SECURITY
Bridegroom Killed by Taliban while on Route to his Wedding
Baghlan: A Kabul man who was on his way to Mazar-e-Sharif for his wedding was killed by Taliban on the Mazar-e-Sharif highway in the Chashma-e-Shir area of Pul-e-Khumri in northern Baghlan province. His father was also killed in the attack, while at least four other members of his family were wounded. Tolonews
43 Armed Insurgents Killed in Joint Afghan Operations
At least 43 armed insurgents were killed in joint Afghan security force clearance operations in different provinces. The operations were conducted in Kunar, Maidan Wardak, Nangarhar, Zabul, Logar and Kunduz provinces. 17 Daesh militants were killed and eight others wounded during the operations. Tolonews
Pakistani and Kazakh ISIS Loyalists Arrested in Ghor Province of Afghanistan
Ghor: At least four militants affiliated with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were arrested in central Ghor province of Afghanistan. The detained militants have confessed that they belonged to Pakistan and Kazakhstan and were looking to join ISIS militants in Ghor province of Afghanistan. Khaama
Taliban Suffer Casualties after Attacking Security Posts in Nangarhar
Nangarhar: The Taliban insurgents suffered casualties after attacking security posts in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. The insurgents launched coordinated attack on security posts in Hesarak, Khogyani, and Chaparhar districts which was repulsed by the security forces. Four Taliban insurgents were killed and eight others were wounded after the Afghan security forces responded to the Taliban fire. Khaama
Afghan Forces Foil Deadly Explosion Plot in Kabul
Kabul: The Afghan security forces foiled a deadly explosion plot by the anti-government armed militant groups in capital Kabul. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on a roadside in Dehsabz district was seized by the security forces before the militants managed to use for a roadside bombing. Khaama
Eleven Rebels Killed, Stolen Military Vehicles Destroyed: Helmand
Helmand: Nearly a dozen militants have been killed and their four military vehicles destroyed in separate incidents of violence in southern Helmand province. Pajhwok
Two ALP Police Killed, Nine Wounded in Kapisa Airstrike
Kapsia: Two Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel have been killed and nine others wounded during an airstrike in Ahmadzai area of Tagab district in central Kapisa province. Afghan Special Forces conducted the airstrike targeting militant hideouts, but a nearby ALP check-post was mistakenly pounded. Pajhwok
Kerala Youth Fighting for Daesh Killed in Drone Strike
Eastern Afghanistan: A young Indian man fighting for the Islamic State (Daesh) militant group has been killed by the US troops in eastern Afghanistan. The Malayali, who joined Islamic State (IS) in July, last year, was killed. Pajhwok
Two Afghan Soldiers Killed in Uruzgan Airstrike
Uruzgan: Two Afghan security forces have been killed during an airstrike in central Uruzgan province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Hekmatyar Calls Taliban Evil, Says they Don’t Serve Islam
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the reconciled leader of Hizb-e-Islami group, has called the Taliban an evil group that does not serve Islam. According to him, “I am surprised about their (Taliban) faith and beliefs; I am surprised at what kind of faith this is? I feel very sorry for such a faith.” Ghani’s second vice president Mohammad Sarwar Danish welcomed Hekmatyar’s return and peace deal, but warned that no group will be able to determine their objectives by waging war. Tolonews, Khaama
Human Rights Watchdog Calls on Hekmatyar to adjust his Views
Sima Samar, head of The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), said that Gulbuddin Hekmatyar needs to put aside his views and accept Afghanistan for what it has accomplished in the past 15 years. According to Saima, “We don’t want to lose the past years’ achievements that we gained with lots of sacrifices; we don’t want to lose them with the return of a person or a commander.” Tolonews
Weapons Distribution to HIA can Harm Peace Bid: Noor
Balkh Governor, Atta Mohammad Noor, has said that some Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) members are yet to surrender their weapons but the government has started distributing more arms to them. According to him, this move will not help to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Canberra Expected to Increase Support to Afghanistan
According to Richard Feakes, Australian ambassador to Afghanistan, his country is expected to increase the level of cooperation with Afghanistan following a recent visit by the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to Kabul. He further said that we have the fourth largest development assistance program which focuses particularly on women and girls, education, building capacity of Afghan farmers and the communities that are most vulnerable. Tolonews
Pakistani parliamentarians meet Ghani, Karzai
The Afghan government said that the visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Kabul would help create trust between the two countries. According to Afghan officials, “We hope this visit will help implement the commitments of Pakistani government towards bilateral and multilateral meetings for the purpose of ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan”. Pakistan has renewed its commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan, seeking for constructive engagement with the neighbor on the issue of eradicating terrorism. Pajhwok
