Latest News
Ghani to propose elections in counter-offer to US proposal: Report
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a new presidential election within six months, under a peace plan he will put forward as a counter-offer to a U.S. proposal that he rejects, two senior government officials told Reuters.
According to Reuters, Ghani will unveil his proposal at an international gathering in Turkey next month, signalling his refusal to accept Washington’s plan for his elected government to be replaced by an interim administration, the officials said.
Washington, which agreed last year in a deal with the Taliban to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by May 1 after nearly two decades, is pressing for a peace deal to end the war between the government and the Taliban.
This comes amid stalled negotiations in Doha.
U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been circulating a proposal which would replace the Kabul government with an interim administration. But Ghani has voiced vehement opposition to any solution that requires his government to step aside for unelected successors.
“The counterproposal which we are going to present at the Istanbul meeting would be to call for early presidential elections if the Taliban agree on a ceasefire,” one senior government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Another Afghan government official told Reuters: “The president would never agree to step aside and any future government should be formed through democratic process, not a political deal.”
A third senior official also said Ghani’s proposal would include possible early elections, although he did not specify the exact time frame for the vote. The third official said Ghani had already shared his road map with Khalilzad.
With just weeks left before the May 1 troop withdrawal deadline, Washington is seeking regional backing for its approach to push the Kabul government and insurgents to share power.
But diplomats and foreign officials have said it will be difficult to move forward with the U.S. plans without Ghani’s support, Reuters reported.
During a visit to the region, which included stops in Doha and Islamabad, Khalilzad pushed for a conference to be hosted by Turkey with involvement from the United Nations next month.
The Afghan officials said that as part of Ghani’s counter-proposal, his government would ask the U.N. to closely observe the new election to ensure it is accepted by all sides.
A presidential palace spokesman declined to comment.
The United States has closed its Consulate General in Peshawar and transferred responsibility for diplomatic engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Unit (KPU) at the US Embassy in Islamabad.
In a statement posted on X, the US Consulate General in Peshawar said its official page was no longer active following the closure.
The statement said information about ongoing diplomatic efforts, including initiatives to promote trade and commercial ties, strengthen security cooperation, and build partnerships with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and across Pakistan, would continue to be available through the US Embassy’s official website.
According to reports, the decision is part of a broader effort by the Donald Trump administration to reduce costs and downsize federal agencies.
Separately, France has announced that it will permanently close its consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi city due to budgetary reasons and as part of a broader policy to reduce its global presence.
The European Union has welcomed the appointment of Rabab Fatima as the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, saying it looks forward to working with her on issues related to the country.
“The EU looks forward to working with her in Kabul and international fora, including future steps for the ‘Doha process’,” Anouar El Anouni said in a post on X on Friday.
He added that “the world must not forget Afghanistan,” emphasizing the need for continued international engagement with the country.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Rabab Fatima of Bangladesh as his new Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
According to a statement issued by the UN spokesperson’s office on Wednesday, Fatima will succeed Roza Otunbayeva of Kyrgyzstan, who has led the mission in Afghanistan in recent years.
The European Union Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva has hosted a meeting on Afghanistan, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Afghan people amid what it described as one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises.
In a post on X, the delegation said EU Ambassador Deike Potzel held talks with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Barham Salih, following the latter’s recent visit to Afghanistan.
“EU continues to stand with the Afghan people, provides life-saving assistance and supports Afghan women’s rights,” the delegation said.
The EU has been one of the largest humanitarian donors to Afghanistan, funding emergency assistance through United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations. The bloc has repeatedly called for continued humanitarian access and the protection of the rights of Afghan women and girls while maintaining support for vulnerable communities across the country.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 10.7 million women and girls are expected to require humanitarian assistance this year, making them among the populations most severely affected by the country’s prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Afghanistan, India discuss ways to boost trade and investment ties
US permanently closes its consulate in Peshawar
World must not forget Afghanistan: EU spokesman
EU at UN hosts meeting on Afghanistan amid ongoing humanitarian crisis
Oil settles up on renewed US-Iran hostilities and threat of Red Sea closure
Afghanistan signs $67 million contract for cement production in Samangan
Afghanistan eyes direct Basmati rice imports from India amid tensions with Pakistan
TAPI project sees rapid progress in Afghanistan
Cricket world pays tribute to Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran
India offers 1,000 online scholarships for Afghan students for 2026-27 academic year
Tawsia: Reasons behind Afghanistan’s fuel price rise discussed
Tahawol: Appointment of new UN envoy for Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Pakistan’s call for peaceful relations with Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Growing trade ties between Kabul-New Delhi discussed
Saar: Impact of Iran-US conflict on the region discussed
-
International Sports4 days agoSpain and France set for blockbuster World Cup semi-final showdown
-
Business5 days agoMango growers suffer heavy losses as exports fall and climate takes its toll
-
Latest News5 days agoMujahid: Women’s rights in Afghanistan are secured under sharia
-
International Sports3 days agoFIFA World Cup 2026 final to be preceded by star-studded closing ceremony
-
Latest News4 days agoFitrat says Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan have always been met with a response
-
Regional4 days agoTrump says US attacking Iran capabilities related to Strait of Hormuz
-
Latest News5 days agoIranian deputy foreign minister arrives in Kabul for talks
-
International Sports3 days agoSpain outclass France to book place in FIFA World Cup final