The National Interest: First and foremost… Pakistan should no longer allow its soil to be used as a safe-haven for Taliban leaders. After the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, the late Mulla Omar, founder of the Taliban, lived in Quetta and headed the so-called Quetta Shura. The Peshawar Shura has long supported the Haqqani Network,
By Ayaz Gul VOA News June 25, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has come under severe criticism for saying in a nationally televised speech to the parliament Thursday that al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden had been “martyred.” Khan was highlighting foreign policy gains of his nearly two-year-old government, particularly improved ties with the
ANI: About 6,500 Pakistani’s are operating as terrorist ranks in Afghanistan, posing a significant threat to the peace, stability and security of the war-torn country and South Asia region, stated a UN Security Council report. The report released by Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, concerning the Taliban and other associated individuals and entities, published
AA: Pakistan on Saturday announced reopening three key trade routes with neighboring Afghanistan from June 22. Abdul Razzak Dawood, prime minister’s adviser on trade, who acts as trade minister, announced the reopening of southwestern Chaman, northwestern Torkham and Ghulam Khan border crossings after months-long closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read more
News Intervention: On June 9, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa went to Afghanistan, unannounced. This is the first visit by a prominent Pakistani after the US-Taliban peace deal in February this year. It’s also the first prominent Pakistani visit after the results of Afghanistan elections… it’s clear that Pakistan’s ISI and their senior
Frud Bezhan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty June 9, 2020 A new breakaway Afghan Taliban faction that has close ties to neighboring Iran and opposes efforts aimed at ending the 18-year insurgency in Afghanistan has emerged. The Hezb-e Walayat-e Islami, or Party of Islamic Guardianship, is believed to have split from the mainstream Taliban soon after
By Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News | June 9, 2020 ISLAMABAD – In a continuation of a U.S.-led push to encourage intra-Afghan negotiations, Pakistan’s army chief took a one-day trip to Kabul Tuesday. General Qamar Javed Bajwa met in the Afghan capital with both President Ashraf Ghani and the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, the man who would lead future
Tolo News: Residents of Kunar province in the east of the country say Pakistani forces have advanced towards the Afghan part of the Durand Line –which serves as a de facto border between the two countries–and in some districts have put up installations. Most of these encroachments have occurred in the Khas Kunar and Sarkano
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty June 8, 2020 The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has held a new round of talks in Qatar with the Taliban’s political chief. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a spokesman for the militants, said on Twitter late on June 7 that Khalilzad and Baradar discussed the release of prisoners and the start
RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal June 6, 2020 Pakistan has appointed a new envoy to Afghanistan in a fresh bid to ease tense bilateral relations. Pakistani media said the new envoy, Muhammad Sadiq, a career diplomat, met with Foreign Minister Mehmood Quraishi in Islamabad on June 6. Afterwards, Quraishi expressed hope that Sadiq would be able to