Dozens Killed in Attack on Educational Center in Afghanistan
Dozens of people were killed and more than seventy others injured in an attack on an educational center in Kabul on Saturday. Most of the victims were teenagers and young people, officials said. The Taliban denied involvement in the attack (TOLO)
Air Strike in Afghanistan Kills Twelve Children
An air strike on a mosque killed twelve children yesterday, Afghan officials said. The strike targeted Taliban fighters, who had killed dozens of Afghan security forces in a nearby city that morning. It is unclear whether Afghan or foreign forces carried out the attack (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Dozens of Afghan Security Forces Killed in Taliban Ambush
At least thirty-four members of Afghanistan’s security forces were killed in an ambush by the Taliban in the northern province of Takhar (Al Jazeera)
Separately, at least a dozen women were trampled to death by a stampeding crowd seeking Pakistani visas in the city of Jalalabad (TOLO)
United States Rejects Taliban Accusation of Violating Agreement
U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad rejected as “unfounded” the Taliban’s claim that the United States had violated its peace agreement with the group. The Taliban said recent U.S. air strikes violated the deal, though a U.S. military spokesperson said the strikes were carried out to defend Afghan forces, in accordance with the agreement (TOLO)
U.S. Envoy Says Taliban Agreed to Reduce Violence
U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said he struck an agreement with the Taliban for the group to reduce the violence that has continued even amid the Taliban’s peace talks with the Afghan government. Khalilzad tweeted that the Taliban agreed to “strictly” abide by the terms of its February agreement with the United States, including a reduction in operations (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Taliban Attacks Could Sabotage Peace Negotiations
A Taliban offensive in the southern Helmand province could jeopardize intra-Afghan peace negotiations and a U.S.-Taliban agreement (Washington Post)
Thousands of Helmand’s civilians have been caught up in the clashes between Taliban fighters and Afghan government forces (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Afghan Taliban Launch Attack on Provincial Capital
The Taliban yesterday began an offensive targeting Lashkar Gah, capital of southern Helmand province, and reportedly overran several Afghan security forces checkpoints (New York Times)
United States military forces today carried out several air raids against Taliban forces advancing on the city, in support of Afghan government forces that were under attack (Al Jazeera)
U.S. to Cut Troop Presence in Afghanistan to 2,500 by Early 2021
The United States will reduce its number of troops stationed in Afghanistan to 2,500 by early next year, said U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. President Donald J. Trump contradicted O’Brien, tweeting that troops could be home by Christmas (New York Times)
Afghan Government, Taliban Deny Reaching Agreement on Rules for Peace Talks
Both the Afghan government and the Taliban denied a report that cited three official sources and claimed they had agreed on ground rules for their peace negotiations. The two sides are reportedly still debating the religious basis for the talks and the pertinence of the U.S.-Taliban deal (TOLO)
Afghan Government, Taliban Agree on Ground Rules for Peace Talks`
With help from the United States, the Afghan government and the Taliban agreed on nineteen rules to prevent a breakdown in their peace talks, official sources said. Violence continues to rock Afghanistan despite the negotiations taking place in Qatar (Reuters)
Afghan President Travels to Middle East
President Ashraf Ghani is leading a delegation of top government officials to Kuwait and Qatar today. The trip comes amid peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban that have yet to move beyond preliminary meetings more than twenty days after the opening ceremony (TOLO)
EU Calls for Cease-fire in Afghanistan
The European Parliament called for an immediate cease-fire in Afghanistan as violence between the Taliban and Afghan government forces continues, despite ongoing peace talks. Taliban negotiators have so far rejected calls for a cease-fire (TOLO)
Afghan Peace Negotiator Visits Pakistan
Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, met with Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi today to kick off a three-day visit to Pakistan. Qureshi expressed support for the intra-Afghan peace process (TOLO)
Freed Taliban Prisoners Reportedly Returning to Battlefield
Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, said that some Taliban members have returned to the battlefield after being freed by his government as a condition for beginning peace talks (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Violence Surges Amid Afghan Peace Talks
Afghanistan saw its deadliest day since the start of intra-Afghan peace talks earlier this month, with at least fifty-seven security force members killed in clashes with the Taliban. Dozens of Taliban combatants were also reportedly killed (Al Jazeera)
Violence Continues Amid Afghan Peace Talks
At least thirty-two security force members were killed and twenty-five others were wounded in Taliban attacks across several Afghan provinces, according to local officials. Dozens of Taliban fighters reportedly also died. Meanwhile, intra-Afghan peace talks continue in Qatar (TOLO)
Taliban: Discussing War’s Cause Is a Prerequisite for Cease-Fire
A Taliban spokesperson said the group will not accept a cease-fire, which has been called for by the Afghan government, unless the two sides discuss the root of Afghanistan’s war. Intra-Afghan talks opened last weekend, but negotiation procedures still have not been set (TOLO)
Afghan Government Pushes for Cease-Fire
The Afghan government strengthened its push for a cease-fire with the Taliban as historic peace talks between the two continue in Qatar. The Taliban has previously resisted calls for a long-term cease-fire (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Afghan Government, Taliban Meet in Qatar
Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban began on September 12 in Doha, Qatar, in the first formal meeting between the two sides. The Afghan delegation said their top priority remains the negotiation of a cease-fire, while the Taliban’s demands beyond a withdrawal of all U.S. and foreign troops remain unclear (New York Times)
Long-Awaited Intra-Afghan Peace Talks Set to Begin
U.S.-backed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban will begin in Doha, Qatar, tomorrow (Agence France-Presse)
The meeting comes after the government completed the release of five thousand Taliban prisoners, part of a prisoner swap outlined in the February U.S.-Taliban deal (New York Times)
International onlookers, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) secretary-general and Pakistan, have voiced support for the negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to attend the talks, and President Donald J. Trump said the United States would further reduce its military presence in Afghanistan (TOLO)
Afghan Vice President Survives Attack
Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh survived a blast targeting his convoy in Kabul. Ten people were killed and sixteen others injured, according to the Interior Ministry. The Afghan government is preparing for peace talks with the Taliban, which denied responsibility for the attack (TOLO)
Afghan Government Nears Completion of Taliban Prisoner Releases
The Afghan government has released all but seven of the five thousand prisoners requested by the Taliban to be freed as a precondition for intra-Afghan peace talks. Unnamed sources said that Taliban negotiators arrived in Doha, Qatar, for discussions, and the Afghan government delegation is expected to travel there today (TOLO)
U.S. Sanctions ICC Officials for Afghanistan Investigation
The United States sanctioned two high-ranking International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, including chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, and restricted visas for unnamed personnel aiding the court’s investigation of possible war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The ICC called the measures “serious attacks” against the court, justice, and rule of law (TOLO)
Afghan Government Faces Division Over Negotiation Team
Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the council that will lead the Afghan government’s peace talks with the Taliban, opposed President Ashraf Ghani’s appointment of members to the body, arguing that a political agreement gives the chairman that responsibility (TOLO)
Afghan Government Names Team for Peace Talks
President Ashraf Ghani announced the members of the High Council for National Reconciliation, which will lead peace talks with the Taliban (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
The announcement drew a mixed response, and some members rebuffed their inclusion, most notably former President Hamid Karzai (TOLO)