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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Smoke rises from a hillside following overnight clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces along the border (Saifullah Zahir/AP)

world

Pakistan says 48-hour ceasefire has been agreed with Afghanistan

Pakistan said it agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire with Afghanistan following days of violence that have killed dozens of people on both sides of the border. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire was at Afghanistan’s request.

Smoke goes up after a shell exploded in a border area during clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces, as seen from Pakistan side of the border near Chaman, Pakistan (H Achakzai/AP)

world

Civilians killed in renewed fighting between Afghan and Pakistan forces

<p>Tánaiste Simon Harris. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA</p>

news

Ireland sending €500,000 for Afghanistan earthquake relief

Antony Blinken

world

Blinken faces critics who say Afghanistan withdrawal ‘lit the world on fire’

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

world

Afghan embassy in London to close after Taliban sacks staff

Thousands of Afghans leave Pakistan ahead of deportation threat deadline

world

Thousands of Afghans leave Pakistan ahead of deportation threat deadline

Trump faces blame for chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan

Trump faces blame for chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan

President Joe Biden’s administration has blamed his predecessor, Donald Trump, for the deadly and chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

Thu, 06 Apr, 2023

Joe Biden

Trump created conditions for chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, review says

An inter-agency review led by the National Security Council found that President Joe Biden was “severely constrained” by the decisions of his predecessor

Thu, 06 Apr, 2023

Student evacuated from Kabul

Three British men detained in Taliban custody in Afghanistan

Non-profit organisation the Presidium Network is assisting two of the men, charity medic Kevin Cornwell and a second unnamed man

Sun, 02 Apr, 2023

Tyler Vargas-Andrews

Veterans give evidence of ‘catastrophic’ impact of Afghan collapse

Active service members and veterans have provided first-hand evidence in the House of Representatives about the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing in harrowing detail the carnage and death they witnessed on the ground.

Thu, 09 Mar, 2023

China and Iran urge Afghanistan to end work and education restrictions on women

China and Iran urge Afghanistan to end work and education restrictions on women

China and Iran have urged mutual neighbour Afghanistan to end restrictions on women’s work and education.

Thu, 16 Feb, 2023

Troops in Afghanistan

Probe launched into claims of unlawful killings by UK soldiers in Afghanistan

The Government will launch an independent inquiry into “alleged unlawful activity” by British soldiers in Afghanistan.

Thu, 15 Dec, 2022

March for Freedom rally

‘Leaders have gone silent’: Malala calls for UK to help oppressed Afghan women

Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on the UK Government to “step forward more boldly” in their support for Afghan women living under the Taliban.

Sun, 27 Nov, 2022

Soldiers' equipment

Baby among dozens of children killed in British military action in Afghanistan

The British armed forces paid compensation to the relatives of 64 confirmed victims under the age of 18 over the course of nine years.

Wed, 09 Nov, 2022

Months of careful planning led to al Qaida chief’s killing

Months of careful planning led to al Qaida chief’s killing

The White House has revealed the painstaking efforts that went into planning the drone strike that killed Ayman al-Zawahri. On Sunday two Hellfire missiles fired by a US drone ended al-Zawahri’s decade-long reign as the leader of al Qaida.

Tue, 02 Aug, 2022

Biden Afghanistan

'This terrorist leader is no more': Joe Biden confirms death of al Qaida's al-Zawahri

US intelligence officials tracked al-Zawahri to a home in downtown Kabul where he was hiding out with his family

Tue, 02 Aug, 2022

Biden Afghanistan

US operation in Afghanistan killed al Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri, reports claim

President Joe Biden is expected to discuss further details of the operation in an address to the nation

Mon, 01 Aug, 2022

Iran Afghanistan

Iran summons Afghan envoy over attack on diplomatic missions

Iran has summoned Afghanistan’s envoy in Tehran over attacks the previous day on Iranian diplomatic missions in the neighbouring country, state media reported.

Tue, 12 Apr, 2022

World Trade Center

Biden to split frozen Afghan funds between 9/11 victims and relief efforts

President Joe Biden will sign an order to split billions in Afghan assets frozen in the US to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and to create a trust fund for victims of the September 11 2001 attacks, the White House said.

Fri, 11 Feb, 2022

David Cameron visits Afghanistan

UK officials talk to Taliban about Afghanistan humanitarian crisis

Senior British diplomats have met leading Taliban figures to discuss the “dire” humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The UK does not recognise the Taliban regime which swept to power in 2020 amid chaotic scenes as Western forces pulled out of Kabul.

Thu, 10 Feb, 2022

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Afghan baby born in London hotel room as Kabul evacuees still ‘living in limbo’

The birth of a baby to an Afghan refugee in a hotel room without a doctor present shows the “cold reality” of the delays faced by many families evacuated to the UK, aid organisations warn.

Thu, 11 Nov, 2021

United States Afghanistan Strike

US watchdog finds no misconduct in mistaken Afghan airstrike

An independent Pentagon review has concluded that the US drone strike which killed innocent Kabul civilians was not caused by misconduct or negligence – and it does not recommend any disciplinary action, according to reports.

Wed, 03 Nov, 2021

Cabinet meeting - Dublin

More Irish citizens evacuated from Afghanistan

The evacuation took place on Wednesday night

Thu, 21 Oct, 2021

Russia Afghanistan

Russia hosts talks aimed at stabilising Afghanistan under the Taliban

Russia hosted talks on Afghanistan on Wednesday involving senior representatives of the Taliban and neighbouring nations, a round of diplomacy that underlines Moscow’s clout.

Wed, 20 Oct, 2021

Taliban Resurgence in Afghanistan

50 days of the Taliban: Interpreters and LGBT citizens hiding for their lives

“If the world remains silent and does not take urgent action, Afghanistan will face a humanitarian catastrophe.”

Tue, 19 Oct, 2021

Afghanistan girls’ football squad ‘will be relocated to UK shortly’

Afghanistan girls’ football squad ‘will be relocated to UK shortly’

The 35 young players and their families – a total of 130 people – just missed the airlift evacuations from Kabul after their country fell to the Taliban in August.

Mon, 11 Oct, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

UK officials hold talks with senior members of the Taliban in Afghanistan

UK officials have held talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan in part to prevent the country from becoming “an incubator for terrorism”.

Tue, 05 Oct, 2021

Afghanistan Drone Strike

‘Sorry is not enough’, says survivor of US drone strike killings

The Afghan survivors of an errant US drone strike that killed 10 members of their family, including seven children, have said that sorry is not enough.

Sat, 18 Sep, 2021

US Afghanistan

Pentagon admits deadly Kabul drone strike was an error

The Pentagon has retreated from its defence of a drone strike that killed multiple civilians in Afghanistan last month, announcing an internal review revealed that only civilians were killed in the attack, not an Islamic State extremist as first ...

Fri, 17 Sep, 2021

Afghanistan

Donors pledge emergency funds for Afghans in face of humanitarian crisis

The United Nations drummed up more than 1. 2 billion dollars (£870 million) in emergency pledges on Monday for helping 11 million Afghans facing an escalating humanitarian crisis in their homeland and millions more elsewhere in the region.

Tue, 14 Sep, 2021

United States Afghanistan Screening

Afghan evacuee flights halted from two key US bases

The US has halted all inbound flights of Afghan evacuees from two main bases overseas for unspecified “health safety concerns”, a move officials warn will have a severe impact on the evacuation operation.

Fri, 10 Sep, 2021

Afghanistan The Price of War

US troops killed in Afghan bombing awarded Purple Hearts

The sailor killed in the suicide bomber attack during the evacuation mission in Afghanistan late last month has been posthumously promoted, according to the Navy.

Wed, 08 Sep, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

British soldier speaks of desperate scenes at Afghan airport as civilians tried to flee

A British soldier involved in the evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan has described scenes of chaos as people desperately tried to flee the country.

Wed, 08 Sep, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Northern Ireland Executive agrees schemes to resettle Afghan refugees

Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill are to write to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, advising him of Stormont’s commitment to assist with the humanitarian crisis

Tue, 07 Sep, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

British Prime Minister acknowledges hundreds of Afghans yet to be evacuated as he faces British Parliament

Both the British Prime Minister and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have been criticised over the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and their response since the Taliban takeover.

Mon, 06 Sep, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

‘Radical Islam’ still a first-order security threat, says Blair

“Radical Islam” continues to represent a “first-order security threat” 20 years after the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, Tony Blair has warned.

Mon, 06 Sep, 2021

Alex Younger MI6 speech

Withdrawal from Afghanistan ‘unnecessarily messy’ – former MI6 chief

A former MI6 chief has described the withdrawal from Afghanistan as “unnecessarily messy” and “unnecessarily self-harming”.

Sun, 05 Sep, 2021

Afghanistan evacuation was the most fraught crisis I’ve handled, diplomat says

Afghanistan evacuation was the most fraught crisis I’ve handled, diplomat says

A Scottish diplomat has told how the evacuation of UK and Afghan citizens from Kabul has been the most “fraught” crisis he has ever handled at the Foreign Office.

Sat, 04 Sep, 2021

Scottish independence

John Major blasts ‘very stupid’ withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

But up to 1,100 Afghans deemed eligible were estimated to have been left behind, though that figure will fall short of the true number the UK would wish to help

Sat, 04 Sep, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Taliban vows to allow Afghans ‘safe passage’ to leave

The UK Government has received assurances from the Taliban that anybody wishing to leave Afghanistan after August 31 will be allowed to do so.

Mon, 30 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Future engagement with Taliban will be pragmatic and judged by actions

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and other officials are set to focus on future engagement with the Taliban in a bid to find an international consensus on how to deal with Afghanistan’s new regime.

Mon, 30 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Baby born on Afghan evacuation flight destined for Birmingham

Soman Noori, 26, was travelling on an evacuation flight from Dubai to Birmingham, having previously left Kabul, when she went into labour

Sat, 28 Aug, 2021

Brexit

Donaldson seeks urgent information about NI citizens still in Afghanistan

Sir Jeffrey is due to hold a meeting with the Taoiseach on Friday. He said he would be seeking more information about Irish citizens from Northern Ireland in Afghanistan.

Fri, 27 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

UK enters final hours of its evacuation mission in Kabul

Despite airlifting nearly 14,000 people out of Afghanistan in the past two weeks, Ben Wallace said “the sad fact is not every single one will get out”

Fri, 27 Aug, 2021

Foreign Affairs Committee in NI

Kabul explosions are ‘what defeat looks like’, Conservative MP says

“This is what defeat looks like,” Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat has said of the explosions that have killed at least 60 people in Kabul.

Thu, 26 Aug, 2021

Afghanistan Stranded Families

Afghanistan: Who are Isis-K?

Concern has grown over the affiliate of the so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan, Isis-K, amid fears it could be planning a terrorist attack on Kabul airport.

Thu, 26 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

'Everything is chaos': Vehicle of former marine ‘targeted’ by gunman after explosion near Kabul airport

A former Royal Marine who was near to the explosion close to Kabul airport has said his vehicle was targeted by a gunman amid the chaos.

Thu, 26 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Terrorism fears pile on extra pressure ahead of Afghanistan evacuation deadline

Crowding has been a challenge for troops to manage as they attempted to evacuate as many people as possible.

Thu, 26 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

‘The sea was closed’: UK Foreign Secretary denies paddleboarding while Kabul fell

The Times reported that witnesses said they saw Mr Raab swimming and using a paddleboard on the last day of his holiday.

Wed, 25 Aug, 2021

Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

Biden defies calls to extend Afghanistan deadline amid fears for troops

The decision means the UK and other European nations now have limited time remaining for their evacuation effort as US troops are providing security at Kabul airport to allow people to flee the country.

Wed, 25 Aug, 2021