General David H. Petraeus, retired US Army general and former director of the CIA said on Saturday he fears the United States will come to regret their decision to withdraw all troops and warned of a possible civil war. In an interview with VOA, Petraeus said despite measures being taken to mitigate risks by extremists from re-establishing safe havens in […]

Taliban militants attacked the Alishing district and Mehtarlam, the capital of Laghman province, sources said Sunday night. According to the sources, heavy clashes are underway between the Afghan security forces in the provincial capital of Mehtarlam city. Sources told Ariana News that the provincial prison is under siege and that the Taliban were “shouting via a load speaker and asking […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Over 8,000 families have been displaced in at least five provinces as fighting intensifies on multiple fronts between government forces and the Taliban, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations said on Saturday. The families are faced with lack of shelter, access to health services, education and other facilities for a normal life, according to the displaced persons. Baghlan, Helmand, Kunduz, […]

US Brigadier General Matthew Trollinger, deputy director of politico-military affairs for the Joint Staff, told Senate lawmakers during a hearing on Afghanistan that US military equipment could end up in the hands of Taliban fighters and terrorist groups. When pressed for a guarantee that enemy fighters in the region won’t steal some of the abandoned and gifted military equipment, Trollinger […]