Afghanistan

Violent bomb blasts continued to shake Afghanistan as Taliban militants have rejected calls for a holiday truce.

The Taliban and Russia have jointly called for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops from Afghanistan, with a top leader of the Islamist insurgent group denouncing the foreign presence in the country as a major obstacle to Afghan peace.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed “grave concern” on Sunday over “credible accounts” it has been given that Taliban militants have been mistreating prisoners, which in some cases “may amount to torture”. … The mission is mandated by the Security Council to monitor detention facilities throughout the country to promote accountability and assist the implementation of freedoms and rights under the Afghan Constitution.

A new Displacement Tracking Matrix report published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Afghanistan shows that one in three Afghans has migrated or been displaced in the past six years.

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.