https://afghanistan.asia-news.com/?locale=en_GB

2020-04-08

| Diplomacy

Afghan government releases 100 Taliban prisoners in bid to salvage talks

Afghan government releases 100 Taliban prisoners in bid to salvage talks

The 100 do not include the 15 commanders the Taliban want released. 'We cannot release the killers of our people,' one official said of the commanders.

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Pashdan Dam construction moves ahead despite Iranian sabotage efforts

2020-04-08

| Economy
Pashdan Dam construction moves ahead despite Iranian sabotage efforts

The Iranian regime -- which is heavily dependent on Afghan water -- has displayed hostility towards water projects in Afghanistan in the past.
Taliban suspend prisoner exchange talks in latest obstruction of peace talks

2020-04-07

| Diplomacy
Taliban suspend prisoner exchange talks in latest obstruction of peace talks

The latest move comes after the Taliban posted photos touting the military training of its members, raising doubts among Afghans about how serious the militants were about peace.
Kunar farmers welcome irrigation project aimed at increasing crop diversity

2020-04-07

| Economy
Kunar farmers welcome irrigation project aimed at increasing crop diversity

Farmers in the region will be able to move away from cultivating poppy, which often is linked to the Taliban and drug trafficking.

Spotlight

Afghans in Iran infected with coronavirus denied care at hospitals

Workers in Iran are returning home because hospitals there are refusing to admit sick Afghans and forcing them to rely on over the counter medication. The consequences have been fatal.
Afghans in Iran infected with coronavirus denied care at hospitals
Herat authorities ramp up fight against coronavirus

2020-04-06

| Health
Herat authorities ramp up fight against coronavirus

'We will continue our fight against the coronavirus the same way as we fight against the terrorists,' said one police officer.
Chinese cover-up of coronavirus fueled world pandemic, top official says

2020-04-06

| Health
Chinese cover-up of coronavirus fueled world pandemic, top official says

If China had been transparent about how dangerous COVID-19 was at the beginning, the world would have had time to react, saving thousands of lives and avoiding much of the current chaos.
Afghans praise NDS for nabbing ISIS leader

2020-04-06

| Security
Afghans praise NDS for nabbing ISIS leader

National Directorate of Security forces arrested Aslam Farooqi, the leader of ISIS in Afghanistan, and 19 other fighters of the group in a 'complex operation' in Kandahar Province.
Iran's dumping policies aim to undercut Herat's shoe industry

2020-04-03

| Economy
Iran's dumping policies aim to undercut Herat's shoe industry

The Iranian regime uses dumping practices and unfair competition to undermine growing industries in Afghanistan. These efforts have led to the closure of 300 shoe shops in just one year.
Photos of Taliban military training draw scepticism over intentions of peace

2020-04-02

| Security
Photos of Taliban military training draw scepticism over intentions of peace

Recently released Taliban propaganda showed fighters conducting military training in undisclosed locations, citing the need to 'remove obstacles to instituting Islamic rule'.
Iran's deportation of Afghan children outrages Herat officials

2020-04-01

| Human Rights
Iran's deportation of Afghan children outrages Herat officials

Iranian security forces have been arresting Afghan children and deporting them alone without notifying their families.
Taliban, Afghan government meet for the 1st time in Kabul on prisoner swap

2020-04-01

| Diplomacy
Taliban, Afghan government meet for the 1st time in Kabul on prisoner swap

The meeting marks the first time the Taliban has been invited to Kabul to meet with the government directly.
Afghans in Iran infected with coronavirus denied care at hospitals

2020-03-31

| Health
Afghans in Iran infected with coronavirus denied care at hospitals

Workers in Iran are returning home because hospitals there are refusing to admit sick Afghans and forcing them to rely on over the counter medication. The consequences have been fatal.
Fatemiyoun members gather in crowds despite escalating coronavirus threat

2020-03-31

| Health
Fatemiyoun members gather in crowds despite escalating coronavirus threat

Despite the overwhelming news coverage of the virus, the Iranian-led Afghan militia appears ignorant of the dangers of such close social contact.
Kunduz residents welcome government attention to healthcare services

2020-03-30

| Health
Kunduz residents welcome government attention to healthcare services

Kunduz health officials are taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the province and to increase public access to health services.
Taliban kill dozens of Afghan troops amid refusal to reduce violence

2020-03-30

| Security
Taliban kill dozens of Afghan troops amid refusal to reduce violence

The militants are ramping up attacks against Afghan forces even as the two sides prepare for peace talks.
Coronavirus pandemic exposes Taliban hypocrisies on health care

2020-03-27

| Terrorism
Coronavirus pandemic exposes Taliban hypocrisies on health care

The militant group is attempting during the deadly COVID-19 outbreak to paint itself as an organisation that care about public health. Decades of evidence suggests otherwise.
Afghan government to free up to 10,000 prisoners to slow spread of coronavirus

2020-03-27

| Health
Afghan government to free up to 10,000 prisoners to slow spread of coronavirus

The government decree is not for those who have committed crimes against national and international security.
Afghan official confirms expulsion of Iranian spies from Kabul

2020-03-26

| Diplomacy
Afghan official confirms expulsion of Iranian spies from Kabul

The two individuals were members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who were engaged in various activity with the intent of causing instability in the country.
Afghan government to hold direct talks with Taliban in historic meeting

2020-03-26

| Diplomacy
Afghan government to hold direct talks with Taliban in historic meeting

The Afghan government finalised a negotiating team to discuss peace with the Taliban and an initial release of insurgent prisoners.
G7 members slam China over coronavirus disinformation campaign

2020-03-26

| Media
G7 members slam China over coronavirus disinformation campaign

Beijing continues to spread conspiracy theories on social media and is now attempting to appear to the world as a benevolent power with no responsibility for the COVID-19 outbreak.
'Diabolical' ISIS attack kills dozens at Sikh-Hindu temple in Kabul

2020-03-25

| Security
'Diabolical' ISIS attack kills dozens at Sikh-Hindu temple in Kabul

Over 100 people were inside the temple, where several families live and where worshippers gather for morning prayers, when an ISIS gunman entered and fired wildly into the crowd.
Afghan female filmmaker basks in role as voice of women's empowerment

2020-03-25

| Women's Rights
Afghan female filmmaker basks in role as voice of women's empowerment

Roya Sadat fears a return to fundamentalism and the curbing of women's rights should the Taliban regain power.
US military vows to respond to Taliban attacks on Afghan forces

2020-03-24

| Diplomacy
US military vows to respond to Taliban attacks on Afghan forces

The statement by Gen. Scott Miller, the commander of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, comes while President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah try to hammer out a political deal.
Spotlight shines on coronavirus lies spread by China, Russia and Iran

2020-03-24

| Health
Spotlight shines on coronavirus lies spread by China, Russia and Iran

Despite overwhelming evidence, leaders in China, Russia and Iran are spreading disinformation about the origin of COVID-19, each for their own malign reasons.
Pompeo in Kabul as Afghan government, Taliban discuss prisoner exchanges

2020-03-23

| Diplomacy
Pompeo in Kabul as Afghan government, Taliban discuss prisoner exchanges

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Kabul to help break a political deadlock that threatens to undermine the peace process, as the coronavirus pandemic further complicates the situation.

Spotlight

Afghans in Iran infected with coronavirus denied care at hospitals
Afghans in Iran infected with coronavirus denied care at hospitals

Workers in Iran are returning home because hospitals there are refusing to admit sick Afghans and forcing them to rely on over the counter medication. The consequences have been fatal.

Poll

What is the greatest challenge in fighting the coronavirus pandemic in Afghanistan?

View Results