Afghanistan

Germany has finished withdrawing its last contingent of around 570 soldiers from Afghanistan as the security situation deteriorates. The move marks the end of a nearly 20-year mission.

Earlier this week, the insurgents seized Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan, and pressed an offensive on the northern cities of Kunduz and Mazar-e Sharif. The U.S. military says it has already withdrawn more than half of its 3,500 troops from the region and its equipment.

With all the major indicators for Afghanistan’s security and development looking “negative or stagnant” as international troops withdraw, the threats that lie ahead cannot be overstated, the top UN official in the country (Deborah Lyons) told the Security Council on Tuesday.

Turkey is seeking to play a vital role in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces by offering to provide security to Kabul's international airport. But Ankara faces formidable obstacles. 

The European Union’s envoy for Afghanistan said on Wednesday (16 June) time was running out for Afghan peace negotiations and more needed to be done to boost the discussions as international forces withdraw from the war-torn nation. Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have met in Qatar’s capital Doha over the past two weeks to discuss the peace process after a pause when negotiations largely stalled earlier this year.

NATO officials have approached Qatar regarding the possible use of a base where Afghan special forces could be trained following the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan by September 11, Reuters has reported.

This report provides background information and analysis on U.S. policy in Afghanistan, with a focus on the ongoing U.S. military withdrawal and its implications for a number of factors, … .

Scores of Afghan troops have been killed or wounded as the Taliban step up attacks amid a withdrawal of foreign forces.

Karzai said the US’s efforts for peace in Afghanistan have had no results as violence continues to take a toll on the people.

The US pullout from Afghanistan is at least 16 percent and as much as a quarter complete, the Pentagon’s Central Command said Tuesday.