File of key events in Afghanistan ahead of U.S. and Taliban peace deal

Record ID: 1460658

  • Title: File of key events in Afghanistan ahead of U.S. and Taliban peace deal
  • Date: 27th February 2020
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BLAST SITE WITH AMBULANCES, WOUNDED AND SECURITY PERSONNEL Dozens of armed Taliban militants entered the Afghan city of Ghazni to celebrate an unprecedented ceasefire, marking the end of the Ramadan fasting season with Eid greetings, handshakes and big hugs. Soldiers and militants exchanged embraces and took selfies on their smartphones in several cities across Afghanistan. GHAZNI, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - JUNE 16, 2018) (REUTERS) AFGHAN ARMED FORCES, TALIBAN FIGHTERS AND RESIDENTS GATHERING TO CELEBRATE A THREE-DAY CEASEFIRE AFGHAN ARMY SOLDIER WITH AFGHAN FLAG AROUND SHOULDERS HUGGING TALIBAN FIGHTER ON MOTORBIKE TALIBAN COMMANDER (IN WHITE TURBAN) SPEAKING TO AFGHAN POLICE COMMANDER
  • Embargoed: 12th March 2020 08:20
  • Keywords: 9/11 Afghanistan September 11 attacks country file parliamentary elections unrest
  • Location: BAGRAM, KABUL, KANDAHAR, OUTSKIRTS OF KUNDUZ, KUNDUZ, LAGHMAN, SHEBERGHAN AIRPORT, GHAZNI, HELMAND, PARWAN, AFGHANISTAN / BONN, GERMANY / WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES
  • City: BAGRAM, KABUL, KANDAHAR, OUTSKIRTS OF KUNDUZ, KUNDUZ, LAGHMAN, SHEBERGHAN AIRPORT, GHAZNI, HELMAND, PARWAN, AFGHANISTAN / BONN, GERMANY / WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00PC2ENHVR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
    The United States and the Taliban will sign an agreement on Saturday (Feb. 29) at the end of a planned week-long "reduction in violence" in Afghanistan, stirring fresh hopes for an end to the protracted conflict.
    The agreement could represent a chance for peace and a pullout of thousands of U.S. troops that have been in the country since U.S.-led forces ousted the hardline Islamist Taliban from power in 2001.
    This come at a time that Afghanistan's election body declared incumbent Ashraf Ghani the winner of a disputed presidential election almost five months after voting took place in September 2019, a result that could trigger new turmoil amid accusations of fraud and hopes of a possible peace deal with Taliban militants.
    Polls were held on September 28 to select a president for the fourth time since U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001, but the process was marred by allegations of rigging, technical problems with biometric devices used for voting, attacks and other irregularities.
    In the wake of the September 2001 attacks in New York and Washington, Afghanistan is still far from achieving peace.
    Deadly militant violence continues to pervade in Afghanistan, 17 years after U.S. B-52 bombers blanket bombed the country.
    The United Nations said 3,438 civilians were killed and 7,015 wounded in 2017, 9 percent lower than the previous year. But the figures highlighted the high number of casualties caused by militant bombs, the body added.
    (Production: Hameed Farzad, Sayed Hassib, Travis Teo)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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