South & Central Asia

Announcement by US president that he intends to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan has some questioning the whole mission, others saying it was worth the effort

Now nearly 20-year-old conflict has reportedly cost US an estimated $2.26 trillion

Police in India-controlled Kashmir cite safety and national security concerns as they tell journalists to stop live coverage of clashes with militants

Radical Islamist party leading violent demonstrations over publication of anti-Islam cartoons in French magazine

Global COVID cases surpass 138.8 million

US secretary of state visits Afghanistan to reassure government, civil society leaders that US remains committed to country, and to warn Taliban not to attack departing forces

Britain, which has 750 troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO mission to train Afghan forces, confirms it would begin withdrawing from country next month

Antony Blinken tries to reassure Afghan officials that US will still be involved 

Move follows violent protests by activists of radical Islamist party, which has been demanding that Islamabad expel French ambassador over publishing of anti-Islam cartoons in France

Secretary of state meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, and civic figures, a day after Biden announced that remaining 2,500 US soldiers would be coming home by 20th anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

US will pull out 2,500 troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, months later than the May 1st deadline for a full withdrawal set by the Trump administration

Warning touches deep-rooted concerns many current and former US officials have voiced about pulling 2,500 to 3,500 troops from country, along with thousands of trainers and contractors

Three days of clashes have killed seven people  

US leader to pull remaining 3,000 soldiers out by September 11 — 20 years after terrorist attack on US

Meanwhile, President Biden is set to speak about his decision to end US military engagement in Afghanistan