Afghanistan Times

KABUL: The trade of scorpion hunting in Afghanistan, though unregistered, has been around for years but has become a lucrative business in the past few months. A local dealer from western Herat province said Herat and neighboring Farah, with vast scorching deserts, have become the common hunting ground for shepherds …

AT Monitoring Desk-In a major boost to Afghanistan’s international cricket prospects, the BCCI acting secretary, Amitabh Choudhary announced that all international teams touring India will now play one practice match against Afghanistan. The move is set to constantly provide high quality exposure to the budding cricketing nation. This development comes …

AT-KABUL: U.S. top commander in Afghanistan Gen. John Nicholson revealed on Wednesday some secret talks were undergoing between Taliban factions and the Afghan government to broker a ceasefire amid intensifying violence. Nicholson told Pentagon reporters via a teleconference from Kabul that President Trump’s new Afghanistan strategy had negotiations intensified and …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said the alliance can benefit from Columbia’s expertise in the Afghan peace process as the Latin American country became a new ally to the organization. Addressing a press conference in Brussels, Stoltenberg said he appreciates what Columbia has achieved through peace …

AT-KABUL: Wednesday attack on the Ministry of Interior (MoI) is being investigated, Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said, putting the transforming of terrorists by two armored vehicles under big question. Talking to Radio Azadi, Interior Minister Barmak informed of an investigation to find the nature of terrorist attack on the ministry, …

AT-KABUL: Amid rising insecurity on Herat-Ghor highway, residents of LalwaSarjangal district in western Ghor province have taken to streets to protest increasing violence. Protestors claim that the route usually comes under rampage of unknown gunmen and Taliban who extort passengers. Unidentified gunmen had recently started pulling passengers off vehicles and …

A series of secret talks between government delegation and representatives from Taliban is underway. The matter was disclosed by the US troops’ commander in Afghanistan, while neither the government nor Taliban militants have said anything about the talks. John Nicholson, however, did not provide further details about the talks, but …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Czech lawmakers have approved a government plan to increase the number of troops deployed in Afghanistan and other countries. The plan calls for the Czech Republic to deploy 390 soldiers in Afghanistan through 2020, up from the current 230, as part of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission …

AT-KABUL: A dozen Taliban insurgents, including a key commander, were killed in a spate operation carried out by the Afghan security forces in central Logar province, an official said on Friday. Logar police spokesman Shahpur Ahmadzai told Pajhwok Afghan News that security forces were heading towards Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital, …

AT-KABUL: Nine militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh terrorists, have been killed in an air operation carried out in eastern Nangarhar province, official said. According to government media office, the militants were killed in artillery strikes targeting their hideouts. The airstrike conducted in Haska Mina …