South Asia and Beyond

U.S. Pushes for Sooner Release of Taliban Prisoners

KABUL: The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, on Wednesday said the United States would like to see prisoner releases begin as soon as possible in line with the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement. “No prisoners have been released to date despite the commitment to do so expressed by both sides,” Khalilzad added in a […]Read More

High Food Prices Cause Public Outcry

KABUL: A number of Afghans have accused businessmen of using the coronavirus threat to sell goods at unreasonably high prices and have called upon the government to act against the offenders. Over the past two days, many in Kabul have been out shopping for food to guard against possible shortages. But fear of the coronavirus […]Read More

Coronavirus And The Afghan Peace Process

KABUL: The coronavirus greatly complicates efforts to overcome the already significant obstacles to the implementation of the Afghan peace process foreseen in the February 29 U.S.-Taliban agreement. The prevalence of the virus in Afghanistan is unknown, given the weakness of healthcare and lack of testing. On March 10, the Ministry of Public Health said that […]Read More

Khalilzad Hopes Intra-Afghan Talks Conclude In ‘100 Days’

KABUL: U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in an interview with Tolo News on Wednesday spoke about a number of significant topics related to the peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban, including counterterrorism operations, intra-Afghan talks and the prisoner exchange, and he also spoke about the current political deadlock between Ashraf Ghani […]Read More

Saturday: U.S.-Taliban Deal In Doha, U.S.-Afghan Declaration In Kabul

KABUL: Afghanistan and the United States will issue a joint declaration to emphasise U.S. commitments for Afghanistan on Saturday, the day the U.S. and Taliban are scheduled to sign a deal in Doha. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and NATO chief Stoltenberg will come to Kabul tomorrow to announce the declaration with President Ghani, presidential […]Read More

Efforts Underway to End Election Tensions

KABUL: Former President Hamid Karzai and former mujahideen leader Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf met with National Unity Government leaders on Monday as tensions continue to rise between electoral campaign teams. President Ashraf Ghani has created a special commission for the ceremony of his swearing-in and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has also set up a separate […]Read More

‘Give Peace A Chance In Afghanistan’

When will the ‘jang’ (fighting) stop, asks an Afghan widow from the four-decade-old conflict. A seven-day ‘Reduction in Violence’ agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban is in place. If that holds, a deal is expected to be signed in Doha on February 29. Meanwhile, a country is crying out for peace. Afghanistan is not […]Read More

First Street Fashion Show Held In Kabul

KABUL: Afghan male and female youths modelled on Thursday in the first street fashion show in Kabul, and another show is planned for Herat province in the upcoming month to promote Afghan culture. Previous fashion shows were held indoors, not with public access. Ajmal Haqiqi, who headed up the show, said that they will hold […]Read More