Afghan pilot told to rejoin air force or leave US protection

An Afghan major under US protection at an American base fears he could be in danger of being killed by the Taliban after being given an ultimatum following the Pentagon�s reversal on its asylum decision. Major Mohammed Naiem Asadi, one of Afghanistan�s few elite attack helicopter pilots, his wife...

Herat�s Obe District Police Chief Killed in Ambush

Mohammad Rafiq Alokozai, police chief of Obe district in Herat, was killed in a Taliban ambush in the district on Monday morning, said the spokesman for the provincial police chief, Abdul Ahad Walizada. The incident happened in Obe, about 15km far from the center of the district. Taliban attack Alokozai�s...

Deadly Humvee bomb targets public protection unit in Ghazni

At least 21 security force members have been killed and 17 others reportedly wounded in a suicide bombing on Sunday morning in Ghazni province, local officials said. According to officials a Humvee military vehicle was used in the explosion and the explosive-laden vehicle was detonated close to a...

Suicide attacker targets Zabul�s provincial council head

Ata Jan Haqbayan, head of Zabul�s provincial council, was wounded in a suicide attack in Qalat city, capital of Zabul province on Sunday morning, local officials said. Officials from the council said that Haqbayan was on his way to his office when his vehicle was targeted by a suicide attacker. Three...

US closes 10 bases as part of �murky� withdrawal process

The United States has closed at least 10 military bases across Afghanistan as part of a withdrawal process "so murky" that many officials say they are uncertain of what�s to come despite a fast-approaching deadline, the Washington Post reported Saturday. Washington�s drawdown started after the US...

Contradictory statements on developments in peace talks

Following the presidential palace�s opposition to the issues agreed upon in the Doha peace talks with the Taliban, some members of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan�s peace negotiating team say they are not accountable to the presidency. "Presidential palace where the Afghan government is at the...

America�s security is not hinged on the number of troops on the ground: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said earlier this week that the threat from terrorist attacks around the world does not emanate from Afghanistan alone. Speaking to Fox News, Pompeo said: "The threat from terrorism around the world - from Islamic extremism, Islamic terrorism - is real. It doesn�t...

Ten Australian soldiers fired after release of war crimes report

Australia has issued termination notices to at least 10 special forces soldiers after the release of a report last week that found credible evidence of unlawful killings of 39 unarmed Afghan prisoners and civilians, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said on Thursday. The report stated that...

Rights watchdog appeals for urgent help for Bamiyan victims

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission has issued an urgent appeal to government and to the international community to help 14 seriously wounded victims of Tuesday�s bombing in Bamiyan city. In a series of tweets, the AIHRC said the families of the victims are also appealing for help...

Car bomb in Kandahar leaves 17 wounded

At least 17 people, including four civilians were wounded Wednesday morning in Kandahar province in a car bomb, local officials said. According to officials the blast occurred at around 10:30 am local time when a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives close to the PD11 police building. Police...

More than 70 killed or wounded across Afghanistan in under 24 hours

More than 70 people have been killed or wounded in explosions in less than 24 hours around Afghanistan, an Ariana News tally shows. The latest incident happened just after 7.30am Wednesday morning when a magnetic IED was detonated against a Ford vehicle in PD12 in Kabul city. Kabul police said that...

Germany Starts Reducing Troops in Kunduz: Report

Germany is reducing its military presence in the northern province of Kunduz that was planned by NATO�s mission in Kabul in late summer, Germany�s military said as quoted by Reuters. The reduction is not a reaction to the United States� announcement last week that it will cut US forces in Afghanistan...

US Committed to Enduring Partnership with Afghanistan: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in an address to Geneva Conference on Tuesday said that the United States remains committed to its own enduring partnership with Afghanistan, and to helping the Afghan peace negotiations be successful. "The start of the Afghan Peace Negotiations in Doha has opened...

Ten nominee ministers secure votes of confidence

The Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday voted in favor of 10 nominated ministers, including those for defense, interior, and foreign affairs. Haneef Atmar secured 197 votes of confidence for the position of the foreign minister; Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal got 205 votes as finance minister;...

21 Rockets Land in Kabul; 8 Civilians Killed

At least 14 rockets landed in various parts of Kabul on Saturday morning just one hour after two IED explosions in the city. The Interior Affairs Ministry said 8 people were killed and 21 more were wounded in the rocket attacks. The rockets landed in Wazir Akbar Khan and Shahr-e-Naw areas in downtown...

Pompeo to meet with Afghan and Taliban talks teams

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to meet negotiators from the Afghan negotiating team and from the Taliban in Doha as recent indications point towards some headway having been made in talks. The US State Department said late Friday that Pompeo will meet separately with the Afghan government...

Abdullah meets with Turkey�s Erdogan to discuss peace process

Abdullah Abdullah, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, on Friday discussed the Afghan peace process; talks in Doha and strengthening of bilateral relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. Abdullah�s office said in a statement that Erdogan supports the Afghan...

ANDSF Conducts 96% of Operations Independently: Khalid

Asadullah Khalid, the nominee for the Ministry of Defense, said the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are conducting 96% of their operations independently, referring to concerns about a possible withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Khalid said that the Afghan forces receive...

Republicans Slam Trump�s Plan to Reduce Troops in Afghanistan

US Congressional Republicans on Monday slammed President Donald Trump�s plan for a swift reduction of US forces in Afghanistan, warning that it would be a gift to America�s enemies. "A rapid withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan now would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm,"...

12 local police force members killed in Badakhshan: Officials

At least 12 members of Afghan local police were killed and 10 more were wounded in a Taliban attack in the northeastern province of Badakhshan on Monday evening, a security source said Tuesday. The source said the Taliban attacked a security outpost in Jurm district, Badakhshan province, on Monday...

Ending war, bringing peace is top priority for foreign policy: Atmar

Mohammad Haneef Atmar, nominated foreign affairs minister, along with other nominees for different ministries, on Monday presented his plan to members of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) and said "ending the war and bringing peace and stability in the country is a top priority for Afghanistan�s...

Taliban launch attack on Kunduz district center, reinforcements arrive

Esmatullah Moradi, the spokesman for the governor of Kunduz, confirmed Monday morning that the Taliban launched an attack on Dasht-e-Archi district center on Sunday night and that clashes are still ongoing. Moradi said so far at least three security force members have been killed and eight Taliban...

One arrested, one killed in connection with Kabul University attack

Another two suspects in the recent Kabul University attack were identified - one was killed and another arrested - First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said in an early morning security meeting in Kabul. This brings the total number of suspects involved in the planning to three. Saleh said Monday...

Abdullah: Taliban Prisoners Released in Hope for Peace

Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, on Saturday said the Taliban prisoners were released in the hope for ending the war or reducing violence in the country, but the expectations from the move were not met. Addressing Herat Security Dialogue, Abdullah said the...

Mastermind of Kabul University attack arrested

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said Saturday that the mastermind of the attack on Kabul university has been arrested. Speaking at a 6:30 am session with other officials, Saleh said that the mastermind of the attack on Kabul University, whose name is "Adel", from Panjshir province, was a student...

Pakistan�s Prime Minister Imran Khan to Visit Kabul This Week

Pakistan�s Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Kabul this week, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Saturday. Gran Hewad, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Afghan peace process and strengthening political, security, trade and economic ties will be discussed during this trip. The...

Journalist among three killed in IED explosion in Kabul

At least three civilians were killed early Saturday morning in a magnetic IED explosion in PD9 in Kabul city, police confirmed. According to police the explosion happened at around 08:00 in the morning in 4th Macroryan. The magnetic IED had been placed on a Toyota vehicle before being detonated. Yama...

EU, Pakistan Vow to Work for Afghan Peace

The European Union (EU) and Pakistan on Wednesday released a joint statement, reaffirming their determination to strengthen in a strategic way their long-term, forward-looking and broad-based partnership for peace, development and prosperity. Known as the "The Strategic Engagement Plan" was signed...

Afghan Govt, Taliban in War of Words over University Attack

The Afghan government and the Taliban have been exchanging heated words following Monday�s attack on Kabul University with First Vice President Amrullah Saleh blaming the Taliban for the attack that took the lives of at least 18 students and wounded dozens more. In response, Taliban spokesman Mohammad...

Taliban Rejects Al-Qaeda Presence in Afghanistan

Taliban has rejected al-Qaeda presence in Afghanistan weeks after the Afghan security forces during an operation killed a senior leader of the network Abu Mohsin al-Misri in a Taliban-controlled area in Andar district of central Ghazni province. Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said the Taliban will...