taliban

The number of US troops is due to drop to 5,500 starting in January 2017, down from 9,800 currently

In Kabul, however, members of the Afghan government were sceptical about Pakistan's assertions

Strongmen including Sultan Mohammed, Panjwai police chief, with reputation for brutality, did what Americans could not

Labelling someone an extremist for thinking that Taliban are freedom fighters will make 95% of Pakistanis extremists

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Aziz says US should stay in Afghanistan but not because of Pakistan's nuclear weapons

I hope in the coming days some progress can be made, says Sartaj Aziz in a press briefing

Taliban said it would not take part in peace talks brokered by Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US

Announcement comes amid diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, US to hold direct talks

Urges Pakistan to use ‘leverage’ to bring insurgents to the peace process

Admits Islamabad has used this leverage to pressure the group into entering negotiations with Kabul

Admission by Aziz comes after years of official denials that Pakistan offers shelter or exerts influence over Taliban

Presidential aide says insurgents have to drop preconditions for dialogue

Hamid Karzai looms large over the political scene in Afghanistan and is revered by the majority as ‘Rahbar’

The Taliban later claimed responsibility for the attack near the Defence Ministry in the centre of Kabul

The coup in Yemen by the Houthis exposed the limits of Qatar’s soft power

The attacker was later shot dead by police from a nearby checkpoint who approached after hearing the firing

It would be fair to say that there is considerable scepticism about the chances of success for this quartet

Taliban claim responsibility for the bombing in a statement released online

Sources say four nations hope to finalise roadmap in a meeting today

Scores of people were also wounded in the bombing at the entrance of the base

President Ghani referred to the Taliban for perhaps the first time as his “political opponents”

Lt-Gen John Nicholson is slated to replace Gen John Campbell, whose 18-month tour in Afghanistan is coming to end

TTP and Afghan Taliban pursue different strategic objectives

US president praises recent crackdowns by security forces but says more should be done to eradicate violent groups

Taliban said they targeted Tolo TV because it was producing propaganda for the US military and its allies

We understand how one feels when one sends his son to school or university and later receives his dead body, Khan said

The powerful bombing heard across the city also left 24 people wounded

The loud explosion sent a plume of smoke rising in the sky, with ambulances and fire-fighters rushing to the scene

Khan is believed to have fled to an area near the border with Turkmenistan

An official said there was no immediate word on any casualties or damage from the blast

The court disposes of the suo motu case registered in April 2009.

Observers sceptical of negotiations; officials in Kabul seem confident

Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States held talks in Pakistan on Monday

Pemra chief clarifies Afghan TV channels not banned in Pakistan

A four-nation meeting kicked off in Islamabad on Monday restarting a peace process that broke down in July

Tehran’s role will show its significance to the US

Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson says 37 freed captives were soldiers, 7 were policemen, the rest civilians

Leadership of the Taliban has been in dispute since the confirmation last July of the death of its founder

Qara Ghoily encapsulates governance failures that helped militants gain ground against NATO-backed Afghan forces

Between January 10 and January 15, the first meeting will take place in Islamabad, not in Kabul, says Sartaj Aziz

Taliban, other groups have used IED's and firearms to kill more than 27,000 civilians and security forces since 2004

Terror outfit says it does not require any aid from Daesh and it never contacted anyone about this issue

Militants break through the frontlines of Sangin on Sunday after days of pitched clashes with besieged Afghan forces

NATO headquarters in Kabul confirm that the air strikes had taken place but give no details

An improvised explosive (IED) device planted exploded as a vehicle carrying five people passed by

The deployment comes a year after the US-led Nato coalition formally ended its combat mission

Key locations within and around the town fell to the Taliban on December 20

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack near Bagram during a joint patrol of NATO and Afghan forces

An informal survey assesses support for anti-state rhetoric

One year on, those who survived now study in the same rooms where they huddled in terror