Afghanistan

With the death toll in the Peshawar army school massacre rising to 148 overnight, Pakistan yesterday turned over a new leaf in its approach to terrorism. Mr. Sharif swore that politicians would bury their differences and unite to defeat terrorism. Their meeting came as a photograph of the men who …

The United States will keep about 1,000 more troops in Afghanistan than planned early next year to fill a temporary Nato troop gap in the new mission to train and advice Afghan security forces, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Saturday on his final visit to this war-weary country as …

US President Barack Obama spoke by video conference with President Ashraf Ghani of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Afghan Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the White House announced late Tuesday. “The President commended President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah on the timely ratification of the Bilateral Security Agreement and …

 The US and NATO ceremonially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan on Monday, 13 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks sparked their invasion of the country to topple the Taliban-led government. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, which was in charge of combat operations, lowered its flag, formally …

Pakistan and the US have resumed their talks for devising joint strategies to combat militancy along the restive Pak-Afghan border, days after America handed over a top Pakistani Taliban militant to the country. The talks were held amid signs of improvement in relations between the defence establishments of the two countries.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said Friday the international forces would launch a new mission in Afghanistan to provide support and consultations for the local forces. The beginning of next year will witness the launch of non-combat operations of international forces in Afghanistan, which means the mandate of these troops will …

In the dusty badlands along its disputed border with Afghanistan, Pakistan is carving out a massive trench to keep out separatists, smugglers and militants in an attempt to bring order to a lawless, tribal region. But like the Berlin Wall or Israel’s West Bank barrier, the planned 485-km trench is …

Afghanistan has agreed to target militants attacking Pakistan from alleged sanctuaries on its soil, in a significant move which suggests a thaw in their frayed ties and anti-terror cooperation between them. Pakistan had demanded Afghanistan several times through official and unofficial channels to uproot the chief of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan …

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday invited the Taliban to join in a peace process backed by the international community. Speaking at a conference on Afghan peace and reconstruction in Beijing, Mr. Ghani made no specific proposals and indicated government forces wouldn’t back away from the fight. However, his mention …

Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stabile, united and prosperous Afghanistan has been acknowledged by the United Nations when on Tuesday. Jan Kubis, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, acknowledged country’s important contribution towards peace and stability and deeper engagement on issues of trade, reconstruction, rehabilitation, regional and economic cooperation …