Sources confirmed on Saturday morning that the Taliban has seized control of two districts in Takhar and Faryab provinces. A security source told Ariana that Taliban seized control of Baharak district of Takhar province last night. The source said that more than 50 uprising force members, policemen, and NDS soldiers have surrender to the Taliban. The source added that five […]

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 […]

The Presidential Palace (ARG) said on Saturday that President Ashraf Ghani has appointed new acting ministers to key security institutions and to the ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. According to ARG, Bismillah Mohammadi has been appointed as acting defense minister – replacing Asadullah Khalid; Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, is the new acting interior minister and Hayatullah Hayat as minister of […]

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 […]

Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline judge under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, secured a landslide victory on Saturday in Iran‘s presidential election after a contest marked by voter apathy over economic hardships and political restrictions. With some 90% of the 28.6 million ballots counted, Raisi’s tally was 17.8 million, interior ministry official Jamal Orfi said, giving him an unassailable lead. […]

As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan draws near, the region has been witnessing sudden adjustments. The Taliban have not only intensified assaults against the Afghan government forces and captured new territories but also began to demonstrate their regional ambitions to reduce Washington’s influence in Central and South […]

NPR’s Audie Cornish speaks with John F. Sopko, special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. He’s calling for continued oversight of U.S. funding there as American presence declines. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: The U.S. will pull all troops out of Afghanistan in the coming weeks but will continue its financial presence in the country with about $7.5 billion already set aside so […]

The United Nations is preparing for a likely further displacement of civilians in Afghanistan after US and international troops leave the country in September, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said on Monday as quoted by Reuters. Violence has remained high in the country over the last two months, leading to the displacement of thousands of families in northern and southern […]

US President Joe Biden at a press conference after the NATO leaders’ summit in Brussels on Monday “there was a strong consensus in the room, among the leaders, in that meeting, on Afghanistan,” reiterating that the alliance will continue its support to Afghans after the withdrawal of international troops from the country. “Our troops are coming home, but we agreed […]

Military analysts and former security officials strongly criticized the government’s current management of the war against the Taliban, saying the reason behind the collapse of districts to the Taliban is that the government’s military leaders have failed to lead the war in a successful way. Wais Ahmad Barmak, the former Afghan Minister of Interior, said that the politicization of the […]