SECURITY
U.S Drops Largest Non-Nuclear Bomb in Nangarhar
Nangarhar: U.S dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat on a suspected Daesh installation, which included a series of caves, in Achin District in Nangarhar. Civilian casualties in the attack have not been reported. The main purpose of the strike was to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of ISIS-K (Daesh) fighters and facilities. General John W. Nicholson, Commander of U.S Forces-Afghanistan, said that as ISIS-K’s losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense. Tolonews
Eleven Taliban Insurgents Killed in Uruzgan Operation
Uruzgan: At least eleven Taliban insurgents were killed in an Afghan air and ground force operation in central Uruzgan province. The operation was launched in Khas district of the province to clear the area of insurgents. According to the news report one policeman was also killed during the operation while two others including a military soldier were wounded. Tolonews
Eighty Nine Insurgents Killed in Afghan Forces Operations in Past 24 Hours: MoD
At least eighty nine insurgents belonging to the various militant groups including the Taliban were killed during the counter-terrorism operations. The operations were conducted in the various parts of the country and as a result at least 47 insurgents were also wounded while 8 others including local commanders of the Taliban group were arrested. Khaama
132 ISIS Terrorists Killed in Afghanistan in Past Six Days: MoD
At least 132 loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed during the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in East of Afghanistan. The militants were killed in the past six days during the anti-ISIS operations being conducted under the name of Hamza operations. Khaama
Panic among Taliban in Kunduz after the Death of Mullah Abdul Salam
Kunduz: A panic has erupted among the Taliban insurgents in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan following the death of the group’s most senior leader Mullah Abdul Salam. Taliban confirmed the death of Mullah Salam. Khaama
ISIS Terror Group’s main Shadow Judge Killed in East of Afghanistan
Nangarhar: The main shadow judge of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group was killed during an operation in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. Mullah Salah was killed along with scores of other militants during the ongoing Hamza military operations. He was among the four key ISIS leaders and 44 insurgents killed during the operations. Khaama
Three Pakistanis Arrested in Nangarhar amid Ongoing Anti-ISIS Operations
Nangarhar: At least three Pakistanis were arrested by the Afghan security forces in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. They were handed over to the relevant institutions for further investigations and actions. The majority of the ISIS militants fighting in this province are foreign nationals, mainly from the tribal regions of Pakistan. Khaama
16 Rebels Dead as Security Forces Launch Offensive to Retake Nawa District
Helmand: At least 16 Taliban insurgents have been killed and 14 wounded during security forces operation in Nawa district of southern Helmand province. Pajhwok
Taliban Slain Governor’s Brother Held in Kunduz: NDS
Kunduz: According to NDS, brother of Taliban slain governor has been arrested in Kunduz. He was arrested during search operation. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Hekmatyar to Return whether Peace Deal is Enforced or Not
The Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) leader, Gulbadin Hekmatyar, says he will soon appear among the people regardless of government’s commitment to enforcing the peace deal with his party. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Ulema Council Dismisses Pakistani Cleric’s Rhetoric as Hostile
Members of the Ulema Council (religious scholar’s council) strongly condemned well-known Pakistani cleric Maulana Fazlur Rahman for his comments that the war against the Afghan government was acceptable. According to Fazlu Rahman, “the war against Afghanistan is acceptable because of the presence of foreign forces in the country”. According to Maulavi Mohammad Qasim Halimi, spokesman for the Ulema Council Afghanistan, “Fazlur Rahman lives in a country where the courts issue verdicts on the basis of British laws; foreigners have a major influence there and they can do whatever they want”. Tolonews
Corruption will kill Afghanistan if Left Unchecked: U.S Envoy
According to Hugo Llorens, U.S Ambassador to Kabu, corruption would kill Afghanistan if left unchecked and called on all Afghans to help curb the scourge. He further said, “Cases of bribery, graft, and nepotism erode the public’s faith and trust in the very institutions they rely on for protection, justice, and the opportunity every Afghan deserves. When Afghans hear of corrupt deals taking place, or are forced to pay bribes to receive essential services, they have every right to feel outraged”. Tolonews
Trump Sending his National Security Advisor to Kabul
U.S President Donald Trump is sending his national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to Afghanistan. He will focus on assessing whether more U.S forces are needed in Afghanistan or not. He will also discuss the stabilization of Afghanistan in the wake of threats posed by and the expanding footprint of Daesh in provinces bordering Pakistan. Tolonews
US Blunder results in Taliban Resurgence: Musharraf
According to former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the United States committed a blunder in post 9/11 Afghanistan ‘by not giving enough representation to the majority Pashtuns which resulted in the resurgence of Taliban. Pajhwok
Pakistan Plans Water Treaty with Afghanistan
Afghan and Pakistani experts are expected to meet soon to exchange water data and the hydrology of Kabul and Kunar rivers. For this purpose Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has constituted a committee to plan a water treaty with Afghanistan. Pajhwok
