In Kabul, a fearful wait for US to deliver on evacuation vow
Kabul: Tens of thousands of people in Afghanistan waited nervously on Saturday to see whether the United States would deliver on President Joe Biden’s new pledge to evacuate all Americans and all Afghans who aided the war effort. Meanwhile, the Taliban leader arrived in Kabul for talks with the group’s leadership on forming a new […]
UK will work with Taliban if necessary, says PM Johnson
London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK’s diplomatic efforts to find a solution in Afghanistan remain ongoing, which leaves open the prospect of working with the Taliban “if necessary”. Speaking to the media after an emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBRA) meeting to discuss the crisis in the region on Friday, Johnson […]
Indians detained on way to Kabul airport; released subsequently: Reports
New Delhi: A group of Indian nationals is learnt to have been stopped and taken to an unknown location near the Kabul airport on Saturday for questioning and verification of travel documents, triggering some confusion and concerns in India. These Indians were learnt to have been released subsequently. People tracking the developments in Kabul said […]
Biden to address chaotic Kabul evacuation amid criticism
Washington: Facing a firestorm of criticism, President Joe Biden plans to speak Friday about the chaotic evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan as the US struggles with obstacles ranging from armed Taliban checkpoints to paperwork problems. While Biden has previously blamed Afghans for the US failure to get out more allies ahead of this […]
Report: Taliban killed minorities, fuelling Afghans’ fears
Kabul: Reports of targeted killings in areas overrun by the Taliban mounted Friday, fuelling fears that they will return Afghanistan to the repressive rule they imposed when they were last in power, even as they urged imams to push a message of unity at Friday’s prayers. Terrified that the new de facto rulers would commit […]
Amnesty says Taliban killed nine minority men
Berlin: Amnesty International says the Taliban were responsible for the torture and killing of several members of Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority last month. The rights group said Friday that its researchers in Afghanistan spoke to eyewitnesses in Ghazni province who recounted how the Taliban killed nine men in the village of Mundarakht on July 4-6. It […]
Pakistan determined to play ‘positive role’ in Afghanistan: Qureshi
Islamabad: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said Pakistan is determined to play a “positive role” in Afghanistan as he appealed to the Taliban insurgents and former rulers of the war-ravaged country to formulate an all-inclusive political government after mutual consultations. Qureshi said that nobody is ready to face bloodshed in Afghanistan and people are […]
Afghans protest Taliban in emerging challenge to their rule
Kabul: Afghan protesters defied the Taliban for a second day Thursday, waving their national flag in scattered demonstrations that were met with renewed violence by the militants who are facing growing challenges to their rule. A UN official warned of dire food shortages in this nation of 38 million people reliant on imports and experts […]
Biden: Greater threats than Taliban-controlled Afghanistan
Washington: President Joe Biden says even with the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, he sees a greater threat from outposts of al-Qaida and its affiliated groups in other countries, and that it was no longer “rational” to continue to focus US military power there. “We should be focusing on where the threat is the greatest,” […]
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani releases video, 1st since fleeing Kabul
Dubai: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday defended his decision to flee Kabul in the face of the Taliban advance, describing it as the only way to prevent bloodshed. He also denied claims by his country’s ambassador to Tajikistan that he had stolen millions of dollars from state funds. Ghani posted a video on his Facebook […]
