Ariana: The Lower House of Parliament (Wolesi Jirga) Monday voted in favor of six nominated ministers and Head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) but rejected two nominees proposed by the government. The MPs voted for eight nominated ministers and NDS Chief during a general session of Parliament. Click here to read more (external
Tolo News: The High Council for National Reconciliation on Thursday said there is progress in the peace negotiations in Doha, but a recent decision made by the negotiating teams has not been approved by the two sides’ leaders—the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership. “(The negotiating teams’) real intentions are not for a political solution
Tolo News: A breakthrough is reported from Doha as the two negotiating teams have agreed to include the US-Taliban deal, UN endorsements for Afghan peace process, commitments of the negotiating teams and will of the Afghan people as the base for upcoming negotiations. Sources said Afghan chief negotiator Mohammad Massoom Stanikzai and presidential peace advisor
Ariana: The Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday voted in favor of 10 nominated ministers, including those for defense, interior, and foreign affairs. Haneef Atmar secured 197 votes of confidence for the position of the foreign minister; Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal got 205 votes as finance minister; Asadullah Khalid with 206 votes as defense
1TV: Afghan politicians will likely meet the Taliban if stalemate in peace talks in Doha continues, a peace official said on Monday. Din Mohammad, deputy of High Council for National Reconciliation, said that there was a debate suggesting that the Taliban should talk to a number of Afghan elites including those who are not represented
Tolo News: Abdullah Abdullah, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, on Friday said the peace negotiations in Qatar have no progress, adding that “what is the sense for the presence of the negotiating team—of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan—then the conflicts are intensifying.” Click here to read more (external link). Related Al-Qaeda Threatens
1TV: Only four to eight percent of Afghan people support the Taliban, President Ashraf Ghani said addressing a summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Tuesday. The president said that opinions show that support for the republic is between 75 and 85 percent. Click here to read more (external link).
1TV: Eight ministerial nominees have flawed educational documents, an assessment by the parliament’s higher education and cultural commission shows. They are Hasina Safi for the ministry of women’s affairs, Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani for the ministry of industry and commerce, Masouma Khawari, for the ministry of communications and IT, Qudratullah Zaki for the ministry of transport,
Tolo News: In an interview with TOLOnews’ Lotfullah Najafizada, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that he expects the Afghan peace process to be concluded in months, not years. Click here to read more (external link). Related Khalilzad says patience is needed to resolve a 40-year war Abdullah meets with India’s NSA,