Days after a terror attack in the southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan that killed 27 revolutionary guards, Iran on Sunday summoned Pakistan ambassador Riffat Masood to lodge a formal protest.&nbsp;

Pakistan based Jaish ul-Adl has taken responsibility for the attacks with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani pledging to avenge the attack. He said "our nation will certainly take revenge for the blood of these dear martyrs”

Remember on Friday, India had summoned Pakistani high commissioner Sohail Mahmood in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack.&nbsp;

Multiple reactions are coming from Iran in the aftermath of the attack. Local Iranian media on Saturday reported that the Commander of Revolution Guards (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said, '“Iran will retaliate against the group [that conducted the attack] if Pakistan fails to punish them.” Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has also slammed Pakistan and called on Islamabad to be held accountable for the terror attack.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif and said his country is ready to cooperate to investigate the attack.&nbsp;

India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had made a stopover in Tehran on Saturday while going to Bulgaria and had a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi. During the meeting, both discussed the recent Pulwama terror attack in India and attack on the revolutionary guards in Iran.

In a press statement issued by Iran's foreign ministry, "They condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan and India"s Srinagar, and offered sympathy to each other."

Adding further the release said, "The two sides underlined the necessity of establishing peace and calm in the region through dialogue."

After the meet, Araqchi had also tweeted saying "we agreed on close cooperation to combat terrorism in the region. Enough is enough!"

Days after a terror attack in the southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan that killed 27 revolutionary guards, Iran on Sunday summoned Pakistan ambassador Riffat Masood to lodge a formal protest.

Days after a terror attack in the southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan that killed 27 revolutionary guards, Iran on Sunday summoned Pakistan ambassador Riffat Masood to lodge a formal protest. Pakistan based Jaish ul-Adl has taken responsibility for the attacks with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani pledging to avenge the attack. He said "our nation will certainly take revenge for the blood of these dear martyrs” Remember on Friday, India had summoned Pakistani high commissioner Sohail Mahmood in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack. Multiple reactions are coming from Iran in the aftermath of the attack. Local Iranian media on Saturday reported that the Commander of Revolution Guards (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said, '“Iran will retaliate against the group [that conducted the attack] if Pakistan fails to punish them.” Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has also slammed Pakistan and called on Islamabad to be held accountable for the terror attack. Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif and said his country is ready to cooperate to investigate the attack. India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had made a stopover in Tehran on Saturday while going to Bulgaria and had a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi. During the meeting, both discussed the recent Pulwama terror attack in India and attack on the revolutionary guards in Iran. In a press statement issued by Iran's foreign ministry, "They condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan and India"s Srinagar, and offered sympathy to each other." Adding further the release said, "The two sides underlined the necessity of establishing peace and calm in the region through dialogue." After the meet, Araqchi had also tweeted saying "we agreed on close cooperation to combat terrorism in the region. Enough is enough!"

After India, Iran lashes out on Pakistan on terror front; summons Pak envoy

Even before any peace push-related drawdowns, the US military is expected to trim troop levels in Afghanistan as part of an efficiency drive by the new commander, a US general told Reuters on Friday, estimating the cuts may exceed 1,000 forces.

US President Donald Trump told Congress this month he intended to reduce US forces from Afghanistan as negotiators make progress in talks with Taliban insurgents, saying, "Great nations do not fight endless wars."

US Army General Joseph Votel, the head of the US military's Central Command, said the decision to reduce some of the roughly 14,000 American forces in Afghanistan was not linked to those peace efforts, however.

Instead, he said it was part of an effort by Army General Scott Miller, who took over the more than 17-year war effort in September, to make better use of US resources.

"This is something that he started as he got into the position here and was looking at how we (can) be as efficient and as effective as we can be on the ground," Votel said in an interview during a trip to Oman.

Miller's decision represents a reversal of sorts after years in which the US military sought to slow or halt troop drawdowns under Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, and previously lobbied for more troops under Trump.

It was unclear how far along any troop reductions might already be. The Pentagon says US troop levels in Afghanistan are at around 14,000 but adds the number can fluctuate.

Other sources offered lower estimates. Diplomatic sources believe the efficiency push, which has been raising eyebrows in Kabul, was already driving down US troop levels.

"We're watching this very closely," said a senior Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It is clear General Miller's desire to streamline is already having an impact on numbers."

Asked whether Miller would likely cut more than 1,000 troops from Afghanistan under the efficiency drive, Votel said: "He probably will."

Votel added that some troops could be moved "over the horizon," still remotely supporting the war effort from overseas. That, he said, would also reduce vulnerabilities in America's longest war.

"This is his decision as commander here - how he most effectively uses the resources that he has and trying to be as efficient as he can be," Votel said, without offering a specific estimate of exactly how many troops Miller may withdraw.

Miller's spokesman, Army Colonel Dave Butler, declined to speculate on future troop levels. But Butler said Miller would still have surge capabilities into Afghanistan when needed for specific missions.

Costs have increasingly been a focus of discussions between Kabul and Washington. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently sent a letter to Trump offering to reduce US expenses in Afghanistan.

"How to do this more cost effectively is something that we have been working towards for a long time," Roya Rahmani, Afghanistan's ambassador to Washington, told Reuters.

Endless wars

US officials have held several rounds of talks with the Taliban in Qatar since last year in what is widely seen as the most serious bid for peace in the 17-year war. Taliban negotiators will meet their US counterparts on February 18 in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

US officials have told Reuters the military is planning for what a withdrawal of about half of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan would look like.

That has raised concerns about whether a smaller force would be able to support the Afghan military and whether other European armies that rely on American helicopters and other support would pull out.

It also raises questions about how big of a US counter-terrorism force might be able to remain in the country.

Votel declined to discuss any internal deliberations, noting he had not received orders for a withdrawal.

Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan offered a similar reassurance this week, telling nervous NATO allies on Thursday that any potential U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will be done in a coordinated fashion.

Asked about Trump's concerns about endless wars, Votel said: "We don't want to fight endless wars either. We want to accomplish the mission here."

"I think the strategy that the president has allowed to get put in place here, the South Asia strategy, focused on reconciliation, has been a good one," he said.

Beyond US troops in Afghanistan, the Pentagon relies on thousands of private contractors.

A recent report by the US Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction noted there were an additional 861 Defense Department civilians and 10,698 contractors who were U.S. citizens.

Diplomats familiar with NATO operations told Reuters they believed the number of contractors was not expected to be reduced along with U.S. troop withdrawals, and could actually increase.

Even before any peace push-related drawdowns, the US military is expected to trim troop levels in Afghanistan as part of an efficiency drive by the new commander, a US general told Reuters on Friday, estimating the cuts may exceed 1,000 forces.

Even before any peace push-related drawdowns, the US military is expected to trim troop levels in Afghanistan as part of an efficiency drive by the new commander, a US general told Reuters on Friday, estimating the cuts may exceed 1,000 forces. US President Donald Trump told Congress this month he intended to reduce US forces from Afghanistan as negotiators make progress in talks with Taliban insurgents, saying, "Great nations do not fight endless wars." US Army General Joseph Votel, the head of the US military's Central Command, said the decision to reduce some of the roughly 14,000 American forces in Afghanistan was not linked to those peace efforts, however. Instead, he said it was part of an effort by Army General Scott Miller, who took over the more than 17-year war effort in September, to make better use of US resources. "This is something that he started as he got into the position here and was looking at how we (can) be as efficient and as effective as we can be on the ground," Votel said in an interview during a trip to Oman. Miller's decision represents a reversal of sorts after years in which the US military sought to slow or halt troop drawdowns under Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, and previously lobbied for more troops under Trump. It was unclear how far along any troop reductions might already be. The Pentagon says US troop levels in Afghanistan are at around 14,000 but adds the number can fluctuate. Other sources offered lower estimates. Diplomatic sources believe the efficiency push, which has been raising eyebrows in Kabul, was already driving down US troop levels. "We're watching this very closely," said a senior Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It is clear General Miller's desire to streamline is already having an impact on numbers." Asked whether Miller would likely cut more than 1,000 troops from Afghanistan under the efficiency drive, Votel said: "He probably will." Votel added that some troops could be moved "over the horizon," still remotely supporting the war effort from overseas. That, he said, would also reduce vulnerabilities in America's longest war. "This is his decision as commander here - how he most effectively uses the resources that he has and trying to be as efficient as he can be," Votel said, without offering a specific estimate of exactly how many troops Miller may withdraw. Miller's spokesman, Army Colonel Dave Butler, declined to speculate on future troop levels. But Butler said Miller would still have surge capabilities into Afghanistan when needed for specific missions. Costs have increasingly been a focus of discussions between Kabul and Washington. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently sent a letter to Trump offering to reduce US expenses in Afghanistan. "How to do this more cost effectively is something that we have been working towards for a long time," Roya Rahmani, Afghanistan's ambassador to Washington, told Reuters. Endless wars US officials have held several rounds of talks with the Taliban in Qatar since last year in what is widely seen as the most serious bid for peace in the 17-year war. Taliban negotiators will meet their US counterparts on February 18 in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. US officials have told Reuters the military is planning for what a withdrawal of about half of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan would look like. That has raised concerns about whether a smaller force would be able to support the Afghan military and whether other European armies that rely on American helicopters and other support would pull out. It also raises questions about how big of a US counter-terrorism force might be able to remain in the country. Votel declined to discuss any internal deliberations, noting he had not received orders for a withdrawal. Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan offered a similar reassurance this week, telling nervous NATO allies on Thursday that any potential U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will be done in a coordinated fashion. Asked about Trump's concerns about endless wars, Votel said: "We don't want to fight endless wars either. We want to accomplish the mission here." "I think the strategy that the president has allowed to get put in place here, the South Asia strategy, focused on reconciliation, has been a good one," he said. Beyond US troops in Afghanistan, the Pentagon relies on thousands of private contractors. A recent report by the US Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction noted there were an additional 861 Defense Department civilians and 10,698 contractors who were U.S. citizens. Diplomats familiar with NATO operations told Reuters they believed the number of contractors was not expected to be reduced along with U.S. troop withdrawals, and could actually increase.

US may trim over 1,000 troops from Afghanistan in belt-tightening: Army general

The Taliban said Wednesday its negotiators would next week meet the top US and Pakistani officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan during a key round of talks in Islamabad as part of the ongoing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-politicians-taliban-say-talks-to-continue-195808">Afghan peace talks</a>.

Neither Washington nor Islamabad immediately confirmed the announcement by the Taliban.

On the "formal invitation of the government of Pakistan, another meeting is scheduled to take place between the negotiation teams of the Islamic Emirate and the US on 18th of February, 2019 in Islamabad," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement.

The Taliban's delegation would also meet Prime Minister Khan, the statement said.

Mujahid said the regular round of talks was already scheduled to be held on February 25 in Qatar.

He said that in the meeting with Khan, the Taliban would have "comprehensive discussions about Pak-Afghan relations and issues pertaining to Afghan refugees and Afghan businessmen".

Though there was no official confirmation, diplomatic sources in Pakistan said that the Taliban delegation would visit Pakistan and hold talks with both American and Pakistani officials.

The Taliban and the US are in a discussion to end more than a 17-year long bloody war in Afghanistan.

The Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan and are more powerful than at any time since the 2001 US-led invasion after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001.

Special US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-envoy-khalilzad-in-taliban-talks-seeks-peace-deal-before-afghanistans-presidential-elections-196133">Zalmay Khalilzad</a> recently said after six days of talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha last month that the US has made "significant progress" in its peace talks with the Taliban.

Since being appointed in September, Khalilzad has met with all sides in an attempt to end America's longest war in which the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in more than 17 years.

US President Donald Trump reportedly wants to cut in half the 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and the Taliban leaders have made a US withdrawal a key condition in peace negotiations.&nbsp;

The Taliban said Wednesday its negotiators would next week meet the top US and Pakistani officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan during a key round of talks in Islamabad as part of the ongoing Afghan peace talks.

The Taliban said Wednesday its negotiators would next week meet the top US and Pakistani officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan during a key round of talks in Islamabad as part of the ongoing Afghan peace talks. Neither Washington nor Islamabad immediately confirmed the announcement by the Taliban. On the "formal invitation of the government of Pakistan, another meeting is scheduled to take place between the negotiation teams of the Islamic Emirate and the US on 18th of February, 2019 in Islamabad," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement. The Taliban's delegation would also meet Prime Minister Khan, the statement said. Mujahid said the regular round of talks was already scheduled to be held on February 25 in Qatar. He said that in the meeting with Khan, the Taliban would have "comprehensive discussions about Pak-Afghan relations and issues pertaining to Afghan refugees and Afghan businessmen". Though there was no official confirmation, diplomatic sources in Pakistan said that the Taliban delegation would visit Pakistan and hold talks with both American and Pakistani officials. The Taliban and the US are in a discussion to end more than a 17-year long bloody war in Afghanistan. The Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan and are more powerful than at any time since the 2001 US-led invasion after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. Special US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad recently said after six days of talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha last month that the US has made "significant progress" in its peace talks with the Taliban. Since being appointed in September, Khalilzad has met with all sides in an attempt to end America's longest war in which the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in more than 17 years. US President Donald Trump reportedly wants to cut in half the 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and the Taliban leaders have made a US withdrawal a key condition in peace negotiations.

Afghan Taliban announce talks with US in Pakistan

The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday announced a 14-member team of negotiators to continue peace talks with the United States, consisting of some new faces including a jailed leader of the Haqqani Network.

In a statement, the Taliban said "talks with the American sides (will) continue" and given "the importance of the issue,” its chief Hibatullah Akhundzada asked his deputy Mullah Baradar to appoint a new team of negotiators.

Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai, who was the head of Taliban's political office in Qatar and has overseen a series of meetings with the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, will continue leading the negotiations with American diplomats along with another 13 members.

Among the new appointees is Anas Haqqani, a son of Haqqani Network founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, who died years ago due to unknown illness although his death was reported only last year.

The senior Haqqani was believed to have masterminded some of the deadliest attacks targeting the US and Afghan security forces and their interests in the last 17 years of war.

The Haqqani Network has pledged allegiance to the Taliban and is known to be coordinating its militant activities with the group.

Anas, a lesser-known figure in the Network now headed by his older brother Sirajuddin, was arrested in 2014 and remains in prison.

He was accused of directing the militant group's propaganda on social media and playing a crucial role in strategic decision-making and fundraising.

The Taliban on Tuesday renewed its demand for Anas’ release to enable him to be part of the team for talks.

"Anas Haqqani has been appointed as a member of the negotiating team but is still in prison. As he was a student (when he was arrested) and did not do any activity to lead to his imprisonment, therefore he should be released to start his new role as a member of negotiating team," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told EFE.

The names of four former Guantanamo Bay inmates are also on the list.

Previously, a 10-member Taliban team was handling the negotiations with the US for ending the Afghan conflict.

The new team was formed a day after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/acting-pentagon-chief-makes-surprise-baghdad-visit-196952">Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan</a> made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan and denied that he had received orders from President Donald Trump to reduce its US military presence in the war-torn country.

The pull-out of foreign troops from Afghanistan is one of the Taliban's key demands in peace negotiations with US officials.

The two sides have held multiple rounds of talks in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar amid opposition by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government, which insists on having a central role in the peace talks.

The Taliban has refused to engage with the government in Kabul.

The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday announced a 14-member team of negotiators to continue peace talks with the United States, consisting of some new faces including a jailed leader of the Haqqani Network.

The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday announced a 14-member team of negotiators to continue peace talks with the United States, consisting of some new faces including a jailed leader of the Haqqani Network. In a statement, the Taliban said "talks with the American sides (will) continue" and given "the importance of the issue,” its chief Hibatullah Akhundzada asked his deputy Mullah Baradar to appoint a new team of negotiators. Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai, who was the head of Taliban's political office in Qatar and has overseen a series of meetings with the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, will continue leading the negotiations with American diplomats along with another 13 members. Among the new appointees is Anas Haqqani, a son of Haqqani Network founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, who died years ago due to unknown illness although his death was reported only last year. The senior Haqqani was believed to have masterminded some of the deadliest attacks targeting the US and Afghan security forces and their interests in the last 17 years of war. The Haqqani Network has pledged allegiance to the Taliban and is known to be coordinating its militant activities with the group. Anas, a lesser-known figure in the Network now headed by his older brother Sirajuddin, was arrested in 2014 and remains in prison. He was accused of directing the militant group's propaganda on social media and playing a crucial role in strategic decision-making and fundraising. The Taliban on Tuesday renewed its demand for Anas’ release to enable him to be part of the team for talks. "Anas Haqqani has been appointed as a member of the negotiating team but is still in prison. As he was a student (when he was arrested) and did not do any activity to lead to his imprisonment, therefore he should be released to start his new role as a member of negotiating team," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told EFE. The names of four former Guantanamo Bay inmates are also on the list. Previously, a 10-member Taliban team was handling the negotiations with the US for ending the Afghan conflict. The new team was formed a day after Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan and denied that he had received orders from President Donald Trump to reduce its US military presence in the war-torn country. The pull-out of foreign troops from Afghanistan is one of the Taliban's key demands in peace negotiations with US officials. The two sides have held multiple rounds of talks in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar amid opposition by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government, which insists on having a central role in the peace talks. The Taliban has refused to engage with the government in Kabul.

Taliban name jailed Haqqani Network leader among team of peace negotiators

Soviet authorities themselves condemned the USSR's bloody occupation of Afghanistan, but 30 years later some in Vladimir Putin's Russia are coming to see the operation in a more positive light.

After a decade of military intervention to bolster Kabul's embattled Communist government against Islamist fighters, the USSR finally pulled out its last units on On February 15, 1989.

The withdrawal, ordered by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, was a humiliating defeat for the Union and helped lead to its collapse.

Mikhail Kozhukhov, who covered the conflict as a correspondent for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, remembered how the final Russian troops left without joy or bitterness.

"The soldiers were dreaming only of one thing: getting home safe and sound," Kozhukhov, now 62, told AFP.

The reporter remembered crossing the "Friendship Bridge" across the Amu Darya river separating Afghanistan from then-Soviet Uzbekistan in the second-last armoured vehicle of the last Soviet convoy, flying red flags.

One of the armoured vehicles carried the body of 20-year-old Igor Lyakhovich, who was killed a day earlier and is officially the last of more than 14,000 Soviet war dead in a conflict that killed more than one million Afghans.&nbsp;

"Along the route you could see the 'ghosts' who had come down from the mountains to watch our retreat from a distance," said Kozhukhov, using a Russian term for elusive Afghan partisans.

"The eyes of the inhabitants of the snowy village were full of hate or spite because they were being left to the mercy of fate," Kozhukhov said.

The journalist, who briefly served as Putin's press secretary in 1999 and 2000, says that "the intervention in Afghanistan was always a tragic and senseless escapade."

'Reviving Soviet past'&nbsp;

The intervention was extremely unpopular with the Soviet public and was officially condemned in 1989 at the height of Gorbachev's policy of "glasnost", or transparency.&nbsp;

But this judgement is now being reassessed, under pressure from veterans.

Putin in 2015 appeared to back the intervention, saying that the Soviet leadership was trying to confront "real threats" even though he acknowledged "there were many mistakes."

In late January, Russia's parliamentary defence committee backed a draft resolution saying that "the moral and political condemnation of the decision to send in Soviet troops" was "against the principles of historical justice."

The Soviet troops helped the Afghan authorities fight "terrorist and extremist groups" and curbed the growing security threat facing the USSR, the draft resolution says.

The draft resolution, however, has yet to be voted on in full session, reflecting the authorities' reluctance formally to revisit this traumatic episode.

Historian Irina Shcherbakova of Memorial rights group says that amid heightened tensions with Western powers in recent years, "Russia is reviving its Soviet past to justify its new opposition to the West."

'No napalm'&nbsp;

For political analyst Pyotr Akopov from pro-Kremlin site Vzglyad, "the ex-combatants and the whole of Russian society need vindication for this war."

"We have nothing to apologise for, we didn't use napalm... and we even managed to leave Afghanistan with our supporters replacing us, which the Americans have never managed to do."

Alexander Kovalyov, president of the association of ex-combatants for the CIS region including most ex-Soviet countries, insists the invasion of Afghanistan was justified and says Gorbachev "betrayed all the dead" by condemning it.

"Without our troops, the Americans would have installed their missiles to target Moscow," he said.

"Gorbachev was right to finish this war but we should have kept on supporting Kabul with the necessary arms for it to resist," said Kovalyov, who served as a deputy commander in charge of political indoctrination of an army regiment sent in to secure the withdrawal.

Konstantin Volkov went to Afghanistan in late 1981 as a conscript at the age of 17, full of enthusiasm after following Soviet media reports.

He was responsible for radio communications, taking part in 70 missions and was decorated for intercepting correspondence between the Mujahideen.

Demobilised in 1983 in good physical health, he says the war haunted his dreams for 15 years.

He was ordained as a Russian Orthodox priest and is now Father Konstantin. At his church in a village outside Moscow, around 30 of his fellow "Afghans" (Soviet veterans) gather every February 15.

"I suggest to my former comrades that they express penitence and don't think any more about what happened in that war," he told AFP.&nbsp;

Soviet authorities themselves condemned the USSR's bloody occupation of Afghanistan, but 30 years later some in Vladimir Putin's Russia are coming to see the operation in a more positive light.

Soviet authorities themselves condemned the USSR's bloody occupation of Afghanistan, but 30 years later some in Vladimir Putin's Russia are coming to see the operation in a more positive light. After a decade of military intervention to bolster Kabul's embattled Communist government against Islamist fighters, the USSR finally pulled out its last units on On February 15, 1989. The withdrawal, ordered by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, was a humiliating defeat for the Union and helped lead to its collapse. Mikhail Kozhukhov, who covered the conflict as a correspondent for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, remembered how the final Russian troops left without joy or bitterness. "The soldiers were dreaming only of one thing: getting home safe and sound," Kozhukhov, now 62, told AFP. The reporter remembered crossing the "Friendship Bridge" across the Amu Darya river separating Afghanistan from then-Soviet Uzbekistan in the second-last armoured vehicle of the last Soviet convoy, flying red flags. One of the armoured vehicles carried the body of 20-year-old Igor Lyakhovich, who was killed a day earlier and is officially the last of more than 14,000 Soviet war dead in a conflict that killed more than one million Afghans. "Along the route you could see the 'ghosts' who had come down from the mountains to watch our retreat from a distance," said Kozhukhov, using a Russian term for elusive Afghan partisans. "The eyes of the inhabitants of the snowy village were full of hate or spite because they were being left to the mercy of fate," Kozhukhov said. The journalist, who briefly served as Putin's press secretary in 1999 and 2000, says that "the intervention in Afghanistan was always a tragic and senseless escapade." 'Reviving Soviet past' The intervention was extremely unpopular with the Soviet public and was officially condemned in 1989 at the height of Gorbachev's policy of "glasnost", or transparency. But this judgement is now being reassessed, under pressure from veterans. Putin in 2015 appeared to back the intervention, saying that the Soviet leadership was trying to confront "real threats" even though he acknowledged "there were many mistakes." In late January, Russia's parliamentary defence committee backed a draft resolution saying that "the moral and political condemnation of the decision to send in Soviet troops" was "against the principles of historical justice." The Soviet troops helped the Afghan authorities fight "terrorist and extremist groups" and curbed the growing security threat facing the USSR, the draft resolution says. The draft resolution, however, has yet to be voted on in full session, reflecting the authorities' reluctance formally to revisit this traumatic episode. Historian Irina Shcherbakova of Memorial rights group says that amid heightened tensions with Western powers in recent years, "Russia is reviving its Soviet past to justify its new opposition to the West." 'No napalm' For political analyst Pyotr Akopov from pro-Kremlin site Vzglyad, "the ex-combatants and the whole of Russian society need vindication for this war." "We have nothing to apologise for, we didn't use napalm... and we even managed to leave Afghanistan with our supporters replacing us, which the Americans have never managed to do." Alexander Kovalyov, president of the association of ex-combatants for the CIS region including most ex-Soviet countries, insists the invasion of Afghanistan was justified and says Gorbachev "betrayed all the dead" by condemning it. "Without our troops, the Americans would have installed their missiles to target Moscow," he said. "Gorbachev was right to finish this war but we should have kept on supporting Kabul with the necessary arms for it to resist," said Kovalyov, who served as a deputy commander in charge of political indoctrination of an army regiment sent in to secure the withdrawal. Konstantin Volkov went to Afghanistan in late 1981 as a conscript at the age of 17, full of enthusiasm after following Soviet media reports. He was responsible for radio communications, taking part in 70 missions and was decorated for intercepting correspondence between the Mujahideen. Demobilised in 1983 in good physical health, he says the war haunted his dreams for 15 years. He was ordained as a Russian Orthodox priest and is now Father Konstantin. At his church in a village outside Moscow, around 30 of his fellow "Afghans" (Soviet veterans) gather every February 15. "I suggest to my former comrades that they express penitence and don't think any more about what happened in that war," he told AFP.

Russia seeks to vindicate Afghan war, 30 years after pullout

The Trump administration wants to ensure that Afghanistan is never used as a safe haven for terrorists, Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has told President Ashraf Ghani during his surprise visit to the war-torn country to lead a push for<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-envoy-khalilzad-in-taliban-talks-seeks-peace-deal-before-afghanistans-presidential-elections-196133"> peace talks with the Taliban.</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-calls-recent-afghanistan-peace-talks-with-us-successful-report-195440">Shanahan held talks with Ghani </a>at the Presidential Palace on Monday to reaffirm his commitment to Afghanistan through the implementation of President Trump's South Asia strategy.

"The leaders discussed a broad range of defence issues, including the importance of the US-Afghanistan security relationship and of achieving a political settlement to the war that ensures Afghanistan is never again used as a safe haven from which terrorists can plan and launch terrorist attacks against the United States, our interests, and our allies," said Pentagon Spokesperson Cmdr Sean Robertson.

During the meeting, Shanahan praised the sacrifices made by Afghan and Coalition troops and reaffirmed America's continued support to Afghan forces as they lead the fight to defend their country.

Shanahan made a surprise trip to Afghanistan on Monday, his first-ever visit to the country where US troops have been stationed for 17 years.

President Donald Trump reportedly wants to cut in half the 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and the Taliban leaders have made a US withdrawal a key condition in peace negotiations.

Shanahan told reporters on Monday that he had no orders to reduce the American troop presence. He said that while the US had a key role to play, it is ultimately up to Afghans to find peace.

"The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like. It's not about the US, it's about Afghanistan," he said.

The Acting Defense chief's visit comes after the US held major talks with the Taliban officials in Qatar last month in an attempt to end the 17-year conflict.

US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leading the talks, has expressed hope of finding a deal before Afghan presidential elections scheduled for July.

In a series of tweets after six days of talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha last month, Khalilzad said the US has made "significant progress" in its peace talks with the Taliban.

"We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement. The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals," Khalilzad said at the time.

Since being appointed in September, Khalilzad has met with all sides in an attempt to end America's longest war in which the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers.

The US is expected to start the second round of talks with Taliban officials on February 25 in Qatar, where they have their political office.

The Afghan Taliban, however, has said that despite the ongoing talks with the US and other regional powers, it had "not yet reached" any conclusion that would entail an immediate end to hostilities against America and its allies.

The Taliban are holding talks with the United States "on their own initiative", Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid was recently quoted as saying by a TV channel.

The Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan and are more powerful than at any time since the 2001 US-led invasion after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001.

Meanwhile, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said that the US should continue supporting the Afghan government financially and diplomatically after leaving and include them in the peace process.

"We should continue supporting the Afghan government financially and diplomatically after leaving and include them in the peace process. The Afghans must eventually earn domestic legitimacy themselves, though," he said in an op-ed in USA Today.

Khanna said the biggest threat to democracy was not the Taliban, but staying economically competitive with authoritarian superpowers like China.

Responding to critics who argue that after the US withdrawal the Taliban might steamroll the Afghan government and then harbour terrorists, Khanna said preventing that outcome did not require a permanent US troop presence.

"Deterrence works. The Taliban should understand that the United States will use overwhelming force again if they harbour terrorists who directly threaten our homeland. Moreover, other 'ungoverned territories' exist where terrorists can operate. There, we conduct counterterrorism from the air without troop deployment," Khanna said.&nbsp;

The Trump administration wants to ensure that Afghanistan is never used as a safe haven for terrorists, Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has told President Ashraf Ghani during his surprise visit to the war-torn country to lead a push for peace talks with the Taliban.

The Trump administration wants to ensure that Afghanistan is never used as a safe haven for terrorists, Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has told President Ashraf Ghani during his surprise visit to the war-torn country to lead a push for peace talks with the Taliban. Shanahan held talks with Ghani at the Presidential Palace on Monday to reaffirm his commitment to Afghanistan through the implementation of President Trump's South Asia strategy. "The leaders discussed a broad range of defence issues, including the importance of the US-Afghanistan security relationship and of achieving a political settlement to the war that ensures Afghanistan is never again used as a safe haven from which terrorists can plan and launch terrorist attacks against the United States, our interests, and our allies," said Pentagon Spokesperson Cmdr Sean Robertson. During the meeting, Shanahan praised the sacrifices made by Afghan and Coalition troops and reaffirmed America's continued support to Afghan forces as they lead the fight to defend their country. Shanahan made a surprise trip to Afghanistan on Monday, his first-ever visit to the country where US troops have been stationed for 17 years. President Donald Trump reportedly wants to cut in half the 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and the Taliban leaders have made a US withdrawal a key condition in peace negotiations. Shanahan told reporters on Monday that he had no orders to reduce the American troop presence. He said that while the US had a key role to play, it is ultimately up to Afghans to find peace. "The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like. It's not about the US, it's about Afghanistan," he said. The Acting Defense chief's visit comes after the US held major talks with the Taliban officials in Qatar last month in an attempt to end the 17-year conflict. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leading the talks, has expressed hope of finding a deal before Afghan presidential elections scheduled for July. In a series of tweets after six days of talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha last month, Khalilzad said the US has made "significant progress" in its peace talks with the Taliban. "We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement. The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals," Khalilzad said at the time. Since being appointed in September, Khalilzad has met with all sides in an attempt to end America's longest war in which the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers. The US is expected to start the second round of talks with Taliban officials on February 25 in Qatar, where they have their political office. The Afghan Taliban, however, has said that despite the ongoing talks with the US and other regional powers, it had "not yet reached" any conclusion that would entail an immediate end to hostilities against America and its allies. The Taliban are holding talks with the United States "on their own initiative", Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid was recently quoted as saying by a TV channel. The Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan and are more powerful than at any time since the 2001 US-led invasion after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. Meanwhile, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said that the US should continue supporting the Afghan government financially and diplomatically after leaving and include them in the peace process. "We should continue supporting the Afghan government financially and diplomatically after leaving and include them in the peace process. The Afghans must eventually earn domestic legitimacy themselves, though," he said in an op-ed in USA Today. Khanna said the biggest threat to democracy was not the Taliban, but staying economically competitive with authoritarian superpowers like China. Responding to critics who argue that after the US withdrawal the Taliban might steamroll the Afghan government and then harbour terrorists, Khanna said preventing that outcome did not require a permanent US troop presence. "Deterrence works. The Taliban should understand that the United States will use overwhelming force again if they harbour terrorists who directly threaten our homeland. Moreover, other 'ungoverned territories' exist where terrorists can operate. There, we conduct counterterrorism from the air without troop deployment," Khanna said.

US wants to ensure, Afghanistan is not used as safe heaven for terrorists: Shanahan to Ghani

Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on a surprise visit Monday as the United States seeks to support the Kabul government while negotiating peace with the Taliban.

Shanahan will meet President Ashraf Ghani, whose government was not part of major talks between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-taliban-talks-as-hopes-rise-of-a-deal-what-comes-next-193193">US and Taliban</a> officials last month that negotiators hope could bring a breakthrough in the grinding 17-year conflict.

The US diplomat leading the talks has expressed hope at finding a deal before Afghan presidential elections scheduled for July, as President Donald Trump calls for an end to American military involvement in the war-torn country.

Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, but the Taliban consider the Kabul administration a US puppet and refused to talk to them.

Shanahan reinforced US support for the Kabul government before touching down in the Afghan capital.

"It's important that the Afghan government is involved in discussions regarding Afghanistan," Shanahan told reporters on the flight.

"The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like in the future. It's not about the US, it's about Afghanistan."

The months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has ostensibly been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with Kabul.

The insurgents have refused to meet Ghani government officials.

But last week they held unprecedented talks in Moscow with a high-ranking delegation of Afghan politicians — including chief Ghani rivals — to discuss their role in the country's future and a possible path towards peace.

Trump has been pushing to end US involvement in Afghanistan, where 14,000 American troops are still deployed.

But Zalmay Khalilzad, a former ambassador to Afghanistan who has spoken extensively with the Taliban in recent weeks, emphasised that any troop withdrawal would depend on conditions on the ground.

US and NATO officials have denied that a deal has been struck on America withdrawing its troops. The Taliban, speaking in Moscow last week, also said that a timeline had not been agreed upon.

Shanahan will meet General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, during his visit.

"I have not been directed to step down our forces in Afghanistan," Shanahan said.

"I think the presence we want in Afghanistan is what assures our homeland defence and supports regional stability."

The US is expected to resume talks with Taliban officials in Doha, where the insurgents have their political office, on February 25.

Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on a surprise visit Monday as the United States seeks to support the Kabul government while negotiating peace with the Taliban.

Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on a surprise visit Monday as the United States seeks to support the Kabul government while negotiating peace with the Taliban. Shanahan will meet President Ashraf Ghani, whose government was not part of major talks between US and Taliban officials last month that negotiators hope could bring a breakthrough in the grinding 17-year conflict. The US diplomat leading the talks has expressed hope at finding a deal before Afghan presidential elections scheduled for July, as President Donald Trump calls for an end to American military involvement in the war-torn country. Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, but the Taliban consider the Kabul administration a US puppet and refused to talk to them. Shanahan reinforced US support for the Kabul government before touching down in the Afghan capital. "It's important that the Afghan government is involved in discussions regarding Afghanistan," Shanahan told reporters on the flight. "The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like in the future. It's not about the US, it's about Afghanistan." The months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has ostensibly been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with Kabul. The insurgents have refused to meet Ghani government officials. But last week they held unprecedented talks in Moscow with a high-ranking delegation of Afghan politicians — including chief Ghani rivals — to discuss their role in the country's future and a possible path towards peace. Trump has been pushing to end US involvement in Afghanistan, where 14,000 American troops are still deployed. But Zalmay Khalilzad, a former ambassador to Afghanistan who has spoken extensively with the Taliban in recent weeks, emphasised that any troop withdrawal would depend on conditions on the ground. US and NATO officials have denied that a deal has been struck on America withdrawing its troops. The Taliban, speaking in Moscow last week, also said that a timeline had not been agreed upon. Shanahan will meet General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, during his visit. "I have not been directed to step down our forces in Afghanistan," Shanahan said. "I think the presence we want in Afghanistan is what assures our homeland defence and supports regional stability." The US is expected to resume talks with Taliban officials in Doha, where the insurgents have their political office, on February 25.

Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan arrives in Afghanistan

Acting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/acting-pentagon-chief-patrick-shanahan-arrives-in-afghanistan-196580">US&nbsp;Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan</a> said on Monday it was important for the Afghan government to be included in talks to end the country's 17-year war, an involvement that the Taliban has so far rejected.

Shanahan, making his first trip to Afghanistan in his new role, met US troops and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He said he had so far not received any direction to reduce the nearly 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan, but noted what he called strong US security interests in the region.

Ghani's government has been shut out of the peace talks between Taliban negotiators and US envoys, with the hardline Islamist movement branding it a US puppet. Kabul is concerned that a sharp drawdown of US forces could lead to chaos in the region.

"It is important that the Afghan government is involved in discussions regarding Afghanistan," Shanahan told reporters traveling with him on the previously unannounced trip. "The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like in the future. It's not about the US, it is about Afghanistan."

Shanahan, who took over the job after Jim Mattis quit in December over policy differences with US President Donald Trump, said he could not make any guarantees because US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was leading the talks.

"The US military has strong security interests in the region. (The) presence will evolve out of those discussions," Shanahan said.

He said the aim of his trip was to get an understanding of the situation on the ground from commanders and then brief Trump on his findings.

Shanahan's meeting with Ghani covered a range of defence issues important to the bilateral relationship, Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson said.

That included "achieving a political settlement to the war that ensures Afghanistan is never again used as a safe haven from which terrorists can plan and launch terrorist attacks against the United States, our interests and our allies," Robertson said.

US officials have held several rounds of talks with the Taliban in Qatar since last year in what is widely seen as the most serious bid yet for peace in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted by US-backed Afghan forces in late 2001.

Both sides hailed progress after the latest round last month, although significant obstacles remain. Those include the involvement of the Afghan government.

The next round of talks is due in Qatar on February 25.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said Shanahan's main priority in Kabul should be to address Afghan government concerns.

"The top priority of Shanahan has to be to impress upon the government that we're going to do everything we can to get you into this conversation," Kugelman said.

'Leverage'

Afghanistan and neighbouring countries are concerned about the effect of a sudden withdrawal of US forces on the region.

An Afghan official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said even the suggestion of US troops leaving was dangerous.

"Of course it has given leverage to the Taliban, there is no question about that," the official told Reuters.

Trump has offered no specifics about when he would bring home US troops from Afghanistan but has said progress in negotiations with the Taliban would enable a troop reduction and a "focus on counter-terrorism".

Shanahan said a withdrawal of about half the US troops was not something that was being discussed.

"The presence we want in Afghanistan is what assures our homeland defence and supports regional stability and then any type of sizing is done in a coordinated and disciplined manner," he said.

Khalilzad said after six days of talks with the Taliban in Doha last month that the United States and the Taliban had sketched the outlines for an eventual peace accord.

He has said since then there has been progress on the future of US troops in Afghanistan.

The Taliban have put out contradictory information on what timeline the United States has agreed to in any potential withdrawal. Most recently, a Taliban official said no timetable had been agreed with the US government.

US officials have told Reuters that while no formal orders have been sent, the military is preparing for what a withdrawal of about half of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan would look like.

Officials have expressed concern that Afghan security forces, already stretched thin, could crumble if US troops leave.

Shanahan met with a group of elite Afghan commandos later on Monday and backed using more resources for offensive operations by the special forces.

Afghanistan’s special forces units suffered increasingly heavy casualties last year as the Taliban mounted major assaults on provincial centres including Ghazni and Farah in the southwest.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Monday it was important for the Afghan government to be included in talks to end the country's 17-year war, an involvement that the Taliban has so far rejected.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Monday it was important for the Afghan government to be included in talks to end the country's 17-year war, an involvement that the Taliban has so far rejected. Shanahan, making his first trip to Afghanistan in his new role, met US troops and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He said he had so far not received any direction to reduce the nearly 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan, but noted what he called strong US security interests in the region. Ghani's government has been shut out of the peace talks between Taliban negotiators and US envoys, with the hardline Islamist movement branding it a US puppet. Kabul is concerned that a sharp drawdown of US forces could lead to chaos in the region. "It is important that the Afghan government is involved in discussions regarding Afghanistan," Shanahan told reporters traveling with him on the previously unannounced trip. "The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like in the future. It's not about the US, it is about Afghanistan." Shanahan, who took over the job after Jim Mattis quit in December over policy differences with US President Donald Trump, said he could not make any guarantees because US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was leading the talks. "The US military has strong security interests in the region. (The) presence will evolve out of those discussions," Shanahan said. He said the aim of his trip was to get an understanding of the situation on the ground from commanders and then brief Trump on his findings. Shanahan's meeting with Ghani covered a range of defence issues important to the bilateral relationship, Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson said. That included "achieving a political settlement to the war that ensures Afghanistan is never again used as a safe haven from which terrorists can plan and launch terrorist attacks against the United States, our interests and our allies," Robertson said. US officials have held several rounds of talks with the Taliban in Qatar since last year in what is widely seen as the most serious bid yet for peace in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted by US-backed Afghan forces in late 2001. Both sides hailed progress after the latest round last month, although significant obstacles remain. Those include the involvement of the Afghan government. The next round of talks is due in Qatar on February 25. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said Shanahan's main priority in Kabul should be to address Afghan government concerns. "The top priority of Shanahan has to be to impress upon the government that we're going to do everything we can to get you into this conversation," Kugelman said. 'Leverage' Afghanistan and neighbouring countries are concerned about the effect of a sudden withdrawal of US forces on the region. An Afghan official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said even the suggestion of US troops leaving was dangerous. "Of course it has given leverage to the Taliban, there is no question about that," the official told Reuters. Trump has offered no specifics about when he would bring home US troops from Afghanistan but has said progress in negotiations with the Taliban would enable a troop reduction and a "focus on counter-terrorism". Shanahan said a withdrawal of about half the US troops was not something that was being discussed. "The presence we want in Afghanistan is what assures our homeland defence and supports regional stability and then any type of sizing is done in a coordinated and disciplined manner," he said. Khalilzad said after six days of talks with the Taliban in Doha last month that the United States and the Taliban had sketched the outlines for an eventual peace accord. He has said since then there has been progress on the future of US troops in Afghanistan. The Taliban have put out contradictory information on what timeline the United States has agreed to in any potential withdrawal. Most recently, a Taliban official said no timetable had been agreed with the US government. US officials have told Reuters that while no formal orders have been sent, the military is preparing for what a withdrawal of about half of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan would look like. Officials have expressed concern that Afghan security forces, already stretched thin, could crumble if US troops leave. Shanahan met with a group of elite Afghan commandos later on Monday and backed using more resources for offensive operations by the special forces. Afghanistan’s special forces units suffered increasingly heavy casualties last year as the Taliban mounted major assaults on provincial centres including Ghazni and Farah in the southwest.

Acting Pentagon chief supports Kabul role in peace talks

Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on Monday on his first trip as acting US defence secretary and said it was important the Afghan government is involved in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-calls-recent-afghanistan-peace-talks-with-us-successful-report-195440">talks</a>, from which it has so far been sidelined, to end the 17-year-old war.

"It is important that the Afghan government is involved in discussions regarding Afghanistan," Shanahan told a small group of reporters travelling with him on the unannounced trip.

He said the United States has important security interests in the region and wanted to hear from commanders on the ground.

Shanahan replaced Jim Mattis, who quit in December over policy differences with US President Donald Trump. He will meet US military officials and the Afghan leadership, including President Ashraf Ghani.

Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on Monday on his first trip as acting US defence secretary and said it was important the Afghan government is involved in talks, from which it has so far been sidelined, to end the 17-year-old war.

Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on Monday on his first trip as acting US defence secretary and said it was important the Afghan government is involved in talks, from which it has so far been sidelined, to end the 17-year-old war. "It is important that the Afghan government is involved in discussions regarding Afghanistan," Shanahan told a small group of reporters travelling with him on the unannounced trip. He said the United States has important security interests in the region and wanted to hear from commanders on the ground. Shanahan replaced Jim Mattis, who quit in December over policy differences with US President Donald Trump. He will meet US military officials and the Afghan leadership, including President Ashraf Ghani.

Acting Pentagon chief makes first Afghanistan trip as US seeks peace deal

United States Special Representative for<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-firms-up-foothold-in-afghanistan-as-us-eyes-exit-195664"> Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad</a> will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The visit from 10th February to 28th February, according to a State Department release is "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that protects US national security interests and brings all Afghan parties together in an intra-Afghan dialogue through which they can determine a path for their country’s future."

The State Department added, "He will meet with our allies and partners to discuss mutual efforts to advance that goal and will consult with the Afghan government throughout the trip."

The US will be keen to focus on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-says-us-promised-to-halve-its-troops-in-afghanistan-by-april-report-195635">intra-Afghan dialogue given the fact </a>that Moscow just hosted a dialogue involving the Taliban and opposition leaders including former President Hamid Karzai, former national security advisor Haneef Atmar and ex-governor of Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor.

On February 25th, Zalmay will be meeting the Taliban.

The Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier this &nbsp;month speaking exclusively to WION had said, "A meeting has been arranged on February 25th," while explaining "from the initial agreement we reached with the United States, they seem to have shown readiness to leave Afghanistan and put an end to their occupation."

Last month a number of parleys between US special envoy and Taliban took place which seemed to suggest both are working on a pact, the details of which are not known.

Speaking at an event last Friday in Washington, Zalmay said overall goal is "not to seek out withdrawal agreement" but a "peace agreement." He hoped to reach an agreement before the July vote in the landlocked South Asian country.

The last time when he visited the region in January, Zalmay started his visit from New Delhi and had met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale during which India raised the issue of destabilising role Pakistan in the region. India also called on the US to safeguard current political and constitutional structure in the country.

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The visit from 10th February to 28th February, according to a State Department release is "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that protects US national security interests and brings all Afghan parties together in an intra-Afghan dialogue through which they can determine a path for their country’s future." The State Department added, "He will meet with our allies and partners to discuss mutual efforts to advance that goal and will consult with the Afghan government throughout the trip." The US will be keen to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue given the fact that Moscow just hosted a dialogue involving the Taliban and opposition leaders including former President Hamid Karzai, former national security advisor Haneef Atmar and ex-governor of Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor. On February 25th, Zalmay will be meeting the Taliban. The Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier this month speaking exclusively to WION had said, "A meeting has been arranged on February 25th," while explaining "from the initial agreement we reached with the United States, they seem to have shown readiness to leave Afghanistan and put an end to their occupation." Last month a number of parleys between US special envoy and Taliban took place which seemed to suggest both are working on a pact, the details of which are not known. Speaking at an event last Friday in Washington, Zalmay said overall goal is "not to seek out withdrawal agreement" but a "peace agreement." He hoped to reach an agreement before the July vote in the landlocked South Asian country. The last time when he visited the region in January, Zalmay started his visit from New Delhi and had met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale during which India raised the issue of destabilising role Pakistan in the region. India also called on the US to safeguard current political and constitutional structure in the country.

US representative Zalmay Khalilzad to be back to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue

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Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album 'Sweetener,' topping a tough field including perennial favourite Taylor Swift.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2019-the-complete-list-of-winners-196479">BAFTA 2019: 'The Favourite', 'Roma' take home big awards of the night</a>

It was a big night for Oscar favourites ‘Roma’ and ‘The Favourite’ that picked up big awards at BAFTA. The British Academy Film and Television Awards took place in London.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/german-migrant-rescue-ship-renamed-after-tragic-toddler-alan-kurdi-196483">German migrant rescue ship renamed after tragic toddler Alan Kurdi</a>

A German migrant rescue ship which operates in the Mediterranean was renamed Sunday after Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee boy whose body washed up on a Turkish beach at the height of the migrant crisis, sparking global outrage

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lawyer-denies-tabloid-blackmailed-amazon-chief-jeff-bezos-196477">Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon chief Jeff </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lawyer-denies-tabloid-blackmailed-amazon-chief-jeff-bezos-196477">Bezos</a>

A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-representative-zalmay-khalilzad-to-be-back-to-focus-on-intra-afghan-dialogue-196488">US representative Zalmay Khalilzad to be back to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue</a>

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Grammys 2019: Ariana Grande wins Best Pop Vocal Album; gives the ceremony a miss Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album 'Sweetener,' topping a tough field including perennial favourite Taylor Swift.

Grammys 2019: Ariana Grande wins Best Pop Vocal Album; gives the ceremony a miss Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album 'Sweetener,' topping a tough field including perennial favourite Taylor Swift. BAFTA 2019: 'The Favourite', 'Roma' take home big awards of the night It was a big night for Oscar favourites ‘Roma’ and ‘The Favourite’ that picked up big awards at BAFTA. The British Academy Film and Television Awards took place in London. German migrant rescue ship renamed after tragic toddler Alan Kurdi A German migrant rescue ship which operates in the Mediterranean was renamed Sunday after Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee boy whose body washed up on a Turkish beach at the height of the migrant crisis, sparking global outrage Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon chief Jeff Bezos A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source. US representative Zalmay Khalilzad to be back to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday offered the Taliban the possibility of opening an office in Afghanistan but the proposal was swiftly spurned by the group that is determined to keep his government out of accelerating peace talks.

Ghani has expressed alarm at the Taliban shutting his administration out of negotiations with the United States as well as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-government-slams-russia-for-allowing-un-blacklisted-taliban-to-attend-moscow-talks-196206">recent Moscow talks</a> with Afghan opposition politicians, and repeated earlier offers to give the group a secure official address to aid any future diplomacy between the two sides.

"If the Taliban want an office, I will give it to them in Kabul, Nangarhar or Kandahar by tomorrow," Ghani said while visiting the province of Nangarhar, a hotbed of insurgent violence on the border with Pakistan.

"We will bring a lasting and honourable peace to the country," he said.

Nangarhar is a stronghold of the Taliban, the hardline Islamist movement that now controls or contests districts across nearly half the country, more than 17 years since they were toppled from power.

Taliban officials in Moscow last week stressed the importance of a formal office among a string of demands that included the removal of Western sanctions and travel bans on Taliban members, prisoner releases and an end to "propaganda" against the group.

Taliban spokesman Sohail Shahin later told Reuters that the focus was international recognition of their existing site in Doha, Qatar.

On Sunday he said Ghani was trying to harm the peace efforts with his latest offer.

"Our demand about having an official political office is clear, we want that our office in Doha is recognised by the international community and the United Nations," Shahin said.

"By this, Ghani is trying to change the topic and harm the on-going peace efforts."

Taliban negotiators are due to meet US&nbsp;peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for another round of talks in Qatar on February 25.

The talks are expected to centre around a ceasefire to end America's longest war and the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Some 14,000 US&nbsp;troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces. Some US&nbsp;forces also carry out counter-terrorism operations.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday offered the Taliban the possibility of opening an office in Afghanistan but the proposal was swiftly spurned by the group that is determined to keep his government out of accelerating peace talks.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday offered the Taliban the possibility of opening an office in Afghanistan but the proposal was swiftly spurned by the group that is determined to keep his government out of accelerating peace talks. Ghani has expressed alarm at the Taliban shutting his administration out of negotiations with the United States as well as recent Moscow talks with Afghan opposition politicians, and repeated earlier offers to give the group a secure official address to aid any future diplomacy between the two sides. "If the Taliban want an office, I will give it to them in Kabul, Nangarhar or Kandahar by tomorrow," Ghani said while visiting the province of Nangarhar, a hotbed of insurgent violence on the border with Pakistan. "We will bring a lasting and honourable peace to the country," he said. Nangarhar is a stronghold of the Taliban, the hardline Islamist movement that now controls or contests districts across nearly half the country, more than 17 years since they were toppled from power. Taliban officials in Moscow last week stressed the importance of a formal office among a string of demands that included the removal of Western sanctions and travel bans on Taliban members, prisoner releases and an end to "propaganda" against the group. Taliban spokesman Sohail Shahin later told Reuters that the focus was international recognition of their existing site in Doha, Qatar. On Sunday he said Ghani was trying to harm the peace efforts with his latest offer. "Our demand about having an official political office is clear, we want that our office in Doha is recognised by the international community and the United Nations," Shahin said. "By this, Ghani is trying to change the topic and harm the on-going peace efforts." Taliban negotiators are due to meet US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for another round of talks in Qatar on February 25. The talks are expected to centre around a ceasefire to end America's longest war and the withdrawal of foreign troops. Some 14,000 US troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces. Some US forces also carry out counter-terrorism operations.

Afghan president Ghani offers Taliban local office, group desire Doha instead

An Afghan delegation led by former president Hamid Karzai and representatives of the Taliban say&nbsp;that they would continue their peace talks following two days of negotiations in Russia.&nbsp;

About 40 Afghan politicians, excluding government officials, met on February 5-6 in Moscow.

The two sides, in a joint statement, said that they agreed to hold another meeting "as soon as possible" in Qatar, reported Afghanistan's Tolo News.

The declaration stated that all parties in the conference have agreed that a dignified and lasting peace is the aspiration of all the people of Afghanistan and this principle has been achieved in Moscow.

The joint statement also reiterated that in view of the current sensitive situation, the intra-Afghan dialogue must continue on regular basis.

The parties in the conference considered these talks a positive step towards ending the imposed war on Afghanistan."All parties have agreed that systematic reforms be put in place in all national institutions including the security sector after a peace deal is signed. All parties agreed that the cooperation of regional countries and major countries are essential to determine lasting and nationwide peace in Afghanistan," read the joint declaration.

The declaration further stated, "All parties agreed that the values such as respect for the principles of Islam in all parts of the system, the principle that Afghanistan is a common home to all Afghans, support to a powerful centralized government with all Afghan ethnicities having a role in it, protecting national sovereignty and promoting social justice, to keep Afghanistan neutral in all regional and international conflicts, protecting Afghanistan’s national and religious values and undertaking a unified and single policy."

The declaration also asserted that all parties agreed that to determine lasting peace in Afghanistan, several steps are need to be taken, including complete withdrawal of foreign forces from the country, asking all countries to avoid interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, providing assurance to the international community that Afghanistan will not be used against any other nation, protection of social, economic, political and educational rights of the Afghan women in line with Islamic principles.

"All parties agreed that in order to create the atmosphere of trust and promote peace, in the first step, it is important that these items are taken into consideration, tackling the issue of all those inmates who are old, or suffering incurable diseases or have completed their prison sentences and the removal of leaders of the Taliban from the UN blacklist, opening of an official political office in Qatar for acceleration of peace talks," the declaration further stated.

Several leaders from Afghanistan mainstream politics to Taliban including former Vice President Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, former Balkh governor and Jamiat-e-Islami member Atta Mohammad Noor, Jamiat-e-Islami member Mohammad Ismail Khan, second deputy chief executive and Wahday party member Mohammad Mohaqiq, head of National Islamic Front of Afghanistan Sayed Hamid Gailani, and son of former president Sebghatullah Mujaddedi, Zabihullah Mujaddedi, along with the representatives of Taliban attended the talk.

The Moscow talks came after officials from over 40 countries attended the International Contact Group meeting in London, this week, including US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and President Ashraf Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace Umer Daudzai, to announce their support to the Afghan peace process.&nbsp;

An Afghan delegation led by former president Hamid Karzai and representatives of the Taliban say that they would continue their peace talks following two days of negotiations in Russia.

An Afghan delegation led by former president Hamid Karzai and representatives of the Taliban say that they would continue their peace talks following two days of negotiations in Russia. About 40 Afghan politicians, excluding government officials, met on February 5-6 in Moscow. The two sides, in a joint statement, said that they agreed to hold another meeting "as soon as possible" in Qatar, reported Afghanistan's Tolo News. The declaration stated that all parties in the conference have agreed that a dignified and lasting peace is the aspiration of all the people of Afghanistan and this principle has been achieved in Moscow. The joint statement also reiterated that in view of the current sensitive situation, the intra-Afghan dialogue must continue on regular basis. The parties in the conference considered these talks a positive step towards ending the imposed war on Afghanistan."All parties have agreed that systematic reforms be put in place in all national institutions including the security sector after a peace deal is signed. All parties agreed that the cooperation of regional countries and major countries are essential to determine lasting and nationwide peace in Afghanistan," read the joint declaration. The declaration further stated, "All parties agreed that the values such as respect for the principles of Islam in all parts of the system, the principle that Afghanistan is a common home to all Afghans, support to a powerful centralized government with all Afghan ethnicities having a role in it, protecting national sovereignty and promoting social justice, to keep Afghanistan neutral in all regional and international conflicts, protecting Afghanistan’s national and religious values and undertaking a unified and single policy." The declaration also asserted that all parties agreed that to determine lasting peace in Afghanistan, several steps are need to be taken, including complete withdrawal of foreign forces from the country, asking all countries to avoid interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, providing assurance to the international community that Afghanistan will not be used against any other nation, protection of social, economic, political and educational rights of the Afghan women in line with Islamic principles. "All parties agreed that in order to create the atmosphere of trust and promote peace, in the first step, it is important that these items are taken into consideration, tackling the issue of all those inmates who are old, or suffering incurable diseases or have completed their prison sentences and the removal of leaders of the Taliban from the UN blacklist, opening of an official political office in Qatar for acceleration of peace talks," the declaration further stated. Several leaders from Afghanistan mainstream politics to Taliban including former Vice President Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, former Balkh governor and Jamiat-e-Islami member Atta Mohammad Noor, Jamiat-e-Islami member Mohammad Ismail Khan, second deputy chief executive and Wahday party member Mohammad Mohaqiq, head of National Islamic Front of Afghanistan Sayed Hamid Gailani, and son of former president Sebghatullah Mujaddedi, Zabihullah Mujaddedi, along with the representatives of Taliban attended the talk. The Moscow talks came after officials from over 40 countries attended the International Contact Group meeting in London, this week, including US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and President Ashraf Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace Umer Daudzai, to announce their support to the Afghan peace process.

Afghan politicians, Taliban say talks to continue

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences".

Pakistan government has been resorting to violence to crush protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recently, a local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region."

"The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan," Ghani tweeted.

“We believe it is the moral responsibility of every government to support civil activities that take a stand against the terrorism and extremism that plagues and threatens our region and collective security. Otherwise, there could be long-standing negative consequences,” Ghani tweeted.

Pakistan has been carrying out oppressive activities against ethnic Pashtuns, who have been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticised the Afghan President for his statement.

"We reject the tweet by President Ashraf Ghani. Such irresponsible statements are only gross interference. Afghan leadership needs to focus on long-standing serious grievances of the Afghan people,” Qureshi tweeted.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences".

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences". Pakistan government has been resorting to violence to crush protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recently, a local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region." "The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan," Ghani tweeted. “We believe it is the moral responsibility of every government to support civil activities that take a stand against the terrorism and extremism that plagues and threatens our region and collective security. Otherwise, there could be long-standing negative consequences,” Ghani tweeted. Pakistan has been carrying out oppressive activities against ethnic Pashtuns, who have been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticised the Afghan President for his statement. "We reject the tweet by President Ashraf Ghani. Such irresponsible statements are only gross interference. Afghan leadership needs to focus on long-standing serious grievances of the Afghan people,” Qureshi tweeted.

Afghan President expresses concern over violence by Pakistani forces against Pashtuns, Balochistan

US president made it clear, that even though his administration is in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-proper-wall-never-got-built-i-will-get-it-built-says-trump-during-state-of-the-union-address-195465">talks with the Taliban</a> for the pact to bring stability in the country, US troops are not going to fully leave the south Asian country.

Speaking during his second <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-proper-wall-never-got-built-i-will-get-it-built-says-trump-during-state-of-the-union-address-195465">State of the Union address (SOTU)</a>, Trump said, "In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. And we will indeed focus on counterterrorism."

Sounding cautious, he said,"We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement" but "we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace" and "the other side would like to do the same thing."

This will come as a relief for New Delhi that sees complete withdrawal as increasing Pakistan's influence in Kabul, which Islamabad has been trying since decades.

During US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad's India visit, New Delhi had made it clear that it has security and economic interest in the country and called Washington to safeguard existing political and constitutional structure in the country.

Earlier on Tuesday, US secretary of state, Michael Pompeo spoke with Afghan President Ghani and reaffirmed American commitment "to achieving a lasting peace in Afghanistan."

In a statement released by the US state department, it was said that the "Secretary underscored Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad’s role in facilitating an inclusive peace process."

Pompeo also focused on intra-Afghan dialogue in which Afghan govt can sit together with the Taliban for a political settlement. The state department said that the secretary "emphasized the importance of an intra-Afghan dialogue and the role of a ceasefire in ending the violence and creating the conditions for the Afghan government, other Afghan leaders and the Taliban to sit together and negotiate a political settlement"

US president made it clear, that even though his administration is in talks with the Taliban for the pact to bring stability in the country, US troops are not going to fully leave the south Asian country.

US president made it clear, that even though his administration is in talks with the Taliban for the pact to bring stability in the country, US troops are not going to fully leave the south Asian country. Speaking during his second State of the Union address (SOTU), Trump said, "In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. And we will indeed focus on counterterrorism." Sounding cautious, he said,"We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement" but "we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace" and "the other side would like to do the same thing." This will come as a relief for New Delhi that sees complete withdrawal as increasing Pakistan's influence in Kabul, which Islamabad has been trying since decades. During US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad's India visit, New Delhi had made it clear that it has security and economic interest in the country and called Washington to safeguard existing political and constitutional structure in the country. Earlier on Tuesday, US secretary of state, Michael Pompeo spoke with Afghan President Ghani and reaffirmed American commitment "to achieving a lasting peace in Afghanistan." In a statement released by the US state department, it was said that the "Secretary underscored Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad’s role in facilitating an inclusive peace process." Pompeo also focused on intra-Afghan dialogue in which Afghan govt can sit together with the Taliban for a political settlement. The state department said that the secretary "emphasized the importance of an intra-Afghan dialogue and the role of a ceasefire in ending the violence and creating the conditions for the Afghan government, other Afghan leaders and the Taliban to sit together and negotiate a political settlement"

Will reduce troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism in Afghanistan: Trump in State of the Union address

Decades after the Soviet Union's disastrous venture into Afghanistan, Russia is emerging as a major player in the region with ties to the Taliban and Afghan politicians as US troops withdraw from the country.

This week Moscow brought together the Taliban and powerful Afghan politicians for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talks-hosted-by-russia-will-not-help-in-the-peace-process-afghanistan-194573">two days of unprecedented talks</a> Tuesday and Wednesday, the insurgents' most significant engagement with Afghan leaders in recent memory.

In incredible scenes broadcast around the world, former president Hamid Karzai and other leaders shared prayers and meals with the Taliban while discussing the future of the conflict-riven country at a hotel that belongs to the Kremlin.

"This is a turning point," Andrei Serenko, an expert at the Centre for Contemporary Afghan Studies, told AFP.

"From reacting to other players' initiatives, Russia has switched to generating its own initiatives in the region."

Washington's decision to draw down troops from Afghanistan in a bid to extricate itself from the nearly 18-year war can become both a boon and bane for Russia, analysts say.

On the one hand, Moscow will burnish its credentials as a major player and mediator in the region; on the other hand, the US withdrawal will increase risks of instability and violence in Central Asia, seen as Moscow's sphere of influence.

"Russia is returning to Afghanistan using it as a platform for confrontation with the United States," independent expert Arkady Dubnov told AFP.&nbsp;

Dubnov added that Russia was vitally interested in seeing stability and security in the impoverished country's northern provinces.&nbsp;

While he said Moscow would not send troops to the country given the Soviet Union's painful experience in Afghanistan, Russia could provide other forms of assistance.&nbsp;

"If there's a request from the leadership, money and arms supplies cannot be ruled out," Dubnov added.&nbsp;

'A more involved role'&nbsp;

The Soviet Union's 1979-1989 invasion of Afghanistan has deeply scarred the nation.&nbsp;

The 10-year conflict, which saw Moscow intervene in support of the Afghan communist government, claimed the lives of more than 14,000 Soviet troops and has come to be seen in Russia as a huge foreign policy blunder. &nbsp;

"A more involved role for Moscow has surprised many, mostly due to Russia's bloody history in Afghanistan," said The Soufan Center, a non-profit security analysis group.

Despite the presence of US troops and support for the government of Ashraf Ghani, Washington may find itself marginalised in the country as regional powers like Russia come to the centre stage, the group said.&nbsp;

While Moscow has sought to distance itself from the conference, calling it an initiative of the Afghan diasporas, few doubt the Kremlin's deep involvement.

Representatives of the Kabul government were not present at the conference. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Instead, the Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan under a ruthless interpretation of Sharia law between 1996 and 2001, sat down for talks with Ghani's rivals including Mohammad Haneef Atmar as the country prepares to hold presidential elections in July.

"Moscow does not believe in Ghani's future," said Serenko of the Centre for Contemporary Afghan Studies, suggesting Russia was backing Atmar in the run-up to the polls.

'Romance with Taliban'&nbsp;

Serenko also said Moscow used this week's conference to legitimise its long-held ties with the Taliban which Russia still designates as a terrorist group.&nbsp;

"For the past ten years Russia has been romantically involved with the Taliban. Now this romance has been made public," Serenko said.

"Today the Taliban, who only respect force, and Russians speak the same language."

The Moscow meeting came a week after the insurgents held separate peace talks with American negotiators in Doha, where Ghani was again not invited to the table.&nbsp;

Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, and ostensibly the months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with Kabul.&nbsp;

The Russian government also held a meeting on Afghanistan in November.

Some frown upon Russia's involvement.&nbsp;

"By getting the Afghan opposition to talk to the Taliban, Moscow risks fracturing an already fragile yet fledgeling peace process-and provoking a fresh crisis within an Afghan government already riven by deep divisions," Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington, told AFP.

But organisers of the Moscow conference said Russia's perceived neutrality during Washington's war in Afghanistan made the country well-suited for the mediation.

"During the past 18 years, Russia has proved that it supported neither side in the conflict," said Ghulam Mohammad Jalal, one of the conference's organisers.

"That is why it has earned in Afghan society the status of a neutral country with a neutral position."

Decades after the Soviet Union's disastrous venture into Afghanistan, Russia is emerging as a major player in the region with ties to the Taliban and Afghan politicians as US troops withdraw from the country.

Decades after the Soviet Union's disastrous venture into Afghanistan, Russia is emerging as a major player in the region with ties to the Taliban and Afghan politicians as US troops withdraw from the country. This week Moscow brought together the Taliban and powerful Afghan politicians for two days of unprecedented talks Tuesday and Wednesday, the insurgents' most significant engagement with Afghan leaders in recent memory. In incredible scenes broadcast around the world, former president Hamid Karzai and other leaders shared prayers and meals with the Taliban while discussing the future of the conflict-riven country at a hotel that belongs to the Kremlin. "This is a turning point," Andrei Serenko, an expert at the Centre for Contemporary Afghan Studies, told AFP. "From reacting to other players' initiatives, Russia has switched to generating its own initiatives in the region." Washington's decision to draw down troops from Afghanistan in a bid to extricate itself from the nearly 18-year war can become both a boon and bane for Russia, analysts say. On the one hand, Moscow will burnish its credentials as a major player and mediator in the region; on the other hand, the US withdrawal will increase risks of instability and violence in Central Asia, seen as Moscow's sphere of influence. "Russia is returning to Afghanistan using it as a platform for confrontation with the United States," independent expert Arkady Dubnov told AFP. Dubnov added that Russia was vitally interested in seeing stability and security in the impoverished country's northern provinces. While he said Moscow would not send troops to the country given the Soviet Union's painful experience in Afghanistan, Russia could provide other forms of assistance. "If there's a request from the leadership, money and arms supplies cannot be ruled out," Dubnov added. 'A more involved role' The Soviet Union's 1979-1989 invasion of Afghanistan has deeply scarred the nation. The 10-year conflict, which saw Moscow intervene in support of the Afghan communist government, claimed the lives of more than 14,000 Soviet troops and has come to be seen in Russia as a huge foreign policy blunder. "A more involved role for Moscow has surprised many, mostly due to Russia's bloody history in Afghanistan," said The Soufan Center, a non-profit security analysis group. Despite the presence of US troops and support for the government of Ashraf Ghani, Washington may find itself marginalised in the country as regional powers like Russia come to the centre stage, the group said. While Moscow has sought to distance itself from the conference, calling it an initiative of the Afghan diasporas, few doubt the Kremlin's deep involvement. Representatives of the Kabul government were not present at the conference. Instead, the Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan under a ruthless interpretation of Sharia law between 1996 and 2001, sat down for talks with Ghani's rivals including Mohammad Haneef Atmar as the country prepares to hold presidential elections in July. "Moscow does not believe in Ghani's future," said Serenko of the Centre for Contemporary Afghan Studies, suggesting Russia was backing Atmar in the run-up to the polls. 'Romance with Taliban' Serenko also said Moscow used this week's conference to legitimise its long-held ties with the Taliban which Russia still designates as a terrorist group. "For the past ten years Russia has been romantically involved with the Taliban. Now this romance has been made public," Serenko said. "Today the Taliban, who only respect force, and Russians speak the same language." The Moscow meeting came a week after the insurgents held separate peace talks with American negotiators in Doha, where Ghani was again not invited to the table. Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, and ostensibly the months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with Kabul. The Russian government also held a meeting on Afghanistan in November. Some frown upon Russia's involvement. "By getting the Afghan opposition to talk to the Taliban, Moscow risks fracturing an already fragile yet fledgeling peace process-and provoking a fresh crisis within an Afghan government already riven by deep divisions," Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington, told AFP. But organisers of the Moscow conference said Russia's perceived neutrality during Washington's war in Afghanistan made the country well-suited for the mediation. "During the past 18 years, Russia has proved that it supported neither side in the conflict," said Ghulam Mohammad Jalal, one of the conference's organisers. "That is why it has earned in Afghan society the status of a neutral country with a neutral position."

As US eyes exit from Afghanistan, Russia begins to step into that vacuum

President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/i-will-meet-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-in-vietnam-on-february-27-28-trump-in-state-of-the-union-address-195467">Donald Trump </a>said on Tuesday<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/theft-of-american-jobs-stealing-our-intellectual-property-will-end-trump-on-trade-deal-with-china-in-state-of-the-union-address-195469"> his administration </a>was holding “constructive talks” with groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, and would be able to reduce the US troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism as it makes progress.

“I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. Our troops have fought with unmatched valour—and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a political solution to this long and bloody conflict,” Trump said in his annual State of the Union address.&nbsp;

"In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement—but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace," he added.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was holding “constructive talks” with groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, and would be able to reduce the US troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism as it makes progress.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was holding “constructive talks” with groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, and would be able to reduce the US troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism as it makes progress. “I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. Our troops have fought with unmatched valour—and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a political solution to this long and bloody conflict,” Trump said in his annual State of the Union address. "In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement—but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace," he added.

Trump says may be able to cut troop numbers in Afghanistan if talks go well

Militants operating out of Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-demand-new-constitution-for-afghanistan-at-rare-talks-195428"> threaten Afghan stability as well </a>as stoke tensions between Pakistan and India, and the US looks to Islamabad to cease behaviour undermining regional stability, a top Pentagon commander said on Tuesday.

During a Congressional hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Commander of the US central Command General Joseph Votel told the lawmakers that Pakistan has taken positive steps to assist Special US Representative of Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in facilitating talks with the Taliban.&nbsp;

But Pakistan "has avoided taking any concrete or irreversible steps such as arresting or expelling Taliban leaders who do not cooperate with reconciliation efforts," he said.

"Militants operating out of Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to threaten Afghan stability as well as stoke tensions<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-has-no-intention-to-interfere-in-indias-internal-matters-qureshi-after-phone-call-to-mirwaiz-194879"> between Pakistan and India</a>. We look to regional actors such as Pakistan to cease behaviour undermining regional stability and play constructive roles in achieving peace in Afghanistan as well as the whole of South Asia," General Votel said.

"With our strategic focus on reconciliation and regional security, Pakistan has a unique opportunity to make good on its promises of support to US efforts focused on finding a negotiated settlement to the Afghanistan conflict," the US commander said.

He said that if Pakistan plays a positive role in achieving a settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan, "the US will have opportunity and motive to help Pakistan fulfil that role, as peace in the region is the most important mutual priority for the US and Pakistan".

Pakistan, Votel said presents the US with challenges and opportunities in the execution of its South Asia strategy.

As a state possessing nuclear weapons that sits at the nexus of Russian, Chinese, Indian, Iranian, and US geopolitical interests, Pakistan will always be a country of importance to the US, he noted.

"However, Pakistan's actions are often a source of frustration to the US regional efforts in Afghanistan," Votel said.&nbsp;

The Pentagon's posture with Pakistan involves supporting Department of State as they pursue a diplomatic solution with Islamabad to end the conflict in Afghanistan while ensuring that Pakistan's equities are acknowledged and addressed in any future agreement.

Votel told lawmakers that Pakistan has not taken concrete actions against the safe havens of violent extremist organisations or VEOs inside its borders.

"Similarly, VEOs located in Afghanistan conduct attacks inside Pakistan. This cross-border instability and violence generates tension along both sides of the border," he said.

"The suspension of US security assistance funds to Pakistan remains in place. Meanwhile, some US Pakistan military cooperation activities have continued, demonstrating the importance of military cooperation, despite challenges in the bilateral relationship," the top American Commander said.

Militants operating out of Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to threaten Afghan stability as well as stoke tensions between Pakistan and India, and the US looks to Islamabad to cease behaviour undermining regional stability, a top Pentagon commander said on Tuesday.

Militants operating out of Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to threaten Afghan stability as well as stoke tensions between Pakistan and India, and the US looks to Islamabad to cease behaviour undermining regional stability, a top Pentagon commander said on Tuesday. During a Congressional hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Commander of the US central Command General Joseph Votel told the lawmakers that Pakistan has taken positive steps to assist Special US Representative of Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in facilitating talks with the Taliban. But Pakistan "has avoided taking any concrete or irreversible steps such as arresting or expelling Taliban leaders who do not cooperate with reconciliation efforts," he said. "Militants operating out of Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to threaten Afghan stability as well as stoke tensions between Pakistan and India. We look to regional actors such as Pakistan to cease behaviour undermining regional stability and play constructive roles in achieving peace in Afghanistan as well as the whole of South Asia," General Votel said. "With our strategic focus on reconciliation and regional security, Pakistan has a unique opportunity to make good on its promises of support to US efforts focused on finding a negotiated settlement to the Afghanistan conflict," the US commander said. He said that if Pakistan plays a positive role in achieving a settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan, "the US will have opportunity and motive to help Pakistan fulfil that role, as peace in the region is the most important mutual priority for the US and Pakistan". Pakistan, Votel said presents the US with challenges and opportunities in the execution of its South Asia strategy. As a state possessing nuclear weapons that sits at the nexus of Russian, Chinese, Indian, Iranian, and US geopolitical interests, Pakistan will always be a country of importance to the US, he noted. "However, Pakistan's actions are often a source of frustration to the US regional efforts in Afghanistan," Votel said. The Pentagon's posture with Pakistan involves supporting Department of State as they pursue a diplomatic solution with Islamabad to end the conflict in Afghanistan while ensuring that Pakistan's equities are acknowledged and addressed in any future agreement. Votel told lawmakers that Pakistan has not taken concrete actions against the safe havens of violent extremist organisations or VEOs inside its borders. "Similarly, VEOs located in Afghanistan conduct attacks inside Pakistan. This cross-border instability and violence generates tension along both sides of the border," he said. "The suspension of US security assistance funds to Pakistan remains in place. Meanwhile, some US Pakistan military cooperation activities have continued, demonstrating the importance of military cooperation, despite challenges in the bilateral relationship," the top American Commander said.

Pakistan should cease undermining regional stability: US commander Votel to lawmakers

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-takes-centre-stage-as-kabul-cut-out-of-peace-talks-195302">Taliban demanded a new constitution</a> for Afghanistan and promised an "inclusive Islamic system" to govern the war-torn country at a rare gathering with senior Afghan politicians in Russia Tuesday that excluded the Kabul government.&nbsp;

The insurgents' manifesto, outlined in Moscow before some of Afghanistan's most influential leaders, comes a week after the Taliban held unprecedented six-day talks with US negotiators in Doha about ending the 17-year war.

The Doha and Moscow discussions, though entirely separate, both excluded the government in Kabul, where President Ashraf Ghani is seen as increasingly sidelined from key negotiations for peace in his country.

The Moscow meeting -- the Taliban's most significant with Afghan politicians in recent memory -- saw the insurgents praying together with sworn enemies including former president Hamid Karzai as they discussed their vision for the future.

"The Kabul government constitution is invalid. It has been imported from the West and is an obstacle to peace," Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who headed the Taliban delegation, told attendees at a central Moscow hotel.

"It is conflicted. We want an Islamic constitution," he said, adding that the new charter would be drafted by Islamic scholars.

No representatives from the Kabul government were invited to Moscow but some of Ghani's chief rivals -- including Karzai as well as opponents in an election slated for July -- were in attendance.

Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, and the months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has ostensibly been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with the government in Kabul.

Those efforts culminated in six days of talks between the US and the Taliban in January where both sides touted "progress" -- stoking Afghan fears that America could cut a deal to withdraw its troops before a lasting peace with Kabul is reached.

Ghani has repeatedly said that all Afghans should agree on the need to end hostilities and an eventual withdrawal of foreign forces, but that he would not "surrender to a temporary peace deal".

'Inclusive Islamic system'&nbsp;

The Taliban consider Ghani and his administration to be US puppets, and have refused offers to talk a truce.

Stanikzai said the insurgents, who ruled Afghanistan under a ruthless interpretation of Sharia law between 1996 and 2001, did not want a "monopoly of power" but "an inclusive Islamic system".

They also promised to stamp out Afghanistan's poppy cultivation and take steps to prevent civilian casualties in a conflict that has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands.

Two women attended the roundtable conference. The Taliban closed girls' schools and banned women from working under their regime, but have indicated they could loosen some guidelines in line with Sharia law.

"I think all sides are ready for a compromise. It is a good start," said Muhammad Ghulam Jalal, the head of an Afghan diaspora group who hosted the meeting.

But images of Karzai and other powerful leaders attending prayer lead by a Taliban figure and dining with the militants invoked anger in Afghanistan.

"If you guys can eat together, laugh and pray together, hug each other why you are still killing innocent Afghans?" one Facebook user posted.

The Taliban are scheduled to hold another round of peace talks with the US in Doha on February 25.

The Taliban demanded a new constitution for Afghanistan and promised an "inclusive Islamic system" to govern the war-torn country at a rare gathering with senior Afghan politicians in Russia Tuesday that excluded the Kabul government.

The Taliban demanded a new constitution for Afghanistan and promised an "inclusive Islamic system" to govern the war-torn country at a rare gathering with senior Afghan politicians in Russia Tuesday that excluded the Kabul government. The insurgents' manifesto, outlined in Moscow before some of Afghanistan's most influential leaders, comes a week after the Taliban held unprecedented six-day talks with US negotiators in Doha about ending the 17-year war. The Doha and Moscow discussions, though entirely separate, both excluded the government in Kabul, where President Ashraf Ghani is seen as increasingly sidelined from key negotiations for peace in his country. The Moscow meeting -- the Taliban's most significant with Afghan politicians in recent memory -- saw the insurgents praying together with sworn enemies including former president Hamid Karzai as they discussed their vision for the future. "The Kabul government constitution is invalid. It has been imported from the West and is an obstacle to peace," Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who headed the Taliban delegation, told attendees at a central Moscow hotel. "It is conflicted. We want an Islamic constitution," he said, adding that the new charter would be drafted by Islamic scholars. No representatives from the Kabul government were invited to Moscow but some of Ghani's chief rivals -- including Karzai as well as opponents in an election slated for July -- were in attendance. Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, and the months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has ostensibly been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with the government in Kabul. Those efforts culminated in six days of talks between the US and the Taliban in January where both sides touted "progress" -- stoking Afghan fears that America could cut a deal to withdraw its troops before a lasting peace with Kabul is reached. Ghani has repeatedly said that all Afghans should agree on the need to end hostilities and an eventual withdrawal of foreign forces, but that he would not "surrender to a temporary peace deal". 'Inclusive Islamic system' The Taliban consider Ghani and his administration to be US puppets, and have refused offers to talk a truce. Stanikzai said the insurgents, who ruled Afghanistan under a ruthless interpretation of Sharia law between 1996 and 2001, did not want a "monopoly of power" but "an inclusive Islamic system". They also promised to stamp out Afghanistan's poppy cultivation and take steps to prevent civilian casualties in a conflict that has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands. Two women attended the roundtable conference. The Taliban closed girls' schools and banned women from working under their regime, but have indicated they could loosen some guidelines in line with Sharia law. "I think all sides are ready for a compromise. It is a good start," said Muhammad Ghulam Jalal, the head of an Afghan diaspora group who hosted the meeting. But images of Karzai and other powerful leaders attending prayer lead by a Taliban figure and dining with the militants invoked anger in Afghanistan. "If you guys can eat together, laugh and pray together, hug each other why you are still killing innocent Afghans?" one Facebook user posted. The Taliban are scheduled to hold another round of peace talks with the US in Doha on February 25.

Taliban demands new constitution for Afghanistan at rare talks

Two Afghan journalists were killed on Tuesday night when gunmen entered a radio station and opened fire, authorities said.

The presenter and reporter, both males in their 20s, died at the scene, said Semin Hussaini, director of Radio Hamsada.

It was not known if they were on air at the time and both police and Hussaini said they no idea of the motive for the attack in Taloqan, capital of the northern province of Takhar.

Theirs was the second killing of journalists in Afghanistan this year. Last month the Taliban kidnapped and later killed government worker and part-time journalist Javid Noori.

Jawad Hejri, spokesman for the Takhar governor, said the gunmen fled without being identified and police were investigating.

Taliban and other Islamist insurgents have repeatedly targeted Afghan journalists, killing 15 in 2018, the deadliest year yet for the country's media, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The Paris-based media rights group said the three most dangerous countries for journalists to work in were Afghanistan, Syria and Mexico.

Two Afghan journalists were killed on Tuesday night when gunmen entered a radio station and opened fire, authorities said. The presenter and reporter, both males in their 20s, died at the scene, said Semin Hussaini, director of Radio Hamsada.

Two Afghan journalists were killed on Tuesday night when gunmen entered a radio station and opened fire, authorities said. The presenter and reporter, both males in their 20s, died at the scene, said Semin Hussaini, director of Radio Hamsada. It was not known if they were on air at the time and both police and Hussaini said they no idea of the motive for the attack in Taloqan, capital of the northern province of Takhar. Theirs was the second killing of journalists in Afghanistan this year. Last month the Taliban kidnapped and later killed government worker and part-time journalist Javid Noori. Jawad Hejri, spokesman for the Takhar governor, said the gunmen fled without being identified and police were investigating. Taliban and other Islamist insurgents have repeatedly targeted Afghan journalists, killing 15 in 2018, the deadliest year yet for the country's media, according to Reporters Without Borders. The Paris-based media rights group said the three most dangerous countries for journalists to work in were Afghanistan, Syria and Mexico.

Two Afghan journalists killed as gunmen open fire in radio station

The head of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-demand-new-constitution-for-afghanistan-at-rare-talks-195428">Taliban delegation</a> visiting Moscow said on Tuesday that Afghanistan peace talks with the United States last month had been a success, the Interfax news agency reported.

The United States held peace negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar that ended with signs of progress towards the withdrawal of thousands of foreign troops from Afghanistan and an end to more than 17 years of war.

The head of the delegation, who is in Russia for talks between Taliban militants and opposition politicians, was quoted as saying no agreement had been reached with Washington on a timeframe for a troop pullout, but that he hoped it would happen soon.

A top US general said that talks between the United States and Taliban were in their "very, very early" stages and the Afghan government, so far excluded from talks, would have to be part of the solution.

"I would characterize where we are in the process as very, very early in the process," US General Joseph Votel, head of the US military's Central Command, told a Senate hearing.

"We clearly recognize that they (Afghan government) have to be a part of this solution and must be in the negotiation aspects of this, we can't do that on their behalf."

Votel also said that the United States would need to continue to support Afghan security forces financially even if US troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

The head of a Taliban delegation visiting Moscow said on Tuesday that Afghanistan peace talks with the United States last month had been a success, the Interfax news agency reported.

The head of a Taliban delegation visiting Moscow said on Tuesday that Afghanistan peace talks with the United States last month had been a success, the Interfax news agency reported. The United States held peace negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar that ended with signs of progress towards the withdrawal of thousands of foreign troops from Afghanistan and an end to more than 17 years of war. The head of the delegation, who is in Russia for talks between Taliban militants and opposition politicians, was quoted as saying no agreement had been reached with Washington on a timeframe for a troop pullout, but that he hoped it would happen soon. A top US general said that talks between the United States and Taliban were in their "very, very early" stages and the Afghan government, so far excluded from talks, would have to be part of the solution. "I would characterize where we are in the process as very, very early in the process," US General Joseph Votel, head of the US military's Central Command, told a Senate hearing. "We clearly recognize that they (Afghan government) have to be a part of this solution and must be in the negotiation aspects of this, we can't do that on their behalf." Votel also said that the United States would need to continue to support Afghan security forces financially even if US troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

Taliban calls recent Afghanistan peace talks with US successful: Report

President Ashraf Ghani is being pushed to the sidelines as the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-taliban-cancel-peace-talks-with-us-citing-agenda-disagreement-189134"> Taliban ignores</a> his overtures for peace and negotiates instead with his friends, and enemies, over the future of Afghanistan.

From Doha to Moscow, the insurgents are meeting an array of envoys with competing interests in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-taliban-reject-talks-with-us-in-pakistan-191358">Afghanistan</a>, from the United States eager to withdraw their troops to political leaders in Kabul jostling for power.

Experts say regional powers — including US foes Iran and Russia — are angling for an audience with the Taliban, who are already outlining their vision for Islamic rule once foreign troops leave.

The elephant in the room is Ghani, whose US-backed administration has not been invited to the table, despite a failed year-long effort to spark a dialogue with the Taliban.

"The sad irony is that Afghanistan's government is in danger of getting written out of the script of its own peace process," analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, told AFP.

Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, and ostensibly the months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with the government in Kabul.

Those efforts culminated in an unprecedented six days of talks between the US and the Taliban in Doha in January.

The marathon negotiations ended with both sides touting "progress" — spurring Afghan fears the US could cut a deal with the militants to withdraw its forces before a lasting peace with Kabul is reached.

"It's a major snub because, without the Americans, the government in Kabul cannot survive," said Gilles Dorronsoro, a French researcher specialising in Afghanistan.

A week later, the Taliban agreed to a rare sit-down in Russia with some of Ghani's biggest political rivals.

The talks in Moscow hosted by an Afghan diaspora group in Russia — which are separate from the US negotiations — start Tuesday and would canvass the "end of occupation, enduring peace in homeland and establishment of an intra-Afghan Islamic system of governance", the Taliban said.

Frozen out for a second time, a furious Ghani vowed he would not be an idle spectator as his country's future was debated abroad.

"Even if I have one drop of blood in my body, I am not going to surrender to a temporary peace deal," he railed in a speech Sunday, as details of the Moscow conference broke.

The frustration and sense of betrayal in Kabul is palpable.

Amrullah Saleh, a Ghani ally, accused those Afghan leaders travelling to Moscow for the Taliban talks — including former president Hamid Karzai — of "begging to terrorists".

"A smile to the enemy is a blow to the national spirit," Saleh said.

"We appreciate the efforts, but any peace talks about Afghanistan should be under the umbrella of the Afghan government," Afghanistan's de facto prime minister Abdullah Abdullah said after the Doha talks.

'A new war'

The Taliban, who brutally ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, has always refused to break bread with Ghani and Kabul, who they view as US stooges.

Instead, the insurgents are marching ahead with their diplomatic agenda.&nbsp;

The talks in Moscow would see an "opening of channels to reaching an understanding" with Afghan leaders outside government, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Such a meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians — including Karzai, who was appointed by the US — is almost unheard of.

Ghani's rivals could see an opportunity in these various Taliban talks to undermine his leadership, analysts say, ahead of presidential elections slated for July.

The Taliban outreach is also drawing a host of rival powers into its orbit, all keen that any finale to the war suits their strategic ambitions.

Many of these present "a fundamental clash of vision and interests" for Afghanistan, said Davood Moradian, director of the Kabul-based Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies.

The US, Afghanistan, and India seek a stable democracy and a bulwark against terrorism, he said. The Taliban and Pakistan, conversely, seek an Islamic authority in Kabul.

A broader second group of "legitimate stakeholders and opportunistic spoilers" — including regional powers like Russia, China, and Iran — have their eyes keenly on waning US influence in the region, Moradian added.

Dorronsoro said the US-Taliban talks, which continue later this month, were an "acknowledgement of defeat" by Washington of its military campaign in the country that would not be missed by rivals Russia and Iran, who have also engaged with the insurgents.

The departure of US forces — if achieved under a deal with the Taliban — could draw the region into a "new war" for dominance in Afghanistan.

"India, Pakistan, Iran... everyone will choose sides. Today, nothing is clear. Everyone is in the process of positioning themselves," Dorronsoro said.

President Ashraf Ghani is being pushed to the sidelines as the Taliban ignores his overtures for peace and negotiates instead with his friends, and enemies, over the future of Afghanistan.

President Ashraf Ghani is being pushed to the sidelines as the Taliban ignores his overtures for peace and negotiates instead with his friends, and enemies, over the future of Afghanistan. From Doha to Moscow, the insurgents are meeting an array of envoys with competing interests in Afghanistan, from the United States eager to withdraw their troops to political leaders in Kabul jostling for power. Experts say regional powers — including US foes Iran and Russia — are angling for an audience with the Taliban, who are already outlining their vision for Islamic rule once foreign troops leave. The elephant in the room is Ghani, whose US-backed administration has not been invited to the table, despite a failed year-long effort to spark a dialogue with the Taliban. "The sad irony is that Afghanistan's government is in danger of getting written out of the script of its own peace process," analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, told AFP. Ghani's allies in Washington insist Afghans should lead the peace process, and ostensibly the months-long push by the US to engage the Taliban has been aimed at convincing them to negotiate with the government in Kabul. Those efforts culminated in an unprecedented six days of talks between the US and the Taliban in Doha in January. The marathon negotiations ended with both sides touting "progress" — spurring Afghan fears the US could cut a deal with the militants to withdraw its forces before a lasting peace with Kabul is reached. "It's a major snub because, without the Americans, the government in Kabul cannot survive," said Gilles Dorronsoro, a French researcher specialising in Afghanistan. A week later, the Taliban agreed to a rare sit-down in Russia with some of Ghani's biggest political rivals. The talks in Moscow hosted by an Afghan diaspora group in Russia — which are separate from the US negotiations — start Tuesday and would canvass the "end of occupation, enduring peace in homeland and establishment of an intra-Afghan Islamic system of governance", the Taliban said. Frozen out for a second time, a furious Ghani vowed he would not be an idle spectator as his country's future was debated abroad. "Even if I have one drop of blood in my body, I am not going to surrender to a temporary peace deal," he railed in a speech Sunday, as details of the Moscow conference broke. The frustration and sense of betrayal in Kabul is palpable. Amrullah Saleh, a Ghani ally, accused those Afghan leaders travelling to Moscow for the Taliban talks — including former president Hamid Karzai — of "begging to terrorists". "A smile to the enemy is a blow to the national spirit," Saleh said. "We appreciate the efforts, but any peace talks about Afghanistan should be under the umbrella of the Afghan government," Afghanistan's de facto prime minister Abdullah Abdullah said after the Doha talks. 'A new war' The Taliban, who brutally ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, has always refused to break bread with Ghani and Kabul, who they view as US stooges. Instead, the insurgents are marching ahead with their diplomatic agenda. The talks in Moscow would see an "opening of channels to reaching an understanding" with Afghan leaders outside government, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. Such a meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians — including Karzai, who was appointed by the US — is almost unheard of. Ghani's rivals could see an opportunity in these various Taliban talks to undermine his leadership, analysts say, ahead of presidential elections slated for July. The Taliban outreach is also drawing a host of rival powers into its orbit, all keen that any finale to the war suits their strategic ambitions. Many of these present "a fundamental clash of vision and interests" for Afghanistan, said Davood Moradian, director of the Kabul-based Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies. The US, Afghanistan, and India seek a stable democracy and a bulwark against terrorism, he said. The Taliban and Pakistan, conversely, seek an Islamic authority in Kabul. A broader second group of "legitimate stakeholders and opportunistic spoilers" — including regional powers like Russia, China, and Iran — have their eyes keenly on waning US influence in the region, Moradian added. Dorronsoro said the US-Taliban talks, which continue later this month, were an "acknowledgement of defeat" by Washington of its military campaign in the country that would not be missed by rivals Russia and Iran, who have also engaged with the insurgents. The departure of US forces — if achieved under a deal with the Taliban — could draw the region into a "new war" for dominance in Afghanistan. "India, Pakistan, Iran... everyone will choose sides. Today, nothing is clear. Everyone is in the process of positioning themselves," Dorronsoro said.

Taliban takes centre stage as Kabul cut out of peace talks

The United States risks providing Afghanistan with state-of-the-art Black Hawk helicopters that the country's embattled air force does not have the pilots to fly nor the engineers to maintain, a US&nbsp;watchdog said on Tuesday.

The warning, by the US Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), comes amid widespread fears that the Afghan military will struggle to cope with a looming pullout of allied foreign troops after more than 17 years of conflict.

Talks between US&nbsp;envoys and Taliban negotiators due to resume in Qatar on Feb. 25 are likely to centre on the withdrawal of thousands of US-led NATO forces and a ceasefire to end America's longest war.

The US&nbsp;military has provided the first 16 of a scheduled 159 UH-60 Black Hawks to the Afghan air force and its special forces, a move the watchdog says raises concerns about the country's ability to absorb the rest by 2023.

It calls for efforts to improve pilot training timetables and English-language skills, as well as build a teaching programme for Afghan maintenance crews to replace foreign contractors.

"Given concerns that the Afghan air force and special mission wing may not be able to fully use all 159 aircraft when delivered, the Department of Defence runs the risk of wasting US&nbsp;taxpayer dollars to purchase aircraft the AAF and SMW cannot fly or maintain," SIGAR said.

It urged that the training and maintenance be linked to the pace of deliveries so that Black Hawks "will not sit idle in Afghanistan without enough pilots to fly them".

Even reduced targets of US-led training for 320 pilots may not be met, the watchdog added, with a class attrition rate of 26 per cent.

The Black Hawks are intended to replace a fleet of ageing Soviet-era helicopters that now serve as workhorses for the Afghan air force, which is battling Taliban militants who have stepped up attacks over the last two years.

The hardline Islamist movement now controls or contests districts across nearly half of Afghanistan.

In December last year, Reuters reported that Afghanistan's fleet of 47 M-17s was under pressure from a deadly mix of hard use and poor maintenance.

As the pace of operations against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents has risen, crews said they faced pressure to take shortcuts with maintenance, an issue U.S. military advisers saw as a major concern for the fledgling Afghan air force they were trying to build up, the Reuters report said.

SIGAR said the US&nbsp;military "acknowledged that the UH-60 has performance limitations when compared with the MI-17, which can fly higher and carry more passengers".

Most missions flown by the Afghan air force did not need the additional capability provided by the Mi-17, the watchdog, quoting the US&nbsp;military.

The United States risks providing Afghanistan with state-of-the-art Black Hawk helicopters that the country's embattled air force does not have the pilots to fly nor the engineers to maintain, a US watchdog said on Tuesday.

The United States risks providing Afghanistan with state-of-the-art Black Hawk helicopters that the country's embattled air force does not have the pilots to fly nor the engineers to maintain, a US watchdog said on Tuesday. The warning, by the US Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), comes amid widespread fears that the Afghan military will struggle to cope with a looming pullout of allied foreign troops after more than 17 years of conflict. Talks between US envoys and Taliban negotiators due to resume in Qatar on Feb. 25 are likely to centre on the withdrawal of thousands of US-led NATO forces and a ceasefire to end America's longest war. The US military has provided the first 16 of a scheduled 159 UH-60 Black Hawks to the Afghan air force and its special forces, a move the watchdog says raises concerns about the country's ability to absorb the rest by 2023. It calls for efforts to improve pilot training timetables and English-language skills, as well as build a teaching programme for Afghan maintenance crews to replace foreign contractors. "Given concerns that the Afghan air force and special mission wing may not be able to fully use all 159 aircraft when delivered, the Department of Defence runs the risk of wasting US taxpayer dollars to purchase aircraft the AAF and SMW cannot fly or maintain," SIGAR said. It urged that the training and maintenance be linked to the pace of deliveries so that Black Hawks "will not sit idle in Afghanistan without enough pilots to fly them". Even reduced targets of US-led training for 320 pilots may not be met, the watchdog added, with a class attrition rate of 26 per cent. The Black Hawks are intended to replace a fleet of ageing Soviet-era helicopters that now serve as workhorses for the Afghan air force, which is battling Taliban militants who have stepped up attacks over the last two years. The hardline Islamist movement now controls or contests districts across nearly half of Afghanistan. In December last year, Reuters reported that Afghanistan's fleet of 47 M-17s was under pressure from a deadly mix of hard use and poor maintenance. As the pace of operations against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents has risen, crews said they faced pressure to take shortcuts with maintenance, an issue U.S. military advisers saw as a major concern for the fledgling Afghan air force they were trying to build up, the Reuters report said. SIGAR said the US military "acknowledged that the UH-60 has performance limitations when compared with the MI-17, which can fly higher and carry more passengers". Most missions flown by the Afghan air force did not need the additional capability provided by the Mi-17, the watchdog, quoting the US military.

Afghanistan lacks pilots, engineers to handle Black Hawk helicopters, US watchdog warns

Dispatch: We have security interests in Afghanistan, India says to US

Fields of purple opium poppy stretch across the pastures and peaks of mountainous eastern Myanmar, with many farmers reluctant to give up the profitable cash crop in spite of incentives offered.

Myanmar is the second biggest source of opium in the world after Afghanistan, with Shan state its main production hub.

AFP hiked up the steep mountainside towering over the small town of Hopong, just a few dozen kilometres from tourist hotspot Inle Lake.&nbsp;

The farmland closest to the town boasts fields of coffee, potatoes and corn, and provides a lifeline for the scattered villages.

But scale the ridge and the far side exposes a blanket of purple reaching up to an altitude of some 2,400 metres (8,000 feet).&nbsp;

Each day men and women from the surrounding villages, home to the Pa-O and other Shan ethnic minority groups, take to the fields of the illegal flower.

They harvest its addictive sap into cans that can fetch up to $100 each, sums that far exceed the profits possible from other produce.

The fight has been on for decades to eradicate the drug's production, with a mixture of "carrot-and-stick" tactics.

Anti-drugs police destroyed more than 600 hectares (1500 acres) of poppy fields in Hopong in the last year.

Meanwhile, the government and NGOs have offered Myanmar farmers incentives to switch to other cash crops -- with some success.

In 2018, the area of opium poppy cultivation in the country dropped by 10 per cent to 37,300 hectares from the previous year, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.&nbsp;

The agency acknowledges, however, that this is partly due to a "strong shift" by drug gangs toward synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine.&nbsp;

For many farmers -- among Myanmar's poorest people -- their crop choice simply comes down to money.

After trying to cultivate coffee, one farm worker, preferring not to be named, said he switched back to growing opium three years ago.

"We know that it's not good for our country," &nbsp;he said, looking up from the opium poppy in his hand to survey the purple-shrouded mountainsides around him.&nbsp;

"But we have no choice because it's very difficult to make a living from other crops."&nbsp;

Fields of purple opium poppy stretch across the pastures and peaks of mountainous eastern Myanmar, with many farmers reluctant to give up the profitable cash crop in spite of incentives offered.

Fields of purple opium poppy stretch across the pastures and peaks of mountainous eastern Myanmar, with many farmers reluctant to give up the profitable cash crop in spite of incentives offered. Myanmar is the second biggest source of opium in the world after Afghanistan, with Shan state its main production hub. AFP hiked up the steep mountainside towering over the small town of Hopong, just a few dozen kilometres from tourist hotspot Inle Lake. The farmland closest to the town boasts fields of coffee, potatoes and corn, and provides a lifeline for the scattered villages. But scale the ridge and the far side exposes a blanket of purple reaching up to an altitude of some 2,400 metres (8,000 feet). Each day men and women from the surrounding villages, home to the Pa-O and other Shan ethnic minority groups, take to the fields of the illegal flower. They harvest its addictive sap into cans that can fetch up to $100 each, sums that far exceed the profits possible from other produce. The fight has been on for decades to eradicate the drug's production, with a mixture of "carrot-and-stick" tactics. Anti-drugs police destroyed more than 600 hectares (1500 acres) of poppy fields in Hopong in the last year. Meanwhile, the government and NGOs have offered Myanmar farmers incentives to switch to other cash crops -- with some success. In 2018, the area of opium poppy cultivation in the country dropped by 10 per cent to 37,300 hectares from the previous year, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The agency acknowledges, however, that this is partly due to a "strong shift" by drug gangs toward synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine. For many farmers -- among Myanmar's poorest people -- their crop choice simply comes down to money. After trying to cultivate coffee, one farm worker, preferring not to be named, said he switched back to growing opium three years ago. "We know that it's not good for our country," he said, looking up from the opium poppy in his hand to survey the purple-shrouded mountainsides around him. "But we have no choice because it's very difficult to make a living from other crops."

Myanmar's opium farmers cling on to lucrative crop

Iraqi politicians on Monday hit back at Donald Trump after the US president said he plans to keep American forces in the country to spy on Iran.

In an interview with CBS television, Trump reaffirmed his determination to pull the United States out of "endless wars" in Syria and Afghanistan but said American troops would stay on in Iraq, partly "to be looking a little bit at Iran".

"We spent a fortune on building this incredible base. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/want-to-keep-us-military-in-iraq-to-watch-iran-says-trump-in-an-interview-with-cbs-194887">We might as well keep it</a>," he said, referring to Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq that he visited in December.

"If somebody is looking to do nuclear weapons or other things, we're going to know it before they do," he said in the interview aired on Sunday.

His comments sparked a new round of demands in Baghdad for US forces to leave the country.

"The Iraqi constitution rejects the use of Iraq as a base for hitting or attacking a neighbouring country," President Barham Saleh said.

Saleh said US forces were in the country legally under an agreement between the two countries, but that "any action taken outside this framework is unacceptable".

Iraq's government plays a delicate balancing act between its two main allies, Washington and Tehran, which are bitter enemies.&nbsp;

The US has been leading a coalition to crush the Islamic State group which grabbed swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, and multiple offensives have since ousted the jihadists from all but a sliver of territory in eastern Syria.

Baghdad's position has also been complicated by Trump's shock December decision to pull troops out of neighbouring Syria, prompting pro-Iran factions to step up calls for an accelerated US withdrawal from Iraq.

Sabah al-Saadi, a member of parliament in the bloc led by influential anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, has proposed a bill demanding a US pullout.

Trump's latest remarks had made passing such a law "a national duty".

Deputy speaker of parliament Hassan Karim al-Kaabi, also close to Sadr, said they were a "new provocation", weeks after the US president sparked outrage in Iraq by visiting US troops at Ain al-Asad without meeting a single Iraqi official.

Officially, Iraq says there are no American bases on its soil -- only instructors deployed at Iraqi bases.

Kurdish MP Sarkawt Shams tweeted that the mission of US troops in Iraq was "to help Iraqi security forces against terrorism, not 'watching' others".

"We are expecting the United States to respect Our mutual interests and avoid pushing Iraq into a regional conflict," he said.

Washington has had troops in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. At the height of its fight against insurgents, it had up to 170,000 US troops in the country, before a partial withdrawal starting in late 2011.

Iraqi politicians on Monday hit back at Donald Trump after the US president said he plans to keep American forces in the country to spy on Iran. In an interview with CBS television, Trump reaffirmed his determination to pull the United States out of "endless wars" in Syria and Afghanistan but said American troops would stay on in Iraq, partly "to be looking a little bit at Iran".

Iraqi politicians on Monday hit back at Donald Trump after the US president said he plans to keep American forces in the country to spy on Iran. In an interview with CBS television, Trump reaffirmed his determination to pull the United States out of "endless wars" in Syria and Afghanistan but said American troops would stay on in Iraq, partly "to be looking a little bit at Iran". "We spent a fortune on building this incredible base. We might as well keep it," he said, referring to Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq that he visited in December. "If somebody is looking to do nuclear weapons or other things, we're going to know it before they do," he said in the interview aired on Sunday. His comments sparked a new round of demands in Baghdad for US forces to leave the country. "The Iraqi constitution rejects the use of Iraq as a base for hitting or attacking a neighbouring country," President Barham Saleh said. Saleh said US forces were in the country legally under an agreement between the two countries, but that "any action taken outside this framework is unacceptable". Iraq's government plays a delicate balancing act between its two main allies, Washington and Tehran, which are bitter enemies. The US has been leading a coalition to crush the Islamic State group which grabbed swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, and multiple offensives have since ousted the jihadists from all but a sliver of territory in eastern Syria. Baghdad's position has also been complicated by Trump's shock December decision to pull troops out of neighbouring Syria, prompting pro-Iran factions to step up calls for an accelerated US withdrawal from Iraq. Sabah al-Saadi, a member of parliament in the bloc led by influential anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, has proposed a bill demanding a US pullout. Trump's latest remarks had made passing such a law "a national duty". Deputy speaker of parliament Hassan Karim al-Kaabi, also close to Sadr, said they were a "new provocation", weeks after the US president sparked outrage in Iraq by visiting US troops at Ain al-Asad without meeting a single Iraqi official. Officially, Iraq says there are no American bases on its soil -- only instructors deployed at Iraqi bases. Kurdish MP Sarkawt Shams tweeted that the mission of US troops in Iraq was "to help Iraqi security forces against terrorism, not 'watching' others". "We are expecting the United States to respect Our mutual interests and avoid pushing Iraq into a regional conflict," he said. Washington has had troops in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. At the height of its fight against insurgents, it had up to 170,000 US troops in the country, before a partial withdrawal starting in late 2011.

After Trump speaks, Iraqis demand US leave country

With the rapidly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talks-hosted-by-russia-will-not-help-in-the-peace-process-afghanistan-194573">developing situation in Afghanistan</a>, India had made it clear to US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who was on his maiden Delhi visit last month that it doesnt favor any interim arrangements&nbsp;and reminded him about its deep economic and security interest in the south Asian country.&nbsp;

In the recent Taliban-US talks, there have been calls of an<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-says-afghanistan-talks-proceeding-well-194171"> interim administration and many </a>expect if a peace pact is agreed, Kabul might see an interim government.

India while understanding Washington's keenness to withdraw from Afghanistan, called for safeguarding the existing political and constitutional structure.

Zalmay after his New Delhi visit, later visited Afghanistan, China and Pakistan.

New Delhi, which is constructing number of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, informed Zalmay that continuation of its projects depends on how the situation evolves in Afghanistan.

With a development assistance of $3 billion, India is Afghanistan's largest doner. It is also connecting Afghanistan via Chabahar port and the India-Afghanistan air corridor which was launched in 2017. It had built the Afghan parliament and India-Afghan friendship dam in Herat and is currently constructing 218 km road from Zaranj to Delaram, 220kV DC transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul and a 220/110/20 kV sub-station at Chimtala.&nbsp;

Top sources have told Wion, that India might not be visible but is acting in its security interest and doesnt see any reason for acting in haste.&nbsp;

India continues to work behind the scenes and is in touch with Moscow, Tehran, Bejing and all the central Asian countries regarding the situation in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Recently India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited&nbsp;Samarkand in Uzbekistan and took part in the first India-Central Asia dialogues in which the situation in Afghanistan was discussed.

Inside Afghanistan also India is in touch with Pashtun leaders and other Afghan leaders. Sources in Afghanistan have confirmed, that barring Taliban, New Delhi is engaged with everyone.

Afghan Nation Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai were in Delhi recently.&nbsp;

In 2018, at the Moscow talks on Afghanistan, India participated "non-officially" and sent two former envoys - former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha and ex-Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan TCA Raghavan. Taliban was also present in the meet.

Last week, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar in his weekly briefing had said, "We will participate in all formats of talks which could bring peace and security in that region."

Asked if "participation in all formats" means even if Taliban is present, MEA spokesperson said, "It is speculative. It depends from meeting to meeting. Let us see for which meetings we are being invited and then we will take a decision as to what level and what capacity we participate".

With the rapidly developing situation in Afghanistan, India had made it clear to US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who was on his maiden Delhi visit last month that it doesnt favor any interim arrangements and reminded him about its deep economic and security interest in the south Asian country.

With the rapidly developing situation in Afghanistan, India had made it clear to US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who was on his maiden Delhi visit last month that it doesnt favor any interim arrangements and reminded him about its deep economic and security interest in the south Asian country. In the recent Taliban-US talks, there have been calls of an interim administration and many expect if a peace pact is agreed, Kabul might see an interim government. India while understanding Washington's keenness to withdraw from Afghanistan, called for safeguarding the existing political and constitutional structure. Zalmay after his New Delhi visit, later visited Afghanistan, China and Pakistan. New Delhi, which is constructing number of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, informed Zalmay that continuation of its projects depends on how the situation evolves in Afghanistan. With a development assistance of $3 billion, India is Afghanistan's largest doner. It is also connecting Afghanistan via Chabahar port and the India-Afghanistan air corridor which was launched in 2017. It had built the Afghan parliament and India-Afghan friendship dam in Herat and is currently constructing 218 km road from Zaranj to Delaram, 220kV DC transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul and a 220/110/20 kV sub-station at Chimtala. Top sources have told Wion, that India might not be visible but is acting in its security interest and doesnt see any reason for acting in haste. India continues to work behind the scenes and is in touch with Moscow, Tehran, Bejing and all the central Asian countries regarding the situation in Afghanistan. Recently India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Samarkand in Uzbekistan and took part in the first India-Central Asia dialogues in which the situation in Afghanistan was discussed. Inside Afghanistan also India is in touch with Pashtun leaders and other Afghan leaders. Sources in Afghanistan have confirmed, that barring Taliban, New Delhi is engaged with everyone. Afghan Nation Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai were in Delhi recently. In 2018, at the Moscow talks on Afghanistan, India participated "non-officially" and sent two former envoys - former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha and ex-Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan TCA Raghavan. Taliban was also present in the meet. Last week, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar in his weekly briefing had said, "We will participate in all formats of talks which could bring peace and security in that region." Asked if "participation in all formats" means even if Taliban is present, MEA spokesperson said, "It is speculative. It depends from meeting to meeting. Let us see for which meetings we are being invited and then we will take a decision as to what level and what capacity we participate".

During US special envoy Khalilzad's visit, India dismissed idea of interim government in Afghanistan

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan Saturday, tremors of which were felt in several parts of North India, including the national capital, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.

The NCS, an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, initially said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/58-magnitude-earthquake-hits-several-pakistan-cities-194629">epicentre of the quake was in Pakistan</a>, but later revised it to the Hindukush region in Afghanistan. It occurred at 5:34 PM.

There were no immediate reports of loss of lives or property, they said.&nbsp;

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan Saturday, tremors of which were felt in several parts of North India, including the national capital, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan Saturday, tremors of which were felt in several parts of North India, including the national capital, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said. The NCS, an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, initially said the epicentre of the quake was in Pakistan, but later revised it to the Hindukush region in Afghanistan. It occurred at 5:34 PM. There were no immediate reports of loss of lives or property, they said.

6.1-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan, tremors felt across North India

Afghanistan has said that peace talks being hosted by Russia next week will not help the peace process and that Moscow should respect an Afghan-led and owned peace process, amid reports that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-serious-about-afghan-withdrawal-taliban-194468">Taliban have refused</a> to meet with Afghan government representatives at the meet.&nbsp;

The meeting will be held in Moscow on Tuesday, February 5.

Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Sebghat Ahmadi said: “Holding such meetings will not help us in reaching peace. We did not and do not see such meetings as necessary and will not attend this meeting,” TOLO News reported.

“We hope that Russia like other countries will express its commitment on recognizing Afghanistan’s role as leader and owner of the peace process,” Ahmadi added.

The Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) said they support any action that facilitates face-to-face talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.“No doubt, we welcome the moves which are being taken for starting peace negotiations, facilitating peace process and supporting the process,” HPC spokesman Sayed Ehsan Taheri said.

Russia's move comes after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad announced last week that the United States and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Khalilzad said the Taliban would guarantee that Afghanistan will never be used as a base for terrorism in return for a full American withdrawal from the country and that Taliban concessions must include a ceasefire and agreement to hold talks with the Afghan government.

On January 29, Russia`s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov visited Pakistan to discuss the Afghan peace process and held talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership at the Foreign office meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying that Russia is closely working with Pakistan regarding the Afghan peace process and fighting all terror groups operating in the region.

“We are closely cooperating with Pakistan on counter-terrorism efforts and Afghanistan peace. We are worried about the expansion of Daesh activities there,” Zakharova said.

In November last year, Moscow had hosted a meeting on Afghan peace and reconciliation process, which was attended by representatives of the Taliban and envoys from 11 countries including the United States and a delegation of the High Peace Council.

The upcoming peace talks in Moscow will be attended by the second deputy of chief executive of the National Unity Government Mohammad Mohaqiq, Jamiat-e-Islami party leader Mohammad Ismail Khan, the former governor of Balkh Atta Mohammad Noor, and former president Hamid Karzai, along with representatives of the Taliban.

The Moscow talks came after officials from over 40 countries attended the International Contact Group meeting in London, this week, including US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and President Ashraf Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace Umer Daudzai, to announce their support to the Afghan peace process.&nbsp;

Afghanistan has said that peace talks being hosted by Russia next week will not help the peace process and that Moscow should respect an Afghan-led and owned peace process, amid reports that the Taliban have refused to meet with Afghan government representatives at the meet.

Afghanistan has said that peace talks being hosted by Russia next week will not help the peace process and that Moscow should respect an Afghan-led and owned peace process, amid reports that the Taliban have refused to meet with Afghan government representatives at the meet. The meeting will be held in Moscow on Tuesday, February 5. Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Sebghat Ahmadi said: “Holding such meetings will not help us in reaching peace. We did not and do not see such meetings as necessary and will not attend this meeting,” TOLO News reported. “We hope that Russia like other countries will express its commitment on recognizing Afghanistan’s role as leader and owner of the peace process,” Ahmadi added. The Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) said they support any action that facilitates face-to-face talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.“No doubt, we welcome the moves which are being taken for starting peace negotiations, facilitating peace process and supporting the process,” HPC spokesman Sayed Ehsan Taheri said. Russia's move comes after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad announced last week that the United States and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan. Khalilzad said the Taliban would guarantee that Afghanistan will never be used as a base for terrorism in return for a full American withdrawal from the country and that Taliban concessions must include a ceasefire and agreement to hold talks with the Afghan government. On January 29, Russia`s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov visited Pakistan to discuss the Afghan peace process and held talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership at the Foreign office meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying that Russia is closely working with Pakistan regarding the Afghan peace process and fighting all terror groups operating in the region. “We are closely cooperating with Pakistan on counter-terrorism efforts and Afghanistan peace. We are worried about the expansion of Daesh activities there,” Zakharova said. In November last year, Moscow had hosted a meeting on Afghan peace and reconciliation process, which was attended by representatives of the Taliban and envoys from 11 countries including the United States and a delegation of the High Peace Council. The upcoming peace talks in Moscow will be attended by the second deputy of chief executive of the National Unity Government Mohammad Mohaqiq, Jamiat-e-Islami party leader Mohammad Ismail Khan, the former governor of Balkh Atta Mohammad Noor, and former president Hamid Karzai, along with representatives of the Taliban. The Moscow talks came after officials from over 40 countries attended the International Contact Group meeting in London, this week, including US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and President Ashraf Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace Umer Daudzai, to announce their support to the Afghan peace process.

Talks hosted by Russia will not help in the peace process: Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out of Afghanistan, the Taliban told AFP Friday, outlining the "Islamic system" comprising "all Afghans" that the group says it hopes to establish under any peace deal.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to AFP via WhatsApp a day after the US said talks with the militants are "on the right path", fuelling speculation of a breakthrough in the 17-year conflict.

The US president's apparent eagerness to pull troops out has weighed on the negotiations, which culminated with six straight days of meetings in Qatar last week.

"An agreement was reached on a principle framework... Which, if implemented, and if the Americans take honest steps and stick to it truthfully, then God willing we are hopeful that the Americans will end the occupation of Afghanistan," Mujahid said.

"It appears that Trump is serious," the Taliban spokesman continued. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad also spoke this week of a "draft framework" for a deal, though he warned that major hurdles -- including any US withdrawal -- remain.

Experts have hailed the development as a milestone in the conflict. But it has prompted concerns from Afghans and observers who feared foreign troops could withdraw before a lasting peace is reached between the insurgents and the government in Kabul.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1996, imposing their brutal interpretation of Shariah law on the country until they were toppled in the US invasion of 2001.

They have since fought an insurgency demanding foreign troops leave and an Islamic state be re-established.

Mujahid said a foreign withdrawal was the first goal.

"Secondly, we want the establishment of an Islamic system," he continued, dampening tentative hopes among Afghans that the insurgents would agree to participate in the existing democratic system built since 2001.

He said they would establish such a system through "negotiations with different political sides, even if they have so far been under the umbrella of the invaders".

If the government in Kabul will not stand in the way, he added, "then of course there will be no need for war".

Mujahid said the insurgents are not seeking to monopolise power. "Inshallah (God willing) all Afghans, including different political sides" can take part, he told AFP.

Such a system would be based on the principle of shura, or council, with Islamic experts making decisions and "representatives of people and scholars" contributing.

Mujahid said the group was "100 percent hopeful" of establishing such a system.

He admitted that the Taliban regime of the 1990s experienced "a lot of economic, social and security problems" -- a key one being how to separate men from women.

Under the Taliban women were largely confined to their homes, venturing outside only with a male escort and hidden beneath a burqa. Girls education was banned and women were prohibited from the workplace save in some few areas such as medicine.

Now, the militants "don't oppose the education of women", Mujahid said. "We will try to provide a safe environment for the education and work of women," he told AFP, adding "whatever is permissible for women in Islamic Sharia will be allowed".

Many women have spoken to AFP of their fears that a peace deal could come at the cost of the few, hard-won rights they have managed to establish in the deeply patriarchal, conservative country since 2001.

Mujahid said the next round of talks with the US will again take place in Doha starting February 25.

The US has said talks will continue, but not confirmed any date. Khalilzad tweeted late Thursday that both sides had made "significant progress on two vital issues: counter terrorism and troop withdrawal".

But that "doesn't mean we're done", he continued, adding work continues on both issues as well as a ceasefire and convincing the Taliban to speak to the Afghan government -- all issues on which attempts at peace negotiations have foundered in the past.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out of Afghanistan, the Taliban told AFP Friday, outlining the "Islamic system" comprising "all Afghans" that the group says it hopes to establish under any peace deal.

US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out of Afghanistan, the Taliban told AFP Friday, outlining the "Islamic system" comprising "all Afghans" that the group says it hopes to establish under any peace deal. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to AFP via WhatsApp a day after the US said talks with the militants are "on the right path", fuelling speculation of a breakthrough in the 17-year conflict. The US president's apparent eagerness to pull troops out has weighed on the negotiations, which culminated with six straight days of meetings in Qatar last week. "An agreement was reached on a principle framework... Which, if implemented, and if the Americans take honest steps and stick to it truthfully, then God willing we are hopeful that the Americans will end the occupation of Afghanistan," Mujahid said. "It appears that Trump is serious," the Taliban spokesman continued. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad also spoke this week of a "draft framework" for a deal, though he warned that major hurdles -- including any US withdrawal -- remain. Experts have hailed the development as a milestone in the conflict. But it has prompted concerns from Afghans and observers who feared foreign troops could withdraw before a lasting peace is reached between the insurgents and the government in Kabul. The Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1996, imposing their brutal interpretation of Shariah law on the country until they were toppled in the US invasion of 2001. They have since fought an insurgency demanding foreign troops leave and an Islamic state be re-established. Mujahid said a foreign withdrawal was the first goal. "Secondly, we want the establishment of an Islamic system," he continued, dampening tentative hopes among Afghans that the insurgents would agree to participate in the existing democratic system built since 2001. He said they would establish such a system through "negotiations with different political sides, even if they have so far been under the umbrella of the invaders". If the government in Kabul will not stand in the way, he added, "then of course there will be no need for war". Mujahid said the insurgents are not seeking to monopolise power. "Inshallah (God willing) all Afghans, including different political sides" can take part, he told AFP. Such a system would be based on the principle of shura, or council, with Islamic experts making decisions and "representatives of people and scholars" contributing. Mujahid said the group was "100 percent hopeful" of establishing such a system. He admitted that the Taliban regime of the 1990s experienced "a lot of economic, social and security problems" -- a key one being how to separate men from women. Under the Taliban women were largely confined to their homes, venturing outside only with a male escort and hidden beneath a burqa. Girls education was banned and women were prohibited from the workplace save in some few areas such as medicine. Now, the militants "don't oppose the education of women", Mujahid said. "We will try to provide a safe environment for the education and work of women," he told AFP, adding "whatever is permissible for women in Islamic Sharia will be allowed". Many women have spoken to AFP of their fears that a peace deal could come at the cost of the few, hard-won rights they have managed to establish in the deeply patriarchal, conservative country since 2001. Mujahid said the next round of talks with the US will again take place in Doha starting February 25. The US has said talks will continue, but not confirmed any date. Khalilzad tweeted late Thursday that both sides had made "significant progress on two vital issues: counter terrorism and troop withdrawal". But that "doesn't mean we're done", he continued, adding work continues on both issues as well as a ceasefire and convincing the Taliban to speak to the Afghan government -- all issues on which attempts at peace negotiations have foundered in the past.

Trump 'serious' about Afghan withdrawal: Taliban

It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms.

Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors —barred from education and work— have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power.

"If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together.

Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power.

"We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music — banned under the Taliban — plays in the background.

After six days of negotiations in Qatar, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-control-slips-in-afghanistan-amid-us-talks-with-taliban-194042">US and Taliban</a> have agreed on a draft framework for a deal which could pave the way for the insurgents to hold peace talks with Kabul.

With the US desperate to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the Taliban in control of vast parts of the country, it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like.

Any participation by the Taliban, however, frightens many women.

Before being toppled by the US invasion of 2001, the Taliban governed Afghanistan for nearly five years with a strict interpretation of Shariah law.

"We still remember how hard it was to be a woman under Taliban rule," says Naweeda Bayat, a 25-year-old from central Jaghori district.&nbsp;

"I was a kid, but I remember they burned our school right in front of our eyes."

The government in Kabul controls less than two-thirds of the country, according to a US estimate — and in Taliban-controlled areas, nothing has changed.

"They have either burned girls' schools or don't allow women to work," Bayat says. "This tells us how they might be if they come back."

'Shut out'

Afghan women have even more reason to worry if they are "shut out of the negotiation process, as they mostly have been," says Heather Barr, a senior women's rights researcher.

"The Taliban's attitude toward women has moderated slightly since 2001, but it is still a million miles away from the equal rights women are granted under Afghanistan's constitution," she observes.

The position of women in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since 2001.

More than 2.5 million of the eight million school children are girls, according to the UN. More than a quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for women and in 2016 they made up nearly a fifth of the workforce.

But despite the progress — and millions spent by Western aid programmes since 2001 — Afghanistan ranks last in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security index which measures well-being and self-reliance.

The fears of educated women in the capital are shared by those in rural areas, where the literacy rate can be less than two per cent and rights are often even more constrained by conservative tradition.

Hasina, a 32-year-old mother of one in the disputed southern province of Helmand, says she dreads going backwards.

"We are worried and afraid for our lives," she says.

"If the Taliban come back and ban schools for my children, or don't allow me to go out without my husband, this is not acceptable for me," says Nazia Rezaee, a 35-year-old in the central city of Ghazni.

Afghan women 'have changed'&nbsp;

Several feminist activists told AFP they believe the country has changed and Afghan women will not allow their rights to be taken away without a fight.

"Afghan women are stronger, more informed, more educated than ever, and no one, including men, will agree to return to what Afghanistan was in 1998," says Fawzia Koofi, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Human Rights.&nbsp;

Activist Attia Mehraban feels the same. "I dream of peace, like millions of other Afghans, but I dream more vividly of my freedom and rights as a 21st Century human being," she told AFP.

"The price of peace cannot be limitless."

Her message to the Taliban, she said, is "Afghan women have changed... If you think you can come back with the same ideology ... you are wrong, you will be facing a formidable force of well-educated Afghan women who are conscious of their rights and who will not give in to oppression."

Hosai Andar, a businesswoman in her 40s, said she could "not imagine the world would abandon us once again".

"I am an optimist," she told AFP. "They will stay with us."

It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms.

It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors —barred from education and work— have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power. "If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together. Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power. "We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music — banned under the Taliban — plays in the background. After six days of negotiations in Qatar, the US and Taliban have agreed on a draft framework for a deal which could pave the way for the insurgents to hold peace talks with Kabul. With the US desperate to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the Taliban in control of vast parts of the country, it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like. Any participation by the Taliban, however, frightens many women. Before being toppled by the US invasion of 2001, the Taliban governed Afghanistan for nearly five years with a strict interpretation of Shariah law. "We still remember how hard it was to be a woman under Taliban rule," says Naweeda Bayat, a 25-year-old from central Jaghori district. "I was a kid, but I remember they burned our school right in front of our eyes." The government in Kabul controls less than two-thirds of the country, according to a US estimate — and in Taliban-controlled areas, nothing has changed. "They have either burned girls' schools or don't allow women to work," Bayat says. "This tells us how they might be if they come back." 'Shut out' Afghan women have even more reason to worry if they are "shut out of the negotiation process, as they mostly have been," says Heather Barr, a senior women's rights researcher. "The Taliban's attitude toward women has moderated slightly since 2001, but it is still a million miles away from the equal rights women are granted under Afghanistan's constitution," she observes. The position of women in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since 2001. More than 2.5 million of the eight million school children are girls, according to the UN. More than a quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for women and in 2016 they made up nearly a fifth of the workforce. But despite the progress — and millions spent by Western aid programmes since 2001 — Afghanistan ranks last in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security index which measures well-being and self-reliance. The fears of educated women in the capital are shared by those in rural areas, where the literacy rate can be less than two per cent and rights are often even more constrained by conservative tradition. Hasina, a 32-year-old mother of one in the disputed southern province of Helmand, says she dreads going backwards. "We are worried and afraid for our lives," she says. "If the Taliban come back and ban schools for my children, or don't allow me to go out without my husband, this is not acceptable for me," says Nazia Rezaee, a 35-year-old in the central city of Ghazni. Afghan women 'have changed' Several feminist activists told AFP they believe the country has changed and Afghan women will not allow their rights to be taken away without a fight. "Afghan women are stronger, more informed, more educated than ever, and no one, including men, will agree to return to what Afghanistan was in 1998," says Fawzia Koofi, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Human Rights. Activist Attia Mehraban feels the same. "I dream of peace, like millions of other Afghans, but I dream more vividly of my freedom and rights as a 21st Century human being," she told AFP. "The price of peace cannot be limitless." Her message to the Taliban, she said, is "Afghan women have changed... If you think you can come back with the same ideology ... you are wrong, you will be facing a formidable force of well-educated Afghan women who are conscious of their rights and who will not give in to oppression." Hosai Andar, a businesswoman in her 40s, said she could "not imagine the world would abandon us once again". "I am an optimist," she told AFP. "They will stay with us."

Afghan women fear cost of peace will be their freedom

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