SECURITY
Four Militants Killed, Hideout Eliminated in A-29 Strike in South of Afghanistan
Uruzgan: At least four militants were killed and their hideout was eliminated in an airstrike involving the newly-deployed A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in southern Uruzgan province of Afghanistan. The militants were targeted in the vicinity of Tarinkot city, the provincial capital of Uruzgan province. Khaama
No Casualties Reported in Kabul City Explosion: MoI
Kabul: An explosion took place in west of Kabul city but the security officials are saying that no casualties were incurred to the civilians or security personnel. The incident took place in the vicinity of the 3rd police district of the city. Khaama
ANA Soldiers among Three Killed in Badakhshan Blast
Badakhshan: At least two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and one civilian were killed in a roadside blast in the Baharak district of northeastern Badakhshan province. Pajhwok
Five IS-K Fighters Killed in Nangarhar Drone Strike
Nangarhar: At least five fighters belonging to the Islamic State of Khorasan (IS-K) were killed in a US drone strike in the Nazyan district of eastern Nangarhar province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Karzai Calls Islamic State of Khorasan A ‘Tool’ of the United States
Former Afghan President, Mr. Hamid Karzai said that Islamic State of Khorasan was and is a “tool” of the United States in Afghanistan and he does not differentiate between the two. He further said that, Afghan Taliban is a reality in Afghanistan and peace talks are the only option to resolve the violent conflict in the country. He also dismissed Russia’s ties with Taliban insurgents and said, “if with western countries are willing to hold talks with the Taliban then why can’t Russia”. Tolonews
Afghanistan Gets Minister of State to Boost Tourism
The Afghan government has appointed a Minister of State for tourism as efforts are underway to increase the number of global tourist with an aim to increase the government income. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has appointed Ghulam Nabi Farahi as Minister of State for Tourism through a presidential decree. Khaama
Farooq Wardak Appointed as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
The former of Minister of Education Farooq Wardak has been appointed as the Minister of State for the Parliamentary Affairs. The appointment of Mr. Wardak as the Minister of State for the Parliamentary Affairs comes as the government has stepped up efforts to organize the long-delayed parliamentary and district councils elections. Khaama
Recognizing Taliban by any Country Unacceptable: CEO
According to Mujeeb Rahman Rahimi, CEO office spokesperson, the Taliban are a terrorist group and no country has the right to recognize them as a political movement. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Moscow not about to Challenge U.S in Afghanistan: Envoy
The Russian Ambassador to Kabul, Alexander Mantytskiy, said that Moscow is not interested in challenging the United States and NATO in Afghanistan nor is it following a hidden agenda regarding the country. According to him, “We do not have any hidden agenda in Afghanistan; similarly, we do not have the will to compete with the United States in Afghanistan”. The Russian envoy defended his country’s stance regarding Moscow’s contact with the Taliban and said their aim is to help ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan. Tolonews
China, Afghanistan Sign Agreement on Optic Fiber Link
Sayed Ahmad Shah Sadat, acting Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister, has signed an agreement with his Chinese counterpart Miao Wei in Beijing on linking Afghanistan to China through Wakhan district of Badakhshan province through a fiber optic line. He further said that the fiber optic line would an important role in realizing the digital Silk Road project. Afghanistan would more likely be an electronic square between Pakistan, India, Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Pajhwok
Our Afghan Reconciliation Efforts twice sabotaged: Aziz
Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has reiterated Pakistan’s desire for cooperative relations with Afghanistan and other neighbors. Pajhwok
