Tag Archives: Taliban

KABUL – Long-awaited intra-Afghan negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban are expected to start in Doha, Qatar within a week once the final 400 Taliban prisoners have been released. “We are ready to sit for talks within a week from when we see our prisoners released. We are …

KABUL – The Loya Jirga, or national grand council, officially started in Kabul on Friday morning amid heavy security measures in place in the city. About 3,200 delegates, including at least 700 women, are in attendance and will discuss and decide on the way forward for intra-Afghan peace talks and …

Following the peace talks and the release of Taliban prisoners, the Afghan government has decided to hold a Consultative Loya Jirga on the release of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners in Kabul at a cost of AFN 330 million. In a message issued on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, President …

KABUL – The Taliban in a statement on Wednesday said that the Afghan government’s move to convene a Loya Jirga about the fate of 400 prisoners has “no legal grounds” and that all factions should avoid creating obstacles in the way of the peace process. “As Afghanistan is in dire …

KABUL – As the Afghan government is set to convene Loya Jirga, or grand assembly of elders, on the fate of 400 Taliban prisoners the Taliban insist should be released before peace talks, Afghan parliament speaker on Tuesday said that holding the assembly is illegal. In a meeting with President …

KABUL – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan’s Prime Minister discussed peace efforts and other issues of bilateral interest during a telephone conversation. “President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani called Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today and extended felicitations on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha,” The Prime Minister’s Office of …

KABUL – Taliban on Wednesday announced that it would complete the release of 1,000 government prisoners by Eid al-Adha, which will begin on Friday. “The other side should also complete process of the release of 5000 prisoners as per the Doha Agreement and according to the list already provided in …

GHAZNI – At least nine Taliban, including two leaders, were killed in clashes with security forces in central Ghazni province, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement on Thursday. The clashes started after the Taliban attacked security checkpoints in Khawja Omaeri district, the statement said, adding: “Fortunately, the …

KABUL – US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. Khalilzad is expected to deliver a message to government leaders that ceasefire could be extended if prisoner release process is completed by Eid al-Adha which will begin on Friday, sources said. The Afghan government …

KABUL – The Taliban on Tuesday evening announced a three-day ceasefire over Eid al-Adha and ordered its fighters to stay out of government-held territory. In a statement on Twitter, the group said fighters have been ordered not to conduct any attacks on Afghan security forces unless in retaliation for attacks …