Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said that he will not transfer authority without elections, as pressure mounts for Afghans to consider a new US proposal for peace, which includes a plan for an interim government. Ghani made the remarks during a seminar on Afghanistan’s foreign policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Referring to the government’s peace roadmap, Ghani […]
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Iran handed over 303 prisoners to Afghanistan
At least 303 prisoners – including 12 female inmates – were handed over to the Afghan government this week, the Afghan ministry of foreign affairs confirmed on Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement that the prisoners, Afghan Nationals lodged in Iran’s jails, were handed over to Afghan officials at the Islam Qala – Dogharoun border crossing on Sunday.
Read more ›NATO troops’ future in Afghanistan still to be decided on: Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that NATO and its allies “strongly support all efforts to try to find a peaceful negotiated solution” for Afghanistan. Addressing a virtual press conference on the launch of NATO’s 2020 annual report, Stoltenberg stated: “That’s the reason why we welcome the US -Taliban agreement last year, and that’s the reason why we also support […]
Read more ›Afghan ambassador accuses Qatar of failing to curb Taliban violence
Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates has said that the Afghan peace talks which have stalled in Qatar should rotate among several countries, Reuters has reported. Javid Ahmad also accused Qatar of not putting enough pressure on the Taliban to reduce the level of violence in the country.
Read more ›War to escalate if troops leave Afghanistan: US generals
Two senior US military commanders have warned the war in Afghanistan will escalate in case of a full troop withdrawal from that country. The warning was issued by General Kenneth McKenzie, the US Central Command chief, and NATO’s Resolute Support commander Gen. Scott Miller in remarks published by the Los Angeles Times.
Read more ›At least 15 wounded in Kabul explosion
At least 15 civilians were wounded on Monday when an IED was detonated against a bus they were traveling in, police said. The blast occurred at 15:30 local time in PD2 area of Dahan-e-Bagh in Kabul.
Read more ›Both sides to conflict gear up for Moscow peace summit
Sources from the High Council for National Reconciliation and Sapedar Palace confirmed on Monday that the Afghanistan government delegation, led by Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, will attend the Moscow summit this week. So far no further details on the number of delegates nor their identities have been revealed.
Read more ›US peace envoy meets with Afghan leaders in Kabul
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on Monday and immediately met with Afghan leaders to discuss the recent developments around the peace process. The Presidential Palace (ARG) said Khalilzad met with President Ashraf Ghani on Monday afternoon. ARG stated they discussed Khalilzad’s recent trips to neighboring countries and to Doha and the next steps in […]
Read more ›MPs call on govt to keep Afghan journalists safe
Members of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Monday called on government to take serious measures to safeguard Afghan journalists. Marking National Journalist Day, which falls on March 17, Mir Rahman Rahmani, Speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, said that supporting journalists is supporting freedom of speech.
Read more ›Hekmatyar wants US forces to exit Afghanistan
Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) chief has announced his party representatives will attend Moscow and Turkey conferences, scheduled for next month. At a meeting with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) head Sirajul Haq in Lahore, Gulbadin Hekmatyar said most of NATO forces had left Afghanistan and the remaining were ready to leave.
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