Government of Afghanistan

The Taliban on July 30 distanced itself from peace talks that had been expected this week with the Afghan government, while making no comment on Kabul's reported death of their leader Mullah Omar.

The Afghan government is investigating reports of the death of Taliban supremo Mullah Omar, a presidential spokesman said on July 29, amid frenzied speculation about the rumoured demise of the reclusive warrior-cleric.

Taliban leader Mullah Omar on July 15 hailed as "legitimate" peace talks aimed at ending Afghanistan's 13-year war, in his first comments on the nascent dialogue.

A loud explosion rocked the Afghan parliament and shattered windows on June 22 as members were in session and gunfire was heard shortly afterwards. 

Television was broadcasting live from the building in the west of the capital, Kabul, when the explosion struck and lawmakers were seen leaving the building. 

The United States is in talks with Qatar on the status of five Taliban figures who may be free to return to Afghanistan a year after their release in a US prisoner swap, the head of the CIA said May 31. 

"I want to make sure that they're not going to be allowed to return to the fight," Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan said on CBS talk show "Face the Nation."  

Spokesperson for Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) Raluca Lunculescu said Friday that the Romanian diplomat aboard a helicopter that crashed in Pakistan earlier in the day was slightly injured; although he was rushed to a hospital in the region, he did not need hospitalisation for his injuries and it is now safely in the town of Gilgit.

The Afghan Taliban announced the start of its annual spring offensive on April 22, warning it would ramp up attacks on foreign embassies and government officials as well as military targets.

"If the foreign occupiers really want to relieve themselves from this nuisance of fighting, they should immediately withdraw," the Taliban said in a statement. 

Afghanistan is turning its back on female activists and leaving them vulnerable to threats, assassinations and sexual assault, Amnesty International said April 7, urging the international community to preserve hard-won gains for women.
 

At least one person has been killed in a suicide attack on a car of Turkey's embassy in Kabul, the BBC reported on Thursday.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the bombing in a message to reporters.

The explosion had possibly killed the Turkish national driving the targeted embassy car, Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Ayub Salangi told reporters at the site.

Exposure to Western culture since 2001 has transformed Afghanistan's previously isolated society, and a love of tattoos has taken hold - despite inking parlours being illegal.

Under the Taliban's tough 1996-2001 regime, personal fashion statements were outlawed and police squads patrolled the streets looking for men who had beards that were too short or hair that was too long.