RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan August 4, 2020 The Afghan government will convene a grand assembly of elders, known as the Loya Jirga, in Kabul on August 7 to decide the fate of hundreds of Taliban prisoners that Taliban leaders insist should be released before they join peace talks with the government. Last week, President Ashraf
1TV: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday that 90 percent of the country’s population live below the $2 poverty line. The president made during a ceremony to launch Dastarkhan Milli, a $244 million aid distribution program. The president also suggested that Afghanistan cannot always be dependent on international donation. He said that the country
By Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News July 15, 2020 ISLAMABAD – A powerful Afghan warlord who was accused of kidnapping and raping a political rival, in addition to other accusations of rights abuses dating back decades, was promoted to the highest military rank of marshal Wednesday in a special ceremony in Jawzjan province. The promotion of Abdul
Tolo News: The anti-corruption group Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) on Thursday strongly criticized the handling of the Kabul Bank corruption case by the government of President Ashraf Ghani, saying that only $30 million of stolen assets have been recouped during Ghani’s tenure. Allegedly, $913 million was stolen. Click here to read more (external link). Related
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan July 7, 2020 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has warned that a spike in violence by militants in the country poses a “serious” threat to the peace process with the Taliban. Speaking on July 6 during an online conference aimed at briefing the international community on the expected talks with the militant group, Ghani
By Ayaz Gul VOA News June 24, 2020 ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – A top Afghan official leading peacemaking efforts with the Taliban said Wednesday that he would be open to discussing formation of an interim government with the Islamist insurgent group when the two sides begin long-awaited peace negotiations. Abdullah Abdullah, head of Afghanistan’s High Council for
1TV: The sides of President Ashraf Ghani and head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah differ if honorary or regular marshal military rank should be given to Abdul Rashid Dostum. The dispute has delayed the process of nominating new cabinet members. The marshal rank for Dostum, a former first vice president in the
Tolo News: Following the news broadcasts of reports of two travel bans on employees of the Ministry of Finance by the Presidential Palace, Gul Maqsood Sabit, former deputy finance minister, said that the recent actions taken by the Palace against the employees of the ministry to prevent corruption are “not effective.” Click here to read
Ariana: Nearly a month has passed since the signing of the political agreement between President Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, but no fundamental work has been done to implement elements of the agreement. Arg has so far nominated seven ministers for President Ghani’s share, while Abdullah has not yet nominated any. Also, he has not finalized
Tolo News: A committee within the Wolesi Jirga, the Afghan house of representatives, has accused the government, particularly the president, of violating several constitutional provisions. The committee stated in a report that the president had created several new budgetary units without the approval of the house of representatives and had removed sections from a number