By Radio Mashaal April 29, 2021 U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has discussed with Pakistan’s army chief the regional security situation and the planned withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan later this year. During the call, Austin and General Qamar Javed Bajwa discussed “regional stability and security,” “the drawdown” in Afghanistan, as well as “the
Responsible Statecraft: They formed their own shadow army, some 90,000 in the country at its peak, but their problematic predomination is coming to an end. The golden post-9/11 years of the war contractor — the providers of food and transportation, fuel, construction, maintenance, IT, not to mention security and interrogation services for the U.S. military
AP: A California man [Saed Ismail Amiri, 38, of Granite Bay] pleaded guilty Tuesday in a scheme to bilk the Afghanistan government out of more than $100 million with a phony bid to build an electric grid, authorities said. Click here to read more (external link).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 28, 2021 Reid Standish Ajmal Aand Afghan security forces broke up an alleged Chinese espionage ring in December that was operating in Kabul and trying to infiltrate terrorist networks in the country. The Afghan government said little about the issue besides acknowledging the arrests. Beijing publicly denied knowledge of the
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 28, 2021 The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan said U.S. aid to Afghanistan could be slashed if a Taliban-dominated government did not respect human rights, especially women’s rights. Zalmay Khalilzad said on April 27 the United States could leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid to the country
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 27, 2021 The State Department has issued a travel advisory ordering U.S. government employees out of the Afghan capital, Kabul, if their work can be done elsewhere. “Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe because of critical levels of kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines,
Tolo News: John Kirby, US Pentagon spokesman, said that the US will not provide air support to the Afghan security forces after the American forces withdraw from the country. He said that the US will continue its financial cooperation and will provide aid for the repair and maintenance of Afghan aircraft after September. Click here
BBC News: AJ has been scared to leave his home in Kabul for months – he fears the Taliban want him and his family dead. Now in his early 30s, he is one of hundreds of Afghans who worked with British forces as interpreters and support staff, and who may now be targeted by the
Press TV April 25, 2021 The top US military commander in Afghanistan says the handing over of military bases and equipment to the Afghan forces has begun as Washington prepares to withdraw the remaining US forces from the country by September 11. General Scott Miller, who has been commanding the US forces and the western NATO
Bruce Pannier Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 24, 2021 Some recent media reports suggest the U.S. military will seek to reposition some of its troops in Central Asia after its big decision to withdraw from Afghanistan after nearly two decades in the country. The New York Times reported on April 15 that U.S. officials had been