ashraf ghani

At a conference in Kabul , Ashraf Ghani offered the insurgent group a variety of incentives to come to the negotiating table — including passports, a political office and the release of prisoners.

In remarks delivered after landing, the secretary invited "moderate voices" within the Taliban to renounce violence. He also called on Pakistan to stop providing safe haven to terrorists.

Previous estimates said 90 had died in last week's truck bombing outside the German Embassy. Speaking at a Kabul peace conference, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani did not explain the sharp increase.

With a shaky government at the helm, Afghanistan confronts a tanking economy, a widening war with the Taliban, rampant corruption and the departure of thousands seeking a better life abroad.

The Bilateral Security Agreement, approved by newly inaugurated President Ashraf Ghani, will keep some U.S. forces in Afghanistan past the end of the year.

The top two presidential candidates in Afghanistan shake hands and sign a power-sharing deal, ending months of bitter disputes over who will succeed Hamid Karzai.

The country's presidential election, which has been disputed for months, is finally be coming to an end, as the two candidates signed a deal Sunday to create a unity government.