WASHINGTON/KABUL (Reuters) – President Barack Obama announced steps for a phased pullout of 100,000 troops from Afghanistan to end a costly war launched after the September 11, 2001, attacks and switch the focus to the troubled economy.

But the Afghan Taliban, resurgent a decade after being toppled from power, dismissed Obama’s announcement as symbolic and said only a full, immediate withdrawal of foreign forces could stop “pointless bloodshed.” They rejected any suggestion of U.S. gains against the insurgents.

KABUL, June 20 (Reuters) – Negotiations between Kabul and
the IMF over a banking scandal that put tens of millions of
dollars in aid at risk appeared to break down on Monday when
Afghanistan’s finance minister called future talks “a waste of
my time”.

“We are now negotiating with a partner who is not a willing
partner to actually conclude this,” Omar Zakhilwal told a news
conference.

KABUL, June 19 (Reuters) – Afghanistan said on Sunday it
won’t be able to address a key International Monetary Fund
concern over a looming cash crisis, sparked by a corruption
scandal at a failed bank, for more than a month because
lawmakers are on holidays.

Reuters reported on Friday that the IMF had rejected
Afghanistan’s plans to deal with the failed Kabulbank and other
broader financial concerns, a step that automatically blocked
the payment of $70 million in aid from foreign donors.

KABUL (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund has rejected Afghanistan’s plan to deal with a failed bank at the center of a corruption crisis, a step that has blocked tens of millions of dollars in aid and may put development projects worth billions more at risk.

Three diplomats involved in negotiations between the aid-reliant Afghan government, donor nations and the IMF said Kabul had failed to address the fund’s concerns over the scandal-hit Kabulbank by a deadline last Saturday.

KABUL (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund has rejected Afghanistan’s plan to deal with a failed bank at the center of a corruption crisis, a step that has blocked tens of millions of dollars in aid and may put development projects worth billions more at risk.

Three diplomats involved in negotiations between the aid-reliant Afghan government, donor nations and the IMF said Kabul had failed to address the fund’s concerns over the scandal-hit Kabulbank by a deadline last Saturday.

KABUL (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund has rejected Afghanistan’s plan to deal with a failed bank at the centre of a corruption crisis, a step that has blocked tens of millions of dollars in aid and may put development projects worth billions more at risk.

Three diplomats involved in negotiations between the aid-reliant Afghan government, donor nations and the IMF said Kabul had failed to address the fund’s concerns over the scandal-hit Kabulbank by a deadline last Saturday.