News Updates
10 April - 18 April, 2019
- Kabul announces list of 250 Afghans for talks with Taliban
The Kabul delegation to be sent to Qatar will also include women for talks expected to start on April 20. The government of Afghanistan has announced a list of 250 people, including around 50 women, who will head to Qatar for talks with the Taliban later this week. The names were released by officials in Kabul on Tuesday, although the Taliban has refused to talk directly with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government, saying it would recognise participants only as "ordinary" Afghans.
The meeting - a gathering known as "intra-Afghan" dialogue - is expected to last for two days, starting on April 20. ( Al Jazeera: 16 April, 2019)
- At least five killed as deadly flooding hits Afghanistan
Heavy rain and flooding have destroyed homes and swept away livestock with the western Herat province hardest hit. ( Al Jazeera: 16 Apr 2019)
- Afghanistan's mortar explosion kills seven children, wounds 10
Last year, nearly 1,500 civilians were killed or hurt by landmines or unexploded munitions. (Al Jazeera: 15 April, 2019)
- Taliban launches deadly attack in Afghanistan's Kunduz
The group's fighters attacked the city from various directions after midnight, killing many and wounding over 50 others. ( Al Jazeera: 13 Apr 2019)
- Taliban announces spring offensive amid Afghan peace talks
Operation 'victory' will be conducted with the aim of 'eradicating occupation' from Afghanistan, the group says. (Al Jazeera: 12 Apr 2019)
- Thousands flee as ISIL and Taliban fight for Kunar province
More than 20,000 people flee their homes as violence between ISIL and Taliban escalate. (Al Jazeera: 10 Apr 2019)
01 April - 09 April, 2019
- Four Americans Killed in Afghan Blast, Despite U.S.-Brokered Peace Talks:
Three American service members and one contractor were killed Monday after a bomb exploded near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Defense Department officials said. In a statement, the Defense Department said that three additional troops were wounded in the blast. They were evacuated and are being treated. A United States military official said that the blast was part of an attack on a convoy of trucks transporting American service members near Bagram Air Base in eastern Afghanistan. The official said that the Taliban are believed to be behind the attack.
Fighting between the Taliban and American-backed Afghan forces has continued in recent weeks despite continuing negotiations on a framework to end the nearly 18-year war. (New York Times, 8 April, 2019)
- Afghanistan: Taliban encircles government compound, kills dozens
Taliban fighters storm Afghan government compound in Badghis, kill at least 32 soldiers and policemen in 48 hours. Afghan officials say a massive Taliban siege of a government compound and army base in western Badghis province, now in its second day, has killed at least 12 more troops. Friday's fatalities bring the overall casualty toll for the assault in the district of Bala Murghab to at least 32. Many more have been wounded and the area is cut off. Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial council member, said that according to soldiers inside the base, roughly 2,000 Taliban fighters are involved in the attack. (4 April, 2019, Al Jazeera)
- Taliban kills Afghan security forces in 'massive' Badghis attack
Taliban fighters storm Afghan government compound, kill at least 20 soldiers and policemen in western Badghis attack. (Al Jazeera, 3 April, 2019)
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