Nation

AT-KABUL: Afghanistan’s defense ministry says it plans to recruit 36,000 to form regional defense forces. Proposed by the defense ministry, the plan was approved by President Ashraf Ghani. The government calls the establishment of the new force as “based on necessity”. “We started working on the plan after the president …

AT-KABUL: Afghanistan’s traders’ body says it does not trust Pakistan to cooperate in resolving transit and trade challenges confronting Afghan businessmen. After tensions raised between Kabul and Islamabad over the latter making troubles for the transit of the Afghan merchandise via Karachi sea port, Pakistan is said to facilitate export-import …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Chinese Ambassador to Kabul on Friday met representatives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and pledged Beijing’s continued contributions to the reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan and assistance to IDPs, Chinese media reported Saturday. During the meeting the Chinese Ambassador, Liu Jingsong and the representatives of IDPS …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Rebelling against the incumbent Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Mansour group has emerged in the eastern Nangarhar province, resulting in a division in the militant group. The new Taliban splinter group has been distributed letters in Khogyani, Pachirawgam Chaparhar and other districts of the province in which the …

By Farhad Naibkhel-KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday offered to the Taliban ‘a comprehensive plan for peace’ which could lead to a reconciliation aimed at ending 16 years of war. The president unveiled a clear proposition for unconditional talks with the Taliban as a political group, at the start of …

AT-KABUL: The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the Afghan government’s renewed call for unconditional peace talks with the Taliban and the outlining of a framework for peace, presented at the Kabul Process II conference in the Afghan capital on Wednesday. Together with the 25 countries and international organizations …

AT-KABUL: The armed Taliban insurgents have kidnapped at least nineteen passengers from Kandahar-Uruzgan highway, provincial official lamented on Wednesday. The latest incident of kidnapping happened in Kandahar-Uruzgan highway near Khansheen district of Kandahar province, where the Afghan security forces have been battling the insurgents in some parts of Uruzgan province. …

AT-KABUL: The continuing conflict and the government’s failure to carry out reforms has encouraged powerful armed individuals and groups to grab government and private lands in the northern province of Kunduz. Residents of the province say that illegal armed groups have control over many districts and continue grabbing lands. They …

AT-KABUL: The Kabul process conference on Wednesday has created a vibe of pessimism about ensuring peace and uprooting terrorism in Afghanistan. The second session of the Kabul Process was held Wednesday in Kabul with participation of representatives from more than 25 countries and international organization with the aim to draw …

AT-KABUL: Italian government has pledged a sum of 120 million Euros in defense fund. At a meeting with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister in Kabul on Wednesday, Italy’s Special Representative for Afghanistan said his country will contribute 120 million Euros to strengthen Afghan security forces, foreign ministry said in a statement. The …