KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- NATO's top commander in Afghanistan is tired of negative headlines, and he is on an offensive to counter what he sees as a wave of unwarranted pessimism in news reports coming out of the country....

The United States and NATO are updating plans for defending allies bordering Russia, and may increase joint military exercises with those states.

The top American military officer traveled Monday to the only country in Europe ever bombed by NATO to seek increased cooperation between the armed forces of the United States and Serbia and a lessening of tensions over an independent Kosovo.

More than 60 militants killed by Nato and Afghan troops as they attempted strike on Lashkar Gah, officials say

A UN-led campaign has intercepted several hundred tons of a chemical that helps turn poppy-based opium into heroin. The Taliban gets as much as 60 percent of its income from the drug trade, NATO estimates.

Is NATO's present strategy working in Afghanistan? DW-TV discussed the current situation with German NATO General Egon Ramms, who expressed optimism for the country's future.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday pledged Washington's firm support for Ukraine's bid to join the NATO military alliance despite strong Russian opposition to the move.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously agreed to extend the mandate of NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan and called for redoubled efforts to avoid the death of innocent civilians.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The U.N. said guns fell silent across much of Afghanistan on Sunday for an international peace day that saw pledges by the U.S., NATO, the Afghan government and the Taliban to halt attacks....

At a NATO meeting in London, Defense Secretary Robert Gates stressed to his allies "the importance of sharing the cost of the increased size of the Afghan Army."