Asia Pacific

Taliban Pledge Afghan Peace Talks After Prisoner Release Completed

The Taliban said Monday they were ready for peace talks with the Afghan government, as authorities announced that the release of hundreds of militants accused of serious offenses would begin in the next few days.

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Afghan Gathering to Decide Fate of 400 Taliban Prisoners

Thousands of prominent Afghans will gather in Kabul Friday to decide whether to release about 400 Taliban prisoners, including many involved in brutal attacks that killed.

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Afghan Forces, Taliban Clash After Ceasefire End

Ten insurgents were killed in clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Thursday, the first time authorities have confirmed direct fighting since a recent ceasefire expired.

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At Least 20 Dead in Afghan Prison Raid Claimed by IS: Officials

At least 20 people have been killed in fighting between security forces and Islamic State gunmen raiding an Afghan jail, officials said Monday, after the jihadist group claimed the ongoing attack.

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Car Bomb Kills at Least 17 in Afghanistan Ahead of Ceasefire

At least 17 people were killed in a car bomb explosion in an Afghan city on Thursday as crowds shopped for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, officials and a medic said.

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China Conducts Military Drills in South China Sea

Beijing recently conducted "high-intensity" naval exercises in the South China Sea, China's defense ministry said Thursday, as tensions grow over the Asian power's maneuvers in the contested waters.

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India Warns China After Receiving New Fighter Jets From France

The first five Rafale fighter jets bought from France in a multi-billion-dollar deal landed in India on Wednesday and the defense minister used their arrival to launch a veiled warning to neighboring China over territorial tensions.

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US Hails Afghan Ceasefire as Hopes for Peace Talks Rise

Top US officials on Wednesday hailed a three-day ceasefire proposed by the Taliban and agreed by Kabul, raising hopes that the long-delayed peace talks between the two foes could begin next week.

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North Korea’s Kim Says Nuclear Deterrent Crucial

Kim Jong Un said that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons guarantee its safety, signaling that it will not give up its arsenal.

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First French Fighter Jets Head to India After Purchase

The first five of a batch of French Rafale fighter jets purchased by New Delhi in a controversial multibillion-dollar deal headed to India on Monday for rapid deployment amid rising tensions with China.

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