The Heart of Asia Summit in Tajikistan was supposed to be about the peace efforts in Afghanistan but the world's attention was on the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan. Many were hoping for a meeting between the two leaders, but in the end, all the hype was for nothing.

Heart of Asia Summit: No bilateral talks between leaders of India and Pakistan

The Afghan envoy to India, Farid Mamundzay in his first-ever interview to any media has batted for India's inclusion in all Afghan related peace process--like the troika, UN-facilitated, or Turkey process, calling "Delhi an important capital". Speaking exclusively to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Mamundzay said, "we want India's involvement in almost every peace fora....We hope India would be given its rightful place in all those talks, in all those meetings".

Exclusive: New Afghan Envoy Farid Mamundzay speaks to WION

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reached Dushanbe, Tajikistan to attend the Heart of Asia Summit. He met with Iranian & Turkish Foreign Ministers and discussed bilateral cooperation.

Heart of Asia Summit: Jaishankar meets Foreign Ministers of Iran and Turkey

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to attend the Heart of Asia Summit. The summit is aimed at stabilising the situation in Afghanistan.

Heart of Asia Summit: S Jaishankar arrives in Dushanbe to attend conference

The 'Peace Cup' Karate competition in Afghanistan urges the Taliban and the Government to lay down arms and pursue peace. Mariam Wardak brings you the story of these defiant Karate fighters.

South Asia Diary: Afghan Karate tournament for peace

The Taliban’s swagger is unmistakable. From the recent bellicose speech of their deputy leader, boasting of “conquests,” to sneering references to the “foreign masters” of the “illegitimate” Kabul government, to the Taliban’s own website tally of “puppets” killed — Afghan soldiers — they are promoting a bold message:

We have already won the war.

And that belief, grounded in military and political reality, is shaping Afghanistan’s volatile present. On the eve of talks in Turkey next month over the country’s future, it is the elephant in the room: the half-acknowledged truth that the Taliban have the upper hand and are thus showing little outward interest in compromise, or of going along with the dominant American idea, power-sharing.

While the Taliban’s current rhetoric is also propaganda, the grim sense of Taliban supremacy is dictating the response of a desperate Afghan government and influencing Afghanistan’s anxious foreign interlocutors. It contributes to the abandonment of dozens of checkpoints and falling morale among the Afghan security forces, already hammered by a “not sustainable” casualty rate of perhaps 3,000 a month, a senior Western diplomat in Kabul said.

The group doesn’t hide its pride at having compelled its principal adversary for 20 years, the United States, to negotiate with the Taliban and, last year, to sign an agreement to completely withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. In exchange, the Taliban agreed to stop attacking foreign forces and to sever ties with international terrorist groups such as al-Qaida.

The Biden administration has yet to definitively say whether it will meet that deadline, just weeks away.

“No mujahed ever thought that one day we would face such an improved state, or that we will crush the arrogance of the rebellious emperors, and force them to admit their defeat at our hands,” the Taliban’s deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, said in a recent speech. “Fortunately, today, we and you are experiencing better circumstances.”

Nearly every day, the Taliban’s website features reports of purported defections to its side, though the details are likely exaggerated, just as both the Taliban and the Afghan government exaggerate each other’s casualties. “59 enemy personnel switch sides to Islamic Emirate,” read one recent headline.

Having outlasted the all-powerful Americans, the rest is child’s play, in the Taliban’s view. The game is essentially over.

“They think they have beaten the Americans, so they can beat the other Afghan forces as well, and get control over the country,” said Jawed Kohistani, an Afghan analyst and former security official in Kabul.

The Taliban, who governed most of the country from 1996 to 2001, are not interested in true sharing-power, Kohistani said. “They are planning to restore their Islamic emirate,” he added, “and they will punish all those involved in corruption and land grabbing.”

Antonio Giustozzi, a leading Taliban expert, disputed the idea that the Taliban are necessarily bent on reimposing a similarly hard-line Islamic regime. “As long as they can get to power through a political agreement, between establishing the emirate and democracy, there are options,” he said. “The aim would be to become the dominant power.”

The Taliban know that Afghanistan, an aid-dependent state, 80% of whose expenditures are funded from international donors, cannot afford the isolation of that era, analysts say.

Just as the Taliban have become increasingly sophisticated in their use of social media, online propaganda and a pugnacious English-language website — though they still often ban smartphones in areas they control — so has their language evolved to reflect the current moment.

With the decisive shift in their military fortunes, their words have become assertive and victorious, a posture that would have been impossible a mere three years ago, analysts say.

The corollary to such posturing is the Afghan government’s insistence that it expects a deadly endgame with the insurgency. Government officials rarely claim that &lt;em&gt;they &lt;/em&gt;and not the Taliban are the victors, because they can’t. Evidence of Taliban ascendancy, in the insurgents’ steady offensive in the countryside, their systematic encroachment on cities and their overrunning of military bases, is too prevalent.

U.S. negotiators are pushing ideas of compromise and power-sharing, but government officials are largely resistant to them — in part because any interim government would most likely require Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, to step down. He has steadfastly refused to even consider it.

Instead, the government employs back-to-the-wall language indicating that the bloody struggle will only intensify. Earlier this month, a senior official told reporters inside the intensively guarded presidential palace complex that a compromise, coalition government — recently proposed to both sides by Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. peace envoy — would merely be used by the Taliban as a “Trojan horse” for the seizure of power.

It was “totally unrealistic” to think the insurgents would agree to it, “knowing their psychology,” the official said. “I am not promising a better situation in the future. But we will continue fighting.”

Ghani sounded a largely pessimistic note in remarks to the Aspen Institute in January. “In their eschatology, Afghanistan is the place where the final battle takes place,” he said of the Taliban.

We “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” he said.

The Ghani administration’s bleak outlook also reflects the insurgent group’s territorial gains. In December, nearly 200 checkpoints in Kandahar, the Taliban’s historic stronghold, were abandoned by Afghan security forces, according to the U.S. government’s Afghanistan watchdog.

“I think they are 90% right,” said Giustozzi, of the insurgent group’s claims of victory. “Clearly the war has been lost. Clearly things have gone in the wrong direction. Things have worsened under Ghani. The trend is in their favor.”

Some analysts caution that while the Taliban may think they have won, other armed actors in the Afghan equation will make a forced takeover difficult. That was the experience 25 years ago, when the Taliban were forced to battle warlords principally in the north and east, and failed to gain total control over the entire country.

A militia in central Afghanistan led by Abdul Ghani Alipur, a local warlord, has already inflamed hostility with the government in recent months. And longtime power brokers in the country’s west and north have rallied fighters to defend against the Taliban, if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Taliban rely on fear to keep local populations in rural areas quiescent. An effective tool is the insurgents’ hidden network of ad hoc underground prisons where torture and punishment are meted out to those suspected of working for, or with, the government.

But the Taliban are also viewed by some as being less corrupt than Afghan officials. The group’s judges adjudicate civil and property disputes, perhaps more efficiently than the government’s faltering institutions.

In some areas under Taliban control, they have permitted schools for girls to continue operating, Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, pointed out in a recent paper — though, he notes, this may be driven more by political imperative than a softening of ideology.

Elsewhere, the Taliban’s increasingly confident messaging has penetrated deep into its rank-and-file, in large part because events have borne it out.

People said that it is not possible to fire on U.S. forces,” said Muslim Mohabat, a former Taliban fighter from Watapor District in Kunar province. “They would say the barrel of the rifle would bend if you open fire on them, but we attacked them, and nothing happened.”

“Then we kept attacking them and forced them to leave the valley,” said Mohabat, who fought in some of the most violent battles of the war with the United States.

In the insurgents’ view, their advances will inexorably lead to the end of the Kabul government.

“On the battlefield there is a sense that, ‘We’re stronger than ever,’ ’’ said Ashley Jackson, a Taliban expert at the Overseas Development Institute. “Power-sharing and democracy, these are anathema to their political culture.”

The Taliban’s swagger is unmistakable. From the recent bellicose speech of their deputy leader, boasting of “conquests,” to sneering references to the “foreign masters” of the “illegitimate” Kabul government, to the Taliban’s own website tally of “puppets” killed — Afghan soldiers — they are promoting a bold message: We have already won the war.

The Taliban’s swagger is unmistakable. From the recent bellicose speech of their deputy leader, boasting of “conquests,” to sneering references to the “foreign masters” of the “illegitimate” Kabul government, to the Taliban’s own website tally of “puppets” killed — Afghan soldiers — they are promoting a bold message: We have already won the war. And that belief, grounded in military and political reality, is shaping Afghanistan’s volatile present. On the eve of talks in Turkey next month over the country’s future, it is the elephant in the room: the half-acknowledged truth that the Taliban have the upper hand and are thus showing little outward interest in compromise, or of going along with the dominant American idea, power-sharing. While the Taliban’s current rhetoric is also propaganda, the grim sense of Taliban supremacy is dictating the response of a desperate Afghan government and influencing Afghanistan’s anxious foreign interlocutors. It contributes to the abandonment of dozens of checkpoints and falling morale among the Afghan security forces, already hammered by a “not sustainable” casualty rate of perhaps 3,000 a month, a senior Western diplomat in Kabul said. The group doesn’t hide its pride at having compelled its principal adversary for 20 years, the United States, to negotiate with the Taliban and, last year, to sign an agreement to completely withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. In exchange, the Taliban agreed to stop attacking foreign forces and to sever ties with international terrorist groups such as al-Qaida. The Biden administration has yet to definitively say whether it will meet that deadline, just weeks away. “No mujahed ever thought that one day we would face such an improved state, or that we will crush the arrogance of the rebellious emperors, and force them to admit their defeat at our hands,” the Taliban’s deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, said in a recent speech. “Fortunately, today, we and you are experiencing better circumstances.” Nearly every day, the Taliban’s website features reports of purported defections to its side, though the details are likely exaggerated, just as both the Taliban and the Afghan government exaggerate each other’s casualties. “59 enemy personnel switch sides to Islamic Emirate,” read one recent headline. Having outlasted the all-powerful Americans, the rest is child’s play, in the Taliban’s view. The game is essentially over. “They think they have beaten the Americans, so they can beat the other Afghan forces as well, and get control over the country,” said Jawed Kohistani, an Afghan analyst and former security official in Kabul. The Taliban, who governed most of the country from 1996 to 2001, are not interested in true sharing-power, Kohistani said. “They are planning to restore their Islamic emirate,” he added, “and they will punish all those involved in corruption and land grabbing.” Antonio Giustozzi, a leading Taliban expert, disputed the idea that the Taliban are necessarily bent on reimposing a similarly hard-line Islamic regime. “As long as they can get to power through a political agreement, between establishing the emirate and democracy, there are options,” he said. “The aim would be to become the dominant power.” The Taliban know that Afghanistan, an aid-dependent state, 80% of whose expenditures are funded from international donors, cannot afford the isolation of that era, analysts say. Just as the Taliban have become increasingly sophisticated in their use of social media, online propaganda and a pugnacious English-language website — though they still often ban smartphones in areas they control — so has their language evolved to reflect the current moment. With the decisive shift in their military fortunes, their words have become assertive and victorious, a posture that would have been impossible a mere three years ago, analysts say. The corollary to such posturing is the Afghan government’s insistence that it expects a deadly endgame with the insurgency. Government officials rarely claim that they and not the Taliban are the victors, because they can’t. Evidence of Taliban ascendancy, in the insurgents’ steady offensive in the countryside, their systematic encroachment on cities and their overrunning of military bases, is too prevalent. U.S. negotiators are pushing ideas of compromise and power-sharing, but government officials are largely resistant to them — in part because any interim government would most likely require Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, to step down. He has steadfastly refused to even consider it. Instead, the government employs back-to-the-wall language indicating that the bloody struggle will only intensify. Earlier this month, a senior official told reporters inside the intensively guarded presidential palace complex that a compromise, coalition government — recently proposed to both sides by Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. peace envoy — would merely be used by the Taliban as a “Trojan horse” for the seizure of power. It was “totally unrealistic” to think the insurgents would agree to it, “knowing their psychology,” the official said. “I am not promising a better situation in the future. But we will continue fighting.” Ghani sounded a largely pessimistic note in remarks to the Aspen Institute in January. “In their eschatology, Afghanistan is the place where the final battle takes place,” he said of the Taliban. We “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” he said. The Ghani administration’s bleak outlook also reflects the insurgent group’s territorial gains. In December, nearly 200 checkpoints in Kandahar, the Taliban’s historic stronghold, were abandoned by Afghan security forces, according to the U.S. government’s Afghanistan watchdog. “I think they are 90% right,” said Giustozzi, of the insurgent group’s claims of victory. “Clearly the war has been lost. Clearly things have gone in the wrong direction. Things have worsened under Ghani. The trend is in their favor.” Some analysts caution that while the Taliban may think they have won, other armed actors in the Afghan equation will make a forced takeover difficult. That was the experience 25 years ago, when the Taliban were forced to battle warlords principally in the north and east, and failed to gain total control over the entire country. A militia in central Afghanistan led by Abdul Ghani Alipur, a local warlord, has already inflamed hostility with the government in recent months. And longtime power brokers in the country’s west and north have rallied fighters to defend against the Taliban, if necessary. Meanwhile, the Taliban rely on fear to keep local populations in rural areas quiescent. An effective tool is the insurgents’ hidden network of ad hoc underground prisons where torture and punishment are meted out to those suspected of working for, or with, the government. But the Taliban are also viewed by some as being less corrupt than Afghan officials. The group’s judges adjudicate civil and property disputes, perhaps more efficiently than the government’s faltering institutions. In some areas under Taliban control, they have permitted schools for girls to continue operating, Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, pointed out in a recent paper — though, he notes, this may be driven more by political imperative than a softening of ideology. Elsewhere, the Taliban’s increasingly confident messaging has penetrated deep into its rank-and-file, in large part because events have borne it out. People said that it is not possible to fire on U.S. forces,” said Muslim Mohabat, a former Taliban fighter from Watapor District in Kunar province. “They would say the barrel of the rifle would bend if you open fire on them, but we attacked them, and nothing happened.” “Then we kept attacking them and forced them to leave the valley,” said Mohabat, who fought in some of the most violent battles of the war with the United States. In the insurgents’ view, their advances will inexorably lead to the end of the Kabul government. “On the battlefield there is a sense that, ‘We’re stronger than ever,’ ’’ said Ashley Jackson, a Taliban expert at the Overseas Development Institute. “Power-sharing and democracy, these are anathema to their political culture.”

The Taliban think they have already won, peace deal or not

The 9th edition of 'Heart of Asia' Summit is still underway in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe. Foreign Ministers of different nations participating in the summit focusing on regional stability in the Afghanistan region. Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar also stresses on 'Double peace' process in Afghanistan.

India FM S. Jaishankar stresses on 'Double peace' in Afghanistan

President Ashraf Ghani said that peace in Afghanistan means peace in the entire region. He also said that the ongoing violence in the country is against the will of the people.

Will 'Heart of Asia' summit turn the tables in Afghan peace process?

Heart of Asia summit aimed at stabilising situation in Afghanistan

The Heart of Asia conference is underway in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India remained committed to the development of Afghanistan in order to make the country self-sufficient.

Heart of Asia Summit: Jaishankar says India remained committed to the development of Afghan

Heart of Asia Summit: Prez Ghani says peace in Afghanistan means peace in region

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Iranian and Turkish Foreign Ministers ahead of the Heart of Asia summit and discussed bilateral cooperation. He also visited the Dushanbe-Chortut Highway Project site and lauded the good work done by Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Heart of Asia Summit: Jaishankar visited Dushanbe-Chortut Highway Project site

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has extended support to a regional process on peace in Afghanistan under the United Nations umbrella at the Heart of Asia Summit.

Heart of Asia Summit: Indian EAM backs regional process on Afghanistan under an umbrella

As key stakeholders on the situation in Afghanistan gather in Tajikistan this week, focus will be on the country once ruled by Taliban. Heart of Asia summit is taking place in Tajikistan. This is a conference to promote peace in Afghanistan.

But all eyes will be on the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. They'll come face to face at the summit.

After the ceasefire at the border, speculation is high. Many say a pull-aside is possible.

The Heart of Asia Summit began in 2011. It is a forum for leaders of Afghanistan and its extended neighbourhood to gather and discuss their differences and disputes.

But this year, the focus has shifted. While Afghanistan will still be discussed, there is intense speculation over a possible meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in Dushanbe.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is also participating.

Reports say that Islamabad is pushing for talks. The odds stack in favour of talks.

There have been hints and developments in the past two months. First, India and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to honour the ceasefire on the Line of Control.

Then Pakistan's Army Chief made clear overtures. Gen&nbsp;Qamar Javed Bajwa said it's time to bury the past and move forward. New Delhi still maintains&nbsp;terror and talks can't go together.

But India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently penned a goodwill letter to his counterpart in Pakistan, Imran Khan. The letter said that India desired cordial relations with the people of Pakistan.

And for this, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative.

Beyond Pakistan, minister Jaishankar has a packed schedule. He met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. They discussed progress on the Chabahar port.

Also in focus will be the Afghan peace deal. Key stakeholders Iran, Russia, Turkey and China will be present. 
&nbsp; 
India can gauge if the peace deal will hold.

The US Is looking for an exit. India has stakes in Afghanistan.

The Heart of Asia Summit is a good platform to assess the situation and make its voice heard in the peace process.

As key stakeholders on the situation in Afghanistan gather in Tajikistan this week, focus will be on the country once ruled by Taliban. Heart of Asia summit is taking place in Tajikistan.

As key stakeholders on the situation in Afghanistan gather in Tajikistan this week, focus will be on the country once ruled by Taliban. Heart of Asia summit is taking place in Tajikistan. This is a conference to promote peace in Afghanistan. But all eyes will be on the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. They'll come face to face at the summit. After the ceasefire at the border, speculation is high. Many say a pull-aside is possible. The Heart of Asia Summit began in 2011. It is a forum for leaders of Afghanistan and its extended neighbourhood to gather and discuss their differences and disputes. But this year, the focus has shifted. While Afghanistan will still be discussed, there is intense speculation over a possible meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in Dushanbe. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is also participating. Reports say that Islamabad is pushing for talks. The odds stack in favour of talks. There have been hints and developments in the past two months. First, India and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to honour the ceasefire on the Line of Control. Then Pakistan's Army Chief made clear overtures. Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said it's time to bury the past and move forward. New Delhi still maintains terror and talks can't go together. But India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently penned a goodwill letter to his counterpart in Pakistan, Imran Khan. The letter said that India desired cordial relations with the people of Pakistan. And for this, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative. Beyond Pakistan, minister Jaishankar has a packed schedule. He met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. They discussed progress on the Chabahar port. Also in focus will be the Afghan peace deal. Key stakeholders Iran, Russia, Turkey and China will be present. India can gauge if the peace deal will hold. The US Is looking for an exit. India has stakes in Afghanistan. The Heart of Asia Summit is a good platform to assess the situation and make its voice heard in the peace process.

Heart of Asia Summit: World watches India and Pakistan in Tajikistan

Tajikistan will host the ninth edition of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HOA-IP) summit in Dushanbe, the country's capital on Monday. Foreign ministers and delegates from about 50 countries are expected to attend the two-day summit.

Afghanistan- Tajikistan to Host 9th Heart of Asia Summit

The US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has departed for Turkey and the nearby region, the US State Department said on Saturday, in a push to encourage Afghan parties to accelerate negotiations to end conflict in the country.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden is deciding whether to meet a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of the last 3,500 American troops in Afghanistan that was set in a February 2020 accord struck with the Taliban under former President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Biden's administration has sought to build international pressure on the Taliban and US-backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government to reach a peace agreement and a ceasefire before the deadline.&nbsp;

"He will engage the two sides on their preparatory efforts for talks on a political settlement that produces a permanent ceasefire and a durable and just peace," the State Department said in a statement, adding that Khalilzad departed for the talks on Thursday.&nbsp;

The Taliban on Friday said it would resume hostilities against foreign forces - which ended under the US-Taliban deal - if they remain beyond the deadline.&nbsp;

Biden on Thursday said it would be hard to comply with the deadline, which also requires the departure of some 7,000 allied forces.&nbsp;

The Taliban has said it was committed to the agreement, which it has termed the 'most sensible and shortest path' to end 20 years of war in Afghanistan - America's longest foreign conflict.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has departed for Turkey and the nearby region, the US State Department said on Saturday, in a push to encourage Afghan parties to accelerate negotiations to end conflict in the country.

The US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has departed for Turkey and the nearby region, the US State Department said on Saturday, in a push to encourage Afghan parties to accelerate negotiations to end conflict in the country. President Joe Biden is deciding whether to meet a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of the last 3,500 American troops in Afghanistan that was set in a February 2020 accord struck with the Taliban under former President Donald Trump. Biden's administration has sought to build international pressure on the Taliban and US-backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government to reach a peace agreement and a ceasefire before the deadline. "He will engage the two sides on their preparatory efforts for talks on a political settlement that produces a permanent ceasefire and a durable and just peace," the State Department said in a statement, adding that Khalilzad departed for the talks on Thursday. The Taliban on Friday said it would resume hostilities against foreign forces - which ended under the US-Taliban deal - if they remain beyond the deadline. Biden on Thursday said it would be hard to comply with the deadline, which also requires the departure of some 7,000 allied forces. The Taliban has said it was committed to the agreement, which it has termed the 'most sensible and shortest path' to end 20 years of war in Afghanistan - America's longest foreign conflict. (With inputs from agencies)

US envoy to Afghanistan heads to Turkey, region to push talks to end conflict 

At least 10 police personnel including Sangin district police chief Abdul Mohammad Sarwari were killed in a Taliban attack in Lashkargah city on Saturday, Tolo News reported. &nbsp;

The three security force members, including the police chief, were killed and two more were wounded, Tolo News reported, quoting Zaman Hamdard, spokesman for the Helmand police chief.&nbsp;

A total of 15 Taliban were killed in the attack and seven got wounded, the spokesman told the reporters.&nbsp;

Earlier on Thursday night, a girl was killed in a clash between security forces and the Taliban in Chaharbolak district in the northern province of Balkh.&nbsp;

According to TOLO News data, 270 civilians and security force members were killed and 173 more were wounded in various security incidents across the country in February.&nbsp;

It further revealed that 166 security incidents, including magnetic IED blasts, roadside bomb blasts, targeted attacks, and Taliban offensives, occurred in Afghanistan in February.&nbsp;

However, in January, TOLO News findings indicated that 271 people were killed, and 347 others were wounded in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

At least 10 police personnel including Sangin district police chief Abdul Mohammad Sarwari were killed in a Taliban attack in Lashkargah city on Saturday, Tolo News reported.

At least 10 police personnel including Sangin district police chief Abdul Mohammad Sarwari were killed in a Taliban attack in Lashkargah city on Saturday, Tolo News reported. The three security force members, including the police chief, were killed and two more were wounded, Tolo News reported, quoting Zaman Hamdard, spokesman for the Helmand police chief. A total of 15 Taliban were killed in the attack and seven got wounded, the spokesman told the reporters. Earlier on Thursday night, a girl was killed in a clash between security forces and the Taliban in Chaharbolak district in the northern province of Balkh. According to TOLO News data, 270 civilians and security force members were killed and 173 more were wounded in various security incidents across the country in February. It further revealed that 166 security incidents, including magnetic IED blasts, roadside bomb blasts, targeted attacks, and Taliban offensives, occurred in Afghanistan in February. However, in January, TOLO News findings indicated that 271 people were killed, and 347 others were wounded in Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies)

10 police personnel killed in Taliban attack in Afghanistan 

WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden signaled this week that he would let a May 1 deadline pass without withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, some officials are using an intelligence assessment to argue for prolonging the military mission there.

U.S. intelligence agencies have told the Biden administration that if U.S. troops leave before a power-sharing settlement is reached between the Taliban and the Afghan government, the country could fall largely under the control of the Taliban within two or three years after the withdrawal of international forces. That could potentially open the door for al-Qaida to rebuild its strength within the country, according to U.S. officials.

The classified assessment, first prepared last year for the Trump administration but not previously disclosed, is the latest in a series of grim predictions of Afghanistan’s future that intelligence analysts have delivered throughout the two-decade-long war.

But the intelligence has landed in a changed political environment. While former President Donald Trump pushed for a withdrawal of all forces even before the terms of the peace deal required it, Biden has been more cautious, saying Thursday that he does not view May 1 as a deadline he must meet, although he also said he “could not picture” troops being in the country next year.

The decision looms as one of the most critical of Biden’s young presidency. He long argued while vice president for a minimal presence in Afghanistan but has been said to have privately described as haunting the possibility of allowing the country to descend into collapse.

Some senior Biden administration officials have expressed skepticism of any intelligence prediction of a resurgence of a weakened al-Qaida or of the Islamic State group. Taliban commanders remain opposed to the Islamic State in Afghanistan, and al-Qaida, which has little current presence in the country, could regroup instead in any number of other lawless regions around the world.

Also left unanswered by the intelligence warning is the question of whether Afghanistan could really prosper if U.S. troops remain indefinitely. Their presence would most likely prevent a collapse of the nation’s own security forces and allow the government in Kabul, the Afghan capital, to retain control of its major cities, but the Taliban are still likely to gradually expand their power in other parts of the country, including curbing the rights of women.

A Taliban spokesperson said Friday that the group was committed to last year’s peace agreement “and wants the American side to also remain firmly committed.” If troops are not withdrawn by May 1, the spokesperson promised, the Taliban would “continue its jihad and armed struggle against foreign forces.”

Biden administration officials insisted no final decision had been made. Nevertheless, with the deadline looming, administration officials are jockeying to influence Biden and his top national security officials. While Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has not signaled what course of action he prefers, some Pentagon officials who believe U.S. forces should stay longer have pointed to the intelligence assessment predicting a Taliban takeover of the country.

Some military commanders and administration officials have argued that any set date for withdrawing the approximately 3,500 U.S. troops who remain, whether it is May 1 or at the end of the year, will doom the mission. The only way to preserve hard-fought gains in Afghanistan, they said, is to keep the small U.S. presence there long enough to force a lasting deal between the Taliban and Afghan government.

These officials have used the intelligence assessment to make the point that a withdrawal this year will lead to a fall of the current government, a sharp erosion of women’s rights and the return of international terrorist groups. A rush to the exit, some officials said, will only drag the United States back into Afghanistan soon after leaving — much as was the case in Iraq in 2014, three years after the Obama administration pulled troops out of that conflict.

The White House has held a series of meetings on Afghanistan, and more are to come. On Thursday, the president said he was waiting for briefings from Austin, who met recently with Afghan officials, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who conferred this week with NATO allies, for their bottom-line advice on what he should do.

For many Biden administration officials, the issue that has resonated the most clearly is the threat that a Taliban takeover could pose to Afghan women. While some former intelligence officials predict the Taliban will initially take care not to roll back women’s rights altogether — at least in major cities — if they take over the entire country, it will be difficult to guarantee protections for women, such as education for girls and access to health care.

“Any agreement must preserve their gains if Afghanistan wants to ensure the international community’s continued political and financial support,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council this week. “We will not give an inch on this point.”

The Biden administration is making a final effort before May 1 to show progress in slow-moving negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha, Qatar. The Taliban, according to U.S. officials, are stalling.

The administration is pushing the two sides to participate in a peace conference in Turkey to demonstrate progress. Simultaneously, the American and Taliban negotiators continue to try to cement a 90-day reduction in violence, but so far, both sides have hesitated to agree.

The classified intelligence assessment of the Taliban largely taking control assumes that the Afghan government and the Taliban fail to reach a political agreement and that a civil war would erupt after the U.S. exit.

Administration officials warned that making any intelligence estimate is challenging, that predictions about the future are always imprecise and that various factors influence the analysis.

For example, intelligence estimates depend on whether international funding for the Afghan government remains in place. The more money the United States and its allies provide Afghanistan, the longer the government in Kabul should be able to retain control of some of the country. But some officials said that history shows that once U.S. troops are withdrawn, Congress moves quickly to cut financial support for partner forces.

There is also a debate in Washington about the seriousness of the threat of a return of terrorist groups. For now, the number of Qaida and Islamic State militants in Afghanistan is very small, a senior U.S. official said.

Some senior lawmakers with access to the classified assessments said that it was not certain that if the United States withdrew that al-Qaida could rebuild a base in Afghanistan from which to carry out terrorist attacks against the United States.

“What is that threat really going to be?” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said this week during a virtual conference on Afghanistan. “This isn’t the 1990s when al-Qaida set up camps, and they had the Taliban, and no one was paying attention to them.”

Smith said keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan actually increased the risk to Americans there, incurred greater financial costs and handed a propaganda victory and recruiting tool to the U.S.’ enemies.

Some counterterrorism officials believe that al-Qaida would prefer to reestablish its headquarters in Afghanistan, should U.S. troops withdraw. But other officials said al-Qaida’s leadership might be just as likely to look to Africa or the Middle East.

While U.S. intelligence officials have been mostly focused on the threat of al-Qaida, senior military officials have also raised the prospect of a growth in the power of the Afghanistan arm of the Islamic State.

But in recent years, the Taliban have been at odds with the Islamic State. The two groups have fought, and the Taliban have for the most part pushed back Islamic State forces.

“I can’t imagine a scenario where ISIS and the Taliban would strategically cooperate or collaborate in Afghanistan,” said Lisa Maddox, a former CIA analyst. “The Taliban is an ideological organization, and that ideology is Afghan-centric and not aligned with ISIS’ overarching goals.”

The intelligence estimate predicted that the Taliban would relatively swiftly expand their control over Afghanistan, suggesting that the Afghan security forces remain fragile despite years of training by the U.S. military and billions of dollars in U.S. funding.

Offensives last year in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, two areas in the country’s south where the Taliban have long held sway, demonstrated that police and local forces are unable to hold ground, prompting elite commando forces and regular army troops to take their place — a tactic that is likely unsustainable in the long run.

Afghan security forces still rely heavily on U.S. air support to hold territory, which U.S. military leaders acknowledged this week. It is unclear whether that U.S. air power would continue if U.S. forces left Afghanistan, perhaps launched from bases in the Persian Gulf, although the Pentagon has drawn up such options for the White House.

“The capabilities that the U.S. provides for the Afghans to be able to combat the Taliban and other threats that reside in Afghanistan are critical to their success,” Gen. Richard D. Clarke, head of Special Operations Command, told the Senate on Thursday.

WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden signaled this week that he would let a May 1 deadline pass without withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, some officials are using an intelligence assessment to argue for prolonging the military mission there.

WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden signaled this week that he would let a May 1 deadline pass without withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, some officials are using an intelligence assessment to argue for prolonging the military mission there. U.S. intelligence agencies have told the Biden administration that if U.S. troops leave before a power-sharing settlement is reached between the Taliban and the Afghan government, the country could fall largely under the control of the Taliban within two or three years after the withdrawal of international forces. That could potentially open the door for al-Qaida to rebuild its strength within the country, according to U.S. officials. The classified assessment, first prepared last year for the Trump administration but not previously disclosed, is the latest in a series of grim predictions of Afghanistan’s future that intelligence analysts have delivered throughout the two-decade-long war. But the intelligence has landed in a changed political environment. While former President Donald Trump pushed for a withdrawal of all forces even before the terms of the peace deal required it, Biden has been more cautious, saying Thursday that he does not view May 1 as a deadline he must meet, although he also said he “could not picture” troops being in the country next year. The decision looms as one of the most critical of Biden’s young presidency. He long argued while vice president for a minimal presence in Afghanistan but has been said to have privately described as haunting the possibility of allowing the country to descend into collapse. Some senior Biden administration officials have expressed skepticism of any intelligence prediction of a resurgence of a weakened al-Qaida or of the Islamic State group. Taliban commanders remain opposed to the Islamic State in Afghanistan, and al-Qaida, which has little current presence in the country, could regroup instead in any number of other lawless regions around the world. Also left unanswered by the intelligence warning is the question of whether Afghanistan could really prosper if U.S. troops remain indefinitely. Their presence would most likely prevent a collapse of the nation’s own security forces and allow the government in Kabul, the Afghan capital, to retain control of its major cities, but the Taliban are still likely to gradually expand their power in other parts of the country, including curbing the rights of women. A Taliban spokesperson said Friday that the group was committed to last year’s peace agreement “and wants the American side to also remain firmly committed.” If troops are not withdrawn by May 1, the spokesperson promised, the Taliban would “continue its jihad and armed struggle against foreign forces.” Biden administration officials insisted no final decision had been made. Nevertheless, with the deadline looming, administration officials are jockeying to influence Biden and his top national security officials. While Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has not signaled what course of action he prefers, some Pentagon officials who believe U.S. forces should stay longer have pointed to the intelligence assessment predicting a Taliban takeover of the country. Some military commanders and administration officials have argued that any set date for withdrawing the approximately 3,500 U.S. troops who remain, whether it is May 1 or at the end of the year, will doom the mission. The only way to preserve hard-fought gains in Afghanistan, they said, is to keep the small U.S. presence there long enough to force a lasting deal between the Taliban and Afghan government. These officials have used the intelligence assessment to make the point that a withdrawal this year will lead to a fall of the current government, a sharp erosion of women’s rights and the return of international terrorist groups. A rush to the exit, some officials said, will only drag the United States back into Afghanistan soon after leaving — much as was the case in Iraq in 2014, three years after the Obama administration pulled troops out of that conflict. The White House has held a series of meetings on Afghanistan, and more are to come. On Thursday, the president said he was waiting for briefings from Austin, who met recently with Afghan officials, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who conferred this week with NATO allies, for their bottom-line advice on what he should do. For many Biden administration officials, the issue that has resonated the most clearly is the threat that a Taliban takeover could pose to Afghan women. While some former intelligence officials predict the Taliban will initially take care not to roll back women’s rights altogether — at least in major cities — if they take over the entire country, it will be difficult to guarantee protections for women, such as education for girls and access to health care. “Any agreement must preserve their gains if Afghanistan wants to ensure the international community’s continued political and financial support,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council this week. “We will not give an inch on this point.” The Biden administration is making a final effort before May 1 to show progress in slow-moving negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha, Qatar. The Taliban, according to U.S. officials, are stalling. The administration is pushing the two sides to participate in a peace conference in Turkey to demonstrate progress. Simultaneously, the American and Taliban negotiators continue to try to cement a 90-day reduction in violence, but so far, both sides have hesitated to agree. The classified intelligence assessment of the Taliban largely taking control assumes that the Afghan government and the Taliban fail to reach a political agreement and that a civil war would erupt after the U.S. exit. Administration officials warned that making any intelligence estimate is challenging, that predictions about the future are always imprecise and that various factors influence the analysis. For example, intelligence estimates depend on whether international funding for the Afghan government remains in place. The more money the United States and its allies provide Afghanistan, the longer the government in Kabul should be able to retain control of some of the country. But some officials said that history shows that once U.S. troops are withdrawn, Congress moves quickly to cut financial support for partner forces. There is also a debate in Washington about the seriousness of the threat of a return of terrorist groups. For now, the number of Qaida and Islamic State militants in Afghanistan is very small, a senior U.S. official said. Some senior lawmakers with access to the classified assessments said that it was not certain that if the United States withdrew that al-Qaida could rebuild a base in Afghanistan from which to carry out terrorist attacks against the United States. “What is that threat really going to be?” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said this week during a virtual conference on Afghanistan. “This isn’t the 1990s when al-Qaida set up camps, and they had the Taliban, and no one was paying attention to them.” Smith said keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan actually increased the risk to Americans there, incurred greater financial costs and handed a propaganda victory and recruiting tool to the U.S.’ enemies. Some counterterrorism officials believe that al-Qaida would prefer to reestablish its headquarters in Afghanistan, should U.S. troops withdraw. But other officials said al-Qaida’s leadership might be just as likely to look to Africa or the Middle East. While U.S. intelligence officials have been mostly focused on the threat of al-Qaida, senior military officials have also raised the prospect of a growth in the power of the Afghanistan arm of the Islamic State. But in recent years, the Taliban have been at odds with the Islamic State. The two groups have fought, and the Taliban have for the most part pushed back Islamic State forces. “I can’t imagine a scenario where ISIS and the Taliban would strategically cooperate or collaborate in Afghanistan,” said Lisa Maddox, a former CIA analyst. “The Taliban is an ideological organization, and that ideology is Afghan-centric and not aligned with ISIS’ overarching goals.” The intelligence estimate predicted that the Taliban would relatively swiftly expand their control over Afghanistan, suggesting that the Afghan security forces remain fragile despite years of training by the U.S. military and billions of dollars in U.S. funding. Offensives last year in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, two areas in the country’s south where the Taliban have long held sway, demonstrated that police and local forces are unable to hold ground, prompting elite commando forces and regular army troops to take their place — a tactic that is likely unsustainable in the long run. Afghan security forces still rely heavily on U.S. air support to hold territory, which U.S. military leaders acknowledged this week. It is unclear whether that U.S. air power would continue if U.S. forces left Afghanistan, perhaps launched from bases in the Persian Gulf, although the Pentagon has drawn up such options for the White House. “The capabilities that the U.S. provides for the Afghans to be able to combat the Taliban and other threats that reside in Afghanistan are critical to their success,” Gen. Richard D. Clarke, head of Special Operations Command, told the Senate on Thursday.

Officials try to sway Biden using intelligence on potential for Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

After US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar is in New Delhi for talks. The US faces the deadline of May 1 to withdraw troops. What is India's role in the peace negotiations? WION's Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Will US troops leave Afghanistan in May?

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a new presidential election within six months, under a peace plan, he will put forward as a counter-offer to a US proposal that he rejects, two senior government officials told Reuters.&nbsp;

Ghani will unveil his proposal at an international gathering in Turkey next month, signalling his refusal to accept Washington's plan for his elected government to be replaced by an interim administration, the officials said.&nbsp;

Washington, which agreed last year to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by May 1 after nearly two decades, is pressing for a peace deal to end war between the government and the Taliban. Talks between the Afghan sides in Qatar have stalled.&nbsp;

US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been circulating a proposal, which would replace the Kabul government with an interim administration. But Ghani has voiced vehement opposition to any solution that requires his government to step aside for unelected successors.&nbsp;

"The counterproposal, which we are going to present at the Istanbul meeting, would be to call for early presidential elections if the Taliban agree on a ceasefire," one senior government official said on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

Another Afghan government official said, "The president would never agree to step aside and any future government should be formed through democratic process, not a political deal."&nbsp;

A third senior official also said Ghani's proposal would include possible early elections, although he did not specify the exact time frame for the vote. The third official said Ghani had already shared his roadmap with Khalilzad.&nbsp;

With just weeks left before a deadline it agreed with Taliban last year to end the longest war in US history, Washington is seeking regional backing for its approach to push the Kabul government and insurgents to share power.&nbsp;

But diplomats and foreign officials have said it will be difficult to move forward with the US plans without Ghani's support.&nbsp;

During a visit to the region, which included stops in Doha and Islamabad, Khalilzad pushed for a conference to be hosted by Turkey with involvement from the United Nations next month.&nbsp;

The Afghan officials said that as part of Ghani's counter-proposal, his government would ask the UN to closely observe the new election to ensure it is accepted by all sides.&nbsp;

A presidential palace spokesman declined to comment.&nbsp;

Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and insurgent Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha have made little progress, while violence has increased.&nbsp;

The Taliban, which is fighting the foreign-backed government since being ousted from power by Afghan opponents and US air strikes in late 2001, have so far rejected a ceasefire and said they would not directly join an interim government.&nbsp;

Ghani was sworn in as president for a second five-year term in March last year after a disputed presidential election.&nbsp;

The new US administration led by President Joe Biden is reviewing its plans before May 1, the deadline agreed last year under the Donald Trump administration for the last 2,500 US troops to leave Afghanistan. Biden told broadcaster ABC last week that it would be 'tough' to meet the deadline.&nbsp;

The Taliban say there will be consequences if the United States does not meet the deadline to pull out.&nbsp;

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a new presidential election within six months, under a peace plan, he will put forward as a counter-offer to a US proposal that he rejects, two senior government officials told Reuters.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a new presidential election within six months, under a peace plan, he will put forward as a counter-offer to a US proposal that he rejects, two senior government officials told Reuters. Ghani will unveil his proposal at an international gathering in Turkey next month, signalling his refusal to accept Washington's plan for his elected government to be replaced by an interim administration, the officials said. Washington, which agreed last year to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by May 1 after nearly two decades, is pressing for a peace deal to end war between the government and the Taliban. Talks between the Afghan sides in Qatar have stalled. US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been circulating a proposal, which would replace the Kabul government with an interim administration. But Ghani has voiced vehement opposition to any solution that requires his government to step aside for unelected successors. "The counterproposal, which we are going to present at the Istanbul meeting, would be to call for early presidential elections if the Taliban agree on a ceasefire," one senior government official said on condition of anonymity. Another Afghan government official said, "The president would never agree to step aside and any future government should be formed through democratic process, not a political deal." A third senior official also said Ghani's proposal would include possible early elections, although he did not specify the exact time frame for the vote. The third official said Ghani had already shared his roadmap with Khalilzad. With just weeks left before a deadline it agreed with Taliban last year to end the longest war in US history, Washington is seeking regional backing for its approach to push the Kabul government and insurgents to share power. But diplomats and foreign officials have said it will be difficult to move forward with the US plans without Ghani's support. During a visit to the region, which included stops in Doha and Islamabad, Khalilzad pushed for a conference to be hosted by Turkey with involvement from the United Nations next month. The Afghan officials said that as part of Ghani's counter-proposal, his government would ask the UN to closely observe the new election to ensure it is accepted by all sides. A presidential palace spokesman declined to comment. Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and insurgent Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha have made little progress, while violence has increased. The Taliban, which is fighting the foreign-backed government since being ousted from power by Afghan opponents and US air strikes in late 2001, have so far rejected a ceasefire and said they would not directly join an interim government. Ghani was sworn in as president for a second five-year term in March last year after a disputed presidential election. The new US administration led by President Joe Biden is reviewing its plans before May 1, the deadline agreed last year under the Donald Trump administration for the last 2,500 US troops to leave Afghanistan. Biden told broadcaster ABC last week that it would be 'tough' to meet the deadline. The Taliban say there will be consequences if the United States does not meet the deadline to pull out.

Rejecting US peace plan, Afghan president to offer election in six months 

US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin was in Kabul over the weekend. He became the first member of the Biden cabinet to visit war-torn Afghanistan. This was a surprise trip. But the questions posed to Austin by journalists came as no surprise. They wanted to know if America will withdraw from Afghanistan.

As per America's agreement with the Taliban, American forces should withdraw from Afghanistan on 1st of May. That's the deal that the Trump administration had agreed to. Until now, Team Biden has kept its cards close to its chest. In Afghanistan, Austin said it was up to his boss Joe Biden to decide when the American troops will leave.&nbsp;

The US President has said that May 1 withdrawal would be tough. The Biden administration has tried to kick start the withdrawal process again. Earlier this month, the United States had called for a meeting of all stakeholders in Turkey. At the same time it is pushing for a wider, UN-led dialogue.

The US wants India involved.&nbsp;

Reportedly, Defence Secretary Austin discussed Afghanistan with the Indian leadership.

On Monday, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar arrived in New Delhi.

It is a three-day working visit during which the Afghan foreign minister is expected to discuss the peace process with the Indian leadership. While the Biden administration might extend the deadline for withdrawal, &nbsp;It does look eager to withdraw. And going by all the signs, it looks like Washington wants New Delhi to be a part of the solution.

US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin was in Kabul over the weekend. He became the first member of the Biden cabinet to visit war-torn Afghanistan. This was a surprise trip.

US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin was in Kabul over the weekend. He became the first member of the Biden cabinet to visit war-torn Afghanistan. This was a surprise trip. But the questions posed to Austin by journalists came as no surprise. They wanted to know if America will withdraw from Afghanistan. As per America's agreement with the Taliban, American forces should withdraw from Afghanistan on 1st of May. That's the deal that the Trump administration had agreed to. Until now, Team Biden has kept its cards close to its chest. In Afghanistan, Austin said it was up to his boss Joe Biden to decide when the American troops will leave. The US President has said that May 1 withdrawal would be tough. The Biden administration has tried to kick start the withdrawal process again. Earlier this month, the United States had called for a meeting of all stakeholders in Turkey. At the same time it is pushing for a wider, UN-led dialogue. The US wants India involved. Reportedly, Defence Secretary Austin discussed Afghanistan with the Indian leadership. On Monday, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar arrived in New Delhi. It is a three-day working visit during which the Afghan foreign minister is expected to discuss the peace process with the Indian leadership. While the Biden administration might extend the deadline for withdrawal, It does look eager to withdraw. And going by all the signs, it looks like Washington wants New Delhi to be a part of the solution.

US wants Indian involvement in Afghanistan

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin&nbsp;paid a&nbsp;surprise&nbsp;visit to Afghanistan on Sunday . His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Austin met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.

Afghanistan's presidential palace said on Sunday Austin and Ghani discussed the peace process and concerns over rising violence.

Austin's Afghanistan visit has come on the heels of him being in India. While in India, Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Austin on Saturday called India "a great partner".&nbsp;

US is currently making efforts to negotiate a peace deal in Afghanistan where Taliban has emerged as one of&nbsp;power players. There are talks of power-sharing with the Taliban. India has been involved in reconstruction of Afghanistan as well. All these factors impart importance to Lloyd Austin's Afghanistan visit. This is Austin's first Kabul visit as Secretary of Defense.

US is contemplating complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan but that is dependent on peace prevailing in the country. Although Taliban has made appropriate noises about being committed to peace, the violence in Afghanistan has surged in past few months.

On this background, all eyes are on Austin to see what announcement he makes.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/afghanistan-indo-pacific-discussed-during-jaishankar-austin-meet-371956">Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific discussed during Jaishankar-Austin meet&nbsp;</a>

US President Joe Biden said last week that the May 1 deadline, set by his predecessor Donald Trump would be "tough" to meet.

The Afghan government is also keen to keep US forces in the country for as long as possible for the vital air cover they provide.

Under the deal thrashed out between the Taliban and Washington, the insurgents pledged also to engage in peace talks with Afghan government negotiators, but they have made almost no progress and fighting has only worsened -- particularly in rural areas.

In Afghan cities there have been attacks on politicians, civil servants, academics, rights activists and journalists.

(With AFP inputs)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday . His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday . His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Austin met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani. Afghanistan's presidential palace said on Sunday Austin and Ghani discussed the peace process and concerns over rising violence. Austin's Afghanistan visit has come on the heels of him being in India. While in India, Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Austin on Saturday called India "a great partner". US is currently making efforts to negotiate a peace deal in Afghanistan where Taliban has emerged as one of power players. There are talks of power-sharing with the Taliban. India has been involved in reconstruction of Afghanistan as well. All these factors impart importance to Lloyd Austin's Afghanistan visit. This is Austin's first Kabul visit as Secretary of Defense. US is contemplating complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan but that is dependent on peace prevailing in the country. Although Taliban has made appropriate noises about being committed to peace, the violence in Afghanistan has surged in past few months. On this background, all eyes are on Austin to see what announcement he makes. Also Read | Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific discussed during Jaishankar-Austin meet US President Joe Biden said last week that the May 1 deadline, set by his predecessor Donald Trump would be "tough" to meet. The Afghan government is also keen to keep US forces in the country for as long as possible for the vital air cover they provide. Under the deal thrashed out between the Taliban and Washington, the insurgents pledged also to engage in peace talks with Afghan government negotiators, but they have made almost no progress and fighting has only worsened -- particularly in rural areas. In Afghan cities there have been attacks on politicians, civil servants, academics, rights activists and journalists. (With AFP inputs)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pays surprise visit to Afghanistan, meets President Ashraf Ghani

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan. His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.&nbsp;Meanwhile,&nbsp;Pope Francis urged people to fight&nbsp;organised&nbsp;crime such as the 'mafias'&nbsp;on Sunday. He warned that criminals were using coronavirus pandemic for their own benefit.&nbsp;Read this and more in Top 10 World News at this time.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-austin-pays-unannounced-visit-to-afghanistan-report-372092">US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pays surprise visit to Afghanistan&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Austin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8ee5b5a-f669-4e70-b43d-4143edd152c7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%202.jpg" />

Austin's reported Afghanistan visit has come on the heels of him being in India&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-nuclear-arms-plan-is-illegal-russian-envoy-372084">UK nuclear arms plan is illegal: Russian envoy&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Russia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dfde1f60-4442-46aa-a94b-683640f749f0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%203.jpg" />

The Kremlin said at the time that it regretted the British nuclear decision, which it suggested would harm international stability, while the Russian foreign ministry described the move as a serious blow to international arms control&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-vs-mafia-holy-father-urges-people-to-fight-organised-crime-372097">Pope Francis vs Mafia? Holy Father urges people to fight&nbsp;organised&nbsp;crime&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Pope" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3eda3c7-daa9-4125-ab9a-e46d72c5c92e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%204.jpg" />

Italian police say that crime clans are using coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to win&nbsp;favour&nbsp;with people&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-clarifies-its-vaccine-has-no-pork-derived-ingredients-372044">AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Vaccine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3cd89fea-22d0-42bb-8b6f-4e70083d22d9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%205.jpg" />

Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council, the Indonesia Ulema Council, said on its website Friday that the vaccine is "haram" because the manufacturing process uses "trypsin from the pork pancreas."

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-japan-affirm-cooperation-over-taiwan-emergency-372064">US and Japan affirm cooperation over Taiwan emergency&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="US, Japan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cd3684d8-b290-4df7-879e-fdbecea8e86d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%206.jpg" />

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. To this end, Tokyo’s policy on China-Taiwan relations has always been to encourage dialogue for a peaceful solution to cross-strait tensions.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-pledges-to-prevent-coronavirus-resurgence-as-emergency-measures-end-372098">Japan PM pledges to prevent coronavirus' resurgence as emergency measures end</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="Suga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0b3bc2d-4145-478a-aeeb-aef454e69888" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%207.jpg" />

Suga on Thursday announced that the months-long emergency measures for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama would end at midnight on Sunday, a move underscoring his government's eagerness to&nbsp;minimise&nbsp;burdens on businesses and keep the economy going, despite concerns raised by experts about the potential for an upsurge

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-pilots-bumpy-all-terrain-rig-on-siberian-holiday-372096">Putin pilots bumpy all-terrain rig on Siberian holiday&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2599a2bd-9bf9-49ef-9190-0136e6d71b25" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%208.jpg" />

Video released by the Kremlin from inside an all-terrain vehicle showed the president at the wheel of a vehicle that pulled branches from overhanging trees as it&nbsp;barrelled&nbsp;over snow-laden tracks through dense forests of birch&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-us-envoy-anatoly-antonov-returns-to-moscow-after-killer-row-372093">Russia's US envoy Anatoly Antonov returns to Moscow after 'killer' row&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Russia US envoy" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8fa8a4f6-1945-4ba8-9e0d-51c6e430221d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%209.jpg" />

Russia's envoy to the United States Anatoly Antonov landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport Sunday morning, Russian news agencies reported, after he was recalled last week over the spat&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paraguay-president-survives-impeachment-bid-by-opposition-over-pandemic-372087">Paraguay president survives impeachment bid by opposition over pandemic&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Paraguay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22b1e2fb-1321-4acd-8f24-cf2f60b7ab5f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%2010.jpg" />

Abdo's conservative government has faced fierce protests in recent weeks as a surge in Covid-19 cases has left hospitals on the brink of collapse and out of drugs, while the country has been slow to secure vaccines&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-stares-into-the-abyss-as-covid-19-surge-pushes-hospitals-to-brink-of-collapse-372071">Brazil stares into the abyss as Covid-19 surge pushes hospitals to brink of collapse&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Brazil" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42feffde-0b1b-43ca-bf09-735f699044ec" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top%2010%20-%2011.jpg" />

It is being reported that the Covid intensive care units in virtually all of Brazil’s 26 states and the federal district containing the capital, Brasília, are now either at, or perilously close to capacity.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan. His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan. His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pope Francis urged people to fight organised crime such as the 'mafias' on Sunday. He warned that criminals were using coronavirus pandemic for their own benefit. Read this and more in Top 10 World News at this time. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pays surprise visit to Afghanistan Austin's reported Afghanistan visit has come on the heels of him being in India UK nuclear arms plan is illegal: Russian envoy The Kremlin said at the time that it regretted the British nuclear decision, which it suggested would harm international stability, while the Russian foreign ministry described the move as a serious blow to international arms control Pope Francis vs Mafia? Holy Father urges people to fight organised crime Italian police say that crime clans are using coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to win favour with people AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council, the Indonesia Ulema Council, said on its website Friday that the vaccine is "haram" because the manufacturing process uses "trypsin from the pork pancreas." US and Japan affirm cooperation over Taiwan emergency China regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. To this end, Tokyo’s policy on China-Taiwan relations has always been to encourage dialogue for a peaceful solution to cross-strait tensions. Japan PM pledges to prevent coronavirus' resurgence as emergency measures end Suga on Thursday announced that the months-long emergency measures for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama would end at midnight on Sunday, a move underscoring his government's eagerness to minimise burdens on businesses and keep the economy going, despite concerns raised by experts about the potential for an upsurge Putin pilots bumpy all-terrain rig on Siberian holiday Video released by the Kremlin from inside an all-terrain vehicle showed the president at the wheel of a vehicle that pulled branches from overhanging trees as it barrelled over snow-laden tracks through dense forests of birch Russia's US envoy Anatoly Antonov returns to Moscow after 'killer' row Russia's envoy to the United States Anatoly Antonov landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport Sunday morning, Russian news agencies reported, after he was recalled last week over the spat Paraguay president survives impeachment bid by opposition over pandemic Abdo's conservative government has faced fierce protests in recent weeks as a surge in Covid-19 cases has left hospitals on the brink of collapse and out of drugs, while the country has been slow to secure vaccines Brazil stares into the abyss as Covid-19 surge pushes hospitals to brink of collapse It is being reported that the Covid intensive care units in virtually all of Brazil’s 26 states and the federal district containing the capital, Brasília, are now either at, or perilously close to capacity.

Top 10 world news: Austin in Afghanistan, Pope asks to fight crime and more 

Afghanistan and the situation in Indo-Pacific were the key topics of discussions during the talks between India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar and visiting US defence secretary Lloyd Austin. The one-hour-long talks saw both sides talking about the current strategic situation in the Indo-Pacific, with EAM briefing about India's 'current security challenges and our long term strategic outlook', sources said.&nbsp;

US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin briefed about his visit to Japan and South Korea. Austin is on his maiden as defence secretary to Asia, with India, a key stop during it. His visit comes against the backdrop of the Quad- India, Australia, Japan and US leadership virtual meet and increased New Delhi-Washington engagement.&nbsp;

During discussion on Afghanistan, the ongoing peace process was discussed including assessment of the situation on the ground. EAM appreciated the Biden Administration’s engagement with India on this issue. Remember US has proposed to Afghan governement, a six-country talks, which include India to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. The visit of the US defence secretary will be followed by the visit of the Afghan FM Haneef Atmar to Delhi.&nbsp;

During the meet, highlighting the 'commonalities and convergence', sources said, EAM said that the India US 'relationship was unique for the breadth and intensity of cooperation that covered so many domains'. While defence engagement have increased with Washington authorising over $20 billion in defence sales to India, people to people relation form the bedrock of this relationship. &nbsp;

The issue of human rights as shared attribute also came up, with sources pointing out that while US Defence Secretary said that as the "two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values",&nbsp;EAM 'agreed and emphasised'&nbsp;that a ''strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world."

Ahead of the visit, chairman of the US Senate foreign relations committee Senator Robert Menendez called for US defence secretary to raise the issue of human rights.&nbsp;

Afghanistan and the situation in Indo-Pacific were the key topics of discussions during the talks between India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar and visiting US defence secretary Lloyd Austin.

Afghanistan and the situation in Indo-Pacific were the key topics of discussions during the talks between India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar and visiting US defence secretary Lloyd Austin. The one-hour-long talks saw both sides talking about the current strategic situation in the Indo-Pacific, with EAM briefing about India's 'current security challenges and our long term strategic outlook', sources said. US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin briefed about his visit to Japan and South Korea. Austin is on his maiden as defence secretary to Asia, with India, a key stop during it. His visit comes against the backdrop of the Quad- India, Australia, Japan and US leadership virtual meet and increased New Delhi-Washington engagement. During discussion on Afghanistan, the ongoing peace process was discussed including assessment of the situation on the ground. EAM appreciated the Biden Administration’s engagement with India on this issue. Remember US has proposed to Afghan governement, a six-country talks, which include India to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. The visit of the US defence secretary will be followed by the visit of the Afghan FM Haneef Atmar to Delhi. During the meet, highlighting the 'commonalities and convergence', sources said, EAM said that the India US 'relationship was unique for the breadth and intensity of cooperation that covered so many domains'. While defence engagement have increased with Washington authorising over $20 billion in defence sales to India, people to people relation form the bedrock of this relationship. The issue of human rights as shared attribute also came up, with sources pointing out that while US Defence Secretary said that as the "two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values", EAM 'agreed and emphasised' that a ''strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world." Ahead of the visit, chairman of the US Senate foreign relations committee Senator Robert Menendez called for US defence secretary to raise the issue of human rights.

Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific discussed during Jaishankar-Austin meet 

The Afghan Defence Ministry on Saturday said their findings show that an air force helicopter that crashed three days ago was shot down by a local militia leader, vowing 'revenge' for the four crew members and five soldiers, who died.&nbsp;

Ministry spokesperson Fawad Aman said that investigators determined the Mi-17 helicopter that went down in central Wardak province was targeted by the militias tied to Abdul Ghani Alipoor, reports dpa&nbsp;news agency.&nbsp;

Alipoor is an ethnic Hazara militia commander, who is believed to lead hundreds of armed men in Wardak, his home province.&nbsp;

He has taken up arms to defend his community after repeated attacks by the Taliban and Kuchis, a nomadic people in the province.&nbsp;

Recently, the local strongman clashed with government forces in the province over the appointment of a new police commander in the area.&nbsp;

President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said that the culprits involved in taking down the helicopter will be punished.&nbsp;

Alipoor has reportedly admitted that it was his men.&nbsp;

He was arrested in an operation in Kabul in late 2018 but was later released in return for concessions to the government following a wave of protests by his followers.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Afghan Defence Ministry on Saturday said their findings show that an air force helicopter that crashed three days ago was shot down by a local militia leader, vowing 'revenge' for the four crew members and five soldiers, who died.

The Afghan Defence Ministry on Saturday said their findings show that an air force helicopter that crashed three days ago was shot down by a local militia leader, vowing 'revenge' for the four crew members and five soldiers, who died. Ministry spokesperson Fawad Aman said that investigators determined the Mi-17 helicopter that went down in central Wardak province was targeted by the militias tied to Abdul Ghani Alipoor, reports dpa news agency. Alipoor is an ethnic Hazara militia commander, who is believed to lead hundreds of armed men in Wardak, his home province. He has taken up arms to defend his community after repeated attacks by the Taliban and Kuchis, a nomadic people in the province. Recently, the local strongman clashed with government forces in the province over the appointment of a new police commander in the area. President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said that the culprits involved in taking down the helicopter will be punished. Alipoor has reportedly admitted that it was his men. He was arrested in an operation in Kabul in late 2018 but was later released in return for concessions to the government following a wave of protests by his followers. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan army vows revenge for chopper crash 

At least nine people were killed when a military helicopter was shot down in central Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday.

The ministry of defence said earlier the aircraft had crashed in a volatile district of Wardak province, where Afghan forces and local militias have fought bitterly in recent years.

"Our helicopter was shot down... and our brave pilots were martyred," Ghani said at a ceremony at the presidential palace.

He did not say who was responsible, but warned "the perpetrators of the incident will be seriously punished".

The defence ministry said four crew and five security force members were killed.

Helicopter crashes are common in Afghanistan either due to technical problems or militant attacks.

In October last year, nine members of the Afghan military were killed when two army helicopters collided while transporting wounded soldiers in southern Helmand province.&nbsp;

The Afghan government has been battling a surge in violence across the country blamed on the Taliban, despite peace talks launched between the two sides last year.

In the Afghan capital, four people were killed and nine others were wounded in a blast targeting a bus in east Kabul on Thursday, police said.

At least nine people were killed when a military helicopter was shot down in central Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday. The ministry of defence said earlier the aircraft had crashed in a volatile district of Wardak province, where Afghan forces and local militias have fought bitterly in recent years.

At least nine people were killed when a military helicopter was shot down in central Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday. The ministry of defence said earlier the aircraft had crashed in a volatile district of Wardak province, where Afghan forces and local militias have fought bitterly in recent years. "Our helicopter was shot down... and our brave pilots were martyred," Ghani said at a ceremony at the presidential palace. He did not say who was responsible, but warned "the perpetrators of the incident will be seriously punished". The defence ministry said four crew and five security force members were killed. Helicopter crashes are common in Afghanistan either due to technical problems or militant attacks. In October last year, nine members of the Afghan military were killed when two army helicopters collided while transporting wounded soldiers in southern Helmand province. The Afghan government has been battling a surge in violence across the country blamed on the Taliban, despite peace talks launched between the two sides last year. In the Afghan capital, four people were killed and nine others were wounded in a blast targeting a bus in east Kabul on Thursday, police said.

Military helicopter was shot down, says Afghan president

A powerful car bomb near a police station on Friday night killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50 others in Afghanistan's western Herat province, officials said.

Car bomb kills at least 7, injures 50 in Afghan Herat provinc

Rasool Rezaie who despite being deported from Russia reinvents himself as a mushroom farmer. Rezaie starts cultivating Mushrooms in one room at his home, now takes 30 kg of oyster mushrooms to the market every day. WION brings the report.

Rasool Rezaie reinvents himself as a mushroom farmer in Kabul

Rasool Rezaie gently picks oyster mushrooms at his farm in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, placing them into a basket - just a handful of the approximately 30 kilograms he supplies to markets every day. Rezaie set up his farm about two years ago, after unsuccessfully attempting to claim asylum, but his current profession remains rooted in his journey and time abroad.

Afghan farmer cultivates second chance at life with mushrooms after failed asylum attempt

Afghanistan seems to be going back in time. The country has banned schoolgirls over the age of 12 from singing in public. What does this mean for girls in the country?

Gravitas: Afghanistan bans girls from singing in public

The civil liberties of Afghan women are at stake. The government of Kabul has issued a pre-controversial decree and that is schoolgirls over 12 years have been banned from public singing.

Afghanistan: Schoolgirls over 12 years banned from public singing

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