The Afghan Taliban on Monday threatened to disrupt parliamentary elections later this month with increased attacks on security forces, casting doubt over US efforts to bring about a political solution to its longest war.
The Taliban threat came a day after the 17th anniversary of the US-led invasion that toppled the Islamist militants, and coincided with the first visit to Kabul by US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad since he was appointed last month.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the US was using the elections as way to “remain inside the country and maintain their authority”.
He said Afghans were being deceived through the election process into choosing "US puppets" to govern them. "The Taliban will no more allow them to rule the country in accordance to the wishes of their American masters," Mujahid told The National via WhatsApp.
“Afghans want an end to this conflict, and it is only possible with the withdrawal of the all foreign forces from Afghanistan and letting the people live under Shariah.”
Hopes of a negotiated peace agreement rose earlier this year after the first meeting between the top US official for the region and Taliban representatives, as well as the Taliban’s three-day truce for Eid Al Fitr, its first ceasefire since the war began.
Mr Khalilzad is expected to lead US delegation in a second round of talks expected soon that will focus on confidence-building, release of Taliban prisoners, another ceasefire and steps to open formal negotiations that include the government, with whom the insurgents have so far refused to have contact.
"Taliban has always opposed elections in the presence of foreign troops and the insurgent group is now seeking a realistic time-frame for the US to withdraw its troops, after which they will be ready for peace talks with the Afghan government," Rahim Ullah Yousafzai, the expert on Taliban, told The National.
Mr Khalilzad discussed “an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process” in talks with President Ashraf Ghani and other top leaders on Sunday night, the president’s office said.
“Peace is a holy process, and the US government and people are united with the Afghan government and people in this process,” Mr Ghani’s office quoted the US envoy as saying.
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UN mission in Afghanistan voices concern as violence peaks ahead of elections
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Mr Khalilzad, an Afghan-born former US ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq, is scheduled to visit Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week as he seeks to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.
“I will use my experiences in the international arena and connections in the region to reach this goal,” he told Afghanistan’s Tolo News TV channel.
Although foreign forces ended their combat mission in December 2014, a US-led Nato mission remains in Afghanistan to train and assist Afghan forces in their fight against the insurgency, including with air strikes.
However, the Taliban have continued to expand their control, even after President Donald Trump approved a new strategy last year to extend and expand the US troop presence in Afghanistan. About 14,000 US troops are now in Afghanistan, down from a peak of about 100,000 during the Barack Obama administration.
Afghanistan’s security forces have been placed under additional strain by the growing presence of ISIS, which the Taliban considers a rival. The extremist group has been carrying out increasingly deadly attacks against civilians, particularly members of non-Sunni minorities.
The result has been a record number of civilian deaths – 1,692 – for the first six months of the year, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which has been compiling statistics on the conflict since 2009.
Citizens like Sajjad Hussain, a shopkeeper from Shiite Hazara community in the Dashe Barchi locality of Kabul, see little hope of ending the conflict.
“The approaching elections give another opportunity to militants to launch more attacks and spread panic,” said Mr Hussain, who lost seven family members including two sons in Taliban and ISIS attacks.
"Every day the insurgents are getting stronger and now control one-third of the country," he told The National.
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
