Asia A group of Taliban fighters parade their weapons in Marawara district, Afghanistan, earlier this month. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) By MARAWARA, Afghanistan — In talks in Doha and in Kabul, the Taliban’s leaders have struck a conciliatory tone: Issues of human rights, democracy and power sharing are open for discussion, they said, and will be worked out during peace talks with the Afghan government. But here, in one of the militant group’s long-held districts in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban commanders and fighters speak not of peace but of toppling the Afghan government...…Asia A group of Taliban fighters parade their weapons in Marawara district, Afghanistan, earlier this month. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) By MARAWARA, Afghanistan — In talks in Doha and in Kabul, the Taliban’s leaders have struck a conciliatory tone: Issues of human rights, democracy and power sharing are open for discussion, they said, and will be worked out during peace talks with the Afghan government. But here, in one of the militant group’s long-held districts in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban commanders and fighters speak not of peace but of toppling the Afghan government...WW…

This article was published more than 1 year agoCommentGift ShareISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A hard-line Islamist group on Sunday took six Pakistani security personnel hostage after days of deadly clashes in the northeastern city of Lahore over a French satirical newspaper’s and the arrest of the group’s leader by Pakistani authorities.A senior police officer and two paramilitary fighters were among those taken after protesters surrounded a police station and stormed the compound, according to Lahore police spokesman Arif Rana. A week of violence across the country has left at least four...…This article was published more than 1 year agoCommentGift ShareISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A hard-line Islamist group on Sunday took six Pakistani security personnel hostage after days of deadly clashes in the northeastern city of Lahore over a French satirical newspaper’s and the arrest of the group’s leader by Pakistani authorities.A senior police officer and two paramilitary fighters were among those taken after protesters surrounded a police station and stormed the compound, according to Lahore police spokesman Arif Rana. A week of violence across the country has left at least four...WW…

This article was published more than 1 year agoCommentGift ShareKABUL — The Taliban on Wednesday issued a warning in response to President Biden’s decision to extend the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, increasing fears that the withdrawal of foreign forces will be met with widespread violence.“If the [Doha] agreement is breached and foreign forces fail to exit our country on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those whom failed to comply with the agreement will be held liable,” Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid Wednesday.Biden’s will keep thousands...…This article was published more than 1 year agoCommentGift ShareKABUL — The Taliban on Wednesday issued a warning in response to President Biden’s decision to extend the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, increasing fears that the withdrawal of foreign forces will be met with widespread violence.“If the [Doha] agreement is breached and foreign forces fail to exit our country on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those whom failed to comply with the agreement will be held liable,” Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid Wednesday.Biden’s will keep thousands...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe United States appears poised to extend its troop presence in Afghanistan beyond a May 1 deadline agreed to last year with the Taliban, as it races to secure an interim peace deal that could end America’s longest war and allow President Biden to move toward an elusive foreign policy goal.Deliberations about the fate of the 2,500 U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan grow increasingly urgent as the administration ­approaches the deadline. The Trump administration in February 2020 agreed to the May withdrawal following...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe United States appears poised to extend its troop presence in Afghanistan beyond a May 1 deadline agreed to last year with the Taliban, as it races to secure an interim peace deal that could end America’s longest war and allow President Biden to move toward an elusive foreign policy goal.Deliberations about the fate of the 2,500 U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan grow increasingly urgent as the administration ­approaches the deadline. The Trump administration in February 2020 agreed to the May withdrawal following...WW…

Asia Forward Operating Base Lightning was a U.S. military base in southeast Afghanistan. The military vacated the base in March after the signing of a peace deal that set in motion a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) By GARDEZ, Afghanistan — Months after the Americans withdrew from this province in southeast Afghanistan, what little they left behind still lies scattered across the small military base: rations packaging for chicken pesto pasta, Rice Krispies cereal boxes, instant chocolate milk packets. Inside trailers, the floors...…Asia Forward Operating Base Lightning was a U.S. military base in southeast Afghanistan. The military vacated the base in March after the signing of a peace deal that set in motion a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) By GARDEZ, Afghanistan — Months after the Americans withdrew from this province in southeast Afghanistan, what little they left behind still lies scattered across the small military base: rations packaging for chicken pesto pasta, Rice Krispies cereal boxes, instant chocolate milk packets. Inside trailers, the floors...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareKABUL — Six Taliban prisoners accused of involvement in the killings of American, French and Australian nationals were released from Afghan custody on Thursday and flown to Doha, Qatar, according to two Afghan officials, paving the way for formal peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government to begin in the coming days.The high-value prisoners will be placed under temporary house arrest, according the two officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareKABUL — Six Taliban prisoners accused of involvement in the killings of American, French and Australian nationals were released from Afghan custody on Thursday and flown to Doha, Qatar, according to two Afghan officials, paving the way for formal peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government to begin in the coming days.The high-value prisoners will be placed under temporary house arrest, according the two officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the...WW…