Tag: Afghanistan crisis

U.S. intelligence accuses Russia of offering bounties to Afghan militants to kill American troops

U.S. intelligence has concluded that the Russian military offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to kill American troops and other coalition forces, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing officials briefed on the matter. A Russian military intelligence unit linked to assassination attempts in Europe had offered rewards for successful attacks last year,… Read More U.S. intelligence accuses Russia of offering bounties to Afghan militants to kill American troops

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Afghan Taliban declare three-day ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr festivities

The Taliban declared a three-day Eid ceasefire starting on Sunday, a spokesman for the hard-line Islamist group wrote in a tweet on Saturday, a move that comes as fighting has intensified between the warring sides despite the coronavirus pandemic. “Do not carry out any offensive operations against the enemy anywhere, if any action is taken… Read More Afghan Taliban declare three-day ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr festivities

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Seven dead, dozens injured following Taliban car bomb attack in Afghanistan

Taliban fighters detonated a car bomb on Monday near an Afghan intelligence agency installation in the central province of Ghazni, killing at least seven people and wounding 40, officials and the Taliban insurgents said. The blast, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when tens of thousands of Afghans are fasting, is the latest in… Read More Seven dead, dozens injured following Taliban car bomb attack in Afghanistan

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Taliban suspend prisoner exchange talks, recalls negotiators from Afghanistan

The Taliban on Tuesday recalled the insurgent group’s negotiators from Afghanistan hours after they suspended talks on a prisoner exchange process with the Afghan government, a spokesman for the hard-line Islamist group said in a tweet. Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for Taliban’s political office in Qatar, said “the intentional delays in the release of our… Read More Taliban suspend prisoner exchange talks, recalls negotiators from Afghanistan

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Afghan government to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in move for direct talks

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in coming days to pave the way for direct talks with the hardline insurgent group that are aimed at ending the 18-year-long war in Afghanistan, according to a decree. The two-page decree – which was signed by Ghani and will be made public later… Read More Afghan government to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in move for direct talks

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Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah sworn in as Afghanistan president in parallel ceremonies

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday but his main rival refused to recognize the inauguration and held his own swearing-in ceremony as a rival president. Both Ghani and former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah say they are Afghanistan’s rightful leader following a disputed election last September, a stand-off that… Read More Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah sworn in as Afghanistan president in parallel ceremonies

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Afghan presidential rivals delay parallel inauguration ceremonies to continue talks

Afghan President-elect Ashraf Ghani on Monday delayed his planned inauguration ceremony until the afternoon, as his rival Abdullah Abdullah also postponed a scheduled competing swearing-in ceremony. Both men have laid claim to Afghanistan’s leadership following a disputed election in September, a situation that threatens political chaos just days after the United States and the Taliban… Read More Afghan presidential rivals delay parallel inauguration ceremonies to continue talks

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Taliban say parallel presidential ceremonies threatens Afghan peace talks progress

The Taliban militant group said peace talks with the Afghan government next week were unlikely to take place because rivals for the presidency were both holding swearing-in ceremonies on Monday, and urged them instead to focus on an end to the war. The United States is trying to push the government toward talks with the… Read More Taliban say parallel presidential ceremonies threatens Afghan peace talks progress

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