VOA News Ayesha Tanzeem June 3, 2016 ISLAMABAD—After days of heavy fighting, Afghan forces have regained control of parts of Helmand province previously in the Taliban hands. Neither the province of Helmand, nor its capital, Lashkar Gah, was in danger of falling to the Taliban, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense. General Daulat Waziri,
Press TV June 3, 2016 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed serious concern over a rise in recruitment and killing of children in conflict-hit countries in various parts of the world over the past year. In an annual report on children and armed conflict released Thursday, Ban expressed shock about the dire situation of children in war-torn countries
SARI PUL, Afghanistan, June 3 (Xinhua) — Some 24 kidnapped passengers had been released in Afghanistan’s northern province of Sari Pul, a local source said Friday. “After the provincial officials were aware of abduction of 24 passengers by the Taliban on Wednesday, efforts were put in place to secure the safe release of the abductees.
ISLAMABAD, June 3 (Xinhua) — Pakistan said the quartet on peace and reconciliation inAfghanistan is still intact and that political negotiation is the best option to solve the years of conflict. The comments came on Thursday amid speculations about the fate of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States. “A
Tolo News: A number of Herat residents on Thursday held their own celebration to inaugurate Salam dam and called it an historical event. The participants praised security forces for securing Salam dam and called the forces “constructive and peace champions”. The residents said that the utilization of the dam will bring effective changes to the agriculture and industry
Khaama Press: An influential Pakistani religious scholar who was once labeled as the ‘Father of Taliban’ has endorsed the war skills of the newly-appointed Taliban chief. Sami-ul-Haq warned that Afghanistan would see a surge in violence following the ascension of new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah. Afghan defense officials dismissed the skills endorsement by Sami-ul-Haq and said the Mullah
Khaama Press: Former Afghan Intelligence Chief Amrullah Saleh criticized Tawab Ghorzag, the spokesman for the National Security Council for blaming Ata Mohammad for the instability of Kunduz province. He warned to release the 200 classified documents and audio clips prepared by the fact finding team regarding the fall of Kunduz city if Ghorzang did not amend
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty By Rabia Akram and Frud Bezhan June 2, 2016 KABUL — Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the killing of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansur in a U.S. drone strike has damaged the prospects of a negotiated peace settlement with the militant group. Karzai, in an interview with RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal in Kabul
VOA News Ayesha Tanzeem June 2, 2016 ISLAMABAD—When Afghan President Ashraf Ghani took over in late 2014 and talk of peace and reconciliation with the Taliban gained momentum, skeptics derived hope from China’s newfound interest in the process. China could succeed, many thought, where the United States had failed — in convincing Pakistan to change
Pepe Escobar (via Counter Punch): The Pentagon said Mansour was on Obama’s kill list because he had become “an obstacle to peace and reconciliation.” There’s way more to it, of course. Bets can be made that Mansour’s kill will not reduce Afghanistan’s opium production – which has been steadily on the rise for years now. Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada,