Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 5, 2020 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says violence in Afghanistan is “unacceptably high” as delayed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban get under way. Pompeo said that Washington has asked the warring parties “to stand back and indeed stand down,” adding that he hoped that
Michael Hughes: The record-pace extraction of US forces from Afghanistan after 20 years of lost blood and treasure is a significant historical accomplishment in the eyes of many Americans, especially when compared to how previous administrations in Washington have handled the conflict. However, as audacious as the endeavor was, it failed to achieve its number
Tolo News: Negotiators from both sides in Doha have agreed on procedural rules for the peace negotiation talks, the Taliban and the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan confirmed on Wednesday. Click here to read more (external link). Related Pompeo hails peace talks agreement as a ‘major milestone’ Washington’s envoy to NATO says Taliban
By Nilly Kohzad December 1, 2020 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Ending America’s “endless war” has been a top goal of successive U.S. administrations since more than 100,000 troops were deployed to the country a decade ago. Today, the U.S. troop presence in the country is markedly smaller, and there are expected to be around 2,500 after
The Atlantic: Since the day he entered office, President Donald Trump hasn’t been able to make up his mind about whether the United States should keep fighting in Afghanistan. His most recent decision to arbitrarily reduce U.S. troops’ presence to a nice, round number by January 15 was no different. Far from ending what he
Tolo News: The Taliban’s spokesman in Doha, Mohammad Naeem, says that negotiators from both sides on November 15 agreed on procedural rules with 21 items for the intra-Afghan talks and it was read out in Pashto and Dari & a copy was delivered to the host nation. Click here to read more (external link). Related
Tolo News: The High Council for National Reconciliation on Thursday said there is progress in the peace negotiations in Doha, but a recent decision made by the negotiating teams has not been approved by the two sides’ leaders—the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership. “(The negotiating teams’) real intentions are not for a political solution
Ayaz Gul VOA News November 25, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is commending outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump for initiating the landmark peace process aimed at ending the Afghan conflict, America’s longest war. “It is after a long time that there is a prospect of [Afghan] peace. … It was a great
Ariana: Presidential Palace spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said at a press conference on Wednesday that no progress has been made in Doha regarding peace talks. According to Sediqqi, the Taliban’s demands contradict the Afghan Constitution. He confirmed to reporters that Masoom Stanikzai, head of the Republic of Afghanistan’s negotiating team had been in Kabul. Click here
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty November 24, 2020 The international community pledged $3 billion in development support for Afghanistan in 2021, and a total of some $12 billion for four years, but conditioned the funds on upholding human rights in the war-torn country amid faltering peace talks with the Taliban. The pledges, made at a donor