EU countries agreed to step up humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. But EU nations also fear Afghan exodus with millions likely to take refuge in these countries.

EU countries divided on stance over Afghan refugees

The British government acknowledged that more can be done to help and assist Afghan nationals and their families settle in&nbsp;Britain&nbsp;as they escape from Afghanistan following its takeover by the Taliban.

Britain&nbsp;earlier announced plans to welcome up to 5,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban during the first year of a new resettlement programme that will prioritise women, girls and religious and other minorities.

"Approximately only 5% of councils have declined to sign up to our relocation and assistance scheme and close to a third of councils have already stepped up to support new arrivals, but we know there is more that can be done for those that have risked their lives supporting us", a UK government spokesperson said in an emailed statement late on Friday.

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"This is why we are calling on all councils who have not yet come forward with a firm offer of support to help Afghan nationals and their families as they build a new life here in safety", the spokesperson said.

The Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that around 30 councils have refused to take any Afghan refugees who have arrived in the UK after fleeing the Taliban.

An initial request from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to local authorities was met with push back from around 10% of England's 333 councils, the newspaper had reported.

"We do not recognise these figures", the government spokesperson said in response to the report.

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"Councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have access to a share of an additional £5 million to help them provide the necessary housing and support to Afghans who have worked for this country in Afghanistan, but who now face threats of persecution or worse," the statement added.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August from a U.S.-backed government, sending thousands fleeing and potentially heralding a return to the militants' austere and autocratic rule of two decades ago.

Britain&nbsp;has so far evacuated more than more than 14,500 Afghan and British nationals, the defence ministry said late on Friday.

The British government acknowledged that more can be done to help and assist Afghan nationals and their families settle in Britain as they escape from Afghanistan following its takeover by the Taliban.

The British government acknowledged that more can be done to help and assist Afghan nationals and their families settle in Britain as they escape from Afghanistan following its takeover by the Taliban. Britain earlier announced plans to welcome up to 5,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban during the first year of a new resettlement programme that will prioritise women, girls and religious and other minorities. "Approximately only 5% of councils have declined to sign up to our relocation and assistance scheme and close to a third of councils have already stepped up to support new arrivals, but we know there is more that can be done for those that have risked their lives supporting us", a UK government spokesperson said in an emailed statement late on Friday. ALSO READ | Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings "This is why we are calling on all councils who have not yet come forward with a firm offer of support to help Afghan nationals and their families as they build a new life here in safety", the spokesperson said. The Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that around 30 councils have refused to take any Afghan refugees who have arrived in the UK after fleeing the Taliban. An initial request from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to local authorities was met with push back from around 10% of England's 333 councils, the newspaper had reported. "We do not recognise these figures", the government spokesperson said in response to the report. ALSO READ | UN issues urgent appeal to help drought-hit Afghan farmers "Councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have access to a share of an additional £5 million to help them provide the necessary housing and support to Afghans who have worked for this country in Afghanistan, but who now face threats of persecution or worse," the statement added. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August from a U.S.-backed government, sending thousands fleeing and potentially heralding a return to the militants' austere and autocratic rule of two decades ago. Britain has so far evacuated more than more than 14,500 Afghan and British nationals, the defence ministry said late on Friday.

UK says more can be done for Afghans who have arrived in Britain

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Thousands of Afghans at the Kabul airport could be sitting ducks for a terrorist strike. The US believes ISIS poses an "acute threat" to the evacuation efforts at the Kabul airport. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: ISIS terror threat at Kabul airport

United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that most Afghans are unable to leave their homeland and those in danger "have no clear way out".

Spokesperson of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Shabia Mantoo reiterated UN's call to neighbour countries of Afghanistan to keep their borders open to allow people to seek asylum. She called the situation in Afghanistan "evolving crisis".

"The vast majority of Afghans are not able to leave the country through regular channels," she told a Geneva news briefing. "As of today, those who may be in danger have no clear way out."

Mantoo said that there have only been "small-scale movements" of Afghans crossing into Pakistan and Iran. These two countries already host 90 per cent of the 2.6 million Afghan refugees registered since fleeing their homeland over the last decades.

More than 18,000 people have been flown out of Kabul since the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital, a NATO official said on Friday, pledging to redouble evacuation efforts as criticism of the West's handling of the crisis mounted.

Mantoo welcomed the evacuation of Afghan nationals through such separate bilateral programmes, but stressed that they should not substitute for an "urgent and wider international humanitarian response".

"UNHCR remains concerned about the risk of human rights violations against civilians in this evolving context, including women and girls," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that most Afghans are unable to leave their homeland and those in danger "have no clear way out". Spokesperson of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Shabia Mantoo reiterated UN's call to neighbour countries of Afghanistan to keep their borders open to allow people to seek asylum.

United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that most Afghans are unable to leave their homeland and those in danger "have no clear way out". Spokesperson of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Shabia Mantoo reiterated UN's call to neighbour countries of Afghanistan to keep their borders open to allow people to seek asylum. She called the situation in Afghanistan "evolving crisis". "The vast majority of Afghans are not able to leave the country through regular channels," she told a Geneva news briefing. "As of today, those who may be in danger have no clear way out." Mantoo said that there have only been "small-scale movements" of Afghans crossing into Pakistan and Iran. These two countries already host 90 per cent of the 2.6 million Afghan refugees registered since fleeing their homeland over the last decades. More than 18,000 people have been flown out of Kabul since the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital, a NATO official said on Friday, pledging to redouble evacuation efforts as criticism of the West's handling of the crisis mounted. Mantoo welcomed the evacuation of Afghan nationals through such separate bilateral programmes, but stressed that they should not substitute for an "urgent and wider international humanitarian response". "UNHCR remains concerned about the risk of human rights violations against civilians in this evolving context, including women and girls," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghans in danger 'have no clear way out': UN

More than 60 countries issued a joint statement saying Afghans and international citizens, who want to leave Afghanistan must be allowed to depart and added that airports and border crossings must remain open, the US&nbsp;State Department said late on Sunday.&nbsp;

The US&nbsp;government and countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Qatar and the UK said in a joint statement that "those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility - and accountability - for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order."&nbsp;

It added that "the Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them."&nbsp;

The Taliban declared the war in Afghanistan was over after insurgents took control of the presidential palace in Kabul as US-led forces departed and Western nations scrambled on Monday to evacuate thousands of their citizens.&nbsp;

The Pentagon authorised another 1,000 troops to help evacuate US&nbsp;citizens and Afghans who worked for them from Kabul as the US&nbsp;government said it would assume air traffic control to facilitate the departure of thousands of Americans.&nbsp;

A joint statement from the State Department and Pentagon after the Taliban entered the Afghan capital confirmed that the United States over the next 48 hours will "have expanded our security presence to nearly 6,000 troops, with a mission focused solely on facilitating these efforts and will be taking over air traffic control."&nbsp;

Secretary of State Antony&nbsp;Blinken&nbsp;said on Twitter "the United States joins the international community in affirming that Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so. Roads, airports, and border crossing must remain open, and calm must be maintained."&nbsp;

Other countries signing the joint statement include Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and Yemen as well as the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, the State Department said.&nbsp;

More than 60 countries issued a joint statement saying Afghans and international citizens, who want to leave Afghanistan must be allowed to depart and added that airports and border crossings must remain open, the US State Department said late on Sunday.

More than 60 countries issued a joint statement saying Afghans and international citizens, who want to leave Afghanistan must be allowed to depart and added that airports and border crossings must remain open, the US State Department said late on Sunday. The US government and countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Qatar and the UK said in a joint statement that "those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility - and accountability - for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order." It added that "the Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them." The Taliban declared the war in Afghanistan was over after insurgents took control of the presidential palace in Kabul as US-led forces departed and Western nations scrambled on Monday to evacuate thousands of their citizens. The Pentagon authorised another 1,000 troops to help evacuate US citizens and Afghans who worked for them from Kabul as the US government said it would assume air traffic control to facilitate the departure of thousands of Americans. A joint statement from the State Department and Pentagon after the Taliban entered the Afghan capital confirmed that the United States over the next 48 hours will "have expanded our security presence to nearly 6,000 troops, with a mission focused solely on facilitating these efforts and will be taking over air traffic control." Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter "the United States joins the international community in affirming that Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so. Roads, airports, and border crossing must remain open, and calm must be maintained." Other countries signing the joint statement include Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and Yemen as well as the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, the State Department said.

Over 60 countries say Afghans, others must be allowed to leave Afghanistan

The US&nbsp;House of Representatives approved a plan on Thursday to allow an extra 8,000 special immigration visas for Afghans who helped the United States and are at risk of retaliation as US&nbsp;troops complete their pullout from Afghanistan after a 20 year war. 
 
The bipartisan bill, which passed with a vote of 407 to 16, will now be considered by the Senate. It also aims to speed up the processing of the visas. 
 
Representative Jason Crow, a Democrat, who led the group that sponsored the bill, said the additional visas would cover all potentially eligible applicants in the pipeline. US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged last month that there were about 18,000 possible applicants. 
 
The Special Immigrant Visa program is available to Afghans who worked with the US&nbsp;government or US&nbsp;military. The United States has granted 26,500 such visas since December 2014. 
 
President Joe Biden's administration has been under pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups to begin evacuating thousands applicants and their families after Biden said the US&nbsp;military mission in Afghanistan would formally end on August&nbsp;31. 
 
"For too long, there has not been a sense of urgency that is necessary to ensure safety for the people who put their lives on the line to help Americans in these difficult circumstances," said Representative Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat. 
 
Concerns for the applicants also have been fueled by an increase in fighting between US-backed Afghan forces and the Taliban in recent weeks, with the militants gaining territory and capturing border crossings. 
 
The United States this month will begin evacuating special immigration visa applicants from Afghanistan and the first batch will be taken to a military base in Virginia as they wait for the process to be completed. 
 
US-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in late 2001 for providing sanctuary to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and its operations used to attack the United States on September&nbsp;11, 2001.

The US House of Representatives approved a plan on Thursday to allow an extra 8,000 special immigration visas for Afghans who helped the United States and are at risk of retaliation as US troops complete their pullout from Afghanistan after a 20 year war.

The US House of Representatives approved a plan on Thursday to allow an extra 8,000 special immigration visas for Afghans who helped the United States and are at risk of retaliation as US troops complete their pullout from Afghanistan after a 20 year war. The bipartisan bill, which passed with a vote of 407 to 16, will now be considered by the Senate. It also aims to speed up the processing of the visas. Representative Jason Crow, a Democrat, who led the group that sponsored the bill, said the additional visas would cover all potentially eligible applicants in the pipeline. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged last month that there were about 18,000 possible applicants. The Special Immigrant Visa program is available to Afghans who worked with the US government or US military. The United States has granted 26,500 such visas since December 2014. President Joe Biden's administration has been under pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups to begin evacuating thousands applicants and their families after Biden said the US military mission in Afghanistan would formally end on August 31. "For too long, there has not been a sense of urgency that is necessary to ensure safety for the people who put their lives on the line to help Americans in these difficult circumstances," said Representative Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat. Concerns for the applicants also have been fueled by an increase in fighting between US-backed Afghan forces and the Taliban in recent weeks, with the militants gaining territory and capturing border crossings. The United States this month will begin evacuating special immigration visa applicants from Afghanistan and the first batch will be taken to a military base in Virginia as they wait for the process to be completed. US-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in late 2001 for providing sanctuary to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and its operations used to attack the United States on September 11, 2001.

US House approves bid to add 8,000 visas for at-risk Afghans

As American troops left their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday, marking a symbolic end to the longest war in U.S history, locals living in the shadow of the base and in nearby Kabul were left ruing the past and bracing for what comes next.

Violence has been raging throughout Afghanistan in the weeks since President Joe Biden announced troops would withdraw unconditionally by Sept. 11.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-fighting-rages-as-us-forces-seek-exit-by-end-august-395583">Afghanistan: Fighting rages as US forces seek exit by end August</a>

With peace talks in Qatar stuttering, and roughly a quarter of the country's districts having fallen to the Taliban in recent weeks according to one study, many are concerned that chaos looms.

Malek Mir, a mechanic in Bagram who saw the Soviet Army and then the Americans come and go, said he was left with a deep sense of sadness at the futility of a foreign presence.

"They came with bombing the Taliban and got rid of their regime - but now they have left when the Taliban are so empowered that they will take over any time soon," he said.

"What was the point of all the destruction, killing and misery they brought us? I wish they had never come."

More than 3,500 foreign troops have been killed in a two-decade war, which has claimed over 100,000 civilians since 2009 alone, according to United Nations records.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-as-us-withdraws-taliban-gains-ground-395719/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Some, however, say the presence of foreign troops distorted Afghanistan's economy and that it is time for the country to stand on its own.

"The Americans leave a legacy of failure, they've failed in containing the Taliban or corruption," said Sayed Naqibullah, a shop owner in Bagram. "A small percentage of Afghans got so rich, while the vast majority still live with extreme poverty.

"In a way, we're happy they've gone ... We're Afghans and we'll find our way."

In the nearby capital, the news was a fresh reminder of the growing panic that has been gripping many parts of Afghan society, particularly in urban areas, since Biden announced the withdrawal in April.

"All the people are worried that if foreign forces leave Afghanistan, the Taliban will take over. Then what will we do?" asked Zumarai Wafa, a Kabul shopkeeper.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamic-system-only-way-to-afghan-peace-taliban-392753">'Islamic system' only way to Afghan peace: Taliban</a>

Wafa and others described a slump in business and signs of many urban residents trying to flee the country, with hundreds lined up outside embassies seeking visas.

Medical student Muzhda, 22, who asked to be identified by only one name for security reasons, said her family had decided to leave the country because of the deterioration in security.

She said she wondered what future awaited women if the Taliban came back to power and restricted access to education for women, as they did during their previous time in power.

The Taliban say they have changed and that they will make provisions for women's rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-fears-of-the-taliban-taking-over-afghan-395714/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Still, Muzhda said she feels bereft and let down by the American departure.

"The withdrawal of foreign troops in the current situation is irrational," she said. "It is now clear that the Americans came here for their own purposes, not to help and cooperate with Afghanistan."

"I'm very sad and disappointed, I had many dreams that will not come true."

As American troops left their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday, marking a symbolic end to the longest war in U.S history, locals living in the shadow of the base and in nearby Kabul were left ruing the past and bracing for what comes next.

As American troops left their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday, marking a symbolic end to the longest war in U.S history, locals living in the shadow of the base and in nearby Kabul were left ruing the past and bracing for what comes next. Violence has been raging throughout Afghanistan in the weeks since President Joe Biden announced troops would withdraw unconditionally by Sept. 11. Also read | Afghanistan: Fighting rages as US forces seek exit by end August With peace talks in Qatar stuttering, and roughly a quarter of the country's districts having fallen to the Taliban in recent weeks according to one study, many are concerned that chaos looms. Malek Mir, a mechanic in Bagram who saw the Soviet Army and then the Americans come and go, said he was left with a deep sense of sadness at the futility of a foreign presence. "They came with bombing the Taliban and got rid of their regime - but now they have left when the Taliban are so empowered that they will take over any time soon," he said. "What was the point of all the destruction, killing and misery they brought us? I wish they had never come." More than 3,500 foreign troops have been killed in a two-decade war, which has claimed over 100,000 civilians since 2009 alone, according to United Nations records. Some, however, say the presence of foreign troops distorted Afghanistan's economy and that it is time for the country to stand on its own. "The Americans leave a legacy of failure, they've failed in containing the Taliban or corruption," said Sayed Naqibullah, a shop owner in Bagram. "A small percentage of Afghans got so rich, while the vast majority still live with extreme poverty. "In a way, we're happy they've gone ... We're Afghans and we'll find our way." In the nearby capital, the news was a fresh reminder of the growing panic that has been gripping many parts of Afghan society, particularly in urban areas, since Biden announced the withdrawal in April. "All the people are worried that if foreign forces leave Afghanistan, the Taliban will take over. Then what will we do?" asked Zumarai Wafa, a Kabul shopkeeper. Also read | 'Islamic system' only way to Afghan peace: Taliban Wafa and others described a slump in business and signs of many urban residents trying to flee the country, with hundreds lined up outside embassies seeking visas. Medical student Muzhda, 22, who asked to be identified by only one name for security reasons, said her family had decided to leave the country because of the deterioration in security. She said she wondered what future awaited women if the Taliban came back to power and restricted access to education for women, as they did during their previous time in power. The Taliban say they have changed and that they will make provisions for women's rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules. Still, Muzhda said she feels bereft and let down by the American departure. "The withdrawal of foreign troops in the current situation is irrational," she said. "It is now clear that the Americans came here for their own purposes, not to help and cooperate with Afghanistan." "I'm very sad and disappointed, I had many dreams that will not come true."

'What was the point?' Afghans rue decades of war as US quits Bagram

The Biden administration is exploring having three Central Asian countries temporarily take in thousands of Afghans who worked with US&nbsp;forces and face threats from the Taliban now that American troops are withdrawing after 20 years, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. 
 
They said Washington is in talks with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan about letting in the at-risk Afghan citizens. Two of the sources were US&nbsp;officials and all requested anonymity. 
 
The three sources said an agreement did not appear imminent with any of the countries. 
 
The decision to move at-risk Afghans risks inflaming a sense of crisis in Afghanistan, as fighting between US-backed Afghan forces and the Taliban has surged in recent weeks, with the militants gaining control of large amounts of territory. 
 
Thousands of Afghan translators and interpreters face threats from the Taliban after working for two decades alongside the US&nbsp;military. 
 
The United States announced plans last week to seek refuge for thousands of vulnerable Afghans in countries outside Afghanistan so their US&nbsp;visa applications could be processed from safety, but Washington did not specify where they would go. 
 
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki provided no further details on Friday. 
 
"One of the reasons that I'm not going to get into security details about what third country they might go to, and how many, is exactly for that reason, but certainly our timeline is to relocate these individuals to a location outside of Afghanistan before we complete our military drawdown," Psaki said.

President Joe Biden has said those who helped the United States will not be left behind, and on Thursday, a senior Republican lawmaker said plans to evacuate at-risk Afghans will include their family members for a total of as many as 50,000 people.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Biden administration is exploring having three Central Asian countries temporarily take in thousands of Afghans who worked with US forces and face threats from the Taliban now that American troops are withdrawing after 20 years, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The Biden administration is exploring having three Central Asian countries temporarily take in thousands of Afghans who worked with US forces and face threats from the Taliban now that American troops are withdrawing after 20 years, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. They said Washington is in talks with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan about letting in the at-risk Afghan citizens. Two of the sources were US officials and all requested anonymity. The three sources said an agreement did not appear imminent with any of the countries. The decision to move at-risk Afghans risks inflaming a sense of crisis in Afghanistan, as fighting between US-backed Afghan forces and the Taliban has surged in recent weeks, with the militants gaining control of large amounts of territory. Thousands of Afghan translators and interpreters face threats from the Taliban after working for two decades alongside the US military. The United States announced plans last week to seek refuge for thousands of vulnerable Afghans in countries outside Afghanistan so their US visa applications could be processed from safety, but Washington did not specify where they would go. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki provided no further details on Friday. "One of the reasons that I'm not going to get into security details about what third country they might go to, and how many, is exactly for that reason, but certainly our timeline is to relocate these individuals to a location outside of Afghanistan before we complete our military drawdown," Psaki said. President Joe Biden has said those who helped the United States will not be left behind, and on Thursday, a senior Republican lawmaker said plans to evacuate at-risk Afghans will include their family members for a total of as many as 50,000 people. (With inputs from agencies)

US looks into having 3 Central Asian states take in at-risk Afghans: Sources

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday at the White House where he called on Afghans to decide the future of their country as the last US&nbsp;troops pack up after 20 years of war and government forces struggle to repel Taliban advances. 
 
Biden, seated beside Ghani and Abdullah in the Oval Office, called them 'two old friends' and said US&nbsp;support for Afghanistan was not ending but would be sustained despite the US&nbsp;pullout. 
 
"Afghans are going to have to decide their future, what they want," said Biden, saying the "senseless violence has to stop." 
 
Ghani said Afghan security forces had retaken six districts on Friday. He said he respected Biden's decision and that the partnership between the United States and Afghanistan is entering a new phase. 
 
"We are determined to have unity, coherence," he said. 
 
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Ghani said the United States' decision to withdraw troops was a sovereign one and it was Kabul's job to 'manage consequences'. 
 
He added that Biden had clearly articulated that the US&nbsp;embassy would continue to operate and security aid would continue and in some cases move on an accelerated schedule. 
 
Abdullah said in an interview after the Biden meeting that stalled intra-Afghan talks on a political settlement to decades of strife should not be abandoned unless the insurgents themselves pull out. 
 
"I think we shouldn’t shut the door unless it’s completely shut by the Taliban," Abdullah said. "We can’t say no to talks despite a lack of progress or in spite of what’s happening on the ground." 
 
The Oval Office meeting could be as valuable to Ghani for its symbolism as for any new US&nbsp;help because it will be seen as affirming Biden's support for the beleaguered Afghan leader as he confronts Taliban gains, bombings and assassinations, a surge in COVID-19 cases and political infighting in Kabul.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday at the White House where he called on Afghans to decide the future of their country as the last US troops pack up after 20 years of war and government forces struggle to repel Taliban advances.

US President Joe Biden met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday at the White House where he called on Afghans to decide the future of their country as the last US troops pack up after 20 years of war and government forces struggle to repel Taliban advances. Biden, seated beside Ghani and Abdullah in the Oval Office, called them 'two old friends' and said US support for Afghanistan was not ending but would be sustained despite the US pullout. "Afghans are going to have to decide their future, what they want," said Biden, saying the "senseless violence has to stop." Ghani said Afghan security forces had retaken six districts on Friday. He said he respected Biden's decision and that the partnership between the United States and Afghanistan is entering a new phase. "We are determined to have unity, coherence," he said. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Ghani said the United States' decision to withdraw troops was a sovereign one and it was Kabul's job to 'manage consequences'. He added that Biden had clearly articulated that the US embassy would continue to operate and security aid would continue and in some cases move on an accelerated schedule. Abdullah said in an interview after the Biden meeting that stalled intra-Afghan talks on a political settlement to decades of strife should not be abandoned unless the insurgents themselves pull out. "I think we shouldn’t shut the door unless it’s completely shut by the Taliban," Abdullah said. "We can’t say no to talks despite a lack of progress or in spite of what’s happening on the ground." The Oval Office meeting could be as valuable to Ghani for its symbolism as for any new US help because it will be seen as affirming Biden's support for the beleaguered Afghan leader as he confronts Taliban gains, bombings and assassinations, a surge in COVID-19 cases and political infighting in Kabul. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden calls on Afghans to 'decide their future' as withdrawal nears end

Squatting in the dust by the main road to Afghanistan's biggest airbase, Mir Salam sifts through a pile of broken electronics in front of him, salvaged from departing US troops.

All around are heaps of junk and scrapped equipment -- ranging from telephones and thermos flasks to computer keyboards and printer cartridges.

"This is what the Americans do," the 40-year-old told AFP. "They destroy absolutely everything."

The Pentagon is vacating the Bagram airbase as part of its plan to withdraw all forces by this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States, and it could be completed by the end of the month.

Military gear is being taken home or given to Afghan security forces, but tons of civilian equipment must be left behind.

The result is a booming scrap business that is making money for some but leaving many resentful.

"They blow it up or are burning it," says Salam of the equipment being discarded.

"There were lots of new things in this base -- enough to rebuild Afghanistan 20 times -- but they destroyed everything."

For two decades, Bagram served as the nerve centre for US operations in Afghanistan.

A sprawling mini-city visited by hundreds of thousands of service members and contractors, it boasted swimming pools, cinemas and spas -- and even a boardwalk featuring fast-food outlets such as Burger King and Pizza Hut.

It also has a prison that held thousands of Taliban and jihadist inmates over the years.

Bagram was built by the United States for its Afghan ally during the Cold War in the 1950s as a bulwark against the Soviet Union in the north.

Ironically, it became the staging point for the Soviet invasion of the country in 1979, and the Red Army expanded it significantly during their near decade-long occupation.

When Moscow pulled out, it became central to the raging civil war -- it was reported that at one point the Taliban controlled one end of the three-kilometre (two-mile) runway and the opposition Northern Alliance the other.

Nothing goes to waste&nbsp;

In recent months, Bagram has come under rocket attacks claimed by the jihadist Islamic State.

If the Taliban capture the base, it would be a significant step -- perhaps even the decisive one -- towards seizing control of Kabul itself.

Salam pays 1,000 afghanis ($12) a month to rent a modest fenced plot on the Bagram road, where he stores base scrap that he searches for nuggets to sell to specialised dealers.

The road to the base is lined with dozens of similar enterprises -- some ramshackle, but others featuring imposing warehouses with armed guards.

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The big players have contracts to remove the scrapped equipment, which they cherry-pick for items that can be repaired.

Anything they don't use is left for smaller dealers such as-Salam.

Cables are stripped for copper, circuit boards broken down for rare-earth metals, and aluminium collected to be smelted into ingots.

Nothing goes to waste, says Haji Noor Rahman, another scrap merchant.

"Anything re-usable, people buy it," he told AFP.

His warehouse is like a department store for scrap, with the floor covered by an astonishing array of items -- broken chairs, busted TV screens, rusting gym equipment, an electronic piano keyboard, artificial Christmas trees and other festive decorations.

First aid kits have been gutted, spilling bandages and IV bags.

Picking through the selection is Abdul Basir, who came from Kabul with a friend and snapped up six warped metal doors for around 8,000 afghanis.

Elsewhere, a young man unearthed a pair of branded shoes that still appeared to have a few miles left on them.

Another browser bought a teddy bear and a mini rugby ball.

'Pessimistic' future&nbsp;

It isn't just equipment that will be left behind when the Americans pull out -- Bagram is surrounded by satellite communities that rely on the base for employment.

"The withdrawal of American troops will have a bad impact on the economy of the country and that of Bagram," district governor Lalah Shrin Raoufi told AFP, adding he was pessimistic for the future.

"Their presence here has provided jobs for thousands and thousands of Afghans," he said, ranging from mechanics to bakers.

"I met the employees of a company that provided basic food... they are afraid of losing their jobs."

Raoufi said everything is being done to take charge of the base and its security when the last US forces leave.

"We are working with the police, the army and the NDS (intelligence services)," he said.

"We have started to recruit soldiers... We will take those who meet the criteria."

Meanwhile, the clear-out continues.&nbsp;

"They came to rebuild our country but now they are destroying it," says Bagram resident Mohammad Amin, looking over a pile of scrap.

"They could have given us all this."

Squatting in the dust by the main road to Afghanistan's biggest airbase, Mir Salam sifts through a pile of broken electronics in front of him, salvaged from departing US troops.

Squatting in the dust by the main road to Afghanistan's biggest airbase, Mir Salam sifts through a pile of broken electronics in front of him, salvaged from departing US troops. All around are heaps of junk and scrapped equipment -- ranging from telephones and thermos flasks to computer keyboards and printer cartridges. "This is what the Americans do," the 40-year-old told AFP. "They destroy absolutely everything." The Pentagon is vacating the Bagram airbase as part of its plan to withdraw all forces by this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States, and it could be completed by the end of the month. Military gear is being taken home or given to Afghan security forces, but tons of civilian equipment must be left behind. The result is a booming scrap business that is making money for some but leaving many resentful. "They blow it up or are burning it," says Salam of the equipment being discarded. "There were lots of new things in this base -- enough to rebuild Afghanistan 20 times -- but they destroyed everything." For two decades, Bagram served as the nerve centre for US operations in Afghanistan. A sprawling mini-city visited by hundreds of thousands of service members and contractors, it boasted swimming pools, cinemas and spas -- and even a boardwalk featuring fast-food outlets such as Burger King and Pizza Hut. It also has a prison that held thousands of Taliban and jihadist inmates over the years. Bagram was built by the United States for its Afghan ally during the Cold War in the 1950s as a bulwark against the Soviet Union in the north. Ironically, it became the staging point for the Soviet invasion of the country in 1979, and the Red Army expanded it significantly during their near decade-long occupation. When Moscow pulled out, it became central to the raging civil war -- it was reported that at one point the Taliban controlled one end of the three-kilometre (two-mile) runway and the opposition Northern Alliance the other. Nothing goes to waste In recent months, Bagram has come under rocket attacks claimed by the jihadist Islamic State. If the Taliban capture the base, it would be a significant step -- perhaps even the decisive one -- towards seizing control of Kabul itself. Salam pays 1,000 afghanis ($12) a month to rent a modest fenced plot on the Bagram road, where he stores base scrap that he searches for nuggets to sell to specialised dealers. The road to the base is lined with dozens of similar enterprises -- some ramshackle, but others featuring imposing warehouses with armed guards. Also Read | Under pressure, Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure The big players have contracts to remove the scrapped equipment, which they cherry-pick for items that can be repaired. Anything they don't use is left for smaller dealers such as-Salam. Cables are stripped for copper, circuit boards broken down for rare-earth metals, and aluminium collected to be smelted into ingots. Nothing goes to waste, says Haji Noor Rahman, another scrap merchant. "Anything re-usable, people buy it," he told AFP. His warehouse is like a department store for scrap, with the floor covered by an astonishing array of items -- broken chairs, busted TV screens, rusting gym equipment, an electronic piano keyboard, artificial Christmas trees and other festive decorations. First aid kits have been gutted, spilling bandages and IV bags. Picking through the selection is Abdul Basir, who came from Kabul with a friend and snapped up six warped metal doors for around 8,000 afghanis. Elsewhere, a young man unearthed a pair of branded shoes that still appeared to have a few miles left on them. Another browser bought a teddy bear and a mini rugby ball. 'Pessimistic' future It isn't just equipment that will be left behind when the Americans pull out -- Bagram is surrounded by satellite communities that rely on the base for employment. "The withdrawal of American troops will have a bad impact on the economy of the country and that of Bagram," district governor Lalah Shrin Raoufi told AFP, adding he was pessimistic for the future. "Their presence here has provided jobs for thousands and thousands of Afghans," he said, ranging from mechanics to bakers. "I met the employees of a company that provided basic food... they are afraid of losing their jobs." Raoufi said everything is being done to take charge of the base and its security when the last US forces leave. "We are working with the police, the army and the NDS (intelligence services)," he said. "We have started to recruit soldiers... We will take those who meet the criteria." Meanwhile, the clear-out continues. "They came to rebuild our country but now they are destroying it," says Bagram resident Mohammad Amin, looking over a pile of scrap. "They could have given us all this."

Junkyard of empires: Afghans sift through leftovers of US occupation

As the US military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan in the coming weeks, the Biden administration says it is adding staff to hurry up the visa process for Afghans, who worked for the US&nbsp;government and want to flee to avoid Taliban reprisals. 
 
But for refugee advocates and members of Congress, the effort still isn't enough to ensure that Afghans, who worked as US&nbsp;military translators, guides and in other roles aren't persecuted in large numbers in the months ahead. 
 
"I want the White House's hair on fire," said Maine Senator Angus King, an independent, who caucuses with President Joe Biden's Democratic Party. 
 
"What do I want them to do next? I want them to do everything within their power to solve this problem." 
 
Fighting has increased across Afghanistan ahead of the September&nbsp;11 deadline for withdrawal, which will end a two-decade US-led NATO troop presence since the Taliban were forced from power in the wake of the 2001 attacks on the United States. 
 
Afghans, who worked for the United States during America's longest war, fear the insurgency will target them and their families, retribution for helping foreign forces. 
 
With the final pullout expected as early as mid-July, there appears to be a mismatch between the expectations of refugee advocates and what the Biden administration says is realistic given the legal and practical requirements to process special immigrant visas. 
 
The administration says it has already doubled the number of staff processing cases in Kabul and tripled personnel reviewing petitions at US&nbsp;Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
 
It also plans a five-fold increase in the number of staff in the State Department working on the visas in Washington, a senior administration official said. 
 
"All of these changes have resulted in, over the last couple of months, the largest number of cases processed in the history of the programme in any 60-day period," the official said, speaking about the plans on condition of anonymity. 
 
The plan is to process at least 1,000-1,400 visa applications for Afghans, who worked for the United States, not including their families, every month. By contrast, the US&nbsp;government says, it issued only 237 such visas in the last three months of 2020. 
 
But even with the new effort, the administration says there's a limit to how fast a 14-step, multiple-agency process can move without changes to legislation. If all goes well, a visa could be processed in nine to 12 months. 
 
"Other than that, the 'brute force' approach of just more bodies has gone about as far as it can," a second US&nbsp;official said. 
 
The administration supports legislation in Congress that would allow Afghans to do a medical check upon arriving in the United States, instead of in Afghanistan. It is also supports legislation eliminating the requirement for a specific petition at the Department of Homeland Security. 
 
"That would be another two months that we could shave off," the first official said. 
 
Political talks between the government and the Taliban have largely stalled and it's unclear how the Afghan security forces will perform after troops depart. The Taliban have assured Afghans, who worked with foreign forces of their safety. 
 
But as the clock ticks down, Afghans, who have applied for visas, are becoming increasingly concerned. 
 
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reassured Congress last week of his commitment to Afghans, who worked with the United States, but also suggested any threats to their safety might not be immediate. 
 
"I wouldn't necessarily equate the departure of our forces in July, August, or by early September with some kind of immediate deterioration in the situation," Blinken said. 
 
Blinken acknowledged there were 18,000 Afghans 'in the pipeline' for potential visas. Half of them have expressed interest but haven't yet filled out the necessary forms, he said. 
 
Senator Patrick Leahy, recalling the chaos in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975 when he was a junior senator, said the matter was urgent. 
 
"They're going to have a target on their back," Leahy said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

As the US military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan in the coming weeks, the Biden administration says it is adding staff to hurry up the visa process for Afghans, who worked for the US government and want to flee to avoid Taliban reprisals.

As the US military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan in the coming weeks, the Biden administration says it is adding staff to hurry up the visa process for Afghans, who worked for the US government and want to flee to avoid Taliban reprisals. But for refugee advocates and members of Congress, the effort still isn't enough to ensure that Afghans, who worked as US military translators, guides and in other roles aren't persecuted in large numbers in the months ahead. "I want the White House's hair on fire," said Maine Senator Angus King, an independent, who caucuses with President Joe Biden's Democratic Party. "What do I want them to do next? I want them to do everything within their power to solve this problem." Fighting has increased across Afghanistan ahead of the September 11 deadline for withdrawal, which will end a two-decade US-led NATO troop presence since the Taliban were forced from power in the wake of the 2001 attacks on the United States. Afghans, who worked for the United States during America's longest war, fear the insurgency will target them and their families, retribution for helping foreign forces. With the final pullout expected as early as mid-July, there appears to be a mismatch between the expectations of refugee advocates and what the Biden administration says is realistic given the legal and practical requirements to process special immigrant visas. The administration says it has already doubled the number of staff processing cases in Kabul and tripled personnel reviewing petitions at US Citizenship and Immigration Services. It also plans a five-fold increase in the number of staff in the State Department working on the visas in Washington, a senior administration official said. "All of these changes have resulted in, over the last couple of months, the largest number of cases processed in the history of the programme in any 60-day period," the official said, speaking about the plans on condition of anonymity. The plan is to process at least 1,000-1,400 visa applications for Afghans, who worked for the United States, not including their families, every month. By contrast, the US government says, it issued only 237 such visas in the last three months of 2020. But even with the new effort, the administration says there's a limit to how fast a 14-step, multiple-agency process can move without changes to legislation. If all goes well, a visa could be processed in nine to 12 months. "Other than that, the 'brute force' approach of just more bodies has gone about as far as it can," a second US official said. The administration supports legislation in Congress that would allow Afghans to do a medical check upon arriving in the United States, instead of in Afghanistan. It is also supports legislation eliminating the requirement for a specific petition at the Department of Homeland Security. "That would be another two months that we could shave off," the first official said. Political talks between the government and the Taliban have largely stalled and it's unclear how the Afghan security forces will perform after troops depart. The Taliban have assured Afghans, who worked with foreign forces of their safety. But as the clock ticks down, Afghans, who have applied for visas, are becoming increasingly concerned. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reassured Congress last week of his commitment to Afghans, who worked with the United States, but also suggested any threats to their safety might not be immediate. "I wouldn't necessarily equate the departure of our forces in July, August, or by early September with some kind of immediate deterioration in the situation," Blinken said. Blinken acknowledged there were 18,000 Afghans 'in the pipeline' for potential visas. Half of them have expressed interest but haven't yet filled out the necessary forms, he said. Senator Patrick Leahy, recalling the chaos in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975 when he was a junior senator, said the matter was urgent. "They're going to have a target on their back," Leahy said. (With inputs from agencies)

US speeds visas for vulnerable Afghans as pullout looms, but Congress wants more

A Greek court on Saturday sentenced four Afghan asylum-seekers convicted of starting fires that burnt down Europe's largest migrant camp last year to 10 years in prison each.

The court in Chios found the defendants guilty of arson while their lawyers denounced a "lack of sense of fairness".

No one died in the fires.

The lawyers told AFP they had immediately filed for an appeal after the sentence was handed down.&nbsp;

The young Afghans were taken to the court handcuffed and were expected to return to the Avlona jail outside Athens, were they were held before the trial.&nbsp;

In March, two other Afghan youths were detained in the same facility for five years in connection with the case.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Moria&nbsp;camp on the Aegean island of Lesbos housed more than 10,000 people before it was destroyed by two fires in September 2020.

Media were not allowed inside the courtroom at the end of the trial owing to coronavirus precautions.

Around 20 people, mainly members of foreign solidarity groups, gathered outside the court meanwhile to call for the defendants to be freed.&nbsp;

Targeted&nbsp;for ethnic reasons

Defense lawyers said the Afghans did not get a fair trial.

They said three had documents showing they were under 18 at the time of arrest but were not recognised as minors.&nbsp;

The prosecution is based in large part on the testimony of another Afghan asylum-seeker who identified the six as the perpetrators.

But according to defense lawyers, the witness was not in court Friday and did not appear for the trial in March as he could not be located.

The defendants claim they were targeted by the witness, an ethnic Pashtun, as all six are Hazara, a persecuted minority in Afghanistan.

Other witnesses for the prosecution were police officers, firefighters called to the scene in September 2020, and staff from the European Asylum Service and non-governmental groups who worked at the camp.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nato-leaders-to-bid-symbolic-adieu-to-afghanistan-at-summit-391130">Also Read |&nbsp;NATO leaders to bid symbolic adieu to Afghanistan at summit</a>

Built-in 2013 to hold up to 3,000 people, the&nbsp;Moria&nbsp;camp was overwhelmed in 2015 as a huge wave of people began arriving on small boats from nearby Turkey.

The camp -- home to asylum-seekers from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia seeking a better life in the European Union -- quickly became a byword for squalor and violence.

The two fires broke out on September 8 and 9 as tensions soared amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Witnesses told AFP a dispute had broken out as 200 migrants refused to quarantine after either testing positive for Covid-19 or coming into contact with someone infected.

Around 13,000 asylum-seekers, among them families with children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities had to sleep in the open for a week after the camp was destroyed.&nbsp;

Authorities have since built a temporary camp on Lesbos that hosts around 6,000 people.

The EU has allocated 276 million euros ($336 million) to build a new permanent camp on Lesbos, and for similar facilities on the islands of Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros.

Around 10,000 asylum-seekers are currently living on these five Aegean islands, the vast majority of them hoping to settle elsewhere in the EU.&nbsp;

A Greek court on Saturday sentenced four Afghan asylum-seekers convicted of starting fires that burnt down Europe's largest migrant camp last year to 10 years in prison each.

A Greek court on Saturday sentenced four Afghan asylum-seekers convicted of starting fires that burnt down Europe's largest migrant camp last year to 10 years in prison each. The court in Chios found the defendants guilty of arson while their lawyers denounced a "lack of sense of fairness". No one died in the fires. The lawyers told AFP they had immediately filed for an appeal after the sentence was handed down. The young Afghans were taken to the court handcuffed and were expected to return to the Avlona jail outside Athens, were they were held before the trial. In March, two other Afghan youths were detained in the same facility for five years in connection with the case. The Moria camp on the Aegean island of Lesbos housed more than 10,000 people before it was destroyed by two fires in September 2020. Media were not allowed inside the courtroom at the end of the trial owing to coronavirus precautions. Around 20 people, mainly members of foreign solidarity groups, gathered outside the court meanwhile to call for the defendants to be freed. Targeted for ethnic reasons Defense lawyers said the Afghans did not get a fair trial. They said three had documents showing they were under 18 at the time of arrest but were not recognised as minors. The prosecution is based in large part on the testimony of another Afghan asylum-seeker who identified the six as the perpetrators. But according to defense lawyers, the witness was not in court Friday and did not appear for the trial in March as he could not be located. The defendants claim they were targeted by the witness, an ethnic Pashtun, as all six are Hazara, a persecuted minority in Afghanistan. Other witnesses for the prosecution were police officers, firefighters called to the scene in September 2020, and staff from the European Asylum Service and non-governmental groups who worked at the camp. Also Read | NATO leaders to bid symbolic adieu to Afghanistan at summit Built-in 2013 to hold up to 3,000 people, the Moria camp was overwhelmed in 2015 as a huge wave of people began arriving on small boats from nearby Turkey. The camp -- home to asylum-seekers from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia seeking a better life in the European Union -- quickly became a byword for squalor and violence. The two fires broke out on September 8 and 9 as tensions soared amid the coronavirus pandemic. Witnesses told AFP a dispute had broken out as 200 migrants refused to quarantine after either testing positive for Covid-19 or coming into contact with someone infected. Around 13,000 asylum-seekers, among them families with children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities had to sleep in the open for a week after the camp was destroyed. Authorities have since built a temporary camp on Lesbos that hosts around 6,000 people. The EU has allocated 276 million euros ($336 million) to build a new permanent camp on Lesbos, and for similar facilities on the islands of Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros. Around 10,000 asylum-seekers are currently living on these five Aegean islands, the vast majority of them hoping to settle elsewhere in the EU.

Four Afghans get 10-year jail terms for Greek migrant camp fire

The coronavirus is pushing millions more Afghans into poverty, overwhelming Afghanistan's basic health care system and exacerbating food insecurity in one of the world's poorest countries, a US watchdog said Friday.

The virus entered Afghanistan in February as thousands of migrants returned from neighbouring Iran, which at the time was the region's worst-hit nation for the virus.

Since then Afghanistan, already wracked by decades of war, has been ravaged by COVID-19.

In its quarterly report, the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) warned that the country "is headed for a humanitarian disaster".

"The economic shock of the pandemic -— including increased unemployment, food-supply disruptions due to border closures, and rising food prices -- has exacerbated Afghans' food insecurity, already impacted by the ongoing conflict and high poverty levels," said SIGAR, which collates expert and media reports and conducts its own analysis.

The report warned that about one-third of Afghanistan's estimated 32.2 million people were either in a crisis or an emergency state of food insecurity.

Prices of essential commodities like wheat flour, cooking oil, sugar and pulses have steadily risen over the past few months.

"At the same time, the purchasing power of casual labour has dropped significantly," the report noted.

SIGAR said Afghanistan had likely entered a recession because of the pandemic, with the economy projected to shrink by up to 10 percent in 2020.

"Experts predict that an additional eight million people will fall into poverty, pushing the poverty rate from 55 percent to 80 percent," the report states.

Afghanistan has almost 36,500 confirmed infections, with nearly 1,300 deaths.

SIGAR said that number may "vastly undercount" the true toll of the virus and pointed to research showing up to 90 percent of possible cases are not being tested.&nbsp;

Most of the cases are in urban areas, with the capital Kabul becoming the epicentre of the virus.

Virus-related border closures have seen customs revenues plunge, with sustainable domestic revenues down 23.4 percent in the first two quarters of 2020, compared to the same period last year, SIGAR said.

The coronavirus is pushing millions more Afghans into poverty, overwhelming Afghanistan's basic health care system and exacerbating food insecurity in one of the world's poorest countries, a US watchdog said Friday.

The coronavirus is pushing millions more Afghans into poverty, overwhelming Afghanistan's basic health care system and exacerbating food insecurity in one of the world's poorest countries, a US watchdog said Friday. The virus entered Afghanistan in February as thousands of migrants returned from neighbouring Iran, which at the time was the region's worst-hit nation for the virus. Since then Afghanistan, already wracked by decades of war, has been ravaged by COVID-19. In its quarterly report, the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) warned that the country "is headed for a humanitarian disaster". "The economic shock of the pandemic -— including increased unemployment, food-supply disruptions due to border closures, and rising food prices -- has exacerbated Afghans' food insecurity, already impacted by the ongoing conflict and high poverty levels," said SIGAR, which collates expert and media reports and conducts its own analysis. The report warned that about one-third of Afghanistan's estimated 32.2 million people were either in a crisis or an emergency state of food insecurity. Prices of essential commodities like wheat flour, cooking oil, sugar and pulses have steadily risen over the past few months. "At the same time, the purchasing power of casual labour has dropped significantly," the report noted. SIGAR said Afghanistan had likely entered a recession because of the pandemic, with the economy projected to shrink by up to 10 percent in 2020. "Experts predict that an additional eight million people will fall into poverty, pushing the poverty rate from 55 percent to 80 percent," the report states. Afghanistan has almost 36,500 confirmed infections, with nearly 1,300 deaths. SIGAR said that number may "vastly undercount" the true toll of the virus and pointed to research showing up to 90 percent of possible cases are not being tested. Most of the cases are in urban areas, with the capital Kabul becoming the epicentre of the virus. Virus-related border closures have seen customs revenues plunge, with sustainable domestic revenues down 23.4 percent in the first two quarters of 2020, compared to the same period last year, SIGAR said.

Coronavirus pushing millions more Afghans into poverty: US watchdog

More than 1,280 Afghan civilians have been killed in the first six months of the year as fighting rages in Afghanistan despite a pact between the United States and Taliban militants, the United Nations said on Monday.

The violence, mainly between Afghan government forces and the Taliban, killed 1,282 and injured 2,176 for a tally of 3,458 civilian casualties, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report.

"The reality remains that Afghanistan continues to be one of the deadliest conflicts in the world for civilians," it said in the mid-year report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-push-to-control-private-companies-aid-agencies-in-afghanistan-316358">Also read: Taliban push to control private companies, aid agencies in Afghanistan</a>

Despite a drop of 13% in casualties from the corresponding period last year, UNAMA said the Taliban continued to cause the majority of civilian casualties, mainly through use of explosive devices, abductions and summary executions.

The Taliban were responsible for 43 per cent of all civilian casualties and government forces caused 23 per cent, chiefly from air strikes and indirect fire during operations, it added.

The UNAMA attributed the 13 per cent drop to fewer operations by international forces, as well as fewer attacks by Islamic State militants.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-accuses-afghan-govt-of-re-arresting-freed-insurgents-316115">Also read:&nbsp;Taliban accuses Afghan govt of re-arresting freed insurgents</a>

In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha, laying out plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the militants.

However, fighting has spiked in recent weeks, prompted by differences over an exchange of prisoners between the Taliban and Afghan government, as Kabul proved reluctant to free hundreds of jailed militants.

The Doha deal provided for the government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for hundreds of Afghan troops, the main plank in starting peace negotiations between the two sides in the effort to end the 18-year-old war.

While the Afghan government has released more than 4,000 Taliban prisoners, it has refused to release another 600, saying they were involved in murder, illicit drug trafficking and major attacks.

More than 1,280 Afghan civilians have been killed in the first six months of the year as fighting rages in Afghanistan despite a pact between the United States and Taliban militants, the United Nations said on Monday.

More than 1,280 Afghan civilians have been killed in the first six months of the year as fighting rages in Afghanistan despite a pact between the United States and Taliban militants, the United Nations said on Monday. The violence, mainly between Afghan government forces and the Taliban, killed 1,282 and injured 2,176 for a tally of 3,458 civilian casualties, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report. "The reality remains that Afghanistan continues to be one of the deadliest conflicts in the world for civilians," it said in the mid-year report. Also read: Taliban push to control private companies, aid agencies in Afghanistan Despite a drop of 13% in casualties from the corresponding period last year, UNAMA said the Taliban continued to cause the majority of civilian casualties, mainly through use of explosive devices, abductions and summary executions. The Taliban were responsible for 43 per cent of all civilian casualties and government forces caused 23 per cent, chiefly from air strikes and indirect fire during operations, it added. The UNAMA attributed the 13 per cent drop to fewer operations by international forces, as well as fewer attacks by Islamic State militants. Also read: Taliban accuses Afghan govt of re-arresting freed insurgents In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha, laying out plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the militants. However, fighting has spiked in recent weeks, prompted by differences over an exchange of prisoners between the Taliban and Afghan government, as Kabul proved reluctant to free hundreds of jailed militants. The Doha deal provided for the government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for hundreds of Afghan troops, the main plank in starting peace negotiations between the two sides in the effort to end the 18-year-old war. While the Afghan government has released more than 4,000 Taliban prisoners, it has refused to release another 600, saying they were involved in murder, illicit drug trafficking and major attacks.

UN says nearly 3,500 Afghans killed or hurt in first half of 2020

Nearly 70,000 Afghans have returned from virus-hit Iran in the past 20 days, an official said Monday, overwhelming health workers at border crossings and raising fears of a major outbreak in the impoverished country.

Many Afghans who had gone to Iran to look for work are returning home as the contagion cripples Iran's economy, which was already devastated by US sanctions. Afghanistan's spring harvest is also drawing workers back, said the International Organization for Migration.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/patients-at-least-one-with-coronavirus-break-out-of-afghan-quarantine-286894">Patients, at least one with coronavirus, break out of Afghan quarantine</a>

They were allowed to re-enter after Kabul reopened land crossings for Afghans wanting to return home despite having earlier suspended air and ground links over fears of the virus spreading from Iran, one of the world's worst-hit countries.&nbsp;

More health workers and better testing facilities were needed to cope with the increasing number of returnees and avoid a health disaster, warned Jawed Nadim, head of the refugees' repatriation department in the western province of Herat, which borders Iran.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-prohibits-passengers-from-afghanistan-philippines-and-malaysia-over-coronavirus-286890">India prohibits passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia over coronavirus</a>

Health workers "only ask (returnees) some questions and test their temperature", Nadim told AFP, adding: "This is not enough."

Iran has recorded 853 deaths from the new coronavirus since February 19, officials said Monday, appealing for people to stop travelling.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-close-border-with-iran-afghanistan-over-coronavirus-286270">Pakistan to close border with Iran, Afghanistan over coronavirus</a>

Afghanistan has 21 confirmed infections so far, most of them in Herat.

But the official number likely understates the scale of the problem due to inadequate testing measures and shoddy health infrastructure in the war-ravaged country.

In a sign of authorities struggling to contain the disease, dozens of people fled the isolation section of a Herat hospital on Monday.

They escaped "with the help of their relatives, after beating up the doctors and breaking windows," health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said, adding the police had been of "no help".

Ebrahim Mohammadi, director of the Herat ambulance service, said 37 people had absconded. Two had tested positive for the COVID-19 illness while results were pending for the rest.

"They were getting impatient because after more than five days their test results still hadn't come," Mohammadi told AFP.

Returnees more than double&nbsp;

The number of returnees jumped by 106 per cent at two border crossings in the first week of March from the previous week, its figures show.

Ninety per cent of those returnees came home voluntarily, while the remaining 10 per cent were deported, it added.

Herat's governor Abdul Qayum Rahimi last week said Afghanistan needed to act quickly to avoid a spiralling crisis.&nbsp;

"With the number of people coming in from Iran (and) entering Afghanistan from several entry points if we don't take any measures now and don't work together... we will witness an even worse situation than Iran," Rahimi said Saturday. &nbsp;

"I am afraid... (that) a day will come that we won't be able to count the dead bodies," he said.&nbsp;

Returnees told AFP they were tested for coronavirus symptoms -- mainly fever -- at the border crossing.

"The doctors at the border use thermometers to test (for) fever and... are advising us how to protect ourselves from coronavirus", said Malik, a 46-year-old labourer.&nbsp;

Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz announced Monday the government would build a 300-bed facility in Herat to tackle the outbreak.

"With that, the capacity of the health facilities in Herat will increase to 1,000 beds," he said.

Nearly 70,000 Afghans have returned from virus-hit Iran in the past 20 days, an official said Monday, overwhelming health workers at border crossings and raising fears of a major outbreak in the impoverished country.

Nearly 70,000 Afghans have returned from virus-hit Iran in the past 20 days, an official said Monday, overwhelming health workers at border crossings and raising fears of a major outbreak in the impoverished country. Many Afghans who had gone to Iran to look for work are returning home as the contagion cripples Iran's economy, which was already devastated by US sanctions. Afghanistan's spring harvest is also drawing workers back, said the International Organization for Migration. Also read: Patients, at least one with coronavirus, break out of Afghan quarantine They were allowed to re-enter after Kabul reopened land crossings for Afghans wanting to return home despite having earlier suspended air and ground links over fears of the virus spreading from Iran, one of the world's worst-hit countries. More health workers and better testing facilities were needed to cope with the increasing number of returnees and avoid a health disaster, warned Jawed Nadim, head of the refugees' repatriation department in the western province of Herat, which borders Iran. Also read: India prohibits passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia over coronavirus Health workers "only ask (returnees) some questions and test their temperature", Nadim told AFP, adding: "This is not enough." Iran has recorded 853 deaths from the new coronavirus since February 19, officials said Monday, appealing for people to stop travelling. Also read: Pakistan to close border with Iran, Afghanistan over coronavirus Afghanistan has 21 confirmed infections so far, most of them in Herat. But the official number likely understates the scale of the problem due to inadequate testing measures and shoddy health infrastructure in the war-ravaged country. In a sign of authorities struggling to contain the disease, dozens of people fled the isolation section of a Herat hospital on Monday. They escaped "with the help of their relatives, after beating up the doctors and breaking windows," health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said, adding the police had been of "no help". Ebrahim Mohammadi, director of the Herat ambulance service, said 37 people had absconded. Two had tested positive for the COVID-19 illness while results were pending for the rest. "They were getting impatient because after more than five days their test results still hadn't come," Mohammadi told AFP. Returnees more than double The number of returnees jumped by 106 per cent at two border crossings in the first week of March from the previous week, its figures show. Ninety per cent of those returnees came home voluntarily, while the remaining 10 per cent were deported, it added. Herat's governor Abdul Qayum Rahimi last week said Afghanistan needed to act quickly to avoid a spiralling crisis. "With the number of people coming in from Iran (and) entering Afghanistan from several entry points if we don't take any measures now and don't work together... we will witness an even worse situation than Iran," Rahimi said Saturday. "I am afraid... (that) a day will come that we won't be able to count the dead bodies," he said. Returnees told AFP they were tested for coronavirus symptoms -- mainly fever -- at the border crossing. "The doctors at the border use thermometers to test (for) fever and... are advising us how to protect ourselves from coronavirus", said Malik, a 46-year-old labourer. Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz announced Monday the government would build a 300-bed facility in Herat to tackle the outbreak. "With that, the capacity of the health facilities in Herat will increase to 1,000 beds," he said.

COVID-19: Thousands of Afghans return from Iran as virus hits economy

Hundreds of Afghans many needing urgent medical treatment&nbsp;gathered near the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Monday, waiting for word of when the visa section might re-open.

The embassy announced late Sunday it was indefinitely shuttering its consular office in Kabul for security reasons after it said several staff members were harassed by unknown assailants on roads in the Afghan capital.

The visa section's closure comes as there were fresh tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which last week exchanged fire in a border area.

It also highlights the reliance many Afghans have on Pakistan, where they seek the type of medical care that is unavailable or unaffordable in Afghan hospitals.

"I am in a hurry to reach Pakistan, as the mother of my seven children is very ill, and I urgently need to take her to Pakistan for treatment," Abdullah Abded, who had travelled from Parwan province north of Kabul, told AFP.

"I feel desperate. I may have to tell my children that their mother may die because we cannot get the visa."

Pakistan's healthcare system is derided by critics as chaotic, corrupt and vastly under-resourced, yet when coming from Afghanistan, it can be a lifeline.

While the war-torn country has many health facilities, these are concentrated in the cities and access is often determined by wealth.

Specialist treatment in Kabul, for instance, can cost double what it would in Pakistan, people outside the embassy said.

"I have kidney disease and need to go to Pakistan on a regular basis for treatment or my kidneys will fail," said Nabi Yosufzai, a 26-year-old shopkeeper.

The consulate has closed in the past, usually for short periods. A sign on the consular section's door in Pashto on Monday said it had been closed until further notice.

Pakistan's foreign ministry on Sunday summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires to "convey serious concerns over the safety and security of the diplomatic personnel of the embassy of Pakistan, Kabul, and its submissions."

In a statement late Monday, the Afghan foreign ministry said it would "seriously investigate" the claim, but also expressed its "deepest objection" to the summoning of the Afghan envoy in Islamabad.

Selling pomegranates

An embassy spokesman told AFP the consular section gets about 2,000 applications daily, and is usually able to process about 1,500 visas within a 24- or 48-hour timeframe.

Apart from for medical help, Afghans seek Pakistan visas to visit loved ones, buy and sell goods and get university educations.

"I feed my big family by selling Afghan almonds or pomegranates in Pakistan in small amounts," said Kabul trader Nematullah, who only goes by one name.

"The profit is hardly enough for my family, but still better than the money you can make here."

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan,&nbsp;both Islamic republics,&nbsp;have long been fraught, with Afghans blaming Islamabad for any number of woes including allegedly supporting the Taliban. Pakistan denies it helps the insurgent group.

Tensions soured further last week after new clashes along the border in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar. Such incidents happen periodically.

Both sides have accused each other's troops of cross-border shelling.

The Pakistani foreign ministry has said six Pakistani troops were wounded October 27 and 28 in "unprovoked mortar and heavy weapon firing" by Afghan soldiers.

Kunar deputy governor Gul Mohammad Bidar told AFP there had been no new shelling since last week. He said two women were killed and 11 more civilians were injured in Pakistani rocket fire during those exchanges.&nbsp;

Pakistani consular services remained open in Herat, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Hundreds of Afghans many needing urgent medical treatment gathered near the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Monday, waiting for word of when the visa section might re-open.

Hundreds of Afghans many needing urgent medical treatment gathered near the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Monday, waiting for word of when the visa section might re-open. The embassy announced late Sunday it was indefinitely shuttering its consular office in Kabul for security reasons after it said several staff members were harassed by unknown assailants on roads in the Afghan capital. The visa section's closure comes as there were fresh tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which last week exchanged fire in a border area. It also highlights the reliance many Afghans have on Pakistan, where they seek the type of medical care that is unavailable or unaffordable in Afghan hospitals. "I am in a hurry to reach Pakistan, as the mother of my seven children is very ill, and I urgently need to take her to Pakistan for treatment," Abdullah Abded, who had travelled from Parwan province north of Kabul, told AFP. "I feel desperate. I may have to tell my children that their mother may die because we cannot get the visa." Pakistan's healthcare system is derided by critics as chaotic, corrupt and vastly under-resourced, yet when coming from Afghanistan, it can be a lifeline. While the war-torn country has many health facilities, these are concentrated in the cities and access is often determined by wealth. Specialist treatment in Kabul, for instance, can cost double what it would in Pakistan, people outside the embassy said. "I have kidney disease and need to go to Pakistan on a regular basis for treatment or my kidneys will fail," said Nabi Yosufzai, a 26-year-old shopkeeper. The consulate has closed in the past, usually for short periods. A sign on the consular section's door in Pashto on Monday said it had been closed until further notice. Pakistan's foreign ministry on Sunday summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires to "convey serious concerns over the safety and security of the diplomatic personnel of the embassy of Pakistan, Kabul, and its submissions." In a statement late Monday, the Afghan foreign ministry said it would "seriously investigate" the claim, but also expressed its "deepest objection" to the summoning of the Afghan envoy in Islamabad. Selling pomegranates An embassy spokesman told AFP the consular section gets about 2,000 applications daily, and is usually able to process about 1,500 visas within a 24- or 48-hour timeframe. Apart from for medical help, Afghans seek Pakistan visas to visit loved ones, buy and sell goods and get university educations. "I feed my big family by selling Afghan almonds or pomegranates in Pakistan in small amounts," said Kabul trader Nematullah, who only goes by one name. "The profit is hardly enough for my family, but still better than the money you can make here." Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, both Islamic republics, have long been fraught, with Afghans blaming Islamabad for any number of woes including allegedly supporting the Taliban. Pakistan denies it helps the insurgent group. Tensions soured further last week after new clashes along the border in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar. Such incidents happen periodically. Both sides have accused each other's troops of cross-border shelling. The Pakistani foreign ministry has said six Pakistani troops were wounded October 27 and 28 in "unprovoked mortar and heavy weapon firing" by Afghan soldiers. Kunar deputy governor Gul Mohammad Bidar told AFP there had been no new shelling since last week. He said two women were killed and 11 more civilians were injured in Pakistani rocket fire during those exchanges. Pakistani consular services remained open in Herat, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Sick Afghans await Pakistan visas as consular office shuts

Dutch judges on Monday sentenced an Afghan man to 26 years and eight months in jail for stabbing two American tourists at Amsterdam's Central station in a terror attack.

The 20-year-old, identified only as Jawed S., was also ordered at Amsterdam district court to pay almost three million euros ($3.3 million) in damages following the August 31, 2018 assault.

One of the two victims remains in a wheelchair after the attack, which sent midday commuters at the city's busiest station into a panic. Police shot Jawed S. in the lower body before arresting him.

"He never showed any regret or remorse during his trial, repeatedly saying he would do the same again if his religion was insulted," the judges said.

"The risk of a repeat offense is therefore very high and the court finds it essential that society is protected against him as long as possible."

During his trial at a heavily-fortified courtroom, Jawed S. said he traveled to the Netherlands from Germany to "protect the Prophet Mohammed".

He also mentioned anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, and his knife assault came a day after the far-right MP announced he was canceling moves to stage a cartoon competition to caricature the Prophet Mohammed.

Dutch prosecutors charged Jawad S. with two counts of attempted murder with a terrorist aim and judges found all accusations against him had been proven.

"He (Jawed S.) came to the Netherlands to kill as many people as possible," the judges said.

The wheelchair-bound victim has a severe spinal cord injury, while the second American man was stabbed in the right chest and arm.

"Despite the fact that the threat was short-lived, it had a devastating effect on the two Americans and their spouses," the judges said.

The wife of one victim also had a miscarriage two months after the attack.

"The question whether she'll ever have children remains," the judges said.

Dutch judges on Monday sentenced an Afghan man to 26 years and eight months in jail for stabbing two American tourists at Amsterdam's Central station in a terror attack.

Dutch judges on Monday sentenced an Afghan man to 26 years and eight months in jail for stabbing two American tourists at Amsterdam's Central station in a terror attack. The 20-year-old, identified only as Jawed S., was also ordered at Amsterdam district court to pay almost three million euros ($3.3 million) in damages following the August 31, 2018 assault. One of the two victims remains in a wheelchair after the attack, which sent midday commuters at the city's busiest station into a panic. Police shot Jawed S. in the lower body before arresting him. "He never showed any regret or remorse during his trial, repeatedly saying he would do the same again if his religion was insulted," the judges said. "The risk of a repeat offense is therefore very high and the court finds it essential that society is protected against him as long as possible." During his trial at a heavily-fortified courtroom, Jawed S. said he traveled to the Netherlands from Germany to "protect the Prophet Mohammed". He also mentioned anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, and his knife assault came a day after the far-right MP announced he was canceling moves to stage a cartoon competition to caricature the Prophet Mohammed. Dutch prosecutors charged Jawad S. with two counts of attempted murder with a terrorist aim and judges found all accusations against him had been proven. "He (Jawed S.) came to the Netherlands to kill as many people as possible," the judges said. The wheelchair-bound victim has a severe spinal cord injury, while the second American man was stabbed in the right chest and arm. "Despite the fact that the threat was short-lived, it had a devastating effect on the two Americans and their spouses," the judges said. The wife of one victim also had a miscarriage two months after the attack. "The question whether she'll ever have children remains," the judges said.

Afghan gets 26 years jail for Amsterdam terror stabbing

A top Iranian constitutional body has approved a law allowing Iranian women to pass their nationality to their children, state media reported on Wednesday.

Human rights experts have said the measure could help thousands of children living in legal limbo by letting them acquire citizenship in Iran, one of about 25 countries that do not permit women married to foreigners to hand their nationality to their children.

The state news agency IRNA quoted Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council which vets legislation passed by parliament for compliance with the constitution, as saying the body had approved the measure.

The council had earlier objected to the proposed law on security grounds and required changes allowing background checks on foreign fathers of the children, according to local media reports.

The reform could benefit children born to women who have married men from Iran's large Afghan refugee and migrant population, according to Human Rights Watch. There are an estimated 3 million Afghans in Iran.

A top Iranian constitutional body has approved a law allowing Iranian women to pass their nationality to their children, state media reported on Wednesday. Human rights experts have said the measure could help thousands of children living in legal limbo by letting them acquire citizenship in Iran, one of about 25 countries that do not permit women married to foreigners to hand their nationality to their children.

A top Iranian constitutional body has approved a law allowing Iranian women to pass their nationality to their children, state media reported on Wednesday. Human rights experts have said the measure could help thousands of children living in legal limbo by letting them acquire citizenship in Iran, one of about 25 countries that do not permit women married to foreigners to hand their nationality to their children. The state news agency IRNA quoted Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council which vets legislation passed by parliament for compliance with the constitution, as saying the body had approved the measure. The council had earlier objected to the proposed law on security grounds and required changes allowing background checks on foreign fathers of the children, according to local media reports. The reform could benefit children born to women who have married men from Iran's large Afghan refugee and migrant population, according to Human Rights Watch. There are an estimated 3 million Afghans in Iran.

Iran passes law allowing women to pass citizenship to children

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals will meet with the Taliban in Doha Sunday, amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-to-pause-for-intra-afghan-summit-233612">separate talks between the US and the insurgents</a> seeking to end 18 years of war.

Stakes are high for both sets of talks. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw.

"These six days have been the most productive of the rounds we've had with the Talibs," the US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said Saturday of the US-Taliban talks in Qatar.

That engagement has been put on hold for the two-day Afghan dialogue and will resume on Tuesday, both sides have said.

"Essentially the four items we have been talking about ever since we started (are) terrorism, withdrawal of foreign troops, inter-Afghan negotiations and dialogue, and ceasefire," Khalilzad told AFP.

"For the first time I can say we have had substantive discussions, negotiations, and progress on all four issues."

The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said they are "happy with progress... We have not faced any obstacles yet".

Talks in 'personal capacity'

The separate intra-Afghan talks set to start Sunday are expected to be attended by around 60 delegates, including political figures, women and other Afghan stakeholders.

The United States will not participate directly in the two-day summit, which has been organised by Qatar and Germany.

The Taliban, who have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, have stressed that those attending are only doing so in a "personal capacity".

Ghani's administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks.

Sunday's gathering will be the third such meeting following similar summits in Moscow in February and May.

The first encounter was an historic breakthrough and saw the Taliban hear the opinions of the two women attendees before laying out their constitutional and political programme on live TV for the first time.

An agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two main points -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the militants not to provide a base for terrorists, the main reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago.

The United States, which by some estimates has spent $1 trillion in Afghanistan, will likely try to insist in the deal that the Taliban open negotiations with Ghani's government.

'Friendly' talks

But the thorny issues of women's rights, power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powers including Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani's administration remain unresolved.

In areas of Afghanistan currently under Taliban control, they have shown little evidence of updating their strict interpretation of Islamic law and women continue to face violent repression.

The Taliban, believing they have the upper hand in the war, have kept up attacks even while talking to the United States and agreeing to the Afghan dialogue.

An attack last week that targeted the defence ministry damaged five schools, with at least six people killed and scores more -- including 50 children -- hurt mainly by flying glass.

Despite the violence, both the Taliban and US have been positive about their engagement.

"We've had friendly periods -- but (before) there has also been a lot of anger sometimes, strong words. Walking away," said US envoy Khalilzad.

The atmosphere of the latest session was "uniquely more positive," he told AFP.

Laurel Miller, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan until 2017, said there was "strong possibility" of reaching a deal before September.

"But an agreement that is just between the US and the Taliban is not a peace agreement for Afghanistan," she said.

"It doesn't address the really hard questions of what role the Taliban is going to play or not play in governing Afghanistan and what happens to the current government and system of government that the United States helped set up."

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals will meet with the Taliban in Doha Sunday, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war.

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals will meet with the Taliban in Doha Sunday, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war. Stakes are high for both sets of talks. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw. "These six days have been the most productive of the rounds we've had with the Talibs," the US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said Saturday of the US-Taliban talks in Qatar. That engagement has been put on hold for the two-day Afghan dialogue and will resume on Tuesday, both sides have said. "Essentially the four items we have been talking about ever since we started (are) terrorism, withdrawal of foreign troops, inter-Afghan negotiations and dialogue, and ceasefire," Khalilzad told AFP. "For the first time I can say we have had substantive discussions, negotiations, and progress on all four issues." The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said they are "happy with progress... We have not faced any obstacles yet". Talks in 'personal capacity' The separate intra-Afghan talks set to start Sunday are expected to be attended by around 60 delegates, including political figures, women and other Afghan stakeholders. The United States will not participate directly in the two-day summit, which has been organised by Qatar and Germany. The Taliban, who have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, have stressed that those attending are only doing so in a "personal capacity". Ghani's administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks. Sunday's gathering will be the third such meeting following similar summits in Moscow in February and May. The first encounter was an historic breakthrough and saw the Taliban hear the opinions of the two women attendees before laying out their constitutional and political programme on live TV for the first time. An agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two main points -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the militants not to provide a base for terrorists, the main reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago. The United States, which by some estimates has spent $1 trillion in Afghanistan, will likely try to insist in the deal that the Taliban open negotiations with Ghani's government. 'Friendly' talks But the thorny issues of women's rights, power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powers including Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani's administration remain unresolved. In areas of Afghanistan currently under Taliban control, they have shown little evidence of updating their strict interpretation of Islamic law and women continue to face violent repression. The Taliban, believing they have the upper hand in the war, have kept up attacks even while talking to the United States and agreeing to the Afghan dialogue. An attack last week that targeted the defence ministry damaged five schools, with at least six people killed and scores more -- including 50 children -- hurt mainly by flying glass. Despite the violence, both the Taliban and US have been positive about their engagement. "We've had friendly periods -- but (before) there has also been a lot of anger sometimes, strong words. Walking away," said US envoy Khalilzad. The atmosphere of the latest session was "uniquely more positive," he told AFP. Laurel Miller, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan until 2017, said there was "strong possibility" of reaching a deal before September. "But an agreement that is just between the US and the Taliban is not a peace agreement for Afghanistan," she said. "It doesn't address the really hard questions of what role the Taliban is going to play or not play in governing Afghanistan and what happens to the current government and system of government that the United States helped set up."

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals to meet Taliban today

Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Doha for a fresh round of talks mediated by Qatar and Germany, as the United States&nbsp;eyes peace with the Taliban within three months.

The first such encounter in Moscow was heralded as a breakthrough but many sensitive issues including women's rights, foreign military withdrawal, Al-Qaeda and power-sharing with the Taliban remain unresolved.

Two experts spoke to AFP about their expectations for the talks which follow a week of direct negotiations between the US and the Taliban also in Doha.

What will come of the two-day meeting?

"We can expect a broad, vague statement laying out some broad and innocuous principles and agreeing on the need to move forward," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia programme at the Wilson Centre.

"Since this dialogue is in its early stages, I don't anticipate any type of major breakthrough. Still, this isn't to understate the significance of these talks.&nbsp;

"The very fact that the dialogue is happening is an achievement in itself, given how fraught and fractured the Afghan political environment is and given that there have been false starts in the past."

Colin Clarke, an expert at the Soufan Centre think-tank, said that Washington was keen for quick progress at the talks after 18 years of war.

"The current (US) administration is so about getting a deal through and the more parties involved the longer it's going to take and it's more complicated," he said.&nbsp;

"They're rushing for the exits, they want to push this thing through. They want to tie up the war and they want to declare victory."

Is the Afghan government's exclusion a Taliban win?

Clarke said that the structure of Sunday's talks at which representatives of the Kabul government would not attend officially but only as individuals meant "Afghan politicians are being marginalised".

"But the fact that the talks are happening and that they're seemingly going as smoothly is a testament to the role that Doha has played in bringing together these disparate factions," he added.

Kugelman said "just about every aspect of this peace and reconciliation process has favoured the Taliban. And that's not a surprise, because the Taliban is negotiating from a position of strength and has all the leverage".

"No one -- not the US, the Afghan government, or anyone else -- is in a position to push back against the Taliban demand that Afghan officials attend these intra-Afghan talks in their personal capacity."

Is the timing significant?

"The US has repeatedly insisted that this dialogue take place, and the fact that it's happening right after its bilateral talks with the Taliban suggests that this may be the closest thing to a concession that the insurgents are willing to grant," said Kugelman.&nbsp;

"That said, the Taliban's refusal to let Afghan government representatives attend in their official capacity makes it a minor more than a major concession."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently voiced hope for a peace deal with the Taliban "before September 1".&nbsp;

The ambitious timeframe would allow a deal before Afghanistan holds elections in September, which Western officials fear could inject a new dose of instability.

Trump wants to pull all US troops from Afghanistan, believing that America's longest war -- launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks -- no longer makes military or financial sense.

"I also think there's a greater sense of urgency at play here," said Kugelman.

"With Afghanistan's presidential election scheduled for September, the Americans, the Afghan government, and other key stakeholders will want to do as much as possible before the country goes into election mode.

"Once you go into election mode, it will be hard to maintain the laser-like focus on peace talks in Afghanistan that you have now."

Who will attend the dialogue?

The final list of invitees may not be known until the talks get underway, but the Taliban have suggested on Twitter that more than 60 individuals could attend.

"The invitation list will be a critical factor in determining the dialogue's success," said Kugelman. "If Afghan President Ashraf Ghani seeks to prevent his political rivals from attending, then that would undercut the spirit of a truly inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue.&nbsp;

"In an ideal world, Ghani would step back and enable Afghanistan to put together a broad and diverse group of participants. But unfortunately it's not an ideal world, and there's reason to fear the roster of attendees won't be as inclusive as it should be."

Clarke warned that the exclusion of regional powers like Pakistan, Iran and India from Sunday's gathering could threaten progress.

"It's going to be a very fragile peace unless you get buy-in from regional parties. You're achieving your short-term objective but it's at the cost of longer-term stability. It's very myopic," he told AFP.

Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Doha for a fresh round of talks mediated by Qatar and Germany, as the United States eyes peace with the Taliban within three months.

Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Doha for a fresh round of talks mediated by Qatar and Germany, as the United States eyes peace with the Taliban within three months. The first such encounter in Moscow was heralded as a breakthrough but many sensitive issues including women's rights, foreign military withdrawal, Al-Qaeda and power-sharing with the Taliban remain unresolved. Two experts spoke to AFP about their expectations for the talks which follow a week of direct negotiations between the US and the Taliban also in Doha. What will come of the two-day meeting? "We can expect a broad, vague statement laying out some broad and innocuous principles and agreeing on the need to move forward," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia programme at the Wilson Centre. "Since this dialogue is in its early stages, I don't anticipate any type of major breakthrough. Still, this isn't to understate the significance of these talks. "The very fact that the dialogue is happening is an achievement in itself, given how fraught and fractured the Afghan political environment is and given that there have been false starts in the past." Colin Clarke, an expert at the Soufan Centre think-tank, said that Washington was keen for quick progress at the talks after 18 years of war. "The current (US) administration is so about getting a deal through and the more parties involved the longer it's going to take and it's more complicated," he said. "They're rushing for the exits, they want to push this thing through. They want to tie up the war and they want to declare victory." Is the Afghan government's exclusion a Taliban win? Clarke said that the structure of Sunday's talks at which representatives of the Kabul government would not attend officially but only as individuals meant "Afghan politicians are being marginalised". "But the fact that the talks are happening and that they're seemingly going as smoothly is a testament to the role that Doha has played in bringing together these disparate factions," he added. Kugelman said "just about every aspect of this peace and reconciliation process has favoured the Taliban. And that's not a surprise, because the Taliban is negotiating from a position of strength and has all the leverage". "No one -- not the US, the Afghan government, or anyone else -- is in a position to push back against the Taliban demand that Afghan officials attend these intra-Afghan talks in their personal capacity." Is the timing significant? "The US has repeatedly insisted that this dialogue take place, and the fact that it's happening right after its bilateral talks with the Taliban suggests that this may be the closest thing to a concession that the insurgents are willing to grant," said Kugelman. "That said, the Taliban's refusal to let Afghan government representatives attend in their official capacity makes it a minor more than a major concession." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently voiced hope for a peace deal with the Taliban "before September 1". The ambitious timeframe would allow a deal before Afghanistan holds elections in September, which Western officials fear could inject a new dose of instability. Trump wants to pull all US troops from Afghanistan, believing that America's longest war -- launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks -- no longer makes military or financial sense. "I also think there's a greater sense of urgency at play here," said Kugelman. "With Afghanistan's presidential election scheduled for September, the Americans, the Afghan government, and other key stakeholders will want to do as much as possible before the country goes into election mode. "Once you go into election mode, it will be hard to maintain the laser-like focus on peace talks in Afghanistan that you have now." Who will attend the dialogue? The final list of invitees may not be known until the talks get underway, but the Taliban have suggested on Twitter that more than 60 individuals could attend. "The invitation list will be a critical factor in determining the dialogue's success," said Kugelman. "If Afghan President Ashraf Ghani seeks to prevent his political rivals from attending, then that would undercut the spirit of a truly inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue. "In an ideal world, Ghani would step back and enable Afghanistan to put together a broad and diverse group of participants. But unfortunately it's not an ideal world, and there's reason to fear the roster of attendees won't be as inclusive as it should be." Clarke warned that the exclusion of regional powers like Pakistan, Iran and India from Sunday's gathering could threaten progress. "It's going to be a very fragile peace unless you get buy-in from regional parties. You're achieving your short-term objective but it's at the cost of longer-term stability. It's very myopic," he told AFP.

Afghans meet in Doha for fresh round of talks as US eyes peace with Taliban

Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Qatar, officials said, in a fresh attempt to make political headway as the United States seeks a peace deal with the Taliban within three months.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-will-keep-strong-intel-presence-in-afghanistan-even-after-troops-withdrawal-donald-trump-232171">President Donald Trump</a> said in an interview broadcast Monday that he wants to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan, but will leave a strong intelligence presence there to counter what he termed the "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-will-keep-strong-intel-presence-in-afghanistan-even-after-troops-withdrawal-donald-trump-232171">Harvard of terrorists</a>."

The Taliban, who on Monday killed six people with a powerful bomb targeted at Afghanistan's defence ministry, has refused to negotiate with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-to-visit-pakistan-in-bid-to-step-up-peace-effort-230645">President Ashraf Ghani</a>, and a previous attempt to bring the insurgents together with government officials in Doha collapsed in April in a dispute over attendees.

Germany, a key player in international support for the post-Taliban government, and Qatar, which maintains contacts with the militants, said that they jointly extended invitations for dialogue in Doha on Sunday and Monday.

The Afghans "will participate only in their personal capacity and on an equal footing," Markus Potzel, Germany's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said in a statement released Monday by the United States.

"Afghanistan stands at a critical moment of opportunity for progress towards peace," he said.

"An essential component of any process leading to this objective will be direct engagement between Afghans," he said.

The meeting comes after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-weighing-full-range-of-options-to-counter-iran-including-a-military-strike-mike-pompeo-on-iran-227800">US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo</a> paid a previously unannounced visit last week to Kabul where he voiced hope for a peace deal with the Taliban "before September 1."

The ambitious timeframe would allow a deal before Afghanistan holds elections in September, which Western officials fear could inject a new dose of instability.

Trump wants to pull all US troops from Afghanistan, believing that America's longest war launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks -- no longer makes military or financial sense.

But he said the US will "be leaving very strong intelligence, far more than you would normally think," in an interview with the Fox News Channel's "Tucker Carlson Tonight."

"It just seems to be a lab for terrorists... I call it the Harvard of terrorists," Trump said.

Taliban attack wounds children

The Taliban have refused to halt their violence, believing that they have the upper hand as the United States is eager to leave.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazen-attack-in-kabul-demonstrates-talibans-callous-disregard-for-afghans-us-232196">Monday's bombing </a>was followed by Taliban gunmen storming a nearby building, trigging a gunbattle with special forces.

The bombing and shootout wounded dozens of people, including 50 children, most of whom were hurt by flying glass, officials said.

Save the Children branded the strike "utterly deplorable," warning that "children's smaller bodies sustain more serious injuries than adults" and that the trauma of such attacks can stay with them for years.

The White House condemned the "brazen" attack, saying it "demonstrates the Taliban's callous disregard for their fellow Afghans, who have repeatedly voiced the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict."

But Washington made no move to interrupt its seventh round of talks with the Taliban in Doha that started on Saturday.

"Once the timeline for the withdrawal of foreign forces is set in the presence of international observers, then we will begin the talks to the Afghan sides, but we will not talk to the Kabul administration as a government," tweeted Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban's office in Qatar.

Under a peace deal, the United States plans to pull its roughly 14,000 troops from Afghanistan.

In return, the Taliban would provide assurances that they will never allow their territory to be a base for foreign attacks -- the primary reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator with the Taliban, said that dialogue among Afghans was an essential part of a peace deal.

"Mutual acceptance, seeking consensus, and agreeing to resolve political differences without force is what is needed to learn from the tragedy of the last 40 years," Khalilzad said, referring to Afghanistan's nearly incessant conflict since the Soviet invasion in 1979.

"I wish participants success," he tweeted.

Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Qatar, officials said, in a fresh attempt to make political headway as the United States seeks a peace deal with the Taliban within three months.

Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Qatar, officials said, in a fresh attempt to make political headway as the United States seeks a peace deal with the Taliban within three months. President Donald Trump said in an interview broadcast Monday that he wants to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan, but will leave a strong intelligence presence there to counter what he termed the "Harvard of terrorists." The Taliban, who on Monday killed six people with a powerful bomb targeted at Afghanistan's defence ministry, has refused to negotiate with President Ashraf Ghani, and a previous attempt to bring the insurgents together with government officials in Doha collapsed in April in a dispute over attendees. Germany, a key player in international support for the post-Taliban government, and Qatar, which maintains contacts with the militants, said that they jointly extended invitations for dialogue in Doha on Sunday and Monday. The Afghans "will participate only in their personal capacity and on an equal footing," Markus Potzel, Germany's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said in a statement released Monday by the United States. "Afghanistan stands at a critical moment of opportunity for progress towards peace," he said. "An essential component of any process leading to this objective will be direct engagement between Afghans," he said. The meeting comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a previously unannounced visit last week to Kabul where he voiced hope for a peace deal with the Taliban "before September 1." The ambitious timeframe would allow a deal before Afghanistan holds elections in September, which Western officials fear could inject a new dose of instability. Trump wants to pull all US troops from Afghanistan, believing that America's longest war launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks -- no longer makes military or financial sense. But he said the US will "be leaving very strong intelligence, far more than you would normally think," in an interview with the Fox News Channel's "Tucker Carlson Tonight." "It just seems to be a lab for terrorists... I call it the Harvard of terrorists," Trump said. Taliban attack wounds children The Taliban have refused to halt their violence, believing that they have the upper hand as the United States is eager to leave. Monday's bombing was followed by Taliban gunmen storming a nearby building, trigging a gunbattle with special forces. The bombing and shootout wounded dozens of people, including 50 children, most of whom were hurt by flying glass, officials said. Save the Children branded the strike "utterly deplorable," warning that "children's smaller bodies sustain more serious injuries than adults" and that the trauma of such attacks can stay with them for years. The White House condemned the "brazen" attack, saying it "demonstrates the Taliban's callous disregard for their fellow Afghans, who have repeatedly voiced the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict." But Washington made no move to interrupt its seventh round of talks with the Taliban in Doha that started on Saturday. "Once the timeline for the withdrawal of foreign forces is set in the presence of international observers, then we will begin the talks to the Afghan sides, but we will not talk to the Kabul administration as a government," tweeted Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban's office in Qatar. Under a peace deal, the United States plans to pull its roughly 14,000 troops from Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban would provide assurances that they will never allow their territory to be a base for foreign attacks -- the primary reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator with the Taliban, said that dialogue among Afghans was an essential part of a peace deal. "Mutual acceptance, seeking consensus, and agreeing to resolve political differences without force is what is needed to learn from the tragedy of the last 40 years," Khalilzad said, referring to Afghanistan's nearly incessant conflict since the Soviet invasion in 1979. "I wish participants success," he tweeted.

Fresh bid set to bring Afghans to table for peace deal

Beneath the gaze of the TV cameras a woman begins speaking, at first softly but with growing passion as she faces the "Butcher of Kabul" across a crowded auditorium and asks if he wants to apologise for alleged war crimes.

Without missing a beat, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the ruthless former warlord blamed for rocket attacks which reduced much of the Afghan capital to rubble in the 1990s, declined to do so.&nbsp;

The dramatic moment during a recent televised news debate highlights how far media freedom has come in Afghanistan, where -- for now -- traumatised civilians can stand and at least try to hold powerful men to account, live on camera.

"Years ago, this kind of questions could get you killed, but now people can challenge the most dangerous people in mainstream and social media," Mustafa Rahimi, a university student, said after watching the debate.

But today, even as hundreds of media outlets proliferate across Afghanistan, consumers and journalists alike worry a potential peace deal between the Taliban and the US could sound the death knell for a golden age of press freedom.

"We are concerned about a total or a partial ban on media," Sediqullah Khaliq, the director of Hewad TV and radio in Kandahar -- the birthplace of Taliban -- told AFP.

"There is fear that we may go back to a media blackout or having a state-controlled press."

While in power, the Taliban raged against traditional forms of mass communication and entertainment, banning television, movies and allowing only Islamist programming or propaganda to be broadcast on the only radio station, Voice of Sharia.

Anyone caught watching TV faced punishment and risked having their television set smashed and then displayed from a lamppost.&nbsp;

Almost all electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic. For a while, trees in Kabul fluttered with the magnetic ribbon tape from destroyed cassettes.

Photographs of living things were illegal, and ownership of a video player could lead to a public lashing.

A deadly trade

Afghanistan is the world's deadliest place for journalists, who face many risks covering the conflict and who have sometimes been targeted for doing their job.&nbsp;

Nine journalists, including AFP Kabul's chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in an Islamic State attack in April 2018.&nbsp;

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 2018 was the deadliest year on record for journalists in Afghanistan, with at least 15 media workers killed while working.

Despite the risks, hundreds of media organisations have blossomed since 2001, and today there are more than 100 television channels, 284 radio stations and just over 400 newspapers and magazines, according to a government report.&nbsp;

With one of the world's lowest literacy rates, television and radio play a huge role in Afghan culture, and Afghans have grown accustomed to outlets holding their politicians to account.

Warlords, politicians, Taliban sympathisers and government officials are openly challenged in televised debates, radio programmes and on social media.

"We now play live music, women call in and share their problems on the radio. But even if the Taliban allow radios, I don't think they would like our programmes," said Mera Hamdam, a presenter at Zama private radio in Kandahar.

"There is huge concern that we will lose all our achievements," he said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said if they return to power, the insurgents would follow an Islamic interpretation of freedom of expression.

"We won't allow propaganda, insults and humiliation to people in society and religious values. We will allow those who work for the betterment of the society," he told AFP.

The sixth round of talks between the US and the Taliban wrapped up last week in Doha, with apparently little progress being made on several key issues.

The two foes have for months been trying to hammer out a deal that could see foreign forces leave Afghanistan in return for a ceasefire, talks between Kabul and the Taliban, and a guarantee the country will not be used as a safe haven for terror groups.

But observers worry that in a rush to quit Afghanistan after nearly 18 gruelling years of war, America might not push for safeguards of protections many Afghans now take for granted, including media freedoms and improved rights for women and other marginalised people.

"Freedom of expression as a protective value should be incorporated into any document resulting from peace talks," NAI, a leading media support agency, said in a statement.

Rahimi, the university student, said he worried about Afghanistan going back to "the dark era".

Beneath the gaze of the TV cameras a woman begins speaking, at first softly but with growing passion as she faces the "Butcher of Kabul" across a crowded auditorium and asks if he wants to apologise for alleged war crimes.

Beneath the gaze of the TV cameras a woman begins speaking, at first softly but with growing passion as she faces the "Butcher of Kabul" across a crowded auditorium and asks if he wants to apologise for alleged war crimes. Without missing a beat, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the ruthless former warlord blamed for rocket attacks which reduced much of the Afghan capital to rubble in the 1990s, declined to do so. The dramatic moment during a recent televised news debate highlights how far media freedom has come in Afghanistan, where -- for now -- traumatised civilians can stand and at least try to hold powerful men to account, live on camera. "Years ago, this kind of questions could get you killed, but now people can challenge the most dangerous people in mainstream and social media," Mustafa Rahimi, a university student, said after watching the debate. But today, even as hundreds of media outlets proliferate across Afghanistan, consumers and journalists alike worry a potential peace deal between the Taliban and the US could sound the death knell for a golden age of press freedom. "We are concerned about a total or a partial ban on media," Sediqullah Khaliq, the director of Hewad TV and radio in Kandahar -- the birthplace of Taliban -- told AFP. "There is fear that we may go back to a media blackout or having a state-controlled press." While in power, the Taliban raged against traditional forms of mass communication and entertainment, banning television, movies and allowing only Islamist programming or propaganda to be broadcast on the only radio station, Voice of Sharia. Anyone caught watching TV faced punishment and risked having their television set smashed and then displayed from a lamppost. Almost all electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic. For a while, trees in Kabul fluttered with the magnetic ribbon tape from destroyed cassettes. Photographs of living things were illegal, and ownership of a video player could lead to a public lashing. A deadly trade Afghanistan is the world's deadliest place for journalists, who face many risks covering the conflict and who have sometimes been targeted for doing their job. Nine journalists, including AFP Kabul's chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in an Islamic State attack in April 2018. Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 2018 was the deadliest year on record for journalists in Afghanistan, with at least 15 media workers killed while working. Despite the risks, hundreds of media organisations have blossomed since 2001, and today there are more than 100 television channels, 284 radio stations and just over 400 newspapers and magazines, according to a government report. With one of the world's lowest literacy rates, television and radio play a huge role in Afghan culture, and Afghans have grown accustomed to outlets holding their politicians to account. Warlords, politicians, Taliban sympathisers and government officials are openly challenged in televised debates, radio programmes and on social media. "We now play live music, women call in and share their problems on the radio. But even if the Taliban allow radios, I don't think they would like our programmes," said Mera Hamdam, a presenter at Zama private radio in Kandahar. "There is huge concern that we will lose all our achievements," he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said if they return to power, the insurgents would follow an Islamic interpretation of freedom of expression. "We won't allow propaganda, insults and humiliation to people in society and religious values. We will allow those who work for the betterment of the society," he told AFP. The sixth round of talks between the US and the Taliban wrapped up last week in Doha, with apparently little progress being made on several key issues. The two foes have for months been trying to hammer out a deal that could see foreign forces leave Afghanistan in return for a ceasefire, talks between Kabul and the Taliban, and a guarantee the country will not be used as a safe haven for terror groups. But observers worry that in a rush to quit Afghanistan after nearly 18 gruelling years of war, America might not push for safeguards of protections many Afghans now take for granted, including media freedoms and improved rights for women and other marginalised people. "Freedom of expression as a protective value should be incorporated into any document resulting from peace talks," NAI, a leading media support agency, said in a statement. Rahimi, the university student, said he worried about Afghanistan going back to "the dark era".

Afghans fear end of golden age of press freedom

Thousands of Afghans congregated in Kabul on Monday (April 29) for a rare consultative meeting aimed at finding ways to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban that would end the ongoing war.

Afghan President opens grand assembly in final push to hold peace talks with the Taliban

Women will be&nbsp;taking part in the intra-Afghan <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-to-hold-peace-talks-with-taliban-in-qatar-208717&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjapuTUl9ThAhXBOY8KHfJLBIAQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw20HNDiCJDOhdsfs-GhQpAt">peace talks</a> in Qatar this month, the Taliban's main spokesman said on Monday, ahead of the latest round of meetings aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.

The April 19-21 meeting in Doha will be between the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-peace-talks-progress-is-being-made-in-qatar-with-taliban-reports-us-201426&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjapuTUl9ThAhXBOY8KHfJLBIAQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Wl2tye10c_Z-RCoCzNnQQ">Taliban </a>and a delegation comprising prominent Afghans, including opposition politicians and civil society activists. It follows similar talks between the two sides in Moscow in February.

The non-Taliban delegation that was in Moscow could be expanded next week to include some government officials, but acting in their private capacities as the insurgents have refused to hold formal talks with Kabul.

"There will be women among Taliban delegation members in the Doha, Qatar meeting," Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's main spokesman, said by telephone.

He did not name the women, but added, "These women have no family relationship with the senior members of the Taliban, they are normal Afghans, from inside and outside the country, who have been supporters and part of the struggle of the Islamic Emirate".

In a tweet, he specified that the women would only join the discussions with Afghan civil society and political representatives, not in the main negotiations with American officials, led by US &nbsp;special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.

Khalilzad has not yet set dates for the next round of talks with the Taliban, a State Department spokesperson said.

"We do not have new US talks with the Taliban to announce at this time. Before additional talks, we look forward to knowing the outcome of the intra-Afghan dialogue," the spokesperson said in an email.

Khalilzad, a veteran Afghan-born US diplomat, is working to secure an accord with the Taliban on a US troop pullout, measures to prevent al Qaeda and other extremists from using Afghanistan as a springboard for attacks, a ceasefire and inter-Afghan talks that include the government on the country`s political future.

The Taliban have rejected formal talks with the government, which they dismiss as a "puppet" regime controlled by the United States.

While Afghanistan remains a deeply conservative country, especially in rural areas, there have been major advances in women`s rights since the US-led campaign of 2001 that toppled the Taliban government.

Fawzia Koofi, a former member of parliament who took part in the meetings in Moscow, said the presence of women in the Taliban team was a "good step".

"Only women can feel the pain and miseries that Afghan women have suffered. The presence of women among the Taliban negotiators shows that the Taliban`s ideology has changed."

Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, who has been pressing for women to play a role in the peace talks said the process should be inclusive.

Future international support for Afghanistan could be affected by whether women`s rights were properly respected in any settlement, she said.

"There are certain levers that we have, that the Taliban are interested in," she told reporters in Kabul, where she was visiting as part of a Congressional delegation.

"There is going to be an interest in economic support after the conflict ends."

"I think if the Taliban has any interest in getting international support ... it would be in their interest to recognise the importance of including women and including human rights as part of any settlement that happens."

Women will be taking part in the intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar this month, the Taliban's main spokesman said on Monday, ahead of the latest round of meetings aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.

Women will be taking part in the intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar this month, the Taliban's main spokesman said on Monday, ahead of the latest round of meetings aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan. The April 19-21 meeting in Doha will be between the Taliban and a delegation comprising prominent Afghans, including opposition politicians and civil society activists. It follows similar talks between the two sides in Moscow in February. The non-Taliban delegation that was in Moscow could be expanded next week to include some government officials, but acting in their private capacities as the insurgents have refused to hold formal talks with Kabul. "There will be women among Taliban delegation members in the Doha, Qatar meeting," Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's main spokesman, said by telephone. He did not name the women, but added, "These women have no family relationship with the senior members of the Taliban, they are normal Afghans, from inside and outside the country, who have been supporters and part of the struggle of the Islamic Emirate". In a tweet, he specified that the women would only join the discussions with Afghan civil society and political representatives, not in the main negotiations with American officials, led by US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Khalilzad has not yet set dates for the next round of talks with the Taliban, a State Department spokesperson said. "We do not have new US talks with the Taliban to announce at this time. Before additional talks, we look forward to knowing the outcome of the intra-Afghan dialogue," the spokesperson said in an email. Khalilzad, a veteran Afghan-born US diplomat, is working to secure an accord with the Taliban on a US troop pullout, measures to prevent al Qaeda and other extremists from using Afghanistan as a springboard for attacks, a ceasefire and inter-Afghan talks that include the government on the country`s political future. The Taliban have rejected formal talks with the government, which they dismiss as a "puppet" regime controlled by the United States. While Afghanistan remains a deeply conservative country, especially in rural areas, there have been major advances in women`s rights since the US-led campaign of 2001 that toppled the Taliban government. Fawzia Koofi, a former member of parliament who took part in the meetings in Moscow, said the presence of women in the Taliban team was a "good step". "Only women can feel the pain and miseries that Afghan women have suffered. The presence of women among the Taliban negotiators shows that the Taliban`s ideology has changed." Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, who has been pressing for women to play a role in the peace talks said the process should be inclusive. Future international support for Afghanistan could be affected by whether women`s rights were properly respected in any settlement, she said. "There are certain levers that we have, that the Taliban are interested in," she told reporters in Kabul, where she was visiting as part of a Congressional delegation. "There is going to be an interest in economic support after the conflict ends." "I think if the Taliban has any interest in getting international support ... it would be in their interest to recognise the importance of including women and including human rights as part of any settlement that happens."

Women to take part in intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar: Taliban spokesman

More than 700,000 undocumented Afghans have returned from Iran this year as the Iranian economy tightens, with a knock-on effect on the Afghan economy, according to data from the UN's migration agency.

In a report covering the period up to December 1, the International Organization for Migration said a total of 752,325 Afghans had returned from Iran and Pakistan, including 721,633 from Iran.

"Undocumented returns from Iran, in particular, are seeing a massive increase over previous years, largely driven by recent political and economic issues in Iran including massive currency devaluation," the IOM report said.

Demand for Afghan labour in Iran's informal economy had drastically fallen, it added.

"As all Afghans typically send home their earnings in the form of monthly remittances, the Afghan economy itself, already evident in the drought-affected provinces of Herat, Badghis and Ghor, is suffering direct and immediate effects."

Iranian media reports say many of the Afghans had returned or were seeking to enter Turkey to reach Europe after the fall of the Iranian currency, which has lost about 70 per cent of its value this year.

Iran emerged in early 2016 from years of global sanctions under a deal with world powers that curbed its disputed nuclear programme.

But US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in May, calling it flawed to Iran's advantage, and reimposed far-reaching US sanctions in phases, with the most damaging oil and banking penalties taking effect on November 5.

Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters that increasing US pressure on Iran would cause problems for Afghanistan.

“The Trump sanctions will put the Iranian economy into a void and is doing that. (The people) who will first lose a grip on their existence are the Afghan registered and unregistered refugees and migrants," he said.

Last month the top UN humanitarian official in Afghanistan, Toby Lanzer, told reporters in Geneva that the UN had expected up to 700,000 Afghans to return from Pakistan this year, but very few had made the move, while the returns from Iran took the UN by surprise.

More than 700,000 undocumented Afghans have returned from Iran this year as the Iranian economy tightens, with a knock-on effect on the Afghan economy, according to data from the UN's migration agency.

More than 700,000 undocumented Afghans have returned from Iran this year as the Iranian economy tightens, with a knock-on effect on the Afghan economy, according to data from the UN's migration agency. In a report covering the period up to December 1, the International Organization for Migration said a total of 752,325 Afghans had returned from Iran and Pakistan, including 721,633 from Iran. "Undocumented returns from Iran, in particular, are seeing a massive increase over previous years, largely driven by recent political and economic issues in Iran including massive currency devaluation," the IOM report said. Demand for Afghan labour in Iran's informal economy had drastically fallen, it added. "As all Afghans typically send home their earnings in the form of monthly remittances, the Afghan economy itself, already evident in the drought-affected provinces of Herat, Badghis and Ghor, is suffering direct and immediate effects." Iranian media reports say many of the Afghans had returned or were seeking to enter Turkey to reach Europe after the fall of the Iranian currency, which has lost about 70 per cent of its value this year. Iran emerged in early 2016 from years of global sanctions under a deal with world powers that curbed its disputed nuclear programme. But US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in May, calling it flawed to Iran's advantage, and reimposed far-reaching US sanctions in phases, with the most damaging oil and banking penalties taking effect on November 5. Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters that increasing US pressure on Iran would cause problems for Afghanistan. “The Trump sanctions will put the Iranian economy into a void and is doing that. (The people) who will first lose a grip on their existence are the Afghan registered and unregistered refugees and migrants," he said. Last month the top UN humanitarian official in Afghanistan, Toby Lanzer, told reporters in Geneva that the UN had expected up to 700,000 Afghans to return from Pakistan this year, but very few had made the move, while the returns from Iran took the UN by surprise.

More than 700,000 Afghans leave Iran as economy slows

From a university student to a middle-aged housewife, Afghans planning to vote in the October 20 parliamentary election say they are willing to risk their lives for democracy.

Nearly nine million people have registered to vote, but far fewer are expected to turn out on polling day due to threats of violence and expectations for massive fraud.

Six people across the war-torn country explain why their vote matters.

Omaid, the artist

Out with the old and in with the new is Omaid Sharifi's hope for the legislative election.

The 32-year-old artist, who is voting for the first time, wants to see a new generation of politicians take their seats in the next parliament.

Sharifi, the co-founder of Kabul-based street art collective ArtLords, was inspired to vote by the large cohort of young, educated candidates among the more than 2,500 contesting the ballot.

"I am concerned (about security) but I think this is the price of democracy we have to pay," he said.

Fatima, the housewife

First-time voter Fatima Sadeqi wants to stop criminals, thieves and corrupt people from entering the next parliament.

The 55-year-old housewife and her eight family members plan to support the same candidate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

"We are tired of poverty and insecurity," she said.

"I hope the new parliament is a better place, full of good people." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Shirin, the potter

Shirin Agha wants his 10 children to grow up in a peaceful Afghanistan -- and he is willing to die to help make that happen.

The 45-year-old potter in the eastern city of Jalalabad is a first-time voter and plans to back "a good Muslim and an honest person".

"I want the new parliament to bring fundamental changes to the economy, education and security so that our children can live in peace," Agha said.

"If my vote can bring these changes I will take any risk. I will either die or vote."

Zahra, the university student

A sense of "duty and responsibility" is pushing English literature student Zahra Faramarz to vote -- but she admits being "anxious" about security.

Faramarz's polling station is located in a heavily Shiite neighbourhood of Kabul where the Islamic State group has carried out devastating attacks in recent months.

But the 21-year-old said it was important to vote to ensure her community has a voice in the lower house.

"If we don't, someone else will select the candidates... that is not good for us," she said.

Ghulam, the public servant

After disappointing results in the previous two elections, Ghulam Farooq Adil hopes it will be third time lucky on October 20.

The 29-year-old public servant from the western city of Herat plans to vote for an "honest" candidate who can help bring peace to Afghanistan.

"I want the new parliament to come up with a solid plan to end the war," Adil said.

"I need to see changes, at least for the future of my son."&nbsp;

Abdul, the retiree

Abdul Karim believes voting is a religious obligation for Muslim men and women.

"They must vote," said the 85-year-old retiree in Kabul, who is voting for only the second time in his life.

But in return, the next parliament should "serve our nation, serve our land and provide" job opportunities for the poor, he said.

"We vote for Afghanistan and we expect our incoming MPs to make solid decisions for our nation's well-being."

From a university student to a middle-aged housewife, Afghans planning to vote in the October 20 parliamentary election say they are willing to risk their lives for democracy.

From a university student to a middle-aged housewife, Afghans planning to vote in the October 20 parliamentary election say they are willing to risk their lives for democracy. Nearly nine million people have registered to vote, but far fewer are expected to turn out on polling day due to threats of violence and expectations for massive fraud. Six people across the war-torn country explain why their vote matters. Omaid, the artist Out with the old and in with the new is Omaid Sharifi's hope for the legislative election. The 32-year-old artist, who is voting for the first time, wants to see a new generation of politicians take their seats in the next parliament. Sharifi, the co-founder of Kabul-based street art collective ArtLords, was inspired to vote by the large cohort of young, educated candidates among the more than 2,500 contesting the ballot. "I am concerned (about security) but I think this is the price of democracy we have to pay," he said. Fatima, the housewife First-time voter Fatima Sadeqi wants to stop criminals, thieves and corrupt people from entering the next parliament. The 55-year-old housewife and her eight family members plan to support the same candidate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. "We are tired of poverty and insecurity," she said. "I hope the new parliament is a better place, full of good people." Shirin, the potter Shirin Agha wants his 10 children to grow up in a peaceful Afghanistan -- and he is willing to die to help make that happen. The 45-year-old potter in the eastern city of Jalalabad is a first-time voter and plans to back "a good Muslim and an honest person". "I want the new parliament to bring fundamental changes to the economy, education and security so that our children can live in peace," Agha said. "If my vote can bring these changes I will take any risk. I will either die or vote." Zahra, the university student A sense of "duty and responsibility" is pushing English literature student Zahra Faramarz to vote -- but she admits being "anxious" about security. Faramarz's polling station is located in a heavily Shiite neighbourhood of Kabul where the Islamic State group has carried out devastating attacks in recent months. But the 21-year-old said it was important to vote to ensure her community has a voice in the lower house. "If we don't, someone else will select the candidates... that is not good for us," she said. Ghulam, the public servant After disappointing results in the previous two elections, Ghulam Farooq Adil hopes it will be third time lucky on October 20. The 29-year-old public servant from the western city of Herat plans to vote for an "honest" candidate who can help bring peace to Afghanistan. "I want the new parliament to come up with a solid plan to end the war," Adil said. "I need to see changes, at least for the future of my son." Abdul, the retiree Abdul Karim believes voting is a religious obligation for Muslim men and women. "They must vote," said the 85-year-old retiree in Kabul, who is voting for only the second time in his life. But in return, the next parliament should "serve our nation, serve our land and provide" job opportunities for the poor, he said. "We vote for Afghanistan and we expect our incoming MPs to make solid decisions for our nation's well-being."

'Price of democracy': Afghans risking their lives to vote

At least three million Afghans are in "urgent" need of food and could face famine if they do not get help, the United Nations warned Monday, as the war-torn country battles the worst drought in living memory.

A dry spell mainly across northern and western Afghanistan has devastated crops, livestock and water supplies, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

The drought comes at a terrible time for the country, which is already grappling with a 17-year conflict and preparing to hold a parliamentary election that is three years late.&nbsp;

The United Nations is spearheading international efforts to reach 2.5 million of the three million most in need of food by mid-December, UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Toby Lanzer told AFP.

"Those people are surviving on less than one meal a day and in all likelihood that meal is bread and tea," Lanzer said. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Lanzer said the three million people hardest hit were in the "emergency" phase four of a widely-used food insecurity index -- one level below famine.&nbsp;

The figure was "among the highest in the world" and required "the most urgent response".&nbsp;

"If we don't (reach them) there's a risk that these people go into level five," Lanzer said.&nbsp;

Aid groups distributed basic commodities, including wheat flour fortified with minerals, vegetable oil and lentils, to 600,000 people last month, Lanzer said.&nbsp;

They hope to reach another 600,000 by the end of October.&nbsp;

Another eight million people were in the "crisis" phase three of the food insecurity index, which includes people with "food consumption gaps with high or above usual acute malnutrition".

Lanzer said the figures were "far worse than we had anticipated" and he warned the situation could worsen as temperatures plummet during the winter months.

The drought affecting more than half of Afghanistan was triggered by a huge shortfall in snow and rain last winter.

Many of the displaced have set up makeshift tents in camps on the edge of urban areas, including the western city of Herat.&nbsp;

Afghan officials and foreign aid groups are struggling to meet demand for food, shelter and health services.&nbsp;

People at the camps told AFP in August they had been surviving on a diet of bread and tea for months because they did not have enough money to buy fruit, vegetables or meat.

At least three million Afghans are in "urgent" need of food and could face famine if they do not get help, the United Nations warned Monday, as the war-torn country battles the worst drought in living memory.

At least three million Afghans are in "urgent" need of food and could face famine if they do not get help, the United Nations warned Monday, as the war-torn country battles the worst drought in living memory. A dry spell mainly across northern and western Afghanistan has devastated crops, livestock and water supplies, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. The drought comes at a terrible time for the country, which is already grappling with a 17-year conflict and preparing to hold a parliamentary election that is three years late. The United Nations is spearheading international efforts to reach 2.5 million of the three million most in need of food by mid-December, UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Toby Lanzer told AFP. "Those people are surviving on less than one meal a day and in all likelihood that meal is bread and tea," Lanzer said. Lanzer said the three million people hardest hit were in the "emergency" phase four of a widely-used food insecurity index -- one level below famine. The figure was "among the highest in the world" and required "the most urgent response". "If we don't (reach them) there's a risk that these people go into level five," Lanzer said. Aid groups distributed basic commodities, including wheat flour fortified with minerals, vegetable oil and lentils, to 600,000 people last month, Lanzer said. They hope to reach another 600,000 by the end of October. Another eight million people were in the "crisis" phase three of the food insecurity index, which includes people with "food consumption gaps with high or above usual acute malnutrition". Lanzer said the figures were "far worse than we had anticipated" and he warned the situation could worsen as temperatures plummet during the winter months. The drought affecting more than half of Afghanistan was triggered by a huge shortfall in snow and rain last winter. Many of the displaced have set up makeshift tents in camps on the edge of urban areas, including the western city of Herat. Afghan officials and foreign aid groups are struggling to meet demand for food, shelter and health services. People at the camps told AFP in August they had been surviving on a diet of bread and tea for months because they did not have enough money to buy fruit, vegetables or meat.

Three million Afghans in 'urgent' need of food: United Nations

&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>-<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Joint%20Chamber%20of%20Commerce%20and%20Industry">Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Chairman">Chairman</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Zubair%20Motiwala">Zubair Motiwala</a>&nbsp;said that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&nbsp;has lost its 50 percent market share in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Kabul">Kabul</a>&nbsp;as India has succeeded to penetrate the market.

The Dawn quoted Motiwala, who recently visited&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Kabul">Kabul</a>, as saying that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&#39;s trade with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;fell to USD 1.2 billion from USD 2.7 billion within in the last two years and the country has been losing even the traditional markets of flour, men and women&#39;s clothes and red meat.

He further said that the main reason behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&#39;s downfall in Afghan market is India, which has been providing goods at subsidised rates to capture the market and are providing air tickets with a 75 percent rebate.

According to data given by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&nbsp;Bureau of Statistics, exports to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>dropped to USD 1.271 billion in Financial Year 2017 from USD 1.437 billion in Financial Year 2016. Exports in the first quarter of 2017-18 stood at USD 319 million.

Motiwala highlighted that &quot;Medical tourism of Peshawar, which was mainly due to Afghans, is now at zero level; hospitals in Hayatabad are empty&quot; as they now prefer India due to affordable treatments and concessions.&nbsp;

India has succeeded to penetrate the market.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Zubair Motiwala said that Pakistan has lost its 50 percent market share in Kabul as India has succeeded to penetrate the market. The Dawn quoted Motiwala, who recently visited Kabul, as saying that Pakistan's trade with Afghanistan fell to USD 1.2 billion from USD 2.7 billion within in the last two years and the country has been losing even the traditional markets of flour, men and women's clothes and red meat. He further said that the main reason behind Pakistan's downfall in Afghan market is India, which has been providing goods at subsidised rates to capture the market and are providing air tickets with a 75 percent rebate. According to data given by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, exports to Afghanistandropped to USD 1.271 billion in Financial Year 2017 from USD 1.437 billion in Financial Year 2016. Exports in the first quarter of 2017-18 stood at USD 319 million. Motiwala highlighted that "Medical tourism of Peshawar, which was mainly due to Afghans, is now at zero level; hospitals in Hayatabad are empty" as they now prefer India due to affordable treatments and concessions.

Afghans prefer India, Pakistan loses 50 per cent market share

At least five people were shot and dozens were left injured during a mass brawl between 100 Eritreans and about 30 Afghans in the French port city of Calais.&nbsp;

The brawl happened between rival gangs of migrants from Afghanistan and Eritrea &ldquo;armed with sticks and stones&rdquo; near Calais Hospital on Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;

Four Eritrean youths aged 16-18 who were shot during the brawl are in a critical condition and have been rushed to a local hospital for surgery. The fifth man was taken to Lille as he suffered severe injuries.&nbsp;

As per reports, at least 13 others have been wounded after they were beaten up with iron bars.&nbsp;

The fight, which lasted almost two hours, reportedly began when an Afghan migrant fired shots. Soon after, over a 100 Eritreans charged over 20 Afghans in a town called Marck.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Police intervened to protect the Afghan migrants faced with 150 to 200 Eritrean migrants,&rdquo; the local prefecture said, adding that security reinforcements were being deployed in the area.

The clashes come as tension continues to surround Calais, which remains home to hundreds of migrants despite the closure of the infamous Jungle camp in October 2016.

The notorious Jungle camp in Calais, once home to some 10,000 people hoping to make it to Britain, was demolished in 2016, but hundreds of migrants remain in the port city seeking to stow away on England-bound trucks.

A judicial source equated Thursday&rsquo;s unrest with that 2015 when the camp was created.

Those left in the area, most of them young Africans and Afghan men, have been living rough in the woods and clash regularly with police, who clear their encampments and stop them from setting up roadblocks in a bid to slow passing trucks.

Grim living conditions have led to regular confrontations between migrants of different nationalities, and five people were shot in a fight between rival Afghan groups last November.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb tweeted he would be heading to the area by helicopter and could stay overnight.

&ldquo;After today&rsquo;s serious incidents I shall be heading for Calais tonight to take stock of the situation with the perfect, the mayor and local players,&rdquo; including police, Collomb tweeted.

The brawl happened between rival gangs of migrants from Afghanistan and Eritrea “armed with sticks and stones” near Calais Hospital on Thursday afternoon

At least five people were shot and dozens were left injured during a mass brawl between 100 Eritreans and about 30 Afghans in the French port city of Calais. The brawl happened between rival gangs of migrants from Afghanistan and Eritrea “armed with sticks and stones” near Calais Hospital on Thursday afternoon. Four Eritrean youths aged 16-18 who were shot during the brawl are in a critical condition and have been rushed to a local hospital for surgery. The fifth man was taken to Lille as he suffered severe injuries. As per reports, at least 13 others have been wounded after they were beaten up with iron bars. The fight, which lasted almost two hours, reportedly began when an Afghan migrant fired shots. Soon after, over a 100 Eritreans charged over 20 Afghans in a town called Marck. “Police intervened to protect the Afghan migrants faced with 150 to 200 Eritrean migrants,” the local prefecture said, adding that security reinforcements were being deployed in the area. The clashes come as tension continues to surround Calais, which remains home to hundreds of migrants despite the closure of the infamous Jungle camp in October 2016. The notorious Jungle camp in Calais, once home to some 10,000 people hoping to make it to Britain, was demolished in 2016, but hundreds of migrants remain in the port city seeking to stow away on England-bound trucks. A judicial source equated Thursday’s unrest with that 2015 when the camp was created. Those left in the area, most of them young Africans and Afghan men, have been living rough in the woods and clash regularly with police, who clear their encampments and stop them from setting up roadblocks in a bid to slow passing trucks. Grim living conditions have led to regular confrontations between migrants of different nationalities, and five people were shot in a fight between rival Afghan groups last November. French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb tweeted he would be heading to the area by helicopter and could stay overnight. “After today’s serious incidents I shall be heading for Calais tonight to take stock of the situation with the perfect, the mayor and local players,” including police, Collomb tweeted.

France: Eritreans, Afghans brawl in Calais, several injured

Balochistan&#39;s Frontier Corps has arrested 16 suspects, including eight illegal Afghan refugees, during heavy raids carried out in parts of the Pakistan province on Saturday.&nbsp;

The large-scale raids were conducted following a suicide bomb attack near the area in Quetta which took lives of seven people.&nbsp;

&quot;Balochistan FC conducted intelligence-based operations in Sambaza, Sibbi, Hazar Ganji areas,&quot; the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

&quot;Weapons and ammunition including grenades, IEDs (improvised explosive devices), rockets and explosives have been recovered,&quot; the ISPR added.

On Tuesday, seven people, amongst which were five Balochistan Constabulary personnel, were killed and 16 others were left injured when a suspected suicide bomb rocked <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/six-including-four-policemen-killed-in-quetta-blast-29034" target="_blank">Quetta&#39;s Zarghoon road</a> near the Balochistan Assembly building.&nbsp;

The attack took place in the city&#39;s busy intersection of GPO Chowk, located in a high-security zone.

The suicide attack was later claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

The large-scale raids were conducted following a suicide bomb attack near the area in Quetta which took lives of seven people.

Balochistan's Frontier Corps has arrested 16 suspects, including eight illegal Afghan refugees, during heavy raids carried out in parts of the Pakistan province on Saturday. The large-scale raids were conducted following a suicide bomb attack near the area in Quetta which took lives of seven people. "Balochistan FC conducted intelligence-based operations in Sambaza, Sibbi, Hazar Ganji areas," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. "Weapons and ammunition including grenades, IEDs (improvised explosive devices), rockets and explosives have been recovered," the ISPR added. On Tuesday, seven people, amongst which were five Balochistan Constabulary personnel, were killed and 16 others were left injured when a suspected suicide bomb rocked Quetta's Zarghoon road near the Balochistan Assembly building. The attack took place in the city's busy intersection of GPO Chowk, located in a high-security zone. The suicide attack was later claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Quetta explosion: 16 suspects arrested in Balochistan raids

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