A senior UN official in Afghanistan has called on government offices to adopt policies of "zero tolerance" toward sexual harassment, amid a swirling scandal that has seen women allege routine misconduct in the corridors of power.

The controversy erupted in May when General Habibullah Ahmadzai, a former security advisor to President Ashraf Ghani, alleged that some members of Ghani's administration were trading government positions for sexual favours.

The attorney general's office is investigating the matter, and Ghani's spokesman has rejected Ahmadzai's claims as "completely false and baseless".

But several women have spoken out in the media with their own allegations, and stories of inappropriate behaviour by male officials are commonplace in Kabul.

Women's rights have made some significant steps since the fall of the Taliban nearly two decades ago: out of 320 parliamentary seats, roughly a quarter are held by women.

But despite these gains, harassment, abuse and violence remain commonplace.

Richard Bennett, the head of human rights for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, on Sunday addressed a conference in Kabul that included a discussion about a potential law aimed at ending violence against women.

"The issue of harassment in the workplace is of huge concern to Afghan women, primarily because it can eventually lead to a sexual assault," Bennett said, according to prepared remarks provided Monday.&nbsp;

"This should be a concern for everyone: police, prosecutors, judicial officials and civil society."

Bennett said he was strongly encouraging the attorney general's office and other bodies to develop and implement a comprehensive "zero tolerance" policy regarding the harassment of women in the workplace.

"It will send the signal that harassment of women and girls will not be tolerated and will be punished," he said.

Sarwar Danish, Afghanistan's second vice president, called on prosecutors to "seriously investigate" the reports at a press conference on Sunday.

"If the allegations are proved, after the investigation these people should be exposed. Such crimes are not acceptable to the Afghan government."

A senior UN official in Afghanistan has called on government offices to adopt policies of "zero tolerance" toward sexual harassment, amid a swirling scandal that has seen women allege routine misconduct in the corridors of power.

A senior UN official in Afghanistan has called on government offices to adopt policies of "zero tolerance" toward sexual harassment, amid a swirling scandal that has seen women allege routine misconduct in the corridors of power. The controversy erupted in May when General Habibullah Ahmadzai, a former security advisor to President Ashraf Ghani, alleged that some members of Ghani's administration were trading government positions for sexual favours. The attorney general's office is investigating the matter, and Ghani's spokesman has rejected Ahmadzai's claims as "completely false and baseless". But several women have spoken out in the media with their own allegations, and stories of inappropriate behaviour by male officials are commonplace in Kabul. Women's rights have made some significant steps since the fall of the Taliban nearly two decades ago: out of 320 parliamentary seats, roughly a quarter are held by women. But despite these gains, harassment, abuse and violence remain commonplace. Richard Bennett, the head of human rights for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, on Sunday addressed a conference in Kabul that included a discussion about a potential law aimed at ending violence against women. "The issue of harassment in the workplace is of huge concern to Afghan women, primarily because it can eventually lead to a sexual assault," Bennett said, according to prepared remarks provided Monday. "This should be a concern for everyone: police, prosecutors, judicial officials and civil society." Bennett said he was strongly encouraging the attorney general's office and other bodies to develop and implement a comprehensive "zero tolerance" policy regarding the harassment of women in the workplace. "It will send the signal that harassment of women and girls will not be tolerated and will be punished," he said. Sarwar Danish, Afghanistan's second vice president, called on prosecutors to "seriously investigate" the reports at a press conference on Sunday. "If the allegations are proved, after the investigation these people should be exposed. Such crimes are not acceptable to the Afghan government."

United Nations calls for 'zero tolerance' on sexual harassment in Afghanistan workplace

A private radio station in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-us-taliban-to-hold-more-talks-on-ending-war-229687">Afghanistan</a> has shut down after numerous threats from a suspected Taliban commander who objected to women working as presenters, officials at the radio station said on Monday.

The incident comes as the Taliban are discussing a peace deal with the United States that could see them re-joining mainstream society, and that has brought new scrutiny of their attitudes to issues like women`s rights and the media.

The private radio station, Samaa, has been broadcasting political, religious, social and entertainment programmes in the central province of Ghazni since 2013.&nbsp;

Its 13 employees, including three women presenters, broadcast in Afghanistan`s two main languages - Dari and Pashto.

The radio station`s director, Ramez Azimi, said Taliban commanders in the area had sent written warnings and telephoned in, to tell the radio station to stop employing women.

"The Taliban also came to my house and issued a threat," Azimi said.

He said the threats had forced him to suspend broadcasts.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied that a Taliban commander had issued the threats. "We are trying to find details," said Mujahid.

The Taliban say many people falsely identify themselves as Taliban, often in the course of private disputes.

Several districts of Ghazni are under Taliban control. The militants hold sway over about half of Afghanistan and they have been intensifying their attacks despite efforts towards a peace agreement to end the 18-year war.

The Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001.

Under their hardline interpretation of Islamic law, women have banned women from working or going to school.

But the Taliban have recently been projecting themselves as a more moderate force.

In a recent statement, they said Islam gave women rights in areas including business and ownership, inheritance, education, work, choosing a husband, security and well-being.

But they denounced "so-called women`s rights activists" who encouraged women to defy Afghan customs.

The Taliban have staged numerous deadly attacks against the media and Afghanistan is one of the world`s most dangerous countries for journalists. 
The Taliban say they only target media that is biased against them.

A private radio station in Afghanistan has shut down after numerous threats from a suspected Taliban commander who objected to women working as presenters, officials at the radio station said on Monday.

A private radio station in Afghanistan has shut down after numerous threats from a suspected Taliban commander who objected to women working as presenters, officials at the radio station said on Monday. The incident comes as the Taliban are discussing a peace deal with the United States that could see them re-joining mainstream society, and that has brought new scrutiny of their attitudes to issues like women`s rights and the media. The private radio station, Samaa, has been broadcasting political, religious, social and entertainment programmes in the central province of Ghazni since 2013. Its 13 employees, including three women presenters, broadcast in Afghanistan`s two main languages - Dari and Pashto. The radio station`s director, Ramez Azimi, said Taliban commanders in the area had sent written warnings and telephoned in, to tell the radio station to stop employing women. "The Taliban also came to my house and issued a threat," Azimi said. He said the threats had forced him to suspend broadcasts. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied that a Taliban commander had issued the threats. "We are trying to find details," said Mujahid. The Taliban say many people falsely identify themselves as Taliban, often in the course of private disputes. Several districts of Ghazni are under Taliban control. The militants hold sway over about half of Afghanistan and they have been intensifying their attacks despite efforts towards a peace agreement to end the 18-year war. The Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. Under their hardline interpretation of Islamic law, women have banned women from working or going to school. But the Taliban have recently been projecting themselves as a more moderate force. In a recent statement, they said Islam gave women rights in areas including business and ownership, inheritance, education, work, choosing a husband, security and well-being. But they denounced "so-called women`s rights activists" who encouraged women to defy Afghan customs. The Taliban have staged numerous deadly attacks against the media and Afghanistan is one of the world`s most dangerous countries for journalists. The Taliban say they only target media that is biased against them.

Afghanistan radio station shuts down after threats by suspected Taliban

At least two children were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh on Monday.

According to the 209 Shaheen Corps spokesman Mohammad Haneef Rezaee&nbsp;the&nbsp;explosion was planted by militants.

The blast took place in Chahar Bolak district of Balkh.

&nbsp;

At least two children were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh on Monday. According to the 209 Shaheen Corps spokesman Mohammad Haneef Rezaee the explosion was planted by militants.

At least two children were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh on Monday. According to the 209 Shaheen Corps spokesman Mohammad Haneef Rezaee the explosion was planted by militants. The blast took place in Chahar Bolak district of Balkh.

At least 2 killed in bomb explosion in Afghanistan

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-army-is-ready-to-go-dont-mistake-our-discretion-for-weakness-us-national-security-advisor-john-bolton-tells-iran-229716">US Army</a> soldier killed in Afghanistan was identified on Sunday as decorated special forces company Sergeant Major James G. "Ryan" Sartor of Teague, Texas, the Department of Defense (DOD) said in a release.

Sartor, 40, died Saturday from wounds from enemy small arms fire in a combat operation in the province of Faryab, in northern Afghanistan, the DOD said.

Additional details about his death were not immediately available.

Sartor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado, the DOD said.

Sartor joined the Army in 2001 and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as an Infantryman, the Army Times reported.

He later completed special forces training and was deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan, starting in 2002, the publication said. He also became a Green Beret, media reported.

Sartor's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Valorous Unit Award, among others, media reported.

He will be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart medal.

A US Army soldier killed in Afghanistan was identified on Sunday as decorated special forces company Sergeant Major James G. "Ryan" Sartor of Teague, Texas, the Department of Defense (DOD) said in a release.

A US Army soldier killed in Afghanistan was identified on Sunday as decorated special forces company Sergeant Major James G. "Ryan" Sartor of Teague, Texas, the Department of Defense (DOD) said in a release. Sartor, 40, died Saturday from wounds from enemy small arms fire in a combat operation in the province of Faryab, in northern Afghanistan, the DOD said. Additional details about his death were not immediately available. Sartor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado, the DOD said. Sartor joined the Army in 2001 and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as an Infantryman, the Army Times reported. He later completed special forces training and was deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan, starting in 2002, the publication said. He also became a Green Beret, media reported. Sartor's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Valorous Unit Award, among others, media reported. He will be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart medal.

United States military identifies soldier killed in Afghanistan

Four Afghan security forces were killed Saturday when Taliban insurgents attacked a hotel, officials said, as violence continues across Afghanistan despite US-led efforts to end the war.

The assault took place in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of the western province of Badghis, when attackers struck a commercial area housing the hotel and several shops in the small city.

"We had intelligence reports that suicide bombers were planning to attack Qala-i-Naw," Badghis governor Abdul Ghafoor Malikzai told AFP.

"The attackers took over a building near the governor's office and police headquarters".

The defence ministry said three attackers were killed and two more arrested.

Four members of the Afghan security forces were killed and 20 people wounded, including civilians, the ministry said.

The incident comes less than a week after Taliban officials were sitting face-to-face with US negotiators in Doha in a bid to end Afghanistan's nearly 18-year-old war.&nbsp;

Both sides reported good progress in the talks, but daily carnage continues across Afghanistan and NATO on Saturday announced the death of a US service member who was killed in a Taliban-claimed attack.

The hotel assault started around 12:40 pm (08:10 GMT) when a group of men, some wearing suicide vests, stormed the area.&nbsp;

Aziz Bek, the head of the Badghis provincial council, told AFP that children had been evacuated from nearby schools, and that explosions could be heard in the city.

According to Abdul Latif Rostaee, the local director of public health, 18 were wounded, including six civilians.

Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman, earlier said a group of suicide bombers had entered a hotel and were shooting civilians.&nbsp;

The attackers first hit a police checkpoint and then entered the hotel, according to Haroon Amir, a witness.&nbsp;

Four Afghan security forces were killed Saturday when Taliban insurgents attacked a hotel, officials said, as violence continues across Afghanistan despite US-led efforts to end the war.

Four Afghan security forces were killed Saturday when Taliban insurgents attacked a hotel, officials said, as violence continues across Afghanistan despite US-led efforts to end the war. The assault took place in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of the western province of Badghis, when attackers struck a commercial area housing the hotel and several shops in the small city. "We had intelligence reports that suicide bombers were planning to attack Qala-i-Naw," Badghis governor Abdul Ghafoor Malikzai told AFP. "The attackers took over a building near the governor's office and police headquarters". The defence ministry said three attackers were killed and two more arrested. Four members of the Afghan security forces were killed and 20 people wounded, including civilians, the ministry said. The incident comes less than a week after Taliban officials were sitting face-to-face with US negotiators in Doha in a bid to end Afghanistan's nearly 18-year-old war. Both sides reported good progress in the talks, but daily carnage continues across Afghanistan and NATO on Saturday announced the death of a US service member who was killed in a Taliban-claimed attack. The hotel assault started around 12:40 pm (08:10 GMT) when a group of men, some wearing suicide vests, stormed the area. Aziz Bek, the head of the Badghis provincial council, told AFP that children had been evacuated from nearby schools, and that explosions could be heard in the city. According to Abdul Latif Rostaee, the local director of public health, 18 were wounded, including six civilians. Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman, earlier said a group of suicide bombers had entered a hotel and were shooting civilians. The attackers first hit a police checkpoint and then entered the hotel, according to Haroon Amir, a witness.

At least four killed in Afghanistan hotel attack: Official

At least one policeman was killed and two others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Jalalabad city in Afghanistan, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-five-dead-in-suicide-blast-at-afghan-wedding-235243">Nangarhar</a> governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told Tolo News on Saturday morning.

No terror group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast.

Further details in the matter are awaited.

The blast comes a day after at least five people were killed and 40 others suffered injuries in a suicide bombing at a wedding ceremony in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Friday.

Afghanistan has been witnessing more attacks in recent days especially when the United States is leading the negotiations with the Taliban in Doha with an aim to end two decades of war in the country.

At least one policeman was killed and two others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Jalalabad city in Afghanistan, Nangarhar governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told Tolo News on Saturday morning.

At least one policeman was killed and two others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Jalalabad city in Afghanistan, Nangarhar governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told Tolo News on Saturday morning. No terror group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast. Further details in the matter are awaited. The blast comes a day after at least five people were killed and 40 others suffered injuries in a suicide bombing at a wedding ceremony in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Friday. Afghanistan has been witnessing more attacks in recent days especially when the United States is leading the negotiations with the Taliban in Doha with an aim to end two decades of war in the country.

Afghanistan: At least one policeman killed, two injured in IED blast in Jalalabad

Pakistan, which supported Afghanistan's former Taliban regime, on Friday joined the United States, Russia and China in a call on the insurgents to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations with Kabul.

Pakistan joined the three powers in talks in Beijing that come as the United States moves closer to an agreement with the Taliban to pull troops from Afghanistan and end its longest-ever war.

The four countries "encouraged all parties to take steps to reduce violence leading to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire that starts with intra-Afghan negotiations," said a joint statement issued by the United States.

They called for direct negotiations involving the Taliban, President Ashraf Ghani's government and other Afghans to "produce a peace framework as soon as possible."

Members of the Taliban and government met earlier this week in Qatar, a breakthrough even though participants were said to be there in a personal capacity.

The Taliban, believing they have an upper hand as they seek a US troop withdrawal, have refused to negotiate with the internationally recognized government or to halt its deadly campaign of attacks.

Pakistan, whose relations with the United States have been rocky over its handling of extremists, has sought to use its influence with the Taliban to help reach a deal.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to come to Washington on July 22 to meet with President Donald Trump, who is impatient to end the war launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad has sought understandings with Russia and China despite the two powers' rivalries with the United States.

The Soviet Union fought US-backed Islamic guerrillas in a disastrous intervention in the 1980s, while China is keen to prevent any spread of extremism.

Pakistan, which supported Afghanistan's former Taliban regime, on Friday joined the United States, Russia and China in a call on the insurgents to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations with Kabul.

Pakistan, which supported Afghanistan's former Taliban regime, on Friday joined the United States, Russia and China in a call on the insurgents to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations with Kabul. Pakistan joined the three powers in talks in Beijing that come as the United States moves closer to an agreement with the Taliban to pull troops from Afghanistan and end its longest-ever war. The four countries "encouraged all parties to take steps to reduce violence leading to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire that starts with intra-Afghan negotiations," said a joint statement issued by the United States. They called for direct negotiations involving the Taliban, President Ashraf Ghani's government and other Afghans to "produce a peace framework as soon as possible." Members of the Taliban and government met earlier this week in Qatar, a breakthrough even though participants were said to be there in a personal capacity. The Taliban, believing they have an upper hand as they seek a US troop withdrawal, have refused to negotiate with the internationally recognized government or to halt its deadly campaign of attacks. Pakistan, whose relations with the United States have been rocky over its handling of extremists, has sought to use its influence with the Taliban to help reach a deal. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to come to Washington on July 22 to meet with President Donald Trump, who is impatient to end the war launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks. US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad has sought understandings with Russia and China despite the two powers' rivalries with the United States. The Soviet Union fought US-backed Islamic guerrillas in a disastrous intervention in the 1980s, while China is keen to prevent any spread of extremism.

Pakistan joins US-led call for Afghan ceasefire, talks

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Friday appointed leg-spinner <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-afghanistan-will-try-to-learn-from-mistakes-says-rashid-khan-229274&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjnw_-5sK_jAhXQUN4KHWhGAWoQFjAAegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xJVh7fyJ_wJI2hw-IKvLI">Rashid Khan</a> as the team captain for all formats.

The former captain Asghar Afghan has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team.

The apex cricketing body, International Cricket Council tweeted about Rashid's and Afghan's appointment as team captain and vice-captain.

"BREAKING: Rashid Khan has been appointed Afghanistan captain across formats! Asghar Afghan is the vice-captain," ICC tweeted.

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BREAKING: Rashid Khan has been appointed Afghanistan captain across formats! Asghar Afghan is vice-captain. <a href="https://t.co/yKCfChR6a4">pic.twitter.com/yKCfChR6a4</a>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1149646337413042176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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By appointing <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-rashid-khan-players-who-failed-to-impress-at-cricket-world-cup-2019-235082&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjnw_-5sK_jAhXQUN4KHWhGAWoQFjACegQIDxAB&amp;usg=AOvVaw06SzNjFTsBt-cFMK6k5Mpb">Rashid </a>as the captain, the Cricket Board has put an end to split captaincy.

Before the start of the World Cup, the ACB had appointed <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-gulbadin-naib-defends-rashid-khan-says-he-is-a-star-it-was-just-not-his-day-228570&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjnw_-5sK_jAhXQUN4KHWhGAWoQFjAEegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RAPIaI-vXgGMEZzh-8rkH">Gulbadin Naib</a> has ODI captain, Rashid as T20I captain and Rahmat Shah as the Test captain.

Afghanistan had a poor show in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup as the side failed to win any match in the tournament. 
 
The team came close to beat India, Pakistan and West Indies, but they were not able to get over the line.

During Afghanistan's stint at the World Cup, wicket-keeper batsman <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/mohammad-shahzad-blames-afghanistan-cricket-board-for-his-withdrawal-from-world-cup-squad-226086&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiD7t_2sK_jAhVbWisKHWTuC-0QFjAAegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1cd2_fkJXAe5gitNmARXSu">Mohammad Shahzad</a> was called back from the squad due to his injury. 
 
But the player criticised ACB, saying he was fit and the board did not want him as a part of the squad. 
 
Asghar Afghan was the captain of Afghanistan prior to the World Cup and his removal as the leader sparked criticism from various quarters.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/gulbadin-naib-apologises-to-fans-for-afghanistans-poor-world-cup-performance-233187&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjL2-XksK_jAhXMP3AKHYFaCUYQFjAIegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1rc3Yno1qbjCNkbtuBs94w">Mohammad Nabi</a> and Rashid had also criticised removal of Afghan as the team's captain just months ahead of the World Cup.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Friday appointed leg-spinner Rashid Khan as the team captain for all formats. The former captain Asghar Afghan has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Friday appointed leg-spinner Rashid Khan as the team captain for all formats. The former captain Asghar Afghan has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team. The apex cricketing body, International Cricket Council tweeted about Rashid's and Afghan's appointment as team captain and vice-captain. "BREAKING: Rashid Khan has been appointed Afghanistan captain across formats! Asghar Afghan is the vice-captain," ICC tweeted. BREAKING: Rashid Khan has been appointed Afghanistan captain across formats! Asghar Afghan is vice-captain. pic.twitter.com/yKCfChR6a4 — ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2019 × By appointing Rashid as the captain, the Cricket Board has put an end to split captaincy. Before the start of the World Cup, the ACB had appointed Gulbadin Naib has ODI captain, Rashid as T20I captain and Rahmat Shah as the Test captain. Afghanistan had a poor show in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup as the side failed to win any match in the tournament. The team came close to beat India, Pakistan and West Indies, but they were not able to get over the line. During Afghanistan's stint at the World Cup, wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad was called back from the squad due to his injury. But the player criticised ACB, saying he was fit and the board did not want him as a part of the squad. Asghar Afghan was the captain of Afghanistan prior to the World Cup and his removal as the leader sparked criticism from various quarters. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid had also criticised removal of Afghan as the team's captain just months ahead of the World Cup.

Rashid Khan appointed as Afghanistan's captain for all formats

Badar Amar, a 15-year old student in Kabul stopped attending school to avoid getting teased by his classmates after a teacher chopped off his hair as a punishment, a decades-old practice common in Afghan schools that was banned by the government recently.

Afghan teachers may lose jobs for forcing haircuts upon students

Inside a big green bus in Afghanistan war-torn capital, dozens of children bury their heads in books, filling the air with their hushed reading voices and stringing together sentences filled with intrigue and adventure.

Library bus brings books and dreams to Afghan children

The legend of Afghanistan's 'Lion of Panjshir' Ahmad Shah Massoud

Dozens of influential Afghans concluded two days of talks with the Taliban on Monday in Doha, laying the foundations for renewed negotiations between the United States and the militants.

The encounter ended with a joint statement pledging a "roadmap for peace" based on the opening of a monitored peace process, return of internally displaced people, and non-interference by regional powers in Afghanistan.

"Assuring women rights in political, social, economic, educational, cultural affairs as per (and) within the Islamic framework of Islamic values," also featured in the joint text.

"It's not an agreement, it's a foundation to start the discussion," delegate Mary Akrami, executive director of the Afghan Women's Network, told AFP.

"The good part was that both sides agreed."

The Taliban's Amir Khan Mutaqi, a former minister during the militant group's 1996-2001 rule of Afghanistan, read a Pashto version of the roughly 700-word statement.&nbsp;

Habiba Sarabi, deputy chair of the Afghan High Peace Council established by former president Hamid Karzai to engage elements of the Taliban, read the Dari equivalent.&nbsp;

Around 70 delegates attended the gathering at a luxury hotel in Doha and the large meeting room erupted into applause after the joint statement had been read out shortly before 2100 GMT.

"The differences is almost so narrow... we are quite frankly surprised how serious both sides are and they are so committed to putting an end to this conflict," said Qatar's counter-terrorism special envoy Mutlaq al-Qahtani.

The so-called intra-Afghan meetings follow six days of direct US-Taliban talks that were put on hold for the two-day Afghan conference.

The flurry of talks will continue with the resumption of direct US-Taliban contact also in Doha on Tuesday as both sides eye a resolution to the bloody 18-year conflict.

Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw.

'Most productive'

US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad has said that the latest round of US-Taliban talks "have been the most productive of the rounds we've had with the Talibs".

"We want a stable Afghanistan," he told reporters on the sidelines of the dialogue on Monday.

"Afghans meeting with the Taliban was a big success."

The Taliban said they were "happy with progress".

The United States did not participate directly in the two-day Afghan summit, which was attended by political heavyweights, government officials and at least six women.

The Taliban have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, members of which only took part in a "personal capacity".

Ghani's administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks.

Sunday and Monday's gathering was the third such meeting following landmark summits in Moscow in February and May.

An agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two main pillars -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the militants not to offer sanctuary to jihadists.&nbsp;

The Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda was the main reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago.

But the thorny issues of power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powers including Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani's administration remain unresolved.

The Taliban, believing they have the upper hand in the war, have kept up attacks even while talking to the United States and agreeing to the Afghan dialogue.

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 12 people and wounded scores more on Sunday, officials said.

Despite the violence, both the Taliban and the US have been positive about their engagement.

Dozens of influential Afghans concluded two days of talks with the Taliban on Monday in Doha, laying the foundations for renewed negotiations between the United States and the militants.

Dozens of influential Afghans concluded two days of talks with the Taliban on Monday in Doha, laying the foundations for renewed negotiations between the United States and the militants. The encounter ended with a joint statement pledging a "roadmap for peace" based on the opening of a monitored peace process, return of internally displaced people, and non-interference by regional powers in Afghanistan. "Assuring women rights in political, social, economic, educational, cultural affairs as per (and) within the Islamic framework of Islamic values," also featured in the joint text. "It's not an agreement, it's a foundation to start the discussion," delegate Mary Akrami, executive director of the Afghan Women's Network, told AFP. "The good part was that both sides agreed." The Taliban's Amir Khan Mutaqi, a former minister during the militant group's 1996-2001 rule of Afghanistan, read a Pashto version of the roughly 700-word statement. Habiba Sarabi, deputy chair of the Afghan High Peace Council established by former president Hamid Karzai to engage elements of the Taliban, read the Dari equivalent. Around 70 delegates attended the gathering at a luxury hotel in Doha and the large meeting room erupted into applause after the joint statement had been read out shortly before 2100 GMT. "The differences is almost so narrow... we are quite frankly surprised how serious both sides are and they are so committed to putting an end to this conflict," said Qatar's counter-terrorism special envoy Mutlaq al-Qahtani. The so-called intra-Afghan meetings follow six days of direct US-Taliban talks that were put on hold for the two-day Afghan conference. The flurry of talks will continue with the resumption of direct US-Taliban contact also in Doha on Tuesday as both sides eye a resolution to the bloody 18-year conflict. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw. 'Most productive' US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad has said that the latest round of US-Taliban talks "have been the most productive of the rounds we've had with the Talibs". "We want a stable Afghanistan," he told reporters on the sidelines of the dialogue on Monday. "Afghans meeting with the Taliban was a big success." The Taliban said they were "happy with progress". The United States did not participate directly in the two-day Afghan summit, which was attended by political heavyweights, government officials and at least six women. The Taliban have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, members of which only took part in a "personal capacity". Ghani's administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks. Sunday and Monday's gathering was the third such meeting following landmark summits in Moscow in February and May. An agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two main pillars -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the militants not to offer sanctuary to jihadists. The Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda was the main reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago. But the thorny issues of power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powers including Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani's administration remain unresolved. The Taliban, believing they have the upper hand in the war, have kept up attacks even while talking to the United States and agreeing to the Afghan dialogue. A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 12 people and wounded scores more on Sunday, officials said. Despite the violence, both the Taliban and the US have been positive about their engagement.

Afghan rivals conclude talks with Taliban on 'roadmap for peace'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-army-rejects-international-criminal-court-bid-for-full-rohingya-probe-230916">International Criminal Court</a> judges on Monday convicted a&nbsp;Congolese rebel chief nicknamed "Terminator" of war crimes including massacring civilians and sexual enslavement, in a badly-needed victory for prosecutors in The Hague.

Bosco Ntaganda's forces carried out horrific attacks including one in a banana field that left babies and children disembowelled or with their heads smashed in, judges said.

The 45-year-old was a "key leader" who recruited child soldiers and gave "direct orders to target and kill" non-combatants in the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-300000-flee-congo-violence-complicating-ebola-fight-united-nations-228316"> Democratic Republic of Congo</a>'s Ituri region in 2002 and 2003.

Ntaganda was found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, directing attacks against civilians, displacing civilians, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under the age of 15.

"Mr Ntaganda rallied the troops before battle, he gave direct orders to the troops during operations, and he debriefed them afterward," head judge Robert Fremr said.

Rwandan-born Ntaganda will be sentenced at a later date after judges hear submissions from victims. Judges can give a life sentence.

Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth hailed the verdict as &nbsp;"big win for the survivors", while the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) said it was a "day of joy for Ituri victims."

Ntaganda is known for his pencil moustache and a penchant for fine dining proclaimed his innocence throughout the trial, insisting that he was "soldier not a criminal" and that the "Terminator" nickname did not apply to him.

Prosecutors portrayed him as the ruthless leader of ethnic Tutsi revolts amid the civil wars that wracked the DRC after the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda.

Judges said Ntaganda "fulfilled a very important military function" as a leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebels and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).&nbsp;

The FPLC killed at least 800 people as it fought rival militias in Ituri for control of valuable minerals. More than 60,000 people have been killed since violence erupted there in 1999.

&nbsp;'Bodies were disembowelled'&nbsp;

In one attack directed by Ntaganda, judges said that soldiers killed at least 49 captives in a banana field behind a village, using "sticks and batons as well as knives and machetes."

"Men, women and children and babies were found in the field. Some bodies were found naked, some had hands tied up, some had their heads crushed. Several bodies were disembowelled or otherwise mutilated," Fremr said.

In other attacks, women were "killed either while resisting rape or after being raped" while people were forced to dig mass graves that they were later killed and thrown into.

Ntaganda was found guilty of personally shooting dead a Catholic priest and as an "indirect perpetrator" for the other crimes by giving "direct orders to target and kill civilians" and other crimes.

These included recruiting child soldiers who "wore uniforms that were often too large for them" but were "punished and suffered physical violence" in the same way as adult soldiers," the judgment said.

The judges said it was "common for female members to be raped", including three girls under the age of 15.

Formerly a Congolese army general, Ntaganda then became a founding member of the M23 rebel group, which was eventually defeated by Congolese government forces in 2013.

Later that year he became the first-ever suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC when he walked into the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali and asked to be sent to the court, based in the Netherlands.

Ntaganda is one of five Congolese warlords brought before the ICC, which was set up in 2002 as an independent international body to prosecute those accused of the world's worst crimes.

Ntaganda's former FPLC commander Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2012.&nbsp;

But it has suffered a string of setbacks over recent years with some of its most high-profile suspects walking free, including Ivorian former leader Laurent Gbagbo earlier this year.

It has also been criticised for mainly trying African suspects so far.

The US administration of President Donald Trump has also attacked the court after warning it against prosecuting US service members over war crimes in Afghanistan.

International Criminal Court judges on Monday convicted a Congolese rebel chief nicknamed "Terminator" of war crimes including massacring civilians and sexual enslavement, in a badly-needed victory for prosecutors in The Hague.

International Criminal Court judges on Monday convicted a Congolese rebel chief nicknamed "Terminator" of war crimes including massacring civilians and sexual enslavement, in a badly-needed victory for prosecutors in The Hague. Bosco Ntaganda's forces carried out horrific attacks including one in a banana field that left babies and children disembowelled or with their heads smashed in, judges said. The 45-year-old was a "key leader" who recruited child soldiers and gave "direct orders to target and kill" non-combatants in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri region in 2002 and 2003. Ntaganda was found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, directing attacks against civilians, displacing civilians, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under the age of 15. "Mr Ntaganda rallied the troops before battle, he gave direct orders to the troops during operations, and he debriefed them afterward," head judge Robert Fremr said. Rwandan-born Ntaganda will be sentenced at a later date after judges hear submissions from victims. Judges can give a life sentence. Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth hailed the verdict as "big win for the survivors", while the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) said it was a "day of joy for Ituri victims." Ntaganda is known for his pencil moustache and a penchant for fine dining proclaimed his innocence throughout the trial, insisting that he was "soldier not a criminal" and that the "Terminator" nickname did not apply to him. Prosecutors portrayed him as the ruthless leader of ethnic Tutsi revolts amid the civil wars that wracked the DRC after the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda. Judges said Ntaganda "fulfilled a very important military function" as a leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebels and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC). The FPLC killed at least 800 people as it fought rival militias in Ituri for control of valuable minerals. More than 60,000 people have been killed since violence erupted there in 1999. 'Bodies were disembowelled' In one attack directed by Ntaganda, judges said that soldiers killed at least 49 captives in a banana field behind a village, using "sticks and batons as well as knives and machetes." "Men, women and children and babies were found in the field. Some bodies were found naked, some had hands tied up, some had their heads crushed. Several bodies were disembowelled or otherwise mutilated," Fremr said. In other attacks, women were "killed either while resisting rape or after being raped" while people were forced to dig mass graves that they were later killed and thrown into. Ntaganda was found guilty of personally shooting dead a Catholic priest and as an "indirect perpetrator" for the other crimes by giving "direct orders to target and kill civilians" and other crimes. These included recruiting child soldiers who "wore uniforms that were often too large for them" but were "punished and suffered physical violence" in the same way as adult soldiers," the judgment said. The judges said it was "common for female members to be raped", including three girls under the age of 15. Formerly a Congolese army general, Ntaganda then became a founding member of the M23 rebel group, which was eventually defeated by Congolese government forces in 2013. Later that year he became the first-ever suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC when he walked into the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali and asked to be sent to the court, based in the Netherlands. Ntaganda is one of five Congolese warlords brought before the ICC, which was set up in 2002 as an independent international body to prosecute those accused of the world's worst crimes. Ntaganda's former FPLC commander Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2012. But it has suffered a string of setbacks over recent years with some of its most high-profile suspects walking free, including Ivorian former leader Laurent Gbagbo earlier this year. It has also been criticised for mainly trying African suspects so far. The US administration of President Donald Trump has also attacked the court after warning it against prosecuting US service members over war crimes in Afghanistan.

International Criminal Court convicts 'Terminator' warlord guilty of Congo atrocities

A court here on Monday announced 16 years of a prison sentence and penalty worth one million (in Nepali Rupees) for a former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/jail-term-sought-for-ex-united-nations-official-convicted-of-child-abuse-in-nepal-226347">United Nations official</a> from Canada found guilty of child abuse.

The Kavre District court in its final hearing awarded Peter John Dalglish, 62, with an order to pay compensation of one million to the victims and jail term of 16 years combined.

The single bench, headed by Judge Arjun Adhikari, made the final announcement over the case placing an order to pay five lakhs rupees each victim under cases 295 and 296 (Code to hide the identity of the victims).

The court also awarded Dalgish with jail terms of nine years for case 295 and seven years for case 296.

The Nepal Police have rescued two boys, aged 12 and 14, from his villa in Kavre District in April last year.

The investigation found him guilty of sexually abusing children and charged with being a paedophile.&nbsp;

Dalgish, however, has denied the allegations. Dalgish also helped found the charity named 'Street Kids International' to help the impoverished children.&nbsp;

Dalgish was a former UN humanitarian agency worker for the UN-Habitat in Afghanistan, UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in Liberia and also in Darfur of Sudan.&nbsp;

Officials concluded that Dalgish used to lure children from a weak economic background with promises of education, jobs and trips, and later sexually abusing them.&nbsp;

A court here on Monday announced 16 years of a prison sentence and penalty worth one million (in Nepali Rupees) for a former United Nations official from Canada found guilty of child abuse.

A court here on Monday announced 16 years of a prison sentence and penalty worth one million (in Nepali Rupees) for a former United Nations official from Canada found guilty of child abuse. The Kavre District court in its final hearing awarded Peter John Dalglish, 62, with an order to pay compensation of one million to the victims and jail term of 16 years combined. The single bench, headed by Judge Arjun Adhikari, made the final announcement over the case placing an order to pay five lakhs rupees each victim under cases 295 and 296 (Code to hide the identity of the victims). The court also awarded Dalgish with jail terms of nine years for case 295 and seven years for case 296. The Nepal Police have rescued two boys, aged 12 and 14, from his villa in Kavre District in April last year. The investigation found him guilty of sexually abusing children and charged with being a paedophile. Dalgish, however, has denied the allegations. Dalgish also helped found the charity named 'Street Kids International' to help the impoverished children. Dalgish was a former UN humanitarian agency worker for the UN-Habitat in Afghanistan, UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in Liberia and also in Darfur of Sudan. Officials concluded that Dalgish used to lure children from a weak economic background with promises of education, jobs and trips, and later sexually abusing them.

Nepal court announces 16 years jail term, one million penalty for ex-UN worker

A Taliban attack on a government security compound in central Afghanistan on July 7 killed at least eight security personnel, six civilians and wounded more than 140, officials said, as rival Afghan groups met in Qatar to discuss peace.

14 Killed in Another Taliban Attack

Three suspects, including a lecturer from Kabul University, was arrested by Afghan forces on Sunday over charges of having suspected links with the Islamic State (ISIS) and plotting terror attacks in the Afghan capital.

In a statement, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's intelligence agency, said that Mubashir Muslimyar, the professor, allegedly enticed students to join the ISIS, TOLOnews reported.

The three accused persons are being held on charges of plotting terror attacks in Kabul in recent times.

"Attack on a wrestling club, Maiwand Gym, in the west of Kabul on September 5, 2018, in which at least 21 people were killed, attack on a bus carrying the employees of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission in Kabul on June 4, which left five people dead, and an attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul this year, the NDS statement said.

The suspects have confessed that they were motivated by three lectures at Kabul University to join the dreaded terror group and carry out attacks, the investigative agency said.

Three suspects, including a lecturer from Kabul University, was arrested by Afghan forces on Sunday over charges of having suspected links with the Islamic State (ISIS) and plotting terror attacks in the Afghan capital.

Three suspects, including a lecturer from Kabul University, was arrested by Afghan forces on Sunday over charges of having suspected links with the Islamic State (ISIS) and plotting terror attacks in the Afghan capital. In a statement, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's intelligence agency, said that Mubashir Muslimyar, the professor, allegedly enticed students to join the ISIS, TOLOnews reported. The three accused persons are being held on charges of plotting terror attacks in Kabul in recent times. "Attack on a wrestling club, Maiwand Gym, in the west of Kabul on September 5, 2018, in which at least 21 people were killed, attack on a bus carrying the employees of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission in Kabul on June 4, which left five people dead, and an attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul this year, the NDS statement said. The suspects have confessed that they were motivated by three lectures at Kabul University to join the dreaded terror group and carry out attacks, the investigative agency said.

Afghanistan: University professor held for suspected links with Islamic State, plotting terror attacks

Intelligence inputs have revealed that Pakistan-based terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have joined hands with Afghan insurgent groups like Haqqani Network and Afghan Taliban after the launch of Balakot air strike by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 26.

It is indicated that these terror groups are shifting their base in Afghanistan near the international border in areas including Kandahar and Kunar.

The IAF jets attacked JeM's terror camp in Balakot after the February 14 attack by a suicide bomber on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources reveal that Pakistan-based terror outfits are shifting their base across the border in Afghanistan to avoid blacklisting of Pakistan by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) later this year.

Pakistan remains on the grey list of FATF, a global terror financing watchdog which has asked Islamabad to take steps to curb money laundering and terror financing.

India wanted Pakistan to be placed on the blacklist, a move that would negatively impact Pakistan's economy.

After facing intense international pressure, the Pakistan-based terror outfits are hiding in safe havens in Taliban-dominated areas in Afghanistan. They are even posing a threat to the Indian diplomatic establishments, including the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

Intelligence sources reveal that the Indian consulate in Kandahar has been kept on high alert against a Taliban attack.

The revelation about JeM and LeT treats in Afghanistan came after the arrest of Jaish terrorists Sediq Akbar and Ataullah by Afghan National Security Force from Jalalabad earlier this year.

Sources also reveal that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unsc-hails-masood-azhars-designation-as-global-terrorist-a-notable-achievement-220333">JeM chief Masood Azhar</a> was offered shelter in Afghanistan by the Haqqani Network earlier this year. However, Masood feels safe under the protection of Pakistan Army in Bahawalpur.

A Pentagon report earlier this year revealed that the US considers LeT as one of the greatest threats to Washington and its allied forces in war-torn Afghanistan, where at least 300 fighters from the terror group are active.

Responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the LeT is designated as a global terror organisation by the US and the UN.

The report said that among the 20 prominent terrorist organisations active in Afghanistan, LeT ranks fifth in terms of fighters along with al-Qaeda and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

The rising footprint of JeM will pose more threats to people and security agencies in Afghanistan.

Intelligence inputs have revealed that Pakistan-based terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have joined hands with Afghan insurgent groups like Haqqani Network and Afghan Taliban after the launch of Balakot air strike by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 26.

Intelligence inputs have revealed that Pakistan-based terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have joined hands with Afghan insurgent groups like Haqqani Network and Afghan Taliban after the launch of Balakot air strike by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 26. It is indicated that these terror groups are shifting their base in Afghanistan near the international border in areas including Kandahar and Kunar. The IAF jets attacked JeM's terror camp in Balakot after the February 14 attack by a suicide bomber on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources reveal that Pakistan-based terror outfits are shifting their base across the border in Afghanistan to avoid blacklisting of Pakistan by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) later this year. Pakistan remains on the grey list of FATF, a global terror financing watchdog which has asked Islamabad to take steps to curb money laundering and terror financing. India wanted Pakistan to be placed on the blacklist, a move that would negatively impact Pakistan's economy. After facing intense international pressure, the Pakistan-based terror outfits are hiding in safe havens in Taliban-dominated areas in Afghanistan. They are even posing a threat to the Indian diplomatic establishments, including the Indian Embassy in Kabul. Intelligence sources reveal that the Indian consulate in Kandahar has been kept on high alert against a Taliban attack. The revelation about JeM and LeT treats in Afghanistan came after the arrest of Jaish terrorists Sediq Akbar and Ataullah by Afghan National Security Force from Jalalabad earlier this year. Sources also reveal that JeM chief Masood Azhar was offered shelter in Afghanistan by the Haqqani Network earlier this year. However, Masood feels safe under the protection of Pakistan Army in Bahawalpur. A Pentagon report earlier this year revealed that the US considers LeT as one of the greatest threats to Washington and its allied forces in war-torn Afghanistan, where at least 300 fighters from the terror group are active. Responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the LeT is designated as a global terror organisation by the US and the UN. The report said that among the 20 prominent terrorist organisations active in Afghanistan, LeT ranks fifth in terms of fighters along with al-Qaeda and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The rising footprint of JeM will pose more threats to people and security agencies in Afghanistan.

Pakistan-based terrorists joining hands with Afghan outfits after Balakot strike: Sources

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores more Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a blast that came amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dozens-of-powerful-afghans-including-bitter-rivals-to-meet-taliban-today-233700">ongoing peace talks in Qatar</a>.

The Taliban are meeting with US negotiators and Afghan representatives in Doha as the US pushes to end its 18-year involvement in Afghanistan, but violence from the insurgents and the US military has continued apace.

Sunday's suicide attack hit the eastern city of Ghazni and targeted an intelligence unit, Ghazni provincial governor spokesman Aref Noori told AFP.

He put the death toll at six, including two military personnel and four civilians.

Baz Mohammad Hemmat, the head of a Ghazni private hospital, said five were dead and 70 others wounded.

The Taliban claimed the attack in a WhatsApp message.

The seventh round of Taliban-US talks is aimed at forging a deal that would see the US military quit Afghanistan in return for various guarantees.&nbsp;

Both sides have reported substantial progress in the talks, which are paused Sunday and Monday while the Taliban meet with Afghan representatives for a so-called intra-Afghan dialogue.

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores more Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a blast that came amid ongoing peace talks in Qatar.

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores more Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a blast that came amid ongoing peace talks in Qatar. The Taliban are meeting with US negotiators and Afghan representatives in Doha as the US pushes to end its 18-year involvement in Afghanistan, but violence from the insurgents and the US military has continued apace. Sunday's suicide attack hit the eastern city of Ghazni and targeted an intelligence unit, Ghazni provincial governor spokesman Aref Noori told AFP. He put the death toll at six, including two military personnel and four civilians. Baz Mohammad Hemmat, the head of a Ghazni private hospital, said five were dead and 70 others wounded. The Taliban claimed the attack in a WhatsApp message. The seventh round of Taliban-US talks is aimed at forging a deal that would see the US military quit Afghanistan in return for various guarantees. Both sides have reported substantial progress in the talks, which are paused Sunday and Monday while the Taliban meet with Afghan representatives for a so-called intra-Afghan dialogue.

Afghanistan: Suicide blast kills at least 5 in Ghazni; Taliban claims responsibility

Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea level after hundreds of kilometres winding past blackened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists -- climbing towards the "Roof of the World".

The Tour de Khunjerab -- its name a homage to its more famous French counterpart, which began on Saturday -- is still many years away from being another Big Loop, but with a solid claim to being the highest cycling race in the world, it has a lot to offer a certain type of athlete.

In the last week of June, some 88 cyclists, including two teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as well as solo participants from Spain and Switzerland, took part in its second edition.

Less than half completed it within the allotted time.

The four stages -- three ranging from 68 to 94 kilometres (42 to 58 miles) plus a shorter time trial -- are much shorter than many other cycling events.

But there is one fundamental difference: the Pakistani Tour starts at 1,500 metres above sea level, and never stops climbing.

The final day of this year's event sums up the challenge.

Starting at 2,800 metres -- higher than the Iseran Pass, the summit of the Tour de France -- it ends at 4,700 metres, just over 100 metres short of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain.

The Khunjerab Tour must become "an attraction... for the most daring and adventurous cyclists in the world", said Usman Ahmed, the top official for the northern Gilgit region, home to some of the planet's tallest peaks and where the race was held.

The cyclists' tyres swallow up the asphalt of the Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world.

Named after the Karakoram mountain range -- just one of the ranges in Gilgit -- the road passes through an extraordinary landscape.

Soaring, jagged peaks contrast with vertiginous ravines, glaciers driving a chill wind, and tumbling aquamarine rivers. Landslides are common.

Guardrails are a flimsy suggestion of protection from steep falls of hundreds of feet.

"There is no place in the world that offers all these things," said Ahmed.

"No doubt it is the toughest cycle race in the world. We are aiming to make it our trademark," said Haroon General, president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation.

"The most difficult part of the race is the final stage where cyclists face shortage of oxygen and there is risk of heart issues... At such an altitude a person falls down (faints) after running for 200 metres, but our cyclists travelled for almost 59 kilometres," he said.

Five ambulances were on standby in case of emergencies in the final stage, he said, adding: "A majority of the cyclists made it but the support staff needed ambulances."

'Breathless'

The winner of the event, Najeeb Ullah -- a Pakistani from a hilltop village in the southwestern province of Balochistan who won three of the four stages -- told AFP that breathing was a "problem" for him in the final climb.

"I had to face a lot of difficulties while reaching the finishing line," located at the Khunjerab Pass, the border between Pakistan and China, he said.

Especially since altitude was not the only obstacle: On the final day, fierce winds drove snowflakes into the cyclists' faces, forcing some already struggling to catch their breath to dismount.

"Our entire training is reduced to nothing when we reach the final stage," lamented Abdullah Aslam, a participant who could not finish the race.

"I could barely pedal and was feeling breathless," he admitted.

Aslam, a runner from Islamabad, had already had to dismount and walk to the finish on the second day.

"The road was so steep that a majority of the cyclists had to get off their cycles because even a normal vehicle (two-wheel drive) faces issues," he recalled.

Organisers said in some sections the competitors faced a gradient of 20 percent, an angle rarely seen in such competitions in around the world.&nbsp;

At each stage organisers wearing construction helmets scrutinised the surrounding mountains, peering closely for any sign of the rockfalls that periodically smash on to the road -- a potential peril to the cyclists below.

The threat of danger was in stark contrast with the joyful welcome the cyclists received in villages along the route, with residents playing traditional instruments to cheer them on.

"On each mountain, each town, there were welcome signs," said Ramon Antelo, a Spanish diplomat based in Pakistan, who called the race his "best cycling experience" and now hopes to pull together a team to compete next year.&nbsp;

He added: "A race like this is not in any other place. In Europe, Mont Blanc -- you cannot ride it by bike."

Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea level after hundreds of kilometres winding past blackened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists -- climbing towards the "Roof of the World".

Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea level after hundreds of kilometres winding past blackened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists -- climbing towards the "Roof of the World". The Tour de Khunjerab -- its name a homage to its more famous French counterpart, which began on Saturday -- is still many years away from being another Big Loop, but with a solid claim to being the highest cycling race in the world, it has a lot to offer a certain type of athlete. In the last week of June, some 88 cyclists, including two teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as well as solo participants from Spain and Switzerland, took part in its second edition. Less than half completed it within the allotted time. The four stages -- three ranging from 68 to 94 kilometres (42 to 58 miles) plus a shorter time trial -- are much shorter than many other cycling events. But there is one fundamental difference: the Pakistani Tour starts at 1,500 metres above sea level, and never stops climbing. The final day of this year's event sums up the challenge. Starting at 2,800 metres -- higher than the Iseran Pass, the summit of the Tour de France -- it ends at 4,700 metres, just over 100 metres short of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. The Khunjerab Tour must become "an attraction... for the most daring and adventurous cyclists in the world", said Usman Ahmed, the top official for the northern Gilgit region, home to some of the planet's tallest peaks and where the race was held. The cyclists' tyres swallow up the asphalt of the Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world. Named after the Karakoram mountain range -- just one of the ranges in Gilgit -- the road passes through an extraordinary landscape. Soaring, jagged peaks contrast with vertiginous ravines, glaciers driving a chill wind, and tumbling aquamarine rivers. Landslides are common. Guardrails are a flimsy suggestion of protection from steep falls of hundreds of feet. "There is no place in the world that offers all these things," said Ahmed. "No doubt it is the toughest cycle race in the world. We are aiming to make it our trademark," said Haroon General, president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation. "The most difficult part of the race is the final stage where cyclists face shortage of oxygen and there is risk of heart issues... At such an altitude a person falls down (faints) after running for 200 metres, but our cyclists travelled for almost 59 kilometres," he said. Five ambulances were on standby in case of emergencies in the final stage, he said, adding: "A majority of the cyclists made it but the support staff needed ambulances." 'Breathless' The winner of the event, Najeeb Ullah -- a Pakistani from a hilltop village in the southwestern province of Balochistan who won three of the four stages -- told AFP that breathing was a "problem" for him in the final climb. "I had to face a lot of difficulties while reaching the finishing line," located at the Khunjerab Pass, the border between Pakistan and China, he said. Especially since altitude was not the only obstacle: On the final day, fierce winds drove snowflakes into the cyclists' faces, forcing some already struggling to catch their breath to dismount. "Our entire training is reduced to nothing when we reach the final stage," lamented Abdullah Aslam, a participant who could not finish the race. "I could barely pedal and was feeling breathless," he admitted. Aslam, a runner from Islamabad, had already had to dismount and walk to the finish on the second day. "The road was so steep that a majority of the cyclists had to get off their cycles because even a normal vehicle (two-wheel drive) faces issues," he recalled. Organisers said in some sections the competitors faced a gradient of 20 percent, an angle rarely seen in such competitions in around the world. At each stage organisers wearing construction helmets scrutinised the surrounding mountains, peering closely for any sign of the rockfalls that periodically smash on to the road -- a potential peril to the cyclists below. The threat of danger was in stark contrast with the joyful welcome the cyclists received in villages along the route, with residents playing traditional instruments to cheer them on. "On each mountain, each town, there were welcome signs," said Ramon Antelo, a Spanish diplomat based in Pakistan, who called the race his "best cycling experience" and now hopes to pull together a team to compete next year. He added: "A race like this is not in any other place. In Europe, Mont Blanc -- you cannot ride it by bike."

Tour de Impossible? Pakistan hosts 'world's toughest cycle race'

Taliban attacked government security compound in central Afghanistan on Sunday amid peace talks in Qatar. Watch this video to know more.

Attack amid Afghanistan peace talks in Qatar

Islamic State fighters claimed responsibility on Saturday for a deadly overnight attack in a mosque in the central province of Ghazni in Afghanistan.

At least two people were killed and 20 others sustained injuries as a bomb planted by the hardline Islamist militants inside the Mohammadiya mosque, used by Shi'ites, went off on Friday night, said Aref Noori, a provincial government spokesman.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/suicide-attacks-emerge-in-philippines-under-islamic-state-influence-232373&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjr0Ofgq6DjAhU47XMBHYCFBfAQFjACegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xZaHMEjDApbkIBRFbPTiy">Islamic State</a> frequently targets Afghanistan's Shi'ite minority, which it calls "apostates".

The militant group said 40 people were injured in the explosion.

The explosive device was planted ahead of the Friday prayers, government officials said.

Ghazni has recently been the scene of heavy clashes between government forces and Taliban militants.

While Afghanistan's wars have mostly been fought among Sunni Muslims, there have been increasing numbers of attacks on Shi’ite targets in recent years.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-in-afghanistan-aspires-to-attack-us-marine-general-frank-mckenzie-226736&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjr0Ofgq6DjAhU47XMBHYCFBfAQFjAEegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw21iYTq_zXMg4RpLxGpR3I0">Islamic State</a> increasingly claims responsibility for attacks on civilian targets even as talks for peace between US officials and the Taliban to end the Afghan war intensify.

No reliable census information exists on the size of the Shi’ite community in Afghanistan, but estimates range around 10-15 per cent, including most members of the Persian-speaking Hazara ethnic group and some Tajiks.

Islamic State fighters claimed responsibility on Saturday for a deadly overnight attack in a mosque in the central province of Ghazni in Afghanistan. At least two people were killed and 20 others sustained injuries as a bomb planted by the hardline Islamist militants inside the Mohammadiya mosque, used by Shi'ites, went off on Friday night, said Aref Noori, a provincial government spokesman.

Islamic State fighters claimed responsibility on Saturday for a deadly overnight attack in a mosque in the central province of Ghazni in Afghanistan. At least two people were killed and 20 others sustained injuries as a bomb planted by the hardline Islamist militants inside the Mohammadiya mosque, used by Shi'ites, went off on Friday night, said Aref Noori, a provincial government spokesman. Islamic State frequently targets Afghanistan's Shi'ite minority, which it calls "apostates". The militant group said 40 people were injured in the explosion. The explosive device was planted ahead of the Friday prayers, government officials said. Ghazni has recently been the scene of heavy clashes between government forces and Taliban militants. While Afghanistan's wars have mostly been fought among Sunni Muslims, there have been increasing numbers of attacks on Shi’ite targets in recent years. Islamic State increasingly claims responsibility for attacks on civilian targets even as talks for peace between US officials and the Taliban to end the Afghan war intensify. No reliable census information exists on the size of the Shi’ite community in Afghanistan, but estimates range around 10-15 per cent, including most members of the Persian-speaking Hazara ethnic group and some Tajiks.

Islamic State says it carried out attack at Shi'ite mosque in central Afghanistan

The death toll in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-4-killed-36-wounded-in-taliban-attack-233354">Taliban attack in northern Faryab province</a> of Afghanistan has risen up to 14, officials said on Saturday.

Around 40 others were severely injured in the attack.

The Kamma Press, citing the 209 Shaheen Corps, reported that Taliban fired multiple rounds of mortars and rockets in a market area.

The Corps said that the shelling started at 6:39am [local time].

"Fourteen civilians were killed and 40 -- including women and children -- were wounded," Hanif Rezaee, an Afghan army spokesman said.

Few people with severe injuries were shifted to Balkh province's hospitals.

The deadly incident comes as the war between the Taliban and Afghan security forces rages on, even as Taliban officials are meeting with US negotiators in Doha in a bid to bring about an end to the conflict.

On Sunday, the insurgents will meet in the Qatari capital with various representatives from Afghan society as part of a potential peace process.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

The death toll in a Taliban attack in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan has risen up to 14, officials said on Saturday. Around 40 others were severely injured in the attack.

The death toll in a Taliban attack in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan has risen up to 14, officials said on Saturday. Around 40 others were severely injured in the attack. The Kamma Press, citing the 209 Shaheen Corps, reported that Taliban fired multiple rounds of mortars and rockets in a market area. The Corps said that the shelling started at 6:39am [local time]. "Fourteen civilians were killed and 40 -- including women and children -- were wounded," Hanif Rezaee, an Afghan army spokesman said. Few people with severe injuries were shifted to Balkh province's hospitals. The deadly incident comes as the war between the Taliban and Afghan security forces rages on, even as Taliban officials are meeting with US negotiators in Doha in a bid to bring about an end to the conflict. On Sunday, the insurgents will meet in the Qatari capital with various representatives from Afghan society as part of a potential peace process. (With inputs from AFP)

Afghanistan: Death toll reaches 14 in Taliban attack in northern Faryab province

West Indies won the battle of the Cricket World Cup's basement dwellers, beating <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gulbadin-naib-apologises-to-fans-for-afghanistans-poor-world-cup-performance-233187">Afghanistan </a>by 23 runs in their final group match at Headingley on Thursday.

Chris Gayle managed only seven runs in his final World Cup appearance but Shai Hope capitalised on an early reprieve to score 77 and help the eliminated Caribbean side to 311-6 after electing to bat.

While Gayle disappointed, 18-year-old Ikram Alikhil top-scored for Afghanistan with a career-best 86 before falling to the 39-year-old part-time spinner from Jamaica.

Afghanistan were all out for 288 in exactly 50 overs - their highest score in the World Cup - to finish their campaign with nine straight defeats, denying their West Indian coach Phil Simmons a winning send-off.

The match against the tournament's weakest side was an opportunity for Gayle to produce a special performance and to break Brian Lara's West Indies record for 10,348 ODI runs.

But the prolific left-handed opener failed to take it, slashing at a wide Dawlat Zadran delivery to be caught behind.

He finished his last World Cup with only one half-century and remains just 10 runs behind Lara's record.

"It's been a privilege and honour to represent West Indies in five World Cups but disappointed to end without making it to the final four," Gayle said after the victory.

"I don't intend to put my body on the risk, I've been struggling. This is the last one, definitely,"

West Indies could have been in bigger trouble but Rashid Khan dropped a sitter at mid-wicket off Zadran when Hope was on five.

By the time Rashid caught him, at mid-wicket in the 38th over, Hope had laid a strong foundation for a 300-plus total.

Opener Evin Lewis celebrated his return to the team with 58 and Nicholas Pooran also made 58, his third 50-plus score of the tournament.

Skipper Jason Holder clobbered four sixes in his 45 off 34 balls to help the team past the 300-mark.

Dropped catches, squandered run-out opportunity and misfields marred Afghanistan's fielding, best illustrated in the final over of the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/west-indies-vs-sri-lanka-rihanna-sprinkles-stardust-at-world-cup-232147&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiYyKzOmJ3jAhVD63MBHcXMCQwQFjABegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ZLFGrfj9jSd6lZ3wWN0d-">West Indies</a> innings.

Afghan captain Gulbadin Naib got himself under a skier at long-off but flinched at the last moment, possibly losing the ball in sunlight, allowing what would have been a regulation catch to go for a boundary.

Naib could not impress with the bat either and fell for eight.

Shah and Alikhil refused to throw in the towel, though, frustrating the West Indies attack with a 133-run partnership.

Carlos Brathwaite (4-63) dismissed Shah as he and Kemar Roach (3-37) snuffed out Afghan hopes of an unlikely victory.

"Big stage, in the end, it was tough to chase 300-plus but I'm happy with the batting performance," Naib said afterwards.

"<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/afghanistan-keeper-mohammad-shahzad-ruled-out-of-world-cup-2019-225176&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiTxOzmmJ3jAhXJ4HMBHUsWBv8QFjAAegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qTHO9j72XTfEz-2HmYA8_">Alikhil </a>is a youngster, he showed his class today. We have many such talented youngsters back home," Naib said.

"Fitness is a big issue, the boys are struggling. Also pressure, we need to control our nerves. We can work even more on our skills to prove ourselves," added Naib.

West Indies won the battle of the Cricket World Cup's basement dwellers, beating Afghanistan by 23 runs in their final group match at Headingley on Thursday. Chris Gayle managed only seven runs in his final World Cup appearance but Shai Hope capitalised on an early reprieve to score 77 and help the eliminated Caribbean side to 311-6 after electing to bat.

West Indies won the battle of the Cricket World Cup's basement dwellers, beating Afghanistan by 23 runs in their final group match at Headingley on Thursday. Chris Gayle managed only seven runs in his final World Cup appearance but Shai Hope capitalised on an early reprieve to score 77 and help the eliminated Caribbean side to 311-6 after electing to bat. While Gayle disappointed, 18-year-old Ikram Alikhil top-scored for Afghanistan with a career-best 86 before falling to the 39-year-old part-time spinner from Jamaica. Afghanistan were all out for 288 in exactly 50 overs - their highest score in the World Cup - to finish their campaign with nine straight defeats, denying their West Indian coach Phil Simmons a winning send-off. The match against the tournament's weakest side was an opportunity for Gayle to produce a special performance and to break Brian Lara's West Indies record for 10,348 ODI runs. But the prolific left-handed opener failed to take it, slashing at a wide Dawlat Zadran delivery to be caught behind. He finished his last World Cup with only one half-century and remains just 10 runs behind Lara's record. "It's been a privilege and honour to represent West Indies in five World Cups but disappointed to end without making it to the final four," Gayle said after the victory. "I don't intend to put my body on the risk, I've been struggling. This is the last one, definitely," West Indies could have been in bigger trouble but Rashid Khan dropped a sitter at mid-wicket off Zadran when Hope was on five. By the time Rashid caught him, at mid-wicket in the 38th over, Hope had laid a strong foundation for a 300-plus total. Opener Evin Lewis celebrated his return to the team with 58 and Nicholas Pooran also made 58, his third 50-plus score of the tournament. Skipper Jason Holder clobbered four sixes in his 45 off 34 balls to help the team past the 300-mark. Dropped catches, squandered run-out opportunity and misfields marred Afghanistan's fielding, best illustrated in the final over of the West Indies innings. Afghan captain Gulbadin Naib got himself under a skier at long-off but flinched at the last moment, possibly losing the ball in sunlight, allowing what would have been a regulation catch to go for a boundary. Naib could not impress with the bat either and fell for eight. Shah and Alikhil refused to throw in the towel, though, frustrating the West Indies attack with a 133-run partnership. Carlos Brathwaite (4-63) dismissed Shah as he and Kemar Roach (3-37) snuffed out Afghan hopes of an unlikely victory. "Big stage, in the end, it was tough to chase 300-plus but I'm happy with the batting performance," Naib said afterwards. "Alikhil is a youngster, he showed his class today. We have many such talented youngsters back home," Naib said. "Fitness is a big issue, the boys are struggling. Also pressure, we need to control our nerves. We can work even more on our skills to prove ourselves," added Naib.

Chris Gayle fails to break Brian Lara's record in World Cup swansong

Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib apologised to his team's fans after their winless campaign in the Cricket World Cup, saying the side's big guns had let them down.

Few had expected <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-coach-phil-simmons-outburst-exposes-troubles-in-afghanistan-team-228705&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjX346UlZ3jAhUHL48KHT5NAgsQFjAGegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3HhVIpr5yzcFPHl7TsvGCr">Afghanistan </a>to make it through to the semi-final stage in only their second World Cup appearance, and the team may also have been unsettled by a late leadership change, with Naib replacing Asghar Afghan as their one-day captain.

But they were still touted as a potential giant-killer capable of pulling off an occasional upset, thanks to a spin-heavy attack including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

"I'm very disappointed with the performance of the team. In each and every game we made a lot of mistakes. We did not play our natural cricket," Naib said after Thursday's defeat against West Indies.

Rashid, currently the number three ranked ODI bowler, had a particularly underwhelming tournament, the low point being the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-beat-afghanistan-by-150-runs-in-cricket-world-cup-228503&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjX346UlZ3jAhUHL48KHT5NAgsQFjACegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2EWBEoVinKab6DRbgte7av">match against England</a> when the leg-spinner was smashed for 110 runs off just nine overs - the worst bowling figures in World Cup history.

"We have big names in our time like Nabi, Rashid, Mujeeb...everyone expected them to perform like they did in the last two, three years.''

"Rashid has contributed 60 per cent in our wins. I also expected a lot from him. But it's a game of cricket, he gave his 100 per cent, but you can say he has had bad luck," Gulbadin said.

Afghanistan's repeated tinkering with their batting order also hurt the side, who finished with nine defeats in as many matches.

They fielded Ikram Alikhil between seven to nine in the first few matches, before promoting him to number three on Thursday, when the 18-year-old top-scored for them with a fearless 86.

"I learnt a lot in this tournament...I agree we did not give anyone proper chance with a fixed place in the batting order," said Naib.

"Even I was batting on seven or eight but jumped in as an opener in the last four-five games because the team needed it," he said.

"But I think it's not about a fixed position. If you play with a big heart, any position will suit you," said Naib.

Naib said fitness was a big issue with the team and they needed better preparation to make any impact in an international tournament.

"We could not give our 100 per cent and fulfil expectations of the people of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/mohammad-shahzad-blames-afghanistan-cricket-board-for-his-withdrawal-from-world-cup-squad-226086&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjX346UlZ3jAhUHL48KHT5NAgsQFjAEegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2TfOODoS3ZW1VgvX-OK5qX">Afghanistan</a>. I say sorry to my fans and my country," he said.

Two-times champions West Indies bowed out of the tournament they had entered as a possible dark horse with just two wins from their nine group matches.

Opener Chris Gayle's World Cup swansong, however, provided a glimpse of a better future as Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, aged between 22 and 25, impressed with the bat.

"Definitely a learning experience, something I'll never forget," said Hope, who won the man-of-the-match award for his 77.

"I'm sure we're going to use this as basically a platform for the next four years. And hopefully, we can have something stronger and build more momentum early in the tournament and take it on to the semis and the final," added Hope.

Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib apologised to his team's fans after their winless campaign in the Cricket World Cup, saying the side's big guns had let them down.

Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib apologised to his team's fans after their winless campaign in the Cricket World Cup, saying the side's big guns had let them down. Few had expected Afghanistan to make it through to the semi-final stage in only their second World Cup appearance, and the team may also have been unsettled by a late leadership change, with Naib replacing Asghar Afghan as their one-day captain. But they were still touted as a potential giant-killer capable of pulling off an occasional upset, thanks to a spin-heavy attack including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. "I'm very disappointed with the performance of the team. In each and every game we made a lot of mistakes. We did not play our natural cricket," Naib said after Thursday's defeat against West Indies. Rashid, currently the number three ranked ODI bowler, had a particularly underwhelming tournament, the low point being the match against England when the leg-spinner was smashed for 110 runs off just nine overs - the worst bowling figures in World Cup history. "We have big names in our time like Nabi, Rashid, Mujeeb...everyone expected them to perform like they did in the last two, three years.'' "Rashid has contributed 60 per cent in our wins. I also expected a lot from him. But it's a game of cricket, he gave his 100 per cent, but you can say he has had bad luck," Gulbadin said. Afghanistan's repeated tinkering with their batting order also hurt the side, who finished with nine defeats in as many matches. They fielded Ikram Alikhil between seven to nine in the first few matches, before promoting him to number three on Thursday, when the 18-year-old top-scored for them with a fearless 86. "I learnt a lot in this tournament...I agree we did not give anyone proper chance with a fixed place in the batting order," said Naib. "Even I was batting on seven or eight but jumped in as an opener in the last four-five games because the team needed it," he said. "But I think it's not about a fixed position. If you play with a big heart, any position will suit you," said Naib. Naib said fitness was a big issue with the team and they needed better preparation to make any impact in an international tournament. "We could not give our 100 per cent and fulfil expectations of the people of Afghanistan. I say sorry to my fans and my country," he said. Two-times champions West Indies bowed out of the tournament they had entered as a possible dark horse with just two wins from their nine group matches. Opener Chris Gayle's World Cup swansong, however, provided a glimpse of a better future as Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, aged between 22 and 25, impressed with the bat. "Definitely a learning experience, something I'll never forget," said Hope, who won the man-of-the-match award for his 77. "I'm sure we're going to use this as basically a platform for the next four years. And hopefully, we can have something stronger and build more momentum early in the tournament and take it on to the semis and the final," added Hope.

Gulbadin Naib apologises to fans for Afghanistan's poor World Cup performance

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan on Thursday.

The earthquake occurred at around 9:50 am (IST) today, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).&nbsp;

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan on Thursday. The earthquake occurred at around 9:50 am (IST) today, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

5.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Hindu Kush in Afghanistan

In a candid chat with WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, the new Afghan head of mission, Tahir Qadiry lauded Indian government's position on the Afghan peace process and New Delhi's role in the country while thanking India for its support to the Afghan cricket team.

WION: How do you see the current sporting ties, with India helping to develop Afghan cricket?

Tahir Qadiry: We thank WION since it is watched widely in Afghanistan. Whenever I meet an Indian friend, it is usually about cricket which I feel is a form of new diplomacy which is linked to our national identity, national pride, national joy, and something really good, since its better than being asked about insecurity, problems in Afghanistan.

Sports is a good reputation to have for Afghanistan. Thanks to India for giving us two home grounds for our Afghan cricket team -Dehradun and Greater Noida. The cricket players our peace ambassadors, they are doing&nbsp;great work, they are coming out of ashes, they are appearing on international grounds and bringing Afghanistan victory, their presence is a big thing for Afghanistan.&nbsp;

When we had a match against India, that was the only time the whole of Afghanistan was confused, who to support or who to clap for, but in the end, it was like we don't care who wins, it was a victory for both nations. I saw a couple of tweets saying India won, but Afghanistan won the hearts.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see India's role in your country?

Tahir Qadiry: India has been contributing hugely&nbsp;in Afghanistan. I, as the in-charge of the embassy and the representative of the Afghan government, believe that India has rightly designed its projects in Afghanistan. India wanted Afghanistan to have a democratic house, so they built a house of Parliament.&nbsp;

India supports sports in Afghanistan, so they built stadiums in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif. India believes in&nbsp;infrastructure of Afghanistan, so they built the Salma dam. They have done a couple of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan which has brought changes to the lives of people.&nbsp;

I believe India has designed projects which have won the hearts and minds of people and every single Afghan, and of course Bollywood, people are so emotionally attached. while we appreciate the generous contribution of India in Afghanistan, we expect more, there are loads of other projects which are going to be implemented.&nbsp;

India is one of the most trusted regional partners of Afghanistan and Afghans have huge respect and affection for India, and our Indian brothers and sisters, so we expect more projects, especially more cultural engagement and more people-to-people contacts, so that is the reason I am here and my main mission is to promote that sort of bilateral, cultural activities and portray&nbsp;a different image of Afghanistan and encourage our Indian partners to go Afghanistan as there are loads of venues for investment and cultural engagement.

WION: How is the closure of air space by Pakistan impacting your landlocked country, especially the India-Afghan air corridor?

Tahir Qadiry: Firstly, Afghanistan is no more a land-locked country, it is a land-bridge country. Secondly, the air corridor is the biggest achievement of the Afghanistan government and his Excellency the president because regional connectivity is what the current Afghan government is looking into which is paying off.&nbsp;

Since the start of the air corridor in 2017, it has made a huge impact on the lives of traders and the frequency of flights have increased.&nbsp;

Since 2017, Afghanistan exported millions of dollars worth of dry fruits to India, but since the closure of air space, it has badly impacted passengers and our traders as well because it's more time consuming and expensive. It used to take one and a half hour, it now takes four hours.&nbsp;

I have been speaking to our students here, which is a big community, 16000, they are facing problems and challenges. It is time-consuming, and for the traders as well, imagine if they bring fresh fruits from Kabul, it takes longer&nbsp;now, it rots. So its impacting lives of the people, ordinary Afghans, the people form part of medical tourism for India and as well as tourists who come just for sightseeing.&nbsp;

WION: Status of the &nbsp;Afghan peace process, how do you see India's role?

Tahir Qadiry: There are a lot of efforts to have a political settlement initiated by the United States, of course, you know the Afghan government has always said, any political settlement should be Afghan-controlled, Afghan-owned&nbsp;and Afghan-controlled.&nbsp;

That is why our president and senior officials have been advocating a kind of coalition&nbsp;that can form and establish regional consensus around the peace talks.&nbsp;

The Afghan government is hopeful it can achieve some good results. We should not forget whatever the agreement, the "red line" for the Afghan government is the constitution and activist, the younger generation is drawing the "red lines".&nbsp;

Afghanistan has achieved a lot in the last 18 years, we have freedom of expression and achievement in social and cultural and other spheres of society, so we have a new generation which is dynamic, committed and patriotic and very open-minded and these are the gains the Afghan government wants to preserve and safeguard.

We are quite hopeful that these gains will be preserved as the Afghan government is trying to engage with the countries and stakeholders involved that if there is a peace deal, they should support from the position of the Afghan government.&nbsp;

As far as India is concerned, the Indian government supports the position of the Afghan government, which is very much appreciated because that is what the Afghan government wants because if there is a peace deal, it should be led and controlled by the Afghan government. Recently our president called a loya jirga, attended by many people, activists, women, elders and influential people, and after that, they drew some lines, that is the road map our government is working on regarding the peace process.&nbsp;

WION: Your proactive diplomacy is getting you a lot of fans, the new age Afghan diplomacy...

Tahir Qadiry: That is exactly what I wanted when I was posted here, that we should be more responsive. So I launched a couple of cultural engagement programmes - the first thing I thought we must do&nbsp;was open up cultural diplomacy which is something that works with &nbsp;Indians and Afghans.&nbsp;

Sometime you will not believe, I wake up at 3am and check my Twitter account and I feel more responsive. It is a high and very big responsibility on my shoulder.&nbsp;

I have to be responsive both to my people and to Indians who would like to travel and visit Afghanistan, for example, we launched a hotline, and there is&nbsp;an email address and a phone number.&nbsp;

Sometimes, it really doesn't matter what time it is, when I go there and an Indian sends me a message and says he comes from a part of India and he would like to donate some books to a school in Bamiyan, I felt&nbsp;so inspired and I said: look, every penny counts, so this is&nbsp;what is cultural engagement.

Perhaps based on my background that is one thing, but the second thing is that Afghanistan is at a very serious juncture and it is upon us to engage more and make the best of the situation.

In a candid chat with WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, the new Afghan head of mission, Tahir Qadiry lauded Indian government's position on the Afghan peace process and New Delhi's role in the country while thanking India for its support to the Afghan cricket team.

In a candid chat with WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, the new Afghan head of mission, Tahir Qadiry lauded Indian government's position on the Afghan peace process and New Delhi's role in the country while thanking India for its support to the Afghan cricket team. WION: How do you see the current sporting ties, with India helping to develop Afghan cricket? Tahir Qadiry: We thank WION since it is watched widely in Afghanistan. Whenever I meet an Indian friend, it is usually about cricket which I feel is a form of new diplomacy which is linked to our national identity, national pride, national joy, and something really good, since its better than being asked about insecurity, problems in Afghanistan. Sports is a good reputation to have for Afghanistan. Thanks to India for giving us two home grounds for our Afghan cricket team -Dehradun and Greater Noida. The cricket players our peace ambassadors, they are doing great work, they are coming out of ashes, they are appearing on international grounds and bringing Afghanistan victory, their presence is a big thing for Afghanistan. When we had a match against India, that was the only time the whole of Afghanistan was confused, who to support or who to clap for, but in the end, it was like we don't care who wins, it was a victory for both nations. I saw a couple of tweets saying India won, but Afghanistan won the hearts. WION: How do you see India's role in your country? Tahir Qadiry: India has been contributing hugely in Afghanistan. I, as the in-charge of the embassy and the representative of the Afghan government, believe that India has rightly designed its projects in Afghanistan. India wanted Afghanistan to have a democratic house, so they built a house of Parliament. India supports sports in Afghanistan, so they built stadiums in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif. India believes in infrastructure of Afghanistan, so they built the Salma dam. They have done a couple of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan which has brought changes to the lives of people. I believe India has designed projects which have won the hearts and minds of people and every single Afghan, and of course Bollywood, people are so emotionally attached. while we appreciate the generous contribution of India in Afghanistan, we expect more, there are loads of other projects which are going to be implemented. India is one of the most trusted regional partners of Afghanistan and Afghans have huge respect and affection for India, and our Indian brothers and sisters, so we expect more projects, especially more cultural engagement and more people-to-people contacts, so that is the reason I am here and my main mission is to promote that sort of bilateral, cultural activities and portray a different image of Afghanistan and encourage our Indian partners to go Afghanistan as there are loads of venues for investment and cultural engagement. WION: How is the closure of air space by Pakistan impacting your landlocked country, especially the India-Afghan air corridor? Tahir Qadiry: Firstly, Afghanistan is no more a land-locked country, it is a land-bridge country. Secondly, the air corridor is the biggest achievement of the Afghanistan government and his Excellency the president because regional connectivity is what the current Afghan government is looking into which is paying off. Since the start of the air corridor in 2017, it has made a huge impact on the lives of traders and the frequency of flights have increased. Since 2017, Afghanistan exported millions of dollars worth of dry fruits to India, but since the closure of air space, it has badly impacted passengers and our traders as well because it's more time consuming and expensive. It used to take one and a half hour, it now takes four hours. I have been speaking to our students here, which is a big community, 16000, they are facing problems and challenges. It is time-consuming, and for the traders as well, imagine if they bring fresh fruits from Kabul, it takes longer now, it rots. So its impacting lives of the people, ordinary Afghans, the people form part of medical tourism for India and as well as tourists who come just for sightseeing. WION: Status of the Afghan peace process, how do you see India's role? Tahir Qadiry: There are a lot of efforts to have a political settlement initiated by the United States, of course, you know the Afghan government has always said, any political settlement should be Afghan-controlled, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. That is why our president and senior officials have been advocating a kind of coalition that can form and establish regional consensus around the peace talks. The Afghan government is hopeful it can achieve some good results. We should not forget whatever the agreement, the "red line" for the Afghan government is the constitution and activist, the younger generation is drawing the "red lines". Afghanistan has achieved a lot in the last 18 years, we have freedom of expression and achievement in social and cultural and other spheres of society, so we have a new generation which is dynamic, committed and patriotic and very open-minded and these are the gains the Afghan government wants to preserve and safeguard. We are quite hopeful that these gains will be preserved as the Afghan government is trying to engage with the countries and stakeholders involved that if there is a peace deal, they should support from the position of the Afghan government. As far as India is concerned, the Indian government supports the position of the Afghan government, which is very much appreciated because that is what the Afghan government wants because if there is a peace deal, it should be led and controlled by the Afghan government. Recently our president called a loya jirga, attended by many people, activists, women, elders and influential people, and after that, they drew some lines, that is the road map our government is working on regarding the peace process. WION: Your proactive diplomacy is getting you a lot of fans, the new age Afghan diplomacy... Tahir Qadiry: That is exactly what I wanted when I was posted here, that we should be more responsive. So I launched a couple of cultural engagement programmes - the first thing I thought we must do was open up cultural diplomacy which is something that works with Indians and Afghans. Sometime you will not believe, I wake up at 3am and check my Twitter account and I feel more responsive. It is a high and very big responsibility on my shoulder. I have to be responsive both to my people and to Indians who would like to travel and visit Afghanistan, for example, we launched a hotline, and there is an email address and a phone number. Sometimes, it really doesn't matter what time it is, when I go there and an Indian sends me a message and says he comes from a part of India and he would like to donate some books to a school in Bamiyan, I felt so inspired and I said: look, every penny counts, so this is what is cultural engagement. Perhaps based on my background that is one thing, but the second thing is that Afghanistan is at a very serious juncture and it is upon us to engage more and make the best of the situation.

India one of our most trusted regional partners: Tahir Qadiry, Afghan head of mission to WION

Dozens of people were wounded with fatalities feared as a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-bombers-kill-19-including-afghan-election-workers-231800"> powerful car bomb rocked Kabul</a> early on Monday and gunmen battled special forces in an area housing military and government buildings, officials said.&nbsp;

The rush-hour explosion sent a plume of smoke into the air above the Puli Mahmood Khan neighbourhood of the Afghan capital and shook buildings up to two kilometres (1.2 miles) away, with an AFP reporter saying he could hear gunshots after the blast.

"At first, a car bomb took place and then several attackers took over a building. The area is cordoned off by the police special forces and (they) are bringing down the attackers," interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.&nbsp;

Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar tweeted that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-kills-eight-election-commission-employees-in-south-afghanistan-officials-231728">53 wounded patients had been</a> taken to hospital, warning that the figures could rise.

The area was quickly blocked off by Afghan forces and ambulances, while the nearby "Green Zone" diplomatic area was put on lockdown, with no one allowed in or out.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/powerful-explosion-in-afghan-capital-kabul-many-hurt-231937/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The heavily-secured neighbourhood is home to some military and government buildings, including one shared by Afghanistan's intelligence agency and defence ministry, as well as the Afghan Football Federation and the Afghan Cricket Board.

Shams Amini, a football federation spokesman, told AFP that the blast occurred near the federation's gates.&nbsp;

"Some of our colleagues are trapped inside, we have reports of some injuries. We don't know if the attackers have entered the building," he said.

Nearby Shamshad TV station, which was attacked in 2017, aired images of broken glass and damage to its offices but said it was not the target.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, and police said they did not yet know the target or nature of the blast.&nbsp;

The explosion came two days after the Taliban and the US began their seventh round of talks in the Qatari capital of Doha as Washington eyes a breakthrough before Afghanistan's September presidential election.

The negotiations have so far centred on four issues -- counter-terrorism, the foreign troop presence, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire.

A potential deal would see the US agree to withdraw its troops after more than 17 years in Afghanistan, igniting deep concerns among huge swathes of Afghans who fear the militants will return to some semblance of power.

In return, the Taliban would guarantee the country would never again become a safe haven for violent extremist groups, as happened with Al-Qaeda before the September 11, 2001 attacks.

US officials have previously said they are hoping for a deal before the upcoming Afghan presidential elections, which have already been delayed twice and are now slated for September 28.

Dozens of people were wounded with fatalities feared as a powerful car bomb rocked Kabul early on Monday and gunmen battled special forces in an area housing military and government buildings, officials said.

Dozens of people were wounded with fatalities feared as a powerful car bomb rocked Kabul early on Monday and gunmen battled special forces in an area housing military and government buildings, officials said. The rush-hour explosion sent a plume of smoke into the air above the Puli Mahmood Khan neighbourhood of the Afghan capital and shook buildings up to two kilometres (1.2 miles) away, with an AFP reporter saying he could hear gunshots after the blast. "At first, a car bomb took place and then several attackers took over a building. The area is cordoned off by the police special forces and (they) are bringing down the attackers," interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said. Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar tweeted that 53 wounded patients had been taken to hospital, warning that the figures could rise. The area was quickly blocked off by Afghan forces and ambulances, while the nearby "Green Zone" diplomatic area was put on lockdown, with no one allowed in or out. The heavily-secured neighbourhood is home to some military and government buildings, including one shared by Afghanistan's intelligence agency and defence ministry, as well as the Afghan Football Federation and the Afghan Cricket Board. Shams Amini, a football federation spokesman, told AFP that the blast occurred near the federation's gates. "Some of our colleagues are trapped inside, we have reports of some injuries. We don't know if the attackers have entered the building," he said. Nearby Shamshad TV station, which was attacked in 2017, aired images of broken glass and damage to its offices but said it was not the target. No group immediately claimed responsibility, and police said they did not yet know the target or nature of the blast. The explosion came two days after the Taliban and the US began their seventh round of talks in the Qatari capital of Doha as Washington eyes a breakthrough before Afghanistan's September presidential election. The negotiations have so far centred on four issues -- counter-terrorism, the foreign troop presence, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire. A potential deal would see the US agree to withdraw its troops after more than 17 years in Afghanistan, igniting deep concerns among huge swathes of Afghans who fear the militants will return to some semblance of power. In return, the Taliban would guarantee the country would never again become a safe haven for violent extremist groups, as happened with Al-Qaeda before the September 11, 2001 attacks. US officials have previously said they are hoping for a deal before the upcoming Afghan presidential elections, which have already been delayed twice and are now slated for September 28.

Car bomb attack in Kabul's diplomatic area; several injured

Afghan security forces on Monday were battling Taliban gunmen who stormed a building in the capital, Kabul, after a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/car-bomb-attack-in-kabuls-diplomatic-area-several-injured-231936"> bomb-laden truck exploded</a> near the defence ministry at rush hour, injuring at least 100 people, including 35 children, officials said.

For hours after the attack, sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard in the area, cordoned off by special forces. At least three gunmen entered a building around the defence ministry after the blast, a government security official said.

"Gunmen have entered a building and they are clashing with the Afghan forces after the powerful blast," said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Watch: A powerful explosion in the Afghanistan capital Kabul

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/powerful-explosion-in-afghan-capital-kabul-many-hurt-231937/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The target was the defence ministry's technical installation," the Islamist militants' spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement.

<img alt="afghansitan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="547d897c-bd3a-4577-a7b7-a00de97ec14b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_19.jpg" />

Damaged vehicles are seen at the the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan July 1, 2019. (Reuters Photo)

Afghan security officials said the truck loaded with explosives was detonated near the ministry's engineering and logistics department.

About 100 wounded people were taken to hospital, said health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar, but there was no immediate word of fatalities.

Thirty-five school children were wounded, said Nimatullah Hamdard, the director of a nearby private school.

The blast sent a plume of black smoke rising over the city and shook buildings as the wail of ambulance sirens rent the air.

Clustered in the area are military and government buildings, as well as an office of the Afghan Football Federation, whose spokesman, Shafi Shadab, said its chief, Yosuf Kargar, was among several members injured.

The attack comes as US&nbsp;special peace envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad holds the seventh round of peace talks with the Taliban Islamist militant group in Qatar, aimed at bringing an end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan.

The talks, described by one U.S. official as a "make-or-break moment", have focused on issues ranging from counter-terrorism and withdrawal of foreign troops to an intra-Afghan dialogue and a comprehensive ceasefire.

Afghan security forces on Monday were battling Taliban gunmen who stormed a building in the capital, Kabul, after a bomb-laden truck exploded near the defence ministry at rush hour, injuring at least 100 people, including 35 children, officials said.

Afghan security forces on Monday were battling Taliban gunmen who stormed a building in the capital, Kabul, after a bomb-laden truck exploded near the defence ministry at rush hour, injuring at least 100 people, including 35 children, officials said. For hours after the attack, sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard in the area, cordoned off by special forces. At least three gunmen entered a building around the defence ministry after the blast, a government security official said. "Gunmen have entered a building and they are clashing with the Afghan forces after the powerful blast," said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Watch: A powerful explosion in the Afghanistan capital Kabul "The target was the defence ministry's technical installation," the Islamist militants' spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement. Damaged vehicles are seen at the the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan July 1, 2019. (Reuters Photo) Afghan security officials said the truck loaded with explosives was detonated near the ministry's engineering and logistics department. About 100 wounded people were taken to hospital, said health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar, but there was no immediate word of fatalities. Thirty-five school children were wounded, said Nimatullah Hamdard, the director of a nearby private school. The blast sent a plume of black smoke rising over the city and shook buildings as the wail of ambulance sirens rent the air. Clustered in the area are military and government buildings, as well as an office of the Afghan Football Federation, whose spokesman, Shafi Shadab, said its chief, Yosuf Kargar, was among several members injured. The attack comes as US special peace envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad holds the seventh round of peace talks with the Taliban Islamist militant group in Qatar, aimed at bringing an end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan. The talks, described by one U.S. official as a "make-or-break moment", have focused on issues ranging from counter-terrorism and withdrawal of foreign troops to an intra-Afghan dialogue and a comprehensive ceasefire.

Afghanistan: Gun battle rages in Kabul after blast injures 100, Taliban claims responsibility

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-pakistans-shaheen-afridi-tears-through-new-zealand-top-order-230632&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiKl6yEho7jAhVGinAKHW24CYcQFjABegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Gsdoe9oOzCWZnfBnqCcPv">Pakistan </a>have spared no effort in their preparations to take on Afghanistan's spinners in Saturday's World Cup clash that could be crucial to their hopes of making the semi-finals, batsman Haris Sohail said on the eve of the contest.

Back-to-back wins against South Africa and New Zealand have given the former champions a chance of making the knockouts but they must beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their final two games and hope other results go their way to advance.

Sohail, who was dropped after their opening defeat by West Indies but returned to the side scoring 89 and 68 in the last two matches, said Pakistan had to keep a close eye on spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman who could hurt their chances.

"We've kept it very simple. We're going from match to match. They have quality spinners and we've seen a lot of videos and we've worked from them. And hopefully, we'll see a good match," Sohail told reporters.

Sohail scored only one run when <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-on-identical-1992-world-cup-path-after-beating-new-zealand-230750&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiKl6yEho7jAhVGinAKHW24CYcQFjACegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hhfaaBh0Biiw4FwpQ8nDt">Pakistan </a>lost their warm-up match to Afghanistan last month, but the 30-year-old said he had no doubts about his ability on the big stage.

"From the last series against Australia I have been playing very well, and this time they've given me the different role... bat at four or five," Sohail added.

"I'm going with my plan and we have to assess the situation and I will play accordingly," he said.

Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-coach-phil-simmons-outburst-exposes-troubles-in-afghanistan-team-228705&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiliOiaho7jAhWMtY8KHekoDt8QFjAHegQIDBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1c1uAZ-3ynTPWg-1HEGYMJ">Afghanistan </a>skipper Gulbadin Naib said his team will fancy their chances on a Headingley wicket that could assist his spinners.

Afghanistan are looking to finish on a high after losing all their seven games.

"If you look at similar conditions, it is certainly in our favour, it's good for our spinners," he said.

"Sohail played really well in the last two games and Babar Azam too. Rashid is a different spinner, a different bowler to other spinners. So it's difficult to pick him," said Naib.

Pakistan have spared no effort in their preparations to take on Afghanistan's spinners in Saturday's World Cup clash that could be crucial to their hopes of making the semi-finals, batsman Haris Sohail said on the eve of the contest.

Pakistan have spared no effort in their preparations to take on Afghanistan's spinners in Saturday's World Cup clash that could be crucial to their hopes of making the semi-finals, batsman Haris Sohail said on the eve of the contest. Back-to-back wins against South Africa and New Zealand have given the former champions a chance of making the knockouts but they must beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their final two games and hope other results go their way to advance. Sohail, who was dropped after their opening defeat by West Indies but returned to the side scoring 89 and 68 in the last two matches, said Pakistan had to keep a close eye on spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman who could hurt their chances. "We've kept it very simple. We're going from match to match. They have quality spinners and we've seen a lot of videos and we've worked from them. And hopefully, we'll see a good match," Sohail told reporters. Sohail scored only one run when Pakistan lost their warm-up match to Afghanistan last month, but the 30-year-old said he had no doubts about his ability on the big stage. "From the last series against Australia I have been playing very well, and this time they've given me the different role... bat at four or five," Sohail added. "I'm going with my plan and we have to assess the situation and I will play accordingly," he said. Meanwhile, Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib said his team will fancy their chances on a Headingley wicket that could assist his spinners. Afghanistan are looking to finish on a high after losing all their seven games. "If you look at similar conditions, it is certainly in our favour, it's good for our spinners," he said. "Sohail played really well in the last two games and Babar Azam too. Rashid is a different spinner, a different bowler to other spinners. So it's difficult to pick him," said Naib.

World Cup: Pakistan keeping close eye on Afghanistan's spinners, says Haris Sohail

Vivek Katju, Ex-Indian Envoy to Afghanistan speaks on G20 Summit 2019. To know more watch the video

Vivek Katju, Ex-Indian Envoy to  Afghanistan on G20 Summit 2019

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Pakistan on Thursday on a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-to-visit-pakistan-in-bid-to-step-up-peace-effort-230645">two-day official visit to the country</a> on the invitation extended by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This is Ghani's third visit to Pakistan which follows the recently held first review session of the landmark Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS).

The president is being accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising key ministers and senior officials, according to reports.

The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said, ''During the visit, President Dr Arif Alvi will have a meeting with President Ghani while Prime Minister Imran Khan will hold delegation-level talks. The wide-ranging talks between the two sides would focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas - including political, trade, economic, security, peace and reconciliation, education and people-to-people exchanges.''

"President Ghani will also travel to Lahore where he will participate in a business forum attended by business representatives from both countries," the statement added.

Ghani had earlier undertaken a bilateral visit to Pakistan in November 2014 and subsequently, came to attend the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA) Ministerial Conference in Islamabad in December 2015, Gulf News reported.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Pakistan on Thursday on a two-day official visit to the country on the invitation extended by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Pakistan on Thursday on a two-day official visit to the country on the invitation extended by Prime Minister Imran Khan. This is Ghani's third visit to Pakistan which follows the recently held first review session of the landmark Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). The president is being accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising key ministers and senior officials, according to reports. The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said, ''During the visit, President Dr Arif Alvi will have a meeting with President Ghani while Prime Minister Imran Khan will hold delegation-level talks. The wide-ranging talks between the two sides would focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas - including political, trade, economic, security, peace and reconciliation, education and people-to-people exchanges.'' "President Ghani will also travel to Lahore where he will participate in a business forum attended by business representatives from both countries," the statement added. Ghani had earlier undertaken a bilateral visit to Pakistan in November 2014 and subsequently, came to attend the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA) Ministerial Conference in Islamabad in December 2015, Gulf News reported.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrives in Pakistan on two-day visit

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