SECURITY
Suspect Arrested in Parwan Blast Case that Killed Ulema Leader
Parwan: The National Directorate of Security (NDS) arrested a suspect in connection with the explosion that killed Mawlawi Abdul Rahim Shagha Hanafi, the head of the Parwan Ulema Council. The suspect was Nasir Ahmad and he had been recruited to the Taliban two years ago. Ahmad and his group had also planned to assassinate other religious scholars and tribal elders, but had been arrested by the NDS. Tolonews
Five Children Killed in Laghman Rocket Attack
Laghman: At least five children were killed in Laghman province when a rocket hit a village in Mehtralam, while two others were wounded. The rocket was fired by the Taliban. Tolonews
No Casualties Reported in Kabul Explosion: Danish
Kabul: An explosion took place in west of Kabul city causing panic among the local residents but the security officials were saying that no one was hurt in the incident. The incident took place in the vicinity of the third police district of the city. No group including the Taliban insurgents has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. Khaama
Suicide Attack on Nangarhar Police Commandment Foiled by Afghan Forces
Nangarhar: The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) personnel foiled a plot by the anti-government armed militant groups to carry out a suicide attack on Nangarhar police commandment. A suicide bomber, who was willing to carry out an attack on police commandment, was arrested by the security forces from Jandarma bridge, located close to the police commandment compound. Khaama
Three ISIS Hideouts Destroyed, Four Militants Killed in Airstrike
Nangarhar: At least three hideouts of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, ISIS Khurasan, were destroyed in an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. At least four militants of the terror group were also killed in the airstrike. The airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Achin district of Nangarhar. Khaama
Suicide Bomber Surrenders to Afghan Forces in Nangarhar: Silab Corps
Nangarhar: A suicide bomber surrendered to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) personnel in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. He was identified as Ahmad son of Feroz. He surrendered to security forces in Nangarhar province. Khaama
11 Militants Killed, Soldier Wounded in Helmand Clashes
Helmand: At least eleven militants have been killed during separate clashes with security forces in southern Helmand province. They were killed during the military operation. Pajhwok
ISIS Leader Joins Peace Process with his Fighters in East of Afghanistan
A local leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan has joined peace process in Nangarhar province. Tawiz Khan joined peace process with his eleven fighters due to the ongoing efforts to attract the anti-government armed militant groups to reconciliation process. The group was previously conducting anti-government insurgency in Kot, Nazian, Achin, and Haska Mina districts. Khaama
POLITICAL
NUG Leaders under Fire over Ongoing Caretaker Saga
Government’s continued use of acting ministers has once again come under harsh criticism by MPs who reiterated calls to National Unity Government leaders to fill the posts. Lawmakers refused to give votes of confidence to three new ministers, including that of the minister of defense, minister of mines, and minister of labor, social affairs, martyrs and disabled. They said they would not vote until replacements for the seven sacked ministers had been nominated. Tolonews
Ghani, UNAMA Chief Speak out in support of Women
Afghan women from the across the country gathered in Kabul to discuss their experiences, vision and contribution to peace in the country at the Fourth Kabul Symposium, “Afghan Women; Messengers of Peace”. At the occasion, Ghani said that war and insecurity were among two key factors behind the gender inequality. The numbers of illiterate women in Afghanistan were three times more than the illiterate men. While Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said, “The United Nations stands in solidarity with Afghan women, and supports all efforts to ensure that women’s involvement in peace is meaningful. Tolonews
Tribal Elders being consulted on Peace Drive: Ghani
President Ashraf Ghani said that his government wanted to advance the national reconciliation process in consultations with tribal elders and influential figures. The president said peace was the nation’s utmost desire. Welcoming the peace agreement between the government and the Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), the elder said the people of Zabul were cooperative with the government and had always resisted anti-government forces. Pajhwok
Peace Process: Taliban Vehemently Deny Contacting HIA
The Taliban militants rejected claims that some members of the insurgent group had contacted Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) on the reconciliation process. According to them, they had make no such contact. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S to Hand over Four Black Hawks by Fiscal Year End
Ghulam Sakhi Ahmadzai, technical and financial deputy defense minister, said that the United States had pledged to equip the Afghan Air Force with four Black Hawk helicopters before the end of this fiscal year. He further said that it was specified that Afghan forces will receive four black hawk helicopters by the end of the fiscal year. Tolonews
Ghani Confers High State Medal on NATO Special Operations Commander
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani conferred the high state Mir Masjedi Khan medal on NATO special operations commander in Afghanistan. The medal was conferred on Major General Scott Howell during a ceremony organized in the presidential palace. President Ghani also conferred Syed Jamaluddin Afghan medal on DFID head in Afghanistan Chris Austin. Khaama
Chabahar Port Pact’s Implementation a Priority: CEO
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah said that preliminary works to use the Chabahar port in Iran by Afghan traders had been completed but still some works remained. He further said that implementation of the port pact was his first priority in the best interests of the nation. Pajhwok
2016 worst year for Bilateral Relations: Zakhilwal
The Afghan ambassador has called for a tension-free relationship between Kabul and Islamabad, saying both sides should learn from past mistakes to normalize their ties. There had been a lot of fault lines in their relations which needed to be removed in order to establish peace and stability in both countries. Pajhwok
