The leader of the resistance movement in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley on Monday called for a “national uprising” against the Taliban. In an audio message sent to media, National Resistance Front commander Ahmad Massoud said: “Wherever you are, inside or outside, I call on you to begin a national uprising for …
Read More »Afghan opposition leader Massoud says he is ready for talks with Taliban
The leader of the Afghan opposition group resisting Taliban forces in the Panjshir valley north of Kabul said on Sunday he welcomed proposals from religious scholars for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting. Ahmad Massoud, head of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), made the announcement on the …
Read More »Germany wants to talk with Taliban about more evacuations from Afghanistan: Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday called for a dialogue with the Taliban as the group finalizes a new government that will set the tone for their rule in Afghanistan. “We simply have to talk to the Taliban about how we can get people who have worked for Germany out …
Read More »Taliban holding 6 planes carrying Americans hostage: Congressman
The Taliban in Afghanistan is “holding hostage” six airplanes carrying American citizens and Afghan allies at an airport in the country, Republican Congressman Michael McCaul has revealed. McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Sunday the airplanes have been at Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport in northern …
Read More »Taliban say they now control headquarters of Panjshir governor, govt facilities
The Taliban said on Sunday their forces had fought their way into the provincial capital of Panjshir, the valley where opposition forces have been holding out since the fall of Kabul three weeks ago. The police headquarters and district centre of Rukhah, adjacent to the provincial capital Bazarak, had fallen, …
Read More »Taliban special forces bring abrupt end to women’s protest
Taliban special forces in camouflage fired their weapons into the air Saturday, bringing an abrupt and frightening end to the latest protest march in the capital by Afghan women demanding equal rights from the new rulers. Also on Saturday, the chief of Pakistan’s powerful intelligence agency, which has an outsized …
Read More »Taliban, opposition vie to control Panjshir; Pakistan spy chief flies to Kabul
Taliban and opposition forces were fighting on Saturday for control of the Panjshir valley north of Kabul, the last province in Afghanistan holding out against the extremist group, according to reports. Taliban sources had said on Friday the group had seized control of the valley, although the resistance denied it …
Read More »Taliban sources say their forces take Panjshir, in full control of Afghanistan
Taliban forces have taken full control of Afghanistan including the Panjshir valley where opposition forces had been holding out, three Taliban sources said on Friday as heavy celebratory gunfire was heard in the Afghan capital Kabul. “By the grace of Allah Almighty, we are in control of the entire Afghanistan. …
Read More »Afghan women protest in Kabul demand rights as Taliban seek recognition
A small group of Afghan women protested near the presidential palace in Kabul on Friday, demanding equal rights from the Taliban as Afghanistan’s new rulers work on forming a government and seeking international recognition. The Taliban captured most of the country in a matter of days last month and celebrated …
Read More »Britain says it wants to engage with the Taliban
Britain will not recognise the Taliban as the new government in Kabul, but must deal with new realities in Afghanistan and does not want to see its social and economic fabric broken, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Friday. Speaking during a visit to Pakistan, Raab said it would not …
Read More »Baradar to lead new Afghanistan government: Taliban sources
Mullah Baradar, the head of the Taliban’s political office, will lead the new government in Afghanistan, at least three sources in the group said on Friday. Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of late Taliban founder Mullah Omar, and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai will take senior positions in the government, the …
Read More »Western Union is resuming money-transfer services to Afghanistan
Western Union Co is resuming money-transfer services to Afghanistan, a senior executive told Reuters on Thursday, a decision he said was in line with a US push to allow humanitarian activity to continue after the Taliban’s takeover. The world’s largest money-transfer firm and MoneyGram International Inc, another global remittance provider, …
Read More »Qatar plane carrying technical team lands in Kabul: Source
A Qatari aircraft landed in Kabul Wednesday carrying a technical team to discuss the resumption of airport operations after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. “A Qatari jet carrying a technical team has landed in Kabul earlier today to discuss the resumption …
Read More »Taliban hold mock ‘funeral’ for NATO, take Black Hawk helicopter for joyrides, and show off loot at Kabul airport after US retreat
After nearly 20 years of fighting against the US in Afghanistan, the victorious Taliban posed with captured American gear at the Kabul airport, held a mock funeral for NATO in Khost, and flew a Black Hawk helicopter over Kandahar. The last US troops left the Hamid Karzai International Airport on …
Read More »US made ‘secret’ deal with Taliban to set up a gate to evacuate Americans: Report
The US made a secrete arrangement with the Taliban to set up a “secret gate” at Kabul airport for evacuating Americans out of Afghanistan, US defense officials told CNN. The arrangement included the Taliban escorting Americans to the gate to “ensure their safety.” The officials told CNN: “Americans were notified …
Read More »This US soldier’s boots were last on the ground in Afghanistan before final pullout
After 20 years of US military presence in Afghanistan, Army General Chris Donahue was the last American Soldier to officially leave the country, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. “The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan: Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps boards …
Read More »Panjshir resistance says retaliated against Taliban attack, killed 7 of its fighters
The resistance movement against the Taliban in Panjshir province retaliated against an attack by the group that targeted one of the province’s outposts, which led to the death of seven Taliban fighters, a member of the resistance movement said on Tuesday. “We pushed back against an attack by the Taliban …
Read More »Taliban parade in Kabul airport after US withdrawal
Hours after the final foreign forces flew out of Afghanistan, Taliban leaders walked victorious through the airport, flanked by guards dressed in special forces combat kit inspecting destroyed US helicopters. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid led a group of officials onto the runway, his usual stoic expression replaced by broad grin. …
Read More »Afghan govt to be formed in days says Pakistan foreign minister Qureshi
Afghanistan will form a government within days, Pakistan’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, after weeks of uncertainty following the Taliban’s conquest of the country. “We expect that a consensus government will be formed in the coming days in Afghanistan,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a news conference in Islamabad. Foreign Minister …
Read More »UNICEF says SEVEN children were killed in Kabul drone strike that US said targeted ISIS-K terrorists
At least seven children were killed in a Kabul drone strike, the UNICEF representative in Afghanistan told reporters. The Pentagon had said the strike eliminated an “imminent threat” by ISIS-K terrorists to the ongoing airlift. “We have confirmation from open sources that seven children were killed” in the incident, Herve …
Read More »