Michael Hughes: The Taliban last week threatened to kill any American troop that remains in Afghanistan beyond the deadline of the peace deal the group struck with the Trump administration. The insurgent group is freely willing to make such a threat because it feels it holds all the cards. As a Taliban commander told a Western military
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 1, 2021 Taliban attacks in Kabul are rising and government officials, activists, and journalists are increasingly the target, a fresh report by a U.S. watchdog said. The report comes as the Biden administration plans to take a new look at the peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban signed
Tolo News: The Wolesi Jirga Speaker Mir Rahmani’s remarks on an interim government plan stoked debate in Monday’s session as some MPs said such a plan is against the law and that the Republic must be maintained. Addressing an event on Sunday, Rahmani said he has found access to the draft of an interim setup
Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Monday reported 62 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 2,025 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry says the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 55,121, the total number of reported deaths is 2,405, and the total number of recoveries is 47,723. Click
Tolo News: A one-day taekwondo competition was held in Kabul on Sunday with 100 athletes participating. The Afghan athletes came from Kabul, Takhar, Balkh and Kunduz province and competed for spots within the Asia and Olympics games. In less than six months the Olympic games are set to begin in Tokyo, on July 23. Click
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 31, 2021 A member of the Afghan government’s peace negotiating team said on January 31 that if the Taliban doesn’t return to peace talks in Qatar soon, the Kabul government could recall its representatives before a deal is reached. Government negotiator Rasul Talib told a news conference that the Afghan
Ariana: During talks with a visiting Taliban delegation, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Sunday called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan. Iran’s foreign ministry said in a press release after the meeting between the Taliban delegation, led by the group’s deputy leader Mullah Ghani Baradar, and Zarif that Iran’s foreign minister
Reuters: International troops plan to stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline envisaged by the insurgent Taliban’s deal with the United States, four senior NATO officials said, a move that could escalate tensions with the Taliban demanding full withdrawal. Click here to read more (external link).