Kabul, Afghanistan: Despite conflict and poverty, Afghanistan has made reasonable progress in its reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health over the last decade, says the first systematic analysis and case study of the country. Afghanistan, with over four decades of conflict and political instability, has some of the worst health and mortality indicators seen globally. Although progress has been made, ...

AFGHANISTAN: The Afghan government has signed the draft peace agreement with Hezb-e-Islami group led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Khan said. He told reporters that the draft agreement has been signed and will become enforceable once the Hezb-e-Islami party signs it. Khan further added that the group has agreed to have no links with the anti-government armed militant ...

AFGHANISTAN: The United States has welcomed political negotiations between the Afghan government and Hezb-e-Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. “We support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process for a negotiated resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan,” said John Kirby, spokesman of the US Department of State. Kirby further added that all relevant groups, including Hezb-e-Islami of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, should be a part ...

AFGHANISTAN: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has suspended the execution of 500kV TUTAP power project until the completion of the review of the project. The Office of the President in a statement said “President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree for the formation of a national commission for the review of 500kV power project route from Pul-e-Khumri to Arghandi.” The statement ...

AFGHANISTAN: A teenage girl was burnt alive allegedly by her brother’s wife in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, local officials said Saturday. The incident took place in the 2nd police district of Jalalabad city, the provincial capital of Nangarhar earlier today. According to the police sources, the victim has been identified as Mursal who was around 15-year-old and was a ...

The Pakistani army forces have reportedly resumed barbed wire installation in selected areas along Torkham shortly after the issue resulted into the closure of the border gate. Sources privy to the development quoted in local media reports have said Inspector General of the Frontier Corps, Maj Gen Mazhar Shaheen, visited the border crossing and observed the situation there. Gen. Shaheen ...

The 500kV mega TUTAP power project controversy is spreading across the country with the residents of southeastern parts of the country stepping in to support the government’s decision for the implementation of the project.(Photo: Ismail Haqmal) Thousands of people staged demonstrations in support of President Ghani in southeastern Paktika and Khost provinces of Afghanistan. The protesters were shouting slogans against ...

KABUL: The Afghanistan High Peace Council (AHPC) officials have said peace deal with Hezb-e-Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar will likely complete on Sunday. Deputy High Peace Council Chief in Kabul, Ata-ur-Rehman has told The Associated Press that the deal could be completed after two years of negotiations on Sunday. A Hezb-e-Islami party representative Amin Karim has also said he ...

LONDON: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s speech was interrupted in the UK-based Royal United Services Institute as a fight broke out between his security guards and one of the two protesters who started interference as the President was delivering the speech. There have been mixed reactions regarding the scuffle as the video went immediately viral in social media. The social media ...

KABUL: More troops and military equipment have been deployed along the two sides of Torkham as tensions have escalated between Afghanistan and Pakistan over fencing attempt by Pakistani border guards. The additional forces were deployed on Thursday, two days after the gate remained close for the second consecutive day. According to the local media reports in Pakistan, the additional forces ...