Afghanistan – THE OVAL CIRCLE

World

Pentagon says STILL no evidence for NYT’s ‘Russian bounties’ story as US envoy hails Moscow’s support for Afghan peace talks

Posted on September 23, 2020September 23, 2020By Editor

The Pentagon has still seen no proof for reports that Russia paid the Taliban to kill US troops in Afghanistan, a defense official said, while a senior US diplomat noted Moscow has instead supported the country’s peace process. … Read More >Pentagon says STILL no evidence for NYT’s ‘Russian bounties’ story as US envoy hails Moscow’s support for Afghan peace talks

USA

US military reveals it can’t corroborate NYT’s story on Russian bounties to Taliban – months after vowing to get to bottom of it

Posted on September 16, 2020September 16, 2020By Editor

After two months of digging for evidence that Russia’s government paid bounties to Taliban forces to kill American forces in Afghanistan, as reported by the New York Times, the US military has found no corroboration. … Read More >US military reveals it can’t corroborate NYT’s story on Russian bounties to Taliban – months after vowing to get to bottom of it

Trump says US to reduce troops to 4,000 in Afghanistan and 2,000 in Iraq as peace talks progress

Posted on September 12, 2020September 12, 2020By Editor

Saying that “a lot of progress is being made” in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump told reporters there will soon be only 4,000 US troops in Afghanistan and 2,000 in Iraq, with only a few in Syria to “guard the oil.” … Read More >Trump says US to reduce troops to 4,000 in Afghanistan and 2,000 in Iraq as peace talks progress

Afghan VP dodges death as deadly roadside bomb blast kills at least 10 in Kabul

Posted on September 11, 2020September 11, 2020By Editor

The motorcade of Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh was apparently targeted in an assassination attempt. A roadside bomb went off as the vehicles passed by, killing at least 10 people but leaving the top official unharmed. … Read More >Afghan VP dodges death as deadly roadside bomb blast kills at least 10 in Kabul

USA

US House Democrats Demand Trump Officials Testify on Continuing War in Afghanistan

Posted on September 1, 2020September 1, 2020By Editor

The US House National Security Subcommittee is demanding testimony from Trump administration officials on the United States’ strategy in Afghanistan and is threatening to subpoena the departments of State and Defence … Read More >US House Democrats Demand Trump Officials Testify on Continuing War in Afghanistan

Afghan Forces Recapture Territory From Taliban, Kill 18 Militants, Local Authorities Say

Posted on August 30, 2020August 30, 2020By Editor

Afghan forces on Saturday managed to recapture an area, previously held by the Taliban* movement for years, in the eastern Nangarhar province, Ahmad Ali Hazrat, head of the provincial council, said. … Read More >Afghan Forces Recapture Territory From Taliban, Kill 18 Militants, Local Authorities Say

World

Iran denies offering bounties to Taliban fighters, says US spreading propaganda to cover up ‘catastrophic presence’ in Afghanistan

Posted on August 20, 2020August 20, 2020By Editor

Tehran has issued a strongly-worded denial after US media reports accused it of paying Taliban-linked militants to attack American forces in Afghanistan, calling the claim baseless misinformation. … Read More >Iran denies offering bounties to Taliban fighters, says US spreading propaganda to cover up ‘catastrophic presence’ in Afghanistan

Two killed, five injured in Kabul blast as govt navigates peace deal with Taliban

Posted on August 10, 2020August 10, 2020By Editor

An explosion in Kabul has killed two people and left several others injured, according to local media citing officials. The violence comes amid an ongoing rocky peace process with the Taliban. … Read More >Two killed, five injured in Kabul blast as govt navigates peace deal with Taliban

USA

Trump refutes ‘fake’ report of Moscow paying bounties to Taliban for killing US troops

Posted on August 5, 2020August 5, 2020By Editor

Donald Trump said he hasn’t discussed with Vladimir Putin the media report claiming that Russia had paid the Taliban in Afghanistan to kill US troops. This so-called ‘intelligence’ never even reached his desk, he repeated. … Read More >Trump refutes ‘fake’ report of Moscow paying bounties to Taliban for killing US troops

Afghanistan convenes grand assembly of elders on Friday to decide fate of Taliban prisoners

Posted on August 5, 2020August 5, 2020By Editor

The government of Afghanistan will convene a grand assembly of elders, known as a loya jirga, in Kabul on Friday. The centuries-old institution will decide the fate of hundreds of prisoners the Taliban insists should be released before entering peace talks with the government. … Read More >Afghanistan convenes grand assembly of elders on Friday to decide fate of Taliban prisoners