The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said on Tuesday it will halt
offensive operations during this week’s presidential election,
and the country’s fragile security was underscored when two
mortar rounds struck near the presidential palace in Kabul.  The
military alliance’s decision follows a similar order to Afghan
forces by President Hamid Karzai, who has called for an
election-day truce.  Millions of Afghans are expected to vote
Thursday for president and provincial councils amid threats from
the Taliban that they will disrupt the poll. U.S., NATO and
Afghan forces will be stationed around the country to help
protect the vote, but will not be carrying out offensive
operations.  “In support of the Afghan National Security Forces
(ANSF) who lead the security efforts during the electoral
process, only those operations that are deemed necessary to
protect the population will be conducted on that day,” the NATO-
led force said in a statement.  Two mortar rounds, meanwhile,
hit early Tuesday near the presidential pal