Islamabad (EFE).- The government announced a five-day truce in its military offensive on Wednesday following mediation by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, just two days after a bombing in Kabul against a hospital that left hundreds of civilian casualties (at least 400), according to the Taliban. “Given the proximity of the Eid-al-Fitr holiday, which marks … Read more
Islamabad (EFE).- In an escalation of the conflict, the government of Pakistan claimed to have bombed Kabul, the Afghan capital, in the early hours of Friday and declared an “open confrontation” with its neighboring country. It is the most serious incident between the two countries since the Taliban returned to power. Mosharraf Zaidi, the spokesperson … Read more
Kabul (EFE).- The Taliban government announced on Thursday the start of coordinated retaliatory attacks against Pakistani military positions, days after the Taliban denounced a series of Pakistani air strikes in the eastern province of Nangarhar, heightening border tensions. Afghan state television confirmed that the “reprisal operations” began at 8:00 pm local time, marking an escalation … Read more
Islamabad/Kabul, Feb 24 (EFE).- Following Pakistani airstrikes over the weekend, Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban government and Pakistani authorities exchanged accusations on Tuesday over new clashes along the Durand Line border area. “This afternoon, in the Kot area of Nazyan district, in Nangarhar province, the Pakistani side opened fire on Afghanistan, which was responded to by … Read more
Kabul (EFE).- The Taliban government on Thursday expressed support for Russia’s interest in building a railway line through Afghanistan, saying improved security conditions make the country suitable for major regional connectivity projects. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban-run Islamic Emirate, said Kabul welcomes recent remarks by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk that Moscow … Read more
Islamabad (EFE).- Pakistan warned on Sunday that it will take action to eliminate “terrorism” originating from Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban regime of failing to curb armed groups allegedly operating from its territory following the collapse of peace talks in Istanbul. “Pakistan’s core concern, i.e. terrorism emanating from Afghanistan needs to be addressed first and foremost. … Read more
Kabul (EFE).- International humanitarian aid began arriving in northern Afghanistan with difficulty on Monday, following a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that caused over 20 deaths and 500 injuries. The country is still facing the aftermath of the devastating September earthquake, which left over 2,200 people dead, and is isolated under the Taliban regime. A Doctors Without Borders … Read more
Kabul (EFE).- The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) reported on Saturday that eight local players were killed in air raids launched by the Pakistani army in Paktika Province in southeastern Afghanistan near the Durand Line, despite the existing ceasefire between the two countries. “Pakistani bombings attacked our local team during a cricket tournament in the Urgon … Read more
Kabul, Oct 17 (EFE) – The authorities of the Taliban de facto government in the Afghan province of Paktika denounced Friday that, despite the ceasefire, the Pakistani army launched aerial bombings against civilian areas Barmal and Urgon, southeastern Afghanistan, near the Durand Line. “Yes, tonight the Pakistani military regime carried out shelling on civilian houses … Read more
Islamabad (EFE).- Noor Wali Mehsud, the leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, reappeared in a video assuring that he is still alive and in Pakistan. The video was published a week after a presumed drone attack in Kabul attempted to kill him and sparked the most serious clashes between Pakistan … Read more
Kabul (EFE).- The Afghan armed forces’ operation against Pakistani border territory concluded around midnight, according to the de facto Ministry of Defense. “The Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan conducted a successful retaliatory operation tonight against Pakistani force centers along the Durand Line, in response to the Pakistani army’s repeated violations of Afghanistan’s … Read more
Kabul, Sep 1 (EFE).- At least 812 people have been killed and some 2,700 injured after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan overnight, the Taliban-led government said Monday. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that 800 of the fatalities and 2,500 of the injuries occurred in Kunar province, with 12 deaths and 255 injuries in … Read more
Kabul (EFE).- More than 100,000 Afghans were repatriated in the last week through the western border of Afghanistan, amid a growing and serious humanitarian crisis that already has more than a million returnees to the country so far this year. In recent days thousands of people have crossed the Islam Qala border crossing, the main … Read more
Kabul (EFE) – Empty beds and scattered toys are all that remains of the child malnutrition treatment center run by the NGO Action Against Hunger in Kabul, once a point of reference for the most vulnerable families but forced to close due to cuts in United States aid. Until its closure, the clinic, located in … Read more
Kabul, Mar 18 (EFE).- Pakistani fighter jets bombed several Afghan villages on Monday, killing at least five women and three children, the Taliban government said. The incident marks the latest episode of deadly violence amid growing tensions along the border between the two neighboring nations, even as Pakistan has not confirmed the strike. Taliban government … Read more
Kabul, Mar 16 (EFE).- Taliban authorities on Saturday Taliban welcomed the renewal of the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan, hoping it would facilitate the connections between the isolated government and the international community. “The extension of the UN agency is better for Afghanistan because Afghanistan needs to foster ties with various countries and … Read more
Kabul, Dec 7 (EFE).- The United Nations and Amnesty International (AI) on Thursday denounced the Taliban government for its “arbitrary and long term” detention of at least four Afghan women rights activists in recent months. The Taliban apprehended and detained “prominent women human rights defenders” Parisa Azada, Neda Parwani, Zholia Parsi, and Manizha Seddiqi between … Read more
Kabul, Oct 13 (EFE).- The Taliban’s lack of experience has left Afghanistan facing one of its worst disasters in decades without a response plan. Almost a week after the earthquakes that struck western Afghanistan, the government still does not have a unified count of the death toll. Afghanistan was already suffering from one of the … Read more
Kabul, Sep 19 (EFE).- 69 percent of women in Afghanistan suffer from anxiety, isolation, and depression. This trend has been on the rise since the Taliban seized power two years ago, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report Tuesday. The situation has worsened significantly in recent months, UNAMA said in … Read more
Kabul, Mar 28 (EFE).- The founder of a girls’ education project in Afghanistan has been arrested by the Taliban government in Kabul, the United Nations reported on Tuesday. “Matiullah Wesa, head of PenPath and advocate for girls’ education, was arrested in Kabul Monday,” the United Nations mission in Afghanistan tweeted. “UNAMA calls on the de … Read more
Kabul, Mar 11 (EFE).- At least one person was killed and eight others were wounded Saturday in an attack at a cultural center in northern Afghanistan where a journalists’ awards ceremony was being held. Several members of the Taliban regional government and other local leaders also attended the ceremony in Mazar-e-sharif. The attack shortly before … Read more
Kabul, Mar 8 (EFE).- A former director of the provincial education department working at a carpet factory in Kabul is a symbol of several generations of women who have been banished from society with the arrival of the Taliban in power. “When there is no access to education and work for women, degrees and qualifications … Read more
Kabul, Jan 24 (EFE).- Activists on Tuesday highlighted that Afghan women have been unable to return to classroom since the Taliban seized power and first banned their access to high-schools and later universities, even as the world marked the International Day of Education. “It is an important day, but in Afghanistan half of the population … Read more
Kabul, Jan 23 (EFE).- At least 104 people have been killed in Afghanistan by a powerful cold wave and flash floods in recent weeks, the Taliban government said on Monday. The Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in nonprofits, which led to many organizations pulling out of the country, has been criticized for leaving … Read more
Kabul, Jan 12 (EFE).- Italian nonprofit Emergency, which runs one of the major hospitals in Kabul, on Thursday raised the number of wounded to over 40 a day after a suicide bombing against the Afghan foreign ministry, while the official death toll from the attack remains at five. After the explosion near the foreign ministry, … Read more
Islamabad, Nov 28 (EFE).- The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Monday announced a resumption of attacks in the country, thus putting an end to the ceasefire reached with the government earlier this year. The announcement is also an indication of a failure in the negotiations between the Taliban and the government. “The Ministry of Defense … Read more
Kabul, Nov 25 (EFE).- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Friday called on the Taliban government to immediately end violence against women and the general deterioration of women’s rights, which have been especially diminished since the fundamentalists took power last year. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, … Read more
