Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 5, 2020 The Taliban has called on the Afghan government to speed up the release of prisoners in order to pave the way for negotiations with the militant movement. A landmark deal signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release
Press TV May 2, 2020 The Taliban militant group has conducted more than 4,500 attacks in Afghanistan, marking a sharp rise in violence only in the 45 days since it signed a deal with the United States that paves the way for American troops to wind down their presence in the war-ravaged country, a report
By Ayaz Gul VOA News May 1, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The U.S. military said Friday its withdrawal from Afghanistan is continuing and that it expects troop levels to drop to 8,600 by mid-July under terms of a peace-building deal with the Taliban. The “conditions-based” military withdrawal began within days after the signing of the landmark
Asia Times: It makes for a gripping intellectual exercise to study a country in the throes of a pivotal change that throws it off its familiar path. The study of such turnabout moments in Afghanistan, however, is not as promising, because of their sheer frequency. The country in at least five of the past decades
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan April 29, 2020 Afghan officials say hundreds of foreign combatants are fighting alongside Taliban militants in a strategic northern province, a move that if proven true would violate the terms of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement. Zakaria Sawda, the governor of the northeastern province of Badakhshan, said around 400 foreign militants, mostly
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News April 27, 2020 ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – Afghanistan’s civilians continue to die in high numbers, more than 500 in the first quarter of 2020, despite the signing of a deal between the United States and Taliban to end hostilities, said a United Nations report released Monday. More than 150 children were killed
By Ayaz Gul VOA News April 26, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The United States has again demanded that Afghanistan’s feuding leaders and the Taliban insurgency set internal disputes aside and cease armed violence to focus on combating the coronavirus pandemic. American peace envoy to the country, Zalmay Khalilzad, made the call Sunday through a series of tweets
By Ayaz Gul VOA News April 25, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Officials in Afghanistan alleged Saturday the Taliban has “killed or wounded” nearly 800 civilians since signing the February 29 peace-building deal with the United States. A spokesman for the Islamist insurgency swiftly rejected the charges. The allegations came on a day when Washington’s peace envoy for
By Ayaz Gul VOA News April 23, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban has turned down calls for a cease-fire in Afghanistan during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins Friday. The Afghan government and others had hoped to enable health officials to better respond to the “common threat” of the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesman for the Islamist
Tolo News: 55 Taliban prisoners were released on Wednesday from nine provinces, the Office of the National Security Council said Thursday. Javid Faisal, the council spokesman, said that the Taliban were released as part of the Afghan government’s efforts to “advance peace and fight COVID-19” in the country. Click here to read more (external link).