By Frud Bezhan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 27, 2020 Afghanistan’s flagging peace process was on the verge of collapse following weeks of devastating militant attacks, mounting public anger, and the halt of a major prisoner swap. But a brief cease-fire between the government and the Taliban has breathed new life into efforts to negotiate an
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News May 25, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Five countries, several of whom have been closely involved in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, issued a joint statement welcoming the Eid cease-fire in the country and calling on all parties to take it forward from here. “We encourage the parties to take further steps
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 24, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban have announced a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan during the three-day Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr starting Sunday, a move the United States hailed as “a momentous opportunity” to advance peace efforts in the war-torn country. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani quickly reciprocated the insurgent announcement
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan May 20, 2020 KABUL — U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is in Kabul to press the Taliban and Afghan government to start delayed talks amid an uptick in violence — including two more deadly attacks overnight — that threatens to unravel a landmark peace deal between Washington and the militants
By Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News | May 11, 2020 ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – At least six members of Afghan National Army were killed, and five others wounded in a Taliban attack in Laghman province in eastern Afghanistan Sunday night, according to Afghan ministry of defense. However, a government source who did not want to be named said
Tolo News: Taliban’s relations with other terrorist groups “continue to be close and mutually beneficial which is against the spirit of the peace agreement the group had signed with the United States,” said the head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan’s intelligence agency. “The Taliban’s leadership is still thinking of a comeback to
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 9, 2020 The top members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee say an increase in violence in Afghanistan has raised questions about the Taliban’s commitment to an agreement it signed with the United States in February. Representatives Eliot Engel (Democrat-New York), chairman of the committee, and Michael McCaul (Republican-Texas)
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,
1TV:US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has met with Taliban deputy leader Mullah Baradar in Qatar, the group said on Thursday. Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for Taliban’s political office in Doha, said that they discussed quick release of prisoners, launch of intra-Afghan talks and full implementation of their deal. Click here to read
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 6, 2020 U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the Taliban is not living up to its commitments as militant violence is increasingly threatening a fragile deal signed with Washington this year. After extended talks in Qatar, the Taliban and the United States signed an agreement on February 29 for