With the centers of many districts in Faryab now under Taliban control, clashes have begun in the city of Maimana in the northern province, increasing the alarm of Faryab residents and lawmakers from the province in Kabul, who say that urgent action by the security forces is needed. Along with fighting in the center of Faryab, the centers of 11 […]

Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said that to achieve progress in the peace negotiations there is a need for the implementation of the Doha agreement. His statement comes amid ramped-up fighting across the country and the fall of dozens of districts to the Taliban. Baradar, in an article published Sunday on the group’s website, stressed the importance of […]

The Taliban said on Sunday it wants a “genuine Islamic system” in Afghanistan and that the group is committed to peace talks and believes in resolving issues through (mutual) understanding. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, said in a statement issued Sunday that now that foreign forces are on the verge of completing […]

The Taliban insurgents captured centers of eight districts in the last 24 hours, sources said Saturday. Local officials told Ariana News that the militants have seized control of Khwaja Sabz Posh and Juma Bazar in Faryab; Meer zaka in Paktia; Muradian in Jawzjan; Barak and Bangi in Takhar; Pusht Koh in Farah; Dara Suf Payan in Samangan; and Bazar Fabrika […]

Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Sunday. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that the diplomats condemned the continuing high level of violence in Afghanistan and “particularly condemned attacks targeting […]

US President Joe Biden will meet at the White House with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, on June 25, the White House said on Sunday. The meeting comes at a critical time when fighting between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants has surged, since Biden announced in April that all […]

The Taliban insurgents have seized control of another 17 districts in eight provinces in the past 24 hours. A member of Takhar provincial council told Ariana News that the Taliban overrun the Dasht-e-Qala, Darqad, Namak Aab, Chaal, Khwaja Ghar, Hazar Samuch, Yangi Qala, and Khwaja Baha-u-Din districts of the province. Meanwhile, the Afghan forces have also retreated from the Dara […]

Speculations abound over Taliban’s aim to exploit the vacuum left by the partial withdrawal of US-NATO troop to seize control of the capital Kabul and re-establish an Islamic Emirate, similar to the one the US dislodged from power after its 2001 invasion. The ground reality seems to confirm these concerns about an impending civil war. Violence and territorial contestations are […]

A bilateral agreement on military cooperation between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan was signed on Friday, the Afghan National Security Council (NSC) said. According to the NSC, Afghan National Security Advisor NSA Hamdullah Mohib and Kazakh Defense Minister Nurlan Yermekbayev signed the agreement during Mohib’s visit to the Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan. The NSC stated that the pact was aimed at paving the […]

The Taliban militants have captured another three districts in the last 24 hours, sources said. According to the sources, Dahana-i-Ghori district in Baghlan province; Awba district in Herat; and Shirin Tagab district in Faryab province were captured by the Taliban, bringing the total fallen districts to 37 since May 1. In Herat, the Awba district fell to the Taliban early […]