Afghanistan Times

Seemingly the United States has been a strategic ally of Afghanistan as the two countries have already signed the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA). This defense pact is binding the US to defend sovereignty, territory and integrity of Afghanistan, major non-NATO ally in the region. According to the security agreement, Washington …

By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: The Wolesi Jirga of parliament approved Saturday the accession package to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Earlier in 2003, the government had proposed membership for the WTO which was accepted as overseer in 2004. The WTO accepted membership of Afghanistan in December 2015, asking Afghan government …

AT-KABUL: The Taliban insurgents received huge casualties by the Afghan National Army in the past 24 hours in northern Baghlan province, security official said on Saturday. In a statement issued here, the 209th Shaheen Corps of the army said that in an operation carried in Dand-e-Ghori district, 21 Taliban insurgents …

By Farhad Naibkhel-KABUL: The Torkham crossing which links Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar to Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was reopened for traffic after a five-day closure due to clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces. “After five days, Torkham gate was reopened for traffic today at around 8:00am,” said …

AT-KABUL: The Taliban’s shadow governor for Ghazni province was killed in an airstrike in the province, officials said Saturday. Ministry of Interior said in a statement that four armed Taliban including their so-called governor Mullah Qasim were killed in the airstrike. The strike took place in Payinda Khil village of …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: The US State Department Spokesman John Kirby ruled out Washington’s interference in Afghanistan and Pakistan over Torkham border dispute. “We are obviously very concerned by the border clashes, particularly around the Torkham crossing. We want both sides to ratchet down the violence and begin a dialogue to …

AT-KABUL: Indian ambassador to Kabul said that New Delhi was ready to provide 120,000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan in aid. The ambassador asked Afghan government to shift it via nearer and cheaper ways. Manpreet Vohra told Afghan foreign minister Sallhauddin Rabani that India was to donate 120,000 tons of …

AT-KABUL: Sixty Taliban fighters were killed and 26 others wounded in different crackdowns within past 24 hours, security officials said Saturday. In a press release, the ministry of defense said that Afghan National Army with the cooperation of the Afghan National Police and National Directorate of Security, conducted joint operations …

AT-KABUL: Former President Hamid Karzai spoke on Friday about Afghanistan and Syria at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, where he stressed on homemade solutions to the existing challenges in the two countries. “Having suffered from outside intervention with best intentions I know what Syria is going through,” Karzai said, …

AT-KABUL: Former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, visited Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London and inquired about his health. Nawaz underwent successful open-heart surgery at a London hospital on Tuesday. Both sides underscored the need for a peaceful solution to the current issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan. They also …