MOSCOW, August 21 (Sputnik) – All militants who were involved in a major rocket attack on the presidential palace in Kabul have likely been eliminated, local media reported Tuesday, citing the Afghan Interior Ministry. Earlier in the day, Afghan media reported that the Taliban fired up to 22 rockets in Kabul during President Ashraf Ghani’s
MOSCOW, August 21 (Sputnik) – Several missiles were fired at Kabul during the speech of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday, local media reported Tuesday. According to the TOLOnews broadcaster, the attack occurred at 09:00 local time (04:30 GMT). The rockets were fired at the Presidential Palace and
WASHINGTON, August 21 (Sputnik) – Rising civilian deaths, severe drought, capability gaps and a resilient insurgency are just some of the factors that are complicating US efforts to end the war in Afghanistan, the Defense Department Inspector General for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel said in a report submitted to Congress. “Civilian deaths reached historically high levels,
WASHINGTON, August 21 (Sputnik) – Founder of the war contractor formerly known as Blackwater, Erik Prince, during an interview said he hopes White House National Security Adviser John Bolton will be open to considering his plan for privatizing the war in Afghanistan. Over the weekend, Bolton told ABC News that he was willing to mull
William Gallo VOA News August 20, 2018 A plan by billionaire American businessman Erik Prince to privatize the U.S. war in Afghanistan is reportedly receiving renewed interest within the Trump administration, even though Afghan officials continue to criticize it as misguided. Prince is mounting a media campaign to convince President Donald Trump that his plan
MOSCOW, August 20 (Sputnik) – The Taliban movement has released at least 40 members of Afghan security forces in the district of Bilcheragh in the northern Faryab province. The Taliban seized control of Bilcheragh on Saturday. According to the Tolo News broadcaster, nearly 40 of 100 members of Afghan security forces present in the district
Tolo News: Blackwater founder Erik Prince, who has been reportedly pushing for the US government to “privatize” the war in Afghanistan, said on Monday that one year after the launch of the Pentagon’s new strategy for South Asia, the Afghan war “remains a total failure.” Prince meanwhile said last week that he hasn’t spoken directly
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan August 20, 2018 KUNDUZ, Afghanistan — The Taliban has reportedly rejected an offer by the Afghan government for a cease-fire, with militant commanders vowing to carry on their attacks after Taliban fighters in the north seized nearly 200 hostages from a convoy of passenger buses. A Taliban spokesman said Taliban leader
Ayaz Gul Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News August 20, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Most of the bus passengers kidnapped by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan have been released following mediation by Afghan tribal elders. Minister of Interior advisor Bahar Mehr said insurgents are still holding 12 passengers from three buses seized early Monday in Kunduz province. Each bus
Ayaz Gul VOA News August 19, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has announced a three-month unilateral conditional cease-fire with the Taliban, hours after authorities confirmed the Islamist insurgency overran a northern district and apparently captured dozens of government soldiers. Ghani explained Afghan forces will halt their operations from Monday, provided the insurgents reciprocate and