Gunmen stormed the offices of an international charity and suicide bombers set off twin blasts in a shopping area near the Defense Ministry in a chaotic 24 hours.

When police stopped a van travelling across central Afghanistan to the city of Herat, they were really surprised: it was full of Western tourists.

Islamic State has suffered a blow after the leader of the group's Afghanistan and Pakistan branches was killed in a US drone strike, the Pentagon says.

The American University of Afghanistan reopens its campus after the kidnapping of two foreign professors.

The Afghanistan province where two Kiwi soldiers were killed four years ago today, is now secure, peaceful, and purged of insurgents.

Twin explosions in Kabul kill at least 80 people and wound more than 230 in a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State.

A deployment of New Zealand military trainers will stay in Afghanistan until June 2018 and their number will be increased from eight to 10.

After plunging off one of the world's most dangerous roads, our car slammed into a river engorged by melting snow and days of spring rains, writes Tim Craig.

German scientists think they have found the solution for young refugees who have entered Germany from war-torn countries and are seeking a better life.

Fallen Kiwi soldier, Luke Tamatea, was remembered in a touching moment last night, that left his 8-year-old daughter shedding "happy tears".

Afghanistan's cult hero Hamid Hassan, dubbed the Rambo of world cricket, is out to take First Blood against the Black Caps.

Wondering what to make of Afghanistan, the fledgling cricket nation who have won hearts, and a game, at the World Cup?

At least 124 people have died in north-eastern Afghanistan, after heavy winter snow caused an avalanche which buried and killed residents across four provinces.

Afghanistan came from nowhere to qualify for the World Cup. In their case that might be more than a pat phrase.

The war is officially over, victory secured. And Afghanistan, once again, has been rebuilt. But for many, life in the restive provinces is much as it ever was.

A former Guantanamo Bay detainee posed no threat during an awards ceremony confrontation, his target says.

"I was tortured for 5-and-a-half years!" Ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks heckled Australia's Attorney-General at an awards ceremony last night.

New Zealand could further extend its mission training security forces in Afghanistan beyond next year after the United States announced it was delaying the planned withdrawal of 1000 troops from Afghanistan.

Prince Harry returned to Afghanistan today on behalf of the Queen as he led emotional tributes to his friends who died in the name of war.

Three NZ Defence Force personnel have already left for the Middle East to scope out a role for New Zealand forces to help train Iraqi forces fight ISIS.

The Prime Minister's landmark speech on national security has two messages for New Zealanders, but they are somewhat discordant.

John Key says any NZ commitment to the campaign against Isis in the Middle East would be for a long time, pointing to the 10-year deployment of troops to Bamiyan.

There were reasons for optimism on that February day, eight years ago, that Britain's Helmand force would not suffer the same fate as the French in Vietnam

One of the first things Andy Moles wanted to be assured about before he took the job of Afghanistan's new head coach was what the Taliban thought about cricket.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, the US soldier held captive by the Taliban for almost five years, isn't emotionally prepared to reunite with his family.

The spring rainy season had already brought death and destruction to northern Afghanistan.