US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday expressed optimism that the Afghan government and the Taliban will begin peace negotiations. Read more

Seven labourers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province on Monday evening, police said. Read more

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani spoke with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo via video link on Monday, discussing the next steps in peace process. Read more

Relations between the Taliban, especially the Haqqani Network, and Al-Qaida remain close despite the former signing a peace deal with the United States, a recent UN report said. Read more

Afghanistan faces humanitarian disaster as COVID-19 is rapidly spreading undetected throughout the country, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned on Monday. Read more

Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo of Italy assumed his role as the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan on Monday, the alliance said. Read more

Afghanistan’s population is estimated to be 32.9 million, the National Statistics and Information Authority said in its latest report released Monday. Read more