Archive for July, 2021

Many Afghans Urgently Need Visas, But The U.S. Special Visa Program Has Fallen Behind

Thousands of Afghans who have been promised U.S. visas are facing death threats from the Taliban, and the U.S. effort to evacuate them is facing daunting hurdles. The Biden administration is ahead of schedule to have all U.S. forces out of Afghanistan by the end of next month. On the heels of that withdrawal, the Taliban are violently retaking parts […]

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Americans evenly divided on whether Afghanistan War was a mistake: Gallup

Americans are evenly divided on whether the war in Afghanistan was a mistake, as the U.S.’s troop withdrawal from the region nears completion. Gallup reported on Monday that 47 percent of Americans believe U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan was a mistake, while 46 percent support the mission. President Biden announced in April that all U.S. troops would be withdrawn from […]

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US General Pledges More Air Support to Afghan Forces

As violence continues to increase in the country, a top US general on Sunday said the United States will continue to carry out airstrikes to support Afghan National Defense and Security Forces facing Taliban attacks. Addressing a news conference in Kabul on Sunday evening, US CENTCOM Commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who met with President Ashraf Ghani on the same day, […]

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Afghan Forces Retake Key District in Balkh

Afghan forces retook control of Kaldar district in the northern province of Balkh as clashes continue near the provincial centers in Ghazni, Faryab and Takhar provinces. The Hairatan border town, which is a key trade gateway and a port between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, is located in Kaldar district. The district is located along the Amu River and shares a border […]

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‘Lack of Coordination’ of Public Forces Cited in Kapisa Losses

Former Kapisa governor Mehrabuddin Safi said that weak coordination among public uprising forces led to the fall of many key areas to the Taliban in the province, including Nijrab district. Safi said that the presence of a large number of Taliban fighters also led to the fall of the Kapisa districts. Security forces left key parts of Nijrab districts two […]

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Taliban’s Afghan takeover will be strategic disaster for Tehran

The increasingly likely victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan is going to be a strategic nightmare for Iran. In recent years, Tehran initiated contact with the Taliban and even hosted talks between the Afghan government and the group. Despite its ideological antipathy to the Taliban, Iran maintained ties with them as a hedge against the US presence in Afghanistan and […]

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Fog of War or Foggy Narratives? Afghanistan’s Information War Heats Up

While many may say any government effort will be too little, too late, the importance of rebutting Taliban propaganda must still be a priority for the Afghan government and seen as no less important than combat operations. As the war in Afghanistan rages on between the Taliban and Afghan security forces, one frequently-cited feature in Western media coverage has been […]

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Russia, Tajikistan Discuss Measures to Counter Taliban Threats

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Tajik counterpart Sherali Mirzo on Saturday discussed joint measures to counter threats from the Taliban in the Tajikistan and Afghanistan border area, Russia’s TASS news agency reported. Russia on Friday pledged to help its ally Tajikistan to build a new outpost on the border. The two countries will also hold major drills next […]

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Insecurity in Parwan Village Linked to Illegal Armed Groups

A special unit of the country’s intelligence agency, NDS, conducted an operation in Rabat village in Parwan province last week in which 10 people were killed, following concerns raised by local residents linking insecurity in the area to the existence of illegal armed groups. There have been many reports about the activities of illegal armed groups in some areas recently. […]

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Govt Forces Leave District in Kunar, Fighting Continues in North

Sources said that security forces left Narai district in the eastern province of Kunar on Sunday due to lack of supplies and that fighting continues on other fronts, including Nijrab district in Kapisa where its central areas are still under Taliban influence. “Narai district fell (to the Taliban) without resistance. This shows the weakness of the leadership of the security […]

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