The Defense Ministry said that Taliban attacks have been pushed back in Laghman province, but some provincial council members said that the fighting continues in the outskirts of Mehtarlam city as well as in Alisheng and Alingar districts. Army chief Gen. Yasin Zia visited Laghman on Sunday and said that the situation was under control now that commando forces have […]

The Afghan government, facing widespread protests, has agreed to recall newly-appointed governor Mohammad Daud Laghmani to Kabul and to authorize the deputy governor to lead the province, for the time being, a member of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Junbish-e-Milli) said. Enayatullah Babur Farahmand said that the government has also agreed to keep the acting governor in place until […]

Some negotiators of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban held a meeting in Doha on Sunday–their latest since May 13–amid the stalled peace efforts that have shown no progress over the last two months after the announcement of US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Shaikh Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the head of the Taliban’s negotiating team, also attended the meeting, according […]

Taliban group attacks were pushed back in six districts of Badakhshan province on Sunday night, local officials said Monday. Nick Mohammad Nazari, spokesman for the governor of Badakhshan, said that on Sunday night, the Taliban, in collaboration with foreign insurgents, carried out offensive attacks in parts of Yaftal-e-Payan, Darayim, Khash, Jurm, Warduj and Raghistan districts. He did not however give […]

A female suicide bomber and her three companions were killed in Faryab province on Sunday, officials said Monday. Faryab police chief, said the woman, who was trying to blow herself up at Qaisar police headquarters in Faryab district, was identified and killed along with her three companions before reaching her target. Three other attackers were injured in the incident, police […]

Afghan military officials said on Monday that Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) pushed back the Taliban on Sunday night as the group advanced on the Laghman provincial capital of Mehtarlam. Late Sunday the Taliban carried out attacks on the Alishing district in the province and on parts of Mehtarlam. Sources told Ariana News on Sunday night that the […]

US forces have begun construction of a large military base across the Durand Line, as international troops continue to withdraw from Afghanistan, sources said. According to the sources, the base is being built at the Shalozan Kurram Agency area in the Tribal Area inside Pakistan – in the Zazai Aryub district which borders Paktia province in Afghanistan. Members of the […]

Pakistan, which shares a 2,640 km land border with Afghanistan, has undoubtedly much to gain from a peaceful Afghanistan. However, as foreign troops depart, the persistent failure of Afghan parties to strike a lasting peace deal could pose multiple challenges for Pakistan and its security interests. At this moment, it needs to make careful choices to preserve the intended goals […]

Some Afghans who worked with German troops in Afghanistan have said they see a big threat to their lives after coalition forces leave the country in the next few months and are seeking protection. Expressed concerns about their future, the Afghan contractors held a protest outside German troops’ base in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, seeking asylum and protection, reported Tolo […]

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, 63, on his empathy for the Taliban, his bitter disappointment with the former protective power, the United States, and why he considers the EU as his role model. He says the key to war and peace for his country, however, lies with Pakistan. DER SPIEGEL: Mr. Karzai, the Taliban are the very specter of terror […]