Michael Hughes: The Taliban and ISIS differ only in terms of geographic aspirations. They embrace similar extremist ideologies and envision a society regulated by a harsh religious code. They even share the same tactics – like suicide bombings – and recruit from each other’s flocks. Despite what U.S. officials want the world to believe, the
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 8, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban said Friday it has conveyed to the United States the insurgent group is not holding an American hostage missing in Afghanistan. U.S. envoy for Afghan peace and reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has confirmed he called for the release of Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran-turned contractor,
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan May 6, 2020 KABUL — Afghanistan’s intelligence agency says it has busted a joint “terrorist” cell of the Islamic State (IS) group and the Haqqani network, a powerful Taliban faction. Five members of the cell were killed and eight others arrested when security forces stormed two hideouts of the group in
Michael Hughes: The newly-inked U.S.-Taliban “peace” agreement – a pact that excludes the actual sitting internationally-recognized government of Afghanistan – will never bring peace to the war-torn country because it was never really designed to. The agreement and February 29 signing ceremony in Doha are all part of a publicity charade that will weaponize President Donald
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News February 21,2020 ISLAMABAD – In simultaneously issued statements, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and the Taliban announced Friday that a deal between the U.S. and the Taliban will be signed February 29, paving the way toward ending the longest American war in history. The deal calls for a phased withdrawal
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 7, 2020 U.S. officials say an American appears to have been kidnapped in Afghanistan by a group linked to Taliban militants. The officials on February 6 said they believe that 57-year-old Mark Frerichs of Illinois was kidnapped by the Haqqani network, which is based in Khost. It was not immediately
Breitbart: On Tuesday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s “America’s Newsroom,” network national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim Iran is funding the Taliban’s Haqqani network was “baffling.” “… baffling and an exaggeration at best given that Pakistan is well known to be the main force backing the Haqqani network.” Click here
Ayaz Gul VOA News November 23, 2019 ISLAMABAD – U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated peace negotiations with the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan are back on track and vowed again to withdraw American troops from the country. “It is too early to say anything about it,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA when asked for
Al Jazeera: United States President Donald Trump has said he hopes the release of two Western prisoners held hostage by the Afghan Taliban this week could help pave the way to an end to the war in Afghanistan. Trump thanked Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for his support in securing the release of US citizen Kevin King and Australian Tim Weeks as part
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News November 19, 2019 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban freed two Western hostages Tuesday after the Afghan government released three important Taliban prisoners, who were flown to Qatar where the Taliban has a political team. Sources told VOA the hostages, American Kevin C. King, 63, and Australian Timothy J. Weeks, 50, were released