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2019-01-02 20:18
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
In a first, Iran, Taliban discuss ‘post-occupation scenario’ in Afghanistan
TEHRAN - Putting speculation to rest, it was finally confirmed this week that the government of Iran held talks with a Taliban delegation on “post-occupation situation” in Afghanistan.
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2019-01-01 20:11
The announcement signals a growing confidence among the Taliban for U.S. troops to pull out of Afghanistan
Afghan Taliban says ‘post-occupation’ discussed with Iran
The Taliban discussed Afghanistan's "post-occupation situation" with Iran in their latest meeting, the group said Tuesday, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible U.S. drawdown.
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2018-12-31 21:46
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
YEAR IN REVIEW – SOUTH ASIA:
TEHRAN - The year gone by was shaped by many significant events in South Asia. There was drama, there was intrigue, there was betrayal, there was brutality, and there was a healing touch too.
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2018-12-31 16:16
Iran held talks with Taliban in Tehran on Sunday
TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced on Monday that Iranian diplomats held a meeting with a Taliban delegation in Tehran on Sunday, December 30.
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2018-12-30 15:54
By Marjan Golpira
The many challenges of assisting those affected by war
TEHRAN - Katrina Ritz, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iraq, describes the situation on the ground in Iraq “stable” but in need of much assistance.
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2018-12-26 21:16
Shamkhani meets Ghani, Abdullah in Kabul
Iran says has held talks with Taliban with knowledge of Afghan government
TEHRAN – Tehran has been holding talks with the Taliban with the knowledge of the Afghan government, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said on Wednesday during a visit to Kabul.
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2018/12/25
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
Two anti-Pakistan figures nominated to top security posts in Afghanistan
TEHRAN - In a very significant but debatable move, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has appointed two political rivals and avowed adversaries of neighboring Pakistan to two key ministries.
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2018-12-19 20:03
U.S. offers to include Taliban representatives in caretaker Afghan government
TEHRAN - U.S. government and Taliban officials engaged in two-day hectic negotiations in UAE, during which the two sides reportedly discussed six-month ceasefire in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of foreign troops.
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2018-12-18 09:36
Pakistan welcomes talks with Taliban
TEHRAN - Pakistan has welcomed a new round of talks between the Afghan Taliban and international stakeholders expected to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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2018/12/17
By Mudasir Sheikh
U.S. military industrial complex’s perpetual warfare
TEHRAN - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on 10 December 2018 released its report on the sale of weapons and other military hardware by the world’s largest 100 weapon manufacturers. The U.S. weapon manufacturers dominated the ‘top hundred list’ with a 57 percent share of arms sales. According to the report, the U.S. companies benefitted from the U.S. Department of Defense’s ongoing demand for weapons.
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2018-12-13 10:13
Over 30 killed in multiple Afghan attacks
TEHRAN -In a spate of terrorist attacks across war-torn Afghanistan in past few days, more than 30 people have been killed, according to reports.
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2018-12-09 10:16
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
Pakistan won’t fight anyone else's war; can’t be treated as ‘hired gun’, says PM Khan
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was known on the pitch for his flamboyance and aggression. A fierce competitor, he always led his team by example and turned aggression into a lethal weapon to subdue his competitors and gain upper hand over them.
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2018-12-07 21:03
‘Intra-Afghan dialogue the only way to reach peace’
TEHRAN – Former Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Fada-Hossein Maleki says intra-Afghan dialogue, and not continuation of U.S. intervention, is the only way to reach peace in Afghanistan.
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2018-12-06 02:00
'Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan'
Pakistan wishes to see peace beyond its borders, especially in the war-ravaged Afghanistan, senior Pakistani military official has said.
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2018-12-05 23:35
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
'Afghan women's engagement in decision-making processes remains symbolic'
Last week, the world community gathered in Geneva to review the progress made by the Afghan government and the challenges remaining in front of it. Many issues came up for discussion including governance, rule of law, fight against corruption, and ongoing peace talks with Taliban.
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2018/12/03
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
U.S. propaganda war against Iran doomed to fail
TEHRAN _ At a time when the Trump administration is facing backlash at home over its military support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and disgraceful defeat in Afghanistan after 18 years of war, spin doctors in Washington are looking for convenient scapegoats to escape accountability.
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2018-12-02 10:48
At Geneva summit, Afghan government presents 'roadmap for peace and prosperity'
TEHRAN _ The much-awaited two-day Geneva conference on Afghanistan, co-hosted by the Afghan government and United Nations, was held this week, attended by delegations from 61 countries and 35 international organizations.
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2018-12-02 08:49
U.S. airstrike kills 23 in Afghanistan
TEHRAN _Compounding the misery of war-weary Afghans, the U.S. forces are carrying out deadly aerial operations in Afghanistan, resulting in the killing of innocent civilians. In a latest incident, the U.S. led airstrike in southern Helmand province on Tuesday killed as many as 23 civilians, most of them women and children, the United Nations confirmed.
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2018-11-22 10:47
Taliban not losing, admits U.S. general
TEHRAN _ In a candid admission of U.S. defeat in Afghanistan after 18 years of war that began in 2001, U.S. General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the Taliban "are not losing" in the war-torn country.
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2018/11/21
Syed Zafar Mehdi
Kabul 'Mawlid' attack, Takfiri plot to divide Muslims
TEHRAN_On Tuesday afternoon, a large congregation of top-notch Afghan clerics had assembled at a wedding hall in Kabul to mark the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Festive fervor pervaded the air, as clerics, young and old, greeted and embraced each other in a beautiful spirit of camaraderie and compassion that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) preached and propagated all his life.
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2018-11-19 22:29
U.S. envoy holds talks with Taliban
TEHRAN - Less than a fortnight after participating in a peace dialogue in Moscow, which also saw participation of representatives from over dozen countries, Afghan Taliban held talks with a U.S. envoy in Qatar this week.
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2018-11-17 23:30
‘Moscow talks step towards peace’
TEHRAN - The landmark conference in Moscow last week that saw the participation of Taliban representatives and officials from nearly a dozen countries was the “first and positive step” towards long-lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.
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2018/11/12
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
Taliban talks: Dialogue and violence can’t go together
TEHRAN _ Dialogue and violence cannot go hand in hand. The first cardinal principle of ‘peace negotiations’ is an unconditional ceasefire. That is how the two warring sides build trust, bury the hatchet and make peace with each other. You cannot extend an olive branch and point the barrel of gun at the same time. That renders the whole exercise futile.
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2018-11-11 10:12
‘Casualties in Afghan polls highest ever’
TEHRAN _ The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections last month was higher than casualties recorded in four previous elections in Afghanistan, the United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report.
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2018-11-10 22:57
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
Taliban launch attacks on Hazara Shias in multiple Afghan provinces
TEHRAN _ While the Afghan government and the Taliban resume ‘peace talks’ in Moscow, security situation continues to deteriorate in Afghanistan with the insurgent group upping the ante and launching a series of attacks in different parts of the country.
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2018-11-10 22:54
Syed Zafar Mehdi
Moscow talks opportunity to “open a new page” in Afghanistan’s history
TEHRAN _ On Friday, Russia hosted a landmark international meeting on Afghanistan, which saw the participation of representatives from the Taliban, Afghan government and many regional countries, including Iran.
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2018-11-06 07:45
‘Peaceful Afghanistan in interest of region’
TEHRAN - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that a peaceful Afghanistan is in the best interest of the region, especially Pakistan so all the regional countries should come together to ensure peace in Afghanistan.
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2018-11-06 07:38
Russia to host international ‘peace talks’ on Afghanistan on Nov 9
TEHRAN -In a bid to broker peace between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Moscow will be hosting international talks on Afghanistan on November 9, which is likely to see participation of representatives from the Afghan government, the Taliban and regional countries.
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2018-10-28 09:53
‘Iranians are victims of Taliban terrorist group’
TEHRAN – Iranians are the victims of the Taliban terrorist group, an Iranian lawmaker said on Saturday, while denouncing U.S. sanctions against Iran for alleged support of the Taliban.
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2018-10-16 08:16
UN chief decries violence ahead of Afghan polls
TEHRAN - The United Nations chief has denounced violent attacks targeting electoral booths in Afghanistan as the country gears up for parliamentary elections later this week.
