Official: Al-Qaida Boosts Afghan Activity

http://www.heraldnewsdaily.com/stories/news-00100562.html

Official: Al-Qaida Boosts Afghan Activity

KABUL, Afghanistan - Osama bin Laden ‘s al-Qaida network has increased its activities in Afghanistan , smuggling in explosives, high-tech weapons and millions of dollars in cash for a resurgent terror campaign, the defense minister said Wednesday.

His comments came after an unprecedented series of suicide assaults — the latest on Wednesday when a bomber attacked a U.S. military convoy, killing three civilians.

"There has been ... more money and more weapons flowing into their hands in recent months," he said. "We see similarities between the type of attacks here and in Iraq ."

"There is no doubt that there is a connection between Taliban and al-Qaida and some other fundamentalists," he said. "In most cases, the suicide bombers are foreigners ... from the Middle East, from neighboring countries. ... It is a new trend."