Militancy and conflicts have increased in the war-torn Afghanistan as more than 30 people were killed over the past 24 hours amid accelerated peace efforts to find a negotiated solution to the country`s lingering crisis. 
 
In the latest wave of violent incidents, a roadside bomb struck a mini-bus in Uruzgan province on Saturday morning, killing three people and wounding four others, all civilians, the provincial government confirmed in a statement. 
 
Similarly, an explosives-laden car was detonated in Herat city on Friday night, which left eight dead including one policema, and injured 54 others. 
 
Three more civilians including women and children were killedas a mortar fired by insurgents struck a residential area in Nurak village outside Zabul provincial capital Qalat on Friday, police said. 
 
Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State terror group have claimed responsibility. 
 
Increase in fighting is taking place amid accelerated peace efforts to end the war in Afghanistan and bring about peace in the country. 
 
Russia, according to local media reports, is going to hold peace conference on Afghanistan on March 18 with the participation of Afghanistan`s neighbouring states as well as other countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, the US and India. 
 
Turkey is also arranging a US proposed conference on Afghanistan peace process in April to help find a political solution to the war-torn country`s lingering crisis. 
 
"The Taliban group would continue to increase insurgency in a bid to get more ground and speak from strong position in any possible talks with the Afghan government," observer Khan Mohammad Daneshjo told Xinhua.

Militancy and conflicts have increased in the war-torn Afghanistan as more than 30 people were killed over the past 24 hours amid accelerated peace efforts to find a negotiated solution to the country`s lingering crisis.

Militancy and conflicts have increased in the war-torn Afghanistan as more than 30 people were killed over the past 24 hours amid accelerated peace efforts to find a negotiated solution to the country`s lingering crisis. In the latest wave of violent incidents, a roadside bomb struck a mini-bus in Uruzgan province on Saturday morning, killing three people and wounding four others, all civilians, the provincial government confirmed in a statement. Similarly, an explosives-laden car was detonated in Herat city on Friday night, which left eight dead including one policema, and injured 54 others. Three more civilians including women and children were killedas a mortar fired by insurgents struck a residential area in Nurak village outside Zabul provincial capital Qalat on Friday, police said. Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State terror group have claimed responsibility. Increase in fighting is taking place amid accelerated peace efforts to end the war in Afghanistan and bring about peace in the country. Russia, according to local media reports, is going to hold peace conference on Afghanistan on March 18 with the participation of Afghanistan`s neighbouring states as well as other countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, the US and India. Turkey is also arranging a US proposed conference on Afghanistan peace process in April to help find a political solution to the war-torn country`s lingering crisis. "The Taliban group would continue to increase insurgency in a bid to get more ground and speak from strong position in any possible talks with the Afghan government," observer Khan Mohammad Daneshjo told Xinhua.

Over 30 killed in 24 hours in Afghanistan

&nbsp;

A group of gunmen attacked a journalist in Afghanistan's eastern city&nbsp;Ghazni on Monday, making him the third targeted journalist in the last two months.

Rahmatullah Nekzad was travelling towards a nearby mosque when he was chased and shot by a group of gunmen who used a&nbsp;silenced pistol,&nbsp;Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP.

Nekzad was a freelance reporter in his 40s who was known for his coverage on the prevailing threats posed by various terrorist groups in the violence-ridden country.

"AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists," the&nbsp;Afghan Journalists Safety Committee paid their tribute to the murdered journalist on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
(1/2) Another <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/journalist?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#journalist</a> killed today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahmatullahNekzad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahmatullahNekzad</a> worked for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AP</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aljazeera?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aljazeera</a> was shot dead in front of his house this evening. AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists <a href="https://twitter.com/UNAMAnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNAMAnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EUinAfghanistan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EUinAfghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SwedeninAF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SwedeninAF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKabul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USEmbassyKabul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/forfreemedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@forfreemedia</a> <a href="https://t.co/YBRi8Ryi9Y">pic.twitter.com/YBRi8Ryi9Y</a>
— AJSC (Afghan Journalists Safety Committee) (@ajsc_afg) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajsc_afg/status/1341013947063947268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</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>

While no group has claimed responsibility for the murder, the Taliban has denied any participation in this attack.

His murder comes a few days after&nbsp;female news anchor and activist Malalai Maiwand was shot dead, along with her driver, in&nbsp;Jalalabad by Islamic State group.&nbsp;Radio Liberty reporter Aliyas Dayee, too, was murdered by a car bomb in&nbsp;the&nbsp;southern Lashkar Gah city.

Urging the government to intervene and ensure security of the journalists, AJSC said, "AJSC calls on the Afghan govt to take serious measures towards #protection of #journalists and urges Afghanistan's international partners including the #UN to assist with identifying the perpetrators and ensuring justice."

A group of gunmen attacked a journalist in Afghanistan's eastern city Ghazni on Monday, making him the third targeted journalist in the last two months. Rahmatullah Nekzad was travelling towards a nearby mosque when he was chased and shot by a group of gunmen who used a silenced pistol, Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP.

A group of gunmen attacked a journalist in Afghanistan's eastern city Ghazni on Monday, making him the third targeted journalist in the last two months. Rahmatullah Nekzad was travelling towards a nearby mosque when he was chased and shot by a group of gunmen who used a silenced pistol, Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP. Nekzad was a freelance reporter in his 40s who was known for his coverage on the prevailing threats posed by various terrorist groups in the violence-ridden country. "AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists," the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee paid their tribute to the murdered journalist on Twitter. (1/2) Another #Afghan #journalist killed today. #RahmatullahNekzad worked for #AP & #Aljazeera was shot dead in front of his house this evening. AJSC strongly condemns the serial killing of Afghan journalists @UNAMAnews @EUinAfghanistan @SwedeninAF @USEmbassyKabul @forfreemedia pic.twitter.com/YBRi8Ryi9Y — AJSC (Afghan Journalists Safety Committee) (@ajsc_afg) December 21, 2020 × While no group has claimed responsibility for the murder, the Taliban has denied any participation in this attack. His murder comes a few days after female news anchor and activist Malalai Maiwand was shot dead, along with her driver, in Jalalabad by Islamic State group. Radio Liberty reporter Aliyas Dayee, too, was murdered by a car bomb in the southern Lashkar Gah city. Urging the government to intervene and ensure security of the journalists, AJSC said, "AJSC calls on the Afghan govt to take serious measures towards #protection of #journalists and urges Afghanistan's international partners including the #UN to assist with identifying the perpetrators and ensuring justice."

Gunmen murder journalist in Afghanistan's Ghazni

Violent attacks in Afghanistan surged by 50 per cent over recent months even as the Kabul government and the Taliban launched unprecedented peace talks in September, a US watchdog warned Thursday.

Despite brief lulls during two temporary ceasefires over the summer, fighting has raged across the country as the Taliban launched devastating attacks on provincial capitals and security installations, with fears the violence may jeopardise negotiations.

Attacks against Afghan forces and civilians were 50 per cent higher in the three months to the end of September when compared to the previous quarter, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said.

"Overall enemy-initiated attacks this quarter were also characterized as 'above seasonal norms," SIGAR's quarterly report to the US Congress added.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/terrorists-shot-students-one-by-one-in-afghan-university-attack-survivor-340532" hreflang="en">Terrorists shot students 'one by one' in Afghan university attack: Survivor</a>

The watchdog reported 2,561 civilian casualties this quarter including 876 deaths, up 43 per cent from the April to June period.

The report's publication comes as scattered calls to boycott the ongoing peace talks have been raised following back-to-back attacks on education centres in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State group, but which some government officials insist were carried out by the Taliban.

Little progress has been made in meetings between Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban since the talks started on September 12, with negotiations stalled over the basic framework of talks and an agenda still undecided.&nbsp;

Both sides have routinely accused each other of upping hostilities and killing civilians.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy who negotiated a separate deal with the Taliban in February, has repeatedly warned that "continued high levels of violence can threaten the peace process and the agreement and the core understanding that there is no military solution" to the Afghan conflict.&nbsp;

US influence over Afghanistan's battlegrounds is on the wane, however, with the Pentagon looking to withdraw all its remaining troops by next May.

Confusion over the ongoing US election vote count has raised further questions over whether Washington's insistence that its withdrawal from Afghanistan after 19 years of war will continue on schedule or accelerate if Trump clinches another term in the White House.

Violent attacks in Afghanistan surged by 50 per cent over recent months even as the Kabul government and the Taliban launched unprecedented peace talks in September, a US watchdog warned Thursday.

Violent attacks in Afghanistan surged by 50 per cent over recent months even as the Kabul government and the Taliban launched unprecedented peace talks in September, a US watchdog warned Thursday. Despite brief lulls during two temporary ceasefires over the summer, fighting has raged across the country as the Taliban launched devastating attacks on provincial capitals and security installations, with fears the violence may jeopardise negotiations. Attacks against Afghan forces and civilians were 50 per cent higher in the three months to the end of September when compared to the previous quarter, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said. "Overall enemy-initiated attacks this quarter were also characterized as 'above seasonal norms," SIGAR's quarterly report to the US Congress added. Also read| Terrorists shot students 'one by one' in Afghan university attack: Survivor The watchdog reported 2,561 civilian casualties this quarter including 876 deaths, up 43 per cent from the April to June period. The report's publication comes as scattered calls to boycott the ongoing peace talks have been raised following back-to-back attacks on education centres in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State group, but which some government officials insist were carried out by the Taliban. Little progress has been made in meetings between Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban since the talks started on September 12, with negotiations stalled over the basic framework of talks and an agenda still undecided. Both sides have routinely accused each other of upping hostilities and killing civilians. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy who negotiated a separate deal with the Taliban in February, has repeatedly warned that "continued high levels of violence can threaten the peace process and the agreement and the core understanding that there is no military solution" to the Afghan conflict. US influence over Afghanistan's battlegrounds is on the wane, however, with the Pentagon looking to withdraw all its remaining troops by next May. Confusion over the ongoing US election vote count has raised further questions over whether Washington's insistence that its withdrawal from Afghanistan after 19 years of war will continue on schedule or accelerate if Trump clinches another term in the White House.

Afghan violence soars despite peace talks: Watchdog

The US military called on the parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to settle the disagreements through political means and threatened with retaliatory actions if the Taliban militants did not reduce the scale of violence, Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said on Saturday.

Leggett sent a two-page letter to the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on Twitter. According to the US side, all parties must embark on the path of a "political solution" to the conflict, urging Afghans to sit down and start discussing the country`s future.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-colonel-major-killed-in-kupwara-encounter-296332">Also read:&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir: Colonel, major killed in Kupwara encounter</a>

"Reducing violence is an absolute necessity--and this is up to the leaders of all military forces-- [Afghan National Security Forces] ANDSF, Taliban fighters and, yes, the Coalition. Attacks generate attacks, while restraint produces restraint. All sides must choose restraint to prevent more killing and violence," Leggett wrote on Twitter.

The Taliban spokesman responded to the call on his social media account, saying that the path to resolution of the conflict "lies in the implementation of the agreement concluded in Doha." He also called upon Washington not to "harm the current state of things".

On February 29, the US and the Taliban inked a peace agreement in the Qatari capital of Doha, according to which an intra-Afghan negotiation was scheduled to begin on March 10. The talks, however, failed to begin due to disagreements between Kabul and the Taliban, in particular on the subject of the prisoner exchange.&nbsp;

The US military called on the parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to settle the disagreements through political means and threatened with retaliatory actions if the Taliban militants did not reduce the scale of violence, Col.

The US military called on the parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to settle the disagreements through political means and threatened with retaliatory actions if the Taliban militants did not reduce the scale of violence, Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said on Saturday. Leggett sent a two-page letter to the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on Twitter. According to the US side, all parties must embark on the path of a "political solution" to the conflict, urging Afghans to sit down and start discussing the country`s future. Also read: Jammu and Kashmir: Colonel, major killed in Kupwara encounter "Reducing violence is an absolute necessity--and this is up to the leaders of all military forces-- [Afghan National Security Forces] ANDSF, Taliban fighters and, yes, the Coalition. Attacks generate attacks, while restraint produces restraint. All sides must choose restraint to prevent more killing and violence," Leggett wrote on Twitter. The Taliban spokesman responded to the call on his social media account, saying that the path to resolution of the conflict "lies in the implementation of the agreement concluded in Doha." He also called upon Washington not to "harm the current state of things". On February 29, the US and the Taliban inked a peace agreement in the Qatari capital of Doha, according to which an intra-Afghan negotiation was scheduled to begin on March 10. The talks, however, failed to begin due to disagreements between Kabul and the Taliban, in particular on the subject of the prisoner exchange.

US threatens Taliban with retaliatory actions if violence in Afghanistan continues

Over 30 people have been killed in an attack, claimed by the ISIS group, at a ceremony in the Afghan capital where a top Afghan political leader, Abdullah Abdullah, was present but escaped unharmed.

Dozens killed in Kabul ceremony attack claimed by Islamic State

US-Taliban Peace Deal: Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump said he had a “very good talk” with a top Taliban leader and insisted the group wants to cease violence, a U.S. military drone on Wednesday targeted the militant group

Violence increases post US-Taliban peace deal

Less than a week after the peace deal between the US and Taliban, violence in Afghanistan has escalated. This report tells you why the peace process in Afghanistan faces several hurdles.

Afghanistan: Less than a week after peace deal, violence escalates | Gravitas

Afghan Presidential Candidate was attending an event in Kabul when gunmen opened fire. More than 30 people died in the attack. Violence in Afghanistan has spiked after the U.S. - Taliban peace deal. This report has more.

Over 30 dead in Kabul : Moment of attack caught on camera | Gravitas

Nearly 170 Afghans were killed or wounded in poll-related violence on Saturday, officials said, as the legislative election turned chaotic with many polling centres opening hours late -- or not at all -- due to technical glitches and lack of staff.

In the latest attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Kabul polling centre, killing at least 15 people and wounding 20, police said, taking the number of casualties across the Afghan capital to 19 dead and nearly 100 wounded. &nbsp;&nbsp;

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the Taliban said earlier it had carried out more than 300 attacks on the "fake election" across the war-torn country.

Violence also disrupted voting in the northern city of Kunduz where a health official said three people died and 39 were wounded after more than 20 rockets rained down on the provincial capital.&nbsp;

An Independent Election Commission (IEC) employee was killed and seven others were missing after the Taliban attacked a polling centre several kilometres from Kunduz city, destroying ballot boxes, provincial IEC director Mohammad Rasoul Omar said.

Eight explosions were recorded in the eastern province of Nangarhar, with two people killed and five wounded, the provincial governor's spokesman said.

Initial figures showed at least 1.5 million voters turned up at polling centres in 27 provinces, election organisers said -- a fraction of the nearly nine million voter registrations. Many voters waited hours for the doors to open.

Most polling sites opened late after teachers employed to handle the voting process failed to show up on time, said the IEC.&nbsp;

The election commission, which has been skewered over its shambolic preparations for the long-delayed ballot, said they would extend voting until Sunday for 371 polling centres after hiccups with voter registration lists, biometric verification devices and staffing.&nbsp;

University student Mohammad Alem said he felt "frustrated" after spending more than three hours trying to vote in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, only to discover his name was not on the registration list.

"There also were some problems with the biometric devices because they were already running out of charge," he said.

After waiting four hours at a polling centre, Tabish Forugh tweeted he had not seen "even remotely similar... chaos" at previous elections.

Taliban threats

The parliamentary election is more than three years late and only the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.&nbsp;

Turnout was likely affected after the Taliban issued several warnings in the days leading up to the poll calling on candidates to withdraw from the race and for voters to stay home.

Hundreds of people were killed or wounded in the months before the poll.&nbsp;

The killing of a powerful police chief in the southern province of Kandahar on Thursday further eroded confidence in the ability of security forces to protect voters.

Voting in Kandahar has been delayed by a week following the attack.&nbsp;

Despite the risks, President Ashraf Ghani urged "every Aghan, young and old, women and men" to exercise their right to vote, after casting his ballot in Kabul.

Photos posted on social media showed scores of men and women clutching their identification documents lining up outside voting centres amid a heavy security presence.&nbsp;

A woman dressed in a burqa leaving a polling centre in Mazar-i-Sharif told AFP she had been worried about "security incidents", but decided to vote anyway.

"We have to defy the violence," Hafiza, 57, said. "In previous years we were not happy with the elections, our votes were sold out."&nbsp;

Taliban threats

At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election were killed ahead of the poll.

Most of those standing are political novices, and include doctors, mullahs and journalists. Those with the deepest pockets are expected to win.&nbsp;

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has spearheaded international efforts to keep Afghan organisers on track, on Friday called on voters to "exercise their constitutional right to vote".&nbsp;

The poll is seen as a crucial test for next year's presidential election and an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva in November where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes".

Preliminary results will be released on November 10 but there are concerns they could be thrown into turmoil if the biometric verification devices are broken, lost or destroyed.

Votes cast without the controversial machines will not be counted, the IEC has said.

Nearly 170 Afghans were killed or wounded in poll-related violence on Saturday, officials said, as the legislative election turned chaotic with many polling centres opening hours late -- or not at all -- due to technical glitches and lack of staff.

Nearly 170 Afghans were killed or wounded in poll-related violence on Saturday, officials said, as the legislative election turned chaotic with many polling centres opening hours late -- or not at all -- due to technical glitches and lack of staff. In the latest attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Kabul polling centre, killing at least 15 people and wounding 20, police said, taking the number of casualties across the Afghan capital to 19 dead and nearly 100 wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the Taliban said earlier it had carried out more than 300 attacks on the "fake election" across the war-torn country. Violence also disrupted voting in the northern city of Kunduz where a health official said three people died and 39 were wounded after more than 20 rockets rained down on the provincial capital. An Independent Election Commission (IEC) employee was killed and seven others were missing after the Taliban attacked a polling centre several kilometres from Kunduz city, destroying ballot boxes, provincial IEC director Mohammad Rasoul Omar said. Eight explosions were recorded in the eastern province of Nangarhar, with two people killed and five wounded, the provincial governor's spokesman said. Initial figures showed at least 1.5 million voters turned up at polling centres in 27 provinces, election organisers said -- a fraction of the nearly nine million voter registrations. Many voters waited hours for the doors to open. Most polling sites opened late after teachers employed to handle the voting process failed to show up on time, said the IEC. The election commission, which has been skewered over its shambolic preparations for the long-delayed ballot, said they would extend voting until Sunday for 371 polling centres after hiccups with voter registration lists, biometric verification devices and staffing. University student Mohammad Alem said he felt "frustrated" after spending more than three hours trying to vote in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, only to discover his name was not on the registration list. "There also were some problems with the biometric devices because they were already running out of charge," he said. After waiting four hours at a polling centre, Tabish Forugh tweeted he had not seen "even remotely similar... chaos" at previous elections. Taliban threats The parliamentary election is more than three years late and only the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Turnout was likely affected after the Taliban issued several warnings in the days leading up to the poll calling on candidates to withdraw from the race and for voters to stay home. Hundreds of people were killed or wounded in the months before the poll. The killing of a powerful police chief in the southern province of Kandahar on Thursday further eroded confidence in the ability of security forces to protect voters. Voting in Kandahar has been delayed by a week following the attack. Despite the risks, President Ashraf Ghani urged "every Aghan, young and old, women and men" to exercise their right to vote, after casting his ballot in Kabul. Photos posted on social media showed scores of men and women clutching their identification documents lining up outside voting centres amid a heavy security presence. A woman dressed in a burqa leaving a polling centre in Mazar-i-Sharif told AFP she had been worried about "security incidents", but decided to vote anyway. "We have to defy the violence," Hafiza, 57, said. "In previous years we were not happy with the elections, our votes were sold out." Taliban threats At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election were killed ahead of the poll. Most of those standing are political novices, and include doctors, mullahs and journalists. Those with the deepest pockets are expected to win. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has spearheaded international efforts to keep Afghan organisers on track, on Friday called on voters to "exercise their constitutional right to vote". The poll is seen as a crucial test for next year's presidential election and an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva in November where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes". Preliminary results will be released on November 10 but there are concerns they could be thrown into turmoil if the biometric verification devices are broken, lost or destroyed. Votes cast without the controversial machines will not be counted, the IEC has said.

Nearly 170 casualties as violence rocks chaotic Afghan elections