<p>The Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against extending war, as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.</p>

<p>"Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that the continuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in the interest of your and our people," the Taliban said in a statement.</p>

<p>"Anyone seeking extension of wars and occupation will be held liable for it just like the previous two decades."</p>

<p>Defence ministers from the Washington-backed allies are to meet next week to discuss whether NATO's 10,000-strong mission -- mostly carrying out support roles -- should stay or go, as Taliban violence rages.</p>

<p>Former US president Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban last year under which the United States agreed foreign troops would leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in return for conditions including cutting ties with Al-Qaeda and opening peace talks with the Kabul government.</p>

<p>Joe Biden's administration has said it would review the deal, with the Pentagon accusing the Afghan insurgent group of not meeting their commitment to reduce violence.</p>

<p>The Taliban in turn has accused the US of breaching the agreement and insisted it will continue its "fight and jihad" if foreign troops do not leave by May.</p>

<p>In his final days in office Trump unilaterally reduced US forces in Afghanistan to just 2,500 -- the lowest since the start of the war in 2001.</p>

<p>NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly insisted that members must decide "together" on the future of their mission and he hopes Biden will coordinate more closely with allies.</p>

<p>The Taliban on Saturday said it was "seriously committed" to the US deal,&nbsp;claiming it had "significantly decreased the level of operations".</p>

<p><em><strong>(with inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>


The Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against extending war, as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan. "Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that the continuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in the interest of your and our people," the Taliban said in a statement.

The Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against extending war, as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan. "Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that the continuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in the interest of your and our people," the Taliban said in a statement. "Anyone seeking extension of wars and occupation will be held liable for it just like the previous two decades." Defence ministers from the Washington-backed allies are to meet next week to discuss whether NATO's 10,000-strong mission -- mostly carrying out support roles -- should stay or go, as Taliban violence rages. Former US president Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban last year under which the United States agreed foreign troops would leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in return for conditions including cutting ties with Al-Qaeda and opening peace talks with the Kabul government. Joe Biden's administration has said it would review the deal, with the Pentagon accusing the Afghan insurgent group of not meeting their commitment to reduce violence. The Taliban in turn has accused the US of breaching the agreement and insisted it will continue its "fight and jihad" if foreign troops do not leave by May. In his final days in office Trump unilaterally reduced US forces in Afghanistan to just 2,500 -- the lowest since the start of the war in 2001. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly insisted that members must decide "together" on the future of their mission and he hopes Biden will coordinate more closely with allies. The Taliban on Saturday said it was "seriously committed" to the US deal, claiming it had "significantly decreased the level of operations". (with inputs from agencies)

Taliban warns US-led NATO forces to not extend ‘occupation’

<p>Islamic State claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on an armoured convoy used by NATO that killed eight people in the Afghan capital Kabul.</p>

<p>It said in a statement on its Amaq news agency that a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged car as the convoy passed an area near the U.S. embassy, killing eight American soldiers.</p>

<p>Public health officials in Kabul said the eight dead were civilians and that at least 28 people were wounded in the blast that took place during the morning rush hour in a busy part of the city. Three U.S. service members were among the wounded.</p>

<p>There was no immediate word on whether any foreign troops had been hurt in the attack, which hit a group of armoured personnel carriers designed to withstand large blasts.</p>

<p>However the blast, which security officials at the scene said was a suicide attack, also destroyed&nbsp;or badly damaged a number of civilian vehicles nearby.</p>

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<p>Explosion reported in PD9 Massoud Square in Kabul city. (Twitter)</p>
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<p>Afghan police and municipal workers clear debris from the site of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. (Reuters)</p>
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<p>Men carry an injured man inside a hospital after the suicide attack in Kabul. (Reuters)</p>
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<p>The attack follows a threat by the Taliban to target foreign forces in the spring offensive that it launched last week.</p>

<p>Witnesses said traces of blood and clothing could be seen on the ground at the blast site. Kabul television stations earlier reported that at least three people had been killed.</p>

<p>The heavily armoured MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles that coalition forces use to travel in Kabul appeared to have suffered only relatively minor external damage, witnesses said.</p>

<p>There was no immediate comment from the Resolute Support mission in the capital.</p>

<p>(Reuters)</p>


Islamic State claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on an armoured convoy used by NATO that killed eight people in the Afghan capital Kabul. It said in a statement on its Amaq news agency that a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged car as the convoy passed an area near the U.S. embassy, killing eight American soldiers. Public health officials in Kabul said the eight dead were civilians and that at least 28 people were wounded in the blast that took place during the morning rush hour in a busy part of the city. Three U.S. service members were among the wounded. There was no immediate word on whether any foreign troops had been hurt in the attack, which hit a group of armoured personnel carriers designed to withstand large blasts. However the blast, which security officials at the scene said was a suicide attack, also destroyed or badly damaged a number of civilian vehicles nearby. Explosion reported in PD9 Massoud Square in Kabul city. (Twitter) × Afghan police and municipal workers clear debris from the site of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. (Reuters) × Men carry an injured man inside a hospital after the suicide attack in Kabul. (Reuters) × The attack follows a threat by the Taliban to target foreign forces in the spring offensive that it launched last week. Witnesses said traces of blood and clothing could be seen on the ground at the blast site. Kabul television stations earlier reported that at least three people had been killed. The heavily armoured MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles that coalition forces use to travel in Kabul appeared to have suffered only relatively minor external damage, witnesses said. There was no immediate comment from the Resolute Support mission in the capital. (Reuters)

Islamic State claims responsibility for blast in Afghan capital that killed 8

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Taliban warns US-led NATO forces to not extend ‘occupation’

Islamic State claims responsibility for blast in Afghan capital that killed 8