About: Afghanistan
EU calls for Afghanistan ceasefire as US defence secretary visits Kabul
EU officials called Sunday (21 October) for a ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying the breakdown in US-Taliban talks presented an opportunity to push for a truce, as the US defense secretary made an unexpected visit to Kabul.
Trump fires foreign policy hawk Bolton, citing strong disagreements
US President Donald Trump abruptly fired his national security adviser John Bolton amid disagreements with his hard-line aide over how to handle foreign policy challenges such as North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia.
US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Afghanistan, close 5 bases
The United States would withdraw almost 5,000 troops from Afghanistan and close five bases within 135 days under a draft peace accord agreed with the Taliban, the chief US negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Monday (2 September).
Central Asia ministerial welcomes the EU’s new strategy for the region
Gathered in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Sunday (7 July), the Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian countries welcomed the new EU Strategy on Central Asia recently adopted by the EU.
Trump boasts ‘economic miracle’ in State of the Union speech
President Donald Trump vowed in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday (5 February) to build a border wall, which is a source of a deep partisan divide, and said Democratic attempts at “ridiculous partisan investigations” could damage US prosperity.
Russia plays power broker as US-Taliban talks gather steam
Russia will host the Taliban and Afghan politicians opposed to President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday (5 February), Russian and Taliban sources said, promoting its role of power broker in what a US official called an attempt to “muddle” the US-backed peace process.
Defense Secretary Mattis resigns, Trump ends year in chaos
Trump’s presidency has lurched from crisis to crisis since he took office less than two years ago, but Thursday (20 December) was a landmark day of chaos that appeared to test the resolve of even senior Republican backers in Washington.
A US-Russia-China-EU summit? EU is interested
The EU is taking seriously the idea expressed recently by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for holding a four-way summit to defuse global tensions, an EU diplomat told an audience on Tuesday (4 December).
Afghan president names team for Taliban peace talks, EU to act as ‘guarantor’
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday (28 November) announced in Geneva a 12-person team for prospective peace talks with the Taliban, as his government pledged unwavering commitment to resolve the conflict despite persistent bloodshed.
Brussels ministerial paves the way to launching EU Central Asia strategy
The European Union is expected to define its strategy for Central Asia in early 2019. A preparatory meeting between the EU and the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) took place in Brussels on Friday (23 November).
Nazarbayev: Partnership in Eurasia can strengthen the world system
Exclusive: Two days ahead of the Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) which will bring together heads of state and government of 51 European and Asian countries, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev offered his comments on a wide range of issues.
Trump administration takes aim at International Criminal Court, PLO
The Trump administration on Monday (10 September) threatened tough action against the International Criminal Court should it try to prosecute Americans for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and said the PLO's office in Washington would be closed for seeking to punish Israel through the court.
EU supports Kazakh programme to educate Afghan women
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on Wednesday (5 September) announced a new €2 million programme that will train and educate Afghan women in Kazakhstan.
Roses instead of opium: Afghan farmers enjoy sweet smell of success
Standing in a field of roses in eastern Afghanistan, former poppy grower Mohammad Din Sapai quickly but carefully plucks the delicate petals that will be turned into rose water and oils for sale around the world.
EU and Azerbaijan agree ‘Partnership Priorities’
A milestone in EU-Azerbaijan relations was reached in Brussels yesterday (11 July), with the end of negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership Priorities in the presence of President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
Bulgaria under fire for ill-treatment of asylum-seekers
French lawyers will file a complaint against Bulgaria and ask the European Commission to start an infringement procedure for inhumane treatment of asylum seekers by the country’s authorities, the Green/EFA group announced on Tuesday (26 June).
Afghan poverty rises sharply since NATO combat troops’ departure
Poverty has risen sharply in Afghanistan since the departure of NATO's combat troops in 2014, with more than half of the population now living below the poverty line, according to a national survey.
Turkey says facing ‘new refugee wave’ after 30,000 Afghans arrive
Nearly 30,000 Afghans have arrived in Turkey in the last three months, the Turkish government said Wednesday (25 April), after Amnesty International criticised the authorities "ruthless" decision to send more than 7,000 back to Afghanistan.
EU court: Child refugees can apply to bring their families
Refugees who enter the European Union alone as minors can apply to be reunited with their families, even if they reach legal adulthood before the end of the process, the EU's top court ruled today (12 April).
Mogherini discusses future of Afghanistan at Central Asia forum
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini arrived in the Uzbek capital Tashkent yesterday (26 March) and met with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries, ahead of a conference on Afghanistan under the heading "Peace process, security cooperation and regional connectivity" which takes place today.
Minister: Central Asia can be a model of peace, security and cooperation
In a wide-ranging interview, Galymzhan Koisybayev, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, told EURACTIV about the results of a recent summit of the Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan) and the past and the future of regional cooperation.
Astana hosts little-publicised Central Asia summit
Only a couple of years ago, a summit of the five Central Asia countries would have been absolutely unthinkable. But the leaders came together on Thursday (15 March) and decided to hold such meetings annually, always at the same time of the year, which is a major holiday in the region.
Better schooling for Afghan refugee children in Iran
School is not a right for Afghan child refugees in Iran. However, the recent establishment of an education programme has helped improve the situation, EURACTIV’s partner EuroEfe reports.