Tolo News: Former Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan Chris Alexander has said the Pakistani military is the official backer of the Taliban and Haqqani network. Alexander, who has also served as deputy head of UNAMA, said that Pakistan clearly supports the Taliban and Haqqani terror network and that the world must not underestimate Pakistan’s backing of the insurgent
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, June 9 (Xinhua) — Afghan forces have set free nine abducted passengers from the clutch of Taliban in the northern Kunduz province and the operation goes on to secure the safe release of remaining passengers, an army spokesman in the northern region Nasratullah Jamshidi said Thursday. “So far nine passengers have been released
KABUL, May 28 (Xinhua) — Afghan security forces on Saturday shot dead a would-be suicide bomber in Kabul, the National Directorate for Security (NDS) said. “A would-be suicide bomber named Abbas was killed after personnel of NDS recognized and intercepted him in 17th Police District of Kabul city,” the country’s spy agency said in a
VOA News Ayesha Tanzeem May 25, 2016 ISLAMABAD—The Taliban’s new chief, Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, has a reputation as a respected religious scholar with the title “sheikh-ul-hadith,” a specialist in interpreting the words of Mohammad, the prophet of Islam. He enjoyed the esteem and trust of the Taliban’s founding leader, Mullah Omar, who turned to him
VOA News Ayaz Gul May 25, 2016 ISLAMABAD—Afghanistan’s Taliban says Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada has been appointed the new chief of the group following the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. In a Pashto language statement on Wednesday, the Tailban also formally confirmed Mansoor was killed in a U.S. drone attack last week. “Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada has
VOA News Ayaz Gul, Carla Babb May 23, 2016 ISLAMABAD/PENTAGON—U.S. President Barack Obama said the death of Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor “removed the leader of an organization that has continued to plot against and unleash attacks on American and coalition forces.” Obama discussed the killing of the Afghan Taliban leader during a news conference Monday
VOA News Ayaz Gul May 22, 2016 Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was formally named leader of the Taliban in July 2015, shortly after the militant group disclosed that founder Mullah Omar had died two years prior. The Afghan government said Mansoor was the de facto leader of the Taliban during the time that Omar’s death remained
VOA News / May 22, 2016 U.S. military officials said Saturday that an American drone strike had most likely killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in a remote area of Pakistan near Afghanistan’s border. A U.S. official who spoke on background said President Barack Obama had authorized the strike, which occurred Saturday afternoon local
VOA News Ayesha Tanzeem May 18, 2016 ISLAMABAD—Afghanistan is showing its anger at Pakistan by downgrading its representation to the international group trying to arrange peace talks with the Taliban. Kabul says Pakistan needs to honor its commitments to take action against militant groups operating from Pakistan. The groups include the Afghan Taliban and the
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 18, 2016 The U.S. Army delayed until next year a court-martial of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who is charged with deserting his unit in Afghanistan, leading to his capture by the Taliban for five years. The Army announced a February 6, 2017 start date for his trial at Fort Bragg, North