Pakistan's Imran Khan rejects Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's allegations about Islamabad's "negative role" in Afghanistan, saying no country has tried harder to get Taliban insurgents on the negotiation table.
The refugees, including children, have escaped as the militia takes control of vast areas in Afghanistan.
In the face of a re-energised Taliban assault Afghan government forces are abandoning their posts, but the fight is far from over as the Taliban is also rumoured to be taking heavy losses.
Key politicians with background of anti-Taliban or anti-Soviet resistance are converging in their areas of influence to mobilise forces for a likely face-off with the marching Taliban. But rights groups fear such militias could become abusive force.
Afghan government and Taliban sign a three-page document that lays out the rules and procedures for the negotiations, which are taking place in Qatar where the Taliban have long maintained a political office.
The discussions are part of a drawn-out process and a quick breakthrough on thorny issues is unlikely.
The Taliban denies any involvement in targeting Saleh, but experts think the latest attack was aimed at 'poisoning' the upcoming intra-Afghan talks.
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