Afghanistan

The Taliban has met in Qatar with Germany's special representative for Afghanistan amid international efforts to end the nearly 18-year war. … U.S. and Taliban negotiators have met for several rounds of peace talks since last year, and despite progress have been unable to finalize a peace agreement.

The Afghan election authorities have announced the final results of the country's parliamentary polls in Kabul, seven months after the vote was held. … The May 14 announcement comes ahead of the country's presidential election now planned for September 28. The vote has been postponed twice to give the authorities more time to organize the ballot and fix the problems that occurred during the October elections.

A majority of presidential candidates in Afghanistan have demanded that President Ashraf Ghani either step down at the end of his tenure or withdraw his candidacy for the next election.

Latest round of talks ended with US envoy saying 'faster progress' needed in talks with Taliban to end the 18-year war.

Taliban militants attacked the compound of an American-run contractor in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, killing at least five people and sending a stinging message to the United States as it engages in peace talks with the group. … The attackers targeted a compound operated by Counterpart International, which is primarily funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

At least seven Afghan policemen were killed when suspected Taliban militants stormed checkpoints overnight in western Badghis Province, officials said. … The reports of fresh violence come a day after an Afghan grand council convened by President Ashraf Ghani ended with a demand for an immediate cease-fire.

American and Taliban negotiators began a new round of peace talks Wednesday in Doha, Qatar, aimed at securing a lasting peace agreement that would include Taliban guarantees regarding terrorism and a phased withdrawal of American troops.

As the United States and the Taliban begin a new round of negotiations in an effort to move the peace process forward, a senior U.S. military commander says no decision has been made about the presence of U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has opened a four-day Loya Jirga, or grand assembly, with more than 3,200 delegates seeking to agree on a common approach to peace talks with the Taliban.

Afghan civilians were killed in greater numbers by NATO and pro-government security forces in the first three months of 2019 than by armed militants, according to UN figures. It's the first time that fatalities caused by security forces in Afghanistan have exceeded those caused by the Taliban.