In its latest video that celebrates the signing of the agreement that facilitates the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban promotes the training of its “commandos” at a camp in the remote northern province of Badakhshan.

Under US-Taliban deal, Afghanistan government has released more than 4,000 fighters while the group has freed about 700.

The Taliban say they are ready for talks with Afghanistan’s political leadership after the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha at the end of July, offering to hand over the last of the government prisoners in a week’s time, providing the government frees the last of its Taliban prisoners.

A U.N. report says more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents are hiding in Afghanistan, most belonging to the outlawed Pakistani Taliban group responsible for attacking Pakistani military and civilian targets.

District governor in western Herat province says at least eight civilians killed in attack targeting Taliban fighters.

A Taliban suicide bomber targeted an Afghan military convoy as it passed through a district in eastern Afghanistan that has been a hotbed of terrorist activity. Yesterday’s attack is the second major suicide bombing against Afghan forces within a week.

Over a dozen Afghan security personnel have been killed in suspected Taliban attacks.

A suicide car bomber in central Afghanistan targeted a convoy of Afghan army troops, killing eight soldiers, the defence ministry said, while Taliban Islamist militants claimed responsibility for the attack amid a nationwide escalation of violence.

As violence surges across Afghanistan, Afghan security forces on Friday said at least 72 Taliban militants, including four top commanders, have been killed in operations in three provinces.

The United States is calling on leaders in Afghanistan to conclude an ongoing prisoner swap and launch a peace dialogue with the Taliban insurgency without delay.