Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-prime-minister-imran-khan-arrives-in-us-ahead-of-74th-session-of-unga-251133">Imran Khan</a> on Sunday (local time) met United States' special envoy for Afghan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad.

Khan is in New York to take part in the 74th UN General Assembly session.

Dawn quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that Khalilzad "shared with the premier how far his negotiations with the Taliban had gone, the nature of the talks and what expectations he holds in the future".

In a statement here, the Pakistan Embassy said Khan and Khalilzad discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan-US joint efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister "appreciated Khalilzad's efforts for promoting a peaceful, political settlement in Afghanistan" read the statement.

"He (Imran Khan) recalled that Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. Pakistan would, therefore, continue to support all initiatives towards achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan and hoped for an early resumption of the peace process," it further read.

Pakistan has been long accused of harbouring terrorist groups which wreak havoc in Afghanistan and seek to undermine the democratic process in the country.

However, the Pakistan Embassy said that Khan condemned the recent surge of violence in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-slams-pakistan-over-imran-khans-remarks-summons-pak-diplomat-recalls-its-envoy-205858">Afghanistan</a>.

The meeting comes weeks after US President Donald Trump called off negotiations with the Taliban and cancelled a 'secret meeting' with the group's representatives at Camp David in the wake of Kabul terror attack. The calling off of negotiations was seen as a blow to Pakistan.

On September 15, Trump said it was not a "good idea" for Taliban to launch a deadly blast in Kabul, which has claimed 12 lives including an American soldier, and stated that the militant group is aware that they have committed a "big mistake".

The US has been negotiating with the Taliban in the last few months at Doha despite the group's reluctance to hold direct talks with the Afghan government, which it views as a US puppet.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday (local time) met United States' special envoy for Afghan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad. Khan is in New York to take part in the 74th UN General Assembly session.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday (local time) met United States' special envoy for Afghan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad. Khan is in New York to take part in the 74th UN General Assembly session. Dawn quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that Khalilzad "shared with the premier how far his negotiations with the Taliban had gone, the nature of the talks and what expectations he holds in the future". In a statement here, the Pakistan Embassy said Khan and Khalilzad discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan-US joint efforts for peace in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister "appreciated Khalilzad's efforts for promoting a peaceful, political settlement in Afghanistan" read the statement. "He (Imran Khan) recalled that Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. Pakistan would, therefore, continue to support all initiatives towards achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan and hoped for an early resumption of the peace process," it further read. Pakistan has been long accused of harbouring terrorist groups which wreak havoc in Afghanistan and seek to undermine the democratic process in the country. However, the Pakistan Embassy said that Khan condemned the recent surge of violence in Afghanistan. The meeting comes weeks after US President Donald Trump called off negotiations with the Taliban and cancelled a 'secret meeting' with the group's representatives at Camp David in the wake of Kabul terror attack. The calling off of negotiations was seen as a blow to Pakistan. On September 15, Trump said it was not a "good idea" for Taliban to launch a deadly blast in Kabul, which has claimed 12 lives including an American soldier, and stated that the militant group is aware that they have committed a "big mistake". The US has been negotiating with the Taliban in the last few months at Doha despite the group's reluctance to hold direct talks with the Afghan government, which it views as a US puppet.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan meets US special envoy for Afghanistan in New York

A Taliban delegation met China's special representative for Afghanistan in Beijing on Sunday to discuss the group's peace talks with the United States, a spokesman for the Islamist insurgency said.

The meeting comes after US President Donald <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-says-taliban-talks-dead-us-military-to-ramp-up-afghanistan-operations-248707">Trump's eleventh-hour cancellation </a>earlier this month of the negotiations between his country and the Taliban, which many had hoped would pave the way to a broader peace deal with the Afghan government and ending a 17-year war.

The Taliban's nine-member delegation travelled to Beijing and met Deng Xijun, China's special representative for Afghanistan, said Suhail Shaheen, the Afghan group's spokesman in Qatar, on his official Twitter account.

Qatar was where the Taliban and the United States held peace talks over the past year.

"The Chinese special representative said the US-Taliban deal is a good framework for the peaceful solution of the Afghan issue and they support it," Shaheen wrote.

Mullah Baradar, the Taliban delegation's leader, said they had held a dialogue and reached a "comprehensive deal", Shaheen tweeted.

"Now, if the US president cannot stay committed to his words and breaks his promise, then he is responsible for any kind of distraction and bloodshed in Afghanistan," Baradar said, according to Shaheen.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment, sent outside its usual operating hours. Chinese officials in Kabul also did not immediately respond to a messaged request for comment.

Afghanistan will this coming week hold its fourth presidential elections since US-led forces toppled the Taliban from power in 2001.

Those elections have gained importance since the collapse of the peace talks, as the negotiations could have led to the creation of an interim government, now a more distant prospect.

In June, before the peace talks fell apart, another Taliban team went to China to meet with the government.

At the time, a foreign ministry spokesman said China supports Afghans resolving their problems themselves through talks, and the visit was an important part of China promoting such peace talks.

China's far western Chinese region of Xinjiang shares a short border with Afghanistan.

China has long worried about links between militant groups and what it says are Islamist extremists operating in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur people, who speak a Turkic language.

China, a close ally of Pakistan, has been deepening its economic and political ties with Kabul and is also using its influence to try to bring the two uneasy neighbours closer.

A Taliban delegation met China's special representative for Afghanistan in Beijing on Sunday to discuss the group's peace talks with the United States, a spokesman for the Islamist insurgency said.

A Taliban delegation met China's special representative for Afghanistan in Beijing on Sunday to discuss the group's peace talks with the United States, a spokesman for the Islamist insurgency said. The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump's eleventh-hour cancellation earlier this month of the negotiations between his country and the Taliban, which many had hoped would pave the way to a broader peace deal with the Afghan government and ending a 17-year war. The Taliban's nine-member delegation travelled to Beijing and met Deng Xijun, China's special representative for Afghanistan, said Suhail Shaheen, the Afghan group's spokesman in Qatar, on his official Twitter account. Qatar was where the Taliban and the United States held peace talks over the past year. "The Chinese special representative said the US-Taliban deal is a good framework for the peaceful solution of the Afghan issue and they support it," Shaheen wrote. Mullah Baradar, the Taliban delegation's leader, said they had held a dialogue and reached a "comprehensive deal", Shaheen tweeted. "Now, if the US president cannot stay committed to his words and breaks his promise, then he is responsible for any kind of distraction and bloodshed in Afghanistan," Baradar said, according to Shaheen. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment, sent outside its usual operating hours. Chinese officials in Kabul also did not immediately respond to a messaged request for comment. Afghanistan will this coming week hold its fourth presidential elections since US-led forces toppled the Taliban from power in 2001. Those elections have gained importance since the collapse of the peace talks, as the negotiations could have led to the creation of an interim government, now a more distant prospect. In June, before the peace talks fell apart, another Taliban team went to China to meet with the government. At the time, a foreign ministry spokesman said China supports Afghans resolving their problems themselves through talks, and the visit was an important part of China promoting such peace talks. China's far western Chinese region of Xinjiang shares a short border with Afghanistan. China has long worried about links between militant groups and what it says are Islamist extremists operating in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur people, who speak a Turkic language. China, a close ally of Pakistan, has been deepening its economic and political ties with Kabul and is also using its influence to try to bring the two uneasy neighbours closer.

Afghanistan's Taliban meets Chinese government in Beijing

One child was killed and 11 others suffered injuries in a blast in Parwan province`s Charekar city on Saturday.

Interior Ministry`s spokesman Nusrat Rahimi has confirmed the attack and said that the Taliban was responsible for the blast, reported Tolo News.

However, the extremist outfit is yet to take responsibility for the attack, as per Pajhwok News Agency.

This comes days after the Taliban targetted an election rally of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani through a suicide attack.&nbsp;

In the attack, at least eight people were killed while 10 others were wounded.&nbsp;

One child was killed and 11 others suffered injuries in a blast in Parwan province`s Charekar city on Saturday. Interior Ministry`s spokesman Nusrat Rahimi has confirmed the attack and said that the Taliban was responsible for the blast, reported Tolo News.

One child was killed and 11 others suffered injuries in a blast in Parwan province`s Charekar city on Saturday. Interior Ministry`s spokesman Nusrat Rahimi has confirmed the attack and said that the Taliban was responsible for the blast, reported Tolo News. However, the extremist outfit is yet to take responsibility for the attack, as per Pajhwok News Agency. This comes days after the Taliban targetted an election rally of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani through a suicide attack. In the attack, at least eight people were killed while 10 others were wounded.

Afghanistan: 1 child killed, 11 others wounded in blast

In the dilapidated offices of Afghanistan's state-run film board, where old movie reels are stacked in rusting canisters, Sahraa Karimi heads the all-male team she hopes will help drag the nation's cinema from the lingering shadow of Taliban rule.

"It is a very difficult position to be in, because I came to an office that had almost nothing, destroyed, so I need to build it again," said Karimi, a 36-year-old movie director whose female-led picture "Hava, Maryam, Ayesha" premiered this month at the Venice Film Festival.

During its 1970s heyday, Afghanistan's film industry was vibrant: a slew of movies&nbsp;including the hit "Mardha Ra Qawl Ast" (Men keep their promises) dealt with themes of love, romance and power relations.

But all that ended after the Soviet invasion of 1979, as filmmakers were pushed into propaganda, and the arrival of the Taliban&nbsp;who banned film and music under their savage rule of 1996-2001.

The Islamist hardliners systematically destroyed movie reels and music tapes, smashed television sets, and anyone caught watching films faced harsh punishments including flogging.

After the Taliban's ouster, the formerly prestigious Afghan Film board was resurrected but it has long languished, largely neglected, with a string of directors and leaders accused of incompetence.

At its Kabul offices, vital documents have been tossed in the trash and its all-male staff&nbsp;some of whom once hid precious movie reels from the Taliban&nbsp;now appear to lack motivation.

"It is very challenging, but I am a person who welcomes challenges," Karimi said of the role she began in May at Afghan Film, becoming the first woman at the helm of the national film agency.

Since then, she has pushed projects aiming to bring Afghanistan's once-dynamic film industry back to life.

First film festival

Among them was a 10-day film festival where about 100 feature and documentary movies were screened at four venues across Kabul, including at Afghan Film.

The films exposed hundreds of Afghans to some of their country's cinema classics, with many seeing films for the first time.

"The film festival is a great idea because for a long time, cinemas were closed and no good movies were made," said 21-year-old festival-goer Atefa Essari.

"We didn't know our filmmakers because most of them were abroad. It is a great idea to see Afghan movies inside Afghanistan again."

Afghan Film has also recently digitised hundreds of hours of footage that includes movies and documentaries of Afghanistan before it was ravaged by violence.

Karimi, who has a doctorate in film, told AFP that the film board's staff must also take the lead in cinema's revival in Afghanistan.

"I told them that you don't need to stay in your office from 8:00 am to 4:00pm, you should go outside, you should sit under trees, you should talk to each other about everything and generate ideas," she said.

The director, who opened a cafe in the building's courtyard so they would have a place to brainstorm, leads by example.

Her film at Venice&nbsp;which has been endorsed by Angelina Jolie&nbsp;chronicles the lives of three Afghan women from various social backgrounds and the tough choices they face.

But many Afghans are still afraid the newfound freedoms people in cities like Kabul often enjoy could be taken away.

Taliban and US negotiators were until recently on the brink of a deal that would have seen the US military cut its troop presence in return for various Taliban commitments.

Despite a breakdown in talks, many Afghans are convinced the Taliban will come roaring back into power.

"They will come but we are not going to give up and we will fight," Karimi said.

In the dilapidated offices of Afghanistan's state-run film board, where old movie reels are stacked in rusting canisters, Sahraa Karimi heads the all-male team she hopes will help drag the nation's cinema from the lingering shadow of Taliban rule.

In the dilapidated offices of Afghanistan's state-run film board, where old movie reels are stacked in rusting canisters, Sahraa Karimi heads the all-male team she hopes will help drag the nation's cinema from the lingering shadow of Taliban rule. "It is a very difficult position to be in, because I came to an office that had almost nothing, destroyed, so I need to build it again," said Karimi, a 36-year-old movie director whose female-led picture "Hava, Maryam, Ayesha" premiered this month at the Venice Film Festival. During its 1970s heyday, Afghanistan's film industry was vibrant: a slew of movies including the hit "Mardha Ra Qawl Ast" (Men keep their promises) dealt with themes of love, romance and power relations. But all that ended after the Soviet invasion of 1979, as filmmakers were pushed into propaganda, and the arrival of the Taliban who banned film and music under their savage rule of 1996-2001. The Islamist hardliners systematically destroyed movie reels and music tapes, smashed television sets, and anyone caught watching films faced harsh punishments including flogging. After the Taliban's ouster, the formerly prestigious Afghan Film board was resurrected but it has long languished, largely neglected, with a string of directors and leaders accused of incompetence. At its Kabul offices, vital documents have been tossed in the trash and its all-male staff some of whom once hid precious movie reels from the Taliban now appear to lack motivation. "It is very challenging, but I am a person who welcomes challenges," Karimi said of the role she began in May at Afghan Film, becoming the first woman at the helm of the national film agency. Since then, she has pushed projects aiming to bring Afghanistan's once-dynamic film industry back to life. First film festival Among them was a 10-day film festival where about 100 feature and documentary movies were screened at four venues across Kabul, including at Afghan Film. The films exposed hundreds of Afghans to some of their country's cinema classics, with many seeing films for the first time. "The film festival is a great idea because for a long time, cinemas were closed and no good movies were made," said 21-year-old festival-goer Atefa Essari. "We didn't know our filmmakers because most of them were abroad. It is a great idea to see Afghan movies inside Afghanistan again." Afghan Film has also recently digitised hundreds of hours of footage that includes movies and documentaries of Afghanistan before it was ravaged by violence. Karimi, who has a doctorate in film, told AFP that the film board's staff must also take the lead in cinema's revival in Afghanistan. "I told them that you don't need to stay in your office from 8:00 am to 4:00pm, you should go outside, you should sit under trees, you should talk to each other about everything and generate ideas," she said. The director, who opened a cafe in the building's courtyard so they would have a place to brainstorm, leads by example. Her film at Venice which has been endorsed by Angelina Jolie chronicles the lives of three Afghan women from various social backgrounds and the tough choices they face. But many Afghans are still afraid the newfound freedoms people in cities like Kabul often enjoy could be taken away. Taliban and US negotiators were until recently on the brink of a deal that would have seen the US military cut its troop presence in return for various Taliban commitments. Despite a breakdown in talks, many Afghans are convinced the Taliban will come roaring back into power. "They will come but we are not going to give up and we will fight," Karimi said.

Director's cut: The Afghan woman making waves at all-male film board

The death toll from a massive <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/10-killed-in-car-bomb-attack-in-southern-afghanistan-governor-250502">Taliban bomb attack</a> which flattened a hospital in southern Afghanistan earlier this week has risen to at least 39, officials said Friday.

The jump in the toll from the blast, which took place in the town of Qalat in Zabul province on Thursday, takes the total number of people killed in just three days of violence across the war-torn country this week to at least 91.

"The toll from the hospital attack in Qalat has jumped to 39 killed, 140 others wounded," Gul Islam Seyal, the spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

Earlier, authorities had said the blast had killed 20 people.

Another official put the toll even higher Friday, at 41.

The surge in violence, with civilians paying the heaviest price, has come after US President Donald Trump called off talks with the Taliban that could have seen Washington begin withdrawing troops, and as the country gears up for a presidential election.

The insurgents responded to Trump's declaration that the talks were "dead" earlier this month by promising to continue fighting, and have vowed to target the September 28 polls.

But they also left the door open for talks to resume. The White House has said the talks will not continue if the violence does, but the Taliban have argued that the US is also killing people in Afghanistan.

Thursday's bloodshed began with the Qalat bomb near dawn.

Hours later, reports emerged of an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province said to have killed at least nine civilians.

"US forces conducted a precision strike against Da'esh terrorists in Nangarhar early (on September 19)," Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, said in a statement on Friday, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State militant group.

"We are aware of allegations of the death of non-combatants and are working with local officials to determine the facts to ensure this is not a ploy to deflect attention from the civilians murdered by the Taliban at a hospital in Zabul earlier."

The strike came just hours after four people were killed on Wednesday when unknown gunmen and a suicide bomber stormed a government building in nearby Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar.

On Tuesday, the Taliban killed nearly 50 people in two separate attacks -- one at a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in the central province of Parwan, and the other in Kabul.

Ordinary Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, with more civilians killed in 2018 than during any other year on record, according to the United Nations.

The death toll from a massive Taliban bomb attack which flattened a hospital in southern Afghanistan earlier this week has risen to at least 39, officials said Friday.

The death toll from a massive Taliban bomb attack which flattened a hospital in southern Afghanistan earlier this week has risen to at least 39, officials said Friday. The jump in the toll from the blast, which took place in the town of Qalat in Zabul province on Thursday, takes the total number of people killed in just three days of violence across the war-torn country this week to at least 91. "The toll from the hospital attack in Qalat has jumped to 39 killed, 140 others wounded," Gul Islam Seyal, the spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. Earlier, authorities had said the blast had killed 20 people. Another official put the toll even higher Friday, at 41. The surge in violence, with civilians paying the heaviest price, has come after US President Donald Trump called off talks with the Taliban that could have seen Washington begin withdrawing troops, and as the country gears up for a presidential election. The insurgents responded to Trump's declaration that the talks were "dead" earlier this month by promising to continue fighting, and have vowed to target the September 28 polls. But they also left the door open for talks to resume. The White House has said the talks will not continue if the violence does, but the Taliban have argued that the US is also killing people in Afghanistan. Thursday's bloodshed began with the Qalat bomb near dawn. Hours later, reports emerged of an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province said to have killed at least nine civilians. "US forces conducted a precision strike against Da'esh terrorists in Nangarhar early (on September 19)," Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, said in a statement on Friday, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State militant group. "We are aware of allegations of the death of non-combatants and are working with local officials to determine the facts to ensure this is not a ploy to deflect attention from the civilians murdered by the Taliban at a hospital in Zabul earlier." The strike came just hours after four people were killed on Wednesday when unknown gunmen and a suicide bomber stormed a government building in nearby Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar. On Tuesday, the Taliban killed nearly 50 people in two separate attacks -- one at a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in the central province of Parwan, and the other in Kabul. Ordinary Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, with more civilians killed in 2018 than during any other year on record, according to the United Nations.

Afghanistan: Death toll from Taliban bomb attack rises to 39

The biggest victim of the US-led <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-drone-strike-kills-30-civilians-in-afghanistan-40-injured-250672">military actions</a> in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-accuses-afghan-govt-of-not-fighting-corruption-cuts-aid-250660">Afghanistan</a> are the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/10-killed-in-car-bomb-attack-in-southern-afghanistan-governor-250502">civilians,</a> a political analyst told China Central Television in a recent interview.

The statement made by Afghan political analyst Wahid Mozhda is proved once again after a drone airstrike led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) killed 18 residents and injured six others in the eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, according to the Afghan police.

According to the police, the victims were harvesting pine nuts at the time of the attack, which the NATO-led coalition force said was targeting a suspected hideout of extremists.

Watch: US to withdraw funds from Afghanistan

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-to-withdraw-funds-from-afghanistan-250700/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Data from the United Nations show that in 2018, the NATO-led airstrikes killed 393 and injured 239 civilians in Afghanistan.

As for such a condition, many common Afghan people and experts on the country's affairs believe that the U.S. military actions in that country is meant to pursuit its interests without considering what might happen to the Afghan people.

"The US tries to pursuit its own interests through turmoils and wars. This happens not only in Afghanistan but also in other countries like Syria and Iraq. All the countries have been destroyed after the US&nbsp;intervention. They try to pursue interests through wars. If they want peace, why do they use weapons?" said Khetob Hekemy, a resident in Kabul.

As for the sufferings of Afghan people, Mozhda hopes the international media could give more coverage, as few of them have covered these attacks.

"During the 18 years, what they've done in Afghanistan? what they've made? They killed more than half a million Afghan people during these 18 years. But nobody says [anything] about this. And the international community, every time they complain about the Taliban, but never say anything about the killing of civilians all over Afghanistan," said Mozhda.

The biggest victim of the US-led military actions in Afghanistan are the civilians, a political analyst told China Central Television in a recent interview. The statement made by Afghan political analyst Wahid Mozhda is proved once again after a drone airstrike led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) killed 18 residents and injured six others in the eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, according to the Afghan police.

The biggest victim of the US-led military actions in Afghanistan are the civilians, a political analyst told China Central Television in a recent interview. The statement made by Afghan political analyst Wahid Mozhda is proved once again after a drone airstrike led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) killed 18 residents and injured six others in the eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, according to the Afghan police. According to the police, the victims were harvesting pine nuts at the time of the attack, which the NATO-led coalition force said was targeting a suspected hideout of extremists. Watch: US to withdraw funds from Afghanistan Data from the United Nations show that in 2018, the NATO-led airstrikes killed 393 and injured 239 civilians in Afghanistan. As for such a condition, many common Afghan people and experts on the country's affairs believe that the U.S. military actions in that country is meant to pursuit its interests without considering what might happen to the Afghan people. "The US tries to pursuit its own interests through turmoils and wars. This happens not only in Afghanistan but also in other countries like Syria and Iraq. All the countries have been destroyed after the US intervention. They try to pursue interests through wars. If they want peace, why do they use weapons?" said Khetob Hekemy, a resident in Kabul. As for the sufferings of Afghan people, Mozhda hopes the international media could give more coverage, as few of them have covered these attacks. "During the 18 years, what they've done in Afghanistan? what they've made? They killed more than half a million Afghan people during these 18 years. But nobody says [anything] about this. And the international community, every time they complain about the Taliban, but never say anything about the killing of civilians all over Afghanistan," said Mozhda.

Civilians fall victim to US-led military actions in Afghanistan: Analyst

Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. will withdraw the funds worth $100 Mn from Afghanistan due to corruption as Afghanistan failed to meet accountability standards. Watch this video to know more.

U.S. to withdraw funds from Afghanistan

A Taliban truck bomb killed at least 20 people and wounded 95 others when it exploded near a hospital in southern Afghanistan, an official said.

The blast in Zabul was just the latest in a string of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-4-killed-after-gunmen-attack-government-building-following-suicide-bombing-in-jalalabad-250490">deadly Taliban bombings </a>across Afghanistan this week as violence intensifies after US President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the Taliban over an American withdrawal from the country.

"This morning a car bomb targeted the NDS (National Directorate of Security) in Qalat of Zabul. The regional hospital of Zabul was also located there and has been destroyed in the attack," said Rahmatullah Yarmal.

Atta Jan Haqbayan, the head of Zabul's provincial council, gave a higher death toll, saying 20 people had been killed in the attack and another 90 wounded.

The bombing was later claimed by a Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, who said the attack was against the National Directorate of Security and had killed intelligence officers.

Watch: Afghan city of Qalat attacked by Taliban

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/car-bomb-kills-10-in-afghanistan-attack-250513/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump's declaration earlier this month that the talks were "dead" spurred the Taliban to declare last week that the only other option was more fighting, sparking fears of an uptick in attacks ahead of presidential elections at the end of the month.&nbsp;

Earlier this week, the Taliban killed nearly 50 people and wounded dozens more in two separate attacks -- one near a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in the central province of Parwan, and one in Kabul.

The militants have vowed to disrupt the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for September 28, in which President Ashraf Ghani is taking on his own Chief Executive, Abdullah Abdullah, and more than a dozen other candidates.

The winner is hoping for a mandate to negotiate with the Taliban for a lasting peace in the country suffering from decades of violence.&nbsp;

The insurgents, however, are set on undermining the legitimacy of the process and keeping the president weak.&nbsp;

But even as fighting rages, the Taliban have also continued to voice their belief that the US will eventually return to the table for more negotiations.

Chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai reiterated that stance in an interview with BBC earlier this week, stating "our doors are open for negotiations".

Trump has been eager to end America's longest war, launched nearly 18 years ago after the September 11 attacks on the US.

But he has also accused the Taliban of bad faith for launching an attack in Kabul that killed a US soldier, and others, ahead of a scheduled sit down at Camp David that was later cancelled by Trump.

A Taliban truck bomb killed at least 20 people and wounded 95 others when it exploded near a hospital in southern Afghanistan, an official said. The blast in Zabul was just the latest in a string of deadly Taliban bombings across Afghanistan this week as violence intensifies after US President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the Taliban over an American withdrawal from the country.

A Taliban truck bomb killed at least 20 people and wounded 95 others when it exploded near a hospital in southern Afghanistan, an official said. The blast in Zabul was just the latest in a string of deadly Taliban bombings across Afghanistan this week as violence intensifies after US President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the Taliban over an American withdrawal from the country. "This morning a car bomb targeted the NDS (National Directorate of Security) in Qalat of Zabul. The regional hospital of Zabul was also located there and has been destroyed in the attack," said Rahmatullah Yarmal. Atta Jan Haqbayan, the head of Zabul's provincial council, gave a higher death toll, saying 20 people had been killed in the attack and another 90 wounded. The bombing was later claimed by a Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, who said the attack was against the National Directorate of Security and had killed intelligence officers. Watch: Afghan city of Qalat attacked by Taliban Trump's declaration earlier this month that the talks were "dead" spurred the Taliban to declare last week that the only other option was more fighting, sparking fears of an uptick in attacks ahead of presidential elections at the end of the month. Earlier this week, the Taliban killed nearly 50 people and wounded dozens more in two separate attacks -- one near a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in the central province of Parwan, and one in Kabul. The militants have vowed to disrupt the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for September 28, in which President Ashraf Ghani is taking on his own Chief Executive, Abdullah Abdullah, and more than a dozen other candidates. The winner is hoping for a mandate to negotiate with the Taliban for a lasting peace in the country suffering from decades of violence. The insurgents, however, are set on undermining the legitimacy of the process and keeping the president weak. But even as fighting rages, the Taliban have also continued to voice their belief that the US will eventually return to the table for more negotiations. Chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai reiterated that stance in an interview with BBC earlier this week, stating "our doors are open for negotiations". Trump has been eager to end America's longest war, launched nearly 18 years ago after the September 11 attacks on the US. But he has also accused the Taliban of bad faith for launching an attack in Kabul that killed a US soldier, and others, ahead of a scheduled sit down at Camp David that was later cancelled by Trump.

Taliban car bomb attack kills at least 20 in southern Afghanistan: Official

Car Bomb Kills 10 In Afghanistan Attack. Watch video to know more.

Car Bomb Kills 10 In Afghanistan Attack

At least four people were killed and a dozen injured when gunmen stormed a crowded government building in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday following a suicide bombing, with desperate survivors leaping from windows to escape the fighting, witnesses and officials said.

Security forces rushed to the scene after armed men attacked the office in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, in the latest violence to hit the war-torn country as it gears up for a presidential election on September 28.

Terrified children at a nearby school climbed over walls to get further away from the fighting.

A provincial spokesman, Ataullah Khogyani, said a suicide bomber had initially detonated explosives, after which the gunmen attacked.

Security forces fought to clear the building for several hours before declaring all three gunmen dead, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said roughly six hours after the attack began.&nbsp;

Witnesses and an AFP reporter could hear gunshots immediately after the initial blast.

One of the centre's employees, Haji Qudrat, described the moment one of the gunmen entered his office.

"After the explosion, we heard small gunfire in our corridor, then a man entered our office with a gun and started shooting," he told AFP from a hospital in Jalalabad, where he was receiving treatment for a wounded leg.

"I jumped out the window. Some of our friends are either killed or wounded."

Qudrat said there had been around 200 people inside the centre when the bomber detonated -- 80 employees, and the rest people waiting to receive their national electronic identity cards, or "tazkiras".

"I was in class when I heard a big explosion followed by intense gunfire," said Mohammad Ullah, a teacher at a nearby school.

"The kids started crying so we had to vacate the school. We jumped over the walls to take the students to a safer place," he told AFP.&nbsp;

No group has claimed the attack. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are active in Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan.&nbsp;

Door 'open' for talks

The assault came a day after the Taliban killed nearly 50 people and wounded dozens more in two separate attacks -- one near a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in the central province of Parwan, and one in Kabul.&nbsp;

The militants have vowed to disrupt the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for September 28, in which Ghani is taking on his own Chief Executive, Abdullah Abdullah, and more than a dozen other candidates.

The winner is hoping for a mandate to negotiate with the Taliban for lasting peace in the country suffering from decades of violence.&nbsp;

But the insurgents want to undermine the legitimacy of the process and keep the president weak.&nbsp;

"We already warned people not to attend election rallies. If they suffer any losses that is their own responsibility," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement released after Tuesday's blasts.

They have also promised more violence after US President Donald Trump called off talks earlier this month seeking a deal that would have allowed Washington to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, site of America's longest war.

"The president has made clear that he will not negotiate a peace agreement while the Taliban continues such attacks," a White House statement condemning Tuesday's blasts said.&nbsp;

But the militants have also repeatedly voiced their belief that the US will eventually have to return to the table for more negotiations.

Chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai reiterated that stance in an interview with the BBC hours after Tuesday's attacks, stating "our doors are open for negotiations".

He also defended Taliban violence during the months of talks, arguing that the Americans had also admitted to killing thousands of Taliban during the discussions.

At least four people were killed and a dozen injured when gunmen stormed a crowded government building in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday following a suicide bombing, with desperate survivors leaping from windows to escape the fighting, witnesses and officials said.

At least four people were killed and a dozen injured when gunmen stormed a crowded government building in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday following a suicide bombing, with desperate survivors leaping from windows to escape the fighting, witnesses and officials said. Security forces rushed to the scene after armed men attacked the office in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, in the latest violence to hit the war-torn country as it gears up for a presidential election on September 28. Terrified children at a nearby school climbed over walls to get further away from the fighting. A provincial spokesman, Ataullah Khogyani, said a suicide bomber had initially detonated explosives, after which the gunmen attacked. Security forces fought to clear the building for several hours before declaring all three gunmen dead, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said roughly six hours after the attack began. Witnesses and an AFP reporter could hear gunshots immediately after the initial blast. One of the centre's employees, Haji Qudrat, described the moment one of the gunmen entered his office. "After the explosion, we heard small gunfire in our corridor, then a man entered our office with a gun and started shooting," he told AFP from a hospital in Jalalabad, where he was receiving treatment for a wounded leg. "I jumped out the window. Some of our friends are either killed or wounded." Qudrat said there had been around 200 people inside the centre when the bomber detonated -- 80 employees, and the rest people waiting to receive their national electronic identity cards, or "tazkiras". "I was in class when I heard a big explosion followed by intense gunfire," said Mohammad Ullah, a teacher at a nearby school. "The kids started crying so we had to vacate the school. We jumped over the walls to take the students to a safer place," he told AFP. No group has claimed the attack. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are active in Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan. Door 'open' for talks The assault came a day after the Taliban killed nearly 50 people and wounded dozens more in two separate attacks -- one near a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in the central province of Parwan, and one in Kabul. The militants have vowed to disrupt the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for September 28, in which Ghani is taking on his own Chief Executive, Abdullah Abdullah, and more than a dozen other candidates. The winner is hoping for a mandate to negotiate with the Taliban for lasting peace in the country suffering from decades of violence. But the insurgents want to undermine the legitimacy of the process and keep the president weak. "We already warned people not to attend election rallies. If they suffer any losses that is their own responsibility," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement released after Tuesday's blasts. They have also promised more violence after US President Donald Trump called off talks earlier this month seeking a deal that would have allowed Washington to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, site of America's longest war. "The president has made clear that he will not negotiate a peace agreement while the Taliban continues such attacks," a White House statement condemning Tuesday's blasts said. But the militants have also repeatedly voiced their belief that the US will eventually have to return to the table for more negotiations. Chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai reiterated that stance in an interview with the BBC hours after Tuesday's attacks, stating "our doors are open for negotiations". He also defended Taliban violence during the months of talks, arguing that the Americans had also admitted to killing thousands of Taliban during the discussions.

Afghanistan: 4 killed after gunmen attack government building following suicide bombing in Jalalabad

The&nbsp;United States on Thursday accused Afghanistan's government of failing to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/10-killed-in-car-bomb-attack-in-southern-afghanistan-governor-250502">fight corruption</a> and cut more than $160 million in direct funding, little over a week before the country's elections.

"We stand against those who exploit their positions of power and influence to deprive the Afghan people of the benefits of foreign assistance and a more prosperous future," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

Pompeo said that the United States was suspending work with the Afghan body in charge of monitoring corruption as it is "incapable of being a partner."

"We expect the Afghan government to demonstrate a clear commitment to fight corruption, to serve the Afghan people and to maintain their trust," he said. &nbsp;

"Afghan leaders who fail to meet this standard should be held accountable."

Pompeo said the United States was taking back $100 million committed for a major energy project, saying that Washington would instead fund it directly rather than sending the money to Afghan authorities.

He also said the United States would withhold $60 million in planned assistance to Afghanistan's procurement authority.

While Washington has long complained of graft in Afghanistan, the last-minute criticism comes after friction with President Ashraf Ghani over US talks with the Taliban.

Ghani, who is up for re-election on September 28, voiced strong concern over a draft accord with the Taliban under which the United States would withdraw troops.

President Donald Trump, who had invited Ghani and the Taliban to the United States, eventually declared the talks dead, citing an attack by the insurgents that killed a US soldier.

Trump has been eager to pull out troops and end America's longest-ever war, launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks. 
&nbsp;

The United States on Thursday accused Afghanistan's government of failing to fight corruption and cut more than $160 million in direct funding, little over a week before the country's elections.

The United States on Thursday accused Afghanistan's government of failing to fight corruption and cut more than $160 million in direct funding, little over a week before the country's elections. "We stand against those who exploit their positions of power and influence to deprive the Afghan people of the benefits of foreign assistance and a more prosperous future," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. Pompeo said that the United States was suspending work with the Afghan body in charge of monitoring corruption as it is "incapable of being a partner." "We expect the Afghan government to demonstrate a clear commitment to fight corruption, to serve the Afghan people and to maintain their trust," he said. "Afghan leaders who fail to meet this standard should be held accountable." Pompeo said the United States was taking back $100 million committed for a major energy project, saying that Washington would instead fund it directly rather than sending the money to Afghan authorities. He also said the United States would withhold $60 million in planned assistance to Afghanistan's procurement authority. While Washington has long complained of graft in Afghanistan, the last-minute criticism comes after friction with President Ashraf Ghani over US talks with the Taliban. Ghani, who is up for re-election on September 28, voiced strong concern over a draft accord with the Taliban under which the United States would withdraw troops. President Donald Trump, who had invited Ghani and the Taliban to the United States, eventually declared the talks dead, citing an attack by the insurgents that killed a US soldier. Trump has been eager to pull out troops and end America's longest-ever war, launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

US accuses Afghan government of not fighting corruption, cuts aid

A Taliban truck bomb devastated a hospital in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing at least 20 people and injured more than 90.

WION Dispatch: Taliban truck bomb kills at least 20 people in Afghanistan

Taliban truck bomb kills at least 20 people in Qalat city of Afghanistan

At least 26 people were killed and dozens wounded in two Taliban attacks on September 17 in Afghanistan.

Taliban Attack Kills At Least 26 In Afghanistan

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 18th, 2019

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his government would try to revive Afghanistan peace talks that recently broke down between the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-now-dead-us-taliban-talks-lacked-strategic-vision-248969">United States and the Taliban</a> militant group.

"I assure you that we will use full force so that these dialogues proceed further. It is unfortunate that these peace talks were suspended," Khan said at a ceremony at Pakistan's Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan.

"We will try our best to revive the Afghan peace process."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/american-trust-in-pakistan-and-taliban-difficult-to-comprehend-249470">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> abruptly cancelled secret talks with the Taliban at his Camp David retreat that were planned for September&nbsp;8 and has since said the talks are "dead."

Khan is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly this month.

Khan also said there was "no chance of talks" with India about its clampdown on the disputed territory of Kashmir until it lifted a curfew for people there.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his government would try to revive Afghanistan peace talks that recently broke down between the United States and the Taliban militant group.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his government would try to revive Afghanistan peace talks that recently broke down between the United States and the Taliban militant group. "I assure you that we will use full force so that these dialogues proceed further. It is unfortunate that these peace talks were suspended," Khan said at a ceremony at Pakistan's Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan. "We will try our best to revive the Afghan peace process." US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled secret talks with the Taliban at his Camp David retreat that were planned for September 8 and has since said the talks are "dead." Khan is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly this month. Khan also said there was "no chance of talks" with India about its clampdown on the disputed territory of Kashmir until it lifted a curfew for people there.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan aims to restart Afghan peace talks

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had no more than 20 minutes to study a draft accord between the United States and the Taliban on pulling thousands of US troops out of his country, but upcoming elections could put him back at the heart of talks to end decades of war.

What he read in the draft outlining the now collapsed deal left <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-attacks-kill-48-afghan-leader-unhurt-as-bomber-targets-rally-250239">Ghani and his officials</a> - who were shut out of the talks by the Taliban refusal to negotiate with what they considered an illegitimate "puppet" regime - badly shaken and resentful, said a senior Kabul official close to the Afghan leader.

"Doesn't this look like surrender to the Taliban?" Ghani asked Zalmay Khalilzad, the veteran Afghan-born diplomat who led negotiations for Washington, at a meeting the two held immediately afterwards, according to the source who was present.

The Islamist militant group that ruled Afghanistan for five years has killed thousands of Afghan soldiers and civilians since it was toppled by US-led forces in 2001, and the attacks have continued throughout its negotiations with Washington.

In response to Ghani's doubts, the Afghan official said Khalilzad replied: "This is the best deal we will ever have".

The US State Department declined to comment on the meeting. Khalilzad was unavailable for comment.

It was not the Afghan government's misgivings that sank the deal - US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled secret talks with the Taliban at his Camp David retreat that were planned for September 8 and has since said the talks are "dead".

But for the Afghan government, that may be an opportunity get back in the game and shape the future direction of the peace process.

A presidential election, which the Taliban and even many Western officials had wanted to cancel to focus on sealing the peace accord, is now expected to go ahead on September 28. Ghani is favourite to win, leaving him well-placed to claim a popular mandate to set the terms of any new agreement with the Taliban.

"Now, the management of the peace process, its planning and implementation is the sole duty of the government of Afghanistan," Ghani told an election rally last week. "I will implement that."

The Taliban has vowed to violently disrupt the election and on Tuesday killed nearly 50 people in twin suicide bombings, one targeting a Ghani election rally.

Future talks?

Afghan officials say the view in Kabul was that the US deal offered too many concessions to the Taliban while getting nothing in return, and left the Afghan government, supposedly America's ally, swinging in the wind.

The disagreement illustrates the deep split that developed between the United States and the government over any peace deal and underlines how hard it has been for them to present a united front in dealing with Taliban negotiators.

The deal's collapse has also damaged the credibility of Khalilzad, say Afghan officials and Western diplomats in Kabul who have been following the talks closely. His future is now in doubt and it is still unclear whether talks can be revived.

The State Department declined to respond to requests for comment on Reuters' questions concerning the future of the talks and the criticisms of the draft deal.

The commander of US forces in Afghanistan has said the Taliban "overplayed their hand" in the negotiations and that the pace of US military operations was likely to pick up.

Trump's decision to fire his hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton has added a further complication, and some in Washington fear the election will make it harder for talks to be revived before next year's US presidential election.

If talks are resumed, Ghani's officials say Khalilzad's format of holding separate negotiations with the Taliban as a preliminary step to later talks between Afghan participants in the conflict cannot be repeated.

Instead, the government will press for a sequence that would see a ceasefire followed by direct talks with the Taliban, leading to credible security guarantees. Only then would US troops be withdrawn.

"The government needs to be on board if there is a deal in the future," the Afghan official said.

"Major failure''

Under the draft accord, some 5,000 American troops would be withdrawn in exchange for assurances that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militant attacks against the United States and its allies. That would leave roughly 9,000 stationed there.

But the senior Afghan official said many of the details of what would happen once the withdrawal took place were unclear.

"There was no concrete discussion, nothing, no discussion at all," the senior Afghan official said.

From Ghani's point of view, Taliban assurances that they would not allow militant groups such as Al Qaeda to operate in Afghanistan were worthless, given the formal oaths of loyalty that bound them.

Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri pledged allegiance to Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada in 2016.

At the same time, intelligence reports showed Taliban field commanders confident of victory and eager to fight on.

While Khalilzad spoke with clarity about plans to withdraw thousands of US troops, the senior Afghan official said the fate of future "intra-Afghan" talks that would decide a final peace settlement with the Taliban was less clear.

"It was a major failure of the deal that Khalilzad could not convince the Taliban to enter into direct negotiation with the Afghan government," the Afghan official said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had no more than 20 minutes to study a draft accord between the United States and the Taliban on pulling thousands of US troops out of his country, but upcoming elections could put him back at the heart of talks to end decades of war.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had no more than 20 minutes to study a draft accord between the United States and the Taliban on pulling thousands of US troops out of his country, but upcoming elections could put him back at the heart of talks to end decades of war. What he read in the draft outlining the now collapsed deal left Ghani and his officials - who were shut out of the talks by the Taliban refusal to negotiate with what they considered an illegitimate "puppet" regime - badly shaken and resentful, said a senior Kabul official close to the Afghan leader. "Doesn't this look like surrender to the Taliban?" Ghani asked Zalmay Khalilzad, the veteran Afghan-born diplomat who led negotiations for Washington, at a meeting the two held immediately afterwards, according to the source who was present. The Islamist militant group that ruled Afghanistan for five years has killed thousands of Afghan soldiers and civilians since it was toppled by US-led forces in 2001, and the attacks have continued throughout its negotiations with Washington. In response to Ghani's doubts, the Afghan official said Khalilzad replied: "This is the best deal we will ever have". The US State Department declined to comment on the meeting. Khalilzad was unavailable for comment. It was not the Afghan government's misgivings that sank the deal - US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled secret talks with the Taliban at his Camp David retreat that were planned for September 8 and has since said the talks are "dead". But for the Afghan government, that may be an opportunity get back in the game and shape the future direction of the peace process. A presidential election, which the Taliban and even many Western officials had wanted to cancel to focus on sealing the peace accord, is now expected to go ahead on September 28. Ghani is favourite to win, leaving him well-placed to claim a popular mandate to set the terms of any new agreement with the Taliban. "Now, the management of the peace process, its planning and implementation is the sole duty of the government of Afghanistan," Ghani told an election rally last week. "I will implement that." The Taliban has vowed to violently disrupt the election and on Tuesday killed nearly 50 people in twin suicide bombings, one targeting a Ghani election rally. Future talks? Afghan officials say the view in Kabul was that the US deal offered too many concessions to the Taliban while getting nothing in return, and left the Afghan government, supposedly America's ally, swinging in the wind. The disagreement illustrates the deep split that developed between the United States and the government over any peace deal and underlines how hard it has been for them to present a united front in dealing with Taliban negotiators. The deal's collapse has also damaged the credibility of Khalilzad, say Afghan officials and Western diplomats in Kabul who have been following the talks closely. His future is now in doubt and it is still unclear whether talks can be revived. The State Department declined to respond to requests for comment on Reuters' questions concerning the future of the talks and the criticisms of the draft deal. The commander of US forces in Afghanistan has said the Taliban "overplayed their hand" in the negotiations and that the pace of US military operations was likely to pick up. Trump's decision to fire his hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton has added a further complication, and some in Washington fear the election will make it harder for talks to be revived before next year's US presidential election. If talks are resumed, Ghani's officials say Khalilzad's format of holding separate negotiations with the Taliban as a preliminary step to later talks between Afghan participants in the conflict cannot be repeated. Instead, the government will press for a sequence that would see a ceasefire followed by direct talks with the Taliban, leading to credible security guarantees. Only then would US troops be withdrawn. "The government needs to be on board if there is a deal in the future," the Afghan official said. "Major failure'' Under the draft accord, some 5,000 American troops would be withdrawn in exchange for assurances that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militant attacks against the United States and its allies. That would leave roughly 9,000 stationed there. But the senior Afghan official said many of the details of what would happen once the withdrawal took place were unclear. "There was no concrete discussion, nothing, no discussion at all," the senior Afghan official said. From Ghani's point of view, Taliban assurances that they would not allow militant groups such as Al Qaeda to operate in Afghanistan were worthless, given the formal oaths of loyalty that bound them. Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri pledged allegiance to Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada in 2016. At the same time, intelligence reports showed Taliban field commanders confident of victory and eager to fight on. While Khalilzad spoke with clarity about plans to withdraw thousands of US troops, the senior Afghan official said the fate of future "intra-Afghan" talks that would decide a final peace settlement with the Taliban was less clear. "It was a major failure of the deal that Khalilzad could not convince the Taliban to enter into direct negotiation with the Afghan government," the Afghan official said.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani seeks opportunity in upcoming elections after collapse of US-Taliban talks

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-open-to-new-talks-with-united-states-after-bloody-attacks-250356">Afghanistan's Taliban</a> insurgent group on Wednesday warned teachers, students and other education workers to avoid the upcoming presidential vote or risk dying in attacks on election centres.

"Do not allow election organisers to turn your schools and institutions into electoral centres, and teachers and students should not work as electoral staff," said the Taliban statement.

"We do not want to cause the loss of lives and financial losses for civilians, teachers and students," it said.

In 10 days, Afghanistan will hold its fourth presidential election since United States-led forces toppled the hardline Islamist Taliban from power in 2001. The insurgents have sworn to violently disrupt the vote, which comes in the aftermath of collapsed peace talks between the militants and the United States.

Schools and universities make up between seven and eight out of every ten polling centres across the country, and though no students, teachers or education officials are being hired as election workers, they can volunteer, said Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's election commission.

"We are committed to holding elections on the announced date, and such threats from the Taliban cannot prevent us from holding them," the spokesman said.

The Ministry of Education was not immediately available for comment, but the United Nations and international donors have asked it to help with elections because of its relatively developed infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Taliban attackers killed nearly 50 people in separate suicide bombings, one targeting an election rally for incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, who is seeking a second five-year term.

Security across the country has been tight in the run-up to the vote, after threats by the Taliban to attack meetings and polling stations. The group has vowed to intensify clashes with Afghan and foreign forces to dissuade people from voting in the upcoming elections.

Last week, peace talks between the United States and the Taliban collapsed. The two sides had been seeking to reach an accord on the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the insurgents.

The negotiations, which did not include the Afghan government, were intended as a prelude to wider peace negotiations to end more than more 40 years of war in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's Taliban insurgent group on Wednesday warned teachers, students and other education workers to avoid the upcoming presidential vote or risk dying in attacks on election centres.

Afghanistan's Taliban insurgent group on Wednesday warned teachers, students and other education workers to avoid the upcoming presidential vote or risk dying in attacks on election centres. "Do not allow election organisers to turn your schools and institutions into electoral centres, and teachers and students should not work as electoral staff," said the Taliban statement. "We do not want to cause the loss of lives and financial losses for civilians, teachers and students," it said. In 10 days, Afghanistan will hold its fourth presidential election since United States-led forces toppled the hardline Islamist Taliban from power in 2001. The insurgents have sworn to violently disrupt the vote, which comes in the aftermath of collapsed peace talks between the militants and the United States. Schools and universities make up between seven and eight out of every ten polling centres across the country, and though no students, teachers or education officials are being hired as election workers, they can volunteer, said Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's election commission. "We are committed to holding elections on the announced date, and such threats from the Taliban cannot prevent us from holding them," the spokesman said. The Ministry of Education was not immediately available for comment, but the United Nations and international donors have asked it to help with elections because of its relatively developed infrastructure. On Tuesday, Taliban attackers killed nearly 50 people in separate suicide bombings, one targeting an election rally for incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, who is seeking a second five-year term. Security across the country has been tight in the run-up to the vote, after threats by the Taliban to attack meetings and polling stations. The group has vowed to intensify clashes with Afghan and foreign forces to dissuade people from voting in the upcoming elections. Last week, peace talks between the United States and the Taliban collapsed. The two sides had been seeking to reach an accord on the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the insurgents. The negotiations, which did not include the Afghan government, were intended as a prelude to wider peace negotiations to end more than more 40 years of war in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's Taliban tells teachers, students to block presidential elections or risk death

China and the United States are deadlocked over a UN resolution to extend a mission in Afghanistan, with Beijing signalling it will cast a veto because there is no reference to its Belt and Road project, diplomats said on Monday.

A planned vote on Monday by the 15-member Security Council to renew the UN mission, known as UNAMA, was delayed to Tuesday to allow for more negotiations.

The mission's mandate expires on Tuesday.

To pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain.

Ahead of the postponement, diplomats said China was expected to veto a resolution drafted by Germany and Indonesia that did not include a reference to its global Belt and Road infrastructure project.

China's UN&nbsp;mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China was then planning to propose a vote on a short draft resolution, known as a technical rollover, to allow the mission to keep operating, diplomats said.

But they added it could fail to get the nine votes needed to pass because several council members were considering abstaining.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she "did not know where this news had come from".

The situation in Afghanistan was at a crucial stage and China supported UNAMA - the UN&nbsp;Assistance Mission in Afghanistan&nbsp;to support reconstruction there, she said.

China hoped Security Council members would "jointly safeguard the important consensus reached in the past, respect each other's concerns, continue to carry out constructive cooperation on the Afghan issue and safeguard the unity of the Security Council".

The UN&nbsp;mission, which was established in 2002, is helping Afghanistan prepare for a September&nbsp;28 presidential election and is pushing for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Talks between the United States and Taliban militants on a US&nbsp;troop withdrawal fell apart this month.

There are about 14,000 US&nbsp;troops and thousands of other NATO troops in the country, 18 years after a US-led coalition ousted the Taliban following September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States.

The UNAMA mandate is renewed annually by the Security Council.

The resolutions in 2016, 2017 and 2018 all included a reference welcoming and urging efforts, like China's Belt and Road initiative, to facilitate trade and transit.

But when it came time to extend the mandate again in March, the United States and other Western council members wanted the language removed, sparking a standoff with China.

The council ended up adopting a six-month technical rollover to allow the mission to keep operating.

At the time, acting US ambassador Jonathan Cohen denounced China for holding "the resolution hostage" by insisting "on making it about Chinese national political priorities rather than the people of Afghanistan".

He criticized Beijing's Belt and Road initiative&nbsp;which aims to link China by sea and land through an infrastructure network with southeast and central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa&nbsp;for "known problems with corruption, debt distress, environmental damage, and lack of transparency".

At a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan last week, Cohen referred to the impasse with China.

"We strongly believe this mandate is too important at this moment to have one Security Council member deny consensus for reasons having nothing to do with UNAMA," Cohen said.

Chinese UN&nbsp;Ambassador Zhang Jun did not specifically mention the negotiations on the UNAMA resolution, but said China was working with Afghanistan to advance "the Belt and Road construction to actively support the Afghan rebuilding and its reintegration into the regional economic development".

China and the United States are deadlocked over a UN resolution to extend a mission in Afghanistan, with Beijing signalling it will cast a veto because there is no reference to its Belt and Road project, diplomats said on Monday.

China and the United States are deadlocked over a UN resolution to extend a mission in Afghanistan, with Beijing signalling it will cast a veto because there is no reference to its Belt and Road project, diplomats said on Monday. A planned vote on Monday by the 15-member Security Council to renew the UN mission, known as UNAMA, was delayed to Tuesday to allow for more negotiations. The mission's mandate expires on Tuesday. To pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain. Ahead of the postponement, diplomats said China was expected to veto a resolution drafted by Germany and Indonesia that did not include a reference to its global Belt and Road infrastructure project. China's UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China was then planning to propose a vote on a short draft resolution, known as a technical rollover, to allow the mission to keep operating, diplomats said. But they added it could fail to get the nine votes needed to pass because several council members were considering abstaining. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she "did not know where this news had come from". The situation in Afghanistan was at a crucial stage and China supported UNAMA - the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to support reconstruction there, she said. China hoped Security Council members would "jointly safeguard the important consensus reached in the past, respect each other's concerns, continue to carry out constructive cooperation on the Afghan issue and safeguard the unity of the Security Council". The UN mission, which was established in 2002, is helping Afghanistan prepare for a September 28 presidential election and is pushing for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Talks between the United States and Taliban militants on a US troop withdrawal fell apart this month. There are about 14,000 US troops and thousands of other NATO troops in the country, 18 years after a US-led coalition ousted the Taliban following September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States. The UNAMA mandate is renewed annually by the Security Council. The resolutions in 2016, 2017 and 2018 all included a reference welcoming and urging efforts, like China's Belt and Road initiative, to facilitate trade and transit. But when it came time to extend the mandate again in March, the United States and other Western council members wanted the language removed, sparking a standoff with China. The council ended up adopting a six-month technical rollover to allow the mission to keep operating. At the time, acting US ambassador Jonathan Cohen denounced China for holding "the resolution hostage" by insisting "on making it about Chinese national political priorities rather than the people of Afghanistan". He criticized Beijing's Belt and Road initiative which aims to link China by sea and land through an infrastructure network with southeast and central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa for "known problems with corruption, debt distress, environmental damage, and lack of transparency". At a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan last week, Cohen referred to the impasse with China. "We strongly believe this mandate is too important at this moment to have one Security Council member deny consensus for reasons having nothing to do with UNAMA," Cohen said. Chinese UN Ambassador Zhang Jun did not specifically mention the negotiations on the UNAMA resolution, but said China was working with Afghanistan to advance "the Belt and Road construction to actively support the Afghan rebuilding and its reintegration into the regional economic development".

Belt and Road row: China, US in standoff over UN mission in Afghanistan

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the two blasts in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/six-killed-as-blast-rocks-central-kabul-near-us-embassy-250190"> Afghanistan today</a> in which at least 30 people were killed ahead of the presidential elections on September 28.

A powerful blast took place during<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-at-least-24-killed-in-blast-in-afghan-president-ashraf-ghanis-election-rally-250184"> President Ashraf Ghani's election</a> rally in central Parwan province. The Afghan president was about to address the rally when the blast occurred, Ghani was unhurt.

Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomber was on a motorbike and detonated the bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the rally.&nbsp;

Another blast took place near Massoud Square near the US embassy in Kabul in which at least six people were killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility for both blasts.

The suicide attacks targeted Afghan security forces, the Taliban spokesman said.

The attacks occurred even as Afghanistan gets set for presidential polls later this month amid fears that the Taliban may disrupt the elections after talks between the Trump administration and the Taliban broke down last week.

US President Trump had called off talks last week with the Taliban after a blast in which a US serviceman was killed including several Afghan civilians.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the two blasts in Afghanistan today in which at least 30 people were killed ahead of the presidential elections on September 28.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the two blasts in Afghanistan today in which at least 30 people were killed ahead of the presidential elections on September 28. A powerful blast took place during President Ashraf Ghani's election rally in central Parwan province. The Afghan president was about to address the rally when the blast occurred, Ghani was unhurt. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomber was on a motorbike and detonated the bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the rally. Another blast took place near Massoud Square near the US embassy in Kabul in which at least six people were killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility for both blasts. The suicide attacks targeted Afghan security forces, the Taliban spokesman said. The attacks occurred even as Afghanistan gets set for presidential polls later this month amid fears that the Taliban may disrupt the elections after talks between the Trump administration and the Taliban broke down last week. US President Trump had called off talks last week with the Taliban after a blast in which a US serviceman was killed including several Afghan civilians.

Taliban claims responsibility for two blasts in Afghanistan

An explosion near an election rally attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani killed 24 people and injured 31 others, a health official said, but Ghani was unhurt according to sources.

Blast at Aghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's rally

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally was hit by a powerful blast in the country's central Parwan province on Tuesday, a security source confirmed to Sputnik.

Around 24 people are reported to have been killed in the incident, while 31 others were injured, reports said.

According to the source, the explosion was caused by a magnetic bomb planted in a car.

The twice-delayed Afghan presidential election is scheduled for September 28. The Taliban movement, which has been fighting the government for years, has threatened to disrupt the process.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally was hit by a powerful blast in the country's central Parwan province on Tuesday, a security source confirmed to Sputnik.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally was hit by a powerful blast in the country's central Parwan province on Tuesday, a security source confirmed to Sputnik. Around 24 people are reported to have been killed in the incident, while 31 others were injured, reports said. According to the source, the explosion was caused by a magnetic bomb planted in a car. The twice-delayed Afghan presidential election is scheduled for September 28. The Taliban movement, which has been fighting the government for years, has threatened to disrupt the process.

Afghanistan: Blast in President Ghani's election rally; several reportedly killed

Political activists from Pakistan have requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak about the human rights violations in Sindh and other provinces during the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

Speaking at "Conference on minorities and democratic process in Pakistan" during the 42nd Session of Human Rights Council, Munawar Sufi Laghari, Executive director of Sindhi Foundation said, "The difficulty in Sindh is the fear,&nbsp;The most difficult challenge is to overcome that fear. This cannot be overcome inside the Sindh, so the only hope is outside. And my emphasis is that the UN and other countries like the US. I am suggesting that Prime Minister Modi is coming to the United Nations, he must mention about the Sindh because India has also got one of its name from the Sindh and lot of Sindhis are living in India and outside".

"At least he (Modi) can talk about human rights, he can talk about religious freedom as what America talks about. Recently, a conference on religious freedom was held in Washington DC," Laghari said.

Activists and experts from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Balochistan and Afghanistan also participated in the event.

Taj Baloch, Head of Human Rights Council of Balochistan said, "The situation has become worse because the international community has been silent on atrocities in Balochistan. In the beginning, it was enforced disappearances, then the "kill and dump" began, then the burning of the villages. Now, technically, it shall be called genocide and ethnic cleansing. People are deprived of 'right to life'.They are picked up, killed and dumped. And, it has gone to the mass level".

Taj added, "International human rights bodies and United Nations should visit Balochistan and investigate the situation. They should stop Pakistan military from committing such war crimes and crimes against humanity".

Pakistan is not only blamed for human rights violations in its own country, but its engagement of promoting&nbsp;'jihad'&nbsp;in neighbouring Afghanistan is also condemned.

Bilal Sarwary, a journalist from Kabul, who participated at the event said, "Pakistan's role and the image have been extremely destructive. If we look to 2001, when the Taliban was removed from power, this was a new journey for Afghanistan - a fight for peace, a fight for better tomorrow.&nbsp;And unfortunately, Pakistan`s image in Afghanistan is often associated with roadside bombs, suicide attacks. It is not a secret that there are public gatherings, funds are being collected in the name of a holy war called `jihad`".

Political activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) who took part in the event also condemned Pakistan`s duplicity over handling of the Kashmir issue.

Political activists from Pakistan have requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak about the human rights violations in Sindh and other provinces during the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

Political activists from Pakistan have requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak about the human rights violations in Sindh and other provinces during the upcoming UN General Assembly session. Speaking at "Conference on minorities and democratic process in Pakistan" during the 42nd Session of Human Rights Council, Munawar Sufi Laghari, Executive director of Sindhi Foundation said, "The difficulty in Sindh is the fear, The most difficult challenge is to overcome that fear. This cannot be overcome inside the Sindh, so the only hope is outside. And my emphasis is that the UN and other countries like the US. I am suggesting that Prime Minister Modi is coming to the United Nations, he must mention about the Sindh because India has also got one of its name from the Sindh and lot of Sindhis are living in India and outside". "At least he (Modi) can talk about human rights, he can talk about religious freedom as what America talks about. Recently, a conference on religious freedom was held in Washington DC," Laghari said. Activists and experts from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Balochistan and Afghanistan also participated in the event. Taj Baloch, Head of Human Rights Council of Balochistan said, "The situation has become worse because the international community has been silent on atrocities in Balochistan. In the beginning, it was enforced disappearances, then the "kill and dump" began, then the burning of the villages. Now, technically, it shall be called genocide and ethnic cleansing. People are deprived of 'right to life'.They are picked up, killed and dumped. And, it has gone to the mass level". Taj added, "International human rights bodies and United Nations should visit Balochistan and investigate the situation. They should stop Pakistan military from committing such war crimes and crimes against humanity". Pakistan is not only blamed for human rights violations in its own country, but its engagement of promoting 'jihad' in neighbouring Afghanistan is also condemned. Bilal Sarwary, a journalist from Kabul, who participated at the event said, "Pakistan's role and the image have been extremely destructive. If we look to 2001, when the Taliban was removed from power, this was a new journey for Afghanistan - a fight for peace, a fight for better tomorrow. And unfortunately, Pakistan`s image in Afghanistan is often associated with roadside bombs, suicide attacks. It is not a secret that there are public gatherings, funds are being collected in the name of a holy war called `jihad`". Political activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) who took part in the event also condemned Pakistan`s duplicity over handling of the Kashmir issue.

PM Modi must raise issue of human rights violation in Pakistan at UNGA: Activists

A blast killed 24 people and injured 31 others near an election rally held by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in central Parwan province.

Explosion rocks Afghan's Parwan province, kills 24 and left 31 injured

The Taliban on Sunday revoked their ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan and gave a guarantee of security for its staff doing humanitarian work in areas under their control.

Taliban leaders imposed a ban on the ICRC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April saying the organisations were carrying out "suspicious" activities during vaccinations campaigns and not sticking to their declared missions.

"The Islamic Emirate restores the former security guarantees to ICRC in Afghanistan and instructs all mujahideen to pave the way for ICRC activities and be mindful of security to this committee's workers and equipment," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement.

The Taliban refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The spokesman did not refer to the WHO in his statement.

Officials at ICRC and WHO in Kabul were not immediately available for comment.

The WHO has been carrying out a vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is endemic. The ICRC has been providing medical support for more than 30 years.

Aid groups operating in Afghanistan stress that they do not take sides.

The ICRC, in particular, is known for its strict neutrality in conflicts.

It operates in Taliban-controlled areas with a guarantee of safety and helps to repatriate bodies from both sides after fighting between the militants and the Afghan army.

The Taliban control or contest more than half of Afghanistan's 410 Afghan districts.

The Taliban on Sunday revoked their ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan and gave a guarantee of security for its staff doing humanitarian work in areas under their control.

The Taliban on Sunday revoked their ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan and gave a guarantee of security for its staff doing humanitarian work in areas under their control. Taliban leaders imposed a ban on the ICRC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April saying the organisations were carrying out "suspicious" activities during vaccinations campaigns and not sticking to their declared missions. "The Islamic Emirate restores the former security guarantees to ICRC in Afghanistan and instructs all mujahideen to pave the way for ICRC activities and be mindful of security to this committee's workers and equipment," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement. The Taliban refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The spokesman did not refer to the WHO in his statement. Officials at ICRC and WHO in Kabul were not immediately available for comment. The WHO has been carrying out a vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is endemic. The ICRC has been providing medical support for more than 30 years. Aid groups operating in Afghanistan stress that they do not take sides. The ICRC, in particular, is known for its strict neutrality in conflicts. It operates in Taliban-controlled areas with a guarantee of safety and helps to repatriate bodies from both sides after fighting between the militants and the Afghan army. The Taliban control or contest more than half of Afghanistan's 410 Afghan districts.

Taliban revoke the ban on Red Cross, provide security guarantees

On August 5, by revoking the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) by Article 370, India scored a major victory against cross-border terrorism as well as separatism in the Valley. Hailed by many as a constitutional coup, the move paves the way to for the full integration of J&amp;K into the Union of India. This should have happened way back in 1947, after the signing of the instrument of accession on October 26. However, better late than never. Even if turning the former state into two union territories is unprecedented in the history of independent India, national interest as well as the good of the people of the region, is paramount.

Ladakh, which is also a separate Union Territory, will now have a much better chance to protect its unique religious and cultural heritage. The fragile Himalayan ecology of one of India’s most beautiful, rugged, and inaccessible parts must be preserved by regulating the pace and quantum of both development and access to the region. What is more the overt and covert Islamisation of the largely Buddhist area will also be checked. In a few more decades, the entire state, not just the Valley, faced the very real danger of not just being alienated, but lost to India, both culturally and politically. That most Indians understood this instinctively and emotionally even if not intellectually or rationally, is evident in the overwhelming public support for the government surgical strike on Article 370.

But what we might have perhaps failed fully to grasp is that though the constitutional battle has been won, the war over Kashmir is still being waged, but on other fronts. We have very carefully to monitor as well as manage the global narrative on Kashmir. This has been stacked, by and large, against India in the past. Both in the media and only marginally less so in international multilateral or bilateral fora, the United Nations (UN) being the key example of the former, as the United States is of the latter. Luckily, Pakistan has not made much headway in either so far. After getting US President Trump to offer to mediate, Pakistan’s Imran Khan had to eat humble pie after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi got Trump to retract. While US meddling, given their own troubles in Afghanistan, cannot be ruled out, India has managed to make its position loud and clear.

As to the UN, it has several platforms where Pakistan is likely to mount its Kashmir offensive. The latest skirmish, at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), is only one instance. India came out on top. On Tuesday, Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, denounced Pakistan’s “state sponsored terrorism” and underscored India’s right to revoke J&amp;K’s special status. Highlighting Pakistan’s shoddy and shameful human rights record, she sarcastically questioned our neighbour right to point fingers at us when “trampling upon them [human rights] at will in their own country.” She accused Pakistan’s of pushing a “malicious political agenda under the garb of human rights.”

Projecting India as a law-abiding, sovereign power, Singh said, “These decisions were taken by our Parliament after a full debate that was televised and enjoyed widespread support. We wish to reiterate that this sovereign decision, like other legislations passed by Parliament, is entirely internal to India. No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India.” On Wednesday, first secretary to India’s permanent mission at the UNHRC, Geneva, Vimarsh Aryan, followed up by exposing “Pakistan’s hysterical statements with false, fabricated narratives aimed to politicise and polarize this forum.” Himself from J&amp;K, Aryan excoriated Pakistan for being “the epicentre of global terrorism,” encouraging violence by calling for jihad in J&amp;K and elsewhere.&nbsp;

In addition to trying to foment trouble in the Valley and mounting international pressure on India, Pakistan will also encourage its friends and proxies in foreign media houses to push its case. The leading newspapers and TV channels, not to mention national broadcasters, have often fallen for its victimhood narratives. In India, too, the last vestiges of Lutyens Delhi will also scream day in and day out that things are not normal in Kashmir. But when were they normal, we might ask them. Normalcy is only now returning to the region with the anomalous 370 and 35A being altered. Both India and the world need to accept the new normal in Kashmir. For this the narrative and diplomatic war must supplement the battle-ready formations on the border and the internal law and order machinery in the new Union Territory. Coming back to the UNHRC, let’s be fully prepared for Imran Khan’s tirade on 27th September. &nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-kashmir-the-new-battlefront-2789583">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

On August 5, by revoking the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by Article 370, India scored a major victory against cross-border terrorism as well as separatism in the Valley.

On August 5, by revoking the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by Article 370, India scored a major victory against cross-border terrorism as well as separatism in the Valley. Hailed by many as a constitutional coup, the move paves the way to for the full integration of J&K into the Union of India. This should have happened way back in 1947, after the signing of the instrument of accession on October 26. However, better late than never. Even if turning the former state into two union territories is unprecedented in the history of independent India, national interest as well as the good of the people of the region, is paramount. Ladakh, which is also a separate Union Territory, will now have a much better chance to protect its unique religious and cultural heritage. The fragile Himalayan ecology of one of India’s most beautiful, rugged, and inaccessible parts must be preserved by regulating the pace and quantum of both development and access to the region. What is more the overt and covert Islamisation of the largely Buddhist area will also be checked. In a few more decades, the entire state, not just the Valley, faced the very real danger of not just being alienated, but lost to India, both culturally and politically. That most Indians understood this instinctively and emotionally even if not intellectually or rationally, is evident in the overwhelming public support for the government surgical strike on Article 370. But what we might have perhaps failed fully to grasp is that though the constitutional battle has been won, the war over Kashmir is still being waged, but on other fronts. We have very carefully to monitor as well as manage the global narrative on Kashmir. This has been stacked, by and large, against India in the past. Both in the media and only marginally less so in international multilateral or bilateral fora, the United Nations (UN) being the key example of the former, as the United States is of the latter. Luckily, Pakistan has not made much headway in either so far. After getting US President Trump to offer to mediate, Pakistan’s Imran Khan had to eat humble pie after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi got Trump to retract. While US meddling, given their own troubles in Afghanistan, cannot be ruled out, India has managed to make its position loud and clear. As to the UN, it has several platforms where Pakistan is likely to mount its Kashmir offensive. The latest skirmish, at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), is only one instance. India came out on top. On Tuesday, Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, denounced Pakistan’s “state sponsored terrorism” and underscored India’s right to revoke J&K’s special status. Highlighting Pakistan’s shoddy and shameful human rights record, she sarcastically questioned our neighbour right to point fingers at us when “trampling upon them [human rights] at will in their own country.” She accused Pakistan’s of pushing a “malicious political agenda under the garb of human rights.” Projecting India as a law-abiding, sovereign power, Singh said, “These decisions were taken by our Parliament after a full debate that was televised and enjoyed widespread support. We wish to reiterate that this sovereign decision, like other legislations passed by Parliament, is entirely internal to India. No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India.” On Wednesday, first secretary to India’s permanent mission at the UNHRC, Geneva, Vimarsh Aryan, followed up by exposing “Pakistan’s hysterical statements with false, fabricated narratives aimed to politicise and polarize this forum.” Himself from J&K, Aryan excoriated Pakistan for being “the epicentre of global terrorism,” encouraging violence by calling for jihad in J&K and elsewhere. In addition to trying to foment trouble in the Valley and mounting international pressure on India, Pakistan will also encourage its friends and proxies in foreign media houses to push its case. The leading newspapers and TV channels, not to mention national broadcasters, have often fallen for its victimhood narratives. In India, too, the last vestiges of Lutyens Delhi will also scream day in and day out that things are not normal in Kashmir. But when were they normal, we might ask them. Normalcy is only now returning to the region with the anomalous 370 and 35A being altered. Both India and the world need to accept the new normal in Kashmir. For this the narrative and diplomatic war must supplement the battle-ready formations on the border and the internal law and order machinery in the new Union Territory. Coming back to the UNHRC, let’s be fully prepared for Imran Khan’s tirade on 27th September. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Kashmir: The New Battlefront

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has denied Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who is currently in its remand, to have home-made food.&nbsp;

A source told Dawn that the accountability watchdog on Friday had withdrawn the facility of allowing home-made food to Maryam on the order from the "top" (authorities).

"From now on she will have food prepared at the NAB headquarters at Thokar Niaz Beg," he said, adding that she would be given meal in prison as per jail manual.

The daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has also criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for not allowing her to eat home-made food.&nbsp;

This week, the government also denied Maryam`s cousin Hamza Shahbaz, who is also facing corruption charges in Lahore`s Kot Lakhpat jail, the facility of home-made food.

"By denying home-made food to Maryam and Hamza in prison, selected Prime Minister Imran Khan has again proved that he is a small man," PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

Maryam and her cousin are in physical remand by NAB in Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case.

Maryam had appeared before the NAB on July 31 to record her statement in the CSM reference.

The statement was regarding `dubious` business transactions of the CSM of which she was one of the major shareholders.

On August 8, she was taken into custody by NAB from Kot Lakhpat Jail, where she had been visiting her imprisoned father.&nbsp;

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has denied Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who is currently in its remand, to have home-made food.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has denied Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who is currently in its remand, to have home-made food. A source told Dawn that the accountability watchdog on Friday had withdrawn the facility of allowing home-made food to Maryam on the order from the "top" (authorities). "From now on she will have food prepared at the NAB headquarters at Thokar Niaz Beg," he said, adding that she would be given meal in prison as per jail manual. The daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has also criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for not allowing her to eat home-made food. This week, the government also denied Maryam`s cousin Hamza Shahbaz, who is also facing corruption charges in Lahore`s Kot Lakhpat jail, the facility of home-made food. "By denying home-made food to Maryam and Hamza in prison, selected Prime Minister Imran Khan has again proved that he is a small man," PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said. Maryam and her cousin are in physical remand by NAB in Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case. Maryam had appeared before the NAB on July 31 to record her statement in the CSM reference. The statement was regarding `dubious` business transactions of the CSM of which she was one of the major shareholders. On August 8, she was taken into custody by NAB from Kot Lakhpat Jail, where she had been visiting her imprisoned father.

NAB denies home-made food for Maryam Nawaz

Pakistan PM Imran Khan has said that it is 'unfair' to blame Pakistan for the failure of US-Taliban talks. Watch this video to know more.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan on failure of US-Taliban talks

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said on Thursday it will subpoena <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-says-taliban-talks-dead-us-military-to-ramp-up-afghanistan-operations-248707">President Donald Trump</a>'s special Afghanistan envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, to testify on September 19, after the abrupt cancellation of talks with the country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-taliban-sends-warning-to-us-president-donald-trump-in-bitter-exchange-249252">Taliban militia</a>.

Representative Eliot Engel, the committee's Democratic chairman, said he signed the subpoena after the US State Department ignored numerous requests for briefings by Khalilzad about the Afghanistan peace plan and the administration's path forward in the country.

Engel released a letter last week expressing frustration with the administration's failure to arrange briefings by Khalilzad. He said the State Department had refused requests in February, April and earlier this month for briefings or testimony.

“More than 2,000 American troops have died in Afghanistan, and I’m fed up with this Administration keeping Congress and the American people in the dark on the peace process and how we’re going to bring this long war to a close," Engel said in a statement.

"For months, we haven’t been able to get answers on the Afghanistan peace plan, and now the President is saying the plan is dead. We need to hear directly from the Administration’s point person on Afghanistan to understand how this process went off the rails. I expect to see Ambassador Khalilzad in our hearing room next Thursday at 10 o’clock sharp,” Engel said.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the subpoena.

Trump proclaimed negotiations with Afghanistan's Taliban leaders dead on Monday after scrapping talks with the group planned for Camp David, Maryland, during the weekend after a US soldier was killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul.

The abrupt announcement - and news that Trump had planned to bring Taliban leaders to the American presidential retreat - angered many in Congress.

Bringing US troops home from Afghanistan has been one of Trump's main foreign policy objectives, and the Republican president said his administration was still thinking about a drawdown of the 14,000 US soldiers in the country.

It was the first subpoena issued by the committee since Democrats took control of the House in January and Engel became chairman.

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said on Thursday it will subpoena President Donald Trump's special Afghanistan envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, to testify on September 19, after the abrupt cancellation of talks with the country's Taliban militia.

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said on Thursday it will subpoena President Donald Trump's special Afghanistan envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, to testify on September 19, after the abrupt cancellation of talks with the country's Taliban militia. Representative Eliot Engel, the committee's Democratic chairman, said he signed the subpoena after the US State Department ignored numerous requests for briefings by Khalilzad about the Afghanistan peace plan and the administration's path forward in the country. Engel released a letter last week expressing frustration with the administration's failure to arrange briefings by Khalilzad. He said the State Department had refused requests in February, April and earlier this month for briefings or testimony. “More than 2,000 American troops have died in Afghanistan, and I’m fed up with this Administration keeping Congress and the American people in the dark on the peace process and how we’re going to bring this long war to a close," Engel said in a statement. "For months, we haven’t been able to get answers on the Afghanistan peace plan, and now the President is saying the plan is dead. We need to hear directly from the Administration’s point person on Afghanistan to understand how this process went off the rails. I expect to see Ambassador Khalilzad in our hearing room next Thursday at 10 o’clock sharp,” Engel said. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the subpoena. Trump proclaimed negotiations with Afghanistan's Taliban leaders dead on Monday after scrapping talks with the group planned for Camp David, Maryland, during the weekend after a US soldier was killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul. The abrupt announcement - and news that Trump had planned to bring Taliban leaders to the American presidential retreat - angered many in Congress. Bringing US troops home from Afghanistan has been one of Trump's main foreign policy objectives, and the Republican president said his administration was still thinking about a drawdown of the 14,000 US soldiers in the country. It was the first subpoena issued by the committee since Democrats took control of the House in January and Engel became chairman.

US House panel to force testimony from Trump's Afghan envoy

The war of words between the Taliban and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-says-taliban-talks-dead-us-military-to-ramp-up-afghanistan-operations-248707">President Donald Trump</a> escalated Thursday as the Afghan insurgents warned that the US leader had failed to grasp "what type of nation he is dealing with". &nbsp;

The latest salvo in the bitter exchange comes a day after Trump boasted during a 9/11 anniversary ceremony that US forces have "hit our enemy harder than they have ever been hit before and that will continue" just days after peace talks between the two sides collapsed. &nbsp;

"Trump (@realDonaldTrump) must tread carefully," tweeted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. &nbsp;

"He has yet to grasp the type of nation he is dealing with. His advisers must make him understand &amp; introduce the Graveyard of Empires #Afghanistan to him."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trump (<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>) must tread carefully. He has yet to grasp the type of nation he is dealing with. His advisers must make him understand &amp; introduce the Graveyard of Empires <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> to him.
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1172091664116146176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Until this weekend there had been steadily mounting expectations of a deal that would see the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-now-dead-us-taliban-talks-lacked-strategic-vision-248969">US drawdown troop levels in Afghanistan</a>.&nbsp;

In return, the Taliban would offer security guarantees to keep extremist groups out.

But then on Saturday, Trump revealed on Twitter that he had cancelled an unprecedented meeting between the Taliban and himself at Camp David and later said the talks with the militants were "dead". &nbsp;

The Taliban spokesman's tweet comes just hours after the group launched a suicide attack that killed at least four soldiers near Kabul, as the insurgents ramp up attacks on security forces.&nbsp;

The incident occurred at a special forces base in Char Asiab district just south of the capital Kabul where an insurgent driving a car packed with explosives detonated near the facility's entrance. &nbsp;

"Four soldiers were killed, and three injured," said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.

Watch:&nbsp;Peace Talks Between US And Taliban Cancelled

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-peace-talks-between-us-and-taliban-cancelled-248700/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Afghan special forces -- numbering around 17,000 -- represent a small fraction of the 300,000 strong Afghan armed forces but have been carrying out the bulk of offensive operations across Afghanistan in recent years.

As fears of increased violence soared with presidential elections approaching later this month, Afghan troops and Taliban insurgents have been engaged in heavy exchanges across Afghanistan, with several militant-controlled districts in the far north falling to government forces.&nbsp;

However, the Taliban continue to strike Afghan installations at will after the militants issued their own vow earlier in the week to continue fighting and make the US regret walking away from talks.&nbsp;

The war of words between the Taliban and President Donald Trump escalated Thursday as the Afghan insurgents warned that the US leader had failed to grasp "what type of nation he is dealing with".

The war of words between the Taliban and President Donald Trump escalated Thursday as the Afghan insurgents warned that the US leader had failed to grasp "what type of nation he is dealing with". The latest salvo in the bitter exchange comes a day after Trump boasted during a 9/11 anniversary ceremony that US forces have "hit our enemy harder than they have ever been hit before and that will continue" just days after peace talks between the two sides collapsed. "Trump (@realDonaldTrump) must tread carefully," tweeted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. "He has yet to grasp the type of nation he is dealing with. His advisers must make him understand & introduce the Graveyard of Empires #Afghanistan to him." Trump (@realDonaldTrump) must tread carefully. He has yet to grasp the type of nation he is dealing with. His advisers must make him understand & introduce the Graveyard of Empires #Afghanistan to him. — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) September 12, 2019 × Until this weekend there had been steadily mounting expectations of a deal that would see the US drawdown troop levels in Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban would offer security guarantees to keep extremist groups out. But then on Saturday, Trump revealed on Twitter that he had cancelled an unprecedented meeting between the Taliban and himself at Camp David and later said the talks with the militants were "dead". The Taliban spokesman's tweet comes just hours after the group launched a suicide attack that killed at least four soldiers near Kabul, as the insurgents ramp up attacks on security forces. The incident occurred at a special forces base in Char Asiab district just south of the capital Kabul where an insurgent driving a car packed with explosives detonated near the facility's entrance. "Four soldiers were killed, and three injured," said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. Watch: Peace Talks Between US And Taliban Cancelled Afghan special forces -- numbering around 17,000 -- represent a small fraction of the 300,000 strong Afghan armed forces but have been carrying out the bulk of offensive operations across Afghanistan in recent years. As fears of increased violence soared with presidential elections approaching later this month, Afghan troops and Taliban insurgents have been engaged in heavy exchanges across Afghanistan, with several militant-controlled districts in the far north falling to government forces. However, the Taliban continue to strike Afghan installations at will after the militants issued their own vow earlier in the week to continue fighting and make the US regret walking away from talks.

Trump must tread carefully, he is yet to grasp the type of nation he is dealing with: Taliban

At least four security forces officials were killed and three others injured&nbsp;on Thursday in a suicide attack in the south of Kabul close to a Special Forces base, an Afghan local news agency reported.

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle on Kabul Commando Force base.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, which he said killed more than 200 commandos. The insurgents routinely issue exaggerated casualty claims.

Mujahid said the bomber had been infiltrated into the base well before the attack.

The base is located in Chahar Asyab district of Kabul.

Last week, a Taliban suicide blast killed at least 10 civilians and two NATO service members near the US embassy in Kabul.

At least four security forces officials were killed and three others injured on Thursday in a suicide attack in the south of Kabul close to a Special Forces base, an Afghan local news agency reported.

At least four security forces officials were killed and three others injured on Thursday in a suicide attack in the south of Kabul close to a Special Forces base, an Afghan local news agency reported. A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle on Kabul Commando Force base. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, which he said killed more than 200 commandos. The insurgents routinely issue exaggerated casualty claims. Mujahid said the bomber had been infiltrated into the base well before the attack. The base is located in Chahar Asyab district of Kabul. Last week, a Taliban suicide blast killed at least 10 civilians and two NATO service members near the US embassy in Kabul.

Taliban attacks Kabul commando base in Afghanistan; four killed

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