SECURITY
Ten Civilians Killed in Roadside Blast in Herat
Herat: At least ten civilians were killed while six others wounded in a roadside mine blast in Herat province. The incident occurred when a vehicle hit the roadside mine in Sherzad area of Adraksan district of Herat province. Women and children were also among the victims. Tolonews
Residents Report Increase in Taliban Activity in Kabul District
Kabul: A number of residents from Qara Bagh district of Kabul have said that Taliban presence has increased in a number of villages in the district and that the insurgent group have been distributing flyers among residents. Residents however warned that the presence of Taliban in the area could pose a big threat. Sharifi, the district governor, said that Taliban have some local associates especially in Sabz Rang village as they had in the past, so it may be possible they would have now too. Tolonews
Top ISIS Leaders among Seven Killed in latest Anti-IS Operations in East of Afghanistan
Nangarhar: At least seven militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, ISIS Khurasan, including two of their top leaders were killed in the latest anti-IS operations in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. They were killed during the Silab-4 and 5 operations being conducted in Chaparhar district. The two ISIS leaders killed during the operations have been identified as Syed and Shuhrat. Khaama
Taliban’s Military Commission Chief Killed after Rocket Attack on Kunduz City
Kunduz: Taliban’s military commission chief for Kunduz province, Mawlavi Mohammad Noor aka Haqqani, was killed in an airstrike. Haqqani was killed along with several others in the airstrike which was conducted in Chardara district. He was directly involved in the rocket attack on Kunduz city in which nine civilians, including school children, were also wounded. Khaama
18 Afghan Soldiers Killed in Kandahar Assault
Kandahar: At least 18 Afghan National Army troops were killed and 16 others were wounded in an overnight attack by Taliban militants in southern Kandahar province. No further details had been reported regarding the casualties of Taliban insurgents. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Door to Peace Talks Open in Ramadan: Naeemi
The governor of eastern Laghman province, Naemi, said that the door to peace talks with insurgents would remain open during the holy month of Ramadan. The governor urged religious scholars and common people to raise their voice for ending the conflict and cooperate with security forces in maintaining peace and order. He urged the insurgents to shun violence and join the peace process in order the Afghan Muslims get a sigh of relief from the decades of sufferings. Pajhwok
Raziq Accuses NUG Elements of Trying to Destabilize Kandahar
Abdul Raziq, Kandahar’s police chief General, said that elements within the National Unity Government wanting to destabilize Kandahar province like that of Helmand and Uruzgan provinces. Hamdullah Nazik, a former NDS director, added that our talented people from south-west zone had been fired and government paid no attention to south-west provinces. Tolonews
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NATO Chief Says no Decision yet on Troop Levels for 2018
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said that a decision on foreign troop levels for 2018 had not yet been made but that all alliance members were in support of the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. He further added that we reviewed our training mission in Afghanistan, and we agreed that we woukd continue to sustain our mission. Tolonews
Gen. Nicholson Assures Kunduz will not Fall to Militants
Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of NATO’s Resolute Support mission and U.S forces in Afghanistan, said that foreign soldiers have been sent to Kunduz to defend the province and to suppress militants in coordination with the Afghan Security and Defense Forces. According to him, American forces were committed to the defense of Kunduz for people of Kunduz. Tolonews
US Approves $76.7 Million Contract in Support of Afghan Air Force
The United States has approved a new contract worth $76.7 million in support of the Afghan Air Force as efforts are underway to boost the capabilities of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. MD Helicopters Inc., Arizona, was awarded a $76,700,001 firm-fixed-price foreign military sales (Afghanistan) contract. Khaama
India could Send Troops to Afghanistan under UN Mission: Expert
With the Trump Administration looking at other countries to share the responsibilities in addressing major global challenges, a prominent Indian defense expert told a Washington audience that New Delhi could perhaps send troops to Afghanistan under UN mission. Pajhwok
