Following the peace deal with its leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the HIG’s chief negotiator speaks to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera: On September 29, the Afghan government signed a peace agreement with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of the Hezb-i-Islami party, also known as HIG. Hekmatyar, in hiding since 1997, has been on the US state department’s list of
Ayaz Gul VOA News October 18, 2016 ISLAMABAD — The Taliban has formally refuted reports of secret meetings with Afghan government officials, insisting there has been no change in the group’s policy for holding peace negotiations. The Guardian newspaper, in an exclusive article published Tuesday, quoted anonymous Afghan officials and sources within the Taliban as confirming
Tolo News: President Ashraf Ghani’s first VP General Abdul Rashid Dostum on Monday said that he had not been injured during a Taliban siege in Faryab, terming CEO Abdullah Abdullah’s remarks inappropriate. Presiding over a meeting of council of ministers on Monday, Abdullah said that Dostum had been slightly injured in a Taliban siege in Faryab. However
Khaama Press: Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai appeared reluctant to endorse the move to label Pakistan as ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’ as he considered the goodwill of Pakistani people towards the Afghan people. In an exclusive with Times Now TV, Karzai emphasized on the role of the Pakistani people for hosting millions of Afghan refugees as he
Khaama Press: The provincial governor of eastern Nangarhar province Salim Kunduzi announced resigned from his position earlier today citing interference in his work. Kunduzi made the announcement during a gathering attended by several tribal elders and claimed that he was facing issues by taking a step to improve the situation of the province. Click here to read
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 29, 2016 Notorious Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar called for peace on September 29 as he appeared by video to sign an accord with President Ashraf Ghani. Ghani signed the peace deal at Kabul’s presidential palace during a ceremony broadcast live on television. Hekmatyar, the exiled leader of the Hezb-e Islami
Tolo News: Karzai recently said the Taliban (fighters) are also the citizens of Afghanistan and that they can have parts of the country under their control. Commenting on this, Abdullah said: “If we take this serious, then what it means? It means that his [Karzai’s] 13 years of presidency was not legitimate as he said the fight
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 22, 2016 The Afghan government has signed a draft peace accord with notorious exiled warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for his return after years of fighting the central authorities. A government delegation and a team representing Hekmatyar’s Hezb-e Islami militant group signed the document at a press conference in
By Ron Synovitz and Hamid Mohmand Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 9, 2016 KABUL — Ahmad Masud was 12 years old when his father, the legendary anti-Taliban military commander known as the “Lion of Panjshir,” was killed by two Al-Qaeda suicide bombers in northern Afghanistan on September 9, 2001. The assassination of Ahmad Shah Masud, who also
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 8, 2016 Afghans are commemorating the 15th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massud, the revered Northern Alliance leader and anti-Taliban commander who was assassinated by Al-Qaeda militants on September 9, 2001. September 8 marks the start of Martyrs Week, which is observed every year in Afghanistan to remember