in talking with people in close touch with the taliban, they say when a taliban leaders saw their fighters going into afghan cities and villages, putting flowers in their hair, taking selfies with afghan soldiers, talking about how they wanted peace as well that was startling , to them. also to the afghan people themselves. not just young people. the desire for peace had a real spark. before that there was the afghan peace movement. that has continued to gain strength. peaces a grassroots movement that has sprung up on its own throughout the country and is critical of all those involved in the war. the u.s. international community, the afghan community, anyone killing afghans. that political movement right now is very inchoate. no one has sees leadership. it hasn't had a determinate effect, but i think it could start to. i think both the afghan government and taliban are reacting to that. that gives me hope that perhaps those talks, even if the u.s. appears overeager, perhaps the talks could lead to something. are a political organization, all insurgencies are. they cannot go too far away

ha so these are the moves by the taliban as well a small fiction of taliban as well as their affiliates such as. in other fictions to interrupt the peace process in negotiations as well as to create fear in security in meanwhile it's coming ahead of most two months ahead of the parliamentary elections so it's more of an truck thing the peace to billet the security as well as negotiation with the taliban especially while it's almost one year from the present trump strategy for afghanistan after a day i think negotiation of america with the taliban and qatar in doha so these are the signs and signals that a fiction of taliban clearly op was in peace and to conciliate ahmed if we're talking specifically about the violence right now in the repr questions the violence is all of this what's happening right now do more to the strength of the taliban and or other groups or is it due more to the weakness of the government in afghanistan. it's actually a combination of both because taliban certainly has gotten the upper hand on the battlefield and the fall of. even if it was briefly was a major b

ha so these are the moves by the taliban as well a small fraction of taliban as well as their affiliates such as. in other fictions to entrap the peace process in negotiations as well as to create fear in security in meanwhile it's coming ahead of most two months ahead of the parliamentary elections so it's more of an truck thing the peace to billet the security as well as negotiation with the taliban especially while it's almost one year from the present trump strategy for afghanistan after a day i think negotiation of america with the taliban and qatar in doha so these are the signs and signals that a fiction of taliban clearly up was in peace and become. a motive for talking specifically about the violence right now in the rep or questions the violence is all of this what's happening right now do more to the strength of the taliban and or other groups or is it due more to the weakness of the government in afghanistan . it's actually a combination of both because taliban certainly has gotten the upper hand on the battlefield and the fall of tessie even if it was briefly was a major blo

ha so these are the moves by the taliban as well a small fraction of taliban as well as their affiliates such as. in other fictions to interrupt the peace process in negotiations as well as to create fear in security in meanwhile it's coming ahead of most two months ahead of the parliamentary elections so it's more of an truck thing the peace to billet the security as well as negotiation with the palace bonn specially while it's almost one year from the present trump strategy for afghanistan after a day i think negotiation of america with the taliban and qatar in doha so these are the signs and signals that a fiction of taliban clearly up was in peace and becomes to the asian a matter for talking specifically about the violence right now in the replications the violence is all of this what's happening right now do more to the strength of the taliban and or other groups or is it due more to the weakness of the government in afghanistan. it's actually a combination of both because taliban certainly has gotten the upper hand on the battlefield and the fall of. even if it was briefly was a m

the taliban we're going to finish what we have to finish and i want to reinforce to the taliban that the only path to peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement the taliban trembles as a hero of the first you know of him society the boy before the call of the taliban when their choices are to reconcile live in irrelevance or die in september taliban representatives have been invited for talks in moscow alongside to government officials bypassing the united states if successful these could become a step towards the long list ceasefire of them all a permanent solution to a decades long cycle of violence something that today looks as this isn't as ever. will we discuss the prospects of the talks between the taliban and the afghan government with investigative journalist nicholas davis and also political analysts into the. the afghan government just recently understood the crucial rule by the us other superpowers in that region in russia of course is one of the strongest country for a shock and a pivotal role in in mediating between the taliban and the afg

how immutable are the taliban? it depends on several conditions or factors, one being -- first, i think the question has to be answered as to, what do they really want? how do you engage someone if you do not have an idea of what it is they are seeking. return to a to taliban like government in afghanistan? do they want to be part of the arrangement where they have a certain percentage in mind of influence and power? they want to be part of the political process we have known since 2004, with a constitution least it hasat created an order in afghanistan. do they believe in that or not? are we going to be having to another -- 2001 ousted? to a need two, for example? taliban --nclude the what happened in one when they were completely excluded. >> exactly. they were excluded because they were still fighting. there are all kinds of reasons but they were still fighting and no one else have the appetite. everyone thought they were defeated so i invite them? is bond two necessary, a need for an interim entered it -- trans

that's the case with the taliban. we don't really understand much about the taliban.t's important to remember that this is an organization the sync with its top leader mullah omar for three years. he was dead for three years and they continue to pretend he was still there. they have the ability to carry out to trick people and they have the ability to keep fighting even with the loss of their leader. it's had two leaders since then. to answer your question is the taliban serious? i think it's very hard to say. given the past that ambassador samad mentioned they have been using talks than they had a whole series of talks. one thing you would need in the press as the taliban are seeking direct talks with the u.s. in 2009 in 2013. we have had a lot of direct talks with the taliban. that is already happened. they go into the real details on the day were doing the talks for example. >> the determined what food they had. >> when i went to germany to ambassador steiner summed they had good german food prepared by his mother. >> if i had been in the room i would have said the

afghanistan announces a provisional ceasefire with the taliban but says the insurgents must do their part the peace the troops comes off to a week of bloody violence. and hundreds of thousands of venezuelans flee their country in search of work but as the numbers grow neighboring countries say no more than welcome. to the long. time hell of a home for good to have you with us the indonesian island of a long walk has been rocked by a series of earthquakes one measuring magnitude six point three in the other off the audience northeast coast measuring six point nine the tremors caused landslides standage buildings and spread panic just two weeks after the worst earthquake in the island's history kill four hundred sixty people. it is a scene that is becoming familiar to residents in tall a-g. makers on the island of lombok the aftermath of yet another powerful arest quake this measuring marking chewed six point three the first in a series to strike the island over a matter of hours damaging buildings and causing panic. i mean good god i was on the third floor it was very strong and we co

the taliban we're going to finish what we have to finish and i want to reinforce to the taliban that the only pair of peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement the taliban trimble's as a hero to give you the video of him if you the boy before the call for the taliban when their choices are to reconcile live in irrelevance or die in september taliban representatives have been invited for talks in moscow alongside to government officials bypassing the united states if successful these could become a step towards the long list ceasefire of them all a permanent solution to a decades long cycle of violence something that today looks as this didn't as ever . yes downer was going through there the taliban the afghan government are scheduled to meet for talks in moscow in a few weeks' time the russian foreign minister confirmed plans for the meeting and said reactions been encouraging from both sides but we have never hidden our contacts with the taliban they are a part of afghan society contacts are aimed at providing security for russians in afghanistan but

the taliban. in central kabul hitting the presidential palace during a live address by the leader who on sunday had proposed a cease fire. also ahead on the program as the syrian army. militant held enclave of western media outlets warn of a civilian. this same though failed to mention the area is under the control of just how this group's accused of war crimes. a young russian boy whose mother is severely in need of difficult to obtain medication appeals to locals in his city to help save her we look at the response to the appeal was. just after four pm here in moscow this tuesday august the twenty first welcome we're every year tuning in from i'm you know neal our top story the afghan capital saw three hours of heavy fighting on tuesday between security forces and insurgents earlier in the day missiles rained down on central kabul fired according to local police by the taliban the country's president was delivering a live televised speech at the time he he says . did they. don't will as sad d t

embassy up here well the taliban house had been increasing its activity militarily lately with another assault carried out by the group on monday taliban fighters on bush three buses taking almost two hundred people hostage later on monday afghan security forces reportedly three hundred fifty of those people well journalists face he sent us this report from kabul. well it has been more than three hours that we still have been hearing some r.p.g. and gunfire from the side which is not more than six kilometers from our location here. police believes that there have been two up to three assailants involved into this attack and the so far some up to ten rockets have been fired into different locations kabul police says that two policemen have been slightly injured into these attacks but the look ation have been evacuated the firefighters of arrived and tried trying to douse and or we have to wait and see what will be the latest about because we still do not have any clue about the civilian casualties or choose these missile came after the afghan president offered a cease fire on sunday to

the taliban reign. in central kabul hitting the presidential palace during a live address by the afghan leader on sunday i propose a cease fire. also ahead this hour as the syrian army gears to retake the militant held enclave of western media outlets warn of a civilian must occur the same i'd go fail to mention the area is under the control of this group so accused of war crimes. a young russian boy whose mother is severely ill and in need of difficult to obtain medication appeals to locals in his city to help save her we look at what the response to his appeal was. your tuning in from right around the world welcome to moscow on to r.t. international i mean in the middle of our top story the afghan capital saw three hours of heavy gun fighting on tuesday between security forces and insurgents earlier in the day missiles rained down on central couple fired according to local police by the taliban the country's president was delivering a live televised speech at the time. you. know if you. will the missi

afghan president has declared a provisional three month ceasefire with the taliban he said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocate meanwhile the taliban have said that they will free hundreds of prisoners for the forthcoming holiday the announcement swallowed a week of fierce fighting in which the taliban launched an assault against the city of gas knee near kabul. to the wall the woman. and journalist he joins us on the line now from kabul he's been following this story. this is not the first time they've gone he's offered a ceasefire this year and just last week we saw fresh fighting the taliban also announcing that it would be that would withdraw protection from the red cross so what has propelled me to offer this ceasefire now. well actually you're right two months ago during the first the festival can you all see it all for an unconditional actually offer proposal to the taliban but this time it's conditional he say that you know he will give them the opportunity to embrace you and if they do agree and if they agree if they do. approve this proposal then you know

this taliban that the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed. oh so they're good for something at least if it's about knocking out islamic state yet just a few months earlier general nicholson said the taliban's fight against dyess was a piece of russian propaganda we see here a narrative that's being used that grossly exaggerates the number of isis fighters here this narrative then is used as a justification for the russians to legitimize the actions of the taliban and provide some degree of support complicated hol of ghana's stan business as usual and the american strategy for afghanistan see above the american strategy a strategy from the beginning of the so-called war on terror which was launched off to the september eleventh attacks as this war has turned out to be an utter failure . you know i was we all know was in a stronger position than it ever was in two thousand and one. so hence i think it's proof that the u.s. has been pursuing a wrong strategy in defeating terrorism on the contrary i think that the u.s. involvement up until now w

this taliban that the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed. oh so they're good for something at least if it's about knocking out islamic state yet just a few months earlier general nicholson said the taliban's fight against diana she was a piece of russian propaganda and there are live this being used that grossly exaggerates the number of isis fighters here this narrative then is used as a justification for the russians to legitimize the actions of the taliban and provide some degree of support complicated hall of ghana stan business as usual and the american strategy for afghanistan see above it could be time for the pentagon and the state department to hunt for ideas together and be more precise. so let's get the thoughts of muslims. in the parliamentary candidate welcome to the program it seems there are some uncertainties in the u.s. strategy in afghanistan what is washington's goal do you think is it more important for them to defeat the taliban or are they still. thanks for having me while in the dieting the poor idea would you mention

the taliban we're going to finish what we have to finish i want to reinforce to the taliban that the only path to peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement the taliban trembles as a hero of the you get rid. of him side you the boy before the call for the taliban when their choices are to reconcile live in irrelevance or die in september taliban representatives have been invited for talks in moscow alongside government officials bypassing the united states if successful these could become a step towards the long list ceasefire of them all a permanent solution to a decades long cycle of violence something that today looks as this didn't as ever then all can is there we discussed the prospects of the talks between the taliban of the afghan government with political analysts in disaster at the investigative journalist nicholas davis. the taliban have obvious on their side have concluded you know they need to apply more pressure to force the u.s. to talk to them in a sense it's ironic because you know the u.s. have always talked about applying enough milit

heavy fighting is underway between afghan forces and insurgents in central kabul today earlier on the taliban launched a missile attack on the diplomatic district of the city. the syrian army gears up to retake the militant held on favored it live western media outlets will have a civilian massacre potential the same outlets though failed to mention the areas under the control of jihadist groups accused of war crimes. the young russian boy whose mother is severely ill and in need of a difficult to obtain medication of pills to locals in this city to help save we look at what the response to his appeal was. life marty h.q. moscow at midday here welcome to his latest live news update with me kevin over the focus this hour on afghanistan then where heavy fighting is currently underway in the capital between security forces and insurgents there's one the clock by early this morning missiles rained down on central kabul local police say they were fired by the taliban no major injuries reported though at this stage the attack occurred as the afghan president ashraf ghani indeed was delivering a liv

that was earlier on today the taliban raining down missiles on central kabul hitting among other targets the presidential palace during a live address by the afghan leader watching the three hours of heavy fighting between security forces and insurgents in syria. i'll swear as the syrian army gears up to retake the militant held on claims of western media outlets one of eight civilian massacre potentially the same outlets though failed to mention the areas under the control of jihadist groups accused of war crimes we follow that up this hour. and the story of a young russian boy's mother is severely ill and in need of difficult to obtain medication who's appealed to locals in a city to help boy they turned out to help to tell you all about it coming up. the other lot to get through this lunchtime live from one pm is kevin are with you thanks for watching so the focus this hour on afghanistan where the capital is seeing three hours of heavy gun fighting eliot choose day between security forces and insurgents earlier in the day missiles rained down on central kabul fired according to local

this news coming to you live from bonnie and the taliban attempts a strike on the heart of the afghan government rockets landed near the presidential palace in the capital kabul as a shotgun he was making an address the nation and it comes just days after he had offered started by militants a conditional cease fire also coming up. are you creating political prisoner in russia amongst the hundreds of his hunger strike supporters of all accents on demand his release but is the president likely to give him. a new stock crowned at the m.t.v. video music awards. cuban born singer camilla bando takes home the top prize video of the year for a song called bon. hello and welcome i'm. of consequence the forces a fortune off of militant assault in the heart of the capital kabul mortars were fired at targets in the city including the presidential palace they have gone military says the attackers have been killed the a source came as president of gandhi was delivering an address to the nation to celebrate it. well one of the most important days in the muslim religious calendar . it was supposed t

let's take a listen now to ash afghanis appeal to the taliban for peace. we call upon the leadership of the taliban to welcome the wishes of afghans for a long lasting and real peace and we urge them to ready themselves for peace talks based on islamic values and principles local journalist taqiyya caddied he joins us on the line now from kabul he's been following this story. this is not the first time that dawn has offered a ceasefire disuse and just last week we saw fresh fighting the taliban also announcing that it would be that would withdraw protection from the red cross so what has propelled gandhi to offer this ceasefire now. well actually you're right two months ago during the first the festival carney also you know offered an unconditional actually offer proposal to the taliban but this time it's conditional he says that you know he will give them the opportunity to embrace you and if they do agree and if they agree if they do. approve this proposal then you know for three months you'll just cease fire but the problem is that the kind of on a phon

central kabul fired according to local police by the taliban the country's president was delivering a live televised speech at the time. you . know he. could do if he did they. don't we sat d t v ad if you couldn't well the missiles landed in the diplomatic district of the city where government buildings are situated as we just saw the presidential palace was among the premises that was hit as reportedly was the u.s. embassy well the taliban has been increasing its military activity lately when another assault carried out by the group on monday taliban fighters on bush three buses taking almost two hundred people hostage later on monday afghan security forces reportedly freed nearly one hundred fifty of those people journalists face he sent this report from kabul. well it has been more than three hours that we still have been hearing some r.p.g. and gunfire from this side which is not more than six kilometers from our location here. police believes that there have been two up to three assailants involved into this attack and the so far some up to ten rockets have been fired into diffe

call for the taliban when their choices are to reconcile live in irrelevance or die in september taliban representatives have been invited for talks in moscow alongside to government officials bypassing the united states if successful these could become a step towards the long list of them all a permanent solution to a decades long cycle of violence something that today looks as this didn't as ever . we can now cross live to nic with j.s. davies author of blood on our hands the american invasion and destruction of iraq welcome to the program now why do you think this cease fire proposal has been so roundly rejected. well i think as. as you already said. i think the taliban probably quite intelligently recognize that this would be a chance for the u.s. and its allies in afghanistan to regroup. and at this point. the taliban are on the offensive and the americans and their allies in afghanistan are you know seem to be completely at a loss as to what to do and so really. you know despite all the tough talk we just heard from american generals and american politicians the u.s. is losing this

this taliban that the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed. oh so they're good for something at least if it's about knocking out islamic state yet just a few months earlier general nicholson said the taliban's fight against diana's was a piece of russian propaganda we see here and there are live that's being used that grossly exaggerates the number of isis fighters here this narrative then is used as a justification for the russians to legitimize the actions of the taliban and provide some degree of support complicated heart of ghana stand business as usual and the american strategy for afghanistan see above the american strategy strategy from the beginning of the so-called war on terror which was launched after the september eleventh attacks as this war has turned out to be an utter failure. you know i was we all know it was in a stronger position than it ever was in two thousand and one. so and so i think it's proof that the u.s. has been pursuing a wrong strategy in defeating terrorism on the contrary i think that the u.s. involvement up u

this taliban that the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed. oh so they're good for something at least if it's about knocking out islamic state yet just a few months earlier general nicholson said the taliban's fight against dyess was a piece of russian propaganda we see oh a narrative that's being used that grossly exaggerates the number of isis fighters here this narrative then is used as a justification for the russians to legitimize the actions of the taliban and provide some degree of support complicated hol of ghana's stan business as usual and the american strategy for afghanistan see above the american strategy strategy from the beginning of the so-called war on terror which was launched off to the september eleventh attacks as this war has turned out to be an utter failure. you know i was we all know it was in a stronger position than it ever was in two thousand and one and so and so i think it's proof that the u.s. has been pursuing a wrong strategy in defeating terrorism on the contrary i think that the u.s. involvement up until now

you saw there was just a fraction of the offensive that the taliban have launched in. recent months in different locations around afghanistan killing and injuring hundreds of soldiers and civilians as a result of fighting with u.s. backed government forces and taliban militants though as we said they've had a complex relationship with the united states with the american government essentially using them one time as a proxy to fight isis having previously of course toppled the taliban led government all those years ago in the post nine eleven afghanistan. we acted and the taliban no longer is in power in afghanistan which is not only good for the security of the free world it is incredibly good for the people who suffered in afghanistan under barbaric rule the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed the taliban have agreed to a limited law and fighting as well as a limited prisoner exchange program nevertheless it doesn't look like a long term ceasefire is around the corner anytime soon the russian foreign ministry have also co

you have the taliban willing to come to the negotiating table there's no talking to the taliban we don't want to talk to the taliban we're going to finish what we have to finish and i want to reinforce to the child been the only path to peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement the taliban trimble's was a hero put her to get. to the point before the call for the taliban when their choices are to reconcile women or relevance or die some taliban come on a sub agreed to a limited law in the fighting as well as some prisoner release an exchange program is this by no means is not a ceasefire though the russian foreign ministry has also commented on the situation saying it's regrettable that these talks have broken down that a cease fire will happen and indeed that comes on the back of upcoming talks in moscow coming up in early september at which representatives of the taliban will also be present to try and mediate some sort of solution and make some steps forward to resolving what has been a decades long conflict parties daniel hearkens thank you for that up

this taliban that the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed oh so they're good for something at least if it's about knocking out islamic state yet just a few months earlier general nicholson said the taliban's fight against diana was a piece of russian propaganda we see here a narrative that's being used that grossly exaggerates the number of isis fighters here this narrative then is used as a joke.

the taliban we're going to finish what we have to finish i want to reinforce to the taliban that the only path to peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement the taliban trimble's as a hero of the first week of. the fourth before the call for the taliban when their choices are to reconcile live in a relevance. in september taliban representatives have been invited for talks in moscow alongside to government officials bypassing the united states if successful these could become a step towards the long list cease fire of them all a permanent solution to a decades long cycle of violence something that today looks as this isn't as ever the afghan government just recently and the crucial rule by the other superpowers in that region in the neighborhood of afghanistan so russia is one of the strongest country and we can understand or maybe the afghan government can believe that fresh in. it but to go in and mediating between the taliban and the afghan government there could be some more progress is in afghanistan because the different negotiation in the intera

taliban accepted the offer and many people here in afghanistan remember when taliban fighters and army soldiers share the same mosques right next to each other and how the treasure it was for many here and it is an inspiration that peace perhaps is. reachable and it's possible in afghanistan however this offer is quite different the duration of the cease fire proposal proposed by president romney is for three months like three days in a little fitter and also people here believe that the president is trying to reach some sort of agreement with the taliban to secure the country and to provide the necessary conditions to help the election at the end of october and also this this offer and this proposal is different because president rohani said that this cease fire can last as long as taliban onerous and respect the terms of the cease fire of course has yet to deliver its. position on this offer but today they announced a symbolic gesture they said that they were they will release. hundreds of army soldiers held in taliban's custody according to our sources taliban is not a united front

monday's attack marks yet another blow to gunnies efforts to bring the taliban to the negotiating table and hold peace talks to end the country's seventeen yo whole. and for the latest i have on the line and to announce that regard three he joins me from kabul to hear how did this attack on forward and is the fighting now over. yes the fighting is over actually what we hear from our sources is that three attackers they tried to set fire rockets where prisoners are when he was admitting the nation during a very major religious festival here in afghanistan but you know what we see here is that they fired at least three rockets which along the very close by and there are loads of foreign embassies and the arab oil as well but as a result as you were told that they too are going to curity offices where one day old they had three attackers were gunned down by company sub leaving the taliban for this sort why would the bomb launch an attack now speaking do you think. because what we what we can see and we will i what we can analyze from various statements is that the taliban didn't really wel

this taliban that the taliban are fighting isis and we encourage that because isis needs to be destroyed. oh so they're good for something at least if it's about knocking out islamic state yet just a few months earlier general nicholson said the taliban's fight against dyess was a piece of russian propaganda we see here a narrative that's being used that grossly exaggerates the number of isis fighters here this narrative then is used as a justification for the russians to legitimize the actions of the taliban and provide some degree of support complicated heart of ghana's stan business as usual and the american strategy for afghanistan see above the american strategy a strategy from the beginning of the so-called war on terror which was launched after the september eleventh attacks as chose us so as this war has turned out to be an utter failure. you know i was we all know taliban was in a stronger position than it ever was in two thousand and one. so hence i think it's proof that the u.s. has been pursuing a wrong strategy in defeating terrorism on the contrary i think that the u.s. inv