Afghan security forces have arrested two key Islamic State (IS) members and two militants loyal to the IS outfit following a search operation in eastern Laghman province, Afghan Interior Ministry said Sunday.

Kabul has blamed the Taliban for a delay in the exchange of three extremist prisoners held in Afghanistan for two Western hostages that the militant group has been holding.

A planned prisoner swap between the Afghan government and the Taliban that was intended to restart peace talks between the insurgent group and the United States has been delayed, according to Afghan and Taliban officials.

US and Australian hostages held by the armed group freed after Afghan government released three Taliban commanders.

Fourteen Taliban militants, including a militants’ divisional commander, were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province, local police said Tuesday.

The two Western teachers held by the Taliban are safe with American forces, officials say, and three Taliban figures are freed. Some Afghans worry it won’t help renew peace talks. The Taliban on Tuesday freed two Westerners they had held for more than three years in exchange for the release of three senior insurgent leaders, officials said, in a deal […]

As American ground forces in Afghanistan shrink, U.S. and allied warplanes are dropping bombs and firing missiles at insurgent targets at a record pace in the 18-year-long war.