Tag: Taliban

UK Accelerates Afghan Resettlement Plan as Troops Withdraw

A resettlement plan for Afghans who have supported British armed forces will be accelerated, the UK government has confirmed. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), announced in December 2020 and launched on April 1, is designed to protect Afghan staff who are at risk of retaliation from the Taliban after British troops withdraw from Afghanistan….


Bush Warns Afghanistan Withdrawal Could Harm Women, Girls if Taliban Retakes Power

Former President George W. Bush says he is concerned that President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 could harm women and girls in the long run if the “brutal” Taliban returns to power. Biden announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region on April 14, saying that…


US Secretary of State Visits Afghanistan in Surprise Trip After Biden’s Withdrawal Announcement

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Afghanistan Thursday, less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced all American troops would be leaving the country by Sept. 11. Blinken in the unannounced trip met in Kabul with the country’s president, Ashraf Ghani, and another top official, Abdullah Abdullah. The overarching message was that the United…


Will There Be a Penalty for Withdrawal From Afghanistan?

Commentary President Biden’s announced intention to complete the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, exactly 20 years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, will complete a goal former President Trump wanted to meet, but did not, following advice from military leaders, who convinced him that…


Taliban Warns of ‘Reaction’ If US Doesn’t Leave Afghanistan

The Taliban has warned that there will be a “reaction” if the United States keeps troops in Afghanistan beyond May 1. Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiation team, told reporters in Moscow late last week that if American troops were to stay beyond the deadline, “it will be a kind of violation of…


3 Female Media Workers Killed on Way Home From Work in Eastern Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan—Three female media workers were shot dead in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, government officials said, amid a wave of killings that is spreading fear among professional workers in urban centers. Zalmai Latifi, head of local broadcaster Enikas TV, said the three women were recent high school graduates aged between 18…


US Defense Secretary Urges ‘Path Towards Peace’ as Taliban Peace Pact Deadline Looms

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in order for the United States to withdraw all troops from war-torn Afghanistan before the May deadline will depend on the Taliban’s reduction of violence. “We are mindful of the looming deadlines, but we want to do this methodically and deliberately, and I certainly won’t get ahead of any decisions,” Austin…


Pentagon Says Taliban Have ‘Not Met Their Commitments’ in Peace Deal

The Pentagon said Thursday that the Taliban have “not met their commitments” in the Afghan peace deal with the United States, including reducing violence and cutting ties with terrorist organizations. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the Biden administration believes it is hard to see a way forward for a negotiated settlement with the…


Taliban Calls on Biden to Honor Trump’s Deal to Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan

The Taliban has called on President-elect Joe Biden to honor a peace deal negotiated with the Trump administration, which calls for the withdrawal of all American forces from Afghanistan by May to help advance peace talks. “Steps must now be taken to end the war, not to prolong it, and the agreement was made for the…