Taliban vows future Afghanistan won’t be terrorists’ hotbed

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s longest war has come full circle.

The United States began bombing Afghanistan after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to root out al-Qaida fighters harbored by the Taliban. Now, more than 18 years later, preventing Afghanistan from being a launching pad for more attacks on America is at the heart of ongoing U.S. talks with the Taliban.…READ MORE

All-Afghan conference brings country closer to peace

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — All-Afghan talks that brought together Afghanistan’s warring sides ended Tuesday with a statement that appeared to push the country a step closer to peace, by laying down the outlines of a roadmap for the country’s future and ending nearly 18 years of war.…READ MORE

US envoy hails latest talks with Taliban as the best ever

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. peace envoy to Afghanistan said Saturday that for the first time he can report “substantive” progress on all four issues key to a peace agreement in the country’s 17-year war, calling the latest round of talks with the Taliban the “most productive” so far.…READ MORE