Taliban set to release 20 prisoners: spokesman
KABUL: The Taliban on Sunday said it was set to release 20 prisoners in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, in a potential breakthrough after the insurgents walked out of talks with…
Taliban say they shot down US ‘surveillance plane’ in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Monday claimed that their militants have shot down a US military aircraft over Ghazni in central Afghanistan, “killing many senior officers of the Central Intelligence Agency…
Taliban kill 23 in attacks on Afghan checkpoints
KABUL: At least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in a series of Taliban attacks across the country, officials said Wednesday, despite winter snowfall that usually leads to a lull in violence.…
US opens first round of resurrected peace talks with Taliban
–While Khalilzad is talking to Taliban about reducing violence, US airstrikes and Afghan govt forces killed 59 militants on Saturday DOHA: US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad held on Saturday the first official…
Pakistan embassy in Kabul closes visa section amid tensions
KABUL: Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul said it was indefinitely closing its consular office in the Afghan capital due to security reasons, amid mounting tensions between the neighbouring countries. Closure of the visa section…
Arrests made after Taliban flags spotted in JUI-F’s Azadi March
A number of Azadi March participants were arrested on Saturday for hoisting Taliban flags during the protest. “The administration of the Azadi March has also distanced itself from the people who hoisted…
US official report calls for reintegrating Taliban fighters in Afghan society
None of the US-backed reintegration programmes enabled any significant number of ex-combatants to socially and economically rejoin the Afghan society, says an official US report sent to Congress this week. The Office…
US welcomes proposed intra-Afghan talks in China
WASHINGTON: The United States (US) on Monday welcomed China’s proposal to host a fresh meeting bringing together Afghan officials and the Taliban, after President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the insurgents.…
Afghan, US forces kill over 80 Taliban fighters
KABUL: Over 80 Taliban insurgents were killed in air operations by Afghan and US forces in the Kandahar and Faryab provinces alone over the past 24 hours, officials confirmed on Sunday. According to…
China to host talks between Afghan govt and Taliban
–Afghan govt confirms talks; Taliban claim govt officials participating as ‘private individuals’ BEIJING: The delegations representing the Afghanistan government and Taliban will arrive in Beijing in the coming week to take part in a…
Khalilzad meets Taliban in Islamabad
–Pakistan to do ‘whatever possible’ to get stakeholders, including Russia and China, to work on guarantees of any successful peace arrangement ISLAMABAD: A Taliban delegation met US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad…
Pakistan, Taliban urge revival of peace talks
–PM meets Taliban delegation, says Pakistan will continue to play its role for Afghan peace –FM Qureshi says speedy resumption of talks will help bring ‘peace, stability and prosperity for future generations of…
Pakistan hosts Taliban-US peace talks
–Taliban delegation to ‘inform Pakistan’s leadership of factors that derailed talks’ –Pakistan says it formally extended invitation to Taliban after hectic diplomatic efforts to help resume dialogue –Afghan govt says no progress will…
Afghan presidential vote held in relative calm, but turnout low
KABUL: Tight security ensured Afghanistan’s presidential election was held on Saturday in relative calm, though several small attacks, low turnout and complaints about the voting system heightened fears an unclear result could drive…
Afghan Taliban meet Chinese government in Beijing
KABUL: A Taliban delegation met China’s special representative for Afghanistan in Beijing on Sunday to discuss the group’s peace talks with the United States, a spokesperson of the group said. The meeting comes…
Imran says will urge Trump to restart Afghan peace talks
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that he would urge US President Donald Trump next week to revive Afghanistan peace talks with the Afghan Taliban. Trump abruptly canceled secret talks with…
Pakistan urges US, Taliban to re-engage in talks
–FO reiterates there’s no military to conflict in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD: Hours after the United States announced suspension of talks with Taliban for the Afghan peace process, Pakistan on Sunday urged both parties…