KABUL: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has called on Taliban group leaders to return to Afghanistan and live in the country with dignity. In his speech during a gathering to mark the 28thanniversary of the Soviet forces withdrawal, President Ghani said the Taliban group members who are having an independent and an Afghan mindset should return to Afghanistan and start a ...

KABUL: The roots of ongoing violence in Afghanistan lie outside the country, the Afghan envoy to the United Nations said during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Nazifullah Salarzai Minister, Deputy Permanent Representative of Afghanistan, was speaking during the meeting “Threats Caused by Terrorist Acts – Protection of Critical Infrastructure”. “The ongoing cycle of violence in Afghanistan ...

KABUL: Germany’s Otto Pfister has assumed charge as the new coach of the Afghanistan national football team, the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) announced Sunday. A contract was signed between AFF and Mr. Pfister during a press conference in Kabul while the former national footballer Anoosh Dastagir was appointed as the assistant coach of the Afghan team. Ali Askari has been ...

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan’s capital issued an order Monday that banned the celebration of Valentine’s Day across the country ‘with immediate effect.’ The order prohibits the display of adverts on electronic and print media that reference Valentine’s Day, bans the sale of associated merchandise and states that the day cannot be celebrated in “any public space or government ...

LAHORE: At least 10 people were killed and 69 injured on Monday when a suicide bomber struck outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore during a protest, police officials said. Rescue 1122 confirmed that 69 people were injured in the attack, with most of the casualties shifted to Mayo Hospital and Ganga Ram Hospital. The Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ...

KABUL: The former Afghan skipper Mohammad Nabi has been placed second by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in One Day International All-Rounder rankings. Shakib Al Hasan secures the first position in the latest ranking table of International Cricket Council (ICC). According to ICC, Hasan has been placed first by having 377 rating while Nabi secures the second spot with 331 ...

KABUL: The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on US to revise its Pakistan policy and persuade Islamabad to end its ‘policy of safe havens to terrorist groups’. Speaking at The Hindu’s first “The Huddle” conclave in Bengaluru, the former Afghan President said “I love the people of Pakistan, but its military supports terrorists and extremists across the border from us. ...

EDITORIAL: The top US commander in Afghanistan has suggested recently a “holistic review” of his country’s relationship with Pakistan. “Our complex relationship with Pakistan is best assessed through a holistic review,” General John Nicolson, commander of the Resolute Support forces and the US troops in Afghanistan told the senate armed services committee on Thursday. Nicolson who took over command of ...

A virulent debate has been going on in Pakistan about the implementation of the 20 points National Action Plan (NAP)  against religious extremism and terrorism since its inception on December 24, 2014. The opposition political parties have been blaming the government of lacking the required political will and commitment for taking the short term and long term measures for eradicating ...

KABUL: The top US commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson has said the Taliban and Haqqani network leaders are enjoying freedom of action within Pakistan safe havens. Gen. Nicholson is the commander of the US forces and the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. “The Taliban and Haqqani network are the greatest threats to security in Afghanistan. Their senior leaders ...