In response, the insurgents have promised to step up attacks on diplomats, members of the Afghan government, lawmakers,NATO forces and foreign contractors.

VOA: standard.2010.05.19

But it will do so only if other NATO nations follow suit, the Afghan government pledges to fight corruption,and its forces have adequate equipment.

VOA: standard.2009.11.17

After seeing the general's grim assessment, President Obama told American television networks over the weekend he is in the process of reviewing his own six-month-old strategy, and he questioned whether supporting the Afghan government, building its security forces and securing key provinces, is the right approach.

VOA: standard.2009.09.22

They've been conducting an increasingly violent campaign against American and Afghan government forces.

NPR: For Afghan Fighter the War Continues as Loyalties Shift

In the west, U.S., NATO and Afghan government forces are battling the Taliban and other insurgents allied with al-Qaida.

NPR: Series Overview: The Embattled Frontier

He said the strikes were called in to support a major operation by US and Afghan government forces targeting senior Taliban commanders and a local weapons cache.

BBC: Afghan children 'killed by Nato air strike in Shigal'