Michael Hughes: The opposing sides of the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland had engaged in talks for more than 15 years before reaching a historic peace settlement in 1998. Contrast this with the prospect that – within six days – an Afghan-turned-neoconservative cowboy and a group of Pakistani-backed radical Islamist insurgents negotiated a “framework agreement”
Tolo News: Afghan analysts and former government officials expressed mixed views on the upcoming talks between Afghan politicians and Taliban representatives in Moscow, which will be held on Tuesday. The Afghan government has not been invited to attend the talks in order to pave the ground for Taliban participation at the event as a senior
Ariana: “I inherited a total mess in Syria and Afghanistan, the “Endless Wars” of unlimited spending and death,” [Donald] Trump said in a series of tweets. “During my campaign, I said, very strongly, that these wars must finally end.” “We spend $50 Billion a year in Afghanistan and have hit them so hard that we
Tolo News: In reaction to Moscow’s bid to host a meeting on Afghan peace, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the talks will help the peace process and that the Russian government should respect an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Reports indicate that the meeting will be held in Moscow on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 31, 2019 A spokesman for the Taliban, which now reportedly controls nearly half of Afghanistan, has said that the group is not seeking to rule Afghanistan alone in any future government structure and wants to co-exist with current institutions, according to the Associated Press news agency. The statement by spokesman
Ayaz Gul VOA News January 30, 2019 ISLAMABAD — The United States and the Taliban have agreed to establish two “technical teams” to determine details for the eventual withdrawal of all American and NATO troops from Afghanistan and for preventing terrorists from using Afghan soil against America and its allies, the insurgent group said Wednesday. Chief
Ron Synovitz Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 29, 2019 After six days of talks in Qatar with Taliban representatives, the U.S. special envoy on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, announced on January 28 that an agreement had been reached on a “framework” peace process to end the 17-year Afghan war. Khalilzad said the agreement calls for the
Ayaz Gul VOA News January 28, 2019 ISLAMABAD — A top Russian diplomat is in Pakistan to discuss efforts to promote direct peace talks between warring sides in neighboring Afghanistan. Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov is visiting Islamabad after last week’s marathon talks between U.S. special representative for Afghan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and the
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 27, 2019 U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is consulting with Afghan government officials following six days of talks with the Afghan Taliban in Qatar aimed at ending the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan. Khalilzad traveled to the Afghan capital, Kabul, on January 27 after the envoy, U.S. Secretary of State Mike
Ayaz Gul VOA News January 26, 2019 ISLAMABAD — The United States and the Taliban may have agreed on a plan for American troops to leave Afghanistan, sources privy to the development told VOA Saturday. In return, the insurgent group has given assurances that no international terrorist groups would be allowed to use Afghan soil to