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 […]
Afghan
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 […]
Qatar convinces Taliban to meet Afghan govt representatives
Qatar has secured assurances from the Taliban political envoys to sit face-to-face with representatives of the Afghan government in Doha, diplomatic sources have said. President Ashraf Ghani’s nominees will join Afghan political leaders who are scheduled to meet with Taliban in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on April 14-15. This will be the second meeting […]
Pakistan reiterates commitment to Afghan peace
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Friday expressing commitment to Afghan peace process said it will directly benefit Pakistan’s vision of economic and human development. In a meeting with Special Representative of US Secretary of State for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the foreign minister said Pakistan wishes well for the peace and stability in Afghanistan. […]
Pakistan-India tensions ground Afghan travelers
Airspace restrictions in Pakistan due to simmering tensions with India have caused airfares to spike for Afghans who travel for medical treatment, education and business. Pakistan closed its airspace in February after a suicide bomber from Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) attacked a convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Following the attack, both countries carried out […]
US diplomat Wells arrives to discuss Afghan peace
ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Alice Wells arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to hold meetings with senior officials of the foreign ministry including minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Twitter, Ambassador Wells will meet with Qureshi and other dignitaries to discuss Pak-US ties, Afghan peace among other […]
Afghan forces search for Taliban fighters after major attack
Afghan forces launched a clearing operation Friday, searching for Taliban fighters following a major assault on the southeastern city of Ghazni, after US air strikes targeted insurgents trying to overrun the city. Afghan special forces were deployed to Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming […]