RFE/RL

Kyrgyz Court Jails Man For Using WhatsApp To 'Incite Ethnic Hatred'

A court in Kyrgyzstan's southern region of Batken has sentenced a local man to four years in prison after convicting him of inciting ethnic hatred with posts on the WhatsApp messaging application.

Taliban, Afghan Delegations Hail 'Successful' Moscow Meeting, Pledge To Meet Again

Taliban representatives and an Afghan delegation led by former President Hamid Karzai have said that after two days of negotiations in Russia they aim to continue their "intra-Afghan" dialogue in Qatar "as soon as possible."

Taliban Insists On Foreign-Troop Withdrawal At Moscow Talks

Taliban representatives and an Afghan delegation led by former President Hamid Karzai are holding a second and final day of talks in Moscow, with the militants continuing to insist upon the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan as a first step in the peace process.​

Trump: Time To 'At Least Try For Peace' In Afghanistan

U.S. President Donald Trump described U.S. talks with the Taliban as "constructive" in his February 5 State of the Union address.

Foreign Ministers, Diplomats To Meet In Washington For Talks On Islamic State

The meeting, hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, follows President Donald Trump's controversial decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria.

Ghani: Pompeo Said 'No Ambiguity' About U.S. Commitment To Afghanistan

'Intra-Afghan' Talks Under Way In Moscow Amid Continuing Violence

Taliban representatives and an Afghan delegation led by former President Hamid Karzai have begun two days of talks in Moscow billed as part of an "intra-Afghan" peace process -- despite the lack of representatives from the current Afghan government at the meetings.

Taliban Officials To Hold Talks In Moscow With Prominent Afghan Figures

The Russian government has denied organizing the meeting. However, it's highly unlikely such a high-profile event would be allowed to take place in the Russian capital without the Kremlin's blessing.

Taliban To Join Moscow Talks Without Afghan Government Officials

The Taliban says it will attend what it calls "intra-Afghan" talks in Moscow designed to bring together prominent Afghan figures, including former President Hamid Karzai, opposition figures, and tribal elders -- but no government officials.

Afghanistan's Air Force: Soaring Costs, Low Expectations

The Afghan Air Force says it's ready to take on more responsibility as the U.S. looks to scale back its military operations in the country. Critics say the small fleet of light helicopters and turboprop planes is ill-prepared to fill the void left if foreign troops and equipment are withdrawn.

U.S. Senate Opposes Afghan, Syria Withdrawals In Rebuke To Trump

The Republican-led U.S. Senate approved a mainly symbolic bill opposing plans to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan in a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump.

Trump Says Afghanistan Peace Talks ‘Proceeding Well’

President Donald Trump expressed cautious satisfaction over the progress of peace talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, following six days of talks between the U.S. special envoy for the conflict-wracked country and Taliban negotiators last week.

Eastern Europe, Central Asia Failing To Make Progress In Corruption, Says Watchdog

More than two-thirds of the 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 scored below 50 on its 0-100 scale.

NATO Chief, Pentagon Head Say They're Encouraged By Afghan Peace Talks

A Taliban spokesman also said there was progress, but he denied reports of an agreement on a cease-fire.

Top Pakistani Court To Rule On Call For Appeal Against Christian Woman

Pakistan's Supreme Court is due to decide on January 29 whether to allow an appeal against its acquittal of a Christian woman at the center of a blasphemy row, a lawyer for the woman said on January 24.

U.S., Taliban Agree In Principle To Afghan Peace 'Framework'

U.S. and Taliban officials have agreed in principle to the "framework" of a peace deal, U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said after five days of talks between the militant group and the United States in Qatar.

U.S. Peace Envoy In Kabul After 'Significant Progress' Made In Qatar

U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has arrived in Kabul to consult Afghan government officials following six days of talks with the Afghan Taliban in Qatar aimed ending the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan.

Air Strike In Afghanistan Kills 16 From Same Family

Sixteen civilians from the same extended family were killed in an air strike on a home in southern Afghanistan, an Afghan official said on January 24.

U.S. Envoy Meets In Qatar With Afghan Taliban Representatives

Washington has confirmed that its envoy on Afghanistan has been meeting in Qatar this week with Taliban representatives as part of a peace process for the war-torn country.

U.S. Soldier Killed By 'Enemy Fire' In Afghanistan

The U.S. military says one of its service members was killed by "enemy small-arms fire" in Afghanistan on January 22.