Jul 29 Who is Mullah Omar and is he dead? By Larisa Epatko Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, who has been in hiding since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, is reportedly dead. Is it for real this time?… Continue reading
Jul 15 Watch 4:54 News Wrap: Afghan Taliban leader endorses peace talks with Kabul By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Wednesday, in a written statement posted online, the leader of the Afghan Taliban endorsed peace talks with Kabul for the first time, writing, "peaceful interactions with the enemies is not prohibited." Also, militia fighters allied with… Continue watching
Jul 07 Watch 9:29 News Wrap: Afghanistan confirms direct talks with Taliban By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Tuesday, the government of Afghanistan confirmed it has engaged in direct, face-to-face talks with the Taliban, its first formal encounter since 2001. Also, the U.S. strategy to defeat the Islamic State was heavily criticized by Senate… Continue watching
Jun 13 Watch 2:56 Is Tehran quietly backing the Taliban? By PBS News Hour In Afghanistan on Saturday, the Taliban attacked police in the southern province of Helmand, killing at least 20 officers and wounding two others. It’s the latest in a series of deadly Taliban attacks there. Now, we’re learning the Taliban may… Continue watching
May 27 Guantanamo inmates swapped for Bergdahl could move freely By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Five senior Taliban leaders released last year from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could move freely around the world next week as their one-year travel ban expires. Continue reading
May 14 Watch 6:05 News Wrap: Malaysia and Thailand turn away migrant boats By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, Malaysia and Thailand turned away three boats crammed with more than 1,100 migrants. Refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar have been abandoned at sea by human traffickers. Also, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a hotel attack… Continue watching
Mar 26 Watch How one Afghan woman rose from dressmaker to policy insider By PBS News Hour For Kamila Sidiqi, the road to working at Afghanistan's presidential palace began with a bold effort to support her family. While under Taliban rule, when women couldn’t work or go to school, she started a business in her living room. Continue watching
Mar 25 Watch 7:42 Bowe Bergdahl’s motives were ‘pure,’ says lawyer of desertion charges By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Mar 25 Platoon mate has ‘mixed feelings’ about Bergdahl’s desertion charges By Larisa Epatko Former Taliban captive U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, military officials said Wednesday, an outcome one of his platoon mates called “bittersweet.”… Continue reading
Mar 24 Watch 12:45 Afghan President Ghani: Partnership with U.S. ‘revitalized’ By PBS News Hour President Obama announced that the U.S. would scale back the pace of its promised troop pullout from Afghanistan, retaining current forces this year. Gwen Ifill interviews President Ashraf Ghani about thawing relations with the U.S., potential changes in how Pakistan… Continue watching