Latest News
Abdullah Abdullah endorses intra-Afghan dialogue negotiating team
Abdullah Abdullah endorsed Tuesday the delegation for intra-Afghan peace dialogue announced by President Ashraf Ghani aimed to negotiate with the Taliban representatives, noting that the team represents the country’s national interests.
He added in the statement that he gave priority to the peace process, despite the unresolved political crisis following the announcement of the presidential election results.
“My commitment is not to undermine the peace process due to political issues,” Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, the European Union in a statement welcomed the consensus among the Afghan leaders over the formation of the negotiation team.
“The EU Delegation in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission based in Kabul welcomes the agreement by political leaders on an inclusive negotiation team. This constitutes an important step towards starting intra-Afghan negotiations and solving the domestic political crisis. We offer our full support to the newly established team. We encourage all political leaders to promote the effective participation of women, youth and victims,” said in an EU statement.
The EU also called on the Taliban to show a genuine commitment to peace negotiations and to reduce violence and engage in meaningful discussions on a ceasefire, as per the Doha Agreement.
“This is the time to show a sincere constructive spirit; Peace is about compromises. Now that there is progress on the issue of prisoners and the negotiation team has been chosen consensually, there are no more reasons to postpone the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations,” the statement noted.
“The Taliban should respect and work constructively with the team put in place in Kabul as the Government should work with the team of the Taliban despite its lack of inclusivity,” the EU emphasized.
The Afghan government announced a 21-member team led by the former intelligence chief Mohammed Masoum Stanekzai to sit in a direct talk with the Taliban.
The Intra-Afghan dialogue was scheduled to start on 10th March; however, it was postponed due to disputes over the prisoner releases.
The Taliban have demanded the release of 5,000 of its prisoners, but the Afghan government said the prisoners would be released only if the militants were guaranteed that they would not return to the battlefields.
The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, however, said that a 3-member team of the group had arrived Kabul to verify their prisoners and pursue the release process.
The United States has delivered a second batch of UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters—previously operated by Afghanistan’s former government forces—to Peru.
The helicopters were part of military equipment relocated to Uzbekistan following the Islamic Emirate’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, when 22 fixed-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters crossed into Uzbek airspace.
The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly demanded the return of the aircraft, but Uzbekistan has declined, maintaining that the equipment does not belong to Afghanistan. In February 2025, Uzbekistan transferred seven Afghan Black Hawk helicopters to the United States.
In November 2024, the United States presented Peru with the first batch of nine Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk multi-role helicopters.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, stating that the ongoing provision of such aid plays an important role in ensuring regional security.
Speaking at the international conference “Peace and Trust” in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, Tokayev described addressing complex humanitarian challenges and the reconstruction of Afghanistan as a necessity.
“To ensure regional security, we consider it essential to continue providing assistance to Afghanistan, including by strengthening international efforts to address complex humanitarian issues and the reconstruction of this country. Kazakhstan remains committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan through humanitarian aid, educational projects, trade development, and food security initiatives,” he said.
Meanwhile, experts believe that sustainable improvement of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan requires broad cooperation from the international community and support for the country’s economic development.
“Investment can be defined as one of the fundamental drivers of the economic cycle, and whenever Afghan traders do not take their money out of the country and instead invest domestically, it naturally leads to greater growth and dynamism in Afghanistan’s economy,” said Abdul Zahoor Modabber, an economic analyst.
As the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues, reports by international relief organizations indicate that millions of citizens of the country are in urgent need of food, health, and livelihood assistance.
The reduction in funding for aid organizations, the impacts of climate change, and the return of migrants have increased concerns about a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country.
The Islamic Emirate has announced that it will not participate in the upcoming meeting of special envoys of regional countries on Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in Tehran, despite having received an invitation.
In a statement, Zia Ahmad Takal, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Islamic Emirate has maintained continuous and active engagement with all regional countries through various organizations, regional formats, and bilateral mechanisms, achieving notable progress in promoting mutual understanding and regional cooperation.
The statement added that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes regional cooperation should be advanced by strengthening existing mechanisms and formats within the region.
Tehran is set to host the meeting next week, with special envoys from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Russia expected to attend.
US delivers second batch of Afghan Black Hawk helicopters to Peru
Two US soldiers and an interpreter killed in suspected Daesh attack in Syria
Police hunt for gunman who killed 2 Brown University students, injured 9 people
Saar: Iran’s regional meeting on Afghanistan discussed
ACL: Jawanan Perozi 1-0 Arman FC; Abu Muslim Farah 2-0 Sarsabz Yashlar
Pakistan will lose big market in both Afghanistan, Central Asia: Sarhadi
Afghanistan records $580m in fruit exports in six months
Tashkent: Central Asian leaders say regional stability hinges on Afghanistan
Afghan Abdalyan beat Sri Lanka A by 3 wickets in Rising Stars Asia Cup opener
Afghanistan U19 cricket team defeats India A U19
Saar: Iran’s regional meeting on Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Calls to avoid using Afghan soil against nations
Tahawol: UNSC meeting outcome regarding Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Ongoing Kabul–Islamabad tensions discussed
Tahawol: Pakistan’s warning on Afghanistan reiterated
-
Latest News3 days agoMuttaqi: Afghanistan’s progress requires both religious and modern education
-
Sport5 days agoILT20: Desert Vipers edge Gulf Giants in historic super over thriller
-
Regional5 days agoSix Pakistani soldiers killed in TTP attack in Kurram District
-
Business5 days agoTrade bodies warn almost 11,000 Afghan transit containers stuck at Karachi port
-
World5 days agoPowerful 7.6 earthquake hits northern Japan, tsunami warnings issued
-
Latest News4 days agoTrump calls Afghanistan a ‘hellhole’ country as US expands immigration restrictions
-
Sport4 days agoCommanding wins for Arman FC and Sarsabz Yashlar in Afghanistan Champions League
-
Latest News2 days agoDual-citizen Afghans don’t need a visa to enter the country: Foreign Ministry