INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Afghan Security Forces on “Active Defence” – Talks with Taliban stalled
On Friday March 20, the Afghan Defence Minister called on the country’s Security Forces to be on “Active Defence” as peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban appear to have stalled, with no progress in plans for the exchange of prisoners.
Minister Assadullah Khalid said Afghan Forces have been put on defence over the US-Taliban agreement and added that insurgents have increased their attacks on security forces.
Khalid also implied that a truce would be declared in the country to cope better with the spread of coronavirus COVID 19.
The Defence Minister’s mandate came after US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said on Wednesday, March 18, that Washington would like to see the exchange of prisoners begin as soon as possible, under an agreement signed by Taliban.
“No detainee has been released so far despite relevant commitments on both sides,” Halilizad said in a Twitter post.
But Kabul has a different view on the exchange of prisoners.
“Our position on the exchange of prisoners has not changed,” National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal said on Twitter.
“The Taliban should stop killing Afghans and provide guarantees that those released will not return to war,” he added.
Under the US-Taliban agreement, up to 5,000 prisoner guerrillas should be released before the intra-Afghan talks begin on March 10.
Amid uncertainty about the exchange of prisoners, the Taliban are continuing attacks on Afghan forces.
On Thursday, March 19, insurgents fired two separate attacks on two provinces of northern Afghanistan, in Balkh and Baghlan, killing seven members of the security forces and injuring another 14.
Four police officers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Baghlan province, a local official said, while 8 others were injured.
The Taliban also attacked a security force march in the Dular Abad area of Balkh province, causing the deaths of three people and injuring six others.
With information from AMNA
USA | Signs bill on military aid to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has signed a bill providing Ukraine with billions of dollars in new aid for its war with Russia, marking a rare…
United Kingdom | Increase in defence spending
Britain will gradually increase its defence spending to reach 2.5% of GDP by 2030, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced…
Armenia – Azerbaijan | Border demarcation is underway
An important step for the diplomatic relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan is underway with the demarcation of their common border.
A reluctant alliance? A different approach to French – Serbian defence relations
It has only been a few months since Croatia started receiving the first of the Rafale fighter jets it ordered from France.
Elliniko | 314 bombs buried at former airport
Over 300 bombs from the Second World War have been found at the old airport of Athens in Elliniko. The news about the said…
Agamemnon | The new Astute-class HMS nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy
The British Royal Navy has named the newly-built Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine HMS Agamemnon. Doing so, the…
NSPA | Awards first C-sUAS multinational contract in NATO’s history
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has approved the first Counter-small UAS (C-sUAS) procurement framework agreement…
USA | Signs bill on military aid to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has signed a bill providing Ukraine with billions of dollars in new aid for its war with Russia, marking a rare…
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
On this day, 109 years ago, the genocide of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire began, with April 24 being the day of…
0 Comments