A Taliban spokesman said Thursday the insurgents were still holding two Western hostages, as officials stayed tight-lipped over the outcome of an apparent prisoner swap announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this week.

Ghani announced on Tuesday that his government would "conditionally" release three high-ranking Taliban insurgents, including Anas Haqqani, brother to the leader of the eponymous Haqqani Network, one of the Taliban's deadliest and most feared factions.&nbsp;

He did not specify the fate of the Western hostages -- an Australian and an American -- but noted that their health had been deteriorating and that their release would help pave the way for peace negotiations.&nbsp;

Two days later, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed to AFP that no swap had yet taken place.

"The three people have not been handed over to us, and we have not freed our prisoners yet," he said.&nbsp;

The reasons for the delay were not clear. Afghan officials remained tight-lipped Thursday, and the Australian foreign office has said it will not provide a "running commentary" on the process.

The US ambassador had initially welcomed Ghani's statement, but officials have given no further information since.

Waheed Muzhda, who served as an official in the Taliban's 1996-2001 regime, said the swap still could happen, but suggested the delay could be an issue of trust.&nbsp;

"The concern is that there will be a tweet by Trump or another American official to say the deal is off, as it happened in the case of peace talks," he told AFP.

Earlier this year, the Taliban and the US were on the verge of a deal that would have seen Washington begin withdrawing troops in return for security guarantees from the insurgents.&nbsp;

Many had hoped the deal would pave the way for direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban, which most analysts agree is the only way to achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan.

However, US President Donald Trump abruptly called off the talks in September, days before the deal was widely expected to have been signed.

Muzhda said the insurgents were insisting that Haqqani and the two other prisoners be delivered in to their custody first -- potentially in Qatar, where they maintain a political office -- before releasing the hostages.

A bomb blast in Kabul on Wednesday which killed 12 people could also have been an effort to sabotage the deal, he said. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.

A Taliban spokesman said Thursday the insurgents were still holding two Western hostages, as officials stayed tight-lipped over the outcome of an apparent prisoner swap announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this week.

A Taliban spokesman said Thursday the insurgents were still holding two Western hostages, as officials stayed tight-lipped over the outcome of an apparent prisoner swap announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this week. Ghani announced on Tuesday that his government would "conditionally" release three high-ranking Taliban insurgents, including Anas Haqqani, brother to the leader of the eponymous Haqqani Network, one of the Taliban's deadliest and most feared factions. He did not specify the fate of the Western hostages -- an Australian and an American -- but noted that their health had been deteriorating and that their release would help pave the way for peace negotiations. Two days later, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed to AFP that no swap had yet taken place. "The three people have not been handed over to us, and we have not freed our prisoners yet," he said. The reasons for the delay were not clear. Afghan officials remained tight-lipped Thursday, and the Australian foreign office has said it will not provide a "running commentary" on the process. The US ambassador had initially welcomed Ghani's statement, but officials have given no further information since. Waheed Muzhda, who served as an official in the Taliban's 1996-2001 regime, said the swap still could happen, but suggested the delay could be an issue of trust. "The concern is that there will be a tweet by Trump or another American official to say the deal is off, as it happened in the case of peace talks," he told AFP. Earlier this year, the Taliban and the US were on the verge of a deal that would have seen Washington begin withdrawing troops in return for security guarantees from the insurgents. Many had hoped the deal would pave the way for direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban, which most analysts agree is the only way to achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan. However, US President Donald Trump abruptly called off the talks in September, days before the deal was widely expected to have been signed. Muzhda said the insurgents were insisting that Haqqani and the two other prisoners be delivered in to their custody first -- potentially in Qatar, where they maintain a political office -- before releasing the hostages. A bomb blast in Kabul on Wednesday which killed 12 people could also have been an effort to sabotage the deal, he said. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.

Taliban still holding Western hostages: Spokesman

Three bombs rocked the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 15 people, officials said, as the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was meeting top US and NATO officials in the city.

Eight employees of the ministry of mines and petroleum were killed and 27 wounded in an attack on their bus, ministry officials said in a statement. Five women and a child were among the dead.

Minutes after the blast, a suicide bomber blew himself up a few meters away, killing at least seven people and wounding 20.

"First a magnetic bomb pasted to a minibus exploded, then a suicide bomber blew himself near the bus attack site and the third blast happened when a car was blown up by unknown militants," said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman of the interior ministry in Kabul.

"The death toll could rise from all the three blasts," he said.

The Taliban, fighting to restore strict Islamic law after their 2001 ouster at the hands of US-led troops, claimed responsibility for the car bomb alone.

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said nine foreign forces were killed and two vehicles destroyed, but government officials did not confirm the Taliban claim.

US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Marine General Joseph Dunford also met US peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leading talks with Taliban militants to end the 18-year-long war.

The United States is trying to negotiate a deal that would see foreign forces pull out of Afghanistan in return for security guarantees by Taliban militants, including a pledge that the country will not become a safe haven for terror groups.

Afghan security experts said the insurgents were increasing attacks to gain greater leverage in the peace talks. The eighth round is expected to begin this month in Qatar.

The Taliban also clashed with Afghan forces in northern province of Takhar to secure control over checkpoints and capture several districts. Both sides said that they have inflicted heavy damage on their opponents.

In the eastern province of Nangarhar, a roadside bomb hit a wedding party on Thursday. Six women and three children were killed in the blast in Khogyani district, the provincial governor's office said in a statement.

No group has claimed responsibility for that attack.

Three bombs rocked the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 15 people, officials said, as the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was meeting top US and NATO officials in the city.

Three bombs rocked the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 15 people, officials said, as the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was meeting top US and NATO officials in the city. Eight employees of the ministry of mines and petroleum were killed and 27 wounded in an attack on their bus, ministry officials said in a statement. Five women and a child were among the dead. Minutes after the blast, a suicide bomber blew himself up a few meters away, killing at least seven people and wounding 20. "First a magnetic bomb pasted to a minibus exploded, then a suicide bomber blew himself near the bus attack site and the third blast happened when a car was blown up by unknown militants," said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman of the interior ministry in Kabul. "The death toll could rise from all the three blasts," he said. The Taliban, fighting to restore strict Islamic law after their 2001 ouster at the hands of US-led troops, claimed responsibility for the car bomb alone. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said nine foreign forces were killed and two vehicles destroyed, but government officials did not confirm the Taliban claim. US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Marine General Joseph Dunford also met US peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leading talks with Taliban militants to end the 18-year-long war. The United States is trying to negotiate a deal that would see foreign forces pull out of Afghanistan in return for security guarantees by Taliban militants, including a pledge that the country will not become a safe haven for terror groups. Afghan security experts said the insurgents were increasing attacks to gain greater leverage in the peace talks. The eighth round is expected to begin this month in Qatar. The Taliban also clashed with Afghan forces in northern province of Takhar to secure control over checkpoints and capture several districts. Both sides said that they have inflicted heavy damage on their opponents. In the eastern province of Nangarhar, a roadside bomb hit a wedding party on Thursday. Six women and three children were killed in the blast in Khogyani district, the provincial governor's office said in a statement. No group has claimed responsibility for that attack.

Three bombs kill 15 in Afghan capital as US general visits

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-president-ghani-urges-taliban-to-accept-ramadan-ceasefire-offer-216621">Zabihullah Mujahid</a>, the Taliban's chief spokesman and editor-in-chief of the insurgent group`s daily news bulletin, starts every day by collecting reports of overnight fighting with US&nbsp;and Afghan forces.&nbsp;

Mujahid says he gets his team of writers to cross-check facts shared by some of the hardline Islamist group's fighters, who double as reporters in the 34 provinces across the country. The writers prepare press statements in five languages and gather footage and photographs shot on smartphones.

The editor-in-chief then approves final drafts of the reports - highlighting the group's claimed victories in its war aimed at toppling the US-backed Afghan government - before they are published by IT specialists based outside the country.

While some Afghan journalists say its accuracy is patchy, and its opponents accuse it of spreading "fake news", the Taliban's slick media operation has emerged as a key weapon in the information war that often leaves the Western-backed government and its US partners struggling to catch up.

Last month, for example, the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia"> Taliban </a>was swift to deny involvement in a suicide attack on the communications ministry in Kabul later blamed on Islamic State, while information from the government was slower to emerge.

Taliban spokesmen say they have also stepped up their outreach as the pace of direct talks between its negotiators and the United States on ending the war in Afghanistan has picked up in recent months. They are often quicker than US officials to give their read-out from the talks - the sixth round of which wrapped up in Qatar on Thursday.

"Whatever developments occur during the Doha talks, we share it with journalists," said Mujahid, adding that the messages were aimed at domestic and international audiences.&nbsp;

Online presence

Mujahid and his colleague Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, two Taliban spokesmen based in Afghanistan, say they are authorized to interact with journalists, issue statements and tweet. They generally respond to text or voice messages from Reuters correspondents based in Kabul within an hour.

While their location cannot be verified, they use Afghan phone numbers to access WhatsApp. The names they use are pseudonyms assigned to them by the Taliban leadership.

"We are not authorised to reveal our real names, the two pen names are used to retain uniformity," Mujahid, who has more than 42,000 Twitter followers, told Reuters in a telephone interview.

In 2011, the Taliban leadership started posting regularly on Twitter, a surprise move by the radical Islamist movement that once banned most forms of modern entertainment.

They now communicate on messaging apps WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram in English, Pashto, Dari, Arabic and Urdu.

"We understand the importance of spreading information about our jihad and our determination to re-establish the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan," said Mujahid, who says he draws a monthly salary of 14,000 Afghani ($180), plus $128 for internet and mobile expenses.&nbsp;

"Now many diplomats from various countries seek an audience with our leaders and follow us on social media," he added.

"After 17 years of struggle, we are winning the actual war and the digital war against infidels and the puppet regime established by the Americans to govern Afghanistan."

Afghan and Western officials dispute both statements. Government forces and their military allies, they say, are inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban on the battlefield, and continue to launch air strikes to destroy their camps. The Taliban`s media operation is dismissed as misinformation.

"Their false claims and exaggerated reports have reached an absurd style beyond any reason," said Colonel Knut Peters, the spokesman for NATO-led Resolute Support in Afghanistan, who closely tracks Taliban statements.

"They are obviously trying to boost their own self-confidence while their fighters are dying in large numbers."

Since October, US and Taliban officials have held talks aimed at preparing the ground for US forces to withdraw from Afghanistan in return for a Taliban guarantee that the country will not be used as a base for militant attacks elsewhere.

In recent months, the Taliban have repeatedly rejected calls to declare a ceasefire, and instead intensified their attacks on Afghan forces and government offices.

Taliban newsroom

Afghan journalists who have been covering the Taliban since the 1990s said before the advent of social media the group sent out hand-written pamphlets and news reports to Afghan reporters based in Pakistan and Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Javed Hamim Kakar, a senior editor with Pajhwok Afghan News, the country`s oldest private news agency, said the insurgent group has since created a complex network to disseminate news.

But a tendency to exaggerate casualties inflicted undermines the Taliban news operation`s credibility, he said.

In April, for example, the Taliban reported its fighters had carried out a successful attack on Bagram, the largest US&nbsp;airbase in Afghanistan about 50 km (30 miles) north of Kabul, in which it said dozens of foreign service personnel were killed or wounded.

The US&nbsp;officials in Kabul denied the attack had taken place.&nbsp;

"If you send them a query they respond very fast, but accuracy is always a question. Propaganda is part of fighting, the Taliban are very good at it," Kakar said.

Mujahid and Ahmadi accept there have been numerous instances when they have published unsubstantiated claims of attacks and that sometimes fighters have presented an exaggerated version.

"There are allegations that our communication is rife with sensationalism and embellishment but we never abandon the truth," said Ahmadi. "We correct it immediately."

The government is also often accused of inflating its battlefield reports. A senior defence official familiar with the situation acknowledged the government often under-reports casualties among Afghan forces, while readily providing numbers for Taliban militants they say they have killed.

There is no independent confirmation of the figures given by either side, making it impossible to fully assess the on-the-ground situation.

The Taliban`s communications operation, which is now run at an annual cost of 25 million Afghanis ($323,000), started out as a small office in Kabul when the Islamists ruled the country from 1996 to 2001 and have expanded since they were ousted.

It now publishes six magazines in Pashto, Dari, Urdu and Arabic, and posts news reports on 10 websites in five languages, as well as operating smaller websites that offer theological guidance, videos, and war poetry written by fighters.

"Despite the threats, we now run an efficient media office," said Ahmadi, a graduate in religious studies. "But maintaining haze around our identity is more crucial now as we are winning and the enemy is getting increasingly frustrated."&nbsp;

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman and editor-in-chief of the insurgent group`s daily news bulletin, starts every day by collecting reports of overnight fighting with US and Afghan forces.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman and editor-in-chief of the insurgent group`s daily news bulletin, starts every day by collecting reports of overnight fighting with US and Afghan forces. Mujahid says he gets his team of writers to cross-check facts shared by some of the hardline Islamist group's fighters, who double as reporters in the 34 provinces across the country. The writers prepare press statements in five languages and gather footage and photographs shot on smartphones. The editor-in-chief then approves final drafts of the reports - highlighting the group's claimed victories in its war aimed at toppling the US-backed Afghan government - before they are published by IT specialists based outside the country. While some Afghan journalists say its accuracy is patchy, and its opponents accuse it of spreading "fake news", the Taliban's slick media operation has emerged as a key weapon in the information war that often leaves the Western-backed government and its US partners struggling to catch up. Last month, for example, the Taliban was swift to deny involvement in a suicide attack on the communications ministry in Kabul later blamed on Islamic State, while information from the government was slower to emerge. Taliban spokesmen say they have also stepped up their outreach as the pace of direct talks between its negotiators and the United States on ending the war in Afghanistan has picked up in recent months. They are often quicker than US officials to give their read-out from the talks - the sixth round of which wrapped up in Qatar on Thursday. "Whatever developments occur during the Doha talks, we share it with journalists," said Mujahid, adding that the messages were aimed at domestic and international audiences. Online presence Mujahid and his colleague Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, two Taliban spokesmen based in Afghanistan, say they are authorized to interact with journalists, issue statements and tweet. They generally respond to text or voice messages from Reuters correspondents based in Kabul within an hour. While their location cannot be verified, they use Afghan phone numbers to access WhatsApp. The names they use are pseudonyms assigned to them by the Taliban leadership. "We are not authorised to reveal our real names, the two pen names are used to retain uniformity," Mujahid, who has more than 42,000 Twitter followers, told Reuters in a telephone interview. In 2011, the Taliban leadership started posting regularly on Twitter, a surprise move by the radical Islamist movement that once banned most forms of modern entertainment. They now communicate on messaging apps WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram in English, Pashto, Dari, Arabic and Urdu. "We understand the importance of spreading information about our jihad and our determination to re-establish the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan," said Mujahid, who says he draws a monthly salary of 14,000 Afghani ($180), plus $128 for internet and mobile expenses. "Now many diplomats from various countries seek an audience with our leaders and follow us on social media," he added. "After 17 years of struggle, we are winning the actual war and the digital war against infidels and the puppet regime established by the Americans to govern Afghanistan." Afghan and Western officials dispute both statements. Government forces and their military allies, they say, are inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban on the battlefield, and continue to launch air strikes to destroy their camps. The Taliban`s media operation is dismissed as misinformation. "Their false claims and exaggerated reports have reached an absurd style beyond any reason," said Colonel Knut Peters, the spokesman for NATO-led Resolute Support in Afghanistan, who closely tracks Taliban statements. "They are obviously trying to boost their own self-confidence while their fighters are dying in large numbers." Since October, US and Taliban officials have held talks aimed at preparing the ground for US forces to withdraw from Afghanistan in return for a Taliban guarantee that the country will not be used as a base for militant attacks elsewhere. In recent months, the Taliban have repeatedly rejected calls to declare a ceasefire, and instead intensified their attacks on Afghan forces and government offices. Taliban newsroom Afghan journalists who have been covering the Taliban since the 1990s said before the advent of social media the group sent out hand-written pamphlets and news reports to Afghan reporters based in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Javed Hamim Kakar, a senior editor with Pajhwok Afghan News, the country`s oldest private news agency, said the insurgent group has since created a complex network to disseminate news. But a tendency to exaggerate casualties inflicted undermines the Taliban news operation`s credibility, he said. In April, for example, the Taliban reported its fighters had carried out a successful attack on Bagram, the largest US airbase in Afghanistan about 50 km (30 miles) north of Kabul, in which it said dozens of foreign service personnel were killed or wounded. The US officials in Kabul denied the attack had taken place. "If you send them a query they respond very fast, but accuracy is always a question. Propaganda is part of fighting, the Taliban are very good at it," Kakar said. Mujahid and Ahmadi accept there have been numerous instances when they have published unsubstantiated claims of attacks and that sometimes fighters have presented an exaggerated version. "There are allegations that our communication is rife with sensationalism and embellishment but we never abandon the truth," said Ahmadi. "We correct it immediately." The government is also often accused of inflating its battlefield reports. A senior defence official familiar with the situation acknowledged the government often under-reports casualties among Afghan forces, while readily providing numbers for Taliban militants they say they have killed. There is no independent confirmation of the figures given by either side, making it impossible to fully assess the on-the-ground situation. The Taliban`s communications operation, which is now run at an annual cost of 25 million Afghanis ($323,000), started out as a small office in Kabul when the Islamists ruled the country from 1996 to 2001 and have expanded since they were ousted. It now publishes six magazines in Pashto, Dari, Urdu and Arabic, and posts news reports on 10 websites in five languages, as well as operating smaller websites that offer theological guidance, videos, and war poetry written by fighters. "Despite the threats, we now run an efficient media office," said Ahmadi, a graduate in religious studies. "But maintaining haze around our identity is more crucial now as we are winning and the enemy is getting increasingly frustrated."

Taliban fighters double as reporters to wage Afghan digital war

At least 13 people are dead and dozens were severely injured after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-attack-a-police-headquarters-in-afghanistan-216098">Taliban suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked a police headquarters</a> in northern Afghanistan on Sunday.

The explosion was followed up by gunmen storming the police compound, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

In a tweet, Zabihullah Mujahid said a suicide bomber had detonated a bomb inside an armoured personnel carrier, "flattening most of the building".

Faisal Sami, a senator from Baghlan province, put the toll at 12 killed and 60 wounded.

The attack occurred two days after President Ashraf Ghani offered the Taliban a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins Monday.

The insurgents rebuffed the offer that came at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talks-with-us-stumble-over-troop-withdrawal-taliban-216168">end of peace talks in Kabul</a>, and as the Taliban meet with the US at separate talks in Qatar.

At least 13 people are dead and dozens were severely injured after Taliban suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked a police headquarters in northern Afghanistan on Sunday.

At least 13 people are dead and dozens were severely injured after Taliban suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked a police headquarters in northern Afghanistan on Sunday. The explosion was followed up by gunmen storming the police compound, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. In a tweet, Zabihullah Mujahid said a suicide bomber had detonated a bomb inside an armoured personnel carrier, "flattening most of the building". Faisal Sami, a senator from Baghlan province, put the toll at 12 killed and 60 wounded. The attack occurred two days after President Ashraf Ghani offered the Taliban a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins Monday. The insurgents rebuffed the offer that came at the end of peace talks in Kabul, and as the Taliban meet with the US at separate talks in Qatar.

At least 13 dead in Taliban attack on Afghan police compound

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talks-in-trouble-as-taliban-slam-afghan-guest-list-211426">meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians</a> and civil society aimed at ending more than 17 years of war in Afghanistan has been postponed, officials and diplomats said on Thursday, citing Taliban objections to the size of the Afghan delegation.

The talks were set to begin on Friday in Doha, but a senior government official in Kabul said, "the gathering has been called off for now and details were being reworked."

Afghan delegates scheduled to fly to the Qatari capital on Thursday were told the trip was postponed and new dates were being discussed, a western diplomat in Kabul said.

"The government will have to change the composition of the delegation to make this meeting happen," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said leaders of the hardline Islamist group were uncomfortable with the size of the Afghan delegation and its composition.

"Presence of some participants was completely against the list of what was agreed upon," Mujahid told Reuters over phone, adding that the delegation included Afghans working for the government.

The Taliban has repeatedly refused to meet President Ashraf Ghani's government, which they call a puppet regime, but have held several rounds of peace talks with US officials.

Ghani said Wednesday the 250-member Afghan delegation included some government officials attending in a personal capacity. But the group did not include some of the most powerful figures in Afghan politics, who are reluctant to join forces with Ghani ahead of presidential elections due in September.

A meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians and civil society aimed at ending more than 17 years of war in Afghanistan has been postponed, officials and diplomats said on Thursday, citing Taliban objections to the size of the Afghan delegation.

A meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians and civil society aimed at ending more than 17 years of war in Afghanistan has been postponed, officials and diplomats said on Thursday, citing Taliban objections to the size of the Afghan delegation. The talks were set to begin on Friday in Doha, but a senior government official in Kabul said, "the gathering has been called off for now and details were being reworked." Afghan delegates scheduled to fly to the Qatari capital on Thursday were told the trip was postponed and new dates were being discussed, a western diplomat in Kabul said. "The government will have to change the composition of the delegation to make this meeting happen," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said leaders of the hardline Islamist group were uncomfortable with the size of the Afghan delegation and its composition. "Presence of some participants was completely against the list of what was agreed upon," Mujahid told Reuters over phone, adding that the delegation included Afghans working for the government. The Taliban has repeatedly refused to meet President Ashraf Ghani's government, which they call a puppet regime, but have held several rounds of peace talks with US officials. Ghani said Wednesday the 250-member Afghan delegation included some government officials attending in a personal capacity. But the group did not include some of the most powerful figures in Afghan politics, who are reluctant to join forces with Ghani ahead of presidential elections due in September.

Peace talks postponed as Taliban objects to size of Afghan delegation

Fighting "fake" news, wrestling with social media, and deploying an intern army -- the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-taliban-announce-talks-with-us-in-pakistan-197349">Taliban's sprawling propaganda</a> machine embraces modernity even as the group vows to enforce Islamist controls on journalists if it returns to power.

Notorious for banning TV and radio under its iron-fisted 1996-2001 regime, the militants have proven surprisingly deft at adapting to the ever-changing nature of modern media.

The Taliban's official spokesman now tweets real-time updates about battlefield operations and its media arm stays in direct contact with journalists on a range of messaging apps.

"Media is considered one side of the struggle," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP via Whatsapp.

"We are not against modern technology," a senior Taliban source with links to the insurgents' media wing told AFP.

"This is the need of the hour and using it is not against Islamic shariah."

But the source admits his team struggles at times to control their own narrative.

High-profile interviews have taken place without the media wing's knowledge, sparking hurried denials along with confusion over the identity of the interviewee and whether he can really claim to speak for the Taliban.

Unverified leaks to media outlets from alleged Taliban sources are frequent.

Fake or unauthorised accounts sprout often on social media, while their official Facebook pages and Twitter handles are regularly banned only to be restarted under another name.

Even the official spokesman, Mujahid, is widely believed to be not one man but a moniker used by the information wing to issue statements.

The operation can be dizzying, admits the Taliban source.

Truth greater than fiction&nbsp;

The increasingly refined production has not gone unnoticed, with NATO regularly briefing top officials on Taliban content.&nbsp;

"It gives us an idea of what the group is thinking about that day," said Colonel Knut Peters, spokesman for NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul.

The casualty figures they release are often wildly exaggerated, but the group has been known to describe their operations more accurately, with fewer outlandish battlefield claims.

"The Taliban have discovered that truth has a greater impact than fiction," said Graeme Smith, a consultant for International Crisis Group.

Journalists said insurgents are also often more responsive than the government.

"When a journalist was killed in Farah province, (a few) weeks back, I wrote to the Taliban spokesman, and I got the reply in minutes," said A. Mujeeb Khalvatgar, the director of an Afghan media support group, who said he is still waiting for a statement from the president's office.&nbsp;

Information remains difficult to verify, however. Pakistani senior journalist Tahir Khan, who showed AFP a stream of messages, photos and voice notes from the Taliban on his mobile phone, said the information was "not usually correct".

But in a campaign like this, the battle for the truth might not matter. "This war... one major factor is psychological propaganda," he added.

Its value is demonstrated by how high the media operation goes.

The Taliban leadership gives orders to a handful of high-ranking militants responsible for the group's media strategy, the militant source said.

They work across five different language services -- Pashto, Dari, English, Urdu and Arabic -- with dozens of volunteers who produce multimedia content.

Print magazines target rural audiences without mobile phones, while slick propaganda videos and songs reach the illiterate.

The army of interns include journalism school students, along with IT experts who monitor the latest trends, the source claimed.

"They are servants of God, volunteers," he said.

Code of conduct&nbsp;

The Islamists maintained strict control over media during their brutal rule. Most foreign journalists fled the country, while Afghan reporters often worked undercover for fear of being violently harassed or accused of spying.

In the 17 years since the US invasion, Afghanistan's media has flourished.

But their success has made them targets, starting in 2016, when the Taliban killed seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo -- the first major attack on Afghan media since 2001.

Journalists have faced killings, attacks and abductions. In 2018 Afghanistan was ranked the most dangerous country for journalists in the world.

"Now (the Taliban are) using media a lot. It doesn't mean they believe in freedom of expression," said Khalvatgar.

"It means that they know how to use the media... as a propaganda tool, not as a right of the people."

Meanwhile, unprecedented talks between the Taliban and Washington have sparked fears of a potential US exit and a possible return to power for the insurgents.

The Taliban source said the group has no wish to shutter Afghan outlets -- but journalists would have to comply with an unspecified "code of conduct" in line with Islamic shariah.

Female anchors, common in Afghanistan today, would not be allowed on camera.&nbsp;

"It's better that they stay at home or join some other respectable profession," said the Taliban source.

But foreign media would be welcomed, he claimed, unlike in the past.

"We sheltered Osama [bin Laden] and provided him all our respect because he was our guest," he said.&nbsp;

"Everyone who comes from any other country will be our guest."

Fighting "fake" news, wrestling with social media, and deploying an intern army -- the Taliban's sprawling propaganda machine embraces modernity even as the group vows to enforce Islamist controls on journalists if it returns to power.

Fighting "fake" news, wrestling with social media, and deploying an intern army -- the Taliban's sprawling propaganda machine embraces modernity even as the group vows to enforce Islamist controls on journalists if it returns to power. Notorious for banning TV and radio under its iron-fisted 1996-2001 regime, the militants have proven surprisingly deft at adapting to the ever-changing nature of modern media. The Taliban's official spokesman now tweets real-time updates about battlefield operations and its media arm stays in direct contact with journalists on a range of messaging apps. "Media is considered one side of the struggle," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP via Whatsapp. "We are not against modern technology," a senior Taliban source with links to the insurgents' media wing told AFP. "This is the need of the hour and using it is not against Islamic shariah." But the source admits his team struggles at times to control their own narrative. High-profile interviews have taken place without the media wing's knowledge, sparking hurried denials along with confusion over the identity of the interviewee and whether he can really claim to speak for the Taliban. Unverified leaks to media outlets from alleged Taliban sources are frequent. Fake or unauthorised accounts sprout often on social media, while their official Facebook pages and Twitter handles are regularly banned only to be restarted under another name. Even the official spokesman, Mujahid, is widely believed to be not one man but a moniker used by the information wing to issue statements. The operation can be dizzying, admits the Taliban source. Truth greater than fiction The increasingly refined production has not gone unnoticed, with NATO regularly briefing top officials on Taliban content. "It gives us an idea of what the group is thinking about that day," said Colonel Knut Peters, spokesman for NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul. The casualty figures they release are often wildly exaggerated, but the group has been known to describe their operations more accurately, with fewer outlandish battlefield claims. "The Taliban have discovered that truth has a greater impact than fiction," said Graeme Smith, a consultant for International Crisis Group. Journalists said insurgents are also often more responsive than the government. "When a journalist was killed in Farah province, (a few) weeks back, I wrote to the Taliban spokesman, and I got the reply in minutes," said A. Mujeeb Khalvatgar, the director of an Afghan media support group, who said he is still waiting for a statement from the president's office. Information remains difficult to verify, however. Pakistani senior journalist Tahir Khan, who showed AFP a stream of messages, photos and voice notes from the Taliban on his mobile phone, said the information was "not usually correct". But in a campaign like this, the battle for the truth might not matter. "This war... one major factor is psychological propaganda," he added. Its value is demonstrated by how high the media operation goes. The Taliban leadership gives orders to a handful of high-ranking militants responsible for the group's media strategy, the militant source said. They work across five different language services -- Pashto, Dari, English, Urdu and Arabic -- with dozens of volunteers who produce multimedia content. Print magazines target rural audiences without mobile phones, while slick propaganda videos and songs reach the illiterate. The army of interns include journalism school students, along with IT experts who monitor the latest trends, the source claimed. "They are servants of God, volunteers," he said. Code of conduct The Islamists maintained strict control over media during their brutal rule. Most foreign journalists fled the country, while Afghan reporters often worked undercover for fear of being violently harassed or accused of spying. In the 17 years since the US invasion, Afghanistan's media has flourished. But their success has made them targets, starting in 2016, when the Taliban killed seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo -- the first major attack on Afghan media since 2001. Journalists have faced killings, attacks and abductions. In 2018 Afghanistan was ranked the most dangerous country for journalists in the world. "Now (the Taliban are) using media a lot. It doesn't mean they believe in freedom of expression," said Khalvatgar. "It means that they know how to use the media... as a propaganda tool, not as a right of the people." Meanwhile, unprecedented talks between the Taliban and Washington have sparked fears of a potential US exit and a possible return to power for the insurgents. The Taliban source said the group has no wish to shutter Afghan outlets -- but journalists would have to comply with an unspecified "code of conduct" in line with Islamic shariah. Female anchors, common in Afghanistan today, would not be allowed on camera. "It's better that they stay at home or join some other respectable profession," said the Taliban source. But foreign media would be welcomed, he claimed, unlike in the past. "We sheltered Osama [bin Laden] and provided him all our respect because he was our guest," he said. "Everyone who comes from any other country will be our guest."

Taliban confront fake news and social media in propaganda war

United States Special Representative for<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-firms-up-foothold-in-afghanistan-as-us-eyes-exit-195664"> Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad</a> will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The visit from 10th February to 28th February, according to a State Department release is "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that protects US national security interests and brings all Afghan parties together in an intra-Afghan dialogue through which they can determine a path for their country’s future."

The State Department added, "He will meet with our allies and partners to discuss mutual efforts to advance that goal and will consult with the Afghan government throughout the trip."

The US will be keen to focus on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-says-us-promised-to-halve-its-troops-in-afghanistan-by-april-report-195635">intra-Afghan dialogue given the fact </a>that Moscow just hosted a dialogue involving the Taliban and opposition leaders including former President Hamid Karzai, former national security advisor Haneef Atmar and ex-governor of Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor.

On February 25th, Zalmay will be meeting the Taliban.

The Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier this &nbsp;month speaking exclusively to WION had said, "A meeting has been arranged on February 25th," while explaining "from the initial agreement we reached with the United States, they seem to have shown readiness to leave Afghanistan and put an end to their occupation."

Last month a number of parleys between US special envoy and Taliban took place which seemed to suggest both are working on a pact, the details of which are not known.

Speaking at an event last Friday in Washington, Zalmay said overall goal is "not to seek out withdrawal agreement" but a "peace agreement." He hoped to reach an agreement before the July vote in the landlocked South Asian country.

The last time when he visited the region in January, Zalmay started his visit from New Delhi and had met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale during which India raised the issue of destabilising role Pakistan in the region. India also called on the US to safeguard current political and constitutional structure in the country.

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The visit from 10th February to 28th February, according to a State Department release is "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that protects US national security interests and brings all Afghan parties together in an intra-Afghan dialogue through which they can determine a path for their country’s future." The State Department added, "He will meet with our allies and partners to discuss mutual efforts to advance that goal and will consult with the Afghan government throughout the trip." The US will be keen to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue given the fact that Moscow just hosted a dialogue involving the Taliban and opposition leaders including former President Hamid Karzai, former national security advisor Haneef Atmar and ex-governor of Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor. On February 25th, Zalmay will be meeting the Taliban. The Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier this month speaking exclusively to WION had said, "A meeting has been arranged on February 25th," while explaining "from the initial agreement we reached with the United States, they seem to have shown readiness to leave Afghanistan and put an end to their occupation." Last month a number of parleys between US special envoy and Taliban took place which seemed to suggest both are working on a pact, the details of which are not known. Speaking at an event last Friday in Washington, Zalmay said overall goal is "not to seek out withdrawal agreement" but a "peace agreement." He hoped to reach an agreement before the July vote in the landlocked South Asian country. The last time when he visited the region in January, Zalmay started his visit from New Delhi and had met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale during which India raised the issue of destabilising role Pakistan in the region. India also called on the US to safeguard current political and constitutional structure in the country.

US representative Zalmay Khalilzad to be back to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue

In a rare interview with WION's diplomatic correspondent, Sidhant Sibal, Taliban spokesman&nbsp;Zabihullah Mujahid talked about the future of Afghanistan as well Hindus and Sikhs if they come back to power. He added that he wants a cordial relationship with all neighbouring countries and added, "I'll protect&nbsp;Chabahar as it's positive for Afghanistan''. Edited excerpts &nbsp;

WION: Do you think American forces will leave Afghanistan and when is your next meeting with the US?&nbsp;

Zabihullah Mujahid: From the initial agreement we have reached with the United States, they seem to have shown readiness to leave Afghanistan and put an end to their occupation. A meeting to complete will be held on February 25, 2019.

WION: What kind of role Pakistan is playing in your talks with the US?&nbsp;

Zabihullah Mujahid: Our talks with the United States are between us and the Americans, no one else is involved in it.

WION: How do you see India's role in Afghanistan? India is helping in developing a lot of infrastructure projects.&nbsp;

Zabihullah Mujahid: Afghanistan wants good relations with all its neighbouring and regional countries. As the representatives of the people of Afghanistan, we want to see healthy and positive role of all countries in Afghanistan based on the needs of the people of our homeland.

WION: How do you see Chabahar port and future of the port?&nbsp;

Zabihullah Mujahid: We value all economic projects and are committed to supporting and protecting all projects that are fruitful and positive for the prosperity and development of our country.

WION: If you come back to power how do you see the situation of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs?&nbsp;

Zabihullah Mujahid: Afghan Hindus and Sikhs are our countrymen. Just as all Afghans have rights in this country, our Hindu and Sikh countrymen will have their own rights that shall be guaranteed.

In a rare interview with WION's diplomatic correspondent, Sidhant Sibal, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid talked about the future of Afghanistan as well Hindus and Sikhs if they come back to power.

In a rare interview with WION's diplomatic correspondent, Sidhant Sibal, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid talked about the future of Afghanistan as well Hindus and Sikhs if they come back to power. He added that he wants a cordial relationship with all neighbouring countries and added, "I'll protect Chabahar as it's positive for Afghanistan''. Edited excerpts WION: Do you think American forces will leave Afghanistan and when is your next meeting with the US? Zabihullah Mujahid: From the initial agreement we have reached with the United States, they seem to have shown readiness to leave Afghanistan and put an end to their occupation. A meeting to complete will be held on February 25, 2019. WION: What kind of role Pakistan is playing in your talks with the US? Zabihullah Mujahid: Our talks with the United States are between us and the Americans, no one else is involved in it. WION: How do you see India's role in Afghanistan? India is helping in developing a lot of infrastructure projects. Zabihullah Mujahid: Afghanistan wants good relations with all its neighbouring and regional countries. As the representatives of the people of Afghanistan, we want to see healthy and positive role of all countries in Afghanistan based on the needs of the people of our homeland. WION: How do you see Chabahar port and future of the port? Zabihullah Mujahid: We value all economic projects and are committed to supporting and protecting all projects that are fruitful and positive for the prosperity and development of our country. WION: If you come back to power how do you see the situation of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs? Zabihullah Mujahid: Afghan Hindus and Sikhs are our countrymen. Just as all Afghans have rights in this country, our Hindu and Sikh countrymen will have their own rights that shall be guaranteed.

Will protect Chabahar; Hindu, Sikh rights guaranteed, says Taliban spokesman to WION 

The Taliban said it met with US officials in Qatar on Monday, in the latest round of talks between the insurgents and Washington aimed at bringing an end to the 17-year war.

The US has not officially commented on the reported meeting, which follows the last confirmed talks between the two parties in the UAE in December.&nbsp;

"Following American acceptance of the agenda of ending the occupation of Afghanistan and preventing Afghanistan from being used against other countries in the future, talks with American representatives took place today in Doha, the capital of Qatar," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

The announcement comes a day after US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad left Pakistan where he had met with Prime Minister Imran Khan, who arrived in Doha for an official visit Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Khalilzad's has held a flurry of meetings around the region, including in Kabul last week, to garner support for the burgeoning dialogue.

Taliban representatives have met several times with US officials in recent months, but last week threatened to suspend the fledgling process, lambasting Washington for changing the agenda of the talks and "unilaterally" adding new subjects.

The insurgents have long refused to hold direct talks with the Kabul government -- despite US pleas -- which the Taliban dismisses as a puppet of Washington.

US officials said in December that President Donald Trump intends to withdraw as many as half of the 14,000 US troops deployed in Afghanistan.

The Taliban said it met with US officials in Qatar on Monday, in the latest round of talks between the insurgents and Washington aimed at bringing an end to the 17-year war.

The Taliban said it met with US officials in Qatar on Monday, in the latest round of talks between the insurgents and Washington aimed at bringing an end to the 17-year war. The US has not officially commented on the reported meeting, which follows the last confirmed talks between the two parties in the UAE in December. "Following American acceptance of the agenda of ending the occupation of Afghanistan and preventing Afghanistan from being used against other countries in the future, talks with American representatives took place today in Doha, the capital of Qatar," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement. The announcement comes a day after US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad left Pakistan where he had met with Prime Minister Imran Khan, who arrived in Doha for an official visit Monday. Khalilzad's has held a flurry of meetings around the region, including in Kabul last week, to garner support for the burgeoning dialogue. Taliban representatives have met several times with US officials in recent months, but last week threatened to suspend the fledgling process, lambasting Washington for changing the agenda of the talks and "unilaterally" adding new subjects. The insurgents have long refused to hold direct talks with the Kabul government -- despite US pleas -- which the Taliban dismisses as a puppet of Washington. US officials said in December that President Donald Trump intends to withdraw as many as half of the 14,000 US troops deployed in Afghanistan.

Taliban announces meeting with US officials in Qatar

Talks between US and Taliban officials aimed at arranging peace negotiations in Afghanistan were set for a second day on Tuesday after discussions around the future of foreign forces and a possible six-month ceasefire, Taliban sources said.

The three-day meeting in Abu Dhabi is at least the third time that US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-abandon-district-after-taliban-pressure-183544">Taliban </a>representatives as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war have intensified this year.

On Monday, a Taliban delegation met officials from Saudi Arabia,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-army-says-it-backs-us-peace-talks-with-afghan-taliban-181980"> Pakistan</a> and the United Arab Emirates ahead of their meeting with Khalilzad, who was appointed to oversee Washington's peace effort in September.

Taliban officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US delegation was pressing for a six-month ceasefire as well as an agreement to name Taliban representatives to a future caretaker government.

The officials said the Taliban, fighting to drive foreign forces from Afghanistan and bring in their version of strict Islamic law, were resisting a ceasefire as they felt it would damage their cause and help US and Afghan forces.

"If these three countries - Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan - become guarantors and the US appoints the head of a caretaker government in Afghanistan that we nominate, then we can think about a ceasefire," one senior Taliban official said.

There was no immediate comment from the US embassy in Kabul.

The latest round of diplomacy comes about a year after the United States sent thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan and stepped up air strikes to record levels, with the aim of pushing the Taliban to accept talks.

However, despite US insistence that any peace settlement must be agreed between Afghans, the Taliban have refused to talk directly with officials from the Kabul government, which they consider an illegitimate, foreign-appointed regime.

"Talks revolved around withdrawal of occupation forces from Afghanistan, ending the oppression being carried out by the United States and her allies and views were exchanged with the said countries about peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

An Afghan government team travelled to Abu Dhabi "to begin proximity dialogue with the Taliban delegation and to prepare for a face-to-face meeting between the two sides", government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement.

But there was no sign from the Taliban that they were ready to accept talks with the government. On Monday, Mujahid dismissed reports of a meeting as "propaganda".

The United States says the aim of the talks is to facilitate an Afghan-led process and the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan in the talks reflects a US desire to bring in countries with an interest in Afghanistan.

Previous meetings were held in Qatar, where the Taliban maintains a political office, but a push to include Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to the gas-rich Gulf state, prompted a change of venue to Abu Dhabi.

Talks between US and Taliban officials aimed at arranging peace negotiations in Afghanistan were set for a second day on Tuesday after discussions around the future of foreign forces and a possible six-month ceasefire, Taliban sources said.

Talks between US and Taliban officials aimed at arranging peace negotiations in Afghanistan were set for a second day on Tuesday after discussions around the future of foreign forces and a possible six-month ceasefire, Taliban sources said. The three-day meeting in Abu Dhabi is at least the third time that US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met Taliban representatives as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war have intensified this year. On Monday, a Taliban delegation met officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates ahead of their meeting with Khalilzad, who was appointed to oversee Washington's peace effort in September. Taliban officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US delegation was pressing for a six-month ceasefire as well as an agreement to name Taliban representatives to a future caretaker government. The officials said the Taliban, fighting to drive foreign forces from Afghanistan and bring in their version of strict Islamic law, were resisting a ceasefire as they felt it would damage their cause and help US and Afghan forces. "If these three countries - Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan - become guarantors and the US appoints the head of a caretaker government in Afghanistan that we nominate, then we can think about a ceasefire," one senior Taliban official said. There was no immediate comment from the US embassy in Kabul. The latest round of diplomacy comes about a year after the United States sent thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan and stepped up air strikes to record levels, with the aim of pushing the Taliban to accept talks. However, despite US insistence that any peace settlement must be agreed between Afghans, the Taliban have refused to talk directly with officials from the Kabul government, which they consider an illegitimate, foreign-appointed regime. "Talks revolved around withdrawal of occupation forces from Afghanistan, ending the oppression being carried out by the United States and her allies and views were exchanged with the said countries about peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement. An Afghan government team travelled to Abu Dhabi "to begin proximity dialogue with the Taliban delegation and to prepare for a face-to-face meeting between the two sides", government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement. But there was no sign from the Taliban that they were ready to accept talks with the government. On Monday, Mujahid dismissed reports of a meeting as "propaganda". The United States says the aim of the talks is to facilitate an Afghan-led process and the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan in the talks reflects a US desire to bring in countries with an interest in Afghanistan. Previous meetings were held in Qatar, where the Taliban maintains a political office, but a push to include Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to the gas-rich Gulf state, prompted a change of venue to Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan ceasefire push in focus in US, Taliban talks

Representatives from the Afghan Taliban will meet US officials in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, the movement's main spokesman said as diplomatic moves towards agreeing to the basis for talks to end the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-hold-second-round-of-trilateral-dialogue-with-pakistan-china-184232">17-year war in Afghanistan</a> continues.

Zabihullah Mujahid said representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UAE would also take part in the meeting, which follows at least two meetings between Taliban officials and US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar.

He made the announcement in a statement on Twitter.

The meetings come as diplomatic efforts to resolve the Afghan conflict have intensified, although the Taliban have so far refused to deal directly with the Western-backed government in Kabul, which it considers illegitimate.

The Taliban say the presence of international forces in Afghanistan is the main obstacle to peace but have said that issues including mutual recognition with the Kabul government, constitutional changes and women's rights can be negotiated.

Representatives from the Afghan Taliban will meet US officials in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, the movement's main spokesman said as diplomatic moves towards agreeing to the basis for talks to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan continues.

Representatives from the Afghan Taliban will meet US officials in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, the movement's main spokesman said as diplomatic moves towards agreeing to the basis for talks to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan continues. Zabihullah Mujahid said representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UAE would also take part in the meeting, which follows at least two meetings between Taliban officials and US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar. He made the announcement in a statement on Twitter. The meetings come as diplomatic efforts to resolve the Afghan conflict have intensified, although the Taliban have so far refused to deal directly with the Western-backed government in Kabul, which it considers illegitimate. The Taliban say the presence of international forces in Afghanistan is the main obstacle to peace but have said that issues including mutual recognition with the Kabul government, constitutional changes and women's rights can be negotiated.

Will meet US officials in UAE on Monday: Afghan Taliban

The Taliban say they "categorically reject" a statement made this week by the US commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan about "off stage" contacts and dialogue taking place between the Kabul government and the insurgents, according to news reports.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says in a statement distributed to the media today that Gen. John Nicholson's remarks, made to reporters at the Pentagon from his Kabul office, were a "baseless claim."&nbsp;

Nicholson said Wednesday that "mid-level, senior-level Taliban leaders" are "engaging with Afghans," adding that unspecified international organizations, foreign governments and other interested parties also are involved.

Mujahid says that "American General Nicholson is making such fabricated statements to divert attention from his failures and keep the Washington media busy with false claims instead of exposing the failed Trump (administration's) strategy" in Afghanistan. 
&nbsp;

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says in a statement distributed to the media today that Gen. John Nicholson's remarks, made to reporters at the Pentagon from his Kabul office, were a "baseless claim."

The Taliban say they "categorically reject" a statement made this week by the US commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan about "off stage" contacts and dialogue taking place between the Kabul government and the insurgents, according to news reports. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says in a statement distributed to the media today that Gen. John Nicholson's remarks, made to reporters at the Pentagon from his Kabul office, were a "baseless claim." Nicholson said Wednesday that "mid-level, senior-level Taliban leaders" are "engaging with Afghans," adding that unspecified international organizations, foreign governments and other interested parties also are involved. Mujahid says that "American General Nicholson is making such fabricated statements to divert attention from his failures and keep the Washington media busy with false claims instead of exposing the failed Trump (administration's) strategy" in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Taliban rejects US commander's statement on peace talks

Afghanistan`s telecoms regulator wrote to internet service providers this week ordering them to block the messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram but it was not immediately clear whether they had complied.

Use of social media and mobile instant messaging services has exploded in Afghanistan over recent years. Social media users and civil rights groups reacted with outrage to initial reports of the move and the letter sent by telecoms regulator ATRA was widely shared on social media.

&nbsp;Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the move had been ordered by the National Directorate for Security to thwart the use of the encrypted messaging services by the Taliban and other insurgent groups.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports.

The acting minister for telecommunications, Shahzad Aryobee, posted a message on Facebook saying that the telecoms regulator had been ordered to put a gradual block on the services to improve their functioning after complaints had been received.

&quot;The government is committed to freedom of speech and knows that it is a basic civil right for our people,&quot; he wrote.

The letter by telecoms regulator ATRA, dated Nov. 1 and signed by an official of the regulator, directed internet companies to block Telegram and Facebook Inc`s WhatsApp services &quot;without delay&quot; for a period of 20 days.

However, the service worked normally this week and still appeared to be working normally on Saturday on both state-owned operator Salaam and private service providers.

On Friday, there were reports of interruptions but it was not clear whether they were caused by a deliberate shutdown or by the unrelated issues with WhatsApp services that were experienced in several countries.

Mobile phone services have been one of the big success stories in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted from power by a U.S.-led campaign in 2001, but there are also frequent complaints from users about quality and coverage.

WhatsApp and similar services, including Facebook Messenger and Viber, are widely used by Afghan politicians and members of the government as well as by the Taliban, which has a sophisticated social media operation of its own.

The movement`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote to reporters this week giving his Viber number &quot;in case WhatsApp is not working&quot;.

Afghanistan`s telecoms regulator wrote to internet service providers this week ordering them to block the messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram but it was not immediately clear whether they had complied.

Afghanistan`s telecoms regulator wrote to internet service providers this week ordering them to block the messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram but it was not immediately clear whether they had complied. Use of social media and mobile instant messaging services has exploded in Afghanistan over recent years. Social media users and civil rights groups reacted with outrage to initial reports of the move and the letter sent by telecoms regulator ATRA was widely shared on social media. Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the move had been ordered by the National Directorate for Security to thwart the use of the encrypted messaging services by the Taliban and other insurgent groups. It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports. The acting minister for telecommunications, Shahzad Aryobee, posted a message on Facebook saying that the telecoms regulator had been ordered to put a gradual block on the services to improve their functioning after complaints had been received. "The government is committed to freedom of speech and knows that it is a basic civil right for our people," he wrote. The letter by telecoms regulator ATRA, dated Nov. 1 and signed by an official of the regulator, directed internet companies to block Telegram and Facebook Inc`s WhatsApp services "without delay" for a period of 20 days. However, the service worked normally this week and still appeared to be working normally on Saturday on both state-owned operator Salaam and private service providers. On Friday, there were reports of interruptions but it was not clear whether they were caused by a deliberate shutdown or by the unrelated issues with WhatsApp services that were experienced in several countries. Mobile phone services have been one of the big success stories in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted from power by a U.S.-led campaign in 2001, but there are also frequent complaints from users about quality and coverage. WhatsApp and similar services, including Facebook Messenger and Viber, are widely used by Afghan politicians and members of the government as well as by the Taliban, which has a sophisticated social media operation of its own. The movement`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote to reporters this week giving his Viber number "in case WhatsApp is not working".

Afghanistan moves to block WhatsApp, Telegram messaging services