After taking charge of Presidency, Ashraf Ghani was very enthusiastic to have more cordial and wide ranging strategic relations with Pakistan, his three frequent visits including the highly criticized visit one toArmy GHQ is indicative of the fact. However, President Ashraf Ghani was not happy with the outcomes which resulted in nose dive slide in the already not-so-good relations between ...

KABUL: The supreme leader of the Taliban group Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has replaced 24 shadow officials in a bid to consolidate his influence over the insurgency, it has been reported. The replacements include 16 shadow governors and eight other provincial-level officials including one whose job will be to offer technical support for major attacks on urban areas, according to a ...

ISLAMABAD: Prominent academic and human rights activist Salman Haider who went missing earlier this month from Islamabad is “fine and safe”, his brother Zeeshan Haider confirmed to media. Zeeshan Haider provided no details about his brother Salman’s whereabouts. Haider was one of five who disappeared in early January from different cities, including bloggers Waqas Goraya, Aasim Saeed and Ahmed Raza ...

US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping new executive order Friday to suspend refugee arrivals and impose tough new controls on travellers from seven Muslim countries. Making good on one of his most controversial campaign promises, and to the horror of human rights groups, Trump said he was making America safe from “radical Islamic terrorists”. “This is big stuff,” he ...

BY FARHAT TAJ: In support and honour of Bakhtyar Orakzai, my student from KUST, kidnapped by intelligence agencies of Pakistan Bakhtyar Khan Orakzai, born in1986, is from the Mishti tribe of Orakzai agency in FATA. The intelligence agencies of Pakistan abducted him in 2015 apparently on suspicion of his connection with the Taliban. At the time of abduction, he was ...

KABUL: The Afghan and Pakistani security forces exchanged fire in Spin Boldak district located close to Durand Line, the local officials said. The incident took place late on Thursday after the Afghan border guards opened fire on a number of militants who were trying to enter the district from the other side of the line. Provincial police spokesman Zia Durani ...

NEW DELHI: The UAE and India signed 14 pacts, including defense and energy, as part of groundwork for a strategic partnership between the two countries. The pacts were signed following a meeting between Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New ...

Afghanistan is passing through critical juncture. Friends are rare and a few but enemies are in abundance and very close. Perhaps, it is the most difficult for Afghans to stay together, united and in peace. National unity is under attack. Stability and peace are distant dreams because some of its neighbors see Afghanistan as a good ground for proxy war. ...

KARACHI: Columnist, historian and cultural critic Nadeem F. Paracha published his second book, ‘The Pakistan Anti-Hero’ on Friday. Paracha’s second offering, published by Vanguard Publications, explores the political and social evolution of Pakistan’s polity, which he first wrote about in his debut, ‘End of the Past’. According to a press release issued by Vanguard, ‘The Pakistan Anti-Hero’ digs into the ...

KABUL: The Afghan nation will never forget the aid and cooperation delivered by the Indian people and government, Afghan National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammad Hanif Atmar said Thursday. In his statement released on the occasion of the Republic Day in India, Atmar said “On this auspicious occasion and important day, let me convey my best wishes and happiest moments for ...