News Updates
26 January - 04 February
- Taliban talking to US from position of strength
While sharing his views about the ongoing negotiations between the United States and the Taliban, renowned foreign policy author Ahmed Rashid on Sunday said the Taliban were talking from a position of strength as they controlled more territory than the Afghan government. (Dawn, 4 Feb, 2019)
- Talks between Taliban and Afghan opposition to be held in Moscow
President Ashraf Ghani has been excluded from the Moscow meeting and past peace talks between the Taliban and the US. ( Al Jazeera, 4 Feb, 2019)
- As US eyes Afghan exit, India talks to key players
FROM PASHTUNS to Hazaras and Tajiks, New Delhi has quietly opened channels of communication with top Afghan leaders cutting across communities and factions as uncertainty looms over Afghanistan amid signs of the US withdrawing from the strife-torn country, top sources told The Indian Express. “We have independently started engaging with all major political actors and factions, since we have major economic assets in Afghanistan and need to secure those interests,” sources said. Some of these players have visited India in the recent weeks and have met “those who matter in the Indian system”, they said. (The Indian Express, Feb 4, 2019)
- Senate Rebukes Trump Over Troop Withdrawals From Syria and Afghanistan
The Senate, in a bipartisan rebuke to President Trump’s foreign policy, voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation drafted by the majority leader to express strong opposition to the president’s withdrawal of United States military forces from Syria and Afghanistan.The 68-to-23 vote to cut off debate ensures that the amendment, written by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and backed by virtually every Senate Republican, will be added to a broader bipartisan Middle East policy bill expected to easily pass the Senate next week. ( 31 Jan, 2019 New York Times)
- The Afghan government’s control of its country declined late last year, in terms of both territory and population, according to a United States government report released. ( New York Times, 31 Jan, 2019)
- Taliban Talks Raise Question of What U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan Could Mean. ( New York Times, 28 Jan, 2019)
- US and Taliban agree in principle to framework for peace deal, US envoy says. ( CNN, 28 Jan, 2019)
- 'Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed': US envoy on 'progress' of US-Taliban talks.( Dawn, 26 Jan, 2019)
16 January - 25 January
- U.S. and Taliban Make Headway in Talks for Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Taliban fighters in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, in June. Taliban officials and American negotiators have met in Doha, Qatar, to discuss a potential deal. ( New York Times- 24.1.2019)
- A bomb-laden vehicle detonated in a large explosion heard across Kabul late and officials said the blast killed at least four people and wounded 90. The vehicle blew up in the eastern part of the Afghan capital, home to government offices, the country’s elections commission, housing for foreign security contractors and agencies of the large United Nations mission. ( New York Times, 19.1.2019)
- The Taliban infiltrated an Afghan intelligence base on Monday, killing dozens of people in what Afghan officials said was one of the deadliest attacks against the intelligence service in the 17-year war with the Taliban. (New York Times, 21.1.2019)
- Taliban agree Isil and Al-Qaeda will be barred from Afghanistan in major concession during talks with US ( The Telegraph: 24.1.2019)
01 January - 15 January
- Fatal blast rocks Afghan capital Kabul
Taliban claims responsibility for explosion near compound housing international companies and NGO offices. (Al Jazeera, 15.1.2019)
- Taliban talks: Pakistan arrest 'sends militants message'
Pakistan has detained a senior Afghan Taliban member in an attempt to put pressure on the militants amid talks with the US, sources in the group say. Hafez Mohibullah, religious affairs minister when the Taliban ran Afghanistan before 2001, was held in Peshawar, the sources told the BBC. The US has repeatedly called on Pakistan to end "safe havens" for the Taliban on its soil. Pakistan denies backing the group to retain influence in Afghanistan. The reported detention of Hafez Mohibullah comes ahead of a visit to Pakistan by US special representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, who has held a series of meetings with the Taliban's political office in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. (BBC. 15.1.2019)
- US demand for long-term military bases in Afghanistan sticking point in Peace talks. ( Times of India, 14.1.2019)
- Deadly Bombing in Afghan Capital Is Claimed by Taliban
Afghanistan — A bomb-laden vehicle detonated in a large explosion heard across Kabul late on Monday, and officials said the blast killed at least four people and wounded 90. The vehicle blew up in the eastern part of the Afghan capital, home to government offices, the country’s elections commission, housing for foreign security contractors and agencies of the large United Nations mission. The exact target was not clear. Witnesses and officials suggested the vehicle had detonated at a roundabout, an indication the blast occurred before the actual target had been reached. (New York Times, 14.1.2019)
- Taliban Attack on Checkpoint Kills 5 Police in Afghanistan. (New York Times, 12.1.2019)
- Taliban overrun 30 villages in western Afghan province. (The News, 10.Jan, 2019)
- Taliban-US talks to start in Qatar. (The News, 8 Jan, 2019)
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