At least 60 militants have been killed in fighting between the Taliban and a rival Islamic group, Hezb-e-Islami, in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan. The fighting in Baghlan province appears to be a rivalry over control of local villages and the taxes they generate.
According to the governor of Baghlan both sides are using heavy weapons. During the fighting forty Hezb fighters while twenty Talibans were killed. A number of civilians died in the crossfire and the actual number of causalities is unclear. Securtiy forces are trying to provide help to the civilians.
Hezb-e-Islami, loyal to former PM Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is the second biggest militant group in Afghanistan.
The two groups have previously been allied in their opposition to Afghan’s central government and foreign forces.

President Barack Obama called Iraq’s election an “important milestone” on Sunday despite deadly violence, praising Iraqi security forces and repeating his end-2011 goal for removing all US troops from the country.
Scores of mortar rounds, rockets and roadside bombs exploded near polling stations across Iraq, killing 38 people, in an apparent effort to scare voters participating in the election for Iraq’s second full-term parliament since the 2003 US invasion. Obama praised millions of Iraqis for turning out to vote despite the attacks. As expected, there were some incidents of violence as al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists tried to disrupt Iraq’s progress by murdering innocent Iraqis who were exercising their democratic rights, Obama told reporters at the White House. But overall the level of security and the prevention of destabilizing attacks speak to the growing capability and professionalism of Iraqi security forces, which took the lead in providing protection at the polls, he added. Obama’s emphasis on Iraqi security forces’ success supports his argument that U.S. troops can leave the country on time, freeing the president to put his foreign policy focus more squarely on the war in Afghanistan.

General David Petraeus, the head of US Central Command, praised the efforts of Pakistan Army in eliminating terrorists, since last ten months.
I think you have heard it said by pundits that Iran has gone from being a theocracy to a thugocracy, Petraeus, whose command stretches from Egypt to Pakistan and includes Iran, said in an interview on CNN. Most recently, the Pakistanis have stepped up their efforts and arrested a number of high-ranking Afghan Taliban commanders. Petraeus said critics needed to appreciate the gains made in Pakistan and “the limits again to how much more can be done until these gains have been solidified. Petraeus appreciated the commitment and sacrifices made by the security forces, armed forces and the people of Pakistan in eradicating militancy and terrorism.

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the suicide car bombing on Friday at a volleyball game in Pakistan that left at least 88 people dead.

“The United States strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack on civilians in Pakistan, and we offer our condolences to the families of the victims and all the people of Pakistan,” Clinton said in a statement.

Her comments come after a man detonated a vehicle packed with explosives as fans gathered to watch two teams face off at a volleyball tournament in the village of Shah Hasan Khan, near the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan.

“The Pakistani people have seen terrorists target schools, markets, mosques, and now a volleyball game,” she said.

Clinton vowed to support the Pakistani people, as Washington urges Islamabad to do more to rout Al-Qaeda sanctuaries and dismantle havens of militants who cross the border and attack US and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan.

“The United States will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan in their efforts to chart their own future free from fear and intimidation, and will support their efforts to combat violent extremism and bolster democracy,” she said.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : Rao Qamar Suleman Air Chief Marshal, has said PAF would continue to provide support to Pak Army against the militants and work in synchronization with them to ensure success of the operations.

He was addressing at a PAF Air Staff Presentation at Air Headquarters, Islamabad, the PAF said on Tuesday.

He appreciated the efforts of field commanders in safe and successful operations in Swat and FATA. He also showed satisfaction at the operational readiness of the PAF.

The presentation, a regular feature of PAF activities, was presided over by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force and was attended by Principal Staff Officers and Regional Commanders of Pakistan Air Force.

Commenting on joint exercise with friendly air forces he said, “Air exercises planned with foreign air forces would not only help in further strengthening relationship with friendly countries but also enhance PAF operational effectiveness.”

Emphasizing on Flight Safety he said, “We have to take good care of our assets and redouble our efforts to further improve our safety record.

Why do we celebrate Labor Day? The festival originated in 1882 as a result of the labor movement and was intended to be a rest day to recognize the efforts of the average working man. Although there is some disagreement as to who first proposed the idea of Labor Day, many historians generally credit a man named Peter J. McGuire – who was the secretary general of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor – as the man who first advocated the creation of the holiday.

However, other historians in recent years have highlighted a machinist named Matthew Maguire as the man responsible for developing the holiday while serving as secretary of the Central Workers Union in New York. Regardless of the discrepancy about who deserves the credit, he eventually became the Central Labor Union adopted a proposal for Labor Day and has appointed a committee to organize an official ceremony September 5, 1882 in New York.

The first Monday of September has been designated as the holiday because the day occurred halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. This idea became popular with the unions and various local governments across the country, municipalities and gradually came to adopt Labor Day as an official holiday, before the concept gained popular support and has developed into a national holiday.

The recognition of Labor Day as a national holiday for the working man is born as a result of legislation signed by President Grover Cleveland. While Cleveland has not been strong support from the work of the Union itself, he said that the legislation enacting Labor Day as a national holiday to be a cure symbolic political damage it had suffered more earlier this year. Meanwhile, he used federal troops to counter a strike by the Union of American railroads in Chicago, and later, 34 workers of railway have been killed.

Labor Day was celebrated with large public demonstrations of workers coming together, usually in the form of rallies and marches in the streets. However, these big parades became impractical over the years as industrial centers developed. Regardless, the party is generally accepted with pride in recognition of the contributions that workers across America and Canada have made to the overall prosperity of the North American continent.

Because these nations have industrialized, the efforts of workers have had an enormous impact in creating the best quality of life among people around the world. However, the general expression for the Labor Day has increased in recent years to include not only workers in traditional factory, but government workers, educators and other workers who have all contributed to the success of the peoples they represent.