Taliban

The Risk Of Coronavirus In Afghanistan's Prisons Is Complicating Peace Efforts

2:04pm May 06, 2020

The Taliban accuse the government of spreading COVID-19 in prisons and warn of revenge if their prisoners are harmed. With prisoners on both sides at risk, peace efforts have become more complicated.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks earlier this month in Jalalabad. Ghani's dispute with Abdullah Abdullah over election results has been cited as one reason for the delay in organizing prisoner releases with the Taliban, a key stipulation in a peace de

World News

Afghanistan, Taliban To Begin Prisoner Releases At End Of Month

3:34pm March 25, 2020

The prisoner swaps, stipulated in last month's peace deal between the U.S. and Taliban, were in doubt for weeks amid Afghan government discord. They're expected to kickstart inter-Afghan peace talks.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani opens his coat after explosions were heard during his speech after he was sworn in for a second term. He told supporters he wasn't wearing a bulletproof vest.

Dueling Simultaneous Afghan Presidential Inaugurations Bode Ill For Peace Talks

5:49pm March 09, 2020

by David Welna

As Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had himself sworn in for a second term, rival Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah took the presidential oath of office in a competing ceremony.

Emergency response workers load an injured man into an ambulance after an attack Friday in the Afghan capital, Kabul, left more than two dozen people dead.

World News

At Least 32 Dead After Shooting In Kabul; ISIS Group Claims Responsibility

3:31pm March 06, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

The attack interrupted a memorial for a Shiite leader that the country's chief executive had been attending. The Taliban, which just signed a peace deal with the U.S., said they were not involved.

Afghan Taliban militants and villagers celebrate the U.S. peace deal Monday in the Alingar district of Laghman Province. The group resumed offensive operations against Afghan security forces this week, ending a partial truce.

Despite Bloody Week In Afghanistan, U.S. Pushes Taliban Peace Talks Forward

3:27pm March 06, 2020

by David Welna

Afghanistan's president is resisting a promised prisoner swap, the Taliban has resumed attacks, but U.S. officials are pushing both sides to sit down for a political settlement to end the war.

Militants linked with the Afghan Taliban gather Monday for a ceremony in Laghman province, celebrating the agreement the group signed with the U.S. over the weekend.

U.S. Launches 'Defensive Strike' At Taliban As Fragile Afghan Peace Deal Teeters

6:48pm March 04, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

The strike followed President Trump's call with the Taliban, during which he says they agreed "we don't want violence." Still, the group has led a wave of attacks since signing the landmark deal.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper (left) speaks as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley listens during a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday.

Defense Secretary Gives Go-Ahead For U.S. Troops To Start Afghan Drawdown

3:26pm March 02, 2020

by David Welna

A peace deal signed with the Taliban calls for 4,000 of the approximately 13,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan to leave within 135 days and for all U.S. troops to be out within 14 months.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, March, 1.

World News

Afghan President Rejects Timeline For Prisoner Swap Proposed In US-Taliban Peace Deal

4:01pm March 01, 2020

by Cat Schuknecht

One day after the United States signed an agreement with the Taliban, Ashraf Ghani said a proposed prisoner swap between the Taliban and his government could not be a precondition for talks.

Members of the Taliban delegation gather ahead of Saturday's signing ceremony with the United States in the Qatari capital of Doha.

U.S. Signs Peace Deal With Taliban After Nearly 2 Decades Of War In Afghanistan

10:23am February 29, 2020

by David Welna

The agreement follows 18 months of negotiations and comes after a seven-day "reduction in violence" period in Afghanistan. Here's what to know about the agreement and what may come next.

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U.S. Marines stand guard during the change of command ceremony at Shorab military camp in Afghanistan's Helmand province in January 2018.

U.S. Reaches 'Reduction In Violence' Deal With Taliban In Afghanistan

3:41pm February 14, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The step is meant to serve as an initial confidence-building measure and would last for seven days. A more-formal agreement could be signed in the coming weeks.