Taliban

Former U.N. envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has warned that the war-torn country was heading toward becoming “another Somalia” ruled by warlords, in an interview published in a German weekly this weekend.

Taliban militants disguised as security forces stormed Pakistan's busiest airport on June 8 and at least 27 people were killed in a night-long battle at one of the country's most high-profile targets.
 

President Barack Obama vehemently refused to apologize Thursday for doing a prisoner trade with the Taliban to free a US soldier, despite a fierce political storm over the deal in Washington.        

Taliban insurgents threatened Monday to attack Afghanistan's run-off presidential election, warning voters to stay away from polling stations for fear of injury or death.
      
Afghans are due to go to the polls on June 14 to choose whether Ashraf Ghani or Abdullah Abdullah should succeed President Hamid Karzai.
      

A suicide bomber yesterday killed three Turkish engineers and wounded another in eastern Afghanistan in the latest attack on foreigners in the war-torn country, while Taliban denied responsibility.

A suicide bomber killed three Turkish engineers and wounded another one on June 2 in eastern Afghanistan, the latest attack on foreigners in the war-torn country.
      
It came after the US and the Taliban sealed a dramatic prisoner swap that saw soldier Bowe Bergdahl released for five senior insurgent figures, raising hopes for peace as foreign forces prepare to withdraw.

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.