NEW DELHI — After the US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Taliban initiated dialogue with India in Qatar over safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded over there, the Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday. For the first time, India has made public a meeting held between the two sides. The ministry stated […]
Asia
Taliban proclaim ‘full independence’ after US troops leave
KABUL — The Taliban have proclaimed “full independence” for Afghanistan after the last US soldiers flew out following 20 years of war. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said early Tuesday that “American soldiers left the Kabul airport, and our nation got its full independence.” The US confirmed its last forces withdrew ahead of a Tuesday deadline, […]
No excuse for any group to kill in the name of Islam: Taliban on ISIS-K
NEW DELHI — Firmly repudiating terror outfit ISIS-K and its activities in Afghanistan, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said there can be no justification for any group to kill innocent people in the name of Islam. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Zabiullah Mujahid denounced the suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport on Thursday […]
Ashraf Ghani must return Afghanistan’s money: Taliban spokesperson
KABUL — Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen has accused former Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani of fleeing the country with “the money of the people”. He has also blamed Ghani for the chaos that the country witnessed after the latter “made a mistake by abandoning the government” on August 15. In an exclusive interview to Doha News, the […]
Imran Khan govt must resolve Tehreek-e-Taliban issue: Taliban
ISLAMABAD — Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said that the issue of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a proscribed organisation, is one that the Imran Khan government must resolve, not Afghanistan. In an interview with Geo News on Saturday, Mujahid said, “The issue of the TTP is one that Pakistan will have to deal with, not […]
Taliban condemn US drone attack, prepare to set up new Afghan government
KABUL — The Taliban condemned on Saturday a US drone strike against Islamic State militants following Thursday’s suicide attack outside Kabul airport, with a spokesman describing the operation as a “clear attack on Afghan territory”. Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban expected to take full control of Kabul airport very shortly, once US forces leave, and […]
Pakistan emerges as ‘biggest base for evacuation’ of foreigners from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD — In the last two weeks, Pakistan has emerged as the “biggest base” for urgent evacuation of foreigners from Afghanistan after the chaotic situation in Kabul, Pakistan armed forces spokesperson said. “Right now, the biggest base in the immediate vicinity of Afghanistan for evacuation of foreigners is in Pakistan,” Major General Babar Iftikhar told […]
World has ‘abandoned’ Afghanistan’s new generation: Evacuee Afghan journalist
MADRID — Until last week, Shabeer Ahmadi was busy covering the news in Afghanistan. But after a hasty and excruciating decision to leave his Taliban-controlled country for an uncertain future in Spain, he’s helplessly glued to news feeds on his cellphone, following every twist in the dramatic end of the evacuation of Afghans from Kabul. […]
Kabul blasts show security situation in Afghanistan ‘complex, grave’: China
BEIJING — China on Friday expressed shock at the deadly suicide attacks at Kabul airport, saying the security situation in Afghanistan remained “complex and grave” and offered to work with the international community to deal with terrorist threats and prevent the war-ravaged country from becoming a hotbed of terrorism. During a media briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian […]
Jaish chief Masood Azhar meets Taliban in Kandahar to discuss J&K: Reports
NEW DELHI — Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, accompanied by his brother Abdul Rauf Azhar and Maulana Ammar, was in Kandahar in the third week of August, specifically from August 19 to 19, after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, a reports suggested. The JeM leaders reportedly met the Taliban to seek their support in […]









