Stories from South Asia
The Taliban on Monday rejected reports of a ceasefire in Afghanistan, although analysts said a truce appeared to be only a matter of time. “The fact is that the [Taliban] has no decision on a ceasefire,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. […]
The Taliban’s ruling council agreed on Sunday to enforce a temporary ceasefire across the whole of Afghanistan in a move praised by experts as a “major step forward”. While it is unclear when the ceasefire would begin, AP reported the […]
After a long delay and political disagreements, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of Afghanistan finally announced last week the preliminary results of the Presidential election, held in September. But the results are unlikely to resolve the political crisis the war-torn country is […]
As the people of the ancient western Afghan city of Herat settle in for a cold December evening, the residents of a relatively new tent settlement brace themselves for a harsh night nearby. “We own nothing, except the two tents […]
The much-delayed results of Afghanistan’s presidential election, held in September, were announced on Sunday, with the two leading candidates already heading into political dispute. But more importantly for women in Afghanistan are their concerns about the fair and inclusive participation […]
Bilal Mohammadi sits protectively close to his younger brother Abdul in a large crowded hall filled with loud chatter from hundreds of Afghans surrounding them. Most of the surrounding crowd at the refugee reception centre at Zero Point on the […]
Afghanistan’s incumbent President Ashraf Ghani has won a small majority after long-delayed preliminary results from September’s election were announced on Sunday. Mr Ghani gained 50.64 per cent of the vote with 923,868 votes while Afghanistan’s Chief Executive, and Mr Ghani’s […]
Few other foreign nationals have perhaps received as much love and admiration from the Afghans as Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese doctor who dedicated his life to improving healthcare, water availability and agriculture in Afghanistan over the last four decades. Affectionately referred to […]
A powerful suicide bombing on Wednesday killed one and injured more than 100 at an under-construction medical centre near Bagram Air Base north of Kabul. Abdul Shukoor Qudosi, district governor of Bagram, confirmed to The National that over 100 civilians […]
It’s 4 a.m. on a cold November morning and still pitch dark outside. The streets of Kabul are deserted, and the only souls on the street are the few Afghan soldiers patrolling heavily militarized checkpoints nearby. But there is a […]