Tolo News: President Ashraf Ghani in a decree on Saturday approved 48 members of the High Council for National Reconciliation, which is led by Abdullah Abdullah, thus taking a major step towards preparing for the imminent intra-Afghan talks. Ghani in his decree called on religious scholars, the parliament, the private sector, media and provincial councils to
Tolo News: Recent presidential decrees to appoint standing officials to new posts–while keeping the advantages of their previous assignments–has sparked reactions among legal experts who call such acts “beyond the law.” A presidential decree issued on Sunday indicates that Zia-Ul-Haq Amarkhil, a member of the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s high council, was appointed as a presidential
Tolo News: Afghanistan’s Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday appointed four new members to its nine-member board who were approved by President Ashraf Ghani, according to a statement by the ACB. The new members include the Women’s Affairs Minister Hasina Safi, Kandahar MP Rohullah Khanzada, senior vice-presidential advisor Haroon Mir and Mohammad Nabi, the former cricket
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty August 20, 2020 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says that “all barriers and excuses have been removed” ahead of expected peace talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban militants. In a televised message to Afghan security forces on August 20, Ghani said his government had “met all conditions for a
Tolo News: On the threshold of the intra-Afghan talks, which are expected to be held on Doha in the near future, the Taliban on Saturday issued a statement saying the group does not recognize the Afghan government as a legitimate system. The statement was apparently issued in response to a recent statement by the Afghan
VOA News August 14, 2020 Afghanistan has begun releasing the last 400 of its Taliban prisoners, government officials said Friday. Eighty of the prisoners were released Thursday officials said. The release is a condition for starting peace negotiations in the war-ravaged country. The U.S and the Taliban signed a prisoner release agreement earlier this year, calling for the Taliban to release the 1,000 government and military
Tolo News: The Presidential Palace said Monday that Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for Reconciliation, has yet to introduce his nominated ministers for the new cabinet. On the other hand, Fraidoon Khwazoon, spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah, said that they have sent their nominee list to the Presidential Palace. Citizens of the country consider
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News August 10, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Nineteen Afghan civilians were killed in multiple roadside mine blasts in Kabul and Kandahar Sunday. Two of the blasts occurred in Arghistan district of Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan. In the first incident, a Toyota pickup carrying civilians hit a roadside mine near Shana Nari village killing nine
Ayaz Gul VOA News August 9, 2010 Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani Sunday announced the release of a last batch of 400 Taliban prisoners, clearing the way for an early start to a U.S.-brokered peace dialogue with the Islamist insurgency. Ghani’s decision came after a government-sponsored grand public assembly, known as a Loya Jirga, advised him
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan August 8, 2020 A traditional Afghan council is expected to back a proposal for the government to release a final group of 400 Taliban prisoners, a move that potentially paves the way for intra-Afghan peace talks. Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Loya Jirga gathering Afghan politicians and community leaders, said