Xinhua: Fighting between government forces and Taliban militants on a highway in Afghan northern Jauzjan province claimed the lives of three militants on Monday, said deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi. Click here to read more (external link).
Xinhua: The Afghan Taliban has refused to take part in direct peace negotiations with the Afghan government, but diplomatic efforts are underway to start the process. The Taliban’s powerful leadership council cited “America’s deployment of fresh troops to Afghanistan, their airstrikes, night raids and Kabul administration’s expanded operations” as excuses to turn down the invitation to join the