The UN just had a major setback in its plans to be sure that food aid could be distributed to Afghans in remote areas this winter. After months of promising that it would find the money to repair the Afghan road network, the Asian Development Bank was forced to admit that it had been unable to broker a deal. The UN is now appealing for other countries to donate funds and equipment for an emergency project to get the most critical roads in shape for winter.--Stephen V Cole
Tight security in Kabul was imposed so that thousands of people could commemorate the first anniversary of the al Qaeda assassination of Northern Alliance military leader Ahmad Shah Masood.
American troops and commandos continue to aggressively patrol the south and southeast looking for Taliban and al Qaeda fighters and their arms caches. A network of informers has been established and is providing more information, especially about arms caches.