Today's AfPak round-up:
WikiLeaks clashes with rights groups. Five leading human rights groups, including Amnesty International and George Soros's Open Society Institute, urged WikiLeaks to redact from its Afghan war logs the names of thousands Afghan informants who could be targeted by the Taliban. The request provoked an angry response from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who first told Amnesty it should comb through the documents and remove the names itself, then reportedly wrote: "I'm very busy and have no time to deal with people who prefer to do nothing but cover their asses." [WSJ]
Washington urges allies to investigate WikiLeaks. U.S. officials hope a series of criminal investigations against WikiLeaks will restrict founder Julian Assange's ability to travel. They say the move reflects their belief that sites like WikiLeaks pose a threat both to Washington and its allies, and that even anti-censorship groups and left-leaning governments will try to avoid defending the increasingly controversial Assange. [Daily Beast]
Pakistan Taliban: Reject Western flood aid. Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq claimed the Pakistan Taliban would provide relief itself if the Pakistan goverment agreed not to accept any foreign aid for the 13.8 million victims of the worst flood in the country's history. [CBS News]
U.S. hopes Pakistan flood aid will win hearts and minds. While the commanding officer of the U.S. air fleet in Pakistan says his primary mission is "to provide food to people," he added "I certainly hope" U.S. aid will improve Pakistanis' view of the United States. It appears American aid is already having an impact: "Pakistani helicopters evacuate army people or people of their own choice. The U.S. helicopters in this situation are really a blessing for us," said 38-year-old teacher Bahrullah Khan. "We can now expect we will also have our turn and will get an opportunity to leave soon." [DAWN]