National

• Kabul, Islamabad jointly fighting terror: Khar

  KABUL : Pakistan, reaffirming its support for an Afghan-led reconciliation process, has said Kabul and Islamabad have joined hands against the scourge of terrorism in the region. “We have taken steps toward building a READ MORE

• Dubai meeting on Afghan reconciliation begins

  KABUL: An Afghan-led two-day gathering, aimed at paving the ground for substantive negotiations between armed opposition groups and the Kabul government, began on Wednesday in Dubai, a potential venue for such meetings, READ MORE

• 7 killed in suicide attack on NDS office

  KABUL: Six suicide bombers and a National Directorate of Security (NDS) agent were killed and 17 civilians wounded in a brazen attack and gunfire in front of the Afghan intelligence service office in Kabul on Wednesday a READ MORE

• MPs once again reject draft budget for 2013

  KABUL: The Wolesi Jirga -- or lower house of parliament -- on Wednesday again rejected with a majority vote the draft budget for 2013, with lawmakers hitting out at the government for uneven fund distribution to province READ MORE

• Afghanistan fastest-growing economy in South Asia

  WASHINGTON: Registering a double-digit growth rate of 11 percent in 2012, Afghanistan has emerged as the fastest-growing economy in South Asia, the World bank said on Tuesday, cautioning after security transition the rat READ MORE

• NDS agents, rebel leader among 10 killed

  KABUL: Three National Directorate of Security (NDS) agents, a Taliban commander and seven militants were killed in separate incidents in the three provinces of the country, officials said on Wednesday. The intelligence READ MORE

• Residents vow to drive Taliban from Helmand

  LASHKARGAH: Residents of the Nahr-i-Saraj district of southern Helmand province said on Wednesday they had opted for an armed resistance against Taliban fighters to force them out, appealing to the government for weapons READ MORE

• Contracts for $4m reconstruction projects inked

  KABUL: Contracts for nine reconstruction projects, costing $4 million, were signed between the Ministries of Rehabilitation and Rural Development (MRRD) and 10 firms in Kabul on Wednesday. As part of the projects, 62 ki READ MORE

• Prosecutor detained on bribery charges

  HERAT CITY: An attorney and a police official were detained in the capital of western Herat province on Wednesday, authorities said. High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption chief in the western zone Mohammad Tahir READ MORE

• Fisticuffs in Afghan parliament over over summoning minister

  KABUL: Wolesi Jirga (lower house) members on Tuesday came to blows over the issue of summoning nearly a dozen ministers for under-spending their development budgets. The house summoned the 11 Cabinet ministers on Monday READ MORE

• Peace talks have gained momentum: Stanikzai

  KABUL: The High Peace Council (HPC) on Tuesday said negotiations with militants had been stepped up and the environment for reconciliation had become favourable, leaving the armed opposition with no pretext for prolongin READ MORE

• Report on graft in commerce and industries ministry sent to

  KABUL: The minister of commerce and industries on Tuesday denied corruption in his office, with his deputy revealing they had sent documents regarding alleged graft to the Presidential Palace. Deputy Minister Mutasil Ko READ MORE

• Finance minister cynic over US commitments

  KABUL: The Ministries of Defence and Finance, welcoming recent US commitments to Afghanistan, on Tuesday expressed doubts about their implementation. Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal said the delegation led by Pre READ MORE

• Senate okays parts of draft law cutting Attorney General Of

  KABUL: The Meshrano Jirga (upper house) on Tuesday discussed and approved some clauses of a draft law on composition and powers of the Attorney General Office (AGO). The proposed law removes the word "Loya" from the Pas READ MORE

• Loya Jirga to decide on immunity for US troops

  KABUL: President Hamid Karzai on Monday linked immunity for American troops to a Loya Jirga decision, warning the bilateral security agreement (BSA) would be not implemented if commitments between Afghanistan and the Un READ MORE

• Uruzgan security switch ahead of schedule: Australia

  KABUL: Australia on Tuesday hinted at withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan sooner than expected, saying that security in central Uruzgan province would transition to local forces ahead of schedule. Australian troops READ MORE

• Despite public complaints, drug sale continues

  JALALABAD: Young men in their early twenties sneak into a street in this provincial capital, where drug peddlers run their illicit businesses from secure comforts of their homes, residents allege. The street in Majboor READ MORE

• Efforts on to conserve ground water in Kabul

  KABUL: Following the prediction of a depleted ground water level in Kabul due to the climate change in 2017, the government has launched efforts to deal with the possible crisis, a senior official said on Monday. "The READ MORE

• Afghan police attack Italian troops in Farah

  FARAH CITY: Three Afghan policemen fired at Italian troops in the Bala Baluk district of western Farah province late on Monday, but the insider assault caused no casualties, local officials said on Tuesday. On the othe READ MORE

• Lower house prorogued amid uproar

  KABUL: An important session of the Wolesi Jirga was adjourned amid uproar on Monday when four of the 11 cabinet ministers refused to appear before the lower house over their failure to spend a major portion of their deve READ MORE