SECURITY
Explosion Rocks Great Mosque of Herat City
Herat: At least seven people were killed and 16 were wounded when a heavy explosion ripped through the Jam-e-Mosque in Herat city during a funeral ceremony. The explosives had been placed on a motorcycle, which were detonated at the entrance gate to the mosque. The incident took place when members of Herat Provincial Council and Herat governor were at the mosque. The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan claimed that the group was not behind the bombing in Herat city. Tolonews, Khaama
No Casualties or Damage as Rocket Lands in Kabul City
Kabul: A relatively heavy explosion was heard in Kabul city after a rocket landed in Shash Darak area of the city. The sound of an explosion was heard from the vicinity of Shash Darak area of Kabul city after a rocket landed in the area without causing any casualties or damages. The rocket struck India’s diplomatic compound in Kabul. This comes as Kabul is hosting a major summit, Kabul Process, aimed at establishing a regional and global consensus in the fight against terrorism and the Afghan peace process. Khaama, Pajhwok
Police Seize 20 Rockets, Foil Attack on Kabul
Kabul: In the Kohi Safi district of central Parwan province, police have seized 20 rockets set to be fired into Kabul. Pajhwok
Foreigners among 29 IS Fighters Killed in Nangarhar Airstrikes
Nangarhar: At least 29 Daesh or so-called Islamic State (IS) militants including foreign fighters have been killed during airstrikes in Kot district of eastern Nangarhar province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Atta Noor Calls on Govt to Consider Jamiat’s Demands
Atta Mohammad Noor, the governor of northern Balkh province, who also serves as the chief executive of Jamiat-e-Islami party, said that government should not ignore public protests and the demands of the Jamiat party regarding national issues. He stressed the need for the prosecution of those who opened fire on protestors. According to him, the suicide attack at the funeral ceremony of the son of Senator Mohammad Alam Ezadyar had been a plan to assassinate the entire leadership of Jamiat party. Tolonews
Abdullah Says Current Situation is ‘Sensitive’
In the closing speech at the Kabul Process meeting, the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah, called on regional and world countries to stay on the same page in the fight against terrorism. He further said that in fight against terrorism, we must use the same toolkit, whether we confront lone-wolves or state actors enabling terrorism. Terrorism, whose headquarters is located outside our borders, misuses Islam and provokes ethnic politics to recruit terrorists. Tolonews, Khaama
Ghani Appoints Khalili as HPC Chief on Eve of Peace Meeting
President Ashraf Ghani announced the appointment of Mohammad Karim Khalili, a former vice president, to lead the High Peace Council (HPC). He said that he hoped Khalili would take the political aspects of the peace process into consideration and respond positively to the demands of women and civil society institutions in the process. Tolonews
Tough Security Measures Bring Parts of Kabul to a Standstill
The Afghan security forces shut a large part of the city down as high-ranking officials and members of the international community headed for the Presidential Palace where the Kabul Process meeting was held. The road connecting the Hamid Karzai International Airport to the Presidential Palace was closed off to traffic, despite being a key route through the city. Tolonews
Kabul Protestors establish two more Sit-in Camps
Members of the ‘Uprising for Change Movement’ expanded their protest action and set up two new sit-in camps as part of their ongoing demonstration against the deadly attacks on Kabul city. The demonstrators have stated they will continue their sit-in protest until government meets their demands. They warned that the number of sit-in camps would increase in the capital and in other parts of the country if their demands were not met. Tolonews
This is Last Chance for Taliban, Says Ghani
President Ashraf Ghani said that the Afghan government was ready to allow the Taliban to open an office in Kabul, but made it clear that this was the last chance for the rebels to join peace talks. Pajhwok
Palace Spurns JIA’s Demand, Defends Security Bosses
The Presidential Palace strongly defended the role of top security leaders and said they were discharging their duty effectively. The NSA was working honestly and professionally. Raising concerns regarding the top security brass would only benefit the enemy. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Kabul Process Summit Kicks off amid Political and Security Instability
The Kabul Process summit kicked off in capital Kabul days after the Afghan capital city was hit by some of the largest attacks that resulted into political instability. The summit was inaugurated by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani as the Afghan government aimed to establish a regional and global consensus in the fight against terrorism and the Afghan peace process. Khaama
Recent Attacks in Afghanistan Show Complex Situation: NATO Chief
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said that recent attacks in Afghanistan indicated that situation in the country was extremely complicated. The NATO alliance was committed to continuing its partnership with Afghanistan in order to help the Afghan security forces. Tolonews
Trump’s Afghanistan Policy to be finalized in the Near Future: Curtis
Lisa Curtis, Senior Director for South and Central Asia in the White House said that President Donald Trump administration’s Afghanistan policy would be finalized in the near future. The US government and nation stood with the Afghan people and government as Afghanistan faced difficult political and security challenges. Khaama
Look ‘inward’ for Kabul Attackers: Pak Army
The Pakistan Army, expressing serious reservations to ‘the unwarranted accusations and threats’ directed at Pakistan, has asked Kabul administration to look ‘inward.’ A special Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi which expressed solidarity with the people and security forces of Afghanistan in the backdrop of recent terrorist incidents. Pajhwok
UK Commends Steadfastness of Kabul Peace Vision
The UK said that it witnessed Afghanistan’s strong and unwavering determination to forge its path for peace, with the firm support of the regional and international partners. Pajhwok
Working with Kabul to Forge Positive Relations: UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that it was working together with the Afghan government to re-establish positive relations and to build peace and stability inside Afghanistan. Pajhwok
McMaster Calls Ghani, Wants Afghans to Stand United
The US National Security Advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster spoke with President Ashraf Ghani to condemn recent terrorist attacks and express solidarity with people of Afghanistan. He assured Ghani that the US would extend every type of support to Afghanistan in their fight against terror. Pajhwok
