Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has praised the role of India at the Afghanistan conference in Geneva.

On Tuesday, during his address, the Afghan President thanked India for its "commitment of over $2 billion" while on the first day he said, "I’d like to thank India and Iran for the Chahbahar corridor in the related sea corridor as well as the air corridor."

In 2017, New Delhi started the India-Afghanistan air corridor so that Afghan produce such as fruits can get the huge Indian market. India built Chabahar port in Iran has helped increased connectivity between the 2 countries. In fact, amidst the covid pandemic, India sent 75000 MT of wheat aid to the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-taliban-resolve-several-disputed-issues-officials-344739" hreflang="en">Afghanistan, Taliban resolve several disputed issues: Officials</a>

India since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, has emerged as a vital partner of Kabul, and helped in capacity building and built a number of infrastructure projects as well, which includes, the India Afghanistan friendship dam in Herat, the Afghan Parliament in Kabul.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The 2020 Afghanistan Conference is being co-hosted by the Afghan Government, Finland's government and United Nations. The&nbsp;conference&nbsp;has seen a number of financial pledges by several countries for the country even as the peace process gains momentum.&nbsp;

At the conference, the Afghan President highlighted how his country is known by many names such as "heart of Asia", "gates of India", "Switzerland of Asia", pointing out the vital geography of the country via a vis whole of Asia.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has praised the role of India at the Afghanistan conference in Geneva. On Tuesday, during his address, the Afghan President thanked India for its "commitment of over $2 billion" while on the first day he said, "I’d like to thank India and Iran for the Chahbahar corridor in the related sea corridor as well as the air corridor.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has praised the role of India at the Afghanistan conference in Geneva. On Tuesday, during his address, the Afghan President thanked India for its "commitment of over $2 billion" while on the first day he said, "I’d like to thank India and Iran for the Chahbahar corridor in the related sea corridor as well as the air corridor." In 2017, New Delhi started the India-Afghanistan air corridor so that Afghan produce such as fruits can get the huge Indian market. India built Chabahar port in Iran has helped increased connectivity between the 2 countries. In fact, amidst the covid pandemic, India sent 75000 MT of wheat aid to the country. Also read: Afghanistan, Taliban resolve several disputed issues: Officials India since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, has emerged as a vital partner of Kabul, and helped in capacity building and built a number of infrastructure projects as well, which includes, the India Afghanistan friendship dam in Herat, the Afghan Parliament in Kabul. The 2020 Afghanistan Conference is being co-hosted by the Afghan Government, Finland's government and United Nations. The conference has seen a number of financial pledges by several countries for the country even as the peace process gains momentum. At the conference, the Afghan President highlighted how his country is known by many names such as "heart of Asia", "gates of India", "Switzerland of Asia", pointing out the vital geography of the country via a vis whole of Asia.

India's role praised by President Ghani at Afghanistan conference in Geneva

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited war-torn neighbour Afghanistan on Thursday, where he vowed to help reduce spiralling violence and push for a ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan forces.

Khan's maiden visit to Kabul comes amid surging violence across Afghanistan that has worsened despite Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban launching peace talks in the Qatari capital Doha in September.

"We notice with concern that the level of violence despite the talks in Qatar ... is rising," Khan told reporters outside the presidential palace after meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

"Pakistan will do everything, whatever is possible, we will do to help reduce this violence and in fact move towards a ceasefire."

Khan said it was Pakistan that first persuaded the Taliban to talk to Washington in 2018 for negotiations that eventually yielded a withdrawal deal for all foreign forces.

He also credited Islamabad's efforts in helping start the peace talks in Doha.

"We the people and government of Pakistan have only one concern, and that concern is ... that we want peace (in Afghanistan)," Khan said.

Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been strained.

Many Afghans are furious with their eastern neighbour, which they accuse of meddling in domestic affairs, aiding the Taliban and deliberately destabilising Afghanistan.

Islamabad has long denied such claims, though many senior Taliban leaders live in the city of Quetta in southwest Pakistan and militants have in the past enjoyed relatively unhindered movement across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Pakistan last week accused Afghanistan of allowing India to set up camps on Afghan soil for "training, harbouring and launching terrorists into Pakistan."

Both New Delhi and Kabul deny these charges.

Ghani, whose repeated calls for a ceasefire have been rebuffed by the Taliban, reiterated the need for an immediate truce.

"Violence is not an answer," Ghani said.

Earlier this year, the Taliban announced two short ceasefires to mark the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

The Doha talks, which started September 12, have so far failed to make significant progress.

In the past six months, the Taliban carried out 53 suicide attacks and 1,250 explosions that left 1,210 civilians dead and 2,500 wounded, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said Thursday.

The Afghan government has also blamed the insurgents for a pair of attacks on Kabul education centres that killed dozens of students.

The Taliban have denied involvement, and the attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited war-torn neighbour Afghanistan on Thursday, where he vowed to help reduce spiralling violence and push for a ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan forces.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited war-torn neighbour Afghanistan on Thursday, where he vowed to help reduce spiralling violence and push for a ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan forces. Khan's maiden visit to Kabul comes amid surging violence across Afghanistan that has worsened despite Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban launching peace talks in the Qatari capital Doha in September. "We notice with concern that the level of violence despite the talks in Qatar ... is rising," Khan told reporters outside the presidential palace after meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. "Pakistan will do everything, whatever is possible, we will do to help reduce this violence and in fact move towards a ceasefire." Khan said it was Pakistan that first persuaded the Taliban to talk to Washington in 2018 for negotiations that eventually yielded a withdrawal deal for all foreign forces. He also credited Islamabad's efforts in helping start the peace talks in Doha. "We the people and government of Pakistan have only one concern, and that concern is ... that we want peace (in Afghanistan)," Khan said. Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been strained. Many Afghans are furious with their eastern neighbour, which they accuse of meddling in domestic affairs, aiding the Taliban and deliberately destabilising Afghanistan. Islamabad has long denied such claims, though many senior Taliban leaders live in the city of Quetta in southwest Pakistan and militants have in the past enjoyed relatively unhindered movement across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan last week accused Afghanistan of allowing India to set up camps on Afghan soil for "training, harbouring and launching terrorists into Pakistan." Both New Delhi and Kabul deny these charges. Ghani, whose repeated calls for a ceasefire have been rebuffed by the Taliban, reiterated the need for an immediate truce. "Violence is not an answer," Ghani said. Earlier this year, the Taliban announced two short ceasefires to mark the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The Doha talks, which started September 12, have so far failed to make significant progress. In the past six months, the Taliban carried out 53 suicide attacks and 1,250 explosions that left 1,210 civilians dead and 2,500 wounded, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said Thursday. The Afghan government has also blamed the insurgents for a pair of attacks on Kabul education centres that killed dozens of students. The Taliban have denied involvement, and the attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group.

Pakistan's Imran Khan vows to help stem Afghan bloodshed

The Taliban on Wednesday welcomed the Pentagon's announcement it would soon pull about 2,000 US troops from Afghanistan as a "good step" that will help end the country's long-running conflict.

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the US will slash troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq to their lowest levels in nearly 20 years of war after President Donald Trump pledged to end conflicts abroad.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hasty-pullout-of-us-allied-troops-from-afghanistan-could-exact-very-high-price-nato-chief-stoltenberg-343712" hreflang="en">Hasty pullout of US &amp; allied troops from Afghanistan could exact 'very high' price: NATO chief Stoltenberg</a>

"It is a good step and in the interest of the people of both countries," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP, referring to the US and Afghanistan.

"The sooner the foreign forces leave, the more the war will be prevented."&nbsp;

Critics have expressed concerns that a precipitous departure could embolden the Taliban and erode gains made since 2001, when US-led forces ousted the hardline Islamists in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The latest Pentagon move would see 2,000 US troops quit Afghanistan by January 15, less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden is expected to be sworn into office.

The withdrawal follows outgoing President Donald Trump's plan to end US military involvement in Afghanistan.

Under a deal signed February 29, the Trump administration agreed to pull all foreign forces from the country by May 2021.&nbsp;

In return, the Taliban promised not to attack US forces and said they would stop transnational jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State from operating in the country.

Germany, which has hundreds of troops in northern Afghanistan, on Wednesday said it was worried the speedy US withdrawal could affect the bid to find peace in Afghanistan.

"We are particularly concerned over what the US announcement could mean for the continuation of peace talks in Afghanistan," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

"We should not create additional hurdles -- something that a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan would most certainly lead to".

The US-Taliban deal, signed in Doha, paved the way for peace talks to start between the Taliban and Afghan government on September 12.&nbsp;

In the months since, negotiators have made almost no tangible progress and talks now appeared stalled.

Afghan officials downplayed the US troop cut, which would leave about 2,500 American service members in Afghanistan after January 15.

"The Afghan security and defence forces are already conducting 96 percent of the operations independently and are prepared to continue to defend the country against our enemies," Afghan National Security Council spokesman Rahmatullah Andar said.

Since the US-Taliban deal, the Pentagon has shut several military bases across Afghanistan and rotated thousands of soldiers out of the country.

The Taliban on Wednesday welcomed the Pentagon's announcement it would soon pull about 2,000 US troops from Afghanistan as a "good step" that will help end the country's long-running conflict.

The Taliban on Wednesday welcomed the Pentagon's announcement it would soon pull about 2,000 US troops from Afghanistan as a "good step" that will help end the country's long-running conflict. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the US will slash troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq to their lowest levels in nearly 20 years of war after President Donald Trump pledged to end conflicts abroad. Also read| Hasty pullout of US & allied troops from Afghanistan could exact 'very high' price: NATO chief Stoltenberg "It is a good step and in the interest of the people of both countries," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP, referring to the US and Afghanistan. "The sooner the foreign forces leave, the more the war will be prevented." Critics have expressed concerns that a precipitous departure could embolden the Taliban and erode gains made since 2001, when US-led forces ousted the hardline Islamists in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The latest Pentagon move would see 2,000 US troops quit Afghanistan by January 15, less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden is expected to be sworn into office. The withdrawal follows outgoing President Donald Trump's plan to end US military involvement in Afghanistan. Under a deal signed February 29, the Trump administration agreed to pull all foreign forces from the country by May 2021. In return, the Taliban promised not to attack US forces and said they would stop transnational jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State from operating in the country. Germany, which has hundreds of troops in northern Afghanistan, on Wednesday said it was worried the speedy US withdrawal could affect the bid to find peace in Afghanistan. "We are particularly concerned over what the US announcement could mean for the continuation of peace talks in Afghanistan," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. "We should not create additional hurdles -- something that a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan would most certainly lead to". The US-Taliban deal, signed in Doha, paved the way for peace talks to start between the Taliban and Afghan government on September 12. In the months since, negotiators have made almost no tangible progress and talks now appeared stalled. Afghan officials downplayed the US troop cut, which would leave about 2,500 American service members in Afghanistan after January 15. "The Afghan security and defence forces are already conducting 96 percent of the operations independently and are prepared to continue to defend the country against our enemies," Afghan National Security Council spokesman Rahmatullah Andar said. Since the US-Taliban deal, the Pentagon has shut several military bases across Afghanistan and rotated thousands of soldiers out of the country.

Taliban welcome US troop drawdown from Afghanistan as 'good step'

Australia on Thursday announced the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate possible war crimes committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisting standards must be upheld.

"Serving men and women and our defense forces, both past and present, share the expectations and aspirations of the Australian people for our defense forces, and how they engage in their conduct," Morrison said.

"This requires us to deal with honest and brutal truths, where expectations and standards may not have been met."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-authorises-sanctions-over-icc-afghanistan-war-crimes-case-305171">Trump authorises sanctions over ICC Afghanistan war crimes case</a>

At least 55 separate incidents have been probed as part of the exhaustive four-year probe that has interviewed more than 330 witnesses.

Australia&nbsp;in 2016 launched an inquiry into the conduct of the personnel of its special forces between 2005 and 2016 amid allegations by local media about the killing of unarmed men and children.

While Morrison did not reveal details of the report, which is set to be released next week, he said it will contain "difficult and hard news for&nbsp;Australians".

"Given the likely allegations of serious and possibly criminal misconduct, the matters raised in the inquiry must be assessed, investigated and, where allegations are substantiated, prosecuted in court," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

Morrison said the special investigator was needed as the probe into the actions of some of&nbsp;Australia's military in Afghanistan was so complex that it would overwhelm and distract the country's normal criminal prosecutor.

The special prosecutor will be assisted by experienced investigators, legal counsel, and other support personnel, Morrison said.

Australia&nbsp;is a staunch&nbsp;ally of the United States and has had troops in Afghanistan since 2002.

Australia on Thursday announced the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate possible war crimes committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisting standards must be upheld.

Australia on Thursday announced the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate possible war crimes committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisting standards must be upheld. "Serving men and women and our defense forces, both past and present, share the expectations and aspirations of the Australian people for our defense forces, and how they engage in their conduct," Morrison said. "This requires us to deal with honest and brutal truths, where expectations and standards may not have been met." Also read: Trump authorises sanctions over ICC Afghanistan war crimes case At least 55 separate incidents have been probed as part of the exhaustive four-year probe that has interviewed more than 330 witnesses. Australia in 2016 launched an inquiry into the conduct of the personnel of its special forces between 2005 and 2016 amid allegations by local media about the killing of unarmed men and children. While Morrison did not reveal details of the report, which is set to be released next week, he said it will contain "difficult and hard news for Australians". "Given the likely allegations of serious and possibly criminal misconduct, the matters raised in the inquiry must be assessed, investigated and, where allegations are substantiated, prosecuted in court," Morrison told reporters in Canberra. Morrison said the special investigator was needed as the probe into the actions of some of Australia's military in Afghanistan was so complex that it would overwhelm and distract the country's normal criminal prosecutor. The special prosecutor will be assisted by experienced investigators, legal counsel, and other support personnel, Morrison said. Australia is a staunch ally of the United States and has had troops in Afghanistan since 2002.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison appoints Afghanistan war crimes prosecutor

Students were gunned down "one by one" as they leapt from the windows of Kabul University classrooms when militants stormed the campus earlier this week, a survivor told AFP Wednesday.

At least 22 people, mostly students, were killed and another 27 wounded when three gunmen stormed the university on Monday, spraying classrooms with bullets in an assault claimed by the jihadist Islamic State group.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-strongly-condemns-cowardly-terrorist-attack-at-kabul-university-339946">PM Narendra Modi strongly condemns 'cowardly' terrorist attack at Kabul University</a>

Mohammad Qasim Kohistani, 22, a student of public policy at Kabul University, one of Afghanistan's main educational institutions, described how the seven-hour attack unfolded.

"We were waiting for our teacher to come... suddenly, we heard loud sounds coming from the first floor," Kohistani, who was in a classroom on the second floor, told AFP.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-kabul-university-attack-340121/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We knew something was wrong, we started jumping from the windows."

Kohistani took refuge under a window ledge with his friends, a bloody scene unravelling above him as the attackers went room to room searching out victims.

"After a gunman took over our class he started shooting fleeing students from the window," he said.

"The (other two) gunmen were shooting students one by one from a close range," he added.

Hundreds of students fled, some by scrambling over perimeter walls and onto the streets, others by barricading themselves inside rooms until they were rescued by Afghan special forces.&nbsp;

Best friend killed

Among those killed was Kohistani's best friend, Ahmad Ali, who stopped to help another friend, Roqia.&nbsp;

"He didn't jump from the window because Roqia had fainted," he explained.

"He wanted to save her but the gunman shot both of them in the head and killed them."

Kohistani, who sprained a leg when he jumped, stayed hidden for hours on campus.

"It was the most horrible moment of my life," he said.&nbsp;

"All through the day we were hearing their wails and cries for help but we were helpless."

After the attack ended, Kohistani came to learn that the attackers had killed everyone inside one of the classrooms below his.

"I am still in trauma. Yesterday, I was not even able to talk," he said.&nbsp;

Officials said two attackers were shot dead by security forces, while the third blew himself up during the assault.

The attack was claimed by IS, the second such assault the group had carried out on an educational centre in less than two weeks in the capital.

However, Vice President Amrullah Saleh has blamed the Taliban and their allies in Pakistan for the attack.

The Taliban have denied it was involved.

Afghan security forces have been grappling with surging violence that has only worsened in recent months despite the government holding peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar.

Afghanistan held a national day of mourning on Tuesday, while students demonstrated outside Kabul University, holding banners which read "Stop killing us".

Students were gunned down "one by one" as they leapt from the windows of Kabul University classrooms when militants stormed the campus earlier this week, a survivor told AFP Wednesday.

Students were gunned down "one by one" as they leapt from the windows of Kabul University classrooms when militants stormed the campus earlier this week, a survivor told AFP Wednesday. At least 22 people, mostly students, were killed and another 27 wounded when three gunmen stormed the university on Monday, spraying classrooms with bullets in an assault claimed by the jihadist Islamic State group. Also read: PM Narendra Modi strongly condemns 'cowardly' terrorist attack at Kabul University Mohammad Qasim Kohistani, 22, a student of public policy at Kabul University, one of Afghanistan's main educational institutions, described how the seven-hour attack unfolded. "We were waiting for our teacher to come... suddenly, we heard loud sounds coming from the first floor," Kohistani, who was in a classroom on the second floor, told AFP. "We knew something was wrong, we started jumping from the windows." Kohistani took refuge under a window ledge with his friends, a bloody scene unravelling above him as the attackers went room to room searching out victims. "After a gunman took over our class he started shooting fleeing students from the window," he said. "The (other two) gunmen were shooting students one by one from a close range," he added. Hundreds of students fled, some by scrambling over perimeter walls and onto the streets, others by barricading themselves inside rooms until they were rescued by Afghan special forces. Best friend killed Among those killed was Kohistani's best friend, Ahmad Ali, who stopped to help another friend, Roqia. "He didn't jump from the window because Roqia had fainted," he explained. "He wanted to save her but the gunman shot both of them in the head and killed them." Kohistani, who sprained a leg when he jumped, stayed hidden for hours on campus. "It was the most horrible moment of my life," he said. "All through the day we were hearing their wails and cries for help but we were helpless." After the attack ended, Kohistani came to learn that the attackers had killed everyone inside one of the classrooms below his. "I am still in trauma. Yesterday, I was not even able to talk," he said. Officials said two attackers were shot dead by security forces, while the third blew himself up during the assault. The attack was claimed by IS, the second such assault the group had carried out on an educational centre in less than two weeks in the capital. However, Vice President Amrullah Saleh has blamed the Taliban and their allies in Pakistan for the attack. The Taliban have denied it was involved. Afghan security forces have been grappling with surging violence that has only worsened in recent months despite the government holding peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar. Afghanistan held a national day of mourning on Tuesday, while students demonstrated outside Kabul University, holding banners which read "Stop killing us".

Terrorists shot students 'one by one' in Afghan university attack: Survivor

As Afghan peace talks grind on, the Taliban are trying to portray themselves as a viable government-in-waiting in an image makeover that includes rehabilitating their ultra-violent affiliate, the Haqqani network.

Negotiators from both sides in Afghanistan's 19-year-old war have been meeting in Qatar since September and are&nbsp;attempting to draw up a blueprint for the country after US and foreign forces leave next year.

The languid pace of talks at a luxury hotel in Doha belies the chaos on the ground in Afghanistan.

As the militants push for battlefield dominance including a major assault this month in Helmand province, the Taliban's propaganda arm is churning out a steady stream of social media messages and videos, and publishing reports on a slick website depicting themselves as good governors.

A recent article said Taliban task forces had been deployed in Kabul to protect the population against "lawlessness and corruption", a swipe at overwhelmed authorities struggling to control crime.

A video released on Facebook by the group this year showed members in surgical masks distributing hand sanitisers after the coronavirus reached Afghanistan.

And even though they frequently blow up telecom towers and government buildings, the terrorists are also circulating claims on WhatsApp about their infrastructure projects such as roads and irrigation canals.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, highlighted the apparent contradiction.

"On one hand, they are talking about brotherhood, mercy, service, humility, and unity, and affection among the Muslims," he told AFP.&nbsp;

"And on the other hand, they are killing and wounding innocent civilians, including women and children."

In power from 1996-2001, the Taliban ran a brutal form of an Islamist government that punished women for leaving the house, forbade entertainment, and made public beatings and executions routine.

Haqqani 'the great reformer'

Perhaps the most dramatic part of the public relations push is around the Haqqani network, a violent Taliban wing blamed for some of the worst atrocities in Afghanistan's war.

A new documentary tracing the life of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the eponymous network, depicts him as a "great reformer" who fought heroically over four decades, first against the Soviets and then against the Americans.

Designated a foreign terrorist group by the US State Department in 2012 and suspected of ties to Pakistan's secretive security apparatus, the Haqqani network has been linked to a string of attacks against foreign forces and Afghan civilians, including a 2017 truck bombing near the German embassy in Kabul that killed more than 150 people.

The film features archive footage of the bearded and turbaned Haqqani, who died in 2018, and claims he was an effective administrator in his former stronghold of Khost province, where he opened dozens of madrassas, "focused on charity" and fought corruption.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the film aimed to "introduce" Haqqani as an "icon".

"We wanted to show his way of life, his sacrifices, his speeches to our future leaders and young mujahideen," he told AFP.

Taliban and Haqqani 'same thing'

The film seeks to rebrand the deadly and once semi-autonomous Haqqani network and present them as unified with the broader Taliban movement, Andrew Watkins, an analyst on Afghanistan for the Crisis Group think tank, told AFP.

The Taliban "clearly has an agenda" to show supporters and outside audiences that the two groups "are the same thing".

"They may not have been in the past but they are today. And the Taliban celebrating the Haqqani network's patriarch is a way of solidifying that," Watkins said.

In February, Sirajuddin Haqqani, one of Haqqani's sons who now heads the Haqqani network and is also deputy leader of the Taliban, penned an editorial in The New York Times.

Sirajuddin wrote that the Taliban were ready to agree to "a new, inclusive political system in which the voice of every Afghan is reflected and where no Afghan feels excluded".

The Taliban's attempt to depict themselves and the Haqqanis as efficient rulers is a far cry from early public relations efforts when the terrorists produced videos showing suicide bombers and gloated about attacks on Western troops.

Watkins said the effort being pumped into the image revamp is directly linked to the peace talks: "They've expanded their capability and are producing on a staggering scale now."

As Afghan peace talks grind on, the Taliban are trying to portray themselves as a viable government-in-waiting in an image makeover that includes rehabilitating their ultra-violent affiliate, the Haqqani network.

As Afghan peace talks grind on, the Taliban are trying to portray themselves as a viable government-in-waiting in an image makeover that includes rehabilitating their ultra-violent affiliate, the Haqqani network. Negotiators from both sides in Afghanistan's 19-year-old war have been meeting in Qatar since September and are attempting to draw up a blueprint for the country after US and foreign forces leave next year. The languid pace of talks at a luxury hotel in Doha belies the chaos on the ground in Afghanistan. As the militants push for battlefield dominance including a major assault this month in Helmand province, the Taliban's propaganda arm is churning out a steady stream of social media messages and videos, and publishing reports on a slick website depicting themselves as good governors. A recent article said Taliban task forces had been deployed in Kabul to protect the population against "lawlessness and corruption", a swipe at overwhelmed authorities struggling to control crime. A video released on Facebook by the group this year showed members in surgical masks distributing hand sanitisers after the coronavirus reached Afghanistan. And even though they frequently blow up telecom towers and government buildings, the terrorists are also circulating claims on WhatsApp about their infrastructure projects such as roads and irrigation canals. Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, highlighted the apparent contradiction. "On one hand, they are talking about brotherhood, mercy, service, humility, and unity, and affection among the Muslims," he told AFP. "And on the other hand, they are killing and wounding innocent civilians, including women and children." In power from 1996-2001, the Taliban ran a brutal form of an Islamist government that punished women for leaving the house, forbade entertainment, and made public beatings and executions routine. Haqqani 'the great reformer' Perhaps the most dramatic part of the public relations push is around the Haqqani network, a violent Taliban wing blamed for some of the worst atrocities in Afghanistan's war. A new documentary tracing the life of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the eponymous network, depicts him as a "great reformer" who fought heroically over four decades, first against the Soviets and then against the Americans. Designated a foreign terrorist group by the US State Department in 2012 and suspected of ties to Pakistan's secretive security apparatus, the Haqqani network has been linked to a string of attacks against foreign forces and Afghan civilians, including a 2017 truck bombing near the German embassy in Kabul that killed more than 150 people. The film features archive footage of the bearded and turbaned Haqqani, who died in 2018, and claims he was an effective administrator in his former stronghold of Khost province, where he opened dozens of madrassas, "focused on charity" and fought corruption. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the film aimed to "introduce" Haqqani as an "icon". "We wanted to show his way of life, his sacrifices, his speeches to our future leaders and young mujahideen," he told AFP. Taliban and Haqqani 'same thing' The film seeks to rebrand the deadly and once semi-autonomous Haqqani network and present them as unified with the broader Taliban movement, Andrew Watkins, an analyst on Afghanistan for the Crisis Group think tank, told AFP. The Taliban "clearly has an agenda" to show supporters and outside audiences that the two groups "are the same thing". "They may not have been in the past but they are today. And the Taliban celebrating the Haqqani network's patriarch is a way of solidifying that," Watkins said. In February, Sirajuddin Haqqani, one of Haqqani's sons who now heads the Haqqani network and is also deputy leader of the Taliban, penned an editorial in The New York Times. Sirajuddin wrote that the Taliban were ready to agree to "a new, inclusive political system in which the voice of every Afghan is reflected and where no Afghan feels excluded". The Taliban's attempt to depict themselves and the Haqqanis as efficient rulers is a far cry from early public relations efforts when the terrorists produced videos showing suicide bombers and gloated about attacks on Western troops. Watkins said the effort being pumped into the image revamp is directly linked to the peace talks: "They've expanded their capability and are producing on a staggering scale now."

Taliban seek image revamp as Afghan peace talks grind on

At least 20 members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were killed in a Taliban attack on their outpost in Khashrod district, Nimroz province, on Thursday said the district governor of Khashrod.

According to Tolo News, the district governor said that six others were taken hostage by the Taliban. However, the official did not provide any details on the attack.

There have been no comments made by the Defence Ministry, so far. The latest incident comes in wake of an increase in violence across the country despite the ongoing peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghanistan Government in Doha.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Defence said that the Taliban terrorists have expanded their attacks to 24 provinces in the last 24 hours that include Takhar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Laghman, Paktia, Paktika, Ghazni, Logar, Maidan Wardak, Kandahar, Zabul, Herat, Farah, Badghis, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan provinces.

The Defence Ministry said that on Wednesday night in Takhar province an Afghan Air Force strike killed "12 Taliban including several of their commanders," as reported by Tolo News.

It further reported that the airstrike was conducted in the "Hazara Qarluq" village of Baharak district, according to the statement adding that during a clash between "these Taliban" and the ANP on Monday, a "number of our police" were killed.

At least four civilians were killed and 10 others were injured in a mortar attack in northern Faryab province on Thursday morning, local officials said.

On Wednesday, the Taliban "destroyed" an electricity pylon that brings power to Herat province the office of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) in Herat said.

The incident took place in the Kalat-e-Ghazi village in Ghoryan district. The Takhar`s deputy police chief Raz Mohammad Doorandish and nearly 50 security force members were killed in clashes with the Taliban in the province on Tuesday night, the local officials said on Wednesday.

"47 people (security forces members) were killed, and three or four others were wounded," said Amir Mohammad Khaksar, an MP from Takhar, adding that "the casualties will increase."

At least 20 members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were killed in a Taliban attack on their outpost in Khashrod district, Nimroz province, on Thursday said the district governor of Khashrod.

At least 20 members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were killed in a Taliban attack on their outpost in Khashrod district, Nimroz province, on Thursday said the district governor of Khashrod. According to Tolo News, the district governor said that six others were taken hostage by the Taliban. However, the official did not provide any details on the attack. There have been no comments made by the Defence Ministry, so far. The latest incident comes in wake of an increase in violence across the country despite the ongoing peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghanistan Government in Doha. On Thursday, the Ministry of Defence said that the Taliban terrorists have expanded their attacks to 24 provinces in the last 24 hours that include Takhar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Laghman, Paktia, Paktika, Ghazni, Logar, Maidan Wardak, Kandahar, Zabul, Herat, Farah, Badghis, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan provinces. The Defence Ministry said that on Wednesday night in Takhar province an Afghan Air Force strike killed "12 Taliban including several of their commanders," as reported by Tolo News. It further reported that the airstrike was conducted in the "Hazara Qarluq" village of Baharak district, according to the statement adding that during a clash between "these Taliban" and the ANP on Monday, a "number of our police" were killed. At least four civilians were killed and 10 others were injured in a mortar attack in northern Faryab province on Thursday morning, local officials said. On Wednesday, the Taliban "destroyed" an electricity pylon that brings power to Herat province the office of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) in Herat said. The incident took place in the Kalat-e-Ghazi village in Ghoryan district. The Takhar`s deputy police chief Raz Mohammad Doorandish and nearly 50 security force members were killed in clashes with the Taliban in the province on Tuesday night, the local officials said on Wednesday. "47 people (security forces members) were killed, and three or four others were wounded," said Amir Mohammad Khaksar, an MP from Takhar, adding that "the casualties will increase."

20 Afghan army personnel killed in Taliban attack in Nimroz

Atta Mohammad&nbsp;Noor, an influential Afghan politician, once a key leader of the Northern Alliance that fought against the Taliban in the 1990s has said India should engage with the Taliban.

Speaking to WION's&nbsp;diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Atta Noor said, "India has the right and engages the Taliban and in line with their national interests".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-ata-mohammad-noor-meets-eam-foreign-secretary-in-delhi-briefs-about-the-afghan-peace-process-336971">Afghanistan's Ata Mohammad Noor meets EAM, Foreign Secretary in Delhi; briefs about the Afghan peace process</a>

Noor who is in Delhi and met with India's External Affairs Minister and&nbsp;Foreign Secretary in 2016 took up arms himself to save the Indian consulate in Mazar E Sharif. On ties with India, Mohammad Noor explained, "India has got a good relationship with its old and traditional friends, who stood against the imposed war in the past.". He is the 3rd top Afghan leader to visit India in the last one month as peace talks gain pace. In the current situation in his country, Noor said, "If we have active diplomacy ....there is justice in the talks, we won’t get back but other wise we have to prepare ourselves for a second resistance". He also spoke on Pakistan, Hekmatyar's Islamabad visit.

WION: Big focus of your India Visit?

Atta Noor: Thanks, in the name of God. I am very happy to be in India on an official invitation from our friends, our brotherly and friendly country. It is the old friend of the Afghan government and the Afghan people. Our people have affection for this country. I&nbsp;am happy and have met with the leadership. We discussed issues of mutual interest. Regarding peace, the talks are going on. people of Afghanistan want peace, this is one of the desires of the Afghan people. We have been suffering for the last 42 years. Our country has been burning. The talks are going on, but with no results. Regarding the talks and the regional issues, India as an influential and big country with a big economy and capacity, it should engage in the peace talks in Afghanistan. It should be amongst the countries facilitating the talks and also it should be a member of the regional countries in consensus. India has got a good relationship with the Afghan government and we appreciate it. India has got a good relationship with its old and traditional friends, who stood against the imposed war in the past.&nbsp;

WION: You met with the Indian leadership, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and&nbsp;FS Shringla. What were the talks like?

Atta Noor: I have had a good meeting with FS Shingla, a seasoned diplomat. I have also had insightful meetings with MEA Jaishankar, who is a scholar too. I talked about the common concerns we have, the common enemies we have. We also discussed the peace talks. We have common values, trade, and cultural values with India. I am satisfied with the messages I have received. India has reiterated to stand by the Republic and by gains we have made and by the Afghan people.&nbsp;

WION: Do you think India should engage with the Taliban?

Atta Noor: India as one of the biggest regional and Asian countries has its own interests and I appreciate and respect their plans. But regarding the peace process in Afghanistan, they have to have a pro-active policy and engage the ongoing talks. When China has the right to meet the Taliban and meet their interests, but when the Russians and Iran and other countries, so India has the right and engage the Taliban and in line with their national interests and helping the Afghanistan people.

WION: Do you think the repetition of what happened in the 1990s, the Taliban coming?

Atta Noor: we are hopeful that the 90s will not repeat again. I hope that the US will not repeat what the Russians did. I hope the peace process will yield results and our strategic friends care for Afghanistan. If there is no active diplomacy and the gains of the 19 years are not preserved and if the former resistance leaders and prominent leaders are not supported, the situation will get worst. If we have active diplomacy and the results of the peace deal will be in line with what our people want, and there is justice in the talks, we won’t get back but otherwise, we have to prepare ourselves for a second resistance&nbsp;

WION: How do you see Pakistan's role?

Atta Noor: There is no doubt that Pakistan is our neighbour and shares a border of 2500km. We share culture. There have to be good relations between the two countries. Pakistan is the mother of the Taliban, supporters of the Taliban, and sending them to Afghanistan,. no one can ignore this. If Pakistan believes that peace in Afghanistan is peace in the region, we will work towards building good relations. If Pakistan thinks they can support insurgents in northern Waziristan and they send it to Kashmir as well, it will be repetition that will burn both countries. Pakistan says that they support the peace process led by Afghanistan, I hope they really mean it. Time will reveal it.

WION: While you are in Delhi, Hekmatyar is in Islamabad. How do you see him, and his ties with you?

Atta Noor: Respecting Hekmatyar who is a jihadi leader and leader of&nbsp;Hezbi Islami, but over the last 20 years who he has been in a hideout, I don’t see any changes in his character. when he surrendered to the Afghanistan government, we thought his attitude would have been charged, but nothing changed. We are living in the 21st century, we have a new generation that is equipped with new equipment and are connected with the world, but his mindset has frozen 50 years ago. He still has discrimination, he has an ego. maybe it is a coincidence that I am here and he is there, I have also been to Pakistan for a peace conference, his invitation to Pakistan is against the former resistance. we have seen that the Afghan government wants peace, it had loyal jirga, made the negotiation team, it even gave privileges to the Taliban, the government to make peace released 5000 Taliban prisoners. But Hekmatyar’s first word was that the Afghan government doesn’t want peace. In short, Hekmatyar is waiting for the opportunity to spread his venom to the former resistance group and to the regional friends.

Atta Mohammad Noor, an influential Afghan politician, once a key leader of the Northern Alliance that fought against the Taliban in the 1990s has said India should engage with the Taliban.

Atta Mohammad Noor, an influential Afghan politician, once a key leader of the Northern Alliance that fought against the Taliban in the 1990s has said India should engage with the Taliban. Speaking to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Atta Noor said, "India has the right and engages the Taliban and in line with their national interests". Also read: Afghanistan's Ata Mohammad Noor meets EAM, Foreign Secretary in Delhi; briefs about the Afghan peace process Noor who is in Delhi and met with India's External Affairs Minister and Foreign Secretary in 2016 took up arms himself to save the Indian consulate in Mazar E Sharif. On ties with India, Mohammad Noor explained, "India has got a good relationship with its old and traditional friends, who stood against the imposed war in the past.". He is the 3rd top Afghan leader to visit India in the last one month as peace talks gain pace. In the current situation in his country, Noor said, "If we have active diplomacy ....there is justice in the talks, we won’t get back but other wise we have to prepare ourselves for a second resistance". He also spoke on Pakistan, Hekmatyar's Islamabad visit. WION: Big focus of your India Visit? Atta Noor: Thanks, in the name of God. I am very happy to be in India on an official invitation from our friends, our brotherly and friendly country. It is the old friend of the Afghan government and the Afghan people. Our people have affection for this country. I am happy and have met with the leadership. We discussed issues of mutual interest. Regarding peace, the talks are going on. people of Afghanistan want peace, this is one of the desires of the Afghan people. We have been suffering for the last 42 years. Our country has been burning. The talks are going on, but with no results. Regarding the talks and the regional issues, India as an influential and big country with a big economy and capacity, it should engage in the peace talks in Afghanistan. It should be amongst the countries facilitating the talks and also it should be a member of the regional countries in consensus. India has got a good relationship with the Afghan government and we appreciate it. India has got a good relationship with its old and traditional friends, who stood against the imposed war in the past. WION: You met with the Indian leadership, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and FS Shringla. What were the talks like? Atta Noor: I have had a good meeting with FS Shingla, a seasoned diplomat. I have also had insightful meetings with MEA Jaishankar, who is a scholar too. I talked about the common concerns we have, the common enemies we have. We also discussed the peace talks. We have common values, trade, and cultural values with India. I am satisfied with the messages I have received. India has reiterated to stand by the Republic and by gains we have made and by the Afghan people. WION: Do you think India should engage with the Taliban? Atta Noor: India as one of the biggest regional and Asian countries has its own interests and I appreciate and respect their plans. But regarding the peace process in Afghanistan, they have to have a pro-active policy and engage the ongoing talks. When China has the right to meet the Taliban and meet their interests, but when the Russians and Iran and other countries, so India has the right and engage the Taliban and in line with their national interests and helping the Afghanistan people. WION: Do you think the repetition of what happened in the 1990s, the Taliban coming? Atta Noor: we are hopeful that the 90s will not repeat again. I hope that the US will not repeat what the Russians did. I hope the peace process will yield results and our strategic friends care for Afghanistan. If there is no active diplomacy and the gains of the 19 years are not preserved and if the former resistance leaders and prominent leaders are not supported, the situation will get worst. If we have active diplomacy and the results of the peace deal will be in line with what our people want, and there is justice in the talks, we won’t get back but otherwise, we have to prepare ourselves for a second resistance WION: How do you see Pakistan's role? Atta Noor: There is no doubt that Pakistan is our neighbour and shares a border of 2500km. We share culture. There have to be good relations between the two countries. Pakistan is the mother of the Taliban, supporters of the Taliban, and sending them to Afghanistan,. no one can ignore this. If Pakistan believes that peace in Afghanistan is peace in the region, we will work towards building good relations. If Pakistan thinks they can support insurgents in northern Waziristan and they send it to Kashmir as well, it will be repetition that will burn both countries. Pakistan says that they support the peace process led by Afghanistan, I hope they really mean it. Time will reveal it. WION: While you are in Delhi, Hekmatyar is in Islamabad. How do you see him, and his ties with you? Atta Noor: Respecting Hekmatyar who is a jihadi leader and leader of Hezbi Islami, but over the last 20 years who he has been in a hideout, I don’t see any changes in his character. when he surrendered to the Afghanistan government, we thought his attitude would have been charged, but nothing changed. We are living in the 21st century, we have a new generation that is equipped with new equipment and are connected with the world, but his mindset has frozen 50 years ago. He still has discrimination, he has an ego. maybe it is a coincidence that I am here and he is there, I have also been to Pakistan for a peace conference, his invitation to Pakistan is against the former resistance. we have seen that the Afghan government wants peace, it had loyal jirga, made the negotiation team, it even gave privileges to the Taliban, the government to make peace released 5000 Taliban prisoners. But Hekmatyar’s first word was that the Afghan government doesn’t want peace. In short, Hekmatyar is waiting for the opportunity to spread his venom to the former resistance group and to the regional friends.

Exclusive: Former northern alliance leader Atta Noor says India should engage with Taliban

The US&nbsp;military defended on Sunday its air strikes against&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;fighters last week, as the insurgent group accused Washington of violating a signed agreement.

The&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;launched a major offensive in the southern province of Helmand in a bid to take its capital, prompting US&nbsp;air strikes in support of Afghan security forces, which were being overrun.

"American forces have violated the Doha agreement in various forms by carrying out excessive air strikes following the new developments in Helmand,"&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi said in a statement.

The US-Taliban&nbsp;pact, signed in Doha, provides for foreign forces to leave Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees and a pledge from the insurgents to sit down with the Afghan government to find a peaceful settlement to decades of war.

Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the US&nbsp;forces, denied that the strikes violated the deal.

"The entire world has witnessed the&nbsp;Taliban's offensive operations in Helmand - attacks which injured and displaced thousands of innocent Afghan civilians," Leggett said on Twitter, reiterating a call for "all sides" to reduce violence.

US&nbsp;special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who met the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;last week in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to agree to a 'reset' of their commitments, said violence was still too high.

"Unfounded charges of violations and inflammatory rhetoric do not advance peace," he said on Twitter on Monday, urging strict adherence to the troop withdrawal deal and a gradual easing of violence.

While last week's major fighting in Helmand has simmered down, violence elsewhere continues.

Since Saturday,&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;clashes with security forces in several districts of northeastern Badakhshan, including its capital of Faizabad, have killed at least four of the forces.

Talks between&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;and Afghan government negotiators began last month in Doha, but the process has only moved slowly, while violence escalated, a factor diplomats and officials have said is sapping the trust needed for negotiations to succeed.

The US military defended on Sunday its air strikes against Taliban fighters last week, as the insurgent group accused Washington of violating a signed agreement.

The US military defended on Sunday its air strikes against Taliban fighters last week, as the insurgent group accused Washington of violating a signed agreement. The Taliban launched a major offensive in the southern province of Helmand in a bid to take its capital, prompting US air strikes in support of Afghan security forces, which were being overrun. "American forces have violated the Doha agreement in various forms by carrying out excessive air strikes following the new developments in Helmand," Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi said in a statement. The US-Taliban pact, signed in Doha, provides for foreign forces to leave Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees and a pledge from the insurgents to sit down with the Afghan government to find a peaceful settlement to decades of war. Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the US forces, denied that the strikes violated the deal. "The entire world has witnessed the Taliban's offensive operations in Helmand - attacks which injured and displaced thousands of innocent Afghan civilians," Leggett said on Twitter, reiterating a call for "all sides" to reduce violence. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who met the Taliban last week in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to agree to a 'reset' of their commitments, said violence was still too high. "Unfounded charges of violations and inflammatory rhetoric do not advance peace," he said on Twitter on Monday, urging strict adherence to the troop withdrawal deal and a gradual easing of violence. While last week's major fighting in Helmand has simmered down, violence elsewhere continues. Since Saturday, Taliban clashes with security forces in several districts of northeastern Badakhshan, including its capital of Faizabad, have killed at least four of the forces. Talks between Taliban and Afghan government negotiators began last month in Doha, but the process has only moved slowly, while violence escalated, a factor diplomats and officials have said is sapping the trust needed for negotiations to succeed.

US military defends air strikes that Taliban says violate troop pact

Peace talks in Doha and war at home, that defines Afghanistan in a nutshell.

Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand&nbsp;a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban terrorists&nbsp;who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days.

The fighting in the province, where US&nbsp;and British troops for years fought to clear Taliban from a string of poppy-growing districts, comes as Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban try to push forward power-sharing talks in Qatar.

In another blow for the embattled government, two defence force helicopters setting off for a military mission in Helmand crashed into each other early on Wednesday killing nine people on board, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The crash happened as the helicopters were taking off in restive Helmand province, where clashes have erupted between Afghan forces and the Taliban, said provincial governor's spokesman Omar Zawak.&nbsp;

Acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid arrived in Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah, to assess the situation and support the forces facing the major insurgent offensive that has overshadowed the peace talks and brought US&nbsp;airstrikes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-attack-taliban-in-helmand-province-deputy-governor-captured-334648">Afghan forces attack Taliban in Helmand province, deputy governor captured</a>

Belligerence

The Taliban is trying to check how committed the Afghan government is towards the peace deal and how far it can push the government, without jeopardising the talks.

The Taliban have seized several checkpoints and closed in on Lashkar Gah but officials said the security forces had repelled overnight Taliban attacks in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali, with casualties on both sides.

The Taliban assault in Helmand is testing the resolve of the government and casting doubt over the talks to end the 19 years of war since the Taliban were ousted.

The violence could also throw into question President Donald Trump's pledge last week to bring home the remaining US&nbsp;troops by Christmas.

Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with more than 5,000 families displaced.

However, the Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists&nbsp;in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor

Peace talks in Doha and war at home, that defines Afghanistan in a nutshell. Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban terrorists who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days.

Peace talks in Doha and war at home, that defines Afghanistan in a nutshell. Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban terrorists who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days. The fighting in the province, where US and British troops for years fought to clear Taliban from a string of poppy-growing districts, comes as Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban try to push forward power-sharing talks in Qatar. In another blow for the embattled government, two defence force helicopters setting off for a military mission in Helmand crashed into each other early on Wednesday killing nine people on board, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The crash happened as the helicopters were taking off in restive Helmand province, where clashes have erupted between Afghan forces and the Taliban, said provincial governor's spokesman Omar Zawak. Acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid arrived in Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah, to assess the situation and support the forces facing the major insurgent offensive that has overshadowed the peace talks and brought US airstrikes. Also read: Afghan forces attack Taliban in Helmand province, deputy governor captured Belligerence The Taliban is trying to check how committed the Afghan government is towards the peace deal and how far it can push the government, without jeopardising the talks. The Taliban have seized several checkpoints and closed in on Lashkar Gah but officials said the security forces had repelled overnight Taliban attacks in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali, with casualties on both sides. The Taliban assault in Helmand is testing the resolve of the government and casting doubt over the talks to end the 19 years of war since the Taliban were ousted. The violence could also throw into question President Donald Trump's pledge last week to bring home the remaining US troops by Christmas. Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with more than 5,000 families displaced. However, the Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor

Afghanistan in a nutshell: Peace talks in Doha and war at home

About 20,000 copies of books published by Pakistan's spy agency ISI have been distributed in Afghanistan's southern provinces "motivating" local Afghans to join Jihad.

The books have been sent via Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Other Afghan provinces were books have been distributed are Nangarhar, Logar, Ghazni.&nbsp;

Earlier pamphlets, letters were distributed among provincial employees and locals in northern and central provinces, asking them to quit jobs and join ranks with the Taliban. The development comes even as&nbsp;US President Donald Trump has said that all American troops will be withdrawn from the country by Christmas this year.&nbsp;

In 1990s Pakistan had supported the Taliban and was among the few countries to recognize the Taliban govt in the country at that time.

Over the weekend, top Afghan government negotiator at Intra Afghan talks in a conversation with WION dismissed any repeating of 1990s happening in his country. He said,"let's say Taliban think tomorrow, next month or in a few months the US will withdraw from Afghanistan and they can take advantage of that situation militarily that could be a miscalculation".

Meanwhile, the Afghan Army has been able to detect and defuse 4776 IEDs, which have been used by the Taliban to spread chaos. Interestingly and on expected lines, the source of ammonium nitrate and white phosphorus used in the IEDs is Pakistan.&nbsp;

The matter has been raised by Afghan authorities with Pakistani counterparts with the latter assuring to looking into the matter and investigate it.&nbsp;According to United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), majority of victims in southern Afghanistan have been impacted by anti-government elements using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), especially by use of pressure-plate IEDs--PPIEDs.

Ground intelligence has also highlighted that around 50 Afghan terrorists recruited and trained by Pakistan's ISI have been reportedly sent to India Pakistan border for infiltration into India. New Delhi during its talks with Afghan leadership and American special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has raised its concern of Afghan territory being used by Pakistan to train terrorist against India.&nbsp;

About 20,000 copies of books published by Pakistan's spy agency ISI have been distributed in Afghanistan's southern provinces "motivating" local Afghans to join Jihad.

About 20,000 copies of books published by Pakistan's spy agency ISI have been distributed in Afghanistan's southern provinces "motivating" local Afghans to join Jihad. The books have been sent via Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Other Afghan provinces were books have been distributed are Nangarhar, Logar, Ghazni. Earlier pamphlets, letters were distributed among provincial employees and locals in northern and central provinces, asking them to quit jobs and join ranks with the Taliban. The development comes even as US President Donald Trump has said that all American troops will be withdrawn from the country by Christmas this year. In 1990s Pakistan had supported the Taliban and was among the few countries to recognize the Taliban govt in the country at that time. Over the weekend, top Afghan government negotiator at Intra Afghan talks in a conversation with WION dismissed any repeating of 1990s happening in his country. He said,"let's say Taliban think tomorrow, next month or in a few months the US will withdraw from Afghanistan and they can take advantage of that situation militarily that could be a miscalculation". Meanwhile, the Afghan Army has been able to detect and defuse 4776 IEDs, which have been used by the Taliban to spread chaos. Interestingly and on expected lines, the source of ammonium nitrate and white phosphorus used in the IEDs is Pakistan. The matter has been raised by Afghan authorities with Pakistani counterparts with the latter assuring to looking into the matter and investigate it. According to United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), majority of victims in southern Afghanistan have been impacted by anti-government elements using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), especially by use of pressure-plate IEDs--PPIEDs. Ground intelligence has also highlighted that around 50 Afghan terrorists recruited and trained by Pakistan's ISI have been reportedly sent to India Pakistan border for infiltration into India. New Delhi during its talks with Afghan leadership and American special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has raised its concern of Afghan territory being used by Pakistan to train terrorist against India.

Books published by Pak's ISI motivating locals to join jihad found in southern Afghanistan

The Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor, the Helmand Governor`s press office said in a statement.

The attack was carried out in the Nawa-I-Barakzayi District. Over 20 Taliban members were killed, while the Taliban`s deputy governor for Helmand, Mawlawi Ghafoor, was captured alive by the National Directorate of Security (NDS).

The Taliban have not released any comments yet.Clashes between the Afghan forces and the Taliban terrorists intensified in Helmand over the weekend.

A civilian source told Sputnik on Sunday that residents of the Nad-e-Ali district were seeking refuge in the city of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, amid the escalation of violence.

There were no reports about any fatalities caused by the Sunday clashes, which came amid ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha.

The Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor, the Helmand Governor`s press office said in a statement.

The Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor, the Helmand Governor`s press office said in a statement. The attack was carried out in the Nawa-I-Barakzayi District. Over 20 Taliban members were killed, while the Taliban`s deputy governor for Helmand, Mawlawi Ghafoor, was captured alive by the National Directorate of Security (NDS). The Taliban have not released any comments yet.Clashes between the Afghan forces and the Taliban terrorists intensified in Helmand over the weekend. A civilian source told Sputnik on Sunday that residents of the Nad-e-Ali district were seeking refuge in the city of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, amid the escalation of violence. There were no reports about any fatalities caused by the Sunday clashes, which came amid ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Afghan forces attack Taliban in Helmand province, deputy governor captured

Taliban&nbsp;and Afghan government-backed negotiators have agreed on a broad code of conduct to advance the intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar, even as key differences between the two warring sides remain, three official sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Efforts to resolve disagreements over Islamic jurisprudence and whether a US-Taliban&nbsp;accord reached in February on a US&nbsp;troop withdrawal would serve as the basis of the peace talks will continue on the sidelines of the main negotiations, two sources said.

The progress was achieved with the help of US&nbsp;officials, as the two sides drew up 19 ground rules that their negotiators should observe during talks, the sources said.

"Firming up code of conduct was extremely crucial as it proves that both sides are willing to continue talks even as we see that violence has not reduced on the ground," said one senior Western diplomat on conditions of anonymity.

Nader Nadery, a senior government negotiator, told Reuters that issues still need to be ironed out.

"The discussion over the rules and procedures is not yet completed and there are issues that need to be further finalised and therefore more work needs to be done," said Nadery.

After Reuters reported that the parties had set ground rules, the Afghan government negotiating team tweeted that the Reuters report was "incorrect", without elaborating.

When asked about the tweet, a senior official involved in the talks on the government side said officials objected to any implication that a formal agreement had been reached, but did not deny some ground rules had been set.

The sources involved in the peace process said the latest progress came during a trip on Monday by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Qatar's capital Doha.

Ghani held talks there with Qatari leaders as well as US&nbsp;Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and the commander of US&nbsp;and NATO troops in Afghanistan, General Austin Miller.

The intra-Afghan talks follow-up on a landmark deal signed between the United States and the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;in February.

Under the deal, foreign forces will leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for counter-terrorism guarantees from the&nbsp;Taliban, which agreed to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula with the Afghan government.

Diplomats had told Reuters that the talks got off to a difficult start, with disagreements over how the Hanafi Islamic code could be used to guide negotiations and on whether the deal signed between the United States and the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;in February should be the basis for the talks, as demanded by the&nbsp;Taliban.

The three sources said the delegations were putting those differences to one side to move forward and agree on an agenda, but would work on resolving these issues during negotiations.

"The ground rules will serve as a foundation as both sides are making an effort to prevent a collapse," said a second senior official in Doha overseeing the talks.

A ceasefire is a top priority for the Afghan officials and the western diplomats who are facilitating these talks.

While the talks have been taking place in Qatar's capital Doha, scores of Afghan soldiers and&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;fighters have been killed in clashes. Dozens of civilians have also died in recent weeks.

Some analysts say the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;is unlikely to agree a comprehensive ceasefire yet, since violence and clashes with Afghan forces give insurgents leverage at the negotiation table.

Taliban and Afghan government-backed negotiators have agreed on a broad code of conduct to advance the intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar, even as key differences between the two warring sides remain, three official sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Taliban and Afghan government-backed negotiators have agreed on a broad code of conduct to advance the intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar, even as key differences between the two warring sides remain, three official sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Efforts to resolve disagreements over Islamic jurisprudence and whether a US-Taliban accord reached in February on a US troop withdrawal would serve as the basis of the peace talks will continue on the sidelines of the main negotiations, two sources said. The progress was achieved with the help of US officials, as the two sides drew up 19 ground rules that their negotiators should observe during talks, the sources said. "Firming up code of conduct was extremely crucial as it proves that both sides are willing to continue talks even as we see that violence has not reduced on the ground," said one senior Western diplomat on conditions of anonymity. Nader Nadery, a senior government negotiator, told Reuters that issues still need to be ironed out. "The discussion over the rules and procedures is not yet completed and there are issues that need to be further finalised and therefore more work needs to be done," said Nadery. After Reuters reported that the parties had set ground rules, the Afghan government negotiating team tweeted that the Reuters report was "incorrect", without elaborating. When asked about the tweet, a senior official involved in the talks on the government side said officials objected to any implication that a formal agreement had been reached, but did not deny some ground rules had been set. The sources involved in the peace process said the latest progress came during a trip on Monday by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Qatar's capital Doha. Ghani held talks there with Qatari leaders as well as US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and the commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, General Austin Miller. The intra-Afghan talks follow-up on a landmark deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February. Under the deal, foreign forces will leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for counter-terrorism guarantees from the Taliban, which agreed to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula with the Afghan government. Diplomats had told Reuters that the talks got off to a difficult start, with disagreements over how the Hanafi Islamic code could be used to guide negotiations and on whether the deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February should be the basis for the talks, as demanded by the Taliban. The three sources said the delegations were putting those differences to one side to move forward and agree on an agenda, but would work on resolving these issues during negotiations. "The ground rules will serve as a foundation as both sides are making an effort to prevent a collapse," said a second senior official in Doha overseeing the talks. A ceasefire is a top priority for the Afghan officials and the western diplomats who are facilitating these talks. While the talks have been taking place in Qatar's capital Doha, scores of Afghan soldiers and Taliban fighters have been killed in clashes. Dozens of civilians have also died in recent weeks. Some analysts say the Taliban is unlikely to agree a comprehensive ceasefire yet, since violence and clashes with Afghan forces give insurgents leverage at the negotiation table.

Taliban, Afghan negotiators set ground rules to safeguard peace talks: Sources

Senior Afghan peace official Abdullah Abdullah arrived in Pakistan on Monday for meetings in a country seen as vital to the success of Afghan talks aimed at ending decades of war.

Afghan official Abdullah Abdullah in Pakistan for talks on peace bid

Senior Afghan peace official&nbsp;Abdullah&nbsp;Abdullah&nbsp;arrived in Pakistan on Monday for meetings in a country seen as vital to the success of Afghan talks aimed at ending decades of war.

During his three-day visit to Islamabad,&nbsp;Abdullah, a former foreign minister and chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as Pakistan's foreign minister.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been rocky. Afghanistan and its international allies have for years accused Pakistan of backing Taliban insurgents as a way to limit the influence of old rival India in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies that and in turn accuses Afghanistan of letting anti-Pakistan militants plot attacks from Afghan soil, which Afghanistan denies.

"Pakistan fully supports all efforts for peace," its foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.

"The visit of Dr&nbsp;Abdullah&nbsp;Abdullah&nbsp;will contribute to further strengthening amity, brotherhood and close cooperation."

The United States has acknowledged Pakistan's help in fostering Afghan peace efforts including in encouraging the Taliban to negotiate.

The US&nbsp;special representative for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said last week the United States and its allies were looking at an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan so that neither side's territory would be used to attack the other.

Khalilzad was the architect of a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing US&nbsp;troops to withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban guarantees on international terrorism.

But Prime Minister Khan, in an opinion piece in the Washington Post on Saturday, expressed concern that Afghanistan could again be used as a haven for international militant groups and warned that a "hasty international withdrawal from Afghanistan would be unwise".

There have also been concerns that the Afghan peace process could increase militancy in Pakistan as fighters now in Afghanistan seek refuge on the Pakistani side of the border.

Afghan and Taliban negotiators have been meeting in Doha since Sept. 12 hoping to agree on a ceasefire and a power-sharing deal.

But they have been bogged down on principles and procedures for talks even before discussing their agenda.

Senior Afghan peace official Abdullah Abdullah arrived in Pakistan on Monday for meetings in a country seen as vital to the success of Afghan talks aimed at ending decades of war. During his three-day visit to Islamabad, Abdullah, a former foreign minister and chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as Pakistan's foreign minister. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been rocky. Afghanistan and its international allies have for years accused Pakistan of backing Taliban insurgents as a way to limit the influence of old rival India in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies that and in turn accuses Afghanistan of letting anti-Pakistan militants plot attacks from Afghan soil, which Afghanistan denies. "Pakistan fully supports all efforts for peace," its foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement. "The visit of Dr Abdullah Abdullah will contribute to further strengthening amity, brotherhood and close cooperation." The United States has acknowledged Pakistan's help in fostering Afghan peace efforts including in encouraging the Taliban to negotiate. The US special representative for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said last week the United States and its allies were looking at an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan so that neither side's territory would be used to attack the other. Khalilzad was the architect of a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban guarantees on international terrorism. But Prime Minister Khan, in an opinion piece in the Washington Post on Saturday, expressed concern that Afghanistan could again be used as a haven for international militant groups and warned that a "hasty international withdrawal from Afghanistan would be unwise". There have also been concerns that the Afghan peace process could increase militancy in Pakistan as fighters now in Afghanistan seek refuge on the Pakistani side of the border. Afghan and Taliban negotiators have been meeting in Doha since Sept. 12 hoping to agree on a ceasefire and a power-sharing deal. But they have been bogged down on principles and procedures for talks even before discussing their agenda.

Afghan official Abdullah in Pakistan for talks on peace bid

Afghan negotiators and senior officials were set to fly to Doha on Thursday ahead of planned peace talks with the Taliban, after coming to a compromise over the release of prisoners that was holding up the talks, diplomatic and government sources said.

All but seven of the 5,000 prisoners whose release the Taliban demanded have been freed, a source in the government-appointed peace council and a diplomatic source in Kabul said. Both the government and the Taliban declined comment.

It was not immediately clear when the talks would start, but a government source said they could begin as soon as Saturday.

Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, the chief of the government-mandated negotiation team, said in a tweet that his group would "soon" start peace talks.

The United States-brokered negotiations have been stalled for months as the Taliban demanded the release of 5,000 of its prisoners as a pre-condition.

The release of the final batch of 400 prisoners has been debated for weeks since the government blamed them for some of the worst violence in the country. They included a small number of prisoners whose release was objected to by Western powers, including France and Australia, due to their involvement in attacks on foreign forces.

The plan was for the seven remaining prisoners to be transferred to Doha where they would be kept under supervision, five sources told Reuters.

"These seven prisoners were members of the Afghan National Security Forces who were arrested on charges of `green on blue` attacks. They will be shifted to Doha," said an Afghan official.

The United States has been trying to broker peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end 19 years of war since Washington signed a troop withdrawal deal with the insurgent group in February. 
&nbsp;

Afghan negotiators and senior officials were set to fly to Doha on Thursday ahead of planned peace talks with the Taliban, after coming to a compromise over the release of prisoners that was holding up the talks, diplomatic and government sources said.

Afghan negotiators and senior officials were set to fly to Doha on Thursday ahead of planned peace talks with the Taliban, after coming to a compromise over the release of prisoners that was holding up the talks, diplomatic and government sources said. All but seven of the 5,000 prisoners whose release the Taliban demanded have been freed, a source in the government-appointed peace council and a diplomatic source in Kabul said. Both the government and the Taliban declined comment. It was not immediately clear when the talks would start, but a government source said they could begin as soon as Saturday. Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, the chief of the government-mandated negotiation team, said in a tweet that his group would "soon" start peace talks. The United States-brokered negotiations have been stalled for months as the Taliban demanded the release of 5,000 of its prisoners as a pre-condition. The release of the final batch of 400 prisoners has been debated for weeks since the government blamed them for some of the worst violence in the country. They included a small number of prisoners whose release was objected to by Western powers, including France and Australia, due to their involvement in attacks on foreign forces. The plan was for the seven remaining prisoners to be transferred to Doha where they would be kept under supervision, five sources told Reuters. "These seven prisoners were members of the Afghan National Security Forces who were arrested on charges of `green on blue` attacks. They will be shifted to Doha," said an Afghan official. The United States has been trying to broker peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end 19 years of war since Washington signed a troop withdrawal deal with the insurgent group in February.

Afghan officials to travel for talks with Taliban after agreement on prisoners - sources

Afghan authorities have resumed a controversial release of Taliban inmates, a&nbsp;spokesman said Tuesday, marking an important step toward breaking an impasse that has delayed the start of peace talks for months.

Negotiations were supposed to begin in March but were repeatedly pushed back as the Taliban and the Afghan government squabbled over the prisoner exchange, which included hundreds of battle-hardened terrorists.&nbsp;

"Our prisoners have been released and we see this as a positive step that paves the ground for the start of intra-Afghan talks," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP late Tuesday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-attacked-a-military-base-in-afghanistan-killing-three-324428" hreflang="en">Taliban attacked a military base in Afghanistan, killing three</a>

Another Taliban official from the group's prison commission said 200 prisoners had been released by Kabul since Monday.&nbsp;

He said in return for their prisoners, the militants had released four Afghan commandos who had been held captive, adding that two more would be freed on Wednesday.

A senior Afghan government official told AFP on condition of anonymity that "dozens" of Taliban prisoners had been released on Monday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-boost-for-intra-afghan-talks-ghani-approves-48-reconciliation-council-members-324048" hreflang="en">In boost for intra-Afghan talks, Ghani approves 48 reconciliation council members</a>

"The remaining prisoners will be released within a couple of days," he said.

Eight of the freed Taliban prisoners were paraded in front of local media in Kandahar, the insurgent bastion.

Final 400 prisoners&nbsp;

Under the terms of a US-Taliban deal in February, Kabul was supposed to free 5,000 militants and the Taliban were meant to free 1,000 Afghan troops.&nbsp;

Both sides met most of their obligations, but Kabul had balked at the release of a final 400 inmates who President Ashraf Ghani himself said were "a danger to the world".

On August 9 thousands of prominent Afghans approved the release of these 400 prisoners, which included many prisoners who had carried out brutal attacks against Afghans and foreigners.

Their release was opposed by officials in Paris and Canberra because those on the list included militants tied to the killing of French and Australian civilians and troops in&nbsp;Afghanistan.

It was not immediately clear if those insurgents were among the prisoners freed since Monday.

Washington has pushed for the release of the imprisoned terrorists.

US President Donald Trump has made ending the war in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;and bringing US troops back home a foreign policy priority of his administration.

The Taliban have said they are willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are freed, and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations so far.

Afghanistan's State Ministry for Peace Affairs said on Tuesday that authorities had taken all efforts to ensure that peace talks begin soon.

"These efforts have put us closer than ever to the start of direct talks," Najia Anwari, spokeswoman to the ministry, told AFP.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, hailed the resumption of the prisoner release on Twitter as "a positive step" towards peace in&nbsp;Afghanistan.

"I hope necessary steps will be taken to pave the way for intra-Afghan talks and that delegations from both sides will meet very soon," he tweeted.

Afghan authorities have resumed a controversial release of Taliban inmates, a spokesman said Tuesday, marking an important step toward breaking an impasse that has delayed the start of peace talks for months.

Afghan authorities have resumed a controversial release of Taliban inmates, a spokesman said Tuesday, marking an important step toward breaking an impasse that has delayed the start of peace talks for months. Negotiations were supposed to begin in March but were repeatedly pushed back as the Taliban and the Afghan government squabbled over the prisoner exchange, which included hundreds of battle-hardened terrorists. "Our prisoners have been released and we see this as a positive step that paves the ground for the start of intra-Afghan talks," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP late Tuesday. Also read: Taliban attacked a military base in Afghanistan, killing three Another Taliban official from the group's prison commission said 200 prisoners had been released by Kabul since Monday. He said in return for their prisoners, the militants had released four Afghan commandos who had been held captive, adding that two more would be freed on Wednesday. A senior Afghan government official told AFP on condition of anonymity that "dozens" of Taliban prisoners had been released on Monday. Also read: In boost for intra-Afghan talks, Ghani approves 48 reconciliation council members "The remaining prisoners will be released within a couple of days," he said. Eight of the freed Taliban prisoners were paraded in front of local media in Kandahar, the insurgent bastion. Final 400 prisoners Under the terms of a US-Taliban deal in February, Kabul was supposed to free 5,000 militants and the Taliban were meant to free 1,000 Afghan troops. Both sides met most of their obligations, but Kabul had balked at the release of a final 400 inmates who President Ashraf Ghani himself said were "a danger to the world". On August 9 thousands of prominent Afghans approved the release of these 400 prisoners, which included many prisoners who had carried out brutal attacks against Afghans and foreigners. Their release was opposed by officials in Paris and Canberra because those on the list included militants tied to the killing of French and Australian civilians and troops in Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear if those insurgents were among the prisoners freed since Monday. Washington has pushed for the release of the imprisoned terrorists. US President Donald Trump has made ending the war in Afghanistan and bringing US troops back home a foreign policy priority of his administration. The Taliban have said they are willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are freed, and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations so far. Afghanistan's State Ministry for Peace Affairs said on Tuesday that authorities had taken all efforts to ensure that peace talks begin soon. "These efforts have put us closer than ever to the start of direct talks," Najia Anwari, spokeswoman to the ministry, told AFP. Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, hailed the resumption of the prisoner release on Twitter as "a positive step" towards peace in Afghanistan. "I hope necessary steps will be taken to pave the way for intra-Afghan talks and that delegations from both sides will meet very soon," he tweeted.

Kabul resumes Taliban prisoner release, says spokesman Suhail Shaheen

A delegation from the Afghan Taliban is arriving in Pakistan to discuss the ongoing peace process with the Pakistani leadership

Afghan Taliban visit Pakistan to discuss peace process

Afghan authorities and the Taliban have hit an impasse over the planned release of hundreds of insurgents after opposition from some foreign governments, officials said Monday, apparently stalling peace talks.

The negotiations were expected to begin within days after prominent Afghans met in Kabul on August 9 and approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners -- including many involved in deadly attacks -- removing a crucial precondition to talks.

While Afghan authorities freed 80 Taliban prisoners on Thursday, there have been no further releases since then.

"There is no plan to release any prisoner today also," an official with the country's National Security Council told AFP on Monday.

President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said "two countries had shared their concerns and reservations" about six or seven prisoners among the 400.

"The Afghan government is working with its partners to address the concerns about these prisoners," he told reporters.

Sediqqi did not name the countries, but Paris and Canberra have objected to the release of several insurgents accused of killing French and Australian nationals and soldiers.

Bettina Goislard, a French employee of the UN's refugee agency, was murdered by two Taliban militants in 2003, and a former Afghan soldier killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province.

France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers," the foreign ministry said Saturday.

"We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week said he had lobbied against the release of a former Afghan army soldier who went rogue and killed three Australian partners.

Ghani himself has warned that the 400 militants were a "danger to the world".

Their release is part of a prisoner swap agreed in February between the Taliban and Washington as a precondition for peace talks.

That deal stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held by the militants.

Afghan authorities say they too have released almost all prisoners, except those remaining from the 400.

The Taliban claim to have released all the 1,000 captives, but Sediqqi said the insurgents were still holding some Afghan soldiers.

"They should have completed this release by now. This exchange cannot be a one-way road," Sediqqi said, adding Taliban violence remained "very high".

The Taliban have said they are willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are freed, and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations.

"The matter is stalled because the other side is not releasing the remaining prisoners despite promises," Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP.

Washington has pushed for the release of the militants.

Afghan authorities and the Taliban have hit an impasse over the planned release of hundreds of insurgents after opposition from some foreign governments, officials said Monday, apparently stalling peace talks.

Afghan authorities and the Taliban have hit an impasse over the planned release of hundreds of insurgents after opposition from some foreign governments, officials said Monday, apparently stalling peace talks. The negotiations were expected to begin within days after prominent Afghans met in Kabul on August 9 and approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners -- including many involved in deadly attacks -- removing a crucial precondition to talks. While Afghan authorities freed 80 Taliban prisoners on Thursday, there have been no further releases since then. "There is no plan to release any prisoner today also," an official with the country's National Security Council told AFP on Monday. President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said "two countries had shared their concerns and reservations" about six or seven prisoners among the 400. "The Afghan government is working with its partners to address the concerns about these prisoners," he told reporters. Sediqqi did not name the countries, but Paris and Canberra have objected to the release of several insurgents accused of killing French and Australian nationals and soldiers. Bettina Goislard, a French employee of the UN's refugee agency, was murdered by two Taliban militants in 2003, and a former Afghan soldier killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province. France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers," the foreign ministry said Saturday. "We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week said he had lobbied against the release of a former Afghan army soldier who went rogue and killed three Australian partners. Ghani himself has warned that the 400 militants were a "danger to the world". Their release is part of a prisoner swap agreed in February between the Taliban and Washington as a precondition for peace talks. That deal stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held by the militants. Afghan authorities say they too have released almost all prisoners, except those remaining from the 400. The Taliban claim to have released all the 1,000 captives, but Sediqqi said the insurgents were still holding some Afghan soldiers. "They should have completed this release by now. This exchange cannot be a one-way road," Sediqqi said, adding Taliban violence remained "very high". The Taliban have said they are willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are freed, and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations. "The matter is stalled because the other side is not releasing the remaining prisoners despite promises," Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP. Washington has pushed for the release of the militants.

Start of Afghan talks uncertain as prisoner release stalls

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;on Wednesday said he warned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that there would be "an enormous price to pay" if Moscow is offering bounties to kill US&nbsp;soldiers or other Western troops in Afghanistan.

Pompeo’s warning is the first known rebuke from a senior American official to Russia over the bounties program, and it runs counter to President Trump’s insistence that the intelligence from US&nbsp;government agencies over the matter is a “hoax.”

The New York Times in June reported that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan, including American troops, citing US&nbsp;intelligence officials.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pompeo-warns-russia-against-bounties-on-us-soldiers-320174/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

President Donald Trump said he was not told about the information because many US&nbsp;intelligence officials doubted its veracity, although several US&nbsp;and European sources contradicted his comments.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Zakharova?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zakharova</a> 💬In a 📞telephone conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecPompeo</a>, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov referred to allegations of “collusion between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russian</a> special services and the Taliban” as malicious speculation, and asked <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Washington?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Washington</a> for evidence, but nothing was provided. <a href="https://t.co/cHTaEr7sDX">pic.twitter.com/cHTaEr7sDX</a>
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1293910144376430592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;declined to say whether he believed the intelligence was credible or if he thought Trump should have been briefed, but said Washington would not put up with such behavior.

Also read-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-briefed-because-russia-bounty-reports-uncorroborated-white-house-309949">Trump not briefed because Russia bounty reports uncorroborated: White House</a>

"If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans, or for that matter other Westerns as well, there will be an enormous price to pay. That's what I shared with foreign minister Lavrov,"&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said in the interview, conducted during his official visit to the Czech Republic.

"I know our military has talked to their senior leaders as well. We won't brook that, we won't tolerate,"&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said.

Last month, US and European sources familiar with intelligence reporting said that the United States had acquired fresh reporting backing up the allegations that Russia had encouraged Taliban-affiliated militants to kill US and allied soldiers in Afghanistan.

The intelligence reporting comes as the United States has been engaged in negotiating with the Taliban as well as the Afghan government to get a stalled peace agreement, struck in February for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, moving.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said he warned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that there would be "an enormous price to pay" if Moscow is offering bounties to kill US soldiers or other Western troops in Afghanistan.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said he warned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that there would be "an enormous price to pay" if Moscow is offering bounties to kill US soldiers or other Western troops in Afghanistan. Pompeo’s warning is the first known rebuke from a senior American official to Russia over the bounties program, and it runs counter to President Trump’s insistence that the intelligence from US government agencies over the matter is a “hoax.” The New York Times in June reported that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan, including American troops, citing US intelligence officials. President Donald Trump said he was not told about the information because many US intelligence officials doubted its veracity, although several US and European sources contradicted his comments. #Zakharova 💬In a 📞telephone conversation with @SecPompeo, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov referred to allegations of “collusion between #Russian special services and the Taliban” as malicious speculation, and asked #Washington for evidence, but nothing was provided. pic.twitter.com/cHTaEr7sDX — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) August 13, 2020 × In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Pompeo declined to say whether he believed the intelligence was credible or if he thought Trump should have been briefed, but said Washington would not put up with such behavior. Also read-Trump not briefed because Russia bounty reports uncorroborated: White House "If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans, or for that matter other Westerns as well, there will be an enormous price to pay. That's what I shared with foreign minister Lavrov," Pompeo said in the interview, conducted during his official visit to the Czech Republic. "I know our military has talked to their senior leaders as well. We won't brook that, we won't tolerate," Pompeo said. Last month, US and European sources familiar with intelligence reporting said that the United States had acquired fresh reporting backing up the allegations that Russia had encouraged Taliban-affiliated militants to kill US and allied soldiers in Afghanistan. The intelligence reporting comes as the United States has been engaged in negotiating with the Taliban as well as the Afghan government to get a stalled peace agreement, struck in February for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, moving.

If Russians offer money to kill Americans, there will be enormous price to pay: Pompeo

Ahead of an upcoming release of Taliban detainees held in Afghan prisons, the insurgent group warned the government in Kabul on Tuesday against any attacks on those released, saying such incidents would jeopardise the peace talks.

A Taliban spokesman said there have been at least 11 such attacks in the past several months&nbsp;instances when freed Taliban figures were killed, harassed and re-arrested by government forces.

Kabul officials denied unwarranted attacks on freed Taliban. The prisoner release is part of a deal the insurgents signed with the United States earlier this year. A final 400 Taliban prisoners remain in government prisons.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-president-signs-off-on-taliban-prisoner-release-peace-talks-expected-in-days-319572" hreflang="en">Afghan president signs off on Taliban prisoner release</a>

Over the weekend in Kabul, an Afghan traditional council, known as the Loya Jirga, agreed to free the final 400 imprisoned Taliban, paving the way for an early start to negotiations between Afghanistan's warring sides.

The council agreed to an immediate release of Taliban prisoners but by Tuesday, they had not been freed. Negotiations between Kabul's political leadership and the Taliban are expected to begin within weeks and will be held in the Mideast state of Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. The Taliban said the talks could begin within a week of the final prisoner releases.

Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen warned that attacks on newly freed prisoners will drive them back to the battlefield despite orders from their leaders to stay at home, with their families.&nbsp;Attacks on their homes will ?make it impossible for them to stay in their homes," Shaheen said.

''Such incidents have happened that they have been re-arrested and also killed," she added.

In recent months, both sides have freed prisoners in line with the deal the Taliban signed with Washington on February 29 to bring an end to decades of war. The government was to free 5,000&nbsp;and has already released all but the last 400. The Taliban freed the 1,000 members of the government forces and Afghan officials they had held captive.

Ahead of an upcoming release of Taliban detainees held in Afghan prisons, the insurgent group warned the government in Kabul on Tuesday against any attacks on those released, saying such incidents would jeopardise the peace talks.

Ahead of an upcoming release of Taliban detainees held in Afghan prisons, the insurgent group warned the government in Kabul on Tuesday against any attacks on those released, saying such incidents would jeopardise the peace talks. A Taliban spokesman said there have been at least 11 such attacks in the past several months instances when freed Taliban figures were killed, harassed and re-arrested by government forces. Kabul officials denied unwarranted attacks on freed Taliban. The prisoner release is part of a deal the insurgents signed with the United States earlier this year. A final 400 Taliban prisoners remain in government prisons. Also read: Afghan president signs off on Taliban prisoner release Over the weekend in Kabul, an Afghan traditional council, known as the Loya Jirga, agreed to free the final 400 imprisoned Taliban, paving the way for an early start to negotiations between Afghanistan's warring sides. The council agreed to an immediate release of Taliban prisoners but by Tuesday, they had not been freed. Negotiations between Kabul's political leadership and the Taliban are expected to begin within weeks and will be held in the Mideast state of Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. The Taliban said the talks could begin within a week of the final prisoner releases. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen warned that attacks on newly freed prisoners will drive them back to the battlefield despite orders from their leaders to stay at home, with their families. Attacks on their homes will ?make it impossible for them to stay in their homes," Shaheen said. ''Such incidents have happened that they have been re-arrested and also killed," she added. In recent months, both sides have freed prisoners in line with the deal the Taliban signed with Washington on February 29 to bring an end to decades of war. The government was to free 5,000 and has already released all but the last 400. The Taliban freed the 1,000 members of the government forces and Afghan officials they had held captive.

Taliban warn against attacks on freed prisoners going home

A ceasefire between the Afghan government and Taliban was held for the third and final day on Sunday after hundreds of militant prisoners released in a bid to bring peace talks closer.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/is-intel-chief-reportedly-killed-in-afghanistan-317607" hreflang="en">IS intel chief reportedly killed in Afghanistan</a>

The truce began on Friday to mark Eil al-Adha and country witnessed no clashes between the two forces since the ceasefire began.&nbsp;

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and Taliban have hinted that the negotiations could resume after Eid.&nbsp;

"This Eid feels different, parks are full with people... you almost forget that there has been a war in this country for 40 years," said Shahpoor Shadab, a resident from the eastern city of Jalalabad.

The is &nbsp;only the third official halt in fighting in nearly two decades of conflict. Resdients in Zabul province recited poeams in order to make the ceasefire permanent.

"Peace is everybody's need and aspiration," said Sardar Wali, who took part in the poetry session.

"This is a great opportunity to extend the ceasefire today and start intra-Afghan talks tomorrow."

In February, US and Taliban signed a deal which slated the "intra-Afghan" talks on March. But these talks were delayed amid political infighting in Kabul and as a contentious prisoner swap dragged on.

The deal stipulated that Kabul would free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the Taliban.

The National Security Council said Sunday that a further 300 Taliban prisoners had been released since Friday, taking the total number of insurgents freed so far to just over 4,900.

According to the Taliban, their part of the exchange is fulfilled.&nbsp;

A ceasefire between the Afghan government and Taliban was held for the third and final day on Sunday after hundreds of militant prisoners released in a bid to bring peace talks closer.

A ceasefire between the Afghan government and Taliban was held for the third and final day on Sunday after hundreds of militant prisoners released in a bid to bring peace talks closer. Also read: IS intel chief reportedly killed in Afghanistan The truce began on Friday to mark Eil al-Adha and country witnessed no clashes between the two forces since the ceasefire began. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and Taliban have hinted that the negotiations could resume after Eid. "This Eid feels different, parks are full with people... you almost forget that there has been a war in this country for 40 years," said Shahpoor Shadab, a resident from the eastern city of Jalalabad. The is only the third official halt in fighting in nearly two decades of conflict. Resdients in Zabul province recited poeams in order to make the ceasefire permanent. "Peace is everybody's need and aspiration," said Sardar Wali, who took part in the poetry session. "This is a great opportunity to extend the ceasefire today and start intra-Afghan talks tomorrow." In February, US and Taliban signed a deal which slated the "intra-Afghan" talks on March. But these talks were delayed amid political infighting in Kabul and as a contentious prisoner swap dragged on. The deal stipulated that Kabul would free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the Taliban. The National Security Council said Sunday that a further 300 Taliban prisoners had been released since Friday, taking the total number of insurgents freed so far to just over 4,900. According to the Taliban, their part of the exchange is fulfilled.

Afghan ceasefire holds for third day as hundreds of Taliban prisoners freed

For 16-year-old&nbsp;Negin&nbsp;Afshar, riding a motorbike around a dirt track in Kabul isn't just about the excitement. It is also a way to show that Afghan women can be tough too in a country where concerns are growing that hard-earned rights might be lost.

Encouraged by her parents,&nbsp;Afshar&nbsp;took up motocross about a year ago after having competed for Afghanistan in athletics when she was younger.

Wearing a white helmet and black and red motorbike suit, she trains with male riders on a barren lot surrounded by warehouses and private homes.

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"When I saw the men motorcycling here, I decided to pursue motocross to inspire Afghan women and show that they can do this tough sport as well,"&nbsp;Afshar&nbsp;said during a break from practice.

"I tried to be one of the first women to take this path, and I hope we can encourage others as well."

She and her mother worry that pursuing her passion may not be so easy in future, with the hardline Islamist Taliban movement bidding for a share of power in a country where it has led a ruthless insurgency since 2001.

When the group ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, girls were not allowed to attend school, women could not work and they had to wear all-enveloping burqas when they left their homes.

In recent months the Taliban has projected itself as more moderate, as it seeks to turn battlefield gains into formal recognition. Talks with a government-mandated committee remain stalled amid violence and mutual suspicion.

Asked whether she was concerned about the rights of girls and women being eroded should the Taliban return to power,&nbsp;Afshar&nbsp;replied:

"God willing, this will not happen, because our government will not allow the Taliban to do so ... If they want to violate our rights, we will stand against them and resist. I will not leave my country, and I want to stay here and serve my country."

Her mother, Frishta&nbsp;Afshar, head of the women's committee of the National Motorcycling Federation of Afghanistan, agreed.

"Some people do not agree with this, and they have a negative view, while others agree and encourage," she said. "In any case, my husband and I will support her as much as we can, and we want to take&nbsp;Negin&nbsp;to the highest peaks of success."

For the time being, such dreams are on hold.

Sayed Nabiullah Sadat, the motorcycling federation's president, said the motocross team had been invited to competitions in Iran and Malaysia, but the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted those plans.

For 16-year-old Negin Afshar, riding a motorbike around a dirt track in Kabul isn't just about the excitement. It is also a way to show that Afghan women can be tough too in a country where concerns are growing that hard-earned rights might be lost.

For 16-year-old Negin Afshar, riding a motorbike around a dirt track in Kabul isn't just about the excitement. It is also a way to show that Afghan women can be tough too in a country where concerns are growing that hard-earned rights might be lost. Encouraged by her parents, Afshar took up motocross about a year ago after having competed for Afghanistan in athletics when she was younger. Wearing a white helmet and black and red motorbike suit, she trains with male riders on a barren lot surrounded by warehouses and private homes. "When I saw the men motorcycling here, I decided to pursue motocross to inspire Afghan women and show that they can do this tough sport as well," Afshar said during a break from practice. "I tried to be one of the first women to take this path, and I hope we can encourage others as well." She and her mother worry that pursuing her passion may not be so easy in future, with the hardline Islamist Taliban movement bidding for a share of power in a country where it has led a ruthless insurgency since 2001. When the group ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, girls were not allowed to attend school, women could not work and they had to wear all-enveloping burqas when they left their homes. In recent months the Taliban has projected itself as more moderate, as it seeks to turn battlefield gains into formal recognition. Talks with a government-mandated committee remain stalled amid violence and mutual suspicion. Asked whether she was concerned about the rights of girls and women being eroded should the Taliban return to power, Afshar replied: "God willing, this will not happen, because our government will not allow the Taliban to do so ... If they want to violate our rights, we will stand against them and resist. I will not leave my country, and I want to stay here and serve my country." Her mother, Frishta Afshar, head of the women's committee of the National Motorcycling Federation of Afghanistan, agreed. "Some people do not agree with this, and they have a negative view, while others agree and encourage," she said. "In any case, my husband and I will support her as much as we can, and we want to take Negin to the highest peaks of success." For the time being, such dreams are on hold. Sayed Nabiullah Sadat, the motorcycling federation's president, said the motocross team had been invited to competitions in Iran and Malaysia, but the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted those plans.

Afghan girl takes up motocross and champions women's rights

Afghanistan's Islamist Taliban militants announced on Tuesday that they will observe a three-day ceasefire for the Muslim religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, starting Friday, offering some respite from weeks of increasing violence.

Disagreements over a prisoner exchange and the violence have delayed peace talks between an Afghan government-mandated committee and the Taliban, as envisaged in an agreement signed between the United States and the militant group in Doha in February.

"In order for our people to spend the three days of Eid in confidence and happiness, all fighters are instructed not to carry out any operations," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted.

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Statement of Islamic Emirate regarding ceasefire during Eid-ul-Adha<a href="https://t.co/ENVPKeiuUM">https://t.co/ENVPKeiuUM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FhAWiKXeQq">pic.twitter.com/FhAWiKXeQq</a>
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1288121256881975298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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However, he added that if Taliban fighters come under attack from government forces, they will retaliate.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-push-to-control-private-companies-aid-agencies-in-afghanistan-316358" hreflang="en">Taliban push to control private companies, aid agencies in Afghanistan</a>

The Afghan president's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said the government welcomed the ceasefire announcement but added that Afghans wanted enduring peace and the start of direct peace negotiations.

Since the US-Taliban agreement, 3,560 Afghan security forces personnel have been killed in attacks by militants, President Ashraf Ghani said in a speech on Tuesday.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;(UNAMA) said in a report on Monday that more than 1,280 Afghan civilians had been killed in the first six months of the year, mainly as a result of fighting between Afghan government forces and the Taliban.

The US&nbsp;State Department said last week that US&nbsp;Special Representative for&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;Zalmay Khalilzad would travel to the region to push for an agreement on prisoner exchanges and a reduction in violence.

Afghanistan's Islamist Taliban militants announced on Tuesday that they will observe a three-day ceasefire for the Muslim religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, starting Friday, offering some respite from weeks of increasing violence.

Afghanistan's Islamist Taliban militants announced on Tuesday that they will observe a three-day ceasefire for the Muslim religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, starting Friday, offering some respite from weeks of increasing violence. Disagreements over a prisoner exchange and the violence have delayed peace talks between an Afghan government-mandated committee and the Taliban, as envisaged in an agreement signed between the United States and the militant group in Doha in February. "In order for our people to spend the three days of Eid in confidence and happiness, all fighters are instructed not to carry out any operations," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted. Statement of Islamic Emirate regarding ceasefire during Eid-ul-Adhahttps://t.co/ENVPKeiuUM pic.twitter.com/FhAWiKXeQq — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) July 28, 2020 × However, he added that if Taliban fighters come under attack from government forces, they will retaliate. Also read: Taliban push to control private companies, aid agencies in Afghanistan The Afghan president's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said the government welcomed the ceasefire announcement but added that Afghans wanted enduring peace and the start of direct peace negotiations. Since the US-Taliban agreement, 3,560 Afghan security forces personnel have been killed in attacks by militants, President Ashraf Ghani said in a speech on Tuesday. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report on Monday that more than 1,280 Afghan civilians had been killed in the first six months of the year, mainly as a result of fighting between Afghan government forces and the Taliban. The US State Department said last week that US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad would travel to the region to push for an agreement on prisoner exchanges and a reduction in violence.

Taliban declare three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan for Eid al-Adha

Gunmen opened fire in a mosque in central Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, killing eight worshippers breaking their Ramzan fast and wounding five others, officials said.

"Unknown gunmen fired on people praying inside a mosque during iftar time," said Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan province, referring to the meal eaten to break daytime fasting during the Islamic holy month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rise-in-civilian-deaths-by-taliban-and-afghan-forces-says-un-299642" hreflang="en">Rise in civilian deaths by Taliban and Afghan forces, says UN</a>

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the attack in Parwan's provincial capital Charekar, blaming it on the insurgent Taliban. The Taliban denied responsibility and said Afghan security forces were to blame.

The United Nations has warned of an alarming uptick in violence against civilians in Afghanistan. A shocking attack on a Kabul maternity ward last week killed 24 people, including newborn babies.

Violence increased around the country even after a February&nbsp;29 US-Taliban pact on the withdrawal of US.-led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees.

Afghan security forces on Tuesday clashed with Taliban fighters around the city of Kunduz, a strategically important centre that has been one of the Taliban`s main targets and which the group has briefly captured twice in recent years.

Security forces largely repelled the Taliban offensive with the help of air support and Assadullah Khalid, acting minister of defence, said during a visit to the city that more than 50 insurgents and eight security force members had been killed.

The Taliban have rejected repeated calls for a ceasefire by the Afghan government. They deny any involvement in the maternity ward attack and the United States believes the Islamic State was responsible.

The United States has sent special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to Doha and Kabul to press the Afghan government and the Taliban to start stalled peace talks. Khalilzad has said he will push for a reduction in violence during the trip.

Gunmen opened fire in a mosque in central Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, killing eight worshippers breaking their Ramzan fast and wounding five others, officials said.

Gunmen opened fire in a mosque in central Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, killing eight worshippers breaking their Ramzan fast and wounding five others, officials said. "Unknown gunmen fired on people praying inside a mosque during iftar time," said Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan province, referring to the meal eaten to break daytime fasting during the Islamic holy month. Also read: Rise in civilian deaths by Taliban and Afghan forces, says UN The Ministry of Interior confirmed the attack in Parwan's provincial capital Charekar, blaming it on the insurgent Taliban. The Taliban denied responsibility and said Afghan security forces were to blame. The United Nations has warned of an alarming uptick in violence against civilians in Afghanistan. A shocking attack on a Kabul maternity ward last week killed 24 people, including newborn babies. Violence increased around the country even after a February 29 US-Taliban pact on the withdrawal of US.-led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees. Afghan security forces on Tuesday clashed with Taliban fighters around the city of Kunduz, a strategically important centre that has been one of the Taliban`s main targets and which the group has briefly captured twice in recent years. Security forces largely repelled the Taliban offensive with the help of air support and Assadullah Khalid, acting minister of defence, said during a visit to the city that more than 50 insurgents and eight security force members had been killed. The Taliban have rejected repeated calls for a ceasefire by the Afghan government. They deny any involvement in the maternity ward attack and the United States believes the Islamic State was responsible. The United States has sent special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to Doha and Kabul to press the Afghan government and the Taliban to start stalled peace talks. Khalilzad has said he will push for a reduction in violence during the trip.

Afghan mosque attack kills eight worshippers breaking Ramzan fast

There has been a surge in violence in Afghanistan. Around 40 lives were lost in two terror attacks on Tuesday. To be precise, six attacks have taken place in Afghanistan in the last 48 hours.

On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a government hospital in Kabul and killed at least a dozen people. According to reports, the attack was aimed at expats.

The hospital houses a maternity clinic supported by doctors without borders. The hospital is located in Dashti Barchi which is mostly inhabited by the minority Shia community. Dashti Barchi has been targeted by the Islamic State in the past.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for this attack. Meanwhile, Islamic State militants are known to operate in the province.

Hours before the hospital seize, a suicide attacker detonated himself at a funeral at Khewa district of the Nangarhar province. The suicide attack killed at least 20 people.

The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack on the mourners gathered in Khewa district of Nangarhar province on the border with Pakistan.

Several&nbsp;attacks in the capital in recent months have been claimed by Islamic State. Islamic State fighters first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in around 2014.

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has carried out some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan over recent years.

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

There has been a surge in violence in Afghanistan. Around 40 lives were lost in two terror attacks on Tuesday. To be precise, six attacks have taken place in Afghanistan in the last 48 hours.

There has been a surge in violence in Afghanistan. Around 40 lives were lost in two terror attacks on Tuesday. To be precise, six attacks have taken place in Afghanistan in the last 48 hours. On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a government hospital in Kabul and killed at least a dozen people. According to reports, the attack was aimed at expats. The hospital houses a maternity clinic supported by doctors without borders. The hospital is located in Dashti Barchi which is mostly inhabited by the minority Shia community. Dashti Barchi has been targeted by the Islamic State in the past. No militant group has claimed responsibility for this attack. Meanwhile, Islamic State militants are known to operate in the province. Hours before the hospital seize, a suicide attacker detonated himself at a funeral at Khewa district of the Nangarhar province. The suicide attack killed at least 20 people. The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack on the mourners gathered in Khewa district of Nangarhar province on the border with Pakistan. Several attacks in the capital in recent months have been claimed by Islamic State. Islamic State fighters first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in around 2014. The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has carried out some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan over recent years. (With inputs from Reuters)

Afghanistan jolted by a series of terror attacks

&nbsp;The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said.

&nbsp;Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-rejects-taliban-demand-to-free-5000-prisoners-283605">Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani rejects Taliban demand to free 5,000 prisoners</a>

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will issue a decree for at least 1,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, Reuters reported on Monday, paving the way for opening direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/president-ghani-appeals-to-taliban-to-enter-negotiations-283988">&nbsp;President Ghani appeals to Taliban to enter negotiations</a>

A senior Taliban leader in Doha, the capital of Qatar where negotiations between the militants and US&nbsp;officials have taken place, said vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison to fetch the freed fighters.

The prisoner release is part of a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month that allows US&nbsp;forces and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan to end more than 18 years of war.

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The Taliban have demanded the release of the prisoners as a confidence-building measure.

Ghani, who was sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by US&nbsp;Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, had earlier rejected the Taliban demand for its fighters to be released.

"After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up," the senior Taliban leader said via phone from Doha.

It is unclear how many prisoners will be released immediately, but three other sources told Reuters on Monday that it could vary between 1,000 to 1,800. It was also unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram.

The US&nbsp;Embassy declined to comment. A spokesman for NATO's mission referred questions to the Afghan government.

The Taliban leader in Doha also confirmed the group had finalised arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by them, adding that they had shifted all prisoners to safe locations in Afghanistan.

"We are planning to release the 1,000 prisoners of the Afghan government to the Red Crescent and they could then shift them to their hometowns or pay them cash for travelling home," he said.

An official Taliban spokesman said he could not comment as he had yet to be informed of the plans.

The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said.

The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said. Also read: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani rejects Taliban demand to free 5,000 prisoners Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will issue a decree for at least 1,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, Reuters reported on Monday, paving the way for opening direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents. Also read: President Ghani appeals to Taliban to enter negotiations A senior Taliban leader in Doha, the capital of Qatar where negotiations between the militants and US officials have taken place, said vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison to fetch the freed fighters. The prisoner release is part of a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month that allows US forces and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan to end more than 18 years of war. × The Taliban have demanded the release of the prisoners as a confidence-building measure. Ghani, who was sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, had earlier rejected the Taliban demand for its fighters to be released. "After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up," the senior Taliban leader said via phone from Doha. It is unclear how many prisoners will be released immediately, but three other sources told Reuters on Monday that it could vary between 1,000 to 1,800. It was also unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram. The US Embassy declined to comment. A spokesman for NATO's mission referred questions to the Afghan government. The Taliban leader in Doha also confirmed the group had finalised arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by them, adding that they had shifted all prisoners to safe locations in Afghanistan. "We are planning to release the 1,000 prisoners of the Afghan government to the Red Crescent and they could then shift them to their hometowns or pay them cash for travelling home," he said. An official Taliban spokesman said he could not comment as he had yet to be informed of the plans.

Taliban wait for Afghan president to order release of fighters in prisoner swap

The US and the Taliban on Saturday signed a complex deal that aims to bring to an end to the longest war in America's history. Here are key elements of the hard-sought agreement, which took shape over more than a year of fractious negotiations.

The US and the Taliban on Saturday signed a complex deal that aims to bring to an end to the longest war in America's history. Here are key elements of the hard-sought agreement, which took shape over more than a year of fractious negotiations. Withdrawal Washington and its allies are set to withdraw all of their forces from Afghanistan within 14 months if the Taliban abide by the terms of the agreement. Initially, the US will draw its troop levels down to 8,600 within 135 days of Saturday's signing, while completely removing forces from five military bases. The US military currently has about 20 bases of varying sizes across Afghanistan, a US defence official said. If the deal continues to hold, then the US and its partners will complete the "withdrawal of all remaining forces from Afghanistan". In the future, the US will also refrain from threatening or using force against Afghanistan or intervening in its "domestic affairs". Afghan talks and ceasefire The deal also stipulates that talks between the Taliban and all "Afghan sides" will commence March 10. The exact makeup or who exactly will represent the Afghan team is not spelt out. The deal also says a ceasefire will only be an "item" on the agenda of the talks, falling short of making it a compulsory component. According to the agreement, the participants of the talks "will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire". Prisoner release The US and the Taliban also agreed to swap thousands of prisoners in a "confidence-building measure" set to coincide with the beginning of talks between the Taliban and the Afghan team. "Up to 5,000 prisoners of the (Taliban)... and 1,000 prisoners of the other side (Afghan forces) will be released by March 10." Sanctions The US also pledged to begin reviewing the current list of sanctions targeting Taliban leaders and members, with the goal of removing these measures by August 27, 2020. Washington said it would also start "diplomatic engagement" with members of the UN Security Council and the Kabul government to remove the Taliban from sanctions lists. Al-Qaeda The deal also calls on the Taliban to prevent groups, including Al-Qaeda, from using Afghanistan as a base to threaten the security of the US and its allies. The Taliban will prevent such groups from "recruiting, training and fundraising" and will not host them in Afghanistan, the accord states. It also bars the Taliban from providing them with travel and legal documents. The agreement does not specify that the Taliban publically disavow and officially cut ties with Al-Qaeda. Even so, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the Taliban in Doha on Saturday "to honour its commitments to sever ties with jihadist groups." Relations and reconstruction The deal concludes with the US and Taliban pledging to seek "positive" relations with each other, along with whatever government comes out of intra-Afghan talks. And the US promises to "seek economic cooperation" for the reconstruction of the war-torn country with the "new post-settlement" government in Kabul.

What's in the landmark US-Taliban deal?

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that it had obtained a confidential trove of government documents on how US officials misled Americans on the war in Afghanistan.

It reveals that US officials failed to tell the truth about the war in Afghanistan throughout the 18-year campaign.

The report said officials made rosy pronouncements they knew were false and hid "unmistakable evidence the war had become unwinnable. The report details how the Pentagon officials privately told a watchdog for years about their deep concerns about the US war strategy in Afghanistan, including senior officials who were publicly more hopeful.

The disclosure comes even as US President Donald Trump and the Pentagon look to draw down the number of forces in Afghanistan.

The report quotes a three-star army general as saying that the US was devoid of "fundamental understanding" of Afghanistan and that it didn't know what it was doing.

The general served as the White House's Afghan war czar during the presidencies of Geroge W. Bush and Barack Obama. In the report, the US general said that the United States didn’t have the foggiest notion of what it was undertaking in Afghanistan, blaming the deaths of US military personnel on bureaucratic breakdowns among the legislature and the government.

In public, however, the US military commanders throughout the war talked about how the conflict in Afghanistan was turning a corner, the report said.

The documents accessed by the Washington Post show US generals and officials acknowledging that the strategies for fighting the Afghan war were flawed and that the US wasted hundreds of billions of dollars trying to make Afghanistan into a stable, democratic nation.

The US and its allies had invaded Afghanistan 18 years ago to oust the Taliban from power for sheltering al-Qaeda leaders who were accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. The Afghan war is estimated to have killed more than 1,50,000 people, including civilians, insurgents, local and foreign troops.

The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 2,400 US military personnel and cost the US one trillion dollars.

The US and the Afghan-Taliban restarted peace negotiations on Saturday, three months after Trump abruptly stopped the year-long process aimed at finding a political settlement with the insurgent group and ending the war in Afghanistan.

The Afghan-born US special representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, led his team at a meeting on Saturday in Doha, where the Taliban negotiators are based. The draft agreement reached between the US and Taliban would have set the stage for a phased withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

In return, the Taliban had given certain guarantees and promised to engage in intra-Afghan peace negotiations to permanently end decades of hostilities in the country.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that it had obtained a confidential trove of government documents on how US officials misled Americans on the war in Afghanistan.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that it had obtained a confidential trove of government documents on how US officials misled Americans on the war in Afghanistan. It reveals that US officials failed to tell the truth about the war in Afghanistan throughout the 18-year campaign. The report said officials made rosy pronouncements they knew were false and hid "unmistakable evidence the war had become unwinnable. The report details how the Pentagon officials privately told a watchdog for years about their deep concerns about the US war strategy in Afghanistan, including senior officials who were publicly more hopeful. The disclosure comes even as US President Donald Trump and the Pentagon look to draw down the number of forces in Afghanistan. The report quotes a three-star army general as saying that the US was devoid of "fundamental understanding" of Afghanistan and that it didn't know what it was doing. The general served as the White House's Afghan war czar during the presidencies of Geroge W. Bush and Barack Obama. In the report, the US general said that the United States didn’t have the foggiest notion of what it was undertaking in Afghanistan, blaming the deaths of US military personnel on bureaucratic breakdowns among the legislature and the government. In public, however, the US military commanders throughout the war talked about how the conflict in Afghanistan was turning a corner, the report said. The documents accessed by the Washington Post show US generals and officials acknowledging that the strategies for fighting the Afghan war were flawed and that the US wasted hundreds of billions of dollars trying to make Afghanistan into a stable, democratic nation. The US and its allies had invaded Afghanistan 18 years ago to oust the Taliban from power for sheltering al-Qaeda leaders who were accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. The Afghan war is estimated to have killed more than 1,50,000 people, including civilians, insurgents, local and foreign troops. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 2,400 US military personnel and cost the US one trillion dollars. The US and the Afghan-Taliban restarted peace negotiations on Saturday, three months after Trump abruptly stopped the year-long process aimed at finding a political settlement with the insurgent group and ending the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan-born US special representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, led his team at a meeting on Saturday in Doha, where the Taliban negotiators are based. The draft agreement reached between the US and Taliban would have set the stage for a phased withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban had given certain guarantees and promised to engage in intra-Afghan peace negotiations to permanently end decades of hostilities in the country.

US officials misled Americans on war in Afghanistan: Report

President Ghani's spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi on Sunday said that the Taliban should accept United States' proposal for a ceasefire agreement as that will pave way for the direct talks between the group and the Afghan government.

This statement of the Afghan government comes after US President Donald Trump advocated a peace "owned by the Afghan government" during his Thursday visit at Bagram airfield.

"Our hope is that the Taliban will work to accept their (US) ceasefire. If they (Taliban) are really committed to giving up the war - in our opinion - the best opportunity is for them to accept that opportunity," Tolo News quoted Sediqqi as saying.

During his first and a surprise meeting to Afghanistan earlier this week, US President Donald Trump had said that the terms of the deal between Washington and the Taliban would have to include a Taliban ceasefire, adding that he thought the group would agree to it.

"The Taliban wants to make a deal and we're meeting with them and we're saying it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they do want to do a ceasefire. I believe it'll probably work out that way," he said.

Meanwhile, a former member of the Taliban has said that the group would not agree to a ceasefire agreement until it does not sign a peace deal with the US.

"The agreement will be signed first, then a ceasefire will be announced. The Taliban's big secret and reason for signing an agreement are to make sure that the group has a guarantee from the US - build trust and then declare a ceasefire," said Mawolana Jalaluddin Shinwari, a former member of the Taliban. 
&nbsp;

President Ghani's spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi on Sunday said that the Taliban should accept United States' proposal for a ceasefire agreement as that will pave way for the direct talks between the group and the Afghan government.

President Ghani's spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi on Sunday said that the Taliban should accept United States' proposal for a ceasefire agreement as that will pave way for the direct talks between the group and the Afghan government. This statement of the Afghan government comes after US President Donald Trump advocated a peace "owned by the Afghan government" during his Thursday visit at Bagram airfield. "Our hope is that the Taliban will work to accept their (US) ceasefire. If they (Taliban) are really committed to giving up the war - in our opinion - the best opportunity is for them to accept that opportunity," Tolo News quoted Sediqqi as saying. During his first and a surprise meeting to Afghanistan earlier this week, US President Donald Trump had said that the terms of the deal between Washington and the Taliban would have to include a Taliban ceasefire, adding that he thought the group would agree to it. "The Taliban wants to make a deal and we're meeting with them and we're saying it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they do want to do a ceasefire. I believe it'll probably work out that way," he said. Meanwhile, a former member of the Taliban has said that the group would not agree to a ceasefire agreement until it does not sign a peace deal with the US. "The agreement will be signed first, then a ceasefire will be announced. The Taliban's big secret and reason for signing an agreement are to make sure that the group has a guarantee from the US - build trust and then declare a ceasefire," said Mawolana Jalaluddin Shinwari, a former member of the Taliban.

Taliban should accept US proposal for ceasefire: Afghanistan government

The Taliban said on Friday they were ready to restart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trumps-statement-taliban-say-way-too-early-to-speak-of-resuming-talks-with-us-265242">peace talks with the United States</a>, a day after President Donald Trump visited US troops in Afghanistan and said he believed the radical group would agree to a ceasefire.

Trump's surprise Thanksgiving Day visit was his first to Afghanistan since becoming president and came a week after a prisoner swap between Washington and Kabul that raised hopes for a long-elusive peace deal to end the 18-year war.

"The Taliban wants to make a deal and we are meeting with them," Trump told reporters after arriving in Afghanistan on Thursday.

"We say it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they want to do a ceasefire, I believe. It will probably work out that way," he said.

Trump cancelled peace negotiations in September after the militant group claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul that killed 12 people, including an American soldier.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the hardline Islamist insurgent group, said on Friday they were "ready to restart the talks".

"Our stance is still the same. If peace talks start, it will be resumed from the stage where it had stopped," Mujahid told Reuters.

Taliban leaders have told Reuters that the group has been holding meetings with senior US officials in Doha since last weekend, adding they could soon resume formal peace talks.

"We are hoping that Trump's visit to Afghanistan will prove that he is serious to start talks again. We don't think he has not much of a choice," said a senior Taliban commander on conditions of anonymity.

Trump did not answer reporters' questions when he returned on Friday morning to Florida, where he is spending the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend away from Washington.

There are currently about 13,000 US forces as well as thousands of other NATO troops in Afghanistan, 18 years after a US-led coalition invaded the country following September&nbsp;11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States.

About 2,400 US service members have been killed in the course of the Afghan conflict.

A draft accord agreed in September would have thousands of American troops withdrawn in exchange for guarantees that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militant attacks on the United States or its allies.

Still, many US officials doubt the Taliban could be relied upon to prevent al Qaeda from again plotting attacks against the United States from Afghan soil.

(Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Humeyra Pamuk and&nbsp;

The Taliban said on Friday they were ready to restart peace talks with the United States, a day after President Donald Trump visited US troops in Afghanistan and said he believed the radical group would agree to a ceasefire.

The Taliban said on Friday they were ready to restart peace talks with the United States, a day after President Donald Trump visited US troops in Afghanistan and said he believed the radical group would agree to a ceasefire. Trump's surprise Thanksgiving Day visit was his first to Afghanistan since becoming president and came a week after a prisoner swap between Washington and Kabul that raised hopes for a long-elusive peace deal to end the 18-year war. "The Taliban wants to make a deal and we are meeting with them," Trump told reporters after arriving in Afghanistan on Thursday. "We say it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they want to do a ceasefire, I believe. It will probably work out that way," he said. Trump cancelled peace negotiations in September after the militant group claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul that killed 12 people, including an American soldier. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the hardline Islamist insurgent group, said on Friday they were "ready to restart the talks". "Our stance is still the same. If peace talks start, it will be resumed from the stage where it had stopped," Mujahid told Reuters. Taliban leaders have told Reuters that the group has been holding meetings with senior US officials in Doha since last weekend, adding they could soon resume formal peace talks. "We are hoping that Trump's visit to Afghanistan will prove that he is serious to start talks again. We don't think he has not much of a choice," said a senior Taliban commander on conditions of anonymity. Trump did not answer reporters' questions when he returned on Friday morning to Florida, where he is spending the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend away from Washington. There are currently about 13,000 US forces as well as thousands of other NATO troops in Afghanistan, 18 years after a US-led coalition invaded the country following September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States. About 2,400 US service members have been killed in the course of the Afghan conflict. A draft accord agreed in September would have thousands of American troops withdrawn in exchange for guarantees that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militant attacks on the United States or its allies. Still, many US officials doubt the Taliban could be relied upon to prevent al Qaeda from again plotting attacks against the United States from Afghan soil. (Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Humeyra Pamuk and

After Trump's surprise visit to Afghanistan, Taliban say they are ready to resume peace talks

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