Two Afghan security force members and 24 militants were killed in fresh clashes in Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province during Friday night, a spokesman of provincial government said Saturday.

President Donald Trump on Friday seemed to suggest that formal negotiations with the Taliban were back on — months after the peace talks with the militant group collapsed.

The killing of the United Nations employee underscores the growing threat to aid workers at a time Afghanistan is in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

U.S. President Donald Trump made an unannounced Thanksgiving visit to American troops in Afghanistan where he disclosed his administration had resumed peace talks with the Taliban and the insurgent group is willing to observe a cease-fire.

Five militants were killed and five others were arrested after Afghan Special Operations Forces waged an operation in southern Kandahar province during Tuesday night, local police said on Wednesday.

Attacks by the Taliban were deadlier than those committed by any other group in 2018, according to a report released by an international think tank on Wednesday.

Afghan security forces have arrested two key Islamic State (IS) members and two militants loyal to the IS outfit following a search operation in eastern Laghman province, Afghan Interior Ministry said Sunday.

Kabul has blamed the Taliban for a delay in the exchange of three extremist prisoners held in Afghanistan for two Western hostages that the militant group has been holding.

A planned prisoner swap between the Afghan government and the Taliban that was intended to restart peace talks between the insurgent group and the United States has been delayed, according to Afghan and Taliban officials.

US and Australian hostages held by the armed group freed after Afghan government released three Taliban commanders.