pakistan’s tribal areas, anger over drones and suspicions over vaccinators disrupts an effort to eradicate a deadly disease
Why Does Pakistan Call This Man a Traitor?
A judicial commission deemed Husain Haqqani — Pakistan’s former ambassador to Washington and a champion of U.S.-Pakistan ties — a traitor. When Osama bin Laden and Taliban militants can call Pakistan home, why are people like …
The Murky Past of the Pakistani Doctor Who Helped the CIA
Shakil Afridi’s role in helping the CIA locate Osama bin Laden made him a hero in the U.S. But in his native Pakistan, especially in the tribal borderlands he called home, his murky past has made him a villain in the eyes of many
Does India Want to Be a Part of America’s Plan for Asia?
The U.S. Secretary of Defense swung through New Delhi on his eight-day visit to Asia to encourage Indian leaders to help the U.S. with its military and strategic goals in the region
Must-Reads From Around the World: May 30, 2012
Suu Kyi’s World Tour – Armed with her passport and the freedom to travel without restrictions or fear, Burmese opposition leader and iconic democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi embarked on her first international trip in 24 years, …