Afghanistan was growing more unstable. The U.S. had invaded in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, toppling the Taliban regime, which it blamed for harboring terrorists. But the new democracy was fragile, and fighting between the Taliban and Afghan forces continued.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been holding peace talks as a tenuous ceasefire holds following cross-border clashes that left dozens of people dead and hundreds wounded.

Pakistani security forces have killed 20 Pakistani Taliban insurgents in raids on hideouts in the northwest region bordering Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD -- Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have ended without agreement, with the sides trading blame for the breakdown in negotiations aimed at easing border tensions and upholding a fragile ceasefire, officials said Saturday.

Afghan and Pakistani troops briefly exchanged fire along their shared border on Thursday, both nations said, on the same day talks to find a lasting peace restarted in Istanbul. Each nation blamed the other for starting the exchange of gunfire near Spin Boldak,

Mujahid accused certain military circles in Pakistan of opposing stability in Afghanistan because they have historically benefited from insecurity, displacement and migration. He claimed these groups benefit from instability and were now attempting to create pretexts to put Afghanistan in difficulty.

India has not reacted yet to the allegations, as of 7:30 pm today, but has in the past rubbished such assertions by Pakistan'a

Even as Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire following weeks of border tensions, the situation for Afghan refugees in Pakistan has taken a grim turn. Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmed Shakib,

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi on Friday said Afghanistan initiated the shooting. The ministry said a ceasefire brokered by Qatar on Oct. 19 remained intact.

Afghanistan's human rights panel on Thursday backed an "unconditional ban" on virginity tests, saying they violate rights, lack scientific basis and do nothing to protect women.

Pakistani officials implicate Afghanistan and India as explosion hits courts in Islamabad, killing at least a dozen people.

Afghanistan’s star cricketer Rashid Khan has tied the knot at the age of 26. The wedding took place on October 3 in Kabul, following traditional Pashtun customs.  According to media reports, the Afghanistan T20 captain married within his own family,