Asia Pacific • Page 311 of 371 • The Defense Post

May- 2020 -

18 May

Taliban Claims Afghan Bomb Attack, Demands Prisoner Release

The Taliban claimed a deadly attack on an Afghan intelligence agency post Monday, even as they urged the new power-sharing government to accelerate a prisoner swap to pave the way for talks. At least seven intelligence personnel were killed by a car bomb in the eastern province of Ghazni, Wahidullah Jumazada, spokesman for the province’s governor told AFP. “The terrorists have used a Humvee in their attack. They have targeted the National Directorate of Security unit in Ghazni city,” he said, adding that 40 people were wounded. The interior ministry in Kabul and a health official in Ghazni confirmed the car bomb. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter that their insurgents had carried out the attack. The bombing comes a day after President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a new power-sharing accord in Kabul, ending their bitter months-long feud. The agreement overcomes one of the hurdles to negotiations with the Taliban, which warned Monday that talks cannot open until a so-far piecemeal prisoner swap is completed. “That which is taking place in Kabul is only a repetition of the past failed experiences,” Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, said on Twitter in what was the group’s first reaction to the …

Apr- 2020 -

27 April

Staff Writer With AFP

Violence increased in Afghanistan after US-Taliban deal, UN says

Violence surged in Afghanistan in the weeks after the US and the Taliban signed a deal supposed to pave the way for a peace process, UNAMA said

24 April

The governor of Afghanistan's Badghis province, Jamaluddin Ishaq, poses with civilians and Taliban fighters

Staff Writer With AFP

Taliban refuse Afghan government ceasefire offer during Ramadan

The Taliban have dismissed a government call for a Ramadan ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying a truce is "not rational" as they ramp up attacks on government forces

22 April

Jared Szuba

Pentagon considers North Korean leader to be in ‘full control’ of military

The Pentagon said Wednesday that available intelligence on the state of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's health is not conclusive

21 April

Former Taliban fighters at a reintegration ceremony in Afghanistan

Joanne Stocker

Afghan government releases 71 more Taliban prisoners under peace deal terms

The Afghan government released an additional 71 Taliban prisoners in seven provinces, bringing the number released in recent days to 432

21 April

Staff Writer With AFP

Driver killed in attack on UN vehicle in Myanmar’s Rakhine state

A Myanmar government health worker was injured and his driver killed in Rakhine state when their UN vehicle was ambushed as they were carrying COVID-19 test samples

20 April

Staff Writer With AFP