It was encouraging to hear from one of the veteran workers in Afgh anistan that there is a better atmosphere with more hope for the future being expressed by expatriate and local brothers and sisters who live there. He attributes this in part to our year-long prayer focus on the nation. There has also been an encouraging growth in the prayer movement in both nations. Let's continue to pray for His transforming hand to bring down the wicked powers (both spiritual and human) that stand in opposition to God's good purposes for these lands and their peoples. Here are some fresh prayer concerns from our friends who know the situation:   Pakistan 1. Praise God that new believers are coming into the Kingdom, many for the first time and many in groups. Pray for strength and protection. They are being attacked. Many are coming to faith at the cost of their lives. 2. Electricity and gas for cooking and running cars are only being supplied in major cities for 6 hours a day. Rationing  is taking place in many cities now. 3. Corruption is rampant. This is leading police to demand bribes to protect Christians.   4. There is a move by radical Muslims to demand the death penalty for "blaspheming Muhammad". This could be used against Christians so pray that it will not be passed by the government. 5. Continue to pray for the local believers to overcome any fear of taking on spiritual strongholds in the authority of Christ and for the prayer movement to become united, involving Christians of all the different denominations, even those that have been at odds with one another in the past. Afghanistan 1. President Karzai has still not signed the agreement that would keep a small coalition military force in the country for the coming years to serve as a bulwark to the Afghan army and against attempts by the Taliban to overrun the nation. 2. Pray for good, moderate people who really care for their nation to gain the support of the people for the national elections in April, especially for the position of president. 3. Pray for the training and strengthening of the local believers and the building up of the prayer movement in the country. 4. Pray for more teams of prayer leaders and intercessors to visit both nations to provide support and encouragement to the locals and for great favor with the authorities for visas to be granted. Some wicked Taliban leaders responsible for the killing of thousands of people that need to be brought to justice: Afghanistan Taliban Mullah Muhammad Omar (Mullah - religious leader & teacher like Rev. or Pastor. Muhammad - descriptive title - Muslim follower of Muhammad) Pakistan Taliban (North West-Pakistan) Mullah Fazllullah is the new leader who has taken over Hakimullah Mehsud's place who was killed. Pray for confusion and dissension.  Fazllullah is the first outsider to ever take leadership for the Mehsud tribe. Many from within the tribe are not happy.  He is a far more aggressive and fierce leader. Punjab Taliban (supply much of the finances and suicide bombers for the war.) Malik Ishaq is the main leader and organizer, connected to the Taliban and Al-Qaida.  Creating trouble in Afghanistan, Punjab and a strong effort to take over the city of Karachi. Hafiz Saeed, one of Malik's main people.  Used in the Afghanistan war.  But with their belief that the war will be over in 2014, he is once again heading up war initiatives against India. Pray for these wicked men to be brought down and removed from influence in both nations.