Jihadi Leader Mohammad Ismail Khan has created a “public resistance movement” after the Taliban militants captured several districts including two key border towns in western Herat province. Dozens of civilians and fighters aligned with the prominent anti-Taliban commander gathered at a ceremony in Herat and picked up arms with plans to fight. Mohammad Ismail Khan said he would support efforts […]

President Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to engage in peace talks “if you accept Sharia [Islamic Law].” Addressing an event during the inauguration of Khost International Airport on Saturday, Ghani implied that the Taliban are fighting for foreigners’ interests. “Do you [Taliban] accept Sharia? Then come sit [for talks], But they say no and prefer US agreement [US-Taliban […]

The Taliban militants have suffered heavy casualties in northern Sar-e-Pul province, local officials said. Sar-e-Pul Governor Abul Haq Shafaq told Ariana News that following fierce clashes with the militants the Afghan security and Defense Forces (ANSDF) managed to repulse the Taliban attacks in Balkhab district and the center of the province. According to Shafaq, at least 25 Taliban insurgents were […]

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad says that he has returned to Doha and the region “to continue our determined diplomacy in pursuit of a peace agreement between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban.” In a series of tweets, Khalilzad stated that a negotiated settlement is the only solution to end the long-term war in Afghanistan. Khalilzad added […]

Afghan security forces have launched a clearing operation in Qala-e-Naw, capital of Badghis province, on Wednesday afternoon, provincial governor Hasamuddin Shams said. The Taliban has been “pushed back from several parts of the city,” said Shams, adding that “security forces are advancing.” “I assure you that all our security forces, including the special forces, are defending the city of Qala-e-Naw. […]

At least six policemen were killed in a Taliban attack in the Qala-e-Haidar Khan village of Paghman district in the west of Kabul. Security sources said that the Taliban launched an attack around 2:00 am on Tuesday night and seized all the weapons and other military equipment after killing the soldiers. The security sources said that the Taliban also sustained […]

A Taliban delegation led by the group’s negotiator Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai is in Tehran where the delegation met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other senior Iranian officials. The Taliban delegation is also expected to meet with a group of Afghan politicians, led by former vice president Younus Qanooni, who have travelled there from Kabul. The Taliban’s […]

Afghanistan’s tumultuous peace process came to a halt after President Biden’s announcement of a delayed withdrawal plan for US troops from the country. Indeed, this served as a good excuse for the Taliban to boycott any peace talks, assuming that if they do not negotiate power today, they will have it all after the unconditional withdrawal of the U.S. forces. […]

On 24 May 2000 the last Israeli soldier left Lebanon after 18 years of war. A few months earlier I completed my national service as an IDF operations sergeant, serving in command centres on the Lebanese border. Back then I watched the withdrawal with relief; happy that the roadside bombs, shelling, Hezbollah attacks on convoys and outposts, the wounded and […]

Badghis governor Hassamuddin Shams has confirmed that at the height of clashes between the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and the Taliban, insurgents broke through the prison gate in the provincial capital of Qala-e-Naw and freed the prisoners. However, according to Shams, the security forces were quick to intervene and have since recaptured about 80% of the inmates. […]