Category: South East Asia

Pakistani Delegation in Kabul for Talks with Afghan Officials

Pakistan’s envoy Mohammad Sadiq, leading a delegation from Islamabad, has arrived in Kabul for discussions with Afghan leaders on peace, security and related matters, Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, confirmed on Twitter on Sunday. Before the arrival of the delegation, National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib confirmed that a Pakistani delegation would visit Kabul to discuss relations between the […]

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Harris says she had key role in Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal decision

Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed Sunday that she was the last person in the room before President Joe Biden made the decision to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Harris was asked about being the last person in the room regarding major decisions, something that Biden has […]

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Analysts: Extremist Groups Emboldened by US Withdrawal

The announcement of the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan has encouraged armed and extremist groups in the region and world, say Afghan analysts, who add that if the withdrawal is done “unilaterally and irresponsibly,” it will have negative consequences and will encourage other insurgent movements. One reaction to the US withdrawal announcement came this week on Twitter from Qais […]

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243 civilians killed or wounded in Taliban attacks in 10 days: MoI

At least 243 civilians including women and children were killed or wounded in the past 10 days in Taliban attacks and explosions across the country, the Ministry of Interior said Sunday. The ministry said in the past 10 days Taliban carried out six suicide bombings and 62 landmine explosions which resulted in financial and human losses to civilians including women […]

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Taliban car bombing in Kandahar thwarted: MoD

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Sunday the Taliban had planned to carry out a car bombing at a security checkpoint in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province on Saturday night but their plan was thwarted by special forces. According to the MoD, commandos were able to stop the attack in time. This comes amid reports Sunday that at least […]

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Miller confirms withdrawal process in Afghanistan is underway

US-Forces commander in Afghanistan General Austin Scott Miller said Sunday the evacuation of some bases has already started in Afghanistan. “We will turn over the bases primarily to the Ministry of Defense and other Afghan forces,” Miller told reporters in a press conference in Kabul on Sunday, adding that: “The notification day will be the first of May but at […]

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20 Taliban killed in own explosion: Officials

A powerful explosion at a suspected Taliban ammunition depot in Herat has killed 20 insurgents, local officials confirmed. Officials said the incident took place Sunday in the village of Marabad in the Pashtun Zarghun district. Herat Governor Wahid Qatali confirmed the incident and said the explosion happened while the Taliban were building suicide vests. The explosion is believed to have […]

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Biden’s decision on Afghanistan raises Guantanamo questions

US President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan is raising questions about what, if any, effect that will have on the future of the Guantanamo Bay detention center. According to The Hill, at least two prisoners who have been challenging their detention have already updated their complaints to include Biden’s withdrawal as a reason they should be […]

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CIA head said to have made unannounced trip to Afghanistan

CIA Director William Burns made a recent unannounced visit to Kabul, a senior politician and a well-placed public figure told The Associated Press, as concerns mount about Afghanistan’s capability to fight terrorism once the U.S. has withdrawn its remaining troops by summer. Separately, a senior former Afghan security official deeply familiar with the country’s counterterrorism program said two of six […]

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Pentagon Sending B-52s, Carrier to Guard Afghanistan Withdrawal

Two B-52 long-range bombers arrived in the region around Afghanistan Friday to bolster security as the U.S. prepares to withdraw all 2,500 troops from the country by September, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

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