SECURITY
80 Daesh Militants Killed in Afghan Airstrikes
At least 80 Daesh militants including foreign fighters were killed and six others were wounded in Afghan forces airstrikes in Ghor and Nangarhar provinces. Ten Daesh militants were targeted in Afghan airstrikes in Ghor province and their hideouts were destroyed. Tolonews
Suicide Car Bomb Attack near Military Base in Khost Province
Khost: A suicide car bomb attack has taken place close to a military in Southeastern Khost province of Afghanistan. The incident took place close to the Campaign military camp. According to Faizullah Ghairat, Provincial police chief, four soldiers lost their lives and six others, including two children, sustained injuries in the attack. Khaama
Six Rebels Reconcile as many Arrested
Logar: Six rebels have joined the peace process in central Logar province. Separately, six militants were arrested in southern Kandahar province. Pajhwok
ALP Commander Gunned Down in Kandahar
Kandahar: An Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander has been gunned down by unidentified gunmen in southern Kandahar province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
MPs Split over Ghani’s Ability to Fix National Issues
After assuming office in 2014, President Ashraf Ghani vowed to define more working and comprehensive strategies to tackle security and economic issues among others, but MPs are now almost evenly divided over Ghani’s ability to deal with the ongoing crisis. Some lawmakers raised deep concerns over what they described as Ghani’s authoritarianism, saying that Ghani himself was part of the problem in the country. They suggested that the people must unite now and determine their own fate. Tolonews
Habibi and Shahim Step Down of own Accord
Defense Minister Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief of Staff Qadam Shah Shahim addressed a press conference and said that they had resigned on their own accord and no one had forced them to do so. According to Habibi, the war in Afghanistan “is a very different war today” but that the younger generation was strong. He said that he believed they could tackle the problems. Shahim said that we respected concerns of the people and MPs – it is important for us. Tolonews
Killings on the Rise in Presence of US and their False Actions: Karzai
The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has once again slammed the United States days after declaring a hard stance against the US presence in the country, saying killings are on rise in presence of the US and their false actions. He slammed the government for allowing the US forces to carry out strikes and insisted that the move would be a national treason if the government had approved the use of a massive bomb. Khaama
Bahrami Acting Defence Minister, Yaftali Army Chief
Tariq Shah Bahrami has been appointed as acting defense minister and Sharif Yaftali as army chief. The new appointments came after Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief Qadam Shah Shaheem has been resigned. Pajhwok
Hekmatyar Steps out of Shadows, Reaches Jalalabad
Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) leader Gulbadin Hekmatyar arrived in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province. He will soon start a political carrier in Afghanistan and will try to bring peace and stability. Pajhwok
Taliban no Longer our Brothers, Declares Karzai
Former president Hamid Karzai surprised many as he called for the first the Taliban as an insurgent group and said he would no longer see the insurgents as ‘brothers.’ Karzai throughout his government considered them as brothers. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Mattis Slams Taliban, Calls Them ‘Barbaric Enemy’
U.S Secretary of Defense James Mattis made a surprise visit to Kabul where he met with high-ranking officials including U.S-led Resolute Support commander Gen. John Nicholson. What they do, makes it clear to me why we stand together to defeat them. He further said that we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Afghans for the future of this country. Tolonews
Afghan Govt and Nation not alone in the Fight against Terror: Gen. McMaster
The National Security Adviser General Hertbert Raymond McMaster has said that the Afghan government and nation are not alone in the fight against terrorism as he reaffirmed continued support of Washington to Afghanistan. Khaama
