Afghanistan

Landlocked country in South-Central Asia

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Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country situated at the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Asia. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south; Iran to the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north; and China to the northeast. Occupying 652,000 square kilometers (252,000 sq mi), it is a mountainous country with plains in the north and southwest. Kabul is the capital and largest city. The population is 32 million, mostly composed of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.

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Afghanistan frees 100 Taliban prisoners The Afghan government freed 100 Taliban prisoners on Wednesday as a first step in a peace process with the hardline Islamists, despite the group's suspension of talks on a planned prisoner exchange.. Credit: Reuters Studio Duration: 01:07Published now

Former Navy Captain: NHS Nightingale staff will need lasting support after coronavirus pandemic A former commanding officer at Camp Bastion’s pop-up military hospital has issued a pep-talk to staff working at the new NHS Nightingale hospitals, telling them: “There is an end to this, you will.. Credit: PA - Press Association STUDIO Duration: 01:34Published 4 hours ago

'It Did Not Work': Pompeo Unable To End Afghan Political Feud US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday tried to rescue a U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan. Pompeo met with Taliban officials at a Qatari military base after visiting Kabul. According.. Credit: Wochit News Duration: 00:37Published 2 weeks ago


Afghanistan: Concern about COVID-19 as refugees return home Health leaders now fear many of them could be bringing the virus back with them. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 01:55Published 3 weeks ago

US begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan: US official The pullout comes as Afghanistan's rival leaders were sworn in as president in separate ceremonies. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 03:19Published on March 10, 2020

Afghan President's swearing-in interrupted by rocket attack Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's swearing-in for a second term is interrupted by rocket fire. He kept his cool as the palace was rocked by explosions. Report by Barnesj. Like us on Facebook at.. Credit: ODN Duration: 00:53Published on March 9, 2020

Afghan women concerned about resurgent Taliban Women gained equal rights in the 2004 constitution, but nothing is guaranteed. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 02:55Published on March 8, 2020

Afghanistan-Taliban talks at risk as unrest continues There have been nearly 80 attacks in Afghanistan since the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal a week ago. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 02:48Published on March 7, 2020

Coast guard rescues 120 migrants off Turkish coast Turkey's coast guard rescued around 120 migrants trying to reach a Greek island on three dinghies early on Friday after they said their passage was blocked by Greek coast guard vessels. Adam Reed.. Credit: Reuters Studio Duration: 01:39Published on March 6, 2020

Afghanistan: Gunmen kill at least 27 people in Kabul high-profile ceremony, wound dozens Credit: FRANCE 24 English Duration: 01:05Published on March 6, 2020

Aerial footage shows queues of migrants near Greek-Turkish border The footage was shot from the Turkish Interior Ministry's helicopter on Thursday whilst the Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu inspected the region. Credit: Reuters Studio Duration: 00:44Published on March 5, 2020

Afghanistan: US strikes Taliban targets for the first time since peace deal Credit: FRANCE 24 English Duration: 01:24Published on March 4, 2020

Blast hits football ground in eastern Afghanistan At least three people killed, 11 wounded in Khost province explosion as the Taliban says it is resuming operations. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 03:47Published on March 2, 2020

'Mayor Pete' Buttigieg Ends U.S. Presidential Bid Pete Buttigieg, who entered the Democratic presidential race as a relative unknown ended his White House bid on Sunday. Reuters reports he was able to position himself as the future of the party during.. Credit: Wochit News Duration: 00:32Published on March 2, 2020

Afghans fear return to Taliban rule after US peace deal signed The Taliban ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001 and enforced a regime that gave women virtually no rights, banning them from travelling, working, and getting an education.View on euronews Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:36Published on March 1, 2020

The human cost of the Afghan war and Taliban attacks Al Jazeera takes a look at the human cost of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 02:45Published on March 1, 2020

Afghanistan's Taliban, US sign agreement aimed at ending war Agreement signed in Qatar's capital, Doha, could result in US troops leaving Afghanistan within 14 months. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 03:19Published on March 1, 2020

Trump Wants To Immediately Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan The U.S. and the Taliban signed an agreement aimed at ending America’s war in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump said he plans to start pulling troops out of Afghanistan immediately. He said:.. Credit: Wochit News Duration: 00:32Published on March 1, 2020

US signs peace deal with Afghanistan's Taliban after 18 years of war US signs peace deal with Afghanistan's Taliban after 18 years of warView on euronews Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:30Published on March 1, 2020

Trump Praises Deal With Afghanistan President Donald Trump said he would personally meet with leaders of the Taliban. He rejected criticism of the U.S. making a deal with the insurgents in Afghanistan. The deal paves the way for a full.. Credit: Wochit News Duration: 00:32Published on February 29, 2020

Trump hails Afghanistan deal, plans to meet Taliban leaders U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a deal that the United States signed with Taliban insurgents and said he would personally meet with leaders of the group in the near future. This report.. Credit: Reuters Studio Duration: 01:24Published on February 29, 2020

Afghanistan's Taliban, US sign peace deal Peace deal signed in Qatari capital, Doha, will pave the way for the complete withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 13:43Published on February 29, 2020

Afghanistan: Fears political divide may thwart peace deal Despite recent reduction in violence, political divisions in Kabul may pose a challenge to ending the war against the Taliban. Credit: Al Jazeera STUDIO Duration: 03:02Published on February 28, 2020

Afghan refugee dreams of boxing in Olympics A young Afghan refugee living in Portugal is attempting to achieve in 10 months what normally takes years of preparation - qualifying to box in the Olympics. Libby Hogan reports. Credit: Reuters Studio Duration: 01:55Published on February 27, 2020

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Rockets hit U.S. air base in Afghanistan; no casualties Five rockets hit a major U.S. air base in Afghanistan on Thursday but there were no casualties, Afghanistan's NATO-led force said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State militant group. Reuters - Published 3 hours ago
Afghan government frees 100 Taliban prisoners as part of peace process The Afghan government freed 100 Taliban prisoners on Wednesday as a first step in a peace process with the hardline Islamists, despite the group's suspension of talks on a planned prisoner exchange.. Reuters - Published 19 hours ago
Taliban recalls negotiators after suspending prisoner exchange talks The Taliban on Tuesday recalled the group's negotiators from Kabul hours after they suspended talks on a prisoner exchange process with the Afghan government, a spokesman for the hard-line Islamist.. Reuters - Published 2 days ago

Taliban break off talks with Afghan government on prisoner exchange The Taliban on Tuesday broke off talks with the Afghan government on a prisoner exchange, a main step in peace talks being brokered by the United States after it agreed on a troop withdrawal pact with.. Reuters - Published 2 days ago
Pompeo says Afghanistan peace progress made since his March 23 Kabul visit U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said a U.S.-led Afghanistan peacemaking drive has seen progress since he visited Kabul last month to persuade the Afghan president and his main political.. Reuters - Published 2 days ago
Exclusive: Planned $1 billion U.S. aid cut would hit Afghan security force funds A planned $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan would come from funds for Afghan security forces, according to three U.S. sources, a step experts said would undercut both Kabul's ability to fight.. Reuters - Published 4 days ago

Afghanistan prepares to swap 100 Taliban prisoners for 20 security forces Afghanistan began on Thursday the process of releasing from jail 100 Taliban Islamist militants in a prisoner swap for 20 of its security forces, a senior security official and a Taliban representative.. Reuters - Published 1 week ago
100 Taliban fighters to be released from Afghan jails Thursday The Afghan government will release 100 Taliban prisoners from jails on Thursday, said a senior security official, adding that in exchange the Taliban will release 20 Afghan security members. Reuters - Published 1 week ago
Coronavirus fear stokes panic buying and price rises in Afghanistan Afghanistan has been hit by a spike in prices of essential goods including food and medicines, as shortages and panic buying increase in the face of a rising coronavirus threat, residents and retailers.. Reuters - Published 1 week ago
Afghan, Taliban prisoner exchange to begin amid coronavirus Afghanistan will release some Taliban prisoners this week as part of confidence building measure crucial for the success of the peace deal signed between America and the Taliban to end nearly two.. Reuters - Published 1 week ago

Taliban team arrives in Kabul to begin prisoner exchange process A three-member Taliban team arrived in Kabul on Tuesday to begin a prisoner exchange process pivotal to starting talks between the insurgents and the government side to end Afghanistan's 18-year-old.. Reuters - Published 1 week ago
Pompeo says Afghan negotiating team looks 'pretty inclusive' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday praised an Afghan government negotiating team identified to hold talks with the Taliban as appearing to be fairly broad and inclusive. Reuters - Published 1 week ago
Medics infected with coronavirus in western Afghanistan amid Iran exodus Afghan authorities have quarantined 16 health workers, including six doctors, officials said on Tuesday, as Afghans fleeing hard-hit Iran have helped spread the coronavirus in the western border.. Reuters - Published 1 week ago	Earthquake shakes Afghanistan, Pakistan An earthquake shook some buildings in Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday, witnesses said. Reuters - Published 1 week ago
At least 27 Afghan security personnel killed in Taliban assaults Taliban insurgents have killed 27 members of the Afghan security forces, police and government officials said on Monday, as a peace effort brokered by the United States struggles to get off the ground. Reuters - Published 1 week ago	Taliban refuses to talk to new Afghan government negotiators The Taliban declined on Saturday to begin talks with the Afghan government's new negotiating team in a setback to the U.S.-brokered peace process for one of the world's longest-running conflicts. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
U.S special envoy congratulates Afghan leaders on 'inclusive' team for Taliban talks The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders on Friday on forming a negotiating team for talks with Taliban. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	Afghan government announces team for talks with Taliban Afghanistan's government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a tentative sign of progress for the United States-brokered peace deal. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Afghanistan to release 10,000 prisoners to slow spread of coronavirus Afghanistan will release at least 10,000 prisoners above the age of 55 in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, officials said on Thursday. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	Taliban says prisoner release by Afghan government to start by end of March The Afghan government said on Wednesday that it would free 100 Taliban detainees on humanitarian grounds at the end of March, raising uncertainty about the fate of a prisoner release deal with the.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Gunmen in Afghanistan kill 25 at Sikh complex, Islamic State claims responsibility Gunmen and suicide bombers raided a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, killing 25 people before security forces killed all of the attackers, the government said. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	Gunmen in Afghanistan kill 25 in raid on Sikh complex Unidentified gunmen and suicide bombers raided a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, killing 25 people before security forces killed all of the attackers, the government.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Afghan forces kill gunmen who attacked Sikh complex; some casualties Unidentified gunmen and suicide bombers raided a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, trapping up to 200 people and inflicting casualties before the security forces.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	Gunmen, bombers attack Sikh religious complex in Afghan capital Unidentified gunmen and suicide bombers attacked a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, and up to 200 people were believed to be trapped inside, a member of parliament.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Pompeo will not self-isolate after Afghanistan, Qatar trip U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not self-isolate after returning from Afghanistan and Qatar on Tuesday because neither country was on a U.S. government list calling for such precautions when.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	India, Nepal lock down to stave off coronavirus, NATO troops in Afghanistan infected Authorities enforced lockdowns across most of India, Nepal and parts of Pakistan on Tuesday to halt the spread of coronavirus in one of the world's most densely populated regions, as four NATO.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Four NATO service members arriving in Afghanistan test positive for coronavirus Four NATO service members in Afghanistan tested positive for coronavirus shortly after entering the country, the first confirmed cases in the mission, NATO said in a statement on Tuesday. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	U.S. to reduce Afghan aid by $1 billion after Pompeo fails to break impasse U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday announced a $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan after he failed to convince Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political foe to end a feud that.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Pompeo strives to salvage stalled Afghanistan peace effort U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought on Monday to salvage a U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, meeting with Taliban officials at a Qatari military base after visiting Kabul to try to.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	Pompeo to meet Taliban leaders after Kabul visit U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet Taliban officials in Doha on Monday on his return from a one-day trip to Afghanistan in an effort to salvage a historic deal signed with the insurgents in.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
Secretary of State Pompeo to meet Taliban in Doha: State Department U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet Taliban officials in Doha on Monday on his way back from a one-day trip to Afghanistan as part of efforts to salvage a historic deal signed with the.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	Pompeo meets Afghan political rivals during visit to Kabul U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the Afghan capital on Monday on a previously unannounced visit to try to salvage a historic deal between Washington and the Taliban, struck in February.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Kabul to meet Afghan political rivals U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived on Monday in the Afghan capital, on a previously unannounced visit to help salvage a historic deal between Washington and the Taliban, struck in February but.. Reuters - Published 2 weeks ago	World Bank moving forward on first $1.7 billion in pandemic aid projects The World Bank's executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, the Bank's president said on.. Reuters - Published 3 weeks ago
Taliban-Afghan government Skype call breathes life into peace process The Taliban and the Afghan government held a "virtual" meeting on prisoner releases on Sunday, officials said, offering some hope of a breakthrough on a matter that has deadlocked the two sides and.. Reuters - Published 3 weeks ago	As U.S. Troops Leave Afghanistan, Diplomats Are Left to Fill Uncertain Mission The future role of the American Embassy in Kabul is tied to the fate of the peace process and a military withdrawal, even as violence continues. NYTimes.com - Published 3 weeks ago
NATO scales down exercises due to coronavirus NATO is scaling down military exercises in Europe to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but alliance missions are continuing, including the drawdown of the U.S.-led force in Afghanistan following a.. Reuters - Published 3 weeks ago	Kabul, Taliban should begin prisoner releases as soon as possible: U.S. envoy U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic adds urgency to prisoner releases agreed by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government and the Taliban and that they.. Reuters - Published 3 weeks ago
Patients, at least 1 with coronavirus, break out of Afghan quarantine Dozens of Afghan patients held in isolation, including at least one confirmed to have the coronavirus, escaped from a quarantine facility in western Afghanistan on Monday after breaking windows and.. Reuters - Published 3 weeks ago	Taliban attacks need to go down considerably in Afghanistan, U.S. general says A top U.S. general said on Thursday that the Taliban had to significantly reduce the number of attacks it is carrying out, after an accord it signed with the United States earlier this month. Reuters - Published on March 12, 2020
Afghan government to free 1,500 prisoners; Taliban demands 5,000 The Afghan government said on Wednesday it would free 1,500 Taliban prisoners, while delaying the release of another 3,500 that the militants say must be set free for talks to begin under a peace deal.. Reuters - Published on March 11, 2020	Taliban reject Afghan president's conditional prisoner release plan The Taliban said on Wednesday a plan from the Afghan president to stagger the release of Taliban prisoners violated an accord they struck with the United States and they would not talk with the Afghan.. Reuters - Published on March 11, 2020
Taliban say conditional prisoner release order by Afghan government is against deal with U.S. The conditional prisoner release order announced by the Afghan government is against the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in Doha last month, a spokesman for the group said on Wednesday. Reuters - Published on March 11, 2020	Afghan government to release Taliban prisoners as U.N. backs push to end war Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is preparing to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in coming days, according to a decree viewed by Reuters on Tuesday, as the United Nations backed a U.S.-led push to end.. Reuters - Published on March 11, 2020
Exclusive: Afghan government to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners from jails - decree Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in coming days to pave the way for direct talks with the insurgent group aimed at ending the 18-year-long war in Afghanistan,.. Reuters - Published on March 10, 2020	Afghanistan electoral crisis delays naming of negotiating team: U.S. The electoral dispute between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political rival Abdullah Abdullah has delayed the naming of a team to negotiate with the Taliban, the U.S. State Department said in a.. Reuters - Published on March 10, 2020
U.S. warns Taliban that level of violence 'not conducive' for peace process The United States warned the Taliban on Tuesday that the current high level of violence by the insurgents was "not conducive to advancing the peace process" as the United Nations Security Council.. Reuters - Published on March 10, 2020