Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement condemning attacks on civilians by the Taliban and other militant groups. Ghani said “terror, horror and crime” was not a solution to Afghanistan’s problem and beseeched the Taliban to accept “a permanent ceasefire”. Government officials, journalists, and activists have been targeted in recent months, stoking fear particularly in the capital Kabul. Rising violence has complicated US-brokered peace talks taking place in Doha as Washington withdraws troops. The number of US troops in Afghanistan has been reduced to 2,500, the lowest level of American forces there since 2001, according to the Pentagon on Friday.

Source: bd News24 January 17, 2021 09:33 UTC