Peace team leader calls for Islamic Republic system to be upheld

In their first formal session on Tuesday evening, the Afghan peace negotiating team leader, Masoom Stanekzai emphasized the importance of the current democratic system in the country, but still keeping it within the framework of an Islamic Republic. In his speech to all negotiating team members, from...

Security Council agrees to extend Afghanistan mission for one year

The UN Security Council has agreed to extend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year. Unanimously adopting the resolution, the 15-member council agreed to extend the mission�s mandate until September 17 next year. The council welcomed the start of intra-Afghan...

2 Killed, 12 Wounded in Takhar Blast

At least two civilians were killed and 12 were wounded on Tuesday evening in a blast from an IED in Kalafgan district of Takhar province, police said. According to the police the IED was placed in a motorbike and the blast happened in Kalafgan city of the Kafalgan district. According to the police,...

US peace envoy expected in Delhi to discuss peace talks

Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States� Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, is expected to meet India�s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss issues around the Afghan peace talks. Khalilzad, who spent Monday...

Afghanistan Wins Seat at UN�s Commission on Women

Afghanistan has won a seat at the United Nations Commission on Status of Women for a four-year term, the first time the country is becoming a member of the commission, said, Adela Raz, Afghanistan�s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. India, Afghanistan and the People�s Republic of China...

Pakistan to relax visa policy for Afghans as new envoy takes over

Pakistan is expected to announce a relaxed visa policy for Afghan nationals, specifically, students, businessmen, investors and medical patients, Pakistan�s ambassador-designate to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said. "The government of Pakistan is committed to ensure more facilities to Afghan nationals....

Abdullah returns to Kabul, contact group meets over agenda

Chairman of Afghanistan�s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah returned to Kabul on Sunday night after a two-day trip to Qatar for the opening of intra-Afghan talks. After landing back in Kabul, Abdullah said: "I wish the negotiation teams all the best in their endeavor to achieve...

Eight-member negotiating teams �working on talks agenda�

Members of the Afghan negotiating team said Sunday that actual negotiations might only start on Tuesday. This comes after a member of the Taliban�s delegation in Qatar told Ariana News that an eight-member technical team from both sides was working on setting the agenda for talks, which they say could...

Khalilzad: US Will Safeguard Afghan People�s Interest in Talks

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for Afghanistan peace, in an interview with TOLOnews on the sidelines of the Afghan peace talks in Doha on Saturday said the United States will not allow personal interests to take precedence over national interests in the talks. Asked about the possibility...

Crime Investigation Officer Killed In Kapisa

A police crime investigation officer was killed on Saturday night in a Taliban attack in Kapisa, said a police spokesman. Shayeq Shoresh, a spokesman for the provincial police chief, said the incident occurred in Tagab district. According to Shoresh, four other police were also killed in the attack...

Peace team likely to discuss reduction in violence at Sunday�s meeting

The head of Afghanistan�s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah said negotiators would discuss a reduction in violence when they met with Taliban representatives on Sunday. In an interview with Reuters, Abdullah said: "One of the topmost issues on the minds of the people is reduction...

World leaders band together for Afghan women to have a voice

Over 100 formidable leaders from around the world have joined together as signatories to an open letter calling for meaningful participation of Afghan women in the peace process that started in Doha Saturday.  They stated that substantive involvement of women in peace talks makes agreements more...

Historic peace talks underway between Afghanistan and Taliban

Afghanistan�s long-awaited intra-Afghan talks got underway Saturday morning in Doha, Qatar after years of behind-the-scenes activity to get to this historic point. Opening the ceremony officially was Qatar�s deputy premier and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani who was then followed...

UN Secretary-General condemns attack on Afghan vice president

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack on Wednesday in Kabul on the official convoy of First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, which resulted in dozens of civilian casualties. In a statement issued by the UN Thursday, Guterres extended his sympathy and...

CENTCOM chief says US to cut troops to 4,500 by November

The United States will draw down to 4,500 American troops in Afghanistan by November, the head of US Central Command said Wednesday night. General Kenneth McKenzie said in an interview with VOA: "We�re on a glide slope (in Afghanistan) to be at 4,500 by the November time frame, late October, November...

Spoilers Desperate to Disrupt Peace Process: U.S. Envoy Khalilzad

The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said "spoilers" are desperately trying to "disrupt" the ongoing peace process that determines the future of Afghanistan, as terrorists targeted First Vice President Amrullah Saleh in Kabul Wednesday. "As peace...

Taliban Have Not Cut Ties with Al-Qaida: Kenneth McKenzie Jr.

United States Central Command, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie jr. say, "the Taliban have not cut ties with Alqaeda yet". He said an article in the U.S-Taliban agreement in February points the group should cut ties with the Al-Qaida, but so far the Taliban maintained connections with the insurgency group. He...

Saleh releases video, assures the public he survived with only minor injuries

With his left hand bandaged, Afghanistan�s Vice President Amrullah Saleh issued a video message on Facebook Wednesday shortly after the attempt on his life and assured the public he was fine and had sustained only minor injuries. Saleh�s convoy of vehicles were targeted in an IED explosion shortly...

VP Saleh Survives Kabul Blast, At Least 10 Killed

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh�s convoy was targeted early Wednesday morning in the Taimani area of PD 4 in Kabul city, Saleh�s office confirmed. Tariq Arian, Interior Ministry spokesman, confirmed 10 were killed and 16 were wounded in the Kabul blast targeting the convoy of First VP Amrullah...

Trump expected to announce US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a further reduction in American troops in Afghanistan in the coming days. A senior administration official told reporters late Tuesday that Trump will first announce a drawdown of troops from Iraq on Wednesday and in a few days he will make the announcement...

22 Taliban Killed in Faryab Clashes: MoD

At least 22 Taliban were killed and 24 others were wounded in clashes with security forces in the northern province of Faryab on Sunday, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement on Monday. No information about security force casualties was given. The clashes occurred as the Taliban attacked...

Afghan government troops repel Taliban offensive in Kandahar

Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers patrol the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province on May 23, 2017. (Photo by AFP) Afghan security forces have repelled an overnight attack by the Taliban and killed at least 10 members of the militant group in the southern province of Kandahar. Afghanistan�s...

Chief US peace envoy Khalilzad heads to Doha to push for talks

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has left for Doha Qatar "to promote" the immediate start to peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. In a statement issued by the US State Department, it was said Khalilzad "will be traveling in the region...

Study finds released Taliban prisoners returning to battlefield

Taliban prisoners released by the Afghan government over the past few weeks are returning to the battlefield as commanders and fighters in contravention of the Doha agreement between the United States and the Taliban, Foreign Policy reports. According to the article, the majority of Taliban prisoners...

Herat-Badghis Highway Cleared of Taliban

The Herat-Badghis highway in the west of the country was cleared of the Taliban in an operation by security forces, officials said, adding that at least 15 militants were killed in the operation. The 170-kilometer highway was closed to traffic in Laman area in Badghis province by the Taliban for the...

Taliban Attack in Herat�s Ghorian District Pushed Back: Official

Taliban on Saturday morning attacked the Ghorian district in the western province of Herat, local officials said, adding that the clashes are ongoing between the Afghan forces and the group. Ghorian district governor Farhad Khadimi said the Taliban militants were pushed back two kilometers from the...

One Killed in Clash with Pakistani Forces

One member of the Afghan Border Force was killed and three others were wounded in a clash with Pakistani forces along the Durand Line in Mohmand Dara district in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Thursday evening, the Nangarhar governor�s spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said. Khogyani said that three...

3 Civilians Killed, 1 Wounded in Nangarhar IED Blast

At least three civilians were killed and another was wounded in a roadside mine blast in Nangarhar this morning, said local officials. The incident happened around 6am local time in Pacheragam district. A civilian vehicle struck a roadside mine, said officials, adding that "a father and son are among...

Nuristani Sentenced to 6 Months of Home Confinement in US

Former Afghan politician Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani was sentenced to three years of probation and six months of home confinement after he "pleaded guilty to theft of public money, admitting he received over $100,000 in government benefits," said Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)...

Prisoner Swap Will End Soon: Peace Council

Faraidoon Khwazoon, High Council for National Reconciliation spokesperson, on Monday said that all obstacles ahead of the intra-Afghan talks have been removed and soon talks will begin. "All obstacles ahead of the intra-Afghan talks have been removed. The prisoner swap process will end soon and intra-Afghan...