Afghanistan

Biden promises further strikes against ISIS-K

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday promised further strikes against the Islamic State in Afghanistan in retaliation for a deadly bombing outside Kabul airport and warned that…

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Taliban prepare to set up new Afghan government as U.S. evacuation nears end

Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Taliban said on Saturday they would announce a new government for Afghanistan in the coming week and expected the economic turbulence and sharp currency falls…

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UK and Germany seek common G7 approach on Taliban

LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the situation in Afghanistan on Saturday and agreed on the need for international aid and a common…

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UK says its final military flight has left Kabul

LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Britain's final flight carrying military personnel out of Afghanistan has left Kabul airport, the country's Defence Ministry said on Saturday. This action ends Britain's 20-year…

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U.S. military begins withdrawal from Kabul airport

WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - U.S. troops have begun their withdrawal from Kabul airport, the Pentagon said on Saturday, as the evacuation efforts from the Afghan capital entered their final…

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Warning of possible threats to the US in wake of Afghanistan attack and mass evacuation

Federal officials are on high alert for threats to the homeland following the mass evacuation from Afghanistan and devastating attack in Kabul this week that killed US service members and…

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UPDATED: No more UK civilian flights to leave Kabul, “We did our best” NATO representative says

No more British flights purely for civilian evacuees will leave Kabul airport, but flights for British military personnel and a small number of Afghan evacuees will continue, a Defence Ministry…

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NATO allies struggle to keep Kabul airport open for aid after withdrawal

NATO allies are struggling to ensure that Afghanistan's main gateway, Kabul airport, remains open for urgently needed humanitarian aid flights next week when they end their evacuation airlifts and turn…

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UPDATED: Islamic State ‘planner’ killed in drone strike, U.S. says

The United States attacked an Islamic State "planner" in Afghanistan in retaliation for a deadly bombing outside Kabul airport and said there was a high risk of further blasts as…

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A look at the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K)

Following are some facts about the Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, which was behind suspected suicide bomb attacks outside Kabul airport. Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), named after an old term…

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U.N. Security Council condemns Kabul attack as “especially abhorrent”

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned a deadly attack at Kabul's airport in Afghanistan as "especially abhorrent" for targeting civilians trying to…

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Half a million Afghans could flee across borders – UNHCR

Up to half a million Afghans could flee the crisis in their homeland, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday, appealing to all neighbouring countries to keep their borders…

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WHO hopes for air bridge into northern Afghanistan in days

Medical supplies will run out within days in Afghanistan where the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday it hoped to establish an air bridge into the northern city of…

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Kremlin says danger in Afghanistan remains high after Kabul attack

The Kremlin said on Friday that danger remained high for everyone in Afghanistan after an attack at an airport in Kabul, and that Islamic State and other militant groups were…

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UK says it is in last stages of Kabul evacuations, processing ended

British forces have entered the final stages of evacuating people from Kabul's airport and processing facilities have closed, Britain's defence ministry said on Friday. The effort would now focus on…

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Plane carrying evacuated Afghans in transit to U.S. arrives in Albania

A plane carrying 121 people evacuated from Afghanistan and in transit to the United States arrived in Albania’s Tirana airport early of Friday. Passengers included babies, children and people in…

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UPDATED: U.S. on alert for more ISIS attacks, Joe Biden on Kabul attack: ‘We will make them pay’

U.S. forces helping to evacuate Afghans desperate to flee Taliban rule were on alert for more attacks on Friday after at least one Islamic State suicide bomber killed 85 people…

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UPDATE – At least 72 people were killed and 140 others wounded in the explosions at Kabul airport – ISIS claim responsibility

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - There were at least two explosions near Kabul's airport amid a huge and chaotic evacuation effort from Afghanistan on Thursday, the Pentagon said, with civilians…

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Evacuations from Afghanistan by country

The United States and allies are hurrying to evacuate as many people from Afghanistan as possible before an Aug. 31 deadline amid growing security fears at Kabul airport. Roughly 13,400…

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Qatar offering COVID vaccines to Afghanistan evacuees yet to transit

Qatar is offering COVID-19 vaccines to evacuees from Afghanistan who are temporarily staying in the Gulf Arab state, which has been facilitating global evacuation efforts since the Taliban seized Kabul,…

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Taliban tells Germany, Afghans with legal papers will be able to travel beyond Aug. 31

The Taliban have told Germany that Afghans with legal documents will be able to travel on commercial flights beyond the Aug. 31 cut-off date after which evacuations from Kabul airport…

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UPDATED: Afghans told to avoid Kabul airport as Islamic State threat emerges

The United States and allies urged people to move away from Kabul airport on Thursday due to the threat of a terror attack by Islamic State (IS) militants as Western…

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Britain wants to see functioning airport in Afghanistan after departure of troops -Sky

(Reuters) - Britain wants to see a functioning airport in Afghanistan after the departure of troops, Sky News reported on Tuesday, citing comments by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab's briefing to…

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Taliban say want Afghans not to leave, expect foreign evacuations to end by Aug. 31

Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Taliban expect foreign evacuations from Kabul to be completed by the end of the month, the Islamist group's main spokesman said on Tuesday, urging Afghans…

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Biden sticking to Aug. 31 Afghan pullout so long as Taliban cooperate -U.S. officials

WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will stick to a Pentagon recommendation to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Aug. 31 so long as the Taliban enables the United States to complete its evacuations, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday. Biden sent thousands of U.S.…

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No extension to Aug 31 Kabul evacuation deadline at G7 talks, says Merkel

BERLIN, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Talks between leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Afghanistan did not lead to an extension of the Aug. 31 deadline for evacuations…

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SPECIAL REPORT: Photojournalist killed after being left behind in Afghan retreat

As the Taliban's campaign to reconquer Afghanistan was gathering pace in June, hundreds of people were dying in the fighting, and tens of thousands were fleeing. Danish Siddiqui, a 38-year-old…

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EU to start talks on security, migration amid Afghanistan turmoil

The European Union will kick off discussions this week on what consequences recent developments in Afghanistan may have for security and migration in the 27-nation bloc, a spokesman for the Slovenian EU presidency…

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U.N. rights boss says has credible reports of Taliban executions

Top U.N. human rights official Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday that she had received credible reports of serious violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, including summary executions of civilians and restrictions on women…

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G7 leaders plan to pledge unity on Taliban recognition, sanctions – sources

Leaders of the G7 advanced economies are expected to pledge unity on whether or not to officially recognise or sanction the Taliban when they meet virtually to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to two…

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Iran resumes fuel exports to neighbouring Afghanistan

Iran resumed fuel exports to Afghanistan a few days ago following a request from the new Afghan government, which feels empowered by the U.S. withdrawal to buy the sanctioned nation's oil…

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Taliban ‘flog young Afghans for wearing jeans’

A group of young Afghans have said they were flogged by Taliban fighters for the crime of wearing jeans.In a post widely shared on Facebook, an Afghan youth said they…

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One Afghan killed, several hurt in exchange of gunfire at Kabul airport -U.S. military

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - One member of the Afghan forces was killed and several were wounded in an exchange of gunfire outside Kabul airport on Monday, but no U.S.…

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Afghan women students see no future in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

A group of Afghan women too young to recall the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule are experiencing the same trauma once recounted by relatives after the group retook control of Afghanistan, leading…

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CNN reports 20,000 people remain at Kabul airport awaiting evacuation

Dozens of US military transport jets were expected to land at Kabul's international airport on Monday, as about 20,000 people remained at the facility awaiting evacuation, a source close to…

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Kabul airport problems blocking medical supplies for Afghans -WHO

More than 500 tonnes of medical supplies including surgical equipment and severe malnutrition kits due to be delivered to Afghanistan this week are stuck because of Kabul airport restrictions, the…

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Taliban won’t extend Aug. 31 deadline for Western forces to leave, UK to push Biden for Afghan deadline extension

The Taliban will not extend an Aug. 31 deadline for Western forces to leave Afghanistan, two sources in the Islamist group told Reuters on Monday. The sources, however, said no…

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UPDATED: Firefight involving Western forces at Kabul airport, Afghan guard killed

A firefight erupted at Kabul airport on Monday when Afghan guards exchanged fire with unidentified gunmen and one guard was killed during the clash, which involved U.S. and German soldiers,…

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U.S. recruits commercial airlines to help move Afghanistan evacuees

The United States has enlisted the help of six commercial airlines to help transport people after their evacuation from Afghanistan as Washington seeks to step up the pace of departures…

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Will the Afghan crisis trigger a new refugee crisis for Europe?

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has stoked fears of an exodus of Afghans and a repeat of Europe's 2016/16 migration crisis, when more than a million people from the Middle…

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ISIS threat forces US changes to evacuations at Kabul airport

Potential ISIS threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul, a senior U.S. official said, adding…

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UPDATED: Taliban fire in the air to control crowd at Kabul airport

The Taliban fired in the air and used batons to make people line up in orderly queues outside Kabul airport on Sunday, witnesses said, a day after seven people were…

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Putin, Erdogan agree to strengthen coordination on Afghan issues -Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation in Afghanistan during a phone call and agreed to strengthen bilateral coordination on Afghan issues, the…

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EU says no recognition of Taliban, no political talks

BRUSSELS, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The European Union has not recognised the Taliban, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, nor is it holding political talks with…

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Americans urged to keep clear of Kabul airport as crowd chaos grows

KABUL, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The United States advised Americans in Afghanistan to avoid travelling to Kabul airport on Saturday as thousands gathered trying to flee the country almost a week after…

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“We sneaked past the crowd”: Airline pilot recounts escape from Kabul

SKOPJE, Aug 20 (Reuters) - As thousands of people thronged Kabul airport in a bid to escape the advancing Taliban on August 15, Kam Air pilot Jovica Rajhl and his…

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NATO allies press for more time to fly people out of Kabul

BRUSSELS, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Several NATO countries pressed on Friday for evacuations from Kabul to continue beyond the current U.S. deadline of Aug. 31 because so many people seeking…

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Taliban vow to be accountable, probe reports of Afghanistan reprisals

KABUL, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The Taliban will be accountable for its actions and will investigate reports of reprisals and atrocities carried out by members, an official of the Islamist…

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U.S. commander has ordered restart to evacuation flights out of Afghanistan -official

WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. commander on the ground has ordered a restart to evacuation flights out of Afghanistan after brief pause, a senior administration official said on…

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China can contribute to Afghan development -Taliban spokesman

China has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to contribute to the rebuilding of the country, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Chinese…

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Afghans at risk “have no clear way out” – UNHCR

Most Afghans are unable to leave their homeland and those who may be in danger "have no clear way out", the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday. Shabia Mantoo,…

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NATO pledges to speed evacuations from Afghanistan as criticism mounts

More than 18,000 people have been flown out of Kabul since the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital, a NATO official said on Friday, pledging to redouble evacuation efforts as criticism…

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Taliban carrying out door-to door manhunt, Relative of Deutsche Welle reporter killed by Taliban

The Taliban have begun rounding up Afghans on a blacklist of people they believe have worked in key roles with the previous Afghan administration or with U.S.-led forces that supported…

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Reports of several killed amid firing by Taliban and stampede during rally in Afghan city

Flag-waving protesters took to several Afghan cities on Thursday and several people were killed when Taliban fighters fired on a crowd, a witness said, in the first popular opposition to…

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Taliban keep some evacuees from reaching Kabul airport, as U.S. vows to finish airlift

Armed members of the Taliban kept people desperate to flee Afghanistan from reaching Kabul's airport on Wednesday, witnesses said, while President Joe Biden vowed to keep U.S. troops in the…

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Biden says August 31 deadline in Afghanistan might have to be extended

U.S. troops may stay in Afghanistan past an Aug. 31 deadline to evacuate Americans, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday, and the Pentagon said the U.S. military does not currently…

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Reports of deaths following anti-Taliban protests in Jalalabad

At least three people were killed and more than a dozen injured after Taliban militants opened fire during protests against the group in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, two witnesses…

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