In brief: Pakistan liaisons quit border posts

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – U.S. military officials say Islamabad is pulling its troops out of at least two of the three centers meant to coordinate military activity across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The move comes a little over a week after NATO airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two army posts along the border. The deadly incident seems to have been caused in part by communication breakdowns.

U.S. military officials said late Monday that losing Pakistani liaisons at the border centers is a problem because the whole purpose of the posts is to exchange information about ongoing operations.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The Pakistani military did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Blasts in Iraq target pilgrims

BAGHDAD – A series of powerful explosions ripped through processions of pilgrims celebrating a major Shiite Muslim religious holiday Monday, threatening to inflame sectarian tensions as U.S. troops streamed out of the country ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline.

Nearly two dozen Iraqis were killed and more than 75 wounded in at least seven separate attacks on pilgrims headed to or from the Shiite holy city of Karbala in southern Iraq. The processions are attacked almost every year during Ashura, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein.

Iraqi security forces did not immediately attribute responsibility for the attacks, but police in past years have blamed al-Qaida militants or Baath Party insurgents attempting to stoke ethnic and religious animosities.