RFE/RL Afghanistan Report 07.08.2013 A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Afghanistan.RFE/RL QUIZ: FAMOUS GAY RUSSIANS For more stories on Afghanistan, please visit and bookmark our Afghanistan page. |
'Secret' Afghan, Taliban Talks Taliban representatives reportedly have held secret talks with representatives of President Hamid Karzai to try to restart a stalled peace initiative.More Dozens of people have died and many remain missing after days of torrential rains caused heavy flooding in eastern Afghanistan. In the Surobi district of Kabul Province, residents are trying to salvage their possessions from damaged businesses and homes as the waters recede. (Video by Sabawoon, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan)More  Afghan Market Blast Kills 4A bomb attack has hit a busy livestock market in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing at least four civilians.More Afghan officials say rescue operations are under way in Kabul and several eastern provinces, where heavy floods have killed dozens of people.More  Afghan Blast Injures Prosecutor, CiviliansA powerful blast has wounded 16 people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.More  Bomb Targets Indian Consulate, Kills Afghan ChildrenPolice say the bomb's intended target was an Indian consulate in Jalalabad but nearly all the victims were children reciting the Koran in a nearby mosque.More U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met with Pakistani leaders and announced the resumption of long-stalled talks on security issues. Akbar Ayazi, RFE/RL's regional director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, says the expectations for the talks are high, not only in Pakistan but throughout the region. (Reuters and RFE/RL)More  Afghan Province Upset At Being Left Out Of Touted Rail NetworkThe dream of a northeastern Afghan province to become a regional trade hub has taken a knock after officials confirmed that Konduz -- for now -- will be bypassed by a much-anticipated railroad linking northern Afghanistan to neighboring Central Asian countries.More  Honor-Killing Case Raises Fears For Women's Rights In AfghanistanAuthorities in the northwestern Afghan province of Badghis have arrested a local cleric accused of killing a woman for allegedly having an affair with her male cousin.More  Afghan Women's Radio ClosedThe owner of an Afghan radio network dedicated solely to women says one of its regional stations has been shut down after he refused to pay bribes to officials.More  UN: Rise In Afghan Civilian CasualtiesThe United Nations says that civilian casualties from fighting and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan have increased by nearly one-quarter in the first six months of this year.More |