SECURITY
Taliban Attack Baghlan-Mazar Highway, Clashes Ongoing
Baghlan: The Taliban insurgents attacked Baghlan-Mazar highway which resulted in closure of the highway for traffic, security forces confirmed. Clashes between security forces and insurgents are still ongoing. There are no reports regarding casualties as yet. Tolonews
Ex-Afghan MP Wounded in an Attack in Kabul City
Kabul: A former lawmaker of the Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga, Najibullah was wounded in an attack in Kabul. He sustained injuries during a gun battle which was triggered following an explosion. The incident took place in the vicinity of the 7th police district of the city. No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. Khaama
ISIS Leaders among Ten Killed in East of Afghanistan
Nangarhar: At least ten militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, ISIS Khurasan, were killed during the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. They were killed during the Hamza counter-terrorism operations conducted in the vicinity of Achin district. Khaama
Senior Afghan Officials Arrested after Passenger Plane Prevented to Land in Bamyan
Bamyan: At least five people including senior security officials have been arrested after a passenger plane was prevented to land in central Bamyan province of Afghanistan. The arrests were made after the forced diversion of the plane by the supporters of a lawmaker. The commander of the border police forces in Bamyan airport and the security chief of the 1st police district of Bamyan city were among those arrested. Khaama
Civilians among Five Dead in Nangarhar Raid
Nangarhar: At least two civilians and three militants have been killed in Afghan Special Forces operation in the Ghanikhel district of eastern Nangarhar province. Pajhwok
Ghazni Education Dept Official Killed in Blast
Ghazni: Property manager at the Education Department of southern Ghazni province was killed in a roadside bombing. Pajhwok
Police Chief Warns of Taliban Cells in Outskirts of Kabul
Kabul: Kabul police chief, Hasan Shah Frogh, said that small groups of Taliban insurgents are being deployed to areas in the outskirts of capital to prepare for attacks. He further said that a group of them were deployed in Musahi district; we went there and one of them was killed in battle, we also arrested another one and the man confessed they were living in house belonging to a man named Mawlawi; we seized their weapons, flag and explosives. Tolonews
POLITICAL
AREU Report Urges Govt to Address Refugee and Mining Problems
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) disclosed the results of a report on the two years of governance in Afghanistan where it highlighted the need for government to address problems faced by refugees and to further regulate revenue collection from the mining industry. First Lady Rula Ghani, said that any effort to improve governance in Afghanistan should start with serious assessment and evaluation. Tolonews
Supreme Council withdraws Support to Govt
The Supreme Council of Jihadi and National Parties announced withdrawing support to the unity government over failing to deliver on its promises. The council, a coalition of several parties, was formed two years back. In a statement, the council announced parting ways with the government. The council leaders said that the government had failed in honoring promises it held out with them and gave no value to their advice and suggestions. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NATO Chief Urges Russia to Support Afghan Peace Process
General Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary, reiterated the NATO commitment to Afghanistan but also called on Russia to support an Afghan-led peace process. He said that we had seen reports (of Russia’s contact with the Taliban), but hadn’t seen any proof of direct support to the Taliban from Russia. Tolonews
Russia Denies Allegations that it is Funding the Taliban
The Russian embassy in Kabul rejected allegations that Moscow was funding Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, stating the claims were unsubstantiated. This comes after Kandahar police chief general Abdul Raziq said that the Russians had been in contact with the Taliban militants since 2004 or 2005. Tolonews
Atmar Meets with Indian, Iranian, Pakistani Counterpart in Moscow
Haneef Atmar, Afghan National Security Advisor, met his Indian, Iranian and Pakistani counterparts on the sidelines of the 8th Security Conference in Moscow and discussed a number of issues relevant to all three nations. In his meeting with India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval, the two officials discussed the expansion of bilateral relations and agreed to work on a joint strategy to further support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. He also met with his Pakistani counterpart Nasser Khan Janjua and said they discussed issues around the Durand Line, such as “the firing of rockets by Pakistani military and the building of military bases on Afghan soil. He met with the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani and discussed in depth talks about bilateral relations and economic cooperation, security issues and curbing drug trafficking on the border. Tolonews
Pakistan ‘Using Insurgents to Pressurize Afghan Govt’
The U.S Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats has accused Pakistan of using Afghan insurgents as tools to put pressure on the Kabul government in a bid to halt India’s rising influence in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan was seriously concerned about its isolation on an international level, adding that for this purpose, Pakistan had turned to China. Tolonews
U.S Troops in Kunduz to help Afghan Forces: Officials
Security officials said that U.S troops had been sent to Kunduz to help Afghan security forces in their ongoing battle against the Taliban. Mohammad Radmanish, defense ministry spokesman, said that the Afghans owned the leadership of the war, while the Americans and NATO wanted to further boost this leadership. Tolonews
Karzai Met Russian Ambassador to Discuss Ongoing Current Afghan Situation
The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with the Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan to hold talks regarding the current situation in Afghanistan. The two sides discussed the current situation of Afghanistan and efforts to bring peace and stability in the country. This comes as Karzai has long been favoring Russia’s role in Afghan reconciliation process, insisting that regional countries can play a vital role in achieving peace in Afghanistan. Khaama
Congressmen to Speak on Ending Afghan War Funding
Leading Congressmen are poised to make a pitch prohibiting funds for the US mission in Afghanistan and the importance of debating the longest war in America’s history. Pajhwok
Trump Admin Seeks $5b for Afghan Security Forces
In his maiden annual budget, US President Donald Trump proposed nearly $5 billion for strengthening Afghan security forces. This was about half a million dollars more than the $4.46 billion for the Afghan forces in 2017. Pajhwok
Taliban, ISIS-K being chased in Afghanistan: NATO
NATO was closely following its commitment to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan (ISIS-K) or Daesh in Afghanistan, said a top US Navy general. According to him, our first priority was to bring peace and stability inside Afghanistan. Pajhwok
Afghan Man Accused of Killing Police Officer for Taliban Arrested in Germany
An Afghan asylum seeker has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of having links with the Taliban group in Afghanistan. The detained asylum seeker has been identified as Oamid. The asylum seeker is accused of killing a police officer when he was having contacts with the Taliban group. Khaama
