Ayaz Gul VOA News April 4, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Russia have been able to “transcend” their history of mistrust and rivalry, leading to a rapid improvement and expansion in bilateral political, military and economic ties, says Pakistani Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir. The minister, currently attending an international security conference in Moscow, told VOA prior
Ayaz Gul VOA News April 3, 2018 ISLAMABAD — The United Nations says it is probing “disturbing reports of serious harm” to civilians during Monday’s Afghan military airstrikes on a Taliban-controlled district in northern Kunduz province. Villagers in Dasth-i Archi told reporters Tuesday they attended mass funerals of dozens of victims, including children, insisting the Afghan
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 3, 2018 An Afghan forces air strike on a suspected Taliban gathering in the northern province of Kunduz has caused dozens of casualties, including among civilians, officials said. Abdul Hameed Hameedi, a local police official, said the strike in Dasht-i Archi district outside Kunduz city on April 2 hit a
The Hill: According to a Department of Defense Inspector General report, the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) cannot account for $3.1 billion from 2014 to 2017 “intended to increase [Afghan security forces] effectiveness and capabilities so the [forces] can become more professional and increasingly self-sustaining.” CSTC-A also cannot account for $700 million meant for ammunition provided
Michael Hughes: It has become fashionable in many circles to fault Russia for all the world’s ills and the conflict in Afghanistan is no different. U.S. military leaders, in search of another handy excuse for the colossal failure of its 16-plus-year occupation, have continued to insist that Moscow is arming the Taliban – a group that,
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty March 31, 2018 The spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry says Islamabad and Washington have yet to find “common ground” on a range of issues, including U.S. accusations that Pakistan is not pulling its weight in the fight against terrorism. Mohammad Faisal made the remarks in an interview with RFE/RL on
The Washington Post: Military leaders say the arrival of new troops and aircraft, along with a renewed mission to advise local operations more closely, will help reverse a Taliban resurgence that has exposed the fragility of the long American project in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link). Related Russia, Taliban ‘laughed’ at US claims
Ayaz Gul VOA News March 30, 2018 ISLAMABAD — A suicide bomb blast in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province Friday killed at least two people, including a senior provincial member of parliament. Afghan officials identified the slain politician as Shah Wali Hemat, saying he was walking to join a nearby funeral procession in the district of Wattapoar
Hasib Danish Alikozai VOA News March 29, 2018 Afghan photojournalist Massoud Hossaini, who has been working for the Associated Press in Kabul, said he survived what he called an assassination attempt Thursday. Hossaini won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography in 2012 after capturing the image of a crying girl in the aftermath of
Ayaz Gul VOA News March 29, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan said Thursday it has given a “dossier” to Afghanistan containing evidence that fugitive militants are using the neighboring country for terrorist attacks against Pakistani security and civilian targets. The move came as a senior American diplomat, Alice Wells, arrived in Islamabad for “several says” of talks