Washington  - The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating and the country's Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgency are gaining strength, the top US commander for the region warned Wednesday as the US prepares to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan.

General David Petraeus, head of US Central Command, said in congressional testimony that insurgents had expanded their control over the southern and eastern parts of the country.

Rome (Italy), Dec. 10 : US Central Command chief, General David Petraeus has said that the Mumbai attacks were of more significance for Pakistan than India, as these attacks help comprehend the magnitude of challenges confronting Islamabad.

Addressing at American Studies Centre in Rome, General David Petraeus said that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai were although quite horrible for India also, but for Pakistan this situation was more dangerous than the one that had emanated in the aftermath of 9/11.

"It doesn't mean that these attacks were less dangerous for India, but these attacks have brought to the fore the challenges facing Pakistan", The News quoted him, as saying.

Kabul, Nov 7 : US Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus has reportedly said that the US’ missile strikes in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas had killed three of the top 20 Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in recent months.

He, however, did not identify the leaders who had been killed in such strikes.

Petraeus’ statement is seen as a justification of the US strikes, especially in the wake of recent protests from Islamabad against such strikes, saying that they violated Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Istanbul  - When General David Petraeus took over as commander of US forces in Iraq 19 months ago, the country was on the brink of civil war.

More than 3,000 US soldiers had died since the invasion of March 2003 and al-Qaeda terrorists had made the western province of Anbar their regional centre of operations.

With a new strategy that included a surge of US troops, Iraqi military helpers and improved surveillance, Petraeus was able to change the picture.

But for his successor, General Raymond Odierno, who on Tuesday took charge of the 146,000 US troops in Iraq, a lot of problems remain.

Washington  - The US S

Washington- The top US commander in Iraq said