Afghan and Taliban forces clashed again on the outskirts of Herat Saturday, a day after a police guard was killed when a United Nations compound in the western city came under attack. Violence has surged across the country since early May, when the Taliban launched a sweeping offensive as US-led foreign forces began a final […]
Afghan
Qureshi, Atmar exchange views on Palestine, Al-Aqsa
ISLAMABAD – Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday received a telephone call from Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar. The two ministers exchanged greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. According to the Foreign Office statement, Qureshi conveyed wishes for a happy and joyous Eid for the ‘brotherly people’ of Afghanistan. The foreign minister […]
Taliban to talk to Swedish NGO after Afghan clinic closures
KABUL: The Taliban said they will hold talks with representatives of a Swedish non-profit group after threats by the insurgents forced the organization to close 42 clinics it runs in eastern Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban would talk with the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan on Thursday “to resolve the situation” in Maidan […]
Afghan warrior Massoud’s image becomes national icon
In Kabul, it is hard to miss the late Ahmad Shah Massoud. His bearded visage is painted onto blast walls across the city, his photo adorns the windscreens of pro-government forces. And a central roundabout bears his name. More than 17 years since his assassination, the legendary fighter who battled the Soviets and the Taliban […]
Afghan officials: 10 wounded in Kabul minibus bombing
Afghan officials say 10 people were wounded when a sticky bomb attached to a minibus carrying government workers detonated in the capital of Kabul. Police spokesman Ferdus Faramarz says one of the wounded is in critical condition. Arab Haidari, from the religious affairs ministry, says all the wounded are ministry’s employees who were on their […]
12th century Afghan minaret saved, for now, after floods
The minaret of Jam, a revered Afgha historical treasure, has been saved from imminent danger after hundreds of workers diverted surging floodwaters that were gnawing at the 12th-century tower, officials said Monday. Torrential rains last week sent churning water roaring down the narrow valley that is home to the minaret, a UNESCO World Heritage Site […]
Pakistan ready for any ‘unforeseen eventuality’: COAS
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday said Pakistan is ready for any ‘unforeseen eventuality’ amid efforts for Afghan reconciliation and peace in the region. “While Pakistan continues to play its positive role towards success of Afghan reconciliation process and peace in the region, we also stay ready for any unforeseen […]
Another round of Taliban-US talks ends without breakthrough
The Afghan Taliban on Thursday claimed “some progress” in peace negotiations with the United States, as both sides concluded another round of talks in Qatar, but failed to reach any agreement over the withdrawal of the foreign forces. “Today, the 6th round of talks between IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) and US negotiation teams ended, […]
US military stops tracking key metric on Afghan war as situation deteriorates
The US military has stopped tracking the amount of territory controlled or influenced by the Afghan government and militants, a US watchdog said on Tuesday, one of the last remaining public metrics that tracked the worsening security situation in the war-torn country. The move comes as US and Taliban officials have held several rounds of […]
Intra-Afghan dialogue delayed as Kabul fails to finalise participants
The anxiously awaited intra-Afghan dialogue in Qatar has been delayed for five days apparently after the Kabul administration failed to finalize its delegation for the face-to-face meeting with the Taliban, Afghan and Taliban officials said on Wednesday. The talks were scheduled to be held on April 14-15 in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the […]