Atmar In Germany For Talks With Officials

President Ashraf Ghani�s National Security Advisor (NSA) Mohammad Hanif Atmar has met with Germany�s new security and political officials, the NSAoffice confirmed in a statement on Thursday. Atmar left Kabul on Tuesday for Germany for meetings with high-ranking security and defense officials, parliament...

New Balkh Governor Officially Takes Over

Mohammad Ishaq Rahgozar, who was among three candidates recommended for the Balkh governor�s post, officially took over the reins on Thursday. Rahgozar was appointed to the position based on a decree issued by President Ashraf Ghani. Former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor, who addressed a ceremony...

Govt Leaders Talk Peace, Elections on Occasion of Nawroz

President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said government is working on a number of programs for the new solar year including the introduction of reforms in the country�s education sector, fast-tracking parliamentary and district council elections and the peace process. The Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah...

UN Condemns Kabul Bombing as Death Toll Rises to 32

Tadamichi Yamamoto, UN Secretary-General�s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the suicide attack in Kabul that left at least 32 civilians dead and dozens more injured. "On behalf of the United Nations in Afghanistan,...

29 Killed In Deadly Bombing In Kabul: Health Ministry

The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed 29 people were killed and 52 wounded in Wednesday�s deadly bombing in PD3 in Kabul City. This came after the Ministry of Interior confirmed a suicide bomber detonated his explosives close to the Ali Abad Hospital and Kabul University at around...

1396 Was A Challenging Year In Terms Of Security

The 1396 solar year (March 2017 to March 2018) had many ups and downs for Afghanistan in terms of security as at least 11 districts bounced from being under government control and Taliban control. Security and defense agencies have said Afghanistanian forces will further focus on offensive operations...

1396 Deadly Year for Afghanistanian Civilians: Rights Body

Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on Tuesday said that 1396 marked one of the deadliest years for civilians in Afghanistan.  The AIHRC said the majority of people killed as a result of suicide attacks, explosions and battles between government forces and insurgents...

Taliban Welcomes Afghanistanian Jihadi Leader�s Offer for Direct Talks

The Taliban issuing a statement in response to offer of Ismail Khan, an Afghanistanian Jihadi leader and a former governor of Herat province, has welcomed the offer and invited "Jihadi Leaders" for talks to its political office in Doha, the capital city of Qatar. According to the statement, Ismail Khan...

US High Delegation Led by Gen. Dunford Arrives in Afghanistan

Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Afghanistan on Monday, March 19, to assess the campaign plan now that all personnel are in place and the South Asia strategy is in full swing, the U.S. Defense Secretary reported. "I want to talk to the actual advisors who are working...

US Held Private Talks With Pakistan on Sanctuaries: Nicholson

General John Nicholson, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan said the United States held a series of private talks with Pakistani officials about the elimination of insurgent sanctuaries in Pakistan. He said the recent pressure applied to Pakistan has not resulted in the reduction of violence in...

Foreign Countries Should Not Turn Afghanistan Into Their Rivalry Hub: Iranian Envoy

Mohammad Reza Bahrami, the Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan says that foreign countries should not turn the war-torn Afghanistan into their rivalry hub. On Sunday, Mr. Bahrami said the increasing activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and in the region is alarming and added that regional countries...

Grenade attack injures 5 students in Shia district of Afghanistanian capital

An attacker has set off a grenade among a group of university students in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, killing himself and wounding five students. On Sunday, the assailant, dressed in a school uniform, struck a neighborhood dominated by ethnic Hazaras, a Shia Muslim minority frequently...

Presidency promises two ministerial posts to Jamiat-i-Islami

Afghanistanian presidency has promised two ministerial posts to Jamiat-i-Islami political party as part of negotiation to end dispute over Balkh governorship, sources told 1TV Sunday. Atta Mohammad Noor, the executive chief of Jamiat, was dismissed by President Ashraf Ghani as the governor of Balkh...

Daesh Makes Progress in Eastern Afghanistan: MP Qadir

Afghanistanian parliament member Zahir Qadir claims Daesh or Islamic state is making progress in eastern provinces of Afghanistan, insisting that the government is not taking "efficient" measures to suppress the militant group in the country. "Both those armed oppositions who are being engaged in fighting...

China Ramps Up Security Presence in Afghanistan

The International Crisis Group has said in a report that China�s military is ramping up its security presence in Afghanistan and Tajikistan amid fears that militants could strike at western China. The independent think tank stated that China has deployed soldiers and built a "counter-terrorism center"...

UN Security Council Calls on Taliban to Accept Peace Talks Without Preconditions

The UN Security Council has welcomed the Afghanistanian government�s offer to the Taliban group to engage in peace talks and has called the group to accept the process without any preconditions and threat of violence. In a statement issued by Security Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom...

Politicians React to Hekmatyar�s Idea of Granting Local Autonomy to Taliban

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday said those individuals who have joined Afghanistanian peace process, should be careful of their remarks and avoid provoking schism among people. Speaking at a ceremony held for death anniversary of Abdulrahman Sayed Kheli, former police chief of Kunduz,...

Pakistan still supporting Taliban, says top U.S. general

A top US general said this week that despite a new U.S. policy of pressuring Pakistan, Islamabad is still supporting the Afghan Taliban. General Joseph Votel, the commander of U.S. Central Command, was speaking during a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing on Tuesday. Asked on the question of...

Central provinces not to suffer from deprivation anymore: Ghani

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani says the central provinces of the country will not face deprivation as he admitted that more work and determination is required to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of the people. He made the remarks during a gathering in Kabul to mark the 23rd death anniversary...

IEC Sets New Date for Parliamentary Elections

Afghanistan�s Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Sunday said the long-delayed parliamentary and district council elections will be held next year in the month of Mizan (Afghanistanian date which corresponds to Sept-Oct 2018). Waseema Badghisi, operational deputy chief of the IEC, emphasized...

Ghani Warns to Close Inactive NGOs

President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday warned non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that they will be closed if they do not carry out fundamental projects. The first national conference of NGOs was held today in Kabul where President Ghani, the Minister of Economy and officials from the foreign and local...

Afghanistanian lawmakers elect the first deputy speaker of the Lower House

The Afghanistanian lawmakers in the Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga, on Sunday elected the first deputy house speaker during a voting organized by the administrative delegation of the parliament. Humayoun Humayoun managed to secure the most votes from the lawmakers during the voting process...

Taliban kill 18 soldiers in Afghanistan�s Farah province

At least 18 Afghanistanian soldiers have been killed by Taliban militants in Afghanistan�s western province of Farah. Local officials said on Saturday that the overnight attack was carried out in Bala Buluk district, setting off a fierce gun battle. Afghanistanian Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat...

Some �Corrupt� Individuals in NUG Challenging the System: Humayun

Humayun Humayun, a member of parliament’s Lower House on Saturday claimed that some “corrupt” figures in the National Unity Government provoke schism among ethnic groups and seek to fragmentize the country. Speaking to MPs during Saturday’s session, Humayun said: “I...

Officials: 16 security personnel martyred in Takhar attack

The officials in northeastern Takhar province of Afghanistan are saying that sixteen security personnel have been martyred in militants attack. Provincial governor�s spokesman Sanatullah Temor said the attack was carried out by a large number of militants in Khaja Ghar district. Temor further added...

UNAMA Chief Reports Back On Peace And Elections

Tadamichi Yamamoto says the IEC must not delay elections but hold the polls as scheduled. UNAMA Chief Tadamichi Yamamoto said at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Thursday that it was now up to the Taliban to come to the peace talks tables. He also said political stability...

Death Toll Rises To Nine In Kabul Blast

Ministry of Interior says the explosion happened at least 300 far from Mosalla-e-Mazari area in Kabul�s PD6. An explosion occurred in Kabul�s PD6 in the west of the city close to a ceremony on death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari, the slain leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan. The Ministry...

Abdullah Warns Against Possible Rift Among People

Abdullah says rift among people should be removed as it is concerning for future of the country. Chief Executive Abdullah Abullah said Afghanistan is passing through a critical juncture in its modern history and that there would be no way to save the country if rift and injustice were spread among...

Afghanistanian Parliament to Open despite Constitutional Crisis

After a winter break, President Ashraf Ghani will officially inaugurate the National Assembly on Wednesday. Lawmakers are calling the inauguration of the lower house of parliament which is entering its eighth constitutional year of 16th legislative term as illegal. “The Afghanistanian Constitution...

Ghani Insists on Women�s Active Role in Peace Talks

President Ashraf Ghani has said that women must be part of any peace process with the Taliban group. "Our women have emerged to speak for themselves, to take great public positions. We have 10 deputy ministers, five women ambassadors, three ministers. They�re increasingly active. They are going to be...