Category: South East Asia

Protests to Continue Over Faryab Governor Appointment

The National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, or Junbish-e-Islami, led by former vice president Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, has threatened to continue their protests over the new governor’s appointment in Faryab until the Afghan government listens to their demands. The protestors held a large rally in Faryab and prevented a helicopter carrying Mohammad Daud Laghmani, the new governor for Faryab, from […]

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Violence Reported in 15 Provinces as Ceasefire Ends

Shortly after the end of the three-day ceasefire, fighting escalated in at least 15 provinces since the early hours of Sunday. The Defense Ministry said that the Taliban violated the ceasefire in 21 provinces and that 21 civilians were killed and 33 more were wounded in their attacks during the three days of Eid ( May 13 to 15). But […]

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Fighting resumes in Afghanistan after three-day ceasefire ends

The Afghan National Army has launched offensives and started clearance operations in the south western parts of the country after the three-day Eid ceasefire ended at midnight Saturday. The 215th Maiwand Military Corps said in a statement, operations were launched simultaneously in besieged western areas of Lashkargah, Nawa and Nahri Saraj districts.“The Afghan defense forces are committed to suppressing, clearing […]

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ISIS claims responsibility for Kabul mosque bombing

ISIS (Daesh) has claimed responsibility for Friday’s bombing at a mosque in Kabul that left at least 14 worshippers, including the mosque’s Imam, dead, SITE Intelligence Group reported. The explosion happened inside a mosque in Shakardarah district of Kabul province during Friday prayers. The explosion took place during a three-day Eid ceasefire between the Taliban and the Afghan government. According […]

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Why China fears a hasty US retreat from Afghanistan

Beijing aims to draw Central Asia neighbors into its Belt and Road but worries about a post-US troop withdrawal rise in terrorism Ten months after the first meeting of the foreign ministers of China and the five Central Asian states, Beijing followed through with a second session on May 11 at a gathering in Xian hosted by Foreign Minister Wang […]

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Afghans Call for Peace as Eid Ceasefire Nears to End

Afghans across the country on Saturday said that despite some incidents of violence, the majority of the people managed to celebrate Eid in relative calm in the last three days due to reciprocal ceasefire between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Many of the youths during these days flocked to the picnic points to spend their time together with friends […]

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Ceasefire to End at Midnight amid Reports of Scattered Violence

A three-day Eid ceasefire between the Afghan government and the Taliban is coming to an end at midnight on Saturday amid reports of heavy fighting between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban in some parts of the country. Political leaders said that Taliban attacks during the Eid truce are raising serious questions on the modality of the government’s peace-oriented […]

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Afghan Republic and Taliban negotiators meet in Doha

Afghan Republic peace talks team members and Taliban representatives met in Doha in Qatar on Friday and discussed the need to speed up negotiations. The talks, which started in September, have largely stalled while a US-proposed peace meeting scheduled for Turkey was also put on hold after the Taliban refused to attend. In this time however, violence across Afghanistan has […]

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Day 3 of ceasefire: MoD accuses Taliban of violating ceasefire

The Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Saturday that Taliban has violated the three-day ceasefire in seven provinces across the country that killed and wounded dozens of civilians. “The ceasefire has been violated in several cases and several points of the country and terrorist groups under Taliban leadership violated the ceasefire. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to […]

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Ghani Seeks Powerful Consensus on Peace as He Meets Politicians

In a series of his recent meetings with influential political leaders, President Ashraf Ghani on Friday met with former president Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council of National Reconciliation, as part of efforts to develop national and political consensus around peace. The country’s political situation, the peace process, strengthening of political consensus and ensuring a […]

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