Latest in Tag: Afghanistan Highlight
Latest in Tag: Afghanistan
Afghan forces repel Taliban insurgents at Kandahar airport
Afghan security forces have ended a siege launched by Taliban at an airport in Kandahar. Besides the 11 insurgents, the fight claimed the lives of around 50 people – soldiers, police and mainly civilians
Pakistan hosts Afghanistan conference amid IS threat
Pakistan is set to host the Heart of Asia conference, which aims to strengthen the peace process in Afghanistan. Experts say the countries participating in the dialogue have conflicting interests in the war-torn country. The Heart of Asia Istanbul Ministerial Process was established in November 2011 to provide a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly …
What have we learned in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq?
International military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have led to some of the worst possible outcomes. Will the United States and Europe repeat their past mistakes in their war on the “Islamic State”? Scenes from September 11, 2001, vaguely resemble those of November 13, 2015: Terrorists carry out an unthinkable attack in a country …
How joining the WTO could impact Afghanistan
After nearly 11 years of negotiations, Afghanistan and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have finally agreed on the country’s terms of accession to the global trade body. But will this help revive the flailing economy? “Our country’s accession to the WTO will serve as a catalyst for domestic reforms and transformation to an effective and …
UN: Assessing full quake impact ‘will take days’
As rescuers hunt for survivors of a massive earthquake that hit parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, DW spoke to OCHA in Kabul about how the remoteness of the area and poor communications are hampering relief efforts. The 7.5 magnitude quake which struck northern Afghanistan and a large part of Pakistan on Monday, October 26, claimed …
What to expect from Sharif-Obama talks
Pakistani PM Sharif and US President Obama are set to hold talks on Wednesday amid Washington’s concerns over Pakistan’s support for Islamists in Afghanistan and its nuclear safety. But will Islamabad accept US demands? Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will kickoff his three-day official visit to the US on the night of October 20. The …
Kunduz hospital bombing could amount to war crime: UN
The United Nations has condemned the bombing of a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, saying it could amount to a war crime. The airstrike at a Doctors Without Borders facility killed at least 19 staff and patients. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders – or MSF – said “12 staff members and at least seven patients, …
Notes from America: Why Ahmed got arrested and Malala got a Nobel prize
Ahmed Mohamed, the young inventor, and Malala Yousafzai, the young women rights advocate, both have a story. However, each story has a different narrative and a different ending. Ahmed and Malala are both Muslims and were both victims of ignorance, bigotry and a self-righteous mindset, and they both became household names. Ahmed was a victim …
What challenges do Afghan asylum seekers face in Germany?
More and more Afghans are arriving in Germany in pursuit of a better life as the security situation worsens back home. But what conditions do they face and how do their lives change? DW examines. After her father and uncles were killed in Afghanistan, then 11-year-old Nazifa Hussaini started life as a refugee with her …
Germany’s Steinmeier urges Pakistan and Afghanistan to ease tensions
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to ease tensions. His request follows several rounds of peace talks between Islamabad, Kabul and the Taliban. Steinmeier (pictured above, left) arrived in the Pakistani capital on Monday to hold talks with President Nawaz Sharif, army chief Raheel Sharif, and National …
Why are the Afghans wary of Pakistan?
Many Afghans associate the Taliban with neighboring Pakistan and blame Islamabad for their misery and decades-long armed conflict in their country. DW analyzes the reasons behind the Afghans’ wariness with Pakistan. Many Afghans were euphoric when they heard the news of the death of Pakistan’s former intelligence chief, Hamid Gul, earlier this month. Scores of …
Why Pakistani Islamist Malik Ishaq became an ‘obstacle’
In a DW interview, Islamism expert Arif Jamal says that slain Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Malik Ishaq had become a threat to the Pakistani military establishment, which “got rid” of him in a “fake police encounter.” Malik Ishaq, former head of Pakistan’s banned militant Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group, and his thirteen associates were killed by police on July …
Mullah Omar: An Islamist who fought against two world powers
Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader who fought a protracted war against both Soviet Union and NATO in Afghanistan, has died due to illness. With his death the militant group has lost its most charismatic and unifying figure. Not much is known about one-eyed Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, who fought long wars against the Soviets, …
Opinion: end of an era
With Mullah Omar’s death, the Taliban have lost a unifying figure. The possibility of another Taliban regime in Afghanistan might be over, but that also puts the ongoing peace talks at risk, says DW’s Florian Weigand. There is no doubt that the death of Mullah Omar has closed a chapter in the recent history of …
Afghan talks: Tough demands make peace deal unlikely
Demands made by Taliban representatives, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, make a peace deal with Kabul unlikely. To achieve this, the militants must change their position, say experts. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently said his delegation would receive a list of demands in the second round of the peace talks with …
Afghan talks: Tough demands make peace deal unlikely
Demands made by Taliban representatives, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, make a peace deal with Kabul unlikely. To achieve this, the militants must change their position, say experts. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently said his delegation would receive a list of demands in the second round of the peace talks with …
The global impact of neglected tropical diseases
By Dr Cesar Chelala Every year, a group of 17 diseases makes life “miserable” for more than 1 billion people, reports the World Health Organization (WHO.) The group of diseases is called Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and it includes tropical infections that affect predominantly low-income populations in developing regions in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The …
Cricket World Cup 2015
Fourteen teams are participating in the 11th Cricket World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand, which began on 14 February and will continue until 29 March. The teams will play a total of 49 matches in 14 different cities. Australian playing fields will host 26 matches in seven cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, …
What about Al-Sisi’s relations with politicians? (3)
Leaders of the 1952 family start taking power through alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood. Naguib, Nasser and El-Sadat did this. Finally, the Supreme Council – Al-Sisi followed. Even Mubarak, who began to clash with political Islam because it came to power – and the trend that was found guilty for the assassination of El-Sadat, allied …
Egypt may experience increase in terrorism: Think tank
The country was ranked 13th in the new Global Terrorism Index report
An unlearned lesson from 9/11
By Dr Cesar Chelala On a rainy morning in April 1958, in Washington DC, Ezra Pound – then a 72-year-old man – was declared “incurably insane” by Judge Bolitha J. Laws, who set him free. As he prepared to leave for Italy, Pound declared: “Any man who could live in America is insane.” I wonder what Pound – …
Egypt is witnessing less freedom of expression than under Mubarak or Morsi : John R. Bradley
Daily News Egypt interviewed Bradley to discuss Egypt’s internal political situation and its foreign affairs, ranging from human rights abuses to the recent geopolitical developments in the region.
Second day of protests over Afghan election fraud claims
Supporters in the western Afghan city burnt their voter registration cards in protest against alleged irregularities in the contest between the former foreign minister and rival Ashraf Ghani.
Protests in Kabul deepen Afghan election impasse
More than 1,000 protesters gathered in the city for the largely peaceful demonstration but the United Nations warned that any street violence “could lead to a spiral of instability”.
Afghan probe into Abdullah’s election fraud claims
Abdullah said the IEC’s turnout figure of seven million voters in Saturday’s run-off election was probably false.
Bomb kills 11 as Afghan election contestants claim fraud
Eleven voters in the western province of Herat had their fingers – which were dipped in ink to register their ballot – cut off by insurgents.
Pakistan repels second Taliban attack on Karachi airport
The attack on the security post targeted an entry point to an Airport Security Force (ASF) camp 500 metres (yards) from the airport’s main premises, and around a kilometre from the passenger terminal.
US soldier released by Taliban in prisoner swap
The five Guantanamo Bay detainees were in turn transferred to Qatar, where their movements and activities will be restricted, a US official said.
British hate preacher goes on trial in New York
It is the second high-profile terror trial to be heard by a Manhattan jury since Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law Suleiman Abu Ghaith was convicted on March 26
Afghan presidential hopefuls raise fraud concerns
Voiced concern that voting was tainted by fraud