RFE/RL

IS Leader Appears In Video For First Time In Five Years

The leader of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group has appeared in a video for the first time in five years.

U.S. Religion Report Assails China Over Abuses Of Muslims

Members of China's Uyghur Muslim population continue to be subject to "egregious abuses" but the government in Beijing has faced few, if any, consequences, a bipartisan U.S. federal commission says in its 2019 annual report on religious freedom worldwide.

Afghanistan Opens Loya Jirga To Discuss Peace Talks

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has opened a four-day Loya Jirga, or grand assembly, with more than 3,200 delegates seeking to agree on a common approach to peace talks with the Taliban.

U.S. Envoy Says Taliban Must Adapt For Peace

Afghanistan is scheduled on April 29 to convene a rare Loya Jirga -- a traditional gathering of elders, religious scholars, and prominent Afghans.

Afghanistan To Hold Loya Jirga Grand Assembly To Discuss Peace Talks

Afghanistan is scheduled on April 29 to convene a rare Loya Jirga -- a traditional gathering of elders, religious scholars, and prominent Afghans.

U.S., Russia, China Call For 'Inclusive Afghan-Led' Peace Process

The United States, Russia, and China have agreed on the goal of withdrawing foreign forces from Afghanistan and to seek an "inclusive Afghan-led" peace process, the three countries declared in a joint statement.

Xi Seeks To Reassure Critics Over $1 Trillion Belt And Road Project

Chinese President Xi Jinping says his plan to recreate the old Silk Road is designed to increase and enhance international trade cooperation, as he bid to reassure critics of the $1 trillion infrastructure project.

Afghanistan Feels Impact Of Iran's Economic Isolation

U.S. Official: Afghan Peace Deal Could Trigger Internal Woes

Police To Allow Transgender Recruits In Pakistan Province

Indian PM Modi Casts Vote In General Election's Third Round

Iran, Pakistan Agree To Set Up Joint Border 'Reaction Force'

Iranian President Hassan Rohani and visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have agreed to set up a joint border "reaction force" to counter terrorism, Iranian state media reported.

More Than 200 Killed In Multiple Explosions In Sri Lanka

At least 207 people were killed and more than 500 were injured in Sri Lanka on April 21 as multiple coordinated explosions hit several locations including hotels and churches in the capital where worshippers attended Easter services.

Afghan Peace Talks Suspended Amid Conflict Over Delegates

The talks were a significant first step toward finding a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan and the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Reporters Facing Tougher Task Amid Hatred Fueled By Politicians: RSF

Hostility toward journalists often expressed by political leaders is putting media at risk globally, the watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual report published on April 18.

'American Taliban' Lindh To Be Released From Prison Next Month

John Walker Lindh, an American who pleaded guilty in 2002 to fighting for the Taliban, is to be released in May after serving 17 years in prison.

UN: Timid Progress In Afghanistan Torture Eradication

The United Nations says there has been "encouraging" progress in Afghanistan's efforts to eradicate the torture of people detained in relation to the country's ongoing conflict, but much remains to be done.

Afghanistan To Send 250 Delegates To Taliban Meeting In Qatar

The Afghan government says it will send 250 delegates for talks with the Taliban in Qatar this week that are seen as a potential breakthrough in efforts to end the nearly 18-year war.

RSF Condemns Pakistani Accusation Of ‘Cyber-Terrorism’ Against Investigative Reporter

The global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned what it says are “trumped-up charges of online terrorism and defaming respected institutions” against a prominent investigative journalist in Pakistan.

UN Security Council Condemns Taliban's Announcement Of Spring Offensive

The UN Security Council has condemned the Taliban's announcement of a spring offensive, saying in a unanimous statement that it will only "result in more unnecessary suffering and destruction for the Afghan people."