Interview

NATO Envoy Says Afghans Interested In Preserving Gains

NATO’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan says Afghans are interested in preserving democracy, human and women’s rights and the access to education they gained during the past 18 years.

Little Progress On Afghan Taliban-Gov’t Talks, Says U.S. Diplomat

John Bass, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, says that despite some progress in negotiations between the U.S. government and the hard-line Islamist Taliban movement, the insurgents have yet to seriously engage with Kabul or Afghan society.

Ex-Afghan Warlord Says 'No Doubt' Pakistan Supports Taliban

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, one of Afghanistan’s most notorious former warlords, said there is "no doubt" neighboring Pakistan supports the Afghan Taliban.

NATO Wants Guarantees Of Taliban’s Counterterrorism Pledge

U.S. Envoy Plays Down Tensions With Kabul, Hopes For Peace This Year

The U.S. envoy seeking a peace deal with the Taliban has played down recent tensions with the Western-backed Kabul government, telling RFE/RL that he hopes 2019 will be the "year of peace."

Taliban ‘Benefiting’ From Washington-Kabul Rift, Says Diplomat

Career U.S. diplomat David Katz discusses the fallout of the recent spat between Washington and Kabul over remarks by Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib.

Former Adviser Says Washington And Kabul Will Weather Stormy Relations

The author and academic Barnett Rubin believes that Afghanistan and the United States will weather this current low in relations after disagreements over how to talk with the Taliban insurgents.

Pakistani, Indian Leaders ‘Have Different Incentives,’ Analyst Says

Political scientist Asfandyar Mir explains the latest developments, old conflicts, and potential conflagrations in the ongoing crisis between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.

Mike Pompeo: Claims of U.S. Involvement in Iran Bus Attack 'Outrageous'

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says claims by the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that the United States was behind a bombing in Iran are “outrageous.” In an interview with RFE/RL, he denied U.S. involvement in the attack that killed 27 Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps members.

NATO Strongly Supports Afghan Government's Full Involvement In Peace Talks, Alliance Chief Tells RFE/RL

NATO is backing the full participation of the Afghan government in peace talks involving U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives to end the 17-year conflict, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg told RFE/RL on February 14 in Brussels.

Pompeo Calls Iranian Claims Of U.S. Involvement In IRGC Attack 'Outrageous'

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has rejected as "outrageous" Iranian claims that the United States and its regional allies are to blame for a suicide bombing in southeastern Iran that killed 27 members of the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.