SECURITY
Six Militants Killed while Planting Bomb on a Roadside in Helmand
Helmand: At least six militants were killed while planting an explosive device on a roadside in the restive Helmand in South of Afghanistan. According to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the militants were blown up as they were fixing the homemade Improvised Explosive Device (IED). In this incident, four militants also sustained injuries. Khaama
Prominent Religious Cleric Killed in East of Afghanistan
Laghman: A prominent religious cleric and former member of the provincial council of eastern Laghman province succumbed to his injuries, he sustained during an attack by gunmen. Qari Rohullah was serving as the prayer leader of the central mosque of Sultan Ghazi Baba Township in Mehtarlam city. No group including the Taliban insurgents has so far claimed responsibility of the attack on Qari Rohullah. Khaama
Seventeen ANA Troops Lost to Taliban Siege in Uruzgan
Uruzgan: Seventeen dead bodies of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been evacuated from a base the Taliban militants besieged over the past six months in central Uruzgan province. Pajhwok
Local Commander, his Wife, Mother Killed in Takhar Attack
Takhar: An illegal armed group commander was killed along with his mother and wife by unidentified gunmen in northern Takhar province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Afghanistan Welcomes US General’s Call for Deployment of more Troops
The Afghan government has welcomed a call by the top US commander in Afghanistan to increase the number of US forces in the country. According to Gen. Nichholson the United States and its NATO allies are facing a “stalemate,” and that he needed a few thousand additional troops to more effectively train and advise Afghan soldiers. Khaama
Pakistan’s Support to Taliban Prolonging War: Rabbani
Minister of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani has said that Pakistan was still reluctant to see peace return to Afghanistan as it continuously supported the terror groups and provided safe havens to the Taliban leadership. According to him, Pakistan’s reluctance to end the war in Afghanistan and its support to insurgents and the Taliban were key factors behind the continuation of war in the country. Rabbani also called on the Trump administration to mount more pressure on the Pakistani government in order to get them to stop using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Tolonews
Govt in Talks with Donors to Launch e-Voting System
The government is in talks with donor countries about introducing an e-voting system in the country, the office of the CEO Abdullah Abdullah announced. This move will help to ensure credibility and transparency of future elections. According to the Electoral Complaint Commission, an e-voting system can help ensure transparency and fairness in elections and it could prevent voter fraud. Tolonews
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
US Delivers Four Super Tucano Attack Aircraft to Afghan Forces
U.S officials delivered four Embraer-Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft to the Afghan defense ministry this week in an effort to help embattled Afghan security forces carry out their counter-insurgency missions in the volatile country. The planes were delivered ahead of the commencement of the 2017 fighting season. Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, said the U.S has also trained Afghan pilots to fly the planes. Tolonews
