Afghanistan - The Purbottar

20 Aug

Taliban ‘intensifying’ search for Afghans who helped US: UN document

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

The Taliban are going house-to-house searching for opponents and their families, according to an intelligence document for the UN that deepened fears Friday Afghanistan's new rulers were reneging on pledges of tolerance.After routing government forces and taking over Kabul on Sunday to end two decades of war, the hardline Islamist movement's leaders have repeatedly vowed a complete amnesty as part of a well-crafted PR blitz. Women have also been assured their rights will be respected, and that the Taliban will be "positively different" from their brutal 1996-2001 rule. But with thousands of people still trying to flee the capital aboard…

18 Aug

Taliban Meet Ex Afghan President Hamid Karzai In Talks To Form Government

editor0 CommentsInternational, worldAfghanistan

Taliban commander and senior leader of the Haqqani Network terrorist group, Anas Haqqani, has met former Afghan President Hamid Karzai for talks, a Taliban official said on Wednesday, amid efforts by Taliban to set up government. According to sources Karzai was accompanied by the old government's main peace envoy, Abdullah Abdullah, in the meeting, who declined to be identified.The Haqqani Network is an important faction of the Taliban, who captured the capital, Kabul, on Sunday. The network, based on the border with Pakistan, was accused over recent years of some of the most deadly terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. In the meantime,…

17 Aug

Russia says Afghan president fled with cars and helicopter full of cash – RIA

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Russia, Taliban

Russia's embassy in Kabul said on Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country with four cars and a helicopter full of cash and had to leave some money behind as it would not all fit in, the RIA news agency reported. Ghani, whose current whereabouts are unknown, said he left Afghanistan on Sunday as the Taliban entered Kabul virtually unopposed. He said he wanted to avoid bloodshed. Russia has said it will retain a diplomatic presence in Kabul and hopes to develop ties with the Taliban even as it says it is no rush to recognise them…

16 Aug

Rhea Chakraborty is heartbroken to see the condition of women, minorities in Afghanistan

editor0 CommentsNorth EastAfghanistan, Rhea Chakraborty

Actor Rhea Chakraborty in an Instagram post expressed concern for women and minorities during the ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan. On Monday, she took to her Instagram Story to share a worrisome note for the citizens of Afghanistan, especially women. The actress shared she's heartbroken to see their condition and urged the global leaders to stand up. "While women around the globe fight for pay parity, women in Afghanistan being sold...They have become the pay. Heartbroken to see the condition of women and minorities in Afghanistan," Rhea wrote. For the unversed, Taliban insurgents entered Kabul. President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan…

16 Aug

Taliban declare `war is over` as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, top diplomats flee Kabul

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital Sunday after the government collapsed and the embattled president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade U.S. campaign to remake the country. Heavily armed Taliban fighters fanned out across the capital, and several entered Kabul’s abandoned presidential palace. Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman and negotiator, told The Associated Press that the militants would hold talks in the coming days aimed at forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government.” Earlier, a Taliban official said the group would announce from the palace the restoration of the Islamic Emirate…

13 Aug

Taliban Forcing Afghan Women To Marry Terrorists: Report

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

As the Taliban is gaining ground in Afghanistan by capturing many key cities in the country, the terror group is now forcing women to get married to its terrorists, a media report said on Thursday.Afghans are also witnessing the execution of captured soldiers and unprovoked attacks on civilians by the Taliban in its recent captured areas. Afghans pouring into Kabul and those still in Taliban-held areas say they have witnessed unprovoked attacks on civilians and executions of captured soldiers. In addition, they say, Taliban have demanded that communities turn over unmarried women to become "wives" for their terrorists-a form of…

10 Aug

India played constructive role in Afghanistan: Pentagon

editor0 CommentsIndia, InternationalAfghanistan

India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past, the Pentagon acknowledged on Monday. “India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past in terms of training and other infrastructure improvements,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference. “That kind of work, that kind of effort to help Afghanistan maintain stability and good governance is always welcome,” he said when asked about India-US cooperation on Afghanistan. Responding to a question, Kirby said the United States continues to have conversations with Pakistani leadership about the safe havens that exist along that border…

07 Aug

Taliban captures Afghan provincial capital Zaranj

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

The Taliban has captured an Afghan provincial capital after pleas for reinforcements by local security forces went unheard, in a major blow to the western-backed government. Zaranj, in the south-western province of Nimroz, fell after just three hours of fighting becoming the first provincial capital to be taken by the insurgents who have intensified their nationwide offensive as foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Late on Friday, heavily armed Taliban fighters driving captured Humvees were patrolling the streets of Nimroz, one of the country’s main financial hubs, where Taliban commanders declared an overnight curfew. “Nowhere in…

05 Aug

Afghan Forces Stop Taliban Attack On India-Built Salma Dam

editor0 CommentsIndia, InternationalAfghanistan, INDIA, Taliban

Afghan security forces have thwarted a Taliban attack on the India-built Salma Dam in Afghanistan’s Herat province, the third such assault since last month on the nearly $300 million structure that provides water to several districts in the region. Afghan defence ministry spokesperson Fawad Aman tweeted on Wednesday that the latest attack was carried out on Tuesday night. The Taliban also launched a suicide attack on the residence of the Afghan defence minister in Kabul on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring 20 more. “The Taliban attack on Salma Dam failed! #Terrorist Taliban attacked the #Salma Dam in Herat province…

20 Jul

Three rockets hit near Afghan presidential palace during Eid prayers

editor0 CommentsNorth EastAfghanistan, rockets hit

At least three rockets hit near the presidential palace on Tuesday shortly before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was to give an address to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha. There were no injuries and the rockets landed outside the heavily fortified palace grounds, said Mirwais Stanikzai, spokesman for the interior minister. No one immediately took responsibility for the rocket attack which seemed more intended to unnerve than do damage. The palace is in the middle of a so-called Green Zone that is fortified with giant cement blast walls and barbed wire, and streets near the palace have long been closed…