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

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

A Taliban official said on Wednesday that the United States had promised to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of April during talks last month, RIA news agency reported, more than past estimates of the planned pull-out.

Taliban says US promised to halve its troops in Afghanistan by April: Report

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

Taliban demands new constitution for Afghanistan at rare talks

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

Two Afghan journalists killed as gunmen open fire in radio station

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

Taliban calls recent Afghanistan peace talks with US successful: Report

By Michael Semple When members of the Taliban’s Political Commission in Doha sat down with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on January 21, talks were expected to last only a couple of days.

US peace talks: The tensions within Taliban

Women who lived under the harsh rule of the Taliban urged senior Afghan politicians to ensure their hard-won freedoms are not bargained away when they talk peace with the insurgents on Tuesday.

We are not a 'political tool': Afghan women on Taliban talks

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

Taliban takes centre stage as Kabul cut out of peace talks

Former President Hamid Karzai on Sunday said talks between Afghan government and the Taliban representatives will promote in creating a national and regional consensus for peace.

'Moscow talks first step towards inter-Afghan dialogue', says former Afghan President Karzai

In the last few years the term ‘last helicopter’ has been synonymous with US withdrawal of its remaining rump military and civil elements from any expeditionary deployment abroad.

Last copter from Afghanistan: Taliban chooses to continue fighting while negotiating with the US

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani lashed out at the Taliban on Sunday saying, "those who are forcefully bringing others to negotiate should not say that the army is not required to reinstate peace in the country".

Afghan President Ghani slams Taliban's remarks on dissolving army

The Taliban said Sunday it will send a delegation to Russia for a rare meeting with Afghan opposition leaders, just days after peace talks with the United States that excluded the Kabul government.

Taliban to meet Afghan opposition in Moscow: Official

Afghan and NATO forces are planning to launch more operations in Kandahar to clear it of the Taliban, said Afghanistan's acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid after touring the province along with NATO forces commander General Scott Miller.

More security operations in Kandahar planned to clear it of Taliban: Afghan acting Defence Minister

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

Trump 'serious' about Afghan withdrawal: Taliban

The Kabul government is steadily losing its grip over parts of Afghanistan even as American forces intensify their air campaign against insurgent groups, a US government watchdog said Thursday.

Kabul control slips in Afghanistan amid US talks with Taliban

Negotiations in Afghanistan are going well, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday after US officials earlier this week said there had been significant progress in talks to end 17 years of war in the country.

Trump says Afghanistan talks 'proceeding well'

A United States intelligence report has warned terror attacks in India and Afghanistan due to "safe havens" provided to militants by Pakistan. The "worldwide threat assessment of US intelligence community" report released by "The office of the director of national intelligence" said, "militant groups supported by Pakistan will continue to take advantage of their "safe haven" in Pakistan to plan and conduct attacks in India and Afghanistan, including against US interests.

Militant groups supported by Pak will continue to conduct attacks on India, Afghanistan: US intelligence report

Russia will host the Taliban and Afghan politicians opposed to President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday, Russian and Taliban sources said, promoting its role of power broker in what a US official called an attempt to "muddle" the US-backed peace process.

Russia to host Taliban, Afghan politicians opposed to President Ghani: Sources

According to the reports, the US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban negotiator Maulana Abdul Ghani Baradar negotiated a deal in Doha for the withdrawal of foreign troops from war-ravaged Afghanistan within 18 months.

India’s Afghanistan policy: What needs to be done

While India is keenly watching the developments in Afghanistan including the expected pact between the United States and Taliban, top sources have told WION that New Delhi won't change its official stance of talking to Taliban and if a call is taken "it will be political".

India's talks with Taliban will be a political call: Sources to WION

US diplomats and the Afghan Taliban have seen cause for hope in talks to end the United States' longest war, but the pivotal issues of a ceasefire and the militants sitting down with the Afghan government are far from being resolved.

Afghanistan: Ex-mujahideen fighter Abdul Ghani Baradar to head Taliban talks with US in next round

The White House has reacted to the developments in Afghanistan even as the Arab divide seems to shadow the Afghan peace talks. White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders in a briefing said, "Our priority is to end the war in Afghanistan and to ensure there is never a base for terrorism in Afghanistan again.

Priority is to end Afghan war, peace negotiations will continue: White House

As the United States and Taliban plan an expected pact that can pave way for American withdrawal from the south Asian country after 17 years, many including New Delhi are keenly watching the developments that can have huge ramifications.

Clock could be turned back, says India's ex-ambassador to Afghanistan Sinha on US-Taliban talks

After Afghan president Ashraf Ghani appealed to the Taliban to "enter into serious talks" with the government during talks in Qatar with sources informing WION that a package deal is expected.

Peace process should be Afghan-led, says President Ghani after talks with Taliban in Qatar

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