Michael Hughes: NATO defense chiefs at their upcoming ministerial are expected to approve a plan to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond the May Doha agreement deadline due to the Taliban’s alleged failure to divorce al-Qaeda and the need to support intra-Afghan talks. However, the irony is the decision will ensure a nearly dead peace process
Ariana: Taliban Deputy Leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar says that there is no military solution to the long-term conflict in Afghanistan. In an open letter to the people of the United States, Mullah Baradar stated: “The past nineteen years have proven beyond any doubt that the Afghan issue cannot be resolved through the use of
Tolo News: Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar at an event on Sunday blamed the Afghan government and the US for the deadlock in the Doha negotiations, saying that the United States has “failed” in its fight against the Taliban while calling the incumbent government “occupied.” Click here to read more (external link). Related US President Biden has
Tolo News: The survey conducted by Pajhwok Afghan News shows that the Afghan government controls 46 percent of the territory. A Taliban spokesman has claimed in this survey that they control or have influence over 70 percent of the country’s territory, but a spokesman for the Interior Affairs Ministry has said that the Taliban does
Ariana: Second Vice President Sarwar Danesh said on Friday that the current opportunity for peace should be seized. Speaking at the ceremony marking the first anniversary of the death of Mohammad Baqir Mohaqiq in Kabul said that the Taliban has shown “less sincerity” to the peace efforts and instead, they have increased their violence in
1TV: India has said that terrorist groups enjoying safe havens in Pakistan have disrupted the peace process in Afghanistan. “It is essential that we don’t lose sight of the ease with which the proscribed Haqqani Network and its supporters, especially the Pakistani authorities, have worked along with prominent terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida, ISIL K, Tehrik-Taliban
Tolo News: Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency—the National Directorate of Security (NDS)–who is also a critic of Ghani, has said that the president is politically isolated and is trying to gain the support of Afghanistan’s major political parties and political movements. Click here to read more (external link).
1TV: The Afghan people are tired of war but they are not ready to sell their soul, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh has said. Speakimg in an interview with US broadcaster PBS, Saleh said that US committed mistake by bypassing Afghan government and directly reaching out to Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
Ariana: Vice President Amrullah Saleh claimed Sunday that 85 percent of Taliban prisoners who were released as part of the US-Taliban deal have “re-assumed roles in unleashing violence.” “In a brazen act of noncompliance and defiance to the Doha agreement some 85% of the 5,500 released Taliban have re-assumed roles in unleashing violence and campaign
Tolo News: Some Afghan politicians have expressed different views about a draft outline of a future government, which they claim to have seen recently. Mohammad Ismail Khan, former mujahideen leader and former minister of energy and water, said the draft includes only the views of the United States and the Taliban; therefore, it is not