SECURITY
47 Insurgents Killed in ANSF Operations
At least 47 insurgents were killed during Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) operations in different parts of the country. During the operation eleven other insurgents were also injured. The operations were carried out in Nangarhar, Uruzgan, Logar, and Paktia provinces to clear the insurgents. The troops also seized weapons during the operations. Tolonews
Airstrikes Leave 33 ISIS Militants in East of Afghanistan
Nangarhar: At least 33 militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in a series of airstrikes conducted in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. According to the provincial police commandment a number of the foreign insurgents were also among those killed. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) earlier said that the airstrikes were carried out in the vicinity of Kot district which was one of the main strongholds of the terror group. Several weapons belonging to the terror group’s militants were also destroyed in the airstrikes. Khaama
ISIS Execute Three Civilians on Charges of Supporting Police in North of Afghanistan
Jawzjan: At least three civilians have been executed in northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan by militants affiliated with the offshoot of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group. The incident took place in the restive Darzab district and the victims were all ordinary civilians. According to Provincial police chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi, the three civilians had no links or cooperation with any government or security institution as claimed by the ISIS loyalists. Khaama
Afghan Forces and Civilians Suffer Casualties in Nangarhar Attack
Nangarhar: A number of the Afghan security forces and ordinary civilians suffered casualties during an attack on a security post in eastern Nangarhar province. The attack was carried out in the vicinity of Najmuddin Akhundzada roundabout located in Behsud district. At least two civilians were killed in the attack along with two soldiers inside the security post. According to the local officials, the assailant militants also suffered casualties after the Afghan forces responded to their fire but the exact number has not been ascertained so far. Khaama
POLITICAL
Parliamentary Elections Govt’s Top Priority: ARG
According to the Presidential Palace, holding the parliamentary and district councils’ elections is government’s top priority this year. President Ashraf Ghani’s deputy spokesman Shahhussain Murtazawi said, “The most important priority of the national unity government this year is to hold the parliamentary and district councils’ elections. Meetings were held on financial aspects and security of the elections.” Meanwhile, a number of observers and electoral monitoring groups called on government to take robust action which could help nourishing transparency of the elections. Implementing the e-voting system and rolling out the electronic identity cards to Afghans could improve the credibility and fairness of the elections. Tolonews
Four Afghan Officials Jailed over Corruption
The special tribunal formed to try the officials in corruption cases jailed four Afghan officials for 20 and 7 years each and fined 1.86 billion Afghanis on charges of embezzlement. The four officials belonging to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing appeared before the special tribunal as their open public trial official kicked off in Kabul. Khaama
Ghani Meets Afghan MPs amid Rumors of Disbanding of Parliament
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met with some of the Afghan lawmakers amid rumors that the President has warned to dissolve the parliament. According to a statement by ARG Palace, President Ghani discussed the security and economic issues with the parliamentary delegation and commission heads. President Ghani further said that the fight against corruption will become widespread as he thanked the parliament and the Afghan nation for their support and emphasized on continuation of such support in the future. Khaama
Efforts on to prevent militants from Infiltrating Military Ranks
Security officials acknowledged weaknesses in Afghan forces but said they had prepared essential plans for improvement, claiming progress in investigations into recent insider attacks in Kabul and Kandahar. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Pakistan has Started Fencing Work along the Durand Line
Pakistan has started the fencing work along the Durand Line. The step has been taken to prevent the movement of the militants to the tribal regions of the country, it has been reported. The Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javid Bajwa reportedly visited the working site in Momand Agency. The latest move by the Pakistani military comes as tensions remains high between Kabul and Islamabad. Khaama
Belgium Rally Condemns Pakistan Rocket Attacks
A number of Afghans based in Europe staged a protest in front of European Parliament in Brussels against Pakistan’s rocket attacks and violation of Afghanistan sovereignty. Pajhwok
