Afghanistan

[…] It marks just the second time during the nearly 20-year period since Taliban extremists were removed from power, following the US-led invasion of the country, that a brief ceasefire has been agreed.

U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is in Kabul to press the Taliban and Afghan government to start delayed talks amid an uptick in violence -- including two more deadly attacks overnight -- that threatens to unravel a landmark peace deal between Washington and the militants signed earlier this year.

President Ghani signs deal with his rival Abdullah, who will head peace talks with the Taliban amid surge in violence.

[…] In a news conference in Kabul Monday afternoon, Afghan military and security officials said it looked as if the Taliban had started their spring offensive without the usual formal announcement of an end to the winter lull.

After a wave of attacks across the country, the president has announced the resumption of offensive operations against terror groups. Afghan officials said the Taliban and its supporters "do not intend to pursue peace."

Perpetrators behind two separate deadly attacks in Afghanistan on Tuesday must be brought to justice, top UN officials have said.

The Taliban has called on the Afghan government to speed up the release of prisoners in order to pave the way for negotiations with the militant movement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the peace process in Afghanistan is not going as quickly as expected, with the Taliban failing to reduce violence in the war-torn country.

In the first quarter of 2020, the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan fell by nearly a third from the same period a year earlier, representing the lowest first quarter figure since 2012, according to a UN report released on Monday. Despite that dramatic drop, 533 Afghan civilians - including more than 150 children - were killed due to fighting, highlighting the urgent need for all parties to the conflict to do more to protect civilians from harm.

The Afghan government on Tuesday, April 21 released an additional 71 Taliban prisoners in seven provinces, even as the group continues deadly attacks across the country. … The releases are part of a deal between the U.S. government and the insurgent group that is supposed to include talks on a comprehensive ceasefire.