By RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan March 3, 2019 KABUL – A planned meeting of hundreds of Afghan politicians and tribal, ethnic, and religious leaders aimed at discussing negotiations with the Taliban has been postponed, officials say. The gathering, known as a consultative Loya Jirga, was initially set to be held in Kabul from March 17-20.
Tolo News: The Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who signed a peace deal with the Afghan government in 2016, says everyone in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, are tired of the war and that the group is now “serious” about a political settlement to the conflict in the country. “I feel that not only our nation but also
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News February 25, 2019 ISLAMABAD — Both the United States and Taliban are indicating that the current round of negotiations in Doha that started Monday may prove more crucial than any other meeting till now. The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad called the Taliban’s new negotiating team “more authoritative,” adding
Tolo News: President Ashraf Ghani has reacted to reports on a plan to establish an interim government in the country as part of a peace plan, and said the plan has been outlined outside the country and that it is not applicable in Afghanistan. Addressing a group of youths and activists from the southern provinces at
Tolo News: Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who is also running for president in July 20 elections, on Thursday said the planned consultative Loya Jirga on peace will not help resolve the stalemate in Afghanistan. This comes ten days after President Ashraf Ghani called for a grand consultative Jirga, a traditional assembly, on the peace process
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 19, 2019 U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has called on Afghans to put aside their differences and unite as attempts to end Afghanistan’s 17-year war gain momentum. Khalilzad has held a series of direct talks with Taliban negotiators in the Middle East in recent months, although those discussions have not
Tolo News: “The government has started the illegal process of purging its political rivals in state institutions. This move is targeting the Peace and Moderation team and currently, at least 12 people who had relations with this team have been fired or forced to resign including [second deputy chief execute Mohammad] Mohaqiq, governors and some advisors,”
Global Voices: The Chief Executive of Afghanistan’s National Unity Government Abdullah Abdullah entered the presidential race for the third consecutive time on January 27, 2018, the last day of candidate registration for the July vote. He will be one of the more serious challengers for race favourite and incumbent President Ashraf Ghani — his bitter rival
Ariana: In a statement released on Tuesday, the Taliban said that their negotiating team is headed by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, a leading negotiator of the armed group. The list also includes Anas Haqqani, – the brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani network – who is being held in Kabul. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah
By RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan February 12, 2019 KABUL — Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, an Afghan mujahedin commander who fought against Soviet forces and rose to become the country’s first president after the Soviet Army’s withdrawal, has died. Mojaddedi died late on February 11 in a Kabul hospital, his family said. He was 93. Mojaddedi “has played