SECURITY
Armed Attackers Storm RTA TV Station in Jalalabad
Nangarhar: At least four employees of the National Radio Television (RTA) network and two security force members were killed while18 civilians wounded after a group of five militants loyal to Daesh attacked the network. One was a suicide bomber who blew himself up, three were killed by security forces and the fifth was arrested. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack, shortly after the Taliban rejected any involvement. Tolonews
Two Children Killed in Kapisa Roadside Mine Blast
Kapsia: At least two children were killed while two others wounded in a roadside mine explosion in north-eastern Kapisa province. The blast took place in Dar-e-Tapa village of Nijrab district. No group including the Taliban has claimed reasonability. Tolonews
Weapons Seized in School ‘Belong to Relative of Hanged Gangster’
Kabul: Weapons recovered from a private school in Kabul belonged to one of the close relatives of Rais Khudaidad, a former gang leader hanged in Kabul three years ago. Kabul Police Chief Hassan Shah Forogh said that the weapons discovered belonged to the person who established this school; the school had been used as a cover. Tolonews
Ongoing War affects Qala-e-Zal Residents
Kunduz: Qala-e-Zal residents, in Kunduz province, claimed the prolonged war in the district has affected civilians both psychologically and financially and that they want government to end the conflict. At least 17 Taliban fighters were killed while seven of them wounded and a vehicle belonging to them was also destroyed during a clearance operation in the district. Tolonews
Four ISIS Militants Killed in Nangarhar Airstrike
Nangarhar: At least four militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan were killed in an airstrike conducted in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. The airstrike was carried out in the vicinity Bati Kot district. A vehicle used by ISIS loyalists was also destroyed in the airstrike. Khaama
Taliban suffer heavy Casualties in Laghman Operations: Local Officials
Laghman: At least 45 insurgents were killed and more than 20 were wounded during the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in eastern Laghman province of Afghanistan. The operations were conducted in the vicinity of Basram, Katal, Maidani, Qasaba, Salim Gar, Noori and Alingar. During the operations, two senior Taliban commanders, identified as Qari Rohullah and Qaderi, were arrested. Khaama
One Killed, 12 Injured in Kandahar twin Blasts
Kandahar: At least one civilian was killed and a dozen more people, including three policemen, were wounded in two back to back explosions in the capital of southern Kandahar province. Pajhwok
13 Civilians Kidnapped by Insurgents in Jawzjan
Jawzjan: Taliban and Daesh militants have kidnapped more than a dozen civilians in northern Jawzjan province. No casualties have so far been reported. Pajhwok
Policeman Dead, Two Injured in Helmand Firefight
Helmand: At least one policeman was killed and two other security personnel were wounded during overnight clash in the Nad Ali district of southern Helmand province. Pajhwok
Two would-be Bombers Held, One Killed in Kabul Raid: NDS
Kabul: At least two alleged would-be suicide bombers were detained and anther killed by intelligence forces during a raid in south of Kabul. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Afghan Govt Approves Five Contracts worth 1.6 Billion Afghanistan including CASA-1000
The Afghan government approved five contracts worth 1.6 billion Afghanis during a meeting of the National Procurement Commission (NPC) chaired by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. CASA-1000 project which was previously approved in principle was among the contracts fully approved during the 100th meeting of the National Procurement Council. Khaama
Help Govt Overcome Crises, Ibrahimi Tells Politicians
Wolesi Jirga speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi asked political leaders to support the incumbent government and put their differences aside. The lower house speaker said that the country faced huge challenges of insecurity and instability. Pajhwok
Political will Needed to Banish Terror: Wardak
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Farooq Wardak, said that Shared interest could guide the reconciliation and ultimate peace and stability in the region if there is a strong political will for it. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
USAID Provides $20m to Food Program for Vulnerable Afghans
Afghanistan’s most vulnerable citizens will receive much needed relief concerning food security after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it would contribute $20 million to the United Nations World Food Program’s (UNWFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO). PRRO is designed to enhance food and nutrition for 3.4 million vulnerable Afghans in 250 districts across all provinces of Afghanistan. Tolonews
US, NATO Officials to Discuss Afghan Conflict
Top US and NATO military commander would meet this week to discuss the war in Afghanistan and the way forward. Their main concern will be how to defeat IS and several insurgents groups inside Afghanistan. Pajhwok
Ghani Invited to Attend Saudi Summit on ISIS
The Saudi government has invited President Ashraf Ghani to attend an international conference on terrorism and Daesh in the kingdom. During the conference, ways and means will be suggested to defeat IS across the Muslim countries and in the rest of the world. Pajhwok
Foreign Military Experts Aiding Taliban: Baghlan Police
The police chief for northern Baghlan province claimed that several Russian, Pakistani, Egyptian and Chechen military experts had arrived in the province to train and support the Taliban militants. Pajhwok
Pak Diplomats Released in Kabul as Islamabad Protests
Pakistan lodged a protest with Afghanistan over detention of its two diplomats in Kabul, who were reportedly released after three hours. Further detail of why they were arrested had not been revealed. Pajhwok
Global Attention to Afghanistan on the Wane: Abdullah
Thee chief executive officer (CEO) slammed the international community for its declining attention to the counterterrorism campaign in the war-torn country. He said that most of our time, energy and resources were spent on security; it was a great burden on our shoulders. Pajhwok
