By Frud Bezhan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 27, 2020 Afghanistan’s flagging peace process was on the verge of collapse following weeks of devastating militant attacks, mounting public anger, and the halt of a major prisoner swap. But a brief cease-fire between the government and the Taliban has breathed new life into efforts to negotiate an
By Sayed Hasib Maududi, Roshan Noorzai VOA News | May 27, 2020 KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Rafiullah Noori, 35, is not participating in this year’s Eid al-Fitr festivities, a three-day thanksgiving festival celebrated by Muslims around the word to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Noori, a resident of Kabul, lost his 27-year-old wife, Nazia,
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 26, 2020 KABUL — The Afghan government plans to release 900 more Taliban prisoners on May 26, as a cease-fire by the militants enters its third and final day. The break in fighting, which came into effect on May 24 to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, was for
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News May 25, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Five countries, several of whom have been closely involved in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, issued a joint statement welcoming the Eid cease-fire in the country and calling on all parties to take it forward from here. “We encourage the parties to take further steps
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 24, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban have announced a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan during the three-day Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr starting Sunday, a move the United States hailed as “a momentous opportunity” to advance peace efforts in the war-torn country. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani quickly reciprocated the insurgent announcement
ANI: Pakistan continues to focus on countering Indian influence in Afghanistan and harbours the Taliban and groups such as the Haqqani Network, which have the ability to engage in violence on Afghan soil, according to a new Pentagon report. Click here to read more (external link).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 21, 2020 U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has urged a reduction in violence “by all sides” in Afghanistan, saying innocent Afghans are bearing too much of the brunt of the war. Khalilzad, the architect of a February agreement with the Taliban clearing the way for a U.S. troop withdrawal,
Press TV May 20, 2020 The US intelligence agency has acknowledged that Iran is not seeking to destabilize Afghanistan where the US he’s engaged in an alleged peace process. The US military intelligence announcement runs counter to previous remarks by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, The National Interest reported. “Iran’s strategic objectives relating to Afghanistan continue to
Ariana: The United States “never really fought to win” in Afghanistan, said Trump on Monday adding the Taliban “make a fortune” by the US presence. In response to a May 17 Wall Street Journal editorial indicating Trump’s flimsy decisions regarding Afghanistan given the peace deals and the withdrawal of US forces prematurely, Donald pronounced his
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan May 20, 2020 KABUL — U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is in Kabul to press the Taliban and Afghan government to start delayed talks amid an uptick in violence — including two more deadly attacks overnight — that threatens to unravel a landmark peace deal between Washington and the militants