As the US has started withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, the capital city Kabul has become epicentre to the targeted attack conducted by militants. In the latest one, the militants has choosen a bus to spread fear. The blast claimed at least four live on Thursday.

Afghanistan: Kabul bus blast claims four lives

A bus blast in Kabul claimed at least four lives on Thursday. The attack is latest on commuters in the capital of Afghanistan. In past two days, two other attacks targetted buses in the city. This has given rise to fears that more violence is in store as USA withdraws troops from the country.

Police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said the explosion happened on a road in southwestern Kabul near a neighbourhood largely populated by the Shiite Hazara community, who have been the frequent target of militant attacks.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet.

Earlier this week, the Islamic State group's Afghan affiliate claimed back-to-back attacks on two buses in Kabul that killed at least 10 people.&nbsp;

Violence has soared in Afghanistan in recent weeks. Government forces and the Taliban are clashing almost daily in the countryside. Militants are appearing to focus on battering checkpoints and bases near Kabul.

The surge in violence comes as the US military continues to withdraw its remaining 2,500 troops from Afghanistan.

US President Joe Biden has ordered complete pullout by September 11, 2021, the day of 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks.

But as the Americans pack up, experts fear Afghanistan will remain home to a number of jihadist groups.

In a report published by the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, the body warned that IS continues "to pose a threat to both the country and the wider region", saying the group had approximately 2,000 fighters inside Afghanistan.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A bus blast in Kabul claimed at least four lives on Thursday. The attack is latest on commuters in the capital of Afghanistan. In past two days, two other attacks targetted buses in the city.

A bus blast in Kabul claimed at least four lives on Thursday. The attack is latest on commuters in the capital of Afghanistan. In past two days, two other attacks targetted buses in the city. This has given rise to fears that more violence is in store as USA withdraws troops from the country. Police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said the explosion happened on a road in southwestern Kabul near a neighbourhood largely populated by the Shiite Hazara community, who have been the frequent target of militant attacks. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet. Earlier this week, the Islamic State group's Afghan affiliate claimed back-to-back attacks on two buses in Kabul that killed at least 10 people. Violence has soared in Afghanistan in recent weeks. Government forces and the Taliban are clashing almost daily in the countryside. Militants are appearing to focus on battering checkpoints and bases near Kabul. The surge in violence comes as the US military continues to withdraw its remaining 2,500 troops from Afghanistan. US President Joe Biden has ordered complete pullout by September 11, 2021, the day of 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks. But as the Americans pack up, experts fear Afghanistan will remain home to a number of jihadist groups. In a report published by the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, the body warned that IS continues "to pose a threat to both the country and the wider region", saying the group had approximately 2,000 fighters inside Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan army soldiers took part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, amid an increase in violence across the war-torn country. 
 
Taliban militants have intensified activities in eastern Laghman and northern Baghlan provinces over the past weeks, Xinhua news agency. 
 
They are attempting to tighten noose around important highways linking Kabul to the northern and eastern provinces. 
 
Chief of Army Staff General Mohammad Yasin Zia visited Laghman`s provincial capital Mehterlam on Monday, saying the militants` attempts to gain ground had been foiled and the security situation there has been improved. 
 
More than 50 militants were killed and some 60 others injured during clean-up operations in Laghman, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday. 
 
Meanwhile, another clean-up operation is underway in Baghlan as some three dozen militants were killed and injured since Sunday in the restive province, an army statement confirmed. 
 
The Taliban have intensified attacks on provincial capitals, district centres and larger security bases following the drawdown of international forces in Afghanistan, which started on May 1. 
 
Since then, they have been able to take control of four districts in Afghanistan, one of which is only a few kilometres from Kabul. 
 
After 20 years of international troops in the country, the withdrawal, due to be completed by September 11, leaves Afghanistan to a potentially bleak future amid rising attacks by Taliban insurgents. 
 
The Islamic State terror group is also active in the country.

Afghan army soldiers took part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, amid an increase in violence across the war-torn country.

Afghan army soldiers took part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, amid an increase in violence across the war-torn country. Taliban militants have intensified activities in eastern Laghman and northern Baghlan provinces over the past weeks, Xinhua news agency. They are attempting to tighten noose around important highways linking Kabul to the northern and eastern provinces. Chief of Army Staff General Mohammad Yasin Zia visited Laghman`s provincial capital Mehterlam on Monday, saying the militants` attempts to gain ground had been foiled and the security situation there has been improved. More than 50 militants were killed and some 60 others injured during clean-up operations in Laghman, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday. Meanwhile, another clean-up operation is underway in Baghlan as some three dozen militants were killed and injured since Sunday in the restive province, an army statement confirmed. The Taliban have intensified attacks on provincial capitals, district centres and larger security bases following the drawdown of international forces in Afghanistan, which started on May 1. Since then, they have been able to take control of four districts in Afghanistan, one of which is only a few kilometres from Kabul. After 20 years of international troops in the country, the withdrawal, due to be completed by September 11, leaves Afghanistan to a potentially bleak future amid rising attacks by Taliban insurgents. The Islamic State terror group is also active in the country.

Afghanistan soldiers conduct operation against Taliban

The jihadist&nbsp;Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;claimed it carried out this week's attack on a mosque on the outskirts of the Afghan capital that left 12 worshippers dead, SITE Intelligence Group reported.

The explosion happened inside a mosque in Shakar Darah district of Kabul province during Friday prayers and shattered the relative calm of a three-day ceasefire agreed between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/blast-in-kabul-mosque-kills-12-worshippers-shattering-eid-ceasefire-calm-385004">Blast in Kabul mosque kills 12 worshippers, shattering Eid ceasefire calm</a>

IS said its fighters had placed an explosive device inside the mosque and detonated it after worshippers arrived to offer prayers on the second day of the Eid al-Fitr holidays, the US monitor of jihadist groups said late Saturday.

The bombing killed the imam of the mosque, who was leading the prayers.

Friday was also the second day of a three-day ceasefire agreed by the Taliban and the government to mark Eid al-Fitr.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-celebrates-eid-amid-ceasefire-between-taliban-and-government-384764">Afghanistan celebrates Eid amid ceasefire between Taliban and government</a>

The temporary truce was announced after soaring violence since May 01, when the US military began formally withdrawing its last remaining troops from the country.

A series of blasts outside a girls' school in Kabul last week killed more than 50 people and wounded scores, most of them female students.

No group has so far claimed the attack, one of the deadliest in recent years.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bombings-kill-11-afghans-on-first-day-of-ceasefire-384816">Bombings kill 11 Afghans on first day of ceasefire</a>

In recent weeks, fighting between the Taliban and government forces had surged across several provinces before the ceasefire was agreed, including in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand.

The jihadist Islamic State claimed it carried out this week's attack on a mosque on the outskirts of the Afghan capital that left 12 worshippers dead, SITE Intelligence Group reported.

The jihadist Islamic State claimed it carried out this week's attack on a mosque on the outskirts of the Afghan capital that left 12 worshippers dead, SITE Intelligence Group reported. The explosion happened inside a mosque in Shakar Darah district of Kabul province during Friday prayers and shattered the relative calm of a three-day ceasefire agreed between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Also read | Blast in Kabul mosque kills 12 worshippers, shattering Eid ceasefire calm IS said its fighters had placed an explosive device inside the mosque and detonated it after worshippers arrived to offer prayers on the second day of the Eid al-Fitr holidays, the US monitor of jihadist groups said late Saturday. The bombing killed the imam of the mosque, who was leading the prayers. Friday was also the second day of a three-day ceasefire agreed by the Taliban and the government to mark Eid al-Fitr. Also read | Afghanistan celebrates Eid amid ceasefire between Taliban and government The temporary truce was announced after soaring violence since May 01, when the US military began formally withdrawing its last remaining troops from the country. A series of blasts outside a girls' school in Kabul last week killed more than 50 people and wounded scores, most of them female students. No group has so far claimed the attack, one of the deadliest in recent years. Also Read | Bombings kill 11 Afghans on first day of ceasefire In recent weeks, fighting between the Taliban and government forces had surged across several provinces before the ceasefire was agreed, including in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand.

IS claims Afghan mosque blast that killed 12 worshippers: SITE

A blast at a mosque during Friday prayer rocked the city of Kabul, killing at least&nbsp;12 people. The explosion took place in the mosque located on the outskirts of the Afghan capital amid an Eid ceasefire declared by the Taliban and the Afghan government.

"During Friday congregation, an explosion happened inside a mosque in Shakar Darah district of Kabul (province)," said Ferdaws Framurz, the spokesman for Kabul police.&nbsp;

The blast is the first major incident since a temporary truce between the Taliban and government troops came into force on Thursday.

The warring sides agreed on the truce to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, only the fourth such halt in fighting in the nearly two-decades-old conflict.

The timing of the blast also assumes importance as it took place days after&nbsp;US troops left a major base in Kandahar, once a Taliban stronghold.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bombings-kill-11-afghans-on-first-day-of-ceasefire-384816">Bombings kill 11 Afghans on first day of ceasefire</a>

The Kandahar Airfield was turned over to the Afghan National Defence Security Forces earlier this week, the officials said, in a move that signals the urgency of the US effort to fully withdraw from the country by September 11.

"They have not officially handed over the base to us but I can confirm they left the base on Wednesday," said Khoja Yaya Alawi, a spokesman for the Afghan army in Kandahar.&nbsp;

This is the final phase of ending America's “forever war” in Afghanistan after 20 years formally began on May 1.

(With inputs from agencies)

A blast at a mosque during Friday prayer rocked the city of Kabul, killing at least 12 people. The explosion took place in the mosque located on the outskirts of the Afghan capital amid an Eid ceasefire declared by the Taliban and the Afghan government.

A blast at a mosque during Friday prayer rocked the city of Kabul, killing at least 12 people. The explosion took place in the mosque located on the outskirts of the Afghan capital amid an Eid ceasefire declared by the Taliban and the Afghan government. "During Friday congregation, an explosion happened inside a mosque in Shakar Darah district of Kabul (province)," said Ferdaws Framurz, the spokesman for Kabul police. The blast is the first major incident since a temporary truce between the Taliban and government troops came into force on Thursday. The warring sides agreed on the truce to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, only the fourth such halt in fighting in the nearly two-decades-old conflict. The timing of the blast also assumes importance as it took place days after US troops left a major base in Kandahar, once a Taliban stronghold. Also Read | Bombings kill 11 Afghans on first day of ceasefire The Kandahar Airfield was turned over to the Afghan National Defence Security Forces earlier this week, the officials said, in a move that signals the urgency of the US effort to fully withdraw from the country by September 11. "They have not officially handed over the base to us but I can confirm they left the base on Wednesday," said Khoja Yaya Alawi, a spokesman for the Afghan army in Kandahar. This is the final phase of ending America's “forever war” in Afghanistan after 20 years formally began on May 1. (With inputs from agencies)

Blast in Kabul mosque kills 12 worshippers, shattering Eid ceasefire calm

The death toll from multiple explosions outside a girls' school in Afghanistan's capital Kabul has risen to 168. A series of blasts shook the neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, home to a large community of Shi'ites from the Hazara ethnic minority on Saturday.

Death toll mounts to 68 from blasts near Afghanistan girls' school

Explosions caused by a car bomb and mortars outside a school in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday killed at least 55 people and wounded over 150, mostly female students.

Afghanistan: Car bombing at Afghan school in Kabul injures over 150, kills 55

Multiple blasts targeted a school in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more, mostly students, a senior interior ministry official said.

The official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that most of the casualties were students coming out of the Sayed ul Shuhada school.

A spokesman for the interior ministry, Tariq Arian, put the death toll at least 25 and did not specify the cause or the target.

Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, the spokesman for the health ministry, said 46 people had been taken to hospitals so far.

Kabul is on high alert since Washington announced plans last month to pull out all US&nbsp;troops by September&nbsp;11, with Afghan officials saying the Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country.

No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the insurgent group's involvement and condemned the incident.

The explosions took place in the western part of Kabul, a heavily Shi’ite Muslim neighbourhood that has frequently been attacked by Islamic State militants over the years.

The school is a joint high school for girls and boys, who study in three shifts, the second of which is for female students, Najiba Arian, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education, told Reuters.

The wounded are mostly female students, she said.

"The horrendous attack in Dasht-i Barchi area in Kabul, is an despicable act of terrorism," the European Union's mission in Afghanistan said on Twitter.

"Targeting primarily students in a girls’ school, makes this an attack on the future of Afghanistan."

Multiple blasts targeted a school in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more, mostly students, a senior interior ministry official said.

Multiple blasts targeted a school in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more, mostly students, a senior interior ministry official said. The official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that most of the casualties were students coming out of the Sayed ul Shuhada school. A spokesman for the interior ministry, Tariq Arian, put the death toll at least 25 and did not specify the cause or the target. Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, the spokesman for the health ministry, said 46 people had been taken to hospitals so far. Kabul is on high alert since Washington announced plans last month to pull out all US troops by September 11, with Afghan officials saying the Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country. No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the insurgent group's involvement and condemned the incident. The explosions took place in the western part of Kabul, a heavily Shi’ite Muslim neighbourhood that has frequently been attacked by Islamic State militants over the years. The school is a joint high school for girls and boys, who study in three shifts, the second of which is for female students, Najiba Arian, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education, told Reuters. The wounded are mostly female students, she said. "The horrendous attack in Dasht-i Barchi area in Kabul, is an despicable act of terrorism," the European Union's mission in Afghanistan said on Twitter. "Targeting primarily students in a girls’ school, makes this an attack on the future of Afghanistan."

Blasts targetting Afghan school in Kabul kill 40, injure dozens

Gasoline tanker trucks burst into flames in Kabul overnight, killing at least seven people and starting large fires that caused power cuts to some parts of the Afghan capital, officials said on Sunday.

The tankers were parked in northern Kabul and burst into flames late on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Interior. Fourteen people were injured.

The cause of ignition was not immediately known but the fires come as the city remains on "high alert" with officials bracing for attacks from the insurgent Taliban over the foreign troops' continued presence in the country.

Two security sources had earlier told Reuters they believed it was caused by a Taliban rocket fired in the area, however, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said they were not involved.

Tariq Arian, the ministry of interior spokesman, said they were still investigating the cause of the fire.

The Taliban have said U.S. President Joe Biden's announcement last month that American troops would leave by September 11 violates a 2020 agreement under the Trump administration that offered a May 1 withdrawal deadline.

Separately on Saturday, a shooting near a major airfield in Kandahar prompted the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan to warn that attacks on foreign troops would be a mistake and that they were prepared to defend themselves and Afghan forces if needed.

Gasoline tanker trucks burst into flames in Kabul overnight, killing at least seven people and starting large fires that caused power cuts to some parts of the Afghan capital, officials said on Sunday.

Gasoline tanker trucks burst into flames in Kabul overnight, killing at least seven people and starting large fires that caused power cuts to some parts of the Afghan capital, officials said on Sunday. The tankers were parked in northern Kabul and burst into flames late on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Interior. Fourteen people were injured. The cause of ignition was not immediately known but the fires come as the city remains on "high alert" with officials bracing for attacks from the insurgent Taliban over the foreign troops' continued presence in the country. Two security sources had earlier told Reuters they believed it was caused by a Taliban rocket fired in the area, however, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said they were not involved. Tariq Arian, the ministry of interior spokesman, said they were still investigating the cause of the fire. The Taliban have said U.S. President Joe Biden's announcement last month that American troops would leave by September 11 violates a 2020 agreement under the Trump administration that offered a May 1 withdrawal deadline. Separately on Saturday, a shooting near a major airfield in Kandahar prompted the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan to warn that attacks on foreign troops would be a mistake and that they were prepared to defend themselves and Afghan forces if needed.

Roaring tanker fire kills 7, injures 14 in Afghanistan capital

Thirty-three artifacts smuggled from Afghanistan to the United States during two decades of war were delivered to the Afghan National Museum on Thursday (April 29).

Afghanistan's smuggled artifacts returned to national museum from U.S.

The United States has ordered non-essential staff to leave its Kabul embassy citing increased threats as Washington prepares to end its 20-year war in Afghanistan. The order came two weeks after President Joe Biden announced that US troops would leave the country by September.

US orders officials to leave Kabul embassy as it begins troop pullout

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew to Kabul on Thursday, a day after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels, to show support following Joe Biden's announcement of the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

Blinken flies to Afghanistan in show of support after Biden announces troops withdrawal

Blinken visits Kabul in show of support after Biden announces troops withdrawal

The visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan has been scrapped due to the security threat.

As soon as the plane was about to land in Kabul, the trip was cancelled due to a security threat.

"Speaker's visit to Kabul was postponed as the airport was closed due to a security threat. The plane was about to descent when the control tower informed of the closure of the airport. New dates for the visit will be decided after mutual consultations, "Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq wrote in a tweet on Thursday.

As per media reports, the five-member parliamentary delegation, led by parliamentary secretary Asad Qaisar, was looking to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries during the three-day visit, as well as the support of progress in the war-torn country's peace process.

Former Pakistani senator Farhatullah Babar questioned the timing of the trip's mysterious cancellation.

"Security threat arose just when landing. Was the visit not cleared beforehand? Visit postponed indefinitely, the new date given. No regrets by hosts. Decision conveyed by tower operator. Normal protocol of high-level rep of host speaking to guest from tower ignored. There's more to it," Babar said in a tweet.

The so-called threat comes as calls for blacklisting Pakistan by the FATF intensifies. Former Canadian Ambassador Chris Alexander has called for Islamabad to be blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) while stating that the Imran Khan government continues to support Taliban and other terror outfits.

In December last year, a series of videos had surfaced showing senior Taliban leaders meeting their followers and Taliban fighters in Pakistan.

In the videos, Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban political office, was seen holding a briefing with the Taliban cadre on the Afghanistan peace negotiations and acknowledging the presence of the Taliban's top leadership in Pakistan.

In December, former Pakistan senator Afrasiab Khattak said Pakistan is using the Taliban as a "tool" for its dominance in Afghanistan under the pretext of strategic depth.

The peace negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban began in the Qatari capital of Doha back in September. In early December, Kabul and the Taliban announced that they had agreed on the framework of the talks, allowing for discussions to now be held on substantive issues. Little progress, however, has so far been made since then.

The visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan has been scrapped due to the security threat. As soon as the plane was about to land in Kabul, the trip was cancelled due to a security threat.

The visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan has been scrapped due to the security threat. As soon as the plane was about to land in Kabul, the trip was cancelled due to a security threat. "Speaker's visit to Kabul was postponed as the airport was closed due to a security threat. The plane was about to descent when the control tower informed of the closure of the airport. New dates for the visit will be decided after mutual consultations, "Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq wrote in a tweet on Thursday. As per media reports, the five-member parliamentary delegation, led by parliamentary secretary Asad Qaisar, was looking to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries during the three-day visit, as well as the support of progress in the war-torn country's peace process. Former Pakistani senator Farhatullah Babar questioned the timing of the trip's mysterious cancellation. "Security threat arose just when landing. Was the visit not cleared beforehand? Visit postponed indefinitely, the new date given. No regrets by hosts. Decision conveyed by tower operator. Normal protocol of high-level rep of host speaking to guest from tower ignored. There's more to it," Babar said in a tweet. The so-called threat comes as calls for blacklisting Pakistan by the FATF intensifies. Former Canadian Ambassador Chris Alexander has called for Islamabad to be blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) while stating that the Imran Khan government continues to support Taliban and other terror outfits. In December last year, a series of videos had surfaced showing senior Taliban leaders meeting their followers and Taliban fighters in Pakistan. In the videos, Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban political office, was seen holding a briefing with the Taliban cadre on the Afghanistan peace negotiations and acknowledging the presence of the Taliban's top leadership in Pakistan. In December, former Pakistan senator Afrasiab Khattak said Pakistan is using the Taliban as a "tool" for its dominance in Afghanistan under the pretext of strategic depth. The peace negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban began in the Qatari capital of Doha back in September. In early December, Kabul and the Taliban announced that they had agreed on the framework of the talks, allowing for discussions to now be held on substantive issues. Little progress, however, has so far been made since then.

Just before landing in Kabul, Pakistani delegation trip canceled

One security force personnel was killed and four more were wounded in an IED explosion that targeted an army vehicle in Qarabagh district in Kabul on Monday morning, police said in a statement.&nbsp;

The incident took place at around 7 a.m. in Sabz Sang village, TOLO News reported.

"Another mine was seized and defused by the security forces team," the police statement added.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blast year.

On Sunday, three security force members were killed in a car bombing in Kabul`s Paghman district.

According to the police, the explosives-laden car was detonated near a military vehicle.

At least 12 security force members were wounded in the explosion, police said.

Data collected by TOLO News revealed that at least 307 Afghans were killed and 350 others wounded in a series of explosions and targeted attacks in March.

There has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of explosions and targeted attacks in the country in March compared to February.

In February, the casualties were 264, with 278 injuries.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

One security force personnel was killed and four more were wounded in an IED explosion that targeted an army vehicle in Qarabagh district in Kabul on Monday morning, police said in a statement.

One security force personnel was killed and four more were wounded in an IED explosion that targeted an army vehicle in Qarabagh district in Kabul on Monday morning, police said in a statement. The incident took place at around 7 a.m. in Sabz Sang village, TOLO News reported. "Another mine was seized and defused by the security forces team," the police statement added. No one has claimed responsibility for the blast year. On Sunday, three security force members were killed in a car bombing in Kabul`s Paghman district. According to the police, the explosives-laden car was detonated near a military vehicle. At least 12 security force members were wounded in the explosion, police said. Data collected by TOLO News revealed that at least 307 Afghans were killed and 350 others wounded in a series of explosions and targeted attacks in March. There has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of explosions and targeted attacks in the country in March compared to February. In February, the casualties were 264, with 278 injuries. (With inputs from agencies)

Security force member killed, 4 injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin&nbsp;paid a&nbsp;surprise&nbsp;visit to Afghanistan on Sunday . His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Austin met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.

Afghanistan's presidential palace said on Sunday Austin and Ghani discussed the peace process and concerns over rising violence.

Austin's Afghanistan visit has come on the heels of him being in India. While in India, Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Austin on Saturday called India "a great partner".&nbsp;

US is currently making efforts to negotiate a peace deal in Afghanistan where Taliban has emerged as one of&nbsp;power players. There are talks of power-sharing with the Taliban. India has been involved in reconstruction of Afghanistan as well. All these factors impart importance to Lloyd Austin's Afghanistan visit. This is Austin's first Kabul visit as Secretary of Defense.

US is contemplating complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan but that is dependent on peace prevailing in the country. Although Taliban has made appropriate noises about being committed to peace, the violence in Afghanistan has surged in past few months.

On this background, all eyes are on Austin to see what announcement he makes.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/afghanistan-indo-pacific-discussed-during-jaishankar-austin-meet-371956">Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific discussed during Jaishankar-Austin meet&nbsp;</a>

US President Joe Biden said last week that the May 1 deadline, set by his predecessor Donald Trump would be "tough" to meet.

The Afghan government is also keen to keep US forces in the country for as long as possible for the vital air cover they provide.

Under the deal thrashed out between the Taliban and Washington, the insurgents pledged also to engage in peace talks with Afghan government negotiators, but they have made almost no progress and fighting has only worsened -- particularly in rural areas.

In Afghan cities there have been attacks on politicians, civil servants, academics, rights activists and journalists.

(With AFP inputs)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday . His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday . His visit has come just weeks before the May 1 deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Austin met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani. Afghanistan's presidential palace said on Sunday Austin and Ghani discussed the peace process and concerns over rising violence. Austin's Afghanistan visit has come on the heels of him being in India. While in India, Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Austin on Saturday called India "a great partner". US is currently making efforts to negotiate a peace deal in Afghanistan where Taliban has emerged as one of power players. There are talks of power-sharing with the Taliban. India has been involved in reconstruction of Afghanistan as well. All these factors impart importance to Lloyd Austin's Afghanistan visit. This is Austin's first Kabul visit as Secretary of Defense. US is contemplating complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan but that is dependent on peace prevailing in the country. Although Taliban has made appropriate noises about being committed to peace, the violence in Afghanistan has surged in past few months. On this background, all eyes are on Austin to see what announcement he makes. Also Read | Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific discussed during Jaishankar-Austin meet US President Joe Biden said last week that the May 1 deadline, set by his predecessor Donald Trump would be "tough" to meet. The Afghan government is also keen to keep US forces in the country for as long as possible for the vital air cover they provide. Under the deal thrashed out between the Taliban and Washington, the insurgents pledged also to engage in peace talks with Afghan government negotiators, but they have made almost no progress and fighting has only worsened -- particularly in rural areas. In Afghan cities there have been attacks on politicians, civil servants, academics, rights activists and journalists. (With AFP inputs)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pays surprise visit to Afghanistan, meets President Ashraf Ghani

Three people were killed and 11 wounded when a roadside bomb hit a bus carrying Afghan government employees in Kabul on Thursday, officials said.

The bombing comes on the day the Afghan government, Taliban and key countries, including the United States and Russia, gather in Moscow to push for a reduction in violence to propel the Afghan peace process forward.

A spokesman for the Kabul police confirmed the casualty figures but gave no further details. Another official said the vehicle was carrying Afghan government employees.

The blast hit a bus which was rented by the Afghan ministry of information and technology to transport employees, said Abdul Samad Hamid Poya, a ministry adviser.

He added that it was unclear at the moment who the victims are.

No one claimed immediate responsibility for the blast, but the Afghan government has blamed the Taliban for running an assassination campaign against government employees, civil society figures and journalists.

The insurgent Taliban has denied being involved in the campaign.

Three people were killed and 11 wounded when a roadside bomb hit a bus carrying Afghan government employees in Kabul on Thursday, officials said. The bombing comes on the day the Afghan government, Taliban and key countries, including the United States and Russia, gather in Moscow to push for a reduction in violence to propel the Afghan peace process forward.

Three people were killed and 11 wounded when a roadside bomb hit a bus carrying Afghan government employees in Kabul on Thursday, officials said. The bombing comes on the day the Afghan government, Taliban and key countries, including the United States and Russia, gather in Moscow to push for a reduction in violence to propel the Afghan peace process forward. A spokesman for the Kabul police confirmed the casualty figures but gave no further details. Another official said the vehicle was carrying Afghan government employees. The blast hit a bus which was rented by the Afghan ministry of information and technology to transport employees, said Abdul Samad Hamid Poya, a ministry adviser. He added that it was unclear at the moment who the victims are. No one claimed immediate responsibility for the blast, but the Afghan government has blamed the Taliban for running an assassination campaign against government employees, civil society figures and journalists. The insurgent Taliban has denied being involved in the campaign.

Bomb hits bus carrying Afghan government employees; 3 killed

Rasool Rezaie who despite being deported from Russia reinvents himself as a mushroom farmer. Rezaie starts cultivating Mushrooms in one room at his home, now takes 30 kg of oyster mushrooms to the market every day. WION brings the report.

Rasool Rezaie reinvents himself as a mushroom farmer in Kabul

The civil liberties of Afghan women are at stake. The government of Kabul has issued a pre-controversial decree and that is schoolgirls over 12 years have been banned from public singing.

Afghanistan: Schoolgirls over 12 years banned from public singing

Afghanistan's Education Ministry is barring schoolgirls older than 12 from singing at public events. Girls above 12 years will only be allowed to sing at women-only events.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday arrived in Kabul and held meeting with Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan`s High Council for National Reconciliation. Both leaders discussed Afghan peace process.

"As always pleased to meet HE Zalmay Khalilzad and his accompanying delegation. We discussed the peace process, talks in Doha, the US current review and the steps forward. We reiterated our call for an immediate end to violence and the acceleration of the peace talks," Abdullah tweeted

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As always pleased to meet HE Zalmay Khalilzad <a href="https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@US4AfghanPeace</a> &amp; his accompanying delegation. We discussed the peace process, talks in Doha, the US current review &amp; the steps forward. We reiterated our call for an immediate end to violence &amp; the acceleration of the peace talks. <a href="https://t.co/DC4SK0c3p9">pic.twitter.com/DC4SK0c3p9</a>
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrabdullahCE/status/1366267112705122307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The meet between the two leaders came just hours after US State Department announced resumption of talks with Taliban

"Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and his team will travel to Kabul, Doha and additional regional capitals," the US State Department had said in a statement on Sunday.

"He (Khalilzad) will resume discussions on the way ahead with the Islamic Republic and Afghan leaders, Taliban representatives and regional countries whose interests are best served by the achievement of just and durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire," the release added.

This is Khalilzad's first visit to Afghanistan after Joe Biden took charge as US president.

He is also expected to visit Islamabad and New Delhi as indicated in the release.The resumption of dialogue with the Taliban under Joe Biden`s administration clearly shows that the US is continuing its Afghan policy on the lines undertaken by former president Donald Trump.

India, which has completed huge developmental and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, will be watching the US move closely.

According to informed sources, Pakistan is fully backing the Taliban and wants to install them in Kabul, this can pose a major threat to India`s efforts in building democratic and development institutions in the war-torn country. India`s position is clear that any government formation in Kabul should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.

(With ANI inputs)

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday arrived in Kabul and held meeting with Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan`s High Council for National Reconciliation.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday arrived in Kabul and held meeting with Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan`s High Council for National Reconciliation. Both leaders discussed Afghan peace process. "As always pleased to meet HE Zalmay Khalilzad and his accompanying delegation. We discussed the peace process, talks in Doha, the US current review and the steps forward. We reiterated our call for an immediate end to violence and the acceleration of the peace talks," Abdullah tweeted As always pleased to meet HE Zalmay Khalilzad @US4AfghanPeace & his accompanying delegation. We discussed the peace process, talks in Doha, the US current review & the steps forward. We reiterated our call for an immediate end to violence & the acceleration of the peace talks. pic.twitter.com/DC4SK0c3p9 — Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) March 1, 2021 × The meet between the two leaders came just hours after US State Department announced resumption of talks with Taliban "Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and his team will travel to Kabul, Doha and additional regional capitals," the US State Department had said in a statement on Sunday. "He (Khalilzad) will resume discussions on the way ahead with the Islamic Republic and Afghan leaders, Taliban representatives and regional countries whose interests are best served by the achievement of just and durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire," the release added. This is Khalilzad's first visit to Afghanistan after Joe Biden took charge as US president. He is also expected to visit Islamabad and New Delhi as indicated in the release.The resumption of dialogue with the Taliban under Joe Biden`s administration clearly shows that the US is continuing its Afghan policy on the lines undertaken by former president Donald Trump. India, which has completed huge developmental and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, will be watching the US move closely. According to informed sources, Pakistan is fully backing the Taliban and wants to install them in Kabul, this can pose a major threat to India`s efforts in building democratic and development institutions in the war-torn country. India`s position is clear that any government formation in Kabul should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. (With ANI inputs)

US Afghanistan special envoy meets Abdullah Abdullah to discuss peace process

Five Afghan security force members who were escorting the international agency's vehicles have been killed in an attack on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway in Surobi District of Kabul on Thursday.

According to an Afghan interior ministry official, the insurgent Taliban were behind it.

Condemning the incident, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that no UN personnel were hurt or vehicle effected in an attack which hit a DPS vehicle that was escorting a UN convoy.&nbsp;

Attacks on international forces and foreign players have been rare since the Taliban signed a troop withdrawal deal with Washington almost a year ago.

However, violence against Afghans has escalated around the nation even as the Taliban and the Afghan government hold peace talks in Qatar.

On Thursday, three back-to-back blasts in eastern Kunar province left three people dead and two injured, according to a police spokesman.

At least two people were killed and five others injured in three separate blasts in eastern Nangarhar province, local officials said.

Unknown gunmen shot and injured Qotbuddin Kohi, a journalist working for Pajhwok News agency in northern Faryab province on Thursday, according to the media outlet`s director.

Almost daily deadly attacks with small, magnetic bombs attached to the undercarriages of vehicles, as well as roadside explosive devices and shootings, are unnerving Afghan officials, activists and journalists.

Officials say that peace talks have largely stalled as the violence rises and U.S. President Joe Biden`s administration reviews how to handle the peace process.

(With inputs from agencies)

Five Afghan security force members who were escorting the international agency's vehicles have been killed in an attack on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway in Surobi District of Kabul on Thursday.

Five Afghan security force members who were escorting the international agency's vehicles have been killed in an attack on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway in Surobi District of Kabul on Thursday. According to an Afghan interior ministry official, the insurgent Taliban were behind it. Condemning the incident, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that no UN personnel were hurt or vehicle effected in an attack which hit a DPS vehicle that was escorting a UN convoy. Attacks on international forces and foreign players have been rare since the Taliban signed a troop withdrawal deal with Washington almost a year ago. However, violence against Afghans has escalated around the nation even as the Taliban and the Afghan government hold peace talks in Qatar. On Thursday, three back-to-back blasts in eastern Kunar province left three people dead and two injured, according to a police spokesman. At least two people were killed and five others injured in three separate blasts in eastern Nangarhar province, local officials said. Unknown gunmen shot and injured Qotbuddin Kohi, a journalist working for Pajhwok News agency in northern Faryab province on Thursday, according to the media outlet`s director. Almost daily deadly attacks with small, magnetic bombs attached to the undercarriages of vehicles, as well as roadside explosive devices and shootings, are unnerving Afghan officials, activists and journalists. Officials say that peace talks have largely stalled as the violence rises and U.S. President Joe Biden`s administration reviews how to handle the peace process. (With inputs from agencies)

Five killed as UN convoy in Afghanistan attacked by gunmen

Three&nbsp;blasts rocked Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday morning as per news reports. Ariana News said that an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) targetted a land cruiser in Kart-e-Parwan. There are no reports of any casualties as of now. Afghanistan's Tolo News reported that there were three&nbsp;blasts and four people were injured in total.

Reportedly, first explosion took place in&nbsp;Qala-e-Abdul Ali area in Kabul province. It targetted a police vehicle. Second blast hit Ministry of Labour vehicle on Qoway Markaz in Kabul. Third blast targetted a police vehicle in downtown Kabul.

Police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters that two people were killed and another wounded in their vehicle by a bomb in downtown Kabul.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told AFP that one of those killed was a district police chief in the capital.

An AFP photograph at the scene said the bomb had ripped through the rear of what was appeared to be an armoured vehicle.

Minutes earlier, another blast targeting a vehicle in the same district wounded four people, Faramarz added.

(With AFP inputs)

Three blasts rocked Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday morning as per news reports. Ariana News said that an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) targetted a land cruiser in Kart-e-Parwan.

Three blasts rocked Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday morning as per news reports. Ariana News said that an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) targetted a land cruiser in Kart-e-Parwan. There are no reports of any casualties as of now. Afghanistan's Tolo News reported that there were three blasts and four people were injured in total. Reportedly, first explosion took place in Qala-e-Abdul Ali area in Kabul province. It targetted a police vehicle. Second blast hit Ministry of Labour vehicle on Qoway Markaz in Kabul. Third blast targetted a police vehicle in downtown Kabul. Police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters that two people were killed and another wounded in their vehicle by a bomb in downtown Kabul. Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told AFP that one of those killed was a district police chief in the capital. An AFP photograph at the scene said the bomb had ripped through the rear of what was appeared to be an armoured vehicle. Minutes earlier, another blast targeting a vehicle in the same district wounded four people, Faramarz added. (With AFP inputs)

Blasts rock Kabul, IED targets land cruiser

Half of Afghans need humanitarian aid but rising violence is preventing deliveries, a senior European Union humanitarian official said on Wednesday (February 3), reiterating calls for a ceasefire between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban.

Half of Afghans need humanitarian aid as violence rises - EU Commissioner

In Kabul’s uncertain present, fear and dread intertwine in a vise. Fear has become a way of life.

“When you’re in the car you feel fear, when you are walking you feel fear, and when you are in the shop you feel fear,” said Shamsullah Amini, a 22-year-old shopkeeper, while watching over his vats of dried grains and beans in the Taimani neighborhood. “If there was any security at all, we wouldn’t all be thinking about leaving the country.”

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/radio-station-run-by-women-for-women-in-afghanistan-349666/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

“Fear is omnipresent,” said Muqaddesa Yourish, an executive at a leading communications firm. “It’s gone from a state of fear to a state of being.”

Fear has long been part of life in Kabul, with the possibility of sudden death from a Taliban strike. But these days — even as the Afghan government tries to negotiate peace with the Taliban — there is a heightened sense that life is fragile here. With the Taliban active in most of the country and almost daily reports of government forces beaten back, there are new questions about whether a grim return to extremist rule is on the near horizon.

On Sunday morning, gunmen killed two female judges on a street in a central Kabul neighborhood. The women worked for Afghanistan’s Supreme Court. Shaharzad Akbar, the chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, wrote on Twitter afterward that the country is suffering “what seems to be a systematic massacre &amp; the world seems to be just watching.”

In the first two weeks of January, bombs went off in several Kabul neighborhoods; a car bomb killed a government spokesman and two others; and a police officer, a military pilot, a soldier and a member of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency were all gunned down, according to a New York Times report. The list is not exhaustive.

“Right now, I can’t be sure of my own security,” said Omar Sadr, a political scientist at the American University of Afghanistan. “But it’s not just about being targeted. It’s about an atmosphere of fear. If it continues, you won’t have the space needed for a democracy.”

The assassination campaign, aimed mostly at government workers, activists, journalists and members of the military, is thought to be the Taliban’s attempt to pressure the Afghan government during the halting peace talks, though the group has denied responsibility for the attacks.

It is also a means of silencing critical voices, now and in the future. More than 300 people were killed in targeted attacks last year, including at least six journalists over the last seven months, according to a New York Times tally.

Some who are able to get visas have left.

“It is pretty morose,” said Farahnaz Forotan, a leading television journalist, who fled to Paris in November after her name turned up on a hit list.

In the capital, a veneer of normality masks the dread. In the early evening, storefronts are brightly lit against the darkened streets, and a frenetic bustle of shoppers and street vendors, darting through the perpetual traffic jam, is undamped by the coronavirus.

But even these last shreds of routine could disappear if the Taliban return or Afghanistan descends again into civil war.

The latest wave of violence evokes memories of the early 1990s strife that destroyed the capital. The internal war has already begun, some here say; the near-daily bombings and shootings, many unclaimed, foreshadow it. At night, the occasional burst of automatic gunfire has become familiar.

“There is no safe area,” said Mina Rezaee, who runs the Simple Café in the bustling Karte Seh neighborhood, packed with inexpensive clothing stores. “People are killed at the mosque, they are killed in the street, they are killed at work. And this is something that’s always with me.”

Portraits of Simone de Beauvoir, Hannah Arendt and Virginia Woolf hang on one of the cafe’s walls next to a quotation from Michel Foucault about love and sensuality.

How many explosions has Rezaee witnessed up close? “It’s common for me,” she shrugged, noting that she was near a massive truck bombing outside the German Embassy that killed 90 in 2017. In a photograph on her Facebook page, taken after the 2016 Islamic State bombing in Kabul that killed over 80, she clutches her hands to a face contorted with anguish.

“Nobody wants to die young,” said Saib Nissar, 25, who runs one of the glassed-in storefront bakeries that dot the capital. “But here in Afghanistan, no one can think of anything but the insecurity.”

The most banal aspects of daily life have become a torment.

“Every morning on the way to work I’m waiting for an explosion,” said Zahra Fayazi, a customer at the Simple Café and a former top national women’s volleyball player who now works at the state electricity company. “If it doesn’t happen in this square, it will happen in the next one.”

“When we get to the office, everyone is talking about the latest explosions,” she said. “I can only breathe again when my daughters return home from school.”

The consequences of the violence are both psychological and practical — especially for the government workers, academics and activists who are the biggest targets.

Akbar, the chair of the country’s human rights commission, said, “If you are spending your mental energy thinking about how to survive, inevitably all your days are tense and stressful.”

Sadr, the political scientist, said he sold his car, worried it would be a target. “I’m trying to use taxis instead,” he said. “I’m trying to be cautious and move less.”

He also said he worried about whether something he said would attract unwanted notice from the Taliban. “We’re all cautious about speaking, about the implications of speaking,” he said.

Yourish, the communications executive, who is also a former deputy minister, said she no longer has a routine. “I change my routes, I change vehicles,” she said. “I need to be on extra alert about my surroundings. You do get these thoughts of, ‘What if this is my last moment?’ It’s like, taking every day as it comes.”

“But I can’t,” she added.

There is little confidence that the government can hold out against the Taliban, either on the battlefield or at the negotiating table. Some here who have met with them say Taliban negotiators do not hide their contempt for the Afghan government, regarding it as a puppet of the Americans. There is deep unease about what will happen when the last U.S. troops withdraw, tentatively scheduled for May.

“What will they think of our rights, our women’s rights?” said Rezaee, the cafe owner, who has all the more reason to fear as a member of the ethnic minority most persecuted by the Taliban, the Hazara, like many of her customers.

An Afghan rapper and his musician friends, sitting together at the cafe, were not optimistic. “I sing of a life that doesn’t exist,” Mustafa Saher, 27, raps in his music video.

Saher put his tattooed arm on the table. “If they see this, they will cut my arm off,” he said. “They say, this is the opposite of Islam.”

After he posted his video online, he received a threatening phone call saying: “What you are doing? It is against Islam. You are an infidel!”

“I am scared of my own people,” Saher said. “This fear is depressing people and forcing them to isolate themselves,” he said, adding that it had become impossible, already, to hold concerts in many parts of Kabul.

“All we want is freedom, and justice, and maybe a little bit of peace,” he said.

In Kabul’s uncertain present, fear and dread intertwine in a vise. Fear has become a way of life. “When you’re in the car you feel fear, when you are walking you feel fear, and when you are in the shop you feel fear,” said Shamsullah Amini, a 22-year-old shopkeeper, while watching over his vats of dried grains and beans in the Taimani neighborhood.

In Kabul’s uncertain present, fear and dread intertwine in a vise. Fear has become a way of life. “When you’re in the car you feel fear, when you are walking you feel fear, and when you are in the shop you feel fear,” said Shamsullah Amini, a 22-year-old shopkeeper, while watching over his vats of dried grains and beans in the Taimani neighborhood. “If there was any security at all, we wouldn’t all be thinking about leaving the country.” Watch | “Fear is omnipresent,” said Muqaddesa Yourish, an executive at a leading communications firm. “It’s gone from a state of fear to a state of being.” Fear has long been part of life in Kabul, with the possibility of sudden death from a Taliban strike. But these days — even as the Afghan government tries to negotiate peace with the Taliban — there is a heightened sense that life is fragile here. With the Taliban active in most of the country and almost daily reports of government forces beaten back, there are new questions about whether a grim return to extremist rule is on the near horizon. On Sunday morning, gunmen killed two female judges on a street in a central Kabul neighborhood. The women worked for Afghanistan’s Supreme Court. Shaharzad Akbar, the chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, wrote on Twitter afterward that the country is suffering “what seems to be a systematic massacre & the world seems to be just watching.” In the first two weeks of January, bombs went off in several Kabul neighborhoods; a car bomb killed a government spokesman and two others; and a police officer, a military pilot, a soldier and a member of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency were all gunned down, according to a New York Times report. The list is not exhaustive. “Right now, I can’t be sure of my own security,” said Omar Sadr, a political scientist at the American University of Afghanistan. “But it’s not just about being targeted. It’s about an atmosphere of fear. If it continues, you won’t have the space needed for a democracy.” The assassination campaign, aimed mostly at government workers, activists, journalists and members of the military, is thought to be the Taliban’s attempt to pressure the Afghan government during the halting peace talks, though the group has denied responsibility for the attacks. It is also a means of silencing critical voices, now and in the future. More than 300 people were killed in targeted attacks last year, including at least six journalists over the last seven months, according to a New York Times tally. Some who are able to get visas have left. “It is pretty morose,” said Farahnaz Forotan, a leading television journalist, who fled to Paris in November after her name turned up on a hit list. In the capital, a veneer of normality masks the dread. In the early evening, storefronts are brightly lit against the darkened streets, and a frenetic bustle of shoppers and street vendors, darting through the perpetual traffic jam, is undamped by the coronavirus. But even these last shreds of routine could disappear if the Taliban return or Afghanistan descends again into civil war. The latest wave of violence evokes memories of the early 1990s strife that destroyed the capital. The internal war has already begun, some here say; the near-daily bombings and shootings, many unclaimed, foreshadow it. At night, the occasional burst of automatic gunfire has become familiar. “There is no safe area,” said Mina Rezaee, who runs the Simple Café in the bustling Karte Seh neighborhood, packed with inexpensive clothing stores. “People are killed at the mosque, they are killed in the street, they are killed at work. And this is something that’s always with me.” Portraits of Simone de Beauvoir, Hannah Arendt and Virginia Woolf hang on one of the cafe’s walls next to a quotation from Michel Foucault about love and sensuality. How many explosions has Rezaee witnessed up close? “It’s common for me,” she shrugged, noting that she was near a massive truck bombing outside the German Embassy that killed 90 in 2017. In a photograph on her Facebook page, taken after the 2016 Islamic State bombing in Kabul that killed over 80, she clutches her hands to a face contorted with anguish. “Nobody wants to die young,” said Saib Nissar, 25, who runs one of the glassed-in storefront bakeries that dot the capital. “But here in Afghanistan, no one can think of anything but the insecurity.” The most banal aspects of daily life have become a torment. “Every morning on the way to work I’m waiting for an explosion,” said Zahra Fayazi, a customer at the Simple Café and a former top national women’s volleyball player who now works at the state electricity company. “If it doesn’t happen in this square, it will happen in the next one.” “When we get to the office, everyone is talking about the latest explosions,” she said. “I can only breathe again when my daughters return home from school.” The consequences of the violence are both psychological and practical — especially for the government workers, academics and activists who are the biggest targets. Akbar, the chair of the country’s human rights commission, said, “If you are spending your mental energy thinking about how to survive, inevitably all your days are tense and stressful.” Sadr, the political scientist, said he sold his car, worried it would be a target. “I’m trying to use taxis instead,” he said. “I’m trying to be cautious and move less.” He also said he worried about whether something he said would attract unwanted notice from the Taliban. “We’re all cautious about speaking, about the implications of speaking,” he said. Yourish, the communications executive, who is also a former deputy minister, said she no longer has a routine. “I change my routes, I change vehicles,” she said. “I need to be on extra alert about my surroundings. You do get these thoughts of, ‘What if this is my last moment?’ It’s like, taking every day as it comes.” “But I can’t,” she added. There is little confidence that the government can hold out against the Taliban, either on the battlefield or at the negotiating table. Some here who have met with them say Taliban negotiators do not hide their contempt for the Afghan government, regarding it as a puppet of the Americans. There is deep unease about what will happen when the last U.S. troops withdraw, tentatively scheduled for May. “What will they think of our rights, our women’s rights?” said Rezaee, the cafe owner, who has all the more reason to fear as a member of the ethnic minority most persecuted by the Taliban, the Hazara, like many of her customers. An Afghan rapper and his musician friends, sitting together at the cafe, were not optimistic. “I sing of a life that doesn’t exist,” Mustafa Saher, 27, raps in his music video. Saher put his tattooed arm on the table. “If they see this, they will cut my arm off,” he said. “They say, this is the opposite of Islam.” After he posted his video online, he received a threatening phone call saying: “What you are doing? It is against Islam. You are an infidel!” “I am scared of my own people,” Saher said. “This fear is depressing people and forcing them to isolate themselves,” he said, adding that it had become impossible, already, to hold concerts in many parts of Kabul. “All we want is freedom, and justice, and maybe a little bit of peace,” he said.

'There is no safe area': In Kabul, fear has taken over

Gunmen shot dead two Afghan women judges working for the Supreme Court during an early morning ambush in the country's capital Sunday.

The killings come amid even as a wave of assassinations continues to rattle the nation.

The attack on the judges happened as they were travelling to their office in a court vehicle, Ahmad Fahim Qaweem, a spokesman for the court told AFP.

Kabul police confirmed the attack.

There are more than 200 female judges working for the country's top court, the spokesman added.

Violence has surged across Afghanistan in recent months, especially in Kabul where a new trend of targeted killings of high-profile figures have sown fear and chaos in the restive city.

The latest attack comes just two days after the Pentagon announced it had cut troop levels in Afghanistan to 2,500, their lowest numbers during the nearly two decades of war.

(with inputs from AFP)

Gunmen shot dead two Afghan women judges working for the Supreme Court during an early morning ambush in the country's capital Sunday. The killings come amid even as a wave of assassinations continues to rattle the nation.

Gunmen shot dead two Afghan women judges working for the Supreme Court during an early morning ambush in the country's capital Sunday. The killings come amid even as a wave of assassinations continues to rattle the nation. The attack on the judges happened as they were travelling to their office in a court vehicle, Ahmad Fahim Qaweem, a spokesman for the court told AFP. Kabul police confirmed the attack. There are more than 200 female judges working for the country's top court, the spokesman added. Violence has surged across Afghanistan in recent months, especially in Kabul where a new trend of targeted killings of high-profile figures have sown fear and chaos in the restive city. The latest attack comes just two days after the Pentagon announced it had cut troop levels in Afghanistan to 2,500, their lowest numbers during the nearly two decades of war. (with inputs from AFP)

Gunmen shoot two Afghan women judges dead in Kabul

Two Taliban terrorists killed 12 pro-government Afghan militiamen, as per officials. The attack came at night in Ghorian District in Herat on Friday.

"Twelve pro-government militiamen were killed in the Taliban attack in Ghorian district last night," said Farhad Khademi, ditrict governor. He was quoted by AFP. 
Herat provincial council member Mohammad Sardar Bahaduri confirmed the attack and said it was carried out by two Taliban fighters who had infiltrated the base.

"The militiamen were dining when the attack happened," he said.

In a separate incident, a vehicle carrying policemen was struck by a roadside bomb in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul, police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters.

Two policemen were killed and one wounded in the attack, he said.

Violence has surged across Afghanistan in recent months, especially in Kabul, which has been rocked by a new trend of targeted killings.

The bloodshed comes even as the Taliban and government negotiators engage in peace talks to end the nearly two-decades-long war in the country.

Representatives from two warring sides are currently in the Qatari capital Doha discussing the agenda for the talks.

Two Taliban terrorists killed 12 pro-government Afghan militiamen, as per officials. The attack came at night in Ghorian District in Herat on Friday. "Twelve pro-government militiamen were killed in the Taliban attack in Ghorian district last night," said Farhad Khademi, ditrict governor.

Two Taliban terrorists killed 12 pro-government Afghan militiamen, as per officials. The attack came at night in Ghorian District in Herat on Friday. "Twelve pro-government militiamen were killed in the Taliban attack in Ghorian district last night," said Farhad Khademi, ditrict governor. He was quoted by AFP. Herat provincial council member Mohammad Sardar Bahaduri confirmed the attack and said it was carried out by two Taliban fighters who had infiltrated the base. "The militiamen were dining when the attack happened," he said. In a separate incident, a vehicle carrying policemen was struck by a roadside bomb in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul, police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters. Two policemen were killed and one wounded in the attack, he said. Violence has surged across Afghanistan in recent months, especially in Kabul, which has been rocked by a new trend of targeted killings. The bloodshed comes even as the Taliban and government negotiators engage in peace talks to end the nearly two-decades-long war in the country. Representatives from two warring sides are currently in the Qatari capital Doha discussing the agenda for the talks.

Two Taliban terrorists kill 12 pro-government Afghan militiamen

An Afghan journalist-turned spokesman for the country's public protection force was killed along with two colleagues Sunday by a bomb targeting their vehicle, the interior ministry said.

The murder of Zia Wadan, who previously worked for several media networks in Afghanistan, appeared to be the latest in a series of targeted killings that have rocked Afghanistan, especially Kabul.

Wadan and his colleagues were killed in morning rush-hour traffic in an eastern part of the capital, ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told reporters.

"A vehicle carrying Zia Wadan was targeted with an IED... as a result Wadan and two of his colleagues were killed," Arian said, adding that another person was wounded.&nbsp;

No group has claimed the attack so far.

Wadan was spokesman for the National Public Protection Force (NPPF), a security service under the interior ministry that deploys guards to international organisations across Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Deadly violence has surged across the country in recent months, and a new trend of targeted killings has sowed fear, especially in Kabul.

High-profile figures including journalists, politicians and rights activists have increasingly been targeted despite peace talks between the government and Taliban.

Since November, five journalists have been killed in targeted killings along with several other prominent figures.

An Afghan journalist-turned spokesman for the country's public protection force was killed along with two colleagues Sunday by a bomb targeting their vehicle, the interior ministry said.

An Afghan journalist-turned spokesman for the country's public protection force was killed along with two colleagues Sunday by a bomb targeting their vehicle, the interior ministry said. The murder of Zia Wadan, who previously worked for several media networks in Afghanistan, appeared to be the latest in a series of targeted killings that have rocked Afghanistan, especially Kabul. Wadan and his colleagues were killed in morning rush-hour traffic in an eastern part of the capital, ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told reporters. "A vehicle carrying Zia Wadan was targeted with an IED... as a result Wadan and two of his colleagues were killed," Arian said, adding that another person was wounded. No group has claimed the attack so far. Wadan was spokesman for the National Public Protection Force (NPPF), a security service under the interior ministry that deploys guards to international organisations across Afghanistan. Deadly violence has surged across the country in recent months, and a new trend of targeted killings has sowed fear, especially in Kabul. High-profile figures including journalists, politicians and rights activists have increasingly been targeted despite peace talks between the government and Taliban. Since November, five journalists have been killed in targeted killings along with several other prominent figures.

Bomb kills three in Afghan capital

Separate attacks in southern Afghanistan left at least 11 civilians and security forces dead on Thursday.

This happened despite the presence of Afghan negotiators in Qatar. They resumed talks with the Taliban aimed at finding an end to decades of conflict.

In southern Uruzgan province, a suicide car bomber detonated a vehicle full of explosives early Thursday near a military base, killing six security forces.

It's said the explosion was so strong it sent shock waves through the city.

In southern Helmand province, at least five civilians were killed and five others wounded in a suspected airstrike late Wednesday on the outskirts. The casualties included children and women.

Abdul Nabi Elham, provincial governor, said officials were investigating to determine whether the assault was an airstrike or some other type of attack.

An Afghan negotiating team is in Qatar's capital of Doha to resume talks aimed at finding an end to decades of relentless conflict even as violence has spiked across the country.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;talks come amid growing doubt over a US-Taliban peace deal brokered by outgoing President Donald Trump.

Separate attacks in southern Afghanistan left at least 11 civilians and security forces dead on Thursday. This happened despite the presence of Afghan negotiators in Qatar.

Separate attacks in southern Afghanistan left at least 11 civilians and security forces dead on Thursday. This happened despite the presence of Afghan negotiators in Qatar. They resumed talks with the Taliban aimed at finding an end to decades of conflict. In southern Uruzgan province, a suicide car bomber detonated a vehicle full of explosives early Thursday near a military base, killing six security forces. It's said the explosion was so strong it sent shock waves through the city. In southern Helmand province, at least five civilians were killed and five others wounded in a suspected airstrike late Wednesday on the outskirts. The casualties included children and women. Abdul Nabi Elham, provincial governor, said officials were investigating to determine whether the assault was an airstrike or some other type of attack. An Afghan negotiating team is in Qatar's capital of Doha to resume talks aimed at finding an end to decades of relentless conflict even as violence has spiked across the country. The talks come amid growing doubt over a US-Taliban peace deal brokered by outgoing President Donald Trump.

Attacks in southern Afghanistan kill at least 11

Two Afghan policemen were killed as three separate "sticky bombs" exploded in Kabul on Saturday, the latest violence to hit the Afghan capital.

The policemen were killed when a sticky bomb attached to their pick-up truck exploded in a central district of Kabul, police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters.

A civilian was also wounded in the blast, he said.

Two security personnel were wounded in another similar bomb attack targeting a second police pick-up truck in a western district of Kabul, Faramarz said.

He said a third bomb also exploded in the city but caused no casualties.

In recent months, Kabul and several other provinces of Afghanistan have been rocked by deadly violence, including bombings, rocket attacks and targeted killings.

Several of these attacks, especially in Kabul, have been claimed by the jihadist Islamic State group.

Journalists, politicians and rights activists have increasingly come under targeted attacks as violence surges in Afghanistan, despite peace talks between the government and the Taliban.

Peace talks that started on September 12 in the Qatari capital Doha are currently on a break until early January. 
&nbsp;

Two Afghan policemen were killed as three separate "sticky bombs" exploded in Kabul on Saturday, the latest violence to hit the Afghan capital. The policemen were killed when a sticky bomb attached to their pick-up truck exploded in a central district of Kabul, police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters.

Two Afghan policemen were killed as three separate "sticky bombs" exploded in Kabul on Saturday, the latest violence to hit the Afghan capital. The policemen were killed when a sticky bomb attached to their pick-up truck exploded in a central district of Kabul, police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told reporters. A civilian was also wounded in the blast, he said. Two security personnel were wounded in another similar bomb attack targeting a second police pick-up truck in a western district of Kabul, Faramarz said. He said a third bomb also exploded in the city but caused no casualties. In recent months, Kabul and several other provinces of Afghanistan have been rocked by deadly violence, including bombings, rocket attacks and targeted killings. Several of these attacks, especially in Kabul, have been claimed by the jihadist Islamic State group. Journalists, politicians and rights activists have increasingly come under targeted attacks as violence surges in Afghanistan, despite peace talks between the government and the Taliban. Peace talks that started on September 12 in the Qatari capital Doha are currently on a break until early January.

Two Afghan policemen killed as Kabul hit by bomb blasts

As many as seven Taliban terrorists were killed in Chomtal district of Afghanistan's Balkh province in an airstrike on Friday.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Afghanistan said that a cache of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed during the strikes.

"7 Taliban were killed in Chomtal district of #Balkh province as a result of an airstrike, today morning. Additionally, 5 others were wounded and a large amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed," Ministry of Defence, Afghanistan tweeted.

The MoD also informed about the killing of eight other Taliban terrorists in Bala Bolok district of Farah province.

"8 Taliban terrorists were killed and 3 others were wounded in Bala Bolok district of #Farah province, last night. Also, a large amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed during reciprocal attacks of #ANA," MoD said in another tweet.

After a series of videos surfaced showing Taliban leaders continuing their terror activities in Pakistan, Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that the presence of Taliban leaders in Pakistan "clearly violates Afghanistan's national sovereignty".

Afghanistan has also urged Islamabad "not to allow its territory to be used by insurgents and elements who insist on continuing the war and bloodshed".

The official statement was released after "a series of video footages emerged in which the Taliban appeared among their followers, disclosing the existence of all Taliban leaders in Pakistan and acknowledging their continued activities in Pakistani territory".

The ministry expressed "deepest regret" over some Taliban leaders being seen in the videos visiting training camps.&nbsp;

Also, an explosion took place in the Pul-e-Sokhta area of Kabul's PD6 on Thursday morning, injuring three people.

No fatalities have so far been reported.&nbsp;The explosion took place just after a blast in the Chaman-e-Hozoori area in Kabul.

(with inputs)

As many as seven Taliban terrorists were killed in Chomtal district of Afghanistan's Balkh province in an airstrike on Friday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Afghanistan said that a cache of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed during the strikes.

As many as seven Taliban terrorists were killed in Chomtal district of Afghanistan's Balkh province in an airstrike on Friday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Afghanistan said that a cache of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed during the strikes. "7 Taliban were killed in Chomtal district of #Balkh province as a result of an airstrike, today morning. Additionally, 5 others were wounded and a large amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed," Ministry of Defence, Afghanistan tweeted. The MoD also informed about the killing of eight other Taliban terrorists in Bala Bolok district of Farah province. "8 Taliban terrorists were killed and 3 others were wounded in Bala Bolok district of #Farah province, last night. Also, a large amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed during reciprocal attacks of #ANA," MoD said in another tweet. After a series of videos surfaced showing Taliban leaders continuing their terror activities in Pakistan, Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that the presence of Taliban leaders in Pakistan "clearly violates Afghanistan's national sovereignty". Afghanistan has also urged Islamabad "not to allow its territory to be used by insurgents and elements who insist on continuing the war and bloodshed". The official statement was released after "a series of video footages emerged in which the Taliban appeared among their followers, disclosing the existence of all Taliban leaders in Pakistan and acknowledging their continued activities in Pakistani territory". The ministry expressed "deepest regret" over some Taliban leaders being seen in the videos visiting training camps. Also, an explosion took place in the Pul-e-Sokhta area of Kabul's PD6 on Thursday morning, injuring three people. No fatalities have so far been reported. The explosion took place just after a blast in the Chaman-e-Hozoori area in Kabul. (with inputs)

Seven Taliban terrorists killed in airstrike in Afghanistan's Balkh province

kabul

Kabul, News on Kabul, stories on Kabul, articles on Kabul, Kabul stories at Wion, Kabul news, Kabul latest news