Press TV December 30, 2018 The Taliban militant group has rejected a call by the Afghan government for formal peace talks next month in Saudi Arabia. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Taliban leader announced on Sunday that the group’s representatives would meet US officials in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah for the
Aman Azhar VOA News December 29, 2018 Former senior diplomats who have steered U.S. policy on Afghanistan say U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported decision to pull thousands of troops out of that country complicates U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad’s efforts to broker a cease-fire with the Taliban. Trump announced he was considering withdrawing roughly half of
Tolo News: Assadullah Khalid, who took the charge as the acting defense minister following a decree by President Ghani last week, vowed further reforms in the Ministry of Defense and a thorough attention to the Afghan forces, who he described as the owners and decision makers of this country. Click here to read more (external
Hasib Danish Alikozai VOA News December 28, 2018 WASHINGTON — Despite challenges on multiple fronts, Afghanistan seems more likely than at any time in recent history to come to a favorable political settlement, according to a report released this week by the Pentagon, which cited the effects of a recent military escalation coupled with diplomatic initiatives.
Press TV December 28, 2018 Former German Defense Chief General Harald Kujat has warned that a probable American military withdrawal from Afghanistan may jeopardize German troops and force them to leave. “If the United States reduces itself to a small contingent in Afghanistan there’s no reason for us to continue the mission anymore,” Kujat told the German Tagesspiegel newspaper on
Tolo News: “Jamiat has considered a list of figures but has not introduced them officially. Let’s the peace process get completed and the talks get started officially in the form that the Taliban show readiness for negotiations, then we will introduce the team,” he said. Click here to read more (external link).
Press TV December 27, 2018 The Taliban militant group has warned the United States it would face the same fate as the Soviet Union in the 1980s if it did not leave violence-wracked Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement on Thursday that US forces face “humiliation” and could “learn a great deal” from
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 27, 2018 ISLAMABAD — The U.S. commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan traveled to Pakistan Thursday to discuss Afghan reconciliation efforts with Pakistan’s military chief, officials said. Gen. Austin Scott Miller’s visit came amid reports of a possible U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan and a renewed push to negotiate peace with
Press TV December 26, 2018 Iran’s top security official has confirmed that the country has been holding talks with the Afghan Taliban in coordination with Kabul to help relieve rampant insecurity in Afghanistan. “The series of contacts and talks with the Taliban group have taken place with the knowledge of the Afghan government,” Ali Shamkhani,
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 26, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Russia has hailed the reported U.S. plans to pull some troops from Afghanistan as “a step in the right direction” but cast doubt on whether Washington really intends to do so. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharovav told reporters in Moscow Wednesday that the potential military drawdown could