Afghanistan's Taliban insurgents killed a provincial police chief and two others in a roadside bombing on Thursday despite calls from the government and United States for the insurgents to halt their attacks and allow a US-brokered peace process to move forward.
The blast took place late on Thursday in the south-eastern province of Khost, killing police chief Sayed Ahmad Babazai, his secretary and another officer, as well as wounding another person, provincial governor Halim Fidai said.
The militants claimed responsibility for the attack in a tweet by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
The United States, which ousted the Taliban from power in 2001 and wants to withdraw its forces and broker peace talks with the Afghan government, condemned the attack through its embassy in Kabul.
The Taliban have stepped up attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan security forces after signing the peace deal with the US on February 29.
The bombing in Khost came as the US envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad urged the militants to accept calls for a ceasefire, following a meeting with Taliban leaders in Doha.
Mr Khalilzad said he had lengthy overnight talks Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and the head of its political office based in the Qatari capital.
“We sought progress on a range of topics: a reduction in violence, humanitarian ceasefire as demanded by the international community to allow for better co-operation on managing Covid-19 pandemic in Afghanistan,” Mr Khalilzad tweeted on Thursday.
They also discussed “acceleration of prisoner releases by both sides, actions necessary to secure the freedom of US citizen Mark Frerichs, regional and international support for the peace process, and movement to intra-Afghan negotiations,” he said.
It was the first time a US official has commented publicly on the capture of Mr Frerichs, a contractor who was abducted by militants in late January. American officials believe the 57-year-old US Navy veteran was captured by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group aligned with the Taliban.
This was the second trip Mr Khalilzad has made during the coronavirus outbreak to salvage deadlocked negotiations over provisions in the February 29 accord.
The US-Taliban deal requires the Taliban to halt attacks on US and other foreign forces in Nato’s Resolute Support mission but not on the Afghan security forces they support. The Taliban also agreed to start peace talks with the Afghan government after a prisoner swap that was to have been completed by March 10.
The government was supposed to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1,000 detainees held by the Taliban.
So far Kabul has released 933 Taliban fighters, a spokesman for the National Security Council said on Thursday, while Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group had released 132 government detainees.
Mr Khalilzad said he would meet again with Taliban negotiators after a trip to India and Pakistan.
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
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
