Taliban

Total:113

  • Taliban 2018-10-10 21:30

    Taliban warn to disrupt polls

    TEHRAN- Breaking their silence on the upcoming parliamentary polls, the Taliban on Monday issued a stern warning of disrupting the October 20 elections, adding to the anxiety of candidates and voters.

  • Taliban 2018-10-08 23:00

    UN urges Taliban not to use IEDs

    TEHRAN - The United Nations has called on insurgent groups in Afghanistan to refrain from using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in civilian areas, after it reported a sharp rise in civilian casualties caused by the explosives this year.

  • Afghanistan war 2018/10/08

    By Syed Zafar Mehdi

    17 years of America’s disastrous Afghanistan venture

    TEHRAN - On Sunday, the protracted war in Afghanistan completed 17 years. It was on October 7, 2001 the U.S. government and its allies launched the so-called ‘Operation Freedom’ apparently to topple the Taliban regime in Kabul, following the 9/11 attacks. Yet 17 years later, America’s longest war still grinds on, despite more than $2 trillion investment and thousands of casualties.

  • Anand Gopal 2018-10-08 19:21

    By Syed Zafar Mehdi

    ‘The blame for resurrecting the insurgency in Afghanistan ultimately rests with the U.S.’

    TEHRAN - The war in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, completed 17 years this week. More than 17 years after invading the country, the U.S.-led international coalition has reluctantly conceded defeat to insurgent groups, after miserably failing in counter-terrorism efforts. Today, security situation remains volatile, government is in disarray, terrorists are stronger than ever, and civilians continue to pay the heavy price.

  • Taliban 2018-09-18 09:49

    15 policemen killed in clashes in Afghanistan

    TEHRAN - The situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate with insurgents upping the ante across the country. In latest clashes, at least 15 police officials were killed in northwestern provinces of Baghdis and Farah.

  • Afghan war 2018-09-11 09:48

    ‘U.S. govt. misleading people on Afghan war’

    TEHRAN - A scathing report that indicts the U.S. government for its failure in Afghanistan despite 17 years of war and investment worth billions of dollars has blasted Trump administration for misleading the people of America on facts about war in Afghanistan.

  • Jalaluddin Haqqani 2018/09/06

    By: Syed Zafar Mehdi

    Life, death and legacy of U.S. ally turned foe Haqqani

    TEHRAN - The death of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the patriarch of the dreaded militant group Haqqani Network, has generated a palpable buzz and made international headlines. The announcement was made by the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday, hailing him as a “religious scholar and exemplary warrior”, even though Afghan officials insist that he had been dead for at least four years.

  • Taliban and Moscow summit 2018-09-02 14:25

    By Banafshe Esmaili

    Taliban and Moscow summit; the diplomatic push to America

    TEHRAN - The Russian Foreign Ministry has recently announced that 12 countries, including Iran, Pakistan, India and China, have been invited to participate in September in a Moscow summit, but the United States and the Afghan government have stated they will not attend.

  • Mona Hossaini 2018/08/28

    By Mona Hossaini

    Women's critical role in Afghan peace process

    TEHRAN - The contemporary history of the South Asian region nearly always had a substantial component of conflict. Some examples include the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir that has been ongoing since 1947; the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war; civil war and rise of insurgency and conflict in Nepal; and the ethnic conflict and insurgency in Sri Lanka, among others.

  • ISIS 2018-08-26 10:21

    Who delivers weapons to ISIS, asks Russia

    TEHRAN - The debate over who helps militants in Afghanistan has again come alive. Russia has noticed unidentified helicopters delivering weapons to the Taliban and ISIS fighters in northern Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.

  • Shafeek Seddiq 2018-08-26 10:06

    By: Syed Zafar Mehdi

    ‘Peace talks with Taliban are not feasible without Afghan government leading it’

    The security situation continues to worsen in war-ravaged Afghanistan with a spate of terror attacks in recent months. The Afghan government and the Taliban observed an unprecedented three-day ceasefire on Eid al Fitr but it turned out to be a lull before the storm. This week, to mark Eid al Azha, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who has been under tremendous pressure, again announced conditional ceasefire but the Taliban has not responded to it.

  • Ghani-Taliban 2018-08-21 09:36

    President Ghani again extends olive branch to Taliban ahead of Eid al Adha

    TEHRAN - Stung by the scathing criticism for failing to contain escalating violence, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has again extended an olive branch to the Taliban, declaring a conditional ceasefire ahead of Eid al Adha.

  • Afghanistan Independence Day 2018-08-21 09:01

    Afghanistan marks 99th Independence Day

    TEHRNA - Afghanistan marked the 99th anniversary of its independence from the erstwhile British empire on Sunday. Many functions were held in Kabul and provincial capitals to commemorate the occasion.

  • Basir Ahang 2018-08-21 08:57

    By: Syed Zafar Mehdi

    U.S. and NATO neglect Afghan Shia massacres

    TEHRAN - As the security situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, the government in Kabul is finding itself in troubled waters. According to the UN, civilian deaths recorded a new high in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, the targeted attacks on Hazara Shias of Afghanistan also continue unabated.

  • Kabul 2018/08/18

    By Syed Zafar Mehdi

    Kabul school attack underscores threat to Afghanistan’s future

    “How could they attack a classroom,” a friend asked, noticeably angry and outraged. There are no easy answers to that. A human mind cannot come to terms with the atrociousness of such horrendous crimes against humanity. Barging inside a packed classroom and blowing up young school children is no chivalry. It is an act of cowardice and spinelessness. The victims were not carrying arms and they were not on the frontlines of war. They were inside a classroom, preparing for university entrance examination.

  • Taliban 2018-08-16 13:19

    Afghan forces take back Ghazni, but Faryab falls

    TEHRAN - Afghan government forces regained control of the embattled city of Ghazni on Tuesday, after five days of intense fighting with the Taliban, which led to the killing of hundreds of people, according to officials.

  • Taliban 2018/08/14

    By: Syed Zafar Mehdi

    Taliban overruns Ghazni city, Afghan and U.S. officials clueless

    TEHRAN - Barely a week after the U.S. officials reportedly held ‘secret talks’ with the Taliban in Qatar, the insurgent group has launched a series of coordinated attacks in multiple provinces across Afghanistan. According to media reports, more than 200 Afghan security personnel have been killed over the past four days in fighting with the Taliban in three different provinces – Ghazni, Faryab and Baghlan.

  • Taliban 2018-08-14 11:11

    Taliban and Afghan forces fight for control over Afghanistan’s strategic city

    TEHRAN - Four days after the intense fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces in the strategic southeastern city of Ghazni, more than 200 Afghan police officers and soldiers have been killed so far. Hospitals are packed with wounded civilians, including women and children, and roads on the city outskirts have been reportedly manned by the Taliban to prevent the arrival of military reinforcements.

  • Taliban 2018-08-14 11:09

    Taliban delegation meets top Uzbek govt. officials

    TEHRAN - In a significant development that underscores the growing clout of the Taliban, a delegation from the militant group reportedly met officials in Uzbekistan last week to discuss issues related to transport and power lines and peace in Afghanistan.

  • Taliban 2018-08-09 12:49

    By Syed Zafar Mehdi

    ‘Talks’ between Taliban and U.S. an exercise in futility

    If reports in the Afghan and international media are to be believed, the first round of ‘preliminary talks’ between the U.S. and the Taliban were held last week in Doha.

  • Taliban 2018-08-05 10:44

    Militants attack, burn down girls’ schools in Pakistan

    TEHRAN - At least 12 schools in Diamer district of Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, most of them girls’ schools, were attacked and burned down early on Friday by alleged militants, according to reports. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks.

  • ISIS 2018-08-05 10:36

    Did ISIS fighters surrender or were they evacuated?

    TEHRAN - Last week, more than 200 ISIS fighters reportedly surrendered to the Afghan security forces in northwestern province of Jawzjan after being defeated by the Taliban, with some reports suggesting that they were captured by the security forces.

  • ISIS 2018-08-02 12:13

    More than 150 ISIS fighters surrender in north Afghanistan

    TEHRAN - More than 150 ISIS insurgents laid down arms and surrendered to Afghan security forces in the northwestern province of Jawzjan after being defeated by the Taliban, according to reports.

  • Muslim Shirzad 2018-07-23 12:21

    By Syed Zafar Mehdi

    ‘Deteriorating security situation shows U.S.-led coalition has failed to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan’

    Muslim Shirzad is a Kabul-based senior TV journalist, political commentator and university lecturer. He is one of the candidates in upcoming Afghan parliamentary elections. In an interview with Tehran Times, he spoke about Afghan peace process, America’s Afghanistan policy, President Ghani’s legacy and the upcoming elections.

  • اشرف غنی 2018-07-19 13:33

    Despite rejection of his offer, Ghani hopeful Taliban will join peace talks

    TEHRAN - Despite the Taliban rejecting his offer to extend the ceasefire and join peace talks with the Afghan government, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is still hopeful that the militant group will come to the negotiating table.

  • Taliban 2018-07-19 13:04

    Taliban, ISIS face off in Afghanistan, 20 Taliban fighters killed in latest ISIS attack

    TEHRAN - With contrasting agenda, goals and modus operandi, the Taliban and ISIS are facing off in a battle for control of Afghanistan, even as the security situation in the war-ravaged country deteriorates.

  • Afghanistan 2018-07-19 12:54

    By Syed Zafar Mahdi

    Afghan-owned peace process only solution to war in Afghanistan

    America’s top military commander in Afghanistan, John Nicholson sent regional observers into a tizzy with his comments on Monday that the United States was ready to join direct negotiations with the Taliban. He later retracted his statement, apparently under pressure, saying his words were“mischaracterized.”

  • Taliban 2018-07-17 11:04

    Civilian deaths in Afghanistan hit record high, says UN report

    According to the latest report released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Sunday, there were 5,122 civilian casualties (1,692 deaths and 3,430 injured) in the first six months of 2018, marking a three percent decrease in overall casualties from last year but one percent increase in civilian deaths.

  • Kashmir 2018-07-12 13:05

    Militant recruitment increasing, 2018 could be worst year for Kashmir: report

    TEHRAN - The militant groups in Kashmir have stepped up the recruitment of local youths following the end of Ramazan ceasefire, according to a report published by Indian Express. As many as 82 local youths have joined the militant groups this year till June-end, including 27 in June itself.

  • Taliban 2018-07-08 11:49

    Afghan Taliban once again reject government’s peace offer

    TEHRAN - Ashraf Ghani-led government’s efforts to broker peace with the Taliban are producing no results as the insurgent group yet again turned down Kabul’s offer for peace talks on Friday, calling the Afghan government officials as “puppets”.