Rappler's latest stories on taliban
White House says Trump 'does read' intel briefs
'The president is the most informed person on planet Earth when it comes to the threats that we face,' says White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
Taliban reaffirm commitment to U.S. deal in Pompeo call
The discussion comes as US President Donald Trump faces mounting pressure to explain why he did nothing after being reportedly told that Russian spies had offered and paid cash to Taliban-linked militants for killing US soldiers
Trump briefed on Russian bounties in February – report
Trump is under increasing pressure to explain mounting reports saying he was informed Russian military intelligence had offered and paid cash to Taliban-linked militants for US soldiers' deaths – and did nothing in response
Trump says spies deemed Russia-Taliban intel not 'credible'
US President Donald Trump criticizes the New York Times report on Russian activity in Afghanistan as 'probably just another phony Times hit job, just like their failed Russia Hoax'
Trump denies he was briefed on Russia-Taliban bounty intelligence
United States President Donald Trump slams the New York Times report, calling it 'another phony Times hit job'
Taliban reject claims Russia aided fighters in attacks on U.S. troops
Taliban also denies that its weapons were given by Russia
U.S. thinks Russia spies aided Taliban attacks – report
The purported bounties give incentives to the guerrillas to target US forces, just as President Donald Trump tries to withdraw troops and end America's longest war
Taliban killed 291 Afghan security personnel in past week – gov't
The past week was the 'deadliest' in the country's 19 years of conflict, says Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council
Taliban says no threat to West as U.S. troops leave Afghanistan
A deal signed in February holds that the United States would pull out all troops in return for security guarantees from the insurgents and a pledge to hold peace talks with Afghanistan
Over 400 Afghan security personnel killed or wounded by Taliban in past week – gov't
The accusations come after the government and Taliban signaled that they were getting closer to launching much delayed peace talks
Freed Taliban prisoners eye return to the battlefield
A security official says those flagged by the Taliban for release include aspiring suicide bombers, suicide vest makers, kidnappers, and even foreign fighters
U.S. launches 1st Taliban air strikes since Afghan ceasefire end
US forces spokesman Sonny Leggett says the two assaults took place on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5, in separate provinces in Afghanistan
Afghan forces killed in first 'Taliban attack' since ceasefire end
The militants attack a checkpoint in Parwan, north Kabul, says a spokeswoman to the provincial governor. The Taliban have not commented.
Hundreds more Taliban prisoners freed on last day of Afghan truce
Afghanistan authorities say they released about 900 Taliban prisoners across the country, approximately 600 of them from the notorious Bagram jail near Kabul
Afghan gov't frees Taliban prisoners as truce holds for 2nd day
President Ashraf Ghani says his administration is also ready to hold peace talks with the Taliban, seen as key to ending the war in the impoverished country
Afghan president vows to speed up release of Taliban prisoners
He also urges the militants to press on with the release of the Afghan security personnel they hold
Afghan Taliban leader says committed to deal with U.S.
In a rare message released ahead of the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Haibatullah Akhundzada urges Washington 'not to waste' the opportunity offered by the deal to end America's longest war
Afghan forces repel Taliban attack on key city – officials
Taliban fighters attack several outposts of Afghan forces on the outskirts of Kunduz at around 1:00 am, triggering fierce fighting
U.S. says Taliban fulfilling promises in Afghan withdrawal deal
Recent violence violates the 'spirit' of the deal, says US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad
Taliban claim deadly attack on Afghan army base
The defense ministry says a truck bomb targeted the base in the eastern city of Gardez, killing 5 civilians
Taliban says ready to counter Afghan forces after deadly carnage
'From now onwards the responsibility of further escalation of violence and its ramifications shall fall squarely on the shoulders of the Kabul administration,' the Taliban says in a statement
Afghan forces to resume offensive operations
'I order all the security forces to end their active defense position, return to offensive postures, and resume their operations against the enemy,' says Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
U.S. envoy calls Afghan prisoner releases 'important step'
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Taliban releases 20 Afghan security-force prisoners, following the government's release of hundreds of insurgent captives
Taliban set to release first prisoners in fragile Afghan exchange
The Afghan government has pressed ahead with freeing hundreds of Taliban prisoners over the past week, despite complaints from the insurgent group about the piecemeal nature of the releases
Afghan government releases 100 Taliban prisoners
(UPDATED) Afghanistan's Office of the National Security Council says the 100 prisoners freed on Wednesday, April 8, were 'thoroughly vetted' and had all taken an oath never to return to the battlefield
Taliban end 'fruitless' meetings with Afghan gov't over prisoner swap
Matin Bek, a member of the government's negotiating team, says the release has been delayed because the Taliban are demanding the release of 15 'top commanders'
Gunmen storm Sikh-Hindu temple in ongoing Kabul assault
The attack comes as Afghanistan is facing myriad crises including a raging insurgency, political deadlock, a massive cut in US aid, a flailing peace process and rising coronavirus cases
Pompeo in Kabul to try to break political deadlock
The visit comes just a day after the Afghan government and Taliban held their first discussion on prisoner exchanges – a key step in a broader push for peace
Kabul to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners if violence eases
A Taliban leader accuses Kabul of acting in bad faith, alleging that 'the government (planned) to release only those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired'
Pentagon downplays new Taliban attacks
'There's no high profile attacks, there's no suicide bombers, there's no vehicle-borne suicide, no attack against the US forces, no attack against the coalition,' says General Mark Milley
U.S. launches air strike against Taliban to defend Afghan forces
US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Sonny Leggett says the air strike took place against Taliban fighters who were 'actively attacking' an Afghan forces checkpoint in Helmand province
Trump, Taliban political chief speak as Afghan violence rises
The insurgents are the first to give news of the highly unusual phone call, which they say lasted 35 minutes
Taliban attack Afghan army bases, throwing peace talks into doubt
The halt to the limited truce, which began on February 22, ends what was a welcome reprieve for ordinary Afghans who have born the brunt of the deadly violence
Taliban end partial truce as Afghan violence resumes
'As per the (US-Taliban) agreement, our mujahideen will not attack foreign forces but our operations will continue against the Kabul administration forces,' says Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid
Afghanistan's partial truce will continue, 'with goal' for full ceasefire
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani pushes back against a clause in the deal that calls for the Taliban to release up to 1,000 prisoners and for the Afghan government to release up to 5,000 prisoners
Peace, but not at our cost: Afghan women fear Taliban return
Women remain wary of the insurgents, desperate to see an end to the violence, but fearful of paying a heavy price
U.S., Taliban sign historic deal on Afghanistan's future
American troops are set to pull out from Afghanistan in 14 months
Trump says he would sign a peace deal with the Taliban
A partial truce is in effect in Afghanistan and could ultimately lead to a withdrawal of US forces after more than 18 years
Afghans mark start of week-long partial truce amid isolated attacks
The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could ultimately pull US troops out after more than 18 years
U.S. prepares to sign withdrawal deal with Taliban on February 29
Both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issue statements saying they have agreed to sign the accord on February 29 in Doha, following the one-week partial truce
U.S. announces partial Taliban truce, Trump says peace deal 'close'
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reports 'notable progress' in negotiations with the Islamist extremists
U.S.-Taliban breakthrough appears closer as Ghani reports progress
Washington and the insurgents have been locked in grueling talks that have stretched over more than a year for an agreement that would see the US pull thousands of troops from Afghanistan
Surrendered Pakistani Taliban spokesman escapes custody – official
The confirmation comes days after Ehsanullah Ehsan, the former spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, released an audio message claiming he had escaped detention and was now in Turkey
Taliban: 'No ceasefire plans' in Afghanistan
The statement from the insurgents comes as local and international forces brace for another bloody winter amid renewed US-Taliban talks
Afghan war caused 100,000 civilian casualties in last decade – U.N.
The announcement comes as the Taliban and US continue to hold talks aimed at drawing a close to America's longest war
9 Afghan forces killed in Taliban insider attack – official
The Afghan Ministry of Defense says the national army troops 'were martyred by Taliban terrorists in Qarabagh district of Ghazni province'
U.S. resumes talks with Taliban in Doha – US source
The source says the focus of discussion will be reduction of violence that leads to intra-Afghan negotiations and a ceasefire
Trump visits troops in Afghanistan, says Taliban talks back on
On a brief visit to Bagram Airfield outside the capital of Kabul, the US president serves turkey dinner to soldiers, poses for photographs and delivers a speech after meeting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
Taliban release 2 Western hostages in Afghanistan
The Taliban's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirms that the transfer of the Taliban prisoners 'is complete, and they have arrived where they were supposed to come'
Afghanistan to release senior Taliban prisoners in apparent swap
The 3 Taliban prisoners include Anas Haqqani, who was seized in 2014 and whose older brother is the deputy Taliban leader and head of the Haqqani network, a notorious Taliban affiliate
