Afghanistan

4.1 magnitude quake strikes Afghanistan, no causalities reported so far

Afghanistan sits on numerous fault lines between the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates, with a fault line also running directly through Herat

Afghan national to be charged with murder in White House guard shooting

In August, US president Donald Trump had asserted that his government would seek capital punishment in every murder case that occurred in Washington, DC

What Trump said on 'Third World' migration & which nations may be affected

Donald Trump has announced plans to pause migration from what he calls 'Third World countries', after two National Guard service members were shot near the White House by an Afghan national

US orders green card review for 19 nations after DC National Guard attack

US President Donald Trump ordered a full review of green cards from 19 countries after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members in Washington, prompting stricter vetting checks

Afghan immigrant drove across US to ambush Guard troops near White House

An Afghan national who worked with the CIA in his native country and immigrated to the US in 2021 drove from Washington state to shoot two West Virginia National Guard members deployed in Washington, DC, just blocks from the White House, US officials said Thursday. The suspect had worked in a special CIA-backed Afghan Army unit before emigrating from Afghanistan, according to a cousin who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, declined to provide a motive for Wednesday afternoon's brazen act of violence, which comes as the presence of troops in the nation's capital and other cities around the country has become a political flashpoint. Pirro identified the guard members at a news conference as Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24. Both remained hospitalised in critical condition. Pirro said that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, launched an ambush-style att

Explained: How Operation Allies Welcome brought Afghans into the US in 2021

Two West Virginia Guard members were shot near the White House, and the suspect, an Afghan national, had entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome

US puts immigration requests from Afghans on hold after Washington shooting

The move comes after two National Guard members were critically injured after a gunman, suspected to be an Afghan national, opened fire on them near the White House

Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 strikes Afghanistan; no casualties reported

On November 4, a powerful earthquake rattled northern Afghanistan, killing at least 27 people and injuring 956 more, according to Sharafat Zaman Amar, the spokesperson for Taliban

India, Afghanistan to establish joint chamber to deepen trade ties

India and Afghanistan have agreed to set up a joint chamber of commerce and industry, revive trade mechanisms, and expand cooperation across sectors during Afghan Minister Azizi's visit

New air freight corridors to connect Kabul with Delhi, Amritsar: MEA

The air freight corridors mark a return of direct trade links between the two nations that had slowed in recent years

Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan kill 10, injure 4 says Afghan Govt

Air strikes also occurred in Kunar and Paktika, where four civilians were injured

Afghanistan offers 5-year tax exemption to Indian investors in gold mining

Seeking investments in a range of sectors, Afghanistan Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi on Monday said his government is ready to offer five years of tax breaks to firms investing in new sectors, including gold mining. Speaking at an interactive session organised by business chamber Assocham, Azizi said tensions with Pakistan creating hurdles in trade. "There is a huge potential available in Afghanistan. Even you will not find a lot of competitors. You will also receive tariff support, and we will be able to give you land. The five-year tax exemption will be given to companies who may be interested to invest in new sectors," the minister said. Afghanistan will charge only 1 per cent tariff if Indian firms import machinery for investment, he said. "Gold mining will definitely require the technical and professional team or professional companies. So initially, we are requesting that you send your team, they can do the research, they can do the exploration initiall

17 TTP militants killed in operations in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least 17 TTP militants were killed and several others injured in multiple operations in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said on Saturday. Police and security forces launched coordinated operations in the Sheri Khel and Pakka Pahar Khel areas of Bannu district after confirming the presence of militant groups in the region. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed said 10 militants were killed, five were injured, and one facilitator was arrested in a joint action led by Lakki Police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Bannu and security forces. He said the bodies of seven militants had been recovered, while three could not be retrieved due to the difficult mountainous terrain. In a separate eight-hour operation conducted by Bannu Police, CTD and security forces, seven more militants were killed and several others were injured. A large contingent of police and security personnel remained unhurt during the engagements, and local residen

India, Afghanistan to appoint commercial attaches to boost bilateral trade

India and Afghanistan have decided to appoint dedicated commercial attachs in each other's capitals to revitalise bilateral trade currently valued at over USD 1 billion. The decision has been taken during a bilateral meeting between Afghanistan's Minister of Industry and Commerce Hajji Nooruddin Azizi and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasad here on Thursday. "In yesterday's meeting with the External Affairs Minister and the Minister of State for Commerce, both sides agreed to depute trade attaches in each other's embassy to oversee and support bilateral trade cooperation. Afghan minister will soon be sending a trade attache to the embassy here," M Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary (PAI division), said on Friday. Prakash also stated that the air freight corridor on the Kabul-Delhi sector and Kabul Amritsar routes have been activated. "Cargo flights on these sectors will commence very soon.This will significantly enhance and further strengthen our bilateral trade,"

India to resume air cargo services with Afghanistan 'very soon': Official

Air cargo services between India and Afghanistan will commence very soon, an Indian External Affairs Ministry official said on Friday, during a visit by Afghanistan's Taliban Trade Minister Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi to India. "I am pleased to announce that the air freight corridor on the Kabul-Delhi sector and Kabul-Amritsar routes have been activated and cargo flights on these sectors will commence very soon," Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, said. "This will significantly enhance their connectivity and further strengthen our trade and commercial ties," he added. The official further informed that on Thursday, both sides agreed to depute a trade attache in each other's embassy to oversee and support bilateral trade cooperation. Moreover, he said, the joint working group on trade, commerce and investment will be reactivated to boost bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan. "Bilateral trade stands at around 1 billion. However, there remains ..

Afghan minister's IITF 2025 visit marks first such engagement since 2021

Afghanistan's Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi visited the India International Trade Fair 2025, signalling Kabul's intent to deepen trade ties with India amid regional tensions

Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to act on terror, vows dialogue efforts

Pakistan said on Sunday that it was committed to dialogue to resolve differences with the Afghan Taliban but demanded that Kabul must address concerns regarding the use of its territory by terrorists. Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued a statement on different media queries regarding the third round of talks with the Afghan Taliban regime in Istanbul on November 6, which concluded a day later. Turkiye and Qatar mediated the parleys. The peace talks ended without any agreement to tackle the thorny issues of cross-border terrorism, the top officials had said on Saturday. Pakistan remains committed to the resolution of bilateral differences through dialogue. However, Pakistan's core concern, i.e. terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, needs to be addressed first and foremost, the FO said in a statement. It also said that Pakistan's Armed Forces and its people were well determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from its soil and take action against its supporter

Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul fail amid rising tensions

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have ended without agreement, with the sides trading blame for the breakdown in negotiations aimed at easing border tensions and upholding a fragile ceasefire, officials said Saturday. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks following deadly border fighting that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians. The violence erupted after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which Afghanistan's Taliban government said were drone strikes conducted by Pakistan and vowed to avenge. The clashes subsided after Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19, which remains tenuously in place. Afghanistan's government spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, blamed Pakistan for the talks' failure, saying that Pakistan's demands in the negotiations were unreasonable and the talks could not proceed, the meeting ended and the talks are at a standstill for now. Speaking during a press conference from the southern Afghan city of Kandahar Saturday, Mujahid said ...

Elements in Pakistan military 'sabotaging' peace talks: Afghanistan

A day after peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan collapsed, the Taliban government on Saturday said certain elements within Pakistan military and intelligence services are "deliberately sabotaging" the dialogue process that was aimed at easing border tensions. These elements are trying to blame the Taliban government for Pakistan's internal problems, insecurity, and attacks carried out by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said. The Taliban spokesperson asserted that Afghanistan will not allow "anyone to use its territory against another country, nor permit actions that undermine its sovereignty or security". The peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have ended in Istanbul without any tangible outcomes. The negotiations were aimed at finding a permanent solution to their border tensions and to continue with a fragile ceasefire. "Certain elements within Pakistan's military and intelligence services are deliberately sabotaging

Afghanistan-Pak peace talks end in deadlock over cross-border terrorism

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban ended without any agreement to tackle the thorny issues of cross-border terrorism as the deadlock persisted, according to top officials. The third round of talks began on Thursday and continued for two days but it failed to get a written commitment from Kabul to take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants accused of launching an attack against Pakistan by using Afghan soil. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told a private TV channel on Friday night that the negotiations were suspended, with "no programme for the fourth round of talks". "There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase," he said, reported Geo TV. The minister thanked Turkiye and Qatar for their "sincere efforts" to mediate tensions between the two neighbouring countries. "They support our stance. Even the Afghan delegation agreed with us; however, they were not ready to sign a written agreement," he said, adding