Tolo News: Referring to COVID-19, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid was quoted by the Associated Press on Wednesday as saying: “If, God forbid, the outbreak happens in an area where we control the situation then we will stop fighting in that area.” But a Western security source says attacks–from all sides–are occurring alongside the COVID-19 spread
Press TV April 2, 2020 Afghanistan is set to release from prison 100 Taliban militants in a prisoner exchange for 20 of its security forces personnel, the government and Taliban sources say. Both sides on Thursday confirmed that the Taliban prisoners were to be released at the Bagram military base north of the capital, Kabul.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 1, 2020 At least eight civilians, mostly children, were killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand. Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the civilians were traveling in a minivan in Helmand’s Gereshk district on April 1 when the
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 1, 2020 The UN Security Council has called on political rivals in Afghanistan to “rally together” and finalize talks with the Taliban to help end the country’s long, costly war. Ingrid Hayden, the UN secretary-general’s deputy special representative for Afghanistan, said on March 31 that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political rival
1TV: Afghan president’s political rival Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday said that formation of an “inclusive” negotiating team was an “important step” to facilitate intra-Afghan peace talks. In a statement on Facebook, Abdullah said although election-related political crisis remains unresolved, he is committed to not allow peace to be overshadowed by differences. Click here to read
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty March 30, 2020 Militants have killed 28 members of the Afghan security forces, police officials and authorities said on March 30, as the government postponed a release of Taliban prisoners. Militants stormed the compound of a top police official in the northeastern province of Takhar on March 29, killing 13 police
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty March 29, 2020 The Afghan government has slammed the Taliban after the militant group rejected Kabul’s negotiating team for upcoming intra-Afghan peace talks aimed at ending the nearly 19-year war. Waheed Omar, President Ashraf Ghani’s adviser, told reporters in Kabul on March 29 that the Taliban “should not make excuses any
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty March 28, 2020 Taliban forces have taken control of a district headquarters in Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Badakhshan, an overnight development that was followed on March 28 by an announcement that the militant group will not negotiate with a team recently unveiled by the Afghan government. The district headquarters in Yumgan
VOA News March 28, 2020 By Hasib Danish Alikozai, Niala Mohammad, Roshan Noorzai WASHINGTON – While the government of President Ashraf Ghani downplays the repercussions of a potential $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan, ordinary Afghans and experts warn the country is not in a position to withstand such a financial blow as it struggles with
Tolo News: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has finalized a list of 20 representatives to negotiate with the Taliban, an important step towards the much-awaited intra-Afghan talks. These are the names on Ghani’s peace negotiating team, released on Wednesday night: Masoom Stanikzai Zakia Wardak Click here to read more (external link). Related Political Parties React to