Taliban

The lone U.S. soldier held captive in Afghanistan was freed May 31 in exchange for five senior Taliban figures detained at Guantanamo Bay, in a dramatic deal brokered by Qatar.

A roadside bomb killed 12 civilians, including seven women in eastern Afghanistan Saturday.

The Taliban on Wednesday condemned President Barack Obama's announcement that US troops would stay in Afghanistan until the end of 2016.
      

Afghanistan is holding elections for President on Saturday, amidst tight security around the country.

This will be the first democratic transfer of power in the country, as incumbent Hamid Karzai cannot run for a third consecutive term. He has been in office since the end of 2001.