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.

The report said that the group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan.

“The CIA goal was never independence for Tibet. In fact, I do not think that the Americans ever really even wanted to help.They just wanted to stir up trouble, using Tibetans to create misunderstandings and discord between China and India. Eventually they were successful in that” : Gyalo Thondup (GT)

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.

Dozens of children, mostly in northwest Pakistan, have lost their lives in the past while playing with ‘toys’ that turned out to be explosive devices.

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.