Afghanistan's political turmoil has impeded each tentative step toward negotiations with the Taliban — negotiations that are supposed to come next under a peace deal that Washington signed with the insurgents last month.
A single gunman held worshippers hostage at the gurdwara in Kabul for several hours as Afghan special forces, helped by international troops, tried to clear the building. At least one of the dead is a child.
Washington is reducing aid and is prepared to cut a similar amount in 2021 because of the ongoing feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says.
Neither the leaders of India, Pakistan nor Afghanistan have shown the domestic urgency or the regional diplomacy required to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
Several infiltrators opened fire on police and army forces in their joint base in Afghanistan's southern province of Zabul. "The attackers had connections with the Taliban insurgents," an official said.
"The Taliban continued high level of violence despite the peace agreement," acting defence minister, Asadullah Kalid, said in a video statement.
Afghanistan's perennial runner-up will not be content with second place this time.
The presence of Pakistani Pakhtun leaders at Ashraf Ghani’s inauguration angers some, but experts say it’s not a big deal.
President Ashraf Ghani orders release of initial 1,500, with other 3,500 fighters to be set free in parallel with progress in intra-Afghan talks. Taliban says the plan violates its peace deal with US.
Troops are leaving Helmand and Herat military bases, a US official says. Meanwhile, Taliban sends buses towards Bagram air base for prisoner release, a key component of its peace deal with US.
Hundreds of troops are heading out of the country as previously planned, but they will not be replaced as the US moves ahead with plans to cut the number of forces in the country from about 13,000 to 8,600, an official said.
Top US negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad is known to have connections with shadowy figures in Afghanistan and experts are struggling to understand what exactly he has agreed with the Taliban.
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