LAHORE: With the Taliban gaining complete control over Afghanistan and the Ashraf Ghani-led government practically ousted, the two decades-long war has finally come to an end in the troubled country. In an exclusive conversation with Bol News, former Ambassador M Alam Brohi who is also an expert on Afghanistan affairs said that the US and … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday said that the ideal time to end the Afghan conflict through negotiations would have been when the US and NATO troops were at maximum military strength in Afghanistan. A statement issued after the National Security Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, stated that continuation of foreign military presence for … Read more
KARACHI: Pakistan equity market witnessed across-the-board selling triggered by the Taliban’s control of Kabul, which would have uncertain implications for Pakistan and the region, dealers said on Monday. An analyst at Arif Habib Limited said after weeks of rapid advancement towards the capital and gaining control of province after province, the Taliban entered Kabul; thus, … Read more
BEIJING: Countries and international organisations closely observing the unfolding situation in Afghanistan have swiftly reacted to Taliban forces entering the capital Kabul. On Monday morning, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told local media that the National Security Cabinet meeting will convene to review a plan for evacuation out of Afghanistan, without providing details of the … Read more
As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the group and all other parties “to exercise utmost restraint to protect lives and ensure that humanitarian can be addressed.” A statement issued to the UN press corps said that Guterres is following with deep concern the rapid turn of the events … Read more
After conquering 26 of the country’s 34 provincial capitals in the last ten days, the Taliban armed group is fighting for power in Afghanistan. In May, as foreign forces began to leave the country, the armed group, which was deposed in a US-led invasion in 2001, stepped up its drive to depose the Western-backed government. … Read more
A meeting of National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan will be held in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan. In a statement, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan will present its stance on the current situation following consultations in the meeting. He said an important meeting … Read more
Pakistan on Monday called upon the Afghan leaders to work together to address the evolving situation and craft a way forward for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said “Pakistan has consistently emphasized that a political solution is indispensible. Pakistan will continue to play its constructive … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Saarc CCI) has cautioned that the rapidly changing security situation in Afghanistan will have an adverse impact on the regional economies, especially Pakistan. In a statement, Saarc CCI president Iftikhar Ali Malik said that the impact of the crisis in Afghanistan could ultimately spread far wider, adding … Read more
Afghanistan’s T20I skipper Rashid Khans prays as Taliban makes its way into capital city Kabul on Sunday. Rashid took it to Twitter and tweeted “Peace” along with praying hands and the national flag. Peace 🤲🏻🤲🏻🤲🏻🇦🇫🇦🇫🇦🇫 — Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) August 15, 2021 Earlier this month, he posted a tweet requesting the ‘World Leaders’ not to … Read more
Afghan Taliban, or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, after taking control of major strategic cities, on Saturday issued a comprehensive statement defining its policies and future course of action in the country. In the statement, it declared the following points regarding the latest developments and advancements in Afghanistan: The areas and provinces that come under … Read more
TALUQAN: Taliban have captured Warsaj district, the last bastion of the Afghan government in northern Takhar province and further consolidated their position in the northern region, an elder of the district Hajji Abdul Malik said on Saturday. “Warsaj district collapsed to the Taliban fighters on Friday evening and the security forces based there retreated to … Read more
Afghanistan is in dire straits at the moment and its security forces have been weakened after the state failed to stop the Taliban’s attacks. Adding to Afghanistan’s woes, Washington has announced plans to evacuate its citizens from Kabul, a symbol of the US presence after nearly two decades of conflict. Following the Taliban’s takeover of … Read more
NEW YORK: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram rejected Afghan and US allegations of Pakistani support to the Taliban fighters making rapid advances across Afghanistan, saying that those claims were emanating from the “people in Kabul” trying to explain their national forces’ failure to resist the insurgents. “There is no support from Pakistan,” he categorically told … Read more
DOHA: Representatives of countries taking part in the Doha international meeting on Afghanistan called on the Afghan warring parties to expedite the peace process, reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible, stressing their rejection of any government-imposed by force. Issued after the final session of the meeting, a joint statement made … Read more
KABUL: Taliban on Friday claimed to have taken control over key southern Afghan cities of Lashkar Gah and Kandahar, after weeks of heavy clashes between the Taliban and government forces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on his social media account that they overran government offices, including provincial police headquarters, in Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand … Read more
ANKARA: On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said that he may meet with the leader of the insurgent group of Taliban in an effort to help ensure peace in Afghanistan. In less than a week, the Taliban have taken control of more than a fifth of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals. Turkey has troops in … Read more
Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday reiterated that Pakistan has made every possible effort to facilitate the Afghan peace process leading towards a negotiated settlement with utmost sincerity and will continue to do so. Chairing a meeting of Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, he said all stakeholders have to play their part positively … Read more
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that Pakistan wants durable peace in Afghanistan and will continue to play its constructive role in this regard despite baseless allegations of President Ashraf Ghani. In a statement, the foreign minister said Pakistan always played a positive role for peace in Afghanistan and Pakistani delegation is also … Read more
US President Joe Biden has stated “I do not regret my decision” to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan after two decades of war, Biden told reporters in Washington. He spoke after insurgents took control of Farah city, the capital of the same-named province, and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan within hours of each other, according to officials … Read more
The Afghan Taliban have captured Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan. This is the Taliban’s capture of the ninth provincial capital in less than a week. A member of the provincial assembly has confirmed the Taliban’s capture, according to the French news agency AFP. Meanwhile, according to Afghan media, Afghan Army Chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai … Read more
KABUL: Taliban militants entered two more provincial capitals in northern region late on Tuesday, the latest in their rapid advances and altogether taken the control of nine provincial capitals of Afghanistan, reported local media on Wednesday. “Taliban militants overran Pul-e-Khumri city, capital of northern Baghlan province and Faizabad city, capital of neighboring Badakhshan province on … Read more
Ahead of the Troika Plus meeting taking place in Doha on the Afghan peace process, the US has made it clear that the country and its allies will only recognise any future government of Afghanistan and provide assistance if it meets the criteria laid down by Washington. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, in a … Read more
All-rounder Rashid Khan appealed for peace in Afghanistan. He asked the world leaders not to leave his country in “chaos” amid increasing violence. “Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos, thousands of innocent people, including children and women, get martyred every day, houses and properties being destructed. Those families displaced. Don’t leave us in … Read more
KABUL—At least 47 militants have been confirmed dead as fighting planes struck Taliban fighters’ hideouts and positions in the southern Kandahar province, Afghan Defence Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The sorties, according to the statement, targeted Taliban militants in Dand, Zari, Takhta Pul, and parts of provincial capital Kandahar city in the wee … Read more
US on Tuesday stated that Washington was in conversation with Pakistani leadership about the alleged “safe havens that exist along that border between Afghanistan and Pakistan”. Addressing reporters during a press briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary John F Kirby said that US was mindful that those safe havens were providing a source of more insecurity, more … Read more
KABUL: At least 20 Taliban militants were killed and eight others wounded when government forces repelled a militant attack on Aybak city, capital of Afghanistan’s northern province of Samangan, on Sunday night, the country’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday. The ministry said in a statement that Taliban fighters fled surrounding areas of the city after … Read more
Local officials in Afghanistan say Taliban fighters have killed journalists, kidnapped an Afghan radio station manager in Kabul and abducted a journalist from Helmand province. According to the British news agency Reuters, a gunman shot and killed Toofan Omar, the station manager of Paktia Ghag radio and an officer of the pro-Afghan independent media group … Read more
