SECURITY
Two Killed in Magnetic IED Explosion in Kabul
Kabul: At least two civilians were killed and two others wounded when a magnetic bomb was detonated in Kabul. Two female employees of a water supply department were killed and two others were wounded. No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the explosion. Tolonews
73 Insurgents Killed in Countrywide Operations
At least 73 armed insurgents were killed while 27 others wounded and 11 were arrested in the past 24 hours across the country during Afghan security forces operations. The operations were conducted in Helmand, Kandahar, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Uruzgan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh and Samangan provinces. During the operation, Mullah Anamullah, the Taliban’s shadow district governor for Kaldar district of Balkh province was also killed. Tolonews
Three Haqqani Commanders Killed in Paktia Drone Strike
Paktika: At least three Haqqani network commanders were killed during a drone strike by foreign forces in Paktia province. The drone strike was carried out in the Dandpatan district of Paktia province. Tolonews
Top Taliban Leaders among Eleven Killed in Kunduz Airstrike
Kunduz: At least eleven Taliban insurgents including their two top local leaders, identified as Qari Ahmadshah and Arshad, were killed in an airstrike in northern Kunduz province. The militants were killed after they were targeted in the vicinity of Chahardara district. A military vehicle being used by the Taliban insurgents was also destroyed in the airstrike. Khaama
Twelve ISIS Militants Killed in Nangarhar
Nangarhar: At least twelve militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, ISIS-Khurasan, were killed during the operations in eastern Nangarhar province. The militants killed during the operations led by the security forces in Achin district. Khaama
Six Rebels Eliminated, Ten Injured in Farah Clashes
Farah: At least 16 Taliban insurgents have been killed and wounded during clashes with government forces in western Farah province, where a prosecutor was also assassinated by unidentified armed men. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Kunduz Governor Gives Taliban Deadline to End War
Assadullah Omarkhail, governor of Kunduz, warned the Taliban that the province would be turned into a ‘grave’ for the militant group if they refused to end the violence and lay down their weapons within a month. He said that the adversary was enemy of humanity and Islam. Tolonews
Political Parties Boycott President’s Advisory Meetings
Members of some political parties said that they were boycotting President Ashraf Ghani’s advisory meetings as most were meaningless and their advice was not put into practice. Massoud Trishtwal, a spokesman for the council, said that the leadership members of the Council for the Protection and Stability avoided the meetings which lack content, were symbolic and were about publicity. Tolonews
MPs React to Saleh’s Remarks; Call for Unity
A number of lawmakers in the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) reacted to the remarks of state minister for security reforms Amrullah Saleh about Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and said that the nation should forget the past and think about the future. Saleh said that I think organizing a big event for the person who issued fatwas for our killing for 17 years, who financed destruction for 17 years, who committed anything against his country from a foreign country for 17 years was a mistake and beyond understanding. Tolonews
Hizb-e-Islami’s Weapons Stockpile still a Mystery
The ministry of defense (MoD) said that they were also unsure of the exact number of weapons owned by the group and its members but that all political parties needed to hand in their munitions. Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said that I don’t know how many weapons and which weapons were with them (Hizb-e-Islami members). Tolonews
Volatile Afghan Provinces get new Security Chiefs amid Soaring Violence
Brigadier General Abdul Kaliq Aqsa has been appointed as the new security chief of the northeastern Badakshan province while Brigadier General Delawar Shah Delawar has been appointed as the new security chief of northern Faryab province. The above appointments were made due to worse security, law and order situation in the in northern and northeastern parts of the county. Khaama
No Doubts in Govt’s Decision of Country Defense: Abdullah
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Abdullah Abdullah during his trip to northeastern Badakhshan province said that the government would utilize all its resources for maintaining security across the country. He said that Afghanistan was faced with international terrorism from four corners of the world. The global terrorism mostly focused on Badakhshan province. The Afghan government had a strong will for maintaining security and eliminating terrorism. There should be no doubts about the government for defending the country. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
No Decision yet by Trump on additional Troops: McMaster
H.R McMaster, the U.S President’s National Security Advisor, said that Donald Trump had not yet made a decision regarding the deployment of additional troops to Afghanistan. He said that the President wanted to hear from our allies as well. Tolonews
Af-Pak Policy after NATO summit, Hints White House
The much-anticipated Af-Pak policy of President Donald Trump is likely to be announced after the NATO summit in Brussels later this month. The main concern of the policy makers in US is how to defeat IS and insurgency inside Afghanistan and to build peace and stability. Pajhwok
