Amid the Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks, Taliban had handed over a list of prisoners they wanted the Afghan government to release, and the Afghan government, too, had asked for release of the captivated soldiers.

As the&nbsp;Afghan government is slowly releasing selected prisoners, Taliban has also started releasing the captivated soldiers. On Monday, Taliban released 14 Afghan soldiers and policemen in several provinces across the country, Taliban spokesman confirmed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/western-powers-support-afghanistans-decision-to-not-release-taliban-prisoners-307334">Also read|&nbsp;Western powers support Afghanistan's decision to not release Taliban prisoners</a>

"Another group of 14 soldiers and policemen of the Kabul Administration were released from prisons of the Islamic Emirate in Logar, Nangarhar and Nooristan provinces and sent to their families," Suheil Shaheen wrote on Twitter.

In another tweet, Shaheen said that the head of the Taliban's political office, Baradar Akhund, met with United Nations Assistance Missions in Afghanistan chief Deborah Lyons in Qatar's capital Doha to discuss about the release of the remaining prisoners and the commencement of intra-Afghan talks.

The Afghan government has already released 3,000 out of the 5,000 said prisoners. However, the government is contemplating about releasing few hundreds of the high-profile prisoners, as they are believed to be responsible for some of the most violent attacks.

Amid the Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks, Taliban had handed over a list of prisoners they wanted the Afghan government to release, and the Afghan government, too, had asked for release of the captivated soldiers.

Amid the Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks, Taliban had handed over a list of prisoners they wanted the Afghan government to release, and the Afghan government, too, had asked for release of the captivated soldiers. As the Afghan government is slowly releasing selected prisoners, Taliban has also started releasing the captivated soldiers. On Monday, Taliban released 14 Afghan soldiers and policemen in several provinces across the country, Taliban spokesman confirmed. Also read| Western powers support Afghanistan's decision to not release Taliban prisoners "Another group of 14 soldiers and policemen of the Kabul Administration were released from prisons of the Islamic Emirate in Logar, Nangarhar and Nooristan provinces and sent to their families," Suheil Shaheen wrote on Twitter. In another tweet, Shaheen said that the head of the Taliban's political office, Baradar Akhund, met with United Nations Assistance Missions in Afghanistan chief Deborah Lyons in Qatar's capital Doha to discuss about the release of the remaining prisoners and the commencement of intra-Afghan talks. The Afghan government has already released 3,000 out of the 5,000 said prisoners. However, the government is contemplating about releasing few hundreds of the high-profile prisoners, as they are believed to be responsible for some of the most violent attacks.

Taliban releases 14 hostages amid prisoner-release agreement

Afghanistan's government will soon complete a Taliban prisoner release that is a key condition to the launch of peace talks with the insurgents, President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday.

Under the terms of a US-Taliban deal signed in February, Kabul has pledged to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners in a swap that would see the insurgents release 1,000 Afghan security force captives.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-freed-taliban-prisoners-seek-return-to-battlefield-304988">Afghanistan: Freed Taliban prisoners seek return to battlefield</a>

Once the swap is done, the two sides have pledged to begin peace talks that could end nearly 19 years of war.

Kabul has already released 3,000 prisoners, with the remainder due to be freed shortly, Ghani said.

"The remaining commitment -- my colleagues and I have made the decision to release an additional 2,000 prisoners within a very short period. We will announce the date soon," Ghani said in a video interview with a Washington think tank.&nbsp;

Ghani, who this year started his second term after a bitterly contested election that was marred with fraud claims, complained that the Taliban had not been transparent about how many Afghan soldiers they still hold.&nbsp;

"The number keeps shifting. We need clarity regarding the fate of those that are with them and assurance that the last person remaining with them is released," Ghani told the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center and the US Institute for Peace.&nbsp;

Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter the prisoner release so far was "a positive step" and marked "good progress".

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator on Afghanistan, also called the latest developments "very positive" and said that intra-Afghan talks appeared closer than ever.

"All sides must work to get to the negotiations table ASAP and prevent spoilers from undermining the process and betraying the hopes and yearning of Afghan people for peace," he wrote on Twitter.

The Taliban and Afghan security forces observed a three-day ceasefire last month and have generally reduced violence across Afghanistan since then in an attempt to set the stage for peace talks.

Ghani said he would elaborate the next steps in the peace process next week and called for a "humanitarian ceasefire" to provide food and medical assistance during the coronavirus crisis.

"In terms of reduction of violence, there has been (one) but the casualty figures still average around 60-70 a day. The number of fatalities unfortunately are averaging 30," he said.

Ghani did not say if the casualties were civilians, fighters or a combination.

Ghani said women would form an important part of eventual peace negotiating teams.

Under the US-Taliban deal, American and foreign forces are scheduled to leave Afghanistan over the coming months.

Afghanistan's government will soon complete a Taliban prisoner release that is a key condition to the launch of peace talks with the insurgents, President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday.

Afghanistan's government will soon complete a Taliban prisoner release that is a key condition to the launch of peace talks with the insurgents, President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday. Under the terms of a US-Taliban deal signed in February, Kabul has pledged to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners in a swap that would see the insurgents release 1,000 Afghan security force captives. Also read | Afghanistan: Freed Taliban prisoners seek return to battlefield Once the swap is done, the two sides have pledged to begin peace talks that could end nearly 19 years of war. Kabul has already released 3,000 prisoners, with the remainder due to be freed shortly, Ghani said. "The remaining commitment -- my colleagues and I have made the decision to release an additional 2,000 prisoners within a very short period. We will announce the date soon," Ghani said in a video interview with a Washington think tank. Ghani, who this year started his second term after a bitterly contested election that was marred with fraud claims, complained that the Taliban had not been transparent about how many Afghan soldiers they still hold. "The number keeps shifting. We need clarity regarding the fate of those that are with them and assurance that the last person remaining with them is released," Ghani told the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center and the US Institute for Peace. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter the prisoner release so far was "a positive step" and marked "good progress". Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator on Afghanistan, also called the latest developments "very positive" and said that intra-Afghan talks appeared closer than ever. "All sides must work to get to the negotiations table ASAP and prevent spoilers from undermining the process and betraying the hopes and yearning of Afghan people for peace," he wrote on Twitter. The Taliban and Afghan security forces observed a three-day ceasefire last month and have generally reduced violence across Afghanistan since then in an attempt to set the stage for peace talks. Ghani said he would elaborate the next steps in the peace process next week and called for a "humanitarian ceasefire" to provide food and medical assistance during the coronavirus crisis. "In terms of reduction of violence, there has been (one) but the casualty figures still average around 60-70 a day. The number of fatalities unfortunately are averaging 30," he said. Ghani did not say if the casualties were civilians, fighters or a combination. Ghani said women would form an important part of eventual peace negotiating teams. Under the US-Taliban deal, American and foreign forces are scheduled to leave Afghanistan over the coming months.

Afghan President says Taliban prisoner release to be completed soon

Afghanistan since the Taliban regime fell in 2001

Despite the United States pressuring Pakistan, the Islamabad Government is still supporting the Taliban terrorist group in the border region with Afghanistan, revealed United State Army General Joseph L. Votel.

According to a media report, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, when asked about the continued Pakistani support to Taliban, Gen. Votel noted, &quot;I cannot tell you that we have seen decisive changes in the areas in which we&#39;re working, but I remain very well-engaged with my partner to ensure that we are moving forward on this.&quot;

On recent increase in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, Votel said, &quot;Having sanctuary in Pakistan or having support from other actors in the region certainly is an aspect of the Taliban&#39;s success here.&quot;

The report further quoted an intelligence source close to the Afghan border region as saying that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is continuing its covert support for the Taliban in the border region.

&quot;ISI is providing both protection and material support to the Taliban in areas between Quetta and the Afghan border,&quot; the source said.

The insider revealed that the ISI is working along with the Pakistani Army in Taliban in Pashtun ethnic areas of Balochistan province in the northwestern part of the country.

&quot;In Pashtun areas which are close to Quetta, religious groups are operating madrasas&quot; - Islamic schools, the source said. &quot;Among these groups, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is most active. Under Sami ul Haq&#39;s leadership, madrasas are creating new soldiers for Taliban in Balochistan&#39;s Pashtun belt.&quot; Maulana Sami ul Haq is a Pakistani cleric regarded as &quot;the father of the Taliban.&quot;

&quot;We believe top Taliban leadership are operating from Pashtunabad, Gulistan and surrounding areas,&quot; the source added.

The report highlighted that Taliban is working with the ISI in another small border district called Killa Abdullah, about 44 miles from Quetta, capital of Balochistan.

In that area, Taliban fighters have been spotted along &quot;with automatic weapons either in motorbikes, or [in] four-by-four vehicles along with two to five companions,&quot; the source said.

The source further revealed that the local police is not allowed to stop the Taliban fighters from traveling from Afghanistan to Pakistan.

&quot;These people freely travel in Quetta, Chaman and all surrounding areas,&quot; the source said. &quot;Civilian [police] forces cannot intervene because they work under ISI and military apparatus. The police are also powerless and are afraid for their own security.&quot;

A report quoted an intelligence source close to the Afghan border region as saying that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is continuing its covert support for the Taliban in the border region

Despite the United States pressuring Pakistan, the Islamabad Government is still supporting the Taliban terrorist group in the border region with Afghanistan, revealed United State Army General Joseph L. Votel. According to a media report, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, when asked about the continued Pakistani support to Taliban, Gen. Votel noted, "I cannot tell you that we have seen decisive changes in the areas in which we're working, but I remain very well-engaged with my partner to ensure that we are moving forward on this." On recent increase in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, Votel said, "Having sanctuary in Pakistan or having support from other actors in the region certainly is an aspect of the Taliban's success here." The report further quoted an intelligence source close to the Afghan border region as saying that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is continuing its covert support for the Taliban in the border region. "ISI is providing both protection and material support to the Taliban in areas between Quetta and the Afghan border," the source said. The insider revealed that the ISI is working along with the Pakistani Army in Taliban in Pashtun ethnic areas of Balochistan province in the northwestern part of the country. "In Pashtun areas which are close to Quetta, religious groups are operating madrasas" - Islamic schools, the source said. "Among these groups, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is most active. Under Sami ul Haq's leadership, madrasas are creating new soldiers for Taliban in Balochistan's Pashtun belt." Maulana Sami ul Haq is a Pakistani cleric regarded as "the father of the Taliban." "We believe top Taliban leadership are operating from Pashtunabad, Gulistan and surrounding areas," the source added. The report highlighted that Taliban is working with the ISI in another small border district called Killa Abdullah, about 44 miles from Quetta, capital of Balochistan. In that area, Taliban fighters have been spotted along "with automatic weapons either in motorbikes, or [in] four-by-four vehicles along with two to five companions," the source said. The source further revealed that the local police is not allowed to stop the Taliban fighters from traveling from Afghanistan to Pakistan. "These people freely travel in Quetta, Chaman and all surrounding areas," the source said. "Civilian [police] forces cannot intervene because they work under ISI and military apparatus. The police are also powerless and are afraid for their own security."

Pakistan providing covert support to Taliban: US Army General

At least three Afghan policemen were killed and two wounded when an American military aircraft opened fire during an operation in southern Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday.

The so-called &quot;friendly fire&quot; incident occurred overnight, during a raid in Afghanistan&#39;s restive Helmand province, the US&nbsp;military command in Kabul said in a statement.

The officers, members of the Afghan Border Police, were killed when a US&nbsp;aircraft &quot;returned fire&quot; during the operation, which included Afghan and American special forces, a military spokesman said.

&quot;We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of the ABP members affected by this unfortunate incident,&quot; the statement said.

Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the Helmand governor, put the toll at three policemen killed and two wounded.

Both Afghan and American officials said they were investigating the incident.

Taliban insurgents have made widespread gains in Helmand, seizing many of the province&#39;s districts and threatening the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

Hundreds of US&nbsp;Marines recently arrived in Helmand to take over an advising mission as part of the NATO-led coalition training and assisting Afghan forces.

American troops, including special forces, also carry out separate counterterrorism missions.

Airstrikes by American warplanes have greatly increased in recent months, as US&nbsp;President Donald Trump considers requests from military commanders for thousands more international troops.

Afghanistan has suffered a string of violent attacks in recent weeks after the Taliban launched their spring offensive, including attacks in the capital city of Kabul that killed and wounded hundreds.

On Friday night, identified gunmen opened fire at a mosque in the eastern province of Paktia, killing three civilians and wounding nine others, the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement.

(Reuters)

The so-called 'friendly fire' incident occurred overnight, during a raid in Afghanistan's restive Helmand province

At least three Afghan policemen were killed and two wounded when an American military aircraft opened fire during an operation in southern Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday. The so-called "friendly fire" incident occurred overnight, during a raid in Afghanistan's restive Helmand province, the US military command in Kabul said in a statement. The officers, members of the Afghan Border Police, were killed when a US aircraft "returned fire" during the operation, which included Afghan and American special forces, a military spokesman said. "We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of the ABP members affected by this unfortunate incident," the statement said. Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the Helmand governor, put the toll at three policemen killed and two wounded. Both Afghan and American officials said they were investigating the incident. Taliban insurgents have made widespread gains in Helmand, seizing many of the province's districts and threatening the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. Hundreds of US Marines recently arrived in Helmand to take over an advising mission as part of the NATO-led coalition training and assisting Afghan forces. American troops, including special forces, also carry out separate counterterrorism missions. Airstrikes by American warplanes have greatly increased in recent months, as US President Donald Trump considers requests from military commanders for thousands more international troops. Afghanistan has suffered a string of violent attacks in recent weeks after the Taliban launched their spring offensive, including attacks in the capital city of Kabul that killed and wounded hundreds. On Friday night, identified gunmen opened fire at a mosque in the eastern province of Paktia, killing three civilians and wounding nine others, the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement. (Reuters)

At least 3 Afghan policemen killed in US airstrike

Indian Ambassador in Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra on Tuesday confirmed that a rocket had hit his house in Kabul this morning, adding that there were no casualties in the incident and an investigation is underway.

&quot;A rocket landed in the India House compound at 10.25 am this morning. There were no casualties. Investigations are ongoing,&quot; Vohra told ANI.

Earlier, reports emerged saying that a rocket had landed on the tennis court of the&nbsp;<a href="http://aninews.in/keysearch/keyword-search/indian-ambassador.html">Indian Ambassador</a>&#39;s house in Kabul after it was fired off in the city.

The incident has occurred in the heavily fortified diplomatic quarter in Kabul which houses a number of embassies, guesthouses and Resolute Support headquarters, Tolo News reported.

The incident came at the time when&nbsp;<a href="http://aninews.in/keysearch/keyword-search/afghanistan.html">Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;is hosting Kabul Process summit amid extremely tight security days after the capital city was hit by terror attacks that wrecked the political stability in the country.

Representatives from at least 23 countries are participating in the summit aimed at establishing peace in the country.

Ghani gives ultimatum to Taliban

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued an ultimatum to the Taliban Tuesday, warning them to embrace peace or &quot;face consequences&quot; after announcing that the death toll from last week&#39;s truck bombing had passed 150.

Ghani has come under mounting public criticism for spiralling insecurity, with a wave of protests and deadly street clashes roiling the Afghan capital as people incensed by the violence call for his government&#39;s resignation.

The president made a strong plea for security at an international peace conference on Afghanistan attended by around two dozen countries.

Armoured vehicles patrolled the streets as part of tight security and fighter jets roared over the capital.

&quot;We are offering a chance for peace but this is not an open-ended offer,&quot; Ghani said.

&quot;Time is running out... this is the last chance: take it or face consequences.&quot;

The conference, labelled the &quot;Kabul Process&quot;, aims to build international support for peace. There was no immediate reaction from the Taliban to Ghani&#39;s comments.

Kabul has been on edge since the massive truck bomb last Wednesday ripped through the city&#39;s highly fortified diplomatic quarter, home to the presidential palace and a host of foreign embassies.

The death toll from the devastating attack has jumped to more than 150 people, while over 300 wounded were brought to hospitals, many with burns and amputations, Ghani told the conference.&nbsp;

Previously officials had put the number of dead at 90. Ghani did not immediately explain the much higher figure.

Four more people were killed Friday when hundreds of protesters incensed by the bombing clashed with police, prompting officials to force them back with live rounds fired in the air, tear gas and water cannon.

The protesters, holding a sit-in for a fifth day Tuesday near the bombing site, have demanded the resignation of Afghanistan&#39;s security chiefs, including national security adviser Hanif Atmar.

The attacks have worsened tensions between rival ethnic groups and raised the prospect of a political crisis.

Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who heads the mainly Tajik Jamiat political group, also called for Atmar&#39;s dismissal on Monday. But Ghani, an ethnic Pashtun, firmly rejected the demand.

Rabbani survived an attack at the funeral of one of the protesters on Saturday where suicide bombers tore through a row of mourners and killed seven more people.&nbsp;

He blamed &quot;terrorists within the system&quot; for the funeral blasts, suggesting they were an inside job.

The government has accused the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network of carrying out Wednesday&#39;s attack, and said the funeral was targeted by bombers trained at a religious seminary in Pakistan.

Previous international efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table have failed, but diplomats in Kabul hailed Tuesday&#39;s conference as a stepping stone to peace.

(Agencies)

Reports suggest that a rocket had landed on the tennis court of the?Indian Ambassador's house in Kabul

Indian Ambassador in Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra on Tuesday confirmed that a rocket had hit his house in Kabul this morning, adding that there were no casualties in the incident and an investigation is underway. "A rocket landed in the India House compound at 10.25 am this morning. There were no casualties. Investigations are ongoing," Vohra told ANI. Earlier, reports emerged saying that a rocket had landed on the tennis court of the Indian Ambassador's house in Kabul after it was fired off in the city. The incident has occurred in the heavily fortified diplomatic quarter in Kabul which houses a number of embassies, guesthouses and Resolute Support headquarters, Tolo News reported. The incident came at the time when Afghanistan is hosting Kabul Process summit amid extremely tight security days after the capital city was hit by terror attacks that wrecked the political stability in the country. Representatives from at least 23 countries are participating in the summit aimed at establishing peace in the country. Ghani gives ultimatum to Taliban Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued an ultimatum to the Taliban Tuesday, warning them to embrace peace or "face consequences" after announcing that the death toll from last week's truck bombing had passed 150. Ghani has come under mounting public criticism for spiralling insecurity, with a wave of protests and deadly street clashes roiling the Afghan capital as people incensed by the violence call for his government's resignation. The president made a strong plea for security at an international peace conference on Afghanistan attended by around two dozen countries. Armoured vehicles patrolled the streets as part of tight security and fighter jets roared over the capital. "We are offering a chance for peace but this is not an open-ended offer," Ghani said. "Time is running out... this is the last chance: take it or face consequences." The conference, labelled the "Kabul Process", aims to build international support for peace. There was no immediate reaction from the Taliban to Ghani's comments. Kabul has been on edge since the massive truck bomb last Wednesday ripped through the city's highly fortified diplomatic quarter, home to the presidential palace and a host of foreign embassies. The death toll from the devastating attack has jumped to more than 150 people, while over 300 wounded were brought to hospitals, many with burns and amputations, Ghani told the conference. Previously officials had put the number of dead at 90. Ghani did not immediately explain the much higher figure. Four more people were killed Friday when hundreds of protesters incensed by the bombing clashed with police, prompting officials to force them back with live rounds fired in the air, tear gas and water cannon. The protesters, holding a sit-in for a fifth day Tuesday near the bombing site, have demanded the resignation of Afghanistan's security chiefs, including national security adviser Hanif Atmar. The attacks have worsened tensions between rival ethnic groups and raised the prospect of a political crisis. Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who heads the mainly Tajik Jamiat political group, also called for Atmar's dismissal on Monday. But Ghani, an ethnic Pashtun, firmly rejected the demand. Rabbani survived an attack at the funeral of one of the protesters on Saturday where suicide bombers tore through a row of mourners and killed seven more people. He blamed "terrorists within the system" for the funeral blasts, suggesting they were an inside job. The government has accused the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network of carrying out Wednesday's attack, and said the funeral was targeted by bombers trained at a religious seminary in Pakistan. Previous international efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table have failed, but diplomats in Kabul hailed Tuesday's conference as a stepping stone to peace. (Agencies)

Rocket hits Indian envoy's house as Afghan president fires warning to Taliban

Agnisheik Chatterji

United States President Donald Trump&#39;s annual budget proposal to convert grants given to Pakistan into loans will have significant ramifications -- both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The White House on Tuesday (May 23) said the &quot;Foreign Military Funding for Pakistan may be provided in the form of a loan&quot;, though the Trump administration has let the State Department take a call on it.

If the proposal is implemented, it will be a sharp departure from Washington&#39;s decades-long policy vis-a-vis its aid to Pakistan.

Crucially, the plan coincides with Washington&#39;s deliberation on whether to renew its military presence on Afghan soil.

The impending decision may boomerang on the United States on three fronts, all involving a possible pivot in Pakistan&#39;s foreign policy: Islamabad may shun the US and look to China for its source of aid, escalate its covert militant operations in Afghanistan and scythe its decades-long civilian and military cooperation with Washington.

Although US-Pakistan ties have ebbed and flowed ever since the latter&#39;s creation in 1947, the potential quagmire is likely to undermine the US&#39; geopolitical advantage and be viewed by many as a very expensive failure.

At one point, Pakistan was the third-largest recipient of US assistance -- Washington gave Islamabad nearly $19 billion in aid between 2002 and 2010 and nearly $75 billion since 1951.

And although their partnership has largely served its utilitarian purpose -- during the US&#39; proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and its war on terror in the South Asian region in the noughties -- their worsening relations will only indicate that Pakistan has been a black hole for US funds.

A history of mistrust and friendship

Their partnership has been viewed by many as a marriage of convenience.

US&#39; economic assistance to Pakistan peaked in the Cold War-dominated 1960s, while its military aid spiked during the 1980s (Soviet Union) and 2000s (Taliban).

But there have been periods of lull as well. 
&nbsp; 
Washington scrapped its aid during the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971, and when Islamabad forged ahead with its uranium enrichment programme.

The 9/11 attack in 2001 significantly altered Washington&#39;s South Asia praxis when they decided to give large tranches of aid to Islamabad in their fight to remove the last vestige of Taliban from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Since 2010, the assistance monies have sharply declined and the current administration&#39;s decision to convert future military funding into loans will irk the Pakistani establishment.

Washington&#39;s re-evaluation of its aid programme came in 2008 when the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, or the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, increased accountability of the Pakistan army and lay down strict caveats.

Till then, between 2001 and 2010, there were scant conditions imposed by the US. 
&nbsp; 
Pakistan was now required to certify that they didn&#39;t stockpile its weaponry to augment its military against India. They also had to promise that they had stopped supporting extremist forces and had dismantled terror launchpads.

Washington&#39;s doctrinal shift came amid concerns over Islamabad&#39;s misuse of aid. Reports had emanated about how Pakistan used half the funds to purchase F-16s and anti-missile defence systems.&nbsp;

But Trump&#39;s proposal is a major political gamble for the US.

A glance at their past does suggest that the potential impasse is not unprecedented.

However, China&#39;s rising influence in Pakistan is too close for comfort for the White House. And conversion of grants into loans might unhinge the decades-long bilateral ties.

China has already made its foray in the region, with Beijing signing a massive $54 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, aimed to upgrade and boost the south Asian nation&#39;s infrastructure and economy.

The Afghanistan conundrum&nbsp;

A potential frostiness would also put the US on the back foot in the region.

Pakistan&#39;s importance to the US was underpinned by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said that it was &iuml;mperative&quot; for the ties to remain harmonious as it would enhance &quot;the safety of American troops&quot; and success of their Afghanistan mission&quot;.

If Pakistan were to row back on its association with the White House, it would endanger the already-perilous security status in Afghanistan.

This period is even more crucial for the Trump administration as it coincides with them mulling redeployment of 3,000 to 5,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

Currently, there are US troops, but only in an advisory capacity.

But the situation is turning bleak, with Taliban&#39;s annual Spring Offensive blowing considerable holes in the indigenous Afghan security forces.

The Taliban has gradually regained lost ground in Afghanistan ever since NATO troops departed the country&#39;s shores. They currently hold sway over 40 per cent of the war-torn country.

Moreover, the Afghan security forces have been beset by spike in casualty toll, desertion and fragging. A US watchdog said there was a 35 per cent increase in Afghan soldiers and police killed during last year&#39;s Spring Offensive.

Alienating Pakistan at this juncture is likely to backfire on the US as Islamabad has supported the Afghan Taliban over the last few years as a tool to meddle in the internal affairs of their neighbours.

Though Pakistan has denied supporting terror networks, various US-based white papers and senior administrative officials have blamed Islamabad and their intel agency Inter-Services Intelligence of playing a double game.

Washington has pressured Pakistan in the past to crack down on Taliban but their efforts have borne little results.

Several analysts believe Islamabad provides Afghan Taliban safe havens in their country to launch attacks across the Durand Line -- the controversial border that politically separates Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Further, a spurned Pakistan could activate the sleeping cells of the Haqqani network in Pakistan, which could spell further trouble for Afghanistan and the US.

If the US administration is to pull the plug on its aid and convert them into loans, they would lose a crucial ally in Pakistan and further lose ground in Afghanistan.

Calls for stripping aid to Pakistan have grown louder in recent years, but the timing of it would likely erode US&#39; policy in the region. For now, it&#39;s all about the timing.

(WION)

United States President Donald Trump's annual budget has thought of converting grants given to Pakistan to purchase military hardware into loans

Agnisheik Chatterji United States President Donald Trump's annual budget proposal to convert grants given to Pakistan into loans will have significant ramifications -- both in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The White House on Tuesday (May 23) said the "Foreign Military Funding for Pakistan may be provided in the form of a loan", though the Trump administration has let the State Department take a call on it. If the proposal is implemented, it will be a sharp departure from Washington's decades-long policy vis-a-vis its aid to Pakistan. Crucially, the plan coincides with Washington's deliberation on whether to renew its military presence on Afghan soil. The impending decision may boomerang on the United States on three fronts, all involving a possible pivot in Pakistan's foreign policy: Islamabad may shun the US and look to China for its source of aid, escalate its covert militant operations in Afghanistan and scythe its decades-long civilian and military cooperation with Washington. Although US-Pakistan ties have ebbed and flowed ever since the latter's creation in 1947, the potential quagmire is likely to undermine the US' geopolitical advantage and be viewed by many as a very expensive failure. At one point, Pakistan was the third-largest recipient of US assistance -- Washington gave Islamabad nearly $19 billion in aid between 2002 and 2010 and nearly $75 billion since 1951. And although their partnership has largely served its utilitarian purpose -- during the US' proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and its war on terror in the South Asian region in the noughties -- their worsening relations will only indicate that Pakistan has been a black hole for US funds. A history of mistrust and friendship Their partnership has been viewed by many as a marriage of convenience. US' economic assistance to Pakistan peaked in the Cold War-dominated 1960s, while its military aid spiked during the 1980s (Soviet Union) and 2000s (Taliban). But there have been periods of lull as well. Washington scrapped its aid during the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971, and when Islamabad forged ahead with its uranium enrichment programme. The 9/11 attack in 2001 significantly altered Washington's South Asia praxis when they decided to give large tranches of aid to Islamabad in their fight to remove the last vestige of Taliban from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since 2010, the assistance monies have sharply declined and the current administration's decision to convert future military funding into loans will irk the Pakistani establishment. Washington's re-evaluation of its aid programme came in 2008 when the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, or the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, increased accountability of the Pakistan army and lay down strict caveats. Till then, between 2001 and 2010, there were scant conditions imposed by the US. Pakistan was now required to certify that they didn't stockpile its weaponry to augment its military against India. They also had to promise that they had stopped supporting extremist forces and had dismantled terror launchpads. Washington's doctrinal shift came amid concerns over Islamabad's misuse of aid. Reports had emanated about how Pakistan used half the funds to purchase F-16s and anti-missile defence systems. But Trump's proposal is a major political gamble for the US. A glance at their past does suggest that the potential impasse is not unprecedented. However, China's rising influence in Pakistan is too close for comfort for the White House. And conversion of grants into loans might unhinge the decades-long bilateral ties. China has already made its foray in the region, with Beijing signing a massive $54 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, aimed to upgrade and boost the south Asian nation's infrastructure and economy. The Afghanistan conundrum A potential frostiness would also put the US on the back foot in the region. Pakistan's importance to the US was underpinned by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said that it was ïmperative" for the ties to remain harmonious as it would enhance "the safety of American troops" and success of their Afghanistan mission". If Pakistan were to row back on its association with the White House, it would endanger the already-perilous security status in Afghanistan. This period is even more crucial for the Trump administration as it coincides with them mulling redeployment of 3,000 to 5,000 US troops in Afghanistan. Currently, there are US troops, but only in an advisory capacity. But the situation is turning bleak, with Taliban's annual Spring Offensive blowing considerable holes in the indigenous Afghan security forces. The Taliban has gradually regained lost ground in Afghanistan ever since NATO troops departed the country's shores. They currently hold sway over 40 per cent of the war-torn country. Moreover, the Afghan security forces have been beset by spike in casualty toll, desertion and fragging. A US watchdog said there was a 35 per cent increase in Afghan soldiers and police killed during last year's Spring Offensive. Alienating Pakistan at this juncture is likely to backfire on the US as Islamabad has supported the Afghan Taliban over the last few years as a tool to meddle in the internal affairs of their neighbours. Though Pakistan has denied supporting terror networks, various US-based white papers and senior administrative officials have blamed Islamabad and their intel agency Inter-Services Intelligence of playing a double game. Washington has pressured Pakistan in the past to crack down on Taliban but their efforts have borne little results. Several analysts believe Islamabad provides Afghan Taliban safe havens in their country to launch attacks across the Durand Line -- the controversial border that politically separates Pakistan and Afghanistan. Further, a spurned Pakistan could activate the sleeping cells of the Haqqani network in Pakistan, which could spell further trouble for Afghanistan and the US. If the US administration is to pull the plug on its aid and convert them into loans, they would lose a crucial ally in Pakistan and further lose ground in Afghanistan. Calls for stripping aid to Pakistan have grown louder in recent years, but the timing of it would likely erode US' policy in the region. For now, it's all about the timing. (WION)

US' Pakistan aid-to-loan proposal is fraught with danger

At least 10 Afghan soldiers were killed when militants attacked their army base in the southern province of Kandahar, the defence ministry said Tuesday, in the latest attack on Western-backed forces.

The assault in Shah Wali Kot district late Monday came just a day after 20 Afghan policemen were killed when Taliban fighters stormed their outposts in the neighbouring province of Zabul.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the Kandahar attack. But Taliban insurgents are intensifying their annual spring offensive and their strength is growing, more than 15 years after they were toppled from power in a US-led invasion.

&quot;Last night the enemies of Afghanistan attacked Achakzai camp of army corps 205 in Shah Wali Kot district,&quot; the defence ministry said in a statement.

&quot;Ten brave army soldiers were martyred and nine others wounded. The wounded soldiers were taken to hospital and they are in stable condition.&quot;

The attack marks another setback for NATO-backed Afghan forces. It comes just a month after the Taliban killed at least 135 soldiers in the northern province of Balkh in the deadliest insurgent attack on an Afghan military base since 2001.

During the Zabul attack early Sunday, local officials made desperate calls to Afghan television stations to seek attention because they were unable to contact senior authorities for help, highlighting the disarray in security ranks.

Taliban militants launched their annual &quot;spring offensive&quot; in late April, heralding a surge in fighting as the US tries to craft a new Afghan strategy and NATO considers sending more troops to break the stalemate against the resurgent militants.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis last month warned of &quot;another tough year&quot; for security forces in Afghanistan.

The White House is considering sending thousands more troops to break the deadlock.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies. The foreign forces mainly serve in an advisory capacity.

The troop strengths are a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

(AFP)

The attack comes as the US administration contemplates whether to send more troops to rein in attacks in the war-strife country

At least 10 Afghan soldiers were killed when militants attacked their army base in the southern province of Kandahar, the defence ministry said Tuesday, in the latest attack on Western-backed forces. The assault in Shah Wali Kot district late Monday came just a day after 20 Afghan policemen were killed when Taliban fighters stormed their outposts in the neighbouring province of Zabul. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the Kandahar attack. But Taliban insurgents are intensifying their annual spring offensive and their strength is growing, more than 15 years after they were toppled from power in a US-led invasion. "Last night the enemies of Afghanistan attacked Achakzai camp of army corps 205 in Shah Wali Kot district," the defence ministry said in a statement. "Ten brave army soldiers were martyred and nine others wounded. The wounded soldiers were taken to hospital and they are in stable condition." The attack marks another setback for NATO-backed Afghan forces. It comes just a month after the Taliban killed at least 135 soldiers in the northern province of Balkh in the deadliest insurgent attack on an Afghan military base since 2001. During the Zabul attack early Sunday, local officials made desperate calls to Afghan television stations to seek attention because they were unable to contact senior authorities for help, highlighting the disarray in security ranks. Taliban militants launched their annual "spring offensive" in late April, heralding a surge in fighting as the US tries to craft a new Afghan strategy and NATO considers sending more troops to break the stalemate against the resurgent militants. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis last month warned of "another tough year" for security forces in Afghanistan. The White House is considering sending thousands more troops to break the deadlock. US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies. The foreign forces mainly serve in an advisory capacity. The troop strengths are a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago. (AFP)

At least 10 Afghan troops killed after militants attack army base

Gunmen stormed a bank in southeastern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing three people and wounding over 30 more, officials said, as the country struggles with a rise in violent attacks.

Five attackers, armed with suicide vests and guns, forced their way inside after one of them blew themselves up at the entrance of New Kabul Bank in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, Abdullah Hasrat the provincial spokesman told AFP.

&quot;People were queueing to receive their monthly salaries from the bank when they were attacked,&quot; he said.

Abdul Wali the deputy provincial governor said most of people in the bank were members of the security forces.

&quot;After around two hours of stand off, all the attackers were killed. Unfortunately, two police and a civilian also lost their lives,&quot; he said adding that 31 other people were wounded.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but militants such as Taliban and the Islamic State group have previously carried out similar attacks, including on banks where Afghan security forces regularly collect their pay.

In 2014, an attack on Kabul Bank killed at least ten people, including five police, in Lashkar Gah, the capital of volatile Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.

Similarly, a Taliban attack on a bank killed around 40 people in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province in 2011.&nbsp;

(AFP)

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but militants such as Taliban and the Islamic State group have previously carried out similar attacks

Gunmen stormed a bank in southeastern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing three people and wounding over 30 more, officials said, as the country struggles with a rise in violent attacks. Five attackers, armed with suicide vests and guns, forced their way inside after one of them blew themselves up at the entrance of New Kabul Bank in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, Abdullah Hasrat the provincial spokesman told AFP. "People were queueing to receive their monthly salaries from the bank when they were attacked," he said. Abdul Wali the deputy provincial governor said most of people in the bank were members of the security forces. "After around two hours of stand off, all the attackers were killed. Unfortunately, two police and a civilian also lost their lives," he said adding that 31 other people were wounded. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but militants such as Taliban and the Islamic State group have previously carried out similar attacks, including on banks where Afghan security forces regularly collect their pay. In 2014, an attack on Kabul Bank killed at least ten people, including five police, in Lashkar Gah, the capital of volatile Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Similarly, a Taliban attack on a bank killed around 40 people in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province in 2011. (AFP)

Three dead, 30 hurt in Afghan bank attack

Eleven members of an Afghan family, mostly women and children, were killed Friday when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb while they were travelling for an engagement ceremony in the country&#39;s volatile east.

The attack occurred in the Mohammad Agha district of Laghman province but no militant group has so far claimed responsibility.

&quot;The bomb struck their Toyota sedan when they were going for an engagement ceremony,&quot; said Logar Governor Mohammad Halim Fidai.

&quot;The victims included five women and five children.&quot;

Provincial authorities blamed the Taliban, who launched their annual &quot;spring offensive&quot; last month, for the killings.

The Taliban were not immediately reachable for comment, but roadside bombs have been the militants&#39; weapon of choice in their war against foreign and Afghan security forces.

The bombs also increasingly kill and wound civilians.

Some 987 child casualties were reported from conflict-related incidents in the first four months of 2017, a record high for the period since the United Nations began documenting such cases.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan voiced alarm when five boys from one family were killed this month by an unexploded mortar round in Laghman.

&quot;The children were playing outside their home and found the mortar round, likely fired during fighting earlier in the day,&quot; said UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto.&nbsp;

&quot;A family destroyed in seconds -- this horror is just one of too many incidents documented at the onset of this fighting season.&quot;

(AFP)

Provincial authorities blamed the Taliban, though the group could not be reached for comment

Eleven members of an Afghan family, mostly women and children, were killed Friday when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb while they were travelling for an engagement ceremony in the country's volatile east. The attack occurred in the Mohammad Agha district of Laghman province but no militant group has so far claimed responsibility. "The bomb struck their Toyota sedan when they were going for an engagement ceremony," said Logar Governor Mohammad Halim Fidai. "The victims included five women and five children." Provincial authorities blamed the Taliban, who launched their annual "spring offensive" last month, for the killings. The Taliban were not immediately reachable for comment, but roadside bombs have been the militants' weapon of choice in their war against foreign and Afghan security forces. The bombs also increasingly kill and wound civilians. Some 987 child casualties were reported from conflict-related incidents in the first four months of 2017, a record high for the period since the United Nations began documenting such cases. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan voiced alarm when five boys from one family were killed this month by an unexploded mortar round in Laghman. "The children were playing outside their home and found the mortar round, likely fired during fighting earlier in the day," said UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto. "A family destroyed in seconds -- this horror is just one of too many incidents documented at the onset of this fighting season." (AFP)

Afghanistan: Roadside bomb kills 11 of family traveling to a wedding

More than 400,000 children will drop out of school in Afghanistan this year as Pakistan&#39;s repatriation policy coupled with escalating violence is set to further wrack the education system in the war-scarred country.

Save the Children, a charity working for rights of children, put out the alarming data of nearly 1,110 Afghan dropping out of Afghan schools every day.

The projection came on a day when almost a third of 3.7 million children of the country did not turn up on the first day of school after the long winter break.

The report cited that growing influence of Taliban and Islamabad&#39;s decision to forcibly return Afghan refugees has exposed the children to child labour, exploitation, recruitment by militias and trafficking.

&quot;Today should be a happy day in Afghanistan as children go back to class for the first time after a long winter. Instead it is a day cloaked in tragedy for the millions who can&#39;t access education and are struggling to survive,&quot;&nbsp;Ana Locsin, the non governmental organisation&#39;s Afghanistan director,&nbsp;said in a statement.&nbsp;

The data is likely to exacerbate as the repatriation wave from Pakistan is set to grow bigger. In 2016, Pakistan forcibly returned 610,000 Afghan refugess and their target for this year is to repatriate a million of them.

Last year marked the deadliest year on record for&nbsp;Afghan&nbsp;children, with 923 killed as the conflict escalated across the country.

(WION)

Save the Children said Taliban's growing influence and Pakistan's repatriation policy are key reasons for the looming crisis

More than 400,000 children will drop out of school in Afghanistan this year as Pakistan's repatriation policy coupled with escalating violence is set to further wrack the education system in the war-scarred country. Save the Children, a charity working for rights of children, put out the alarming data of nearly 1,110 Afghan dropping out of Afghan schools every day. The projection came on a day when almost a third of 3.7 million children of the country did not turn up on the first day of school after the long winter break. The report cited that growing influence of Taliban and Islamabad's decision to forcibly return Afghan refugees has exposed the children to child labour, exploitation, recruitment by militias and trafficking. "Today should be a happy day in Afghanistan as children go back to class for the first time after a long winter. Instead it is a day cloaked in tragedy for the millions who can't access education and are struggling to survive," Ana Locsin, the non governmental organisation's Afghanistan director, said in a statement. The data is likely to exacerbate as the repatriation wave from Pakistan is set to grow bigger. In 2016, Pakistan forcibly returned 610,000 Afghan refugess and their target for this year is to repatriate a million of them. Last year marked the deadliest year on record for Afghan children, with 923 killed as the conflict escalated across the country. (WION)

More than 400,000 Afghan children to drop out of school this year

The Taliban has captured a key district in Helmand province, which was once considered a deadly battlefield for the British and the US&nbsp;troops in Afghanistan, as reported by The Guardian.

The fall of Sangin, which has been seen as a key test of whether Afghan security forces can hold off advancing Taliban fighters, came amid the insurgents&#39; year-long push to expand their footprint in the Taliban heartland.

The district&#39;s police chief, Mohammad Rasoul, said the Taliban overran Sangin early on Thursday morning and that the district headquarters were poorly protected.

Rasoul, however, added that Afghan security forces were amassing nearby for a full-scale counterattack in an attempt to retake Sangin, and the were preparing their reinforcements to recapture the district.

Of Britain&#39;s more than 400 military deaths in Afghanistan, 104 soldiers have been killed in Sangin.

Nato&#39;s spokesman, William Salvin, said Afghan troops remained in Sangin, but had relocated outside the district centre because of the extensive damage to it by the Taliban.

Sangin is one of the biggest opium markets in Afghanistan. More than 4,800 metric tonnes of the drug was produced countrywide in 2016.

(ANI)

Sangin was an acid test for Afghan security forces to show they can stave off advancing Taliban fighters

The Taliban has captured a key district in Helmand province, which was once considered a deadly battlefield for the British and the US troops in Afghanistan, as reported by The Guardian. The fall of Sangin, which has been seen as a key test of whether Afghan security forces can hold off advancing Taliban fighters, came amid the insurgents' year-long push to expand their footprint in the Taliban heartland. The district's police chief, Mohammad Rasoul, said the Taliban overran Sangin early on Thursday morning and that the district headquarters were poorly protected. Rasoul, however, added that Afghan security forces were amassing nearby for a full-scale counterattack in an attempt to retake Sangin, and the were preparing their reinforcements to recapture the district. Of Britain's more than 400 military deaths in Afghanistan, 104 soldiers have been killed in Sangin. Nato's spokesman, William Salvin, said Afghan troops remained in Sangin, but had relocated outside the district centre because of the extensive damage to it by the Taliban. Sangin is one of the biggest opium markets in Afghanistan. More than 4,800 metric tonnes of the drug was produced countrywide in 2016. (ANI)

Afghanistan: Taliban captures key Helmand district

A suicide car bomber rammed into a bus carrying employees of one of Afghanistan&#39;s biggest telecom companies during rush hour Monday, just days after a deadly insurgent assault on the country&#39;s largest military hospital.

At least one woman was killed and 19 others wounded in the powerful blast, which left the Roshan Telecom bus badly mangled and the area littered with smouldering debris and twisted metal.&nbsp;

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it comes as the Taliban step up attacks even before the official start of the annual spring offensive.

&quot;Kabul Police have arrested three suspects related to an explosion in which 19 civilians, including four women, were wounded and one woman was killed,&quot; interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter.

A Roshan official confirmed to AFP that a number of employees were wounded in the attack, but declined to say whether their vehicle was the intended target.

Security officials cordoned off the area as firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene as clouds of smoke filled the air.

The bombing comes after gunmen disguised as doctors stormed Sardar Daud Khan hospital in Kabul last Wednesday, with insiders including two interns among the attackers, multiple surviving staff and security sources told AFP.

The defence ministry insists only around 30 people were killed by five attackers. But security sources and the survivors, some of whom counted dead bodies, said the death toll exceeded 100.

The carnage inside the heavily guarded hospital points at a spectacular intelligence failure and spotlights how insurgents have managed to infiltrate top government and military institutions in Afghanistan.

The savagery of the assault was characterised by how the assailants stabbed bed-ridden patients, threw grenades into crowded wards and shot people from point-blank range.

The Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack via its propaganda agency Amaq -- hours after the Taliban denied responsibility.

But the survivors AFP spoke to said the attackers chanted &quot;Allahu Akbar&quot; (God is great) and &quot;Long live Taliban&quot; in Pashto.

The Afghan defence ministry said a government commission had been set up to investigate the attack.

The violence underscores rising insecurity in Afghanistan. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government`s repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed.

Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent &quot;ghost soldiers&quot; on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson&#39;s call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive.

Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump`s first major test of military strategy. 
 
(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

One person died and 19 were wounded, but no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack

A suicide car bomber rammed into a bus carrying employees of one of Afghanistan's biggest telecom companies during rush hour Monday, just days after a deadly insurgent assault on the country's largest military hospital. At least one woman was killed and 19 others wounded in the powerful blast, which left the Roshan Telecom bus badly mangled and the area littered with smouldering debris and twisted metal. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it comes as the Taliban step up attacks even before the official start of the annual spring offensive. "Kabul Police have arrested three suspects related to an explosion in which 19 civilians, including four women, were wounded and one woman was killed," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter. A Roshan official confirmed to AFP that a number of employees were wounded in the attack, but declined to say whether their vehicle was the intended target. Security officials cordoned off the area as firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene as clouds of smoke filled the air. The bombing comes after gunmen disguised as doctors stormed Sardar Daud Khan hospital in Kabul last Wednesday, with insiders including two interns among the attackers, multiple surviving staff and security sources told AFP. The defence ministry insists only around 30 people were killed by five attackers. But security sources and the survivors, some of whom counted dead bodies, said the death toll exceeded 100. The carnage inside the heavily guarded hospital points at a spectacular intelligence failure and spotlights how insurgents have managed to infiltrate top government and military institutions in Afghanistan. The savagery of the assault was characterised by how the assailants stabbed bed-ridden patients, threw grenades into crowded wards and shot people from point-blank range. The Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack via its propaganda agency Amaq -- hours after the Taliban denied responsibility. But the survivors AFP spoke to said the attackers chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and "Long live Taliban" in Pashto. The Afghan defence ministry said a government commission had been set up to investigate the attack. The violence underscores rising insecurity in Afghanistan. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government`s repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed. Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014. Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson's call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive. Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump`s first major test of military strategy. (AFP)

Powerful blast rocks downtown Kabul during rush hour

Clutching a radio in his hand on a barren hill surrounded by desert peaks, Sahil prepares to guide a pilot flying low overhead toward his training target, the third car in a convoy below.

Under pressure from the Taliban, Afghanistan&#39;s military is increasingly relying on the country&#39;s young air force, and, together with Western allies, is speeding up its training of pilots and ground controllers in order to strike the enemy.

Once a strong flying power supported by the Soviet Union, Afghanistan&#39;s air force was decimated by the civil war of the 1990s and the turbulent period of Taliban-rule.

By the time Western forces started rebuilding it in 2007, there were only a handful of MiG fighters left.

&quot;There are currently 78 trained and available aircrews in the Afghan Air Force,&quot; says Captain James Smith, spokesman for the US 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, which is responsible for training the Afghans.&nbsp;

But there is still a long way to go. The AAF now has around 100 aircraft, including 27 MD-530 attack helicopters, and about 20 small support aircraft, such as the Brazilian built A-29 Super Tucanos, used against drug traffickers in Latin America. It also has approximately 50 Russian Mi-17 transport choppers.

&quot;With the three main bases in Kabul, Kandahar and Shindand, the bad guys know (the AAF) can strike anywhere in the country,&quot; says Captain Smith, adding: &quot;I have been in an MD-530 when firing a rocket and believe me, it&#39;s no joke.&quot;

The &quot;bad guys&quot;, the Taliban, have stepped up their insurgency to record levels following the withdrawal of foreign combat troops in 2014, inflicting more than 5,000 deaths on government forces last year. Along with training pilots, NATO is also trying to ensure there are enough skilled Afghan Tactical Air Coordinators (ATAC) on the ground.&nbsp;

Hence the exercise in this desert base in Logar, about forty kilometres (25 miles) south of Kabul, to test the abilities of young pilots and future ATACs,&quot;the eyes and ears&quot; on the ground, according to one of the five being trained that day.

&quot;When you are in flight it&#39;s very difficult to tell who&#39;s on the ground, you need to have someone who tells you who is who&quot;, explains Air Force Colonel Andrew Jannsen, the man overseeing the training.

Twenty-two year old Akram, considered by his trainers to be among the most promising, is critical of Sahil&#39;s performance despite the fact he helped the missiles hit their target using a handheld laser device.

&quot;They talk too much, it (took) too much time,&quot; he says.

There are three key points the controller must convey: his own position, that of the enemy, and any civilians in the area.

But the growing strength of the AAF has been accompanied by a rising number of unintended deaths: according to the UN, 133 civilians have been killed and 159 injured in air strikes since January 1, a 72 per cent rise on the same period in 2015 , with Afghan crews responsible for two-thirds of casualties.

It is a statistic that Major General Wahab Wardak, Commander of the Air Force, regrets.

&quot;Unfortunately, Taliban often hide in homes. We issue orders to avoid bombing residential zones but these things happen in war,&quot; he says.&quot;To mitigate civilian casualties the ATAC is the bigger factor,&quot; says Colonel Janssen. &quot;And the pilots themselves can call off the mission if they don&#39;t find themselves comfortable.&quot;

He insists that the officers are also briefed on ways to reduce casualties , unlike in the Soviet-era when, according to Janssen, the mantra was to strike first, ask questions later.

Flying is a dream for many young Afghans. Some &quot;1,800 to 2000&quot; apply for each batch of the Afghan Air Force Academy in Kabul, says its commander Colonel Naqitullah Woror.

Of this number, around a hundred 18 to 26-year-olds get picked in the first selection.

Each recruit is subject to intensive background checks by Afghan intelligence, and must also be sponsored by two officers to attest they have no links to the enemy.

So-called &#39;green-on-blue&#39; attacks in which Afghan troops turn their weapons on Coalition partners have been a frequent occurrence in recent years, with two Americans dying in such an incident near Kabul last week. &quot;This has never happened with us,&quot; says Woror.

Six women are currently at the academy, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Captain Niloofar Rahmani, the country&#39;s first female pilot who graduated in 2013 and finished her training in Arkansas.

Piloting an aircraft in a flight simulator, female recruit Shamin, 22, says she joined the academy &quot;with the blessing of my family&quot;, despite living in a society that is often reluctant for women to take on such roles.

(AFP)

The Afghan military is banking on its fledgling air force to fight the group after having faced several battlefield reversals recently

Clutching a radio in his hand on a barren hill surrounded by desert peaks, Sahil prepares to guide a pilot flying low overhead toward his training target, the third car in a convoy below. Under pressure from the Taliban, Afghanistan's military is increasingly relying on the country's young air force, and, together with Western allies, is speeding up its training of pilots and ground controllers in order to strike the enemy. Once a strong flying power supported by the Soviet Union, Afghanistan's air force was decimated by the civil war of the 1990s and the turbulent period of Taliban-rule. By the time Western forces started rebuilding it in 2007, there were only a handful of MiG fighters left. "There are currently 78 trained and available aircrews in the Afghan Air Force," says Captain James Smith, spokesman for the US 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, which is responsible for training the Afghans. But there is still a long way to go. The AAF now has around 100 aircraft, including 27 MD-530 attack helicopters, and about 20 small support aircraft, such as the Brazilian built A-29 Super Tucanos, used against drug traffickers in Latin America. It also has approximately 50 Russian Mi-17 transport choppers. "With the three main bases in Kabul, Kandahar and Shindand, the bad guys know (the AAF) can strike anywhere in the country," says Captain Smith, adding: "I have been in an MD-530 when firing a rocket and believe me, it's no joke." The "bad guys", the Taliban, have stepped up their insurgency to record levels following the withdrawal of foreign combat troops in 2014, inflicting more than 5,000 deaths on government forces last year. Along with training pilots, NATO is also trying to ensure there are enough skilled Afghan Tactical Air Coordinators (ATAC) on the ground. Hence the exercise in this desert base in Logar, about forty kilometres (25 miles) south of Kabul, to test the abilities of young pilots and future ATACs,"the eyes and ears" on the ground, according to one of the five being trained that day. "When you are in flight it's very difficult to tell who's on the ground, you need to have someone who tells you who is who", explains Air Force Colonel Andrew Jannsen, the man overseeing the training. Twenty-two year old Akram, considered by his trainers to be among the most promising, is critical of Sahil's performance despite the fact he helped the missiles hit their target using a handheld laser device. "They talk too much, it (took) too much time," he says. There are three key points the controller must convey: his own position, that of the enemy, and any civilians in the area. But the growing strength of the AAF has been accompanied by a rising number of unintended deaths: according to the UN, 133 civilians have been killed and 159 injured in air strikes since January 1, a 72 per cent rise on the same period in 2015 , with Afghan crews responsible for two-thirds of casualties. It is a statistic that Major General Wahab Wardak, Commander of the Air Force, regrets. "Unfortunately, Taliban often hide in homes. We issue orders to avoid bombing residential zones but these things happen in war," he says."To mitigate civilian casualties the ATAC is the bigger factor," says Colonel Janssen. "And the pilots themselves can call off the mission if they don't find themselves comfortable." He insists that the officers are also briefed on ways to reduce casualties , unlike in the Soviet-era when, according to Janssen, the mantra was to strike first, ask questions later. Flying is a dream for many young Afghans. Some "1,800 to 2000" apply for each batch of the Afghan Air Force Academy in Kabul, says its commander Colonel Naqitullah Woror. Of this number, around a hundred 18 to 26-year-olds get picked in the first selection. Each recruit is subject to intensive background checks by Afghan intelligence, and must also be sponsored by two officers to attest they have no links to the enemy. So-called 'green-on-blue' attacks in which Afghan troops turn their weapons on Coalition partners have been a frequent occurrence in recent years, with two Americans dying in such an incident near Kabul last week. "This has never happened with us," says Woror. Six women are currently at the academy, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Captain Niloofar Rahmani, the country's first female pilot who graduated in 2013 and finished her training in Arkansas. Piloting an aircraft in a flight simulator, female recruit Shamin, 22, says she joined the academy "with the blessing of my family", despite living in a society that is often reluctant for women to take on such roles. (AFP)

Beleaguered Afghan army turns to young pilots to combat Taliban

Afghanistan saw a 10 per cent jump in opium cultivation this year, highlighting bumper harvests owing to collapsing eradication efforts amid growing insecurity and declining international counter-narcotics assistance, the UN said on Sunday.

Cultivation dropped last year due to drought conditions but it has been on the rise in the past decade, fuelling the Taliban insurgency and spurring a growing crisis of drug addiction despite costly US-led counter-narcotics programs.

High levels of cultivation this year meant the estimated opium production soared 43 per cent to 4,800 tons, a UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report said, highlighting a &quot;worrying reversal&quot; in efforts to combat the scourge of drugs.

&quot;The cultivation has increased by 10 per cent this year compared to the same time in 2015, from 183,000 hectares to 201,000 hectares,&quot; counter-narcotics minister Salamat Azimi told reporters while releasing the UN report.

&quot;Ninety-three percent of the cultivation has taken place in the southern, eastern and western parts of the country.&quot;

Officials cited favourable weather conditions, rising insecurity and falling international donor support as the main reasons for the increase in cultivation in Afghanistan, the world&#39;s leading producer of opium.

The southern restive province of Helmand remained the country&#39;s top poppy cultivating province, followed by Badghis, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Nangarhar and Farah, all hotbeds of insurgent activity.

&quot;I believe with the existing equipment, facilities and civilian task force, we cannot fight the cultivation of poppy in insecure areas,&quot; said Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, deputy minister of interior for counter-narcotics.

&quot;The challenges of deteriorating security in different parts of the country took away the opportunities to destroy poppy farms.&quot;&nbsp;

Seeds of war&nbsp;

Eradication efforts appeared to have collapsed. A total of 355 hectares of poppy eradication was carried out this year, a 91 per cent plunge from 2015.

&quot;In 2016, farmers&#39; resistance against poppy eradication operations was occasionally expressed through direct attacks on eradication teams,&quot; the UN report said.&nbsp;

&quot;No eradication took place in the provinces with high levels of opium poppy cultivation due to the extremely poor security situation in those areas and logistical/financial challenges to organise the eradication teams on time.&quot;

Afghanistan saw a drop in opium cultivation last year for the first time since 2009, a UN report said, citing drought conditions as a key reason for the decline. But that was seen as a temporary blip.

Poppy farmers in Afghanistan are often taxed by the Taliban, who use the cash to help fund their insurgency against government and NATO forces.

&quot;Most of the conflicts in Afghanistan are financed by income from poppy. Anywhere you see poppy in Afghanistan you see fighting there,&quot; said Ahmadi.

International donors have splurged billions of dollars on counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan over the past decade, including efforts encouraging farmers to switch to other cash crops such as saffron. But those efforts have shown little results.

Addiction levels have also risen sharply, from almost nothing under the 1996-2001 Taliban regime, giving rise to a new generation of addicts since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

&quot;We explain to the international community that now is the time to increase support for counter-narcotics in Afghanistan,&quot; said UNODC chief Andrey Avetisyan.

(AFP)

There has been a 10% jump in cultivation, leading to the massive increase in estimated production

Afghanistan saw a 10 per cent jump in opium cultivation this year, highlighting bumper harvests owing to collapsing eradication efforts amid growing insecurity and declining international counter-narcotics assistance, the UN said on Sunday. Cultivation dropped last year due to drought conditions but it has been on the rise in the past decade, fuelling the Taliban insurgency and spurring a growing crisis of drug addiction despite costly US-led counter-narcotics programs. High levels of cultivation this year meant the estimated opium production soared 43 per cent to 4,800 tons, a UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report said, highlighting a "worrying reversal" in efforts to combat the scourge of drugs. "The cultivation has increased by 10 per cent this year compared to the same time in 2015, from 183,000 hectares to 201,000 hectares," counter-narcotics minister Salamat Azimi told reporters while releasing the UN report. "Ninety-three percent of the cultivation has taken place in the southern, eastern and western parts of the country." Officials cited favourable weather conditions, rising insecurity and falling international donor support as the main reasons for the increase in cultivation in Afghanistan, the world's leading producer of opium. The southern restive province of Helmand remained the country's top poppy cultivating province, followed by Badghis, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Nangarhar and Farah, all hotbeds of insurgent activity. "I believe with the existing equipment, facilities and civilian task force, we cannot fight the cultivation of poppy in insecure areas," said Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, deputy minister of interior for counter-narcotics. "The challenges of deteriorating security in different parts of the country took away the opportunities to destroy poppy farms." Seeds of war Eradication efforts appeared to have collapsed. A total of 355 hectares of poppy eradication was carried out this year, a 91 per cent plunge from 2015. "In 2016, farmers' resistance against poppy eradication operations was occasionally expressed through direct attacks on eradication teams," the UN report said. "No eradication took place in the provinces with high levels of opium poppy cultivation due to the extremely poor security situation in those areas and logistical/financial challenges to organise the eradication teams on time." Afghanistan saw a drop in opium cultivation last year for the first time since 2009, a UN report said, citing drought conditions as a key reason for the decline. But that was seen as a temporary blip. Poppy farmers in Afghanistan are often taxed by the Taliban, who use the cash to help fund their insurgency against government and NATO forces. "Most of the conflicts in Afghanistan are financed by income from poppy. Anywhere you see poppy in Afghanistan you see fighting there," said Ahmadi. International donors have splurged billions of dollars on counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan over the past decade, including efforts encouraging farmers to switch to other cash crops such as saffron. But those efforts have shown little results. Addiction levels have also risen sharply, from almost nothing under the 1996-2001 Taliban regime, giving rise to a new generation of addicts since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan. "We explain to the international community that now is the time to increase support for counter-narcotics in Afghanistan," said UNODC chief Andrey Avetisyan. (AFP)

Afghanistan: Estimated opium production up 43%

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