Category: South East Asia

Afghan Translators Fear Retribution If They Aren’t Relocated Before U.S. Withdraws

Thousands of Afghan interpreters, who helped the U.S. military in its two decades in the country, may be at risk. There are growing calls on Capitol Hill to help them relocate to the United States. As U.S. troops pull out of Afghanistan, thousands of local interpreters may be at risk. There are growing calls on Capitol Hill to help those […]

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CIA Looks to Afghan Neighbors to Support US Mission: Report

The New York Times on Sunday published a report outlining the CIA’s struggle to put together a new counterterrorism strategy as US troops withdraw from Afghanistan. “The CIA is seeking ways to maintain its intelligence-gathering, war-fighting and counterterrorism operations in the country,” The New York Times reported, citing CIA analysts warning of the “ever-growing risks” of a Taliban takeover. The […]

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Center of Ghor’s Shahrak District Falls to Taliban

The center of Shahrak district in the central province of Ghor fell to the Taliban on Sunday evening, local officials confirmed on Monday. Ghor governor Abdul Zahir Faiz Zada said security forces have evacuated all government offices in the center of the district to prevent civilian casualties in the clashes between security forces and the Taliban. “Soon an operation will […]

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Khalilzad: ‘Continuous War’ if No Afghan Political Settlement

US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, currently on a regional tour amid the withdrawal of American and coalition forces from Afghanistan, says two options remain for Afghanistan at this critical juncture: A political solution to the conflict or continued war. He reiterated that the United States will not abandon Afghanistan despite US troops leaving. In his first interview with TOLOnews after […]

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UN special envoy in Tehran to discuss Afghan peace process

The UN special envoy on Afghanistan Jean Arnault met with Iranian foreign minister’s advisor Mohammad-Ebrahim Taherian on Monday in Tehran to discuss the Afghanistan situation. According to Iran’s IFP news, the two sides discussed Afghan peace talks and the security situation in the country. Taherian said Iran considers Afghanistan’s peace and security as its own, and supports the peace process […]

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US troops withdrawal now 50 percent complete: CENTCOM chief

The US has completed about half of its withdrawal from Afghanistan and remains on track to meet the September 11 deadline to leave, US General Frank McKenzie said on Monday. The head of the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said the coming months would be critical for Afghanistan’s future and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to resume stalled […]

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Turkey offers to run Kabul airport, but puts conditions in place

Turkey has offered to guard and run Kabul’s airport after the United States and other NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan, but U.S. officials say Ankara is imposing conditions which need to be resolved as their leaders prepare to meet next week, Reuters reported. Turkish officials say Ankara made the proposal at a NATO meeting in May when the United States […]

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Almost 1,500 Taliban attacks recorded since start of US retrograde

Afghan National Security Council’s (NSC) spokesman Ramatullah Andar said that since the start of the foreign troops’ withdrawal process, on May 1, the Taliban has conducted 1,455 attacks across the country. Andar said however that the Afghan security and defense forces have inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy in repelling these attacks “Also 63 armed and explosive attacks were prevented,” […]

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Four killed in Paktia roadside IED explosion

At least four civilians were killed Sunday in a roadside IED explosion in Paktia province, local officials confirmed. Provincial governor Halim Fedaee said the blast occurred in the Ibrahimkhel area of Gardez, the provincial capital. “Two women and a child and the driver were killed in the blast,” Fedaee said. According to Fedaee the civilians were on their way to […]

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Taliban seize Qaisar district in Faryab

Taliban militants have captured the Qaisar district of northern Faryab province after first detonating a car bomb, sources said. Security sources said a car bomb was detonated on Saturday night in Qaisar district and that the Taliban then stormed district police headquarters. According to a member of the Faryab Provincial Council, at least 14 members of the Afghan forces including […]

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