SECURITY
Taliban Close Baghlan-Kunduz Highway for Traffic
Baghlan: The Taliban attacked parts of Baghlan-e-Markazi district of Baghlan province, and also closed off the highway. They attacked Hassan Tal, Salangiha and Pulchak Panjsheriha areas in the district. Heavy clashes are ongoing between the Taliban and security forces. Any type of causalities has not yet been reported. Tolonews
Twenty Daesh Militants Killed in Nangarhar
Nangarhar: At least 20 Daesh militants were killed in ground operations by Afghan forces in Nangarhar province. The operation was conducted in Momand valley of Achin district. During the operation, a cache of weapons was also destroyed. Tolonews
Taliban Group Leader Slain in Takhar Clash
Takhar: A Taliban group leader has been killed in a clash with Afghan security forces in northeastern Takhar province. He was killed during a military operation. Pajhwok
84 Rebels Killed as Uruzgan Offensive
Uruzgan: At least 84 Taliban militants were killed and 29 others wounded during five days of an ongoing clearing operation codenamed ‘Khalid’ in central Uruzgan province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Hekmatyar’s Return Met with Mixed Reaction
The return of Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar – who signed a peace deal with Afghan government last year – met with mixed reaction among analysts, businessmen and scholars. According Massoud Raghib, a military affairs analyst, “I do not think that it [the return of Hekmatyar] would have a key impact on the peace process, because a number of branches of Hizb-e-Islami are already in government and are working with the administration.” Tolonews
Calls for Unity Ring Out as 8th of Saur Marked in Kabul
President Ashraf Ghani addressed an event in Kabul to mark the 25th anniversary of 8th of Saur, which is Mujahideen Victory Day, and said times have changed and that today no group can take power through terror, killing and bloodshed. According to Abdullah, CEO, “Today they have started their operation, an aggressive operation against Afghan people under the name of Mansouri. The fate of this operation will be the same as the fate of Mansour (Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, the late Taliban leader), of whom the operation has been named after”. Tolonews
Hekmatyar Speaks Publically for the First Time in 20 Years
In his first public appearance in about 20 years, Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar addressed a crowd of supporters in Laghman province and called on all insurgent groups to end the war and join the peace process. According to him, “We cannot tolerate such a war that shots dead Muslims in a mosque while they are praying to Allah”. He further said that Taliban would not achieve goals through war and violence. Tolonews
Govt Ready for Talks with Militants: HPC
High Peace Council (HPC) secretary, Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, asked armed insurgent groups to join the national reconciliation process unconditionally. The HPC chief said that the Afghan government was ready for peace talks with armed groups anytime and anywhere. Pajhwok
