SECURITY
US Drone Strike Leaves Seven ISIS-K Militants Dead in East of Afghanistan
Nangarhar: At least seven militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, ISIS-Khurasan, were killed in an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. The airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Gorgori area of Haska Mina district. The local residents did not suffer any casualties in the airstrike. Khaama
Two Suicide Bombers and a Child Killed in Kandahar Clash
Kandahar: At least two suicide bombers and a child were killed during a brief clash between the assailants and the security forces in southern Kandahar province. The incident took place in the central Kandahar city. Khaama
Car Bomb Kills Several Taliban in Ghazni: Police
Ghazni: Dozens of Taliban militants suffered casualties when their bomb-rigged vehicle exploded in the Doab district of southern Ghazni province. Pajhwok
Seven Rebels Killed, Nine Wounded in Ghazni Battle
Ghazni: At least seven Taliban militants were killed and nine others wounded in a predawn clash with security forces in southern Ghazni province. Pajhwok
Senior Taliban among 67 Killed in Takhar Clashes
Takhar: At least 67 Taliban militants have been killed and another 41 wounded during clashes with security forces in Khwaja Bahauddin district of northeastern Takhar province. Pajhwok
ANA Soldiers among Thirteen Dead in Uruzgan Clash
Uruzgan: At least three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and ten Taliban insurgents have been killed as a result of gun battle in central Uruzgan province. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Hekmatyar Calls Taliban ‘Brothers’, Urges them to lay down Arms
While addressing a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar called Taliban “brothers” and asked them to join the peace process. He said that Taliban are brothers. There are good as well as bad amongst them. It will be sad if someone ignores this. We are here without any condition. We want to end the war which only sacrifices Afghans and only destroys Afghans’ homes. Tolonews
Ghani Asks Taliban to Follow HIA’s Footsteps
President Ashraf Ghani welcomed Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, upon arriving in capital Kabul and asked the Taliban to follow into Hekmatyar’s footsteps. He said that we promised to the great nation of Afghanistan that we would pave the ground for peace. According to him we support peace in the framework of Islamic, national and humanitarian values, an issue that has a clear mention in the Constitution. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NATO Chief Tells EU Alliance Needs to Stay in Afghanistan
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said in an address to the European Parliament that the alliance needs to stay in Afghanistan and help conventional Afghan forces in their campaign against terrorism. He further said that we have played a key role in Afghanistan for many years. Our military presence in Afghanistan is our biggest mission ever. Tolonews
President Ghani had a Serious Talk with the ISI Chief: Source
President Ghani handed over several documents to Gen. Mukhtar regarding some of the deadly attacks plotted and coordinated by the militants using the Pakistani soil. He emphasized during his meeting with Gen. Mukhtar that the relations between the two countries will not improve as long as practical steps are not taken against the terrorist groups. He further said that the newly-launched Taliban offensive ‘Mansoori Operations’ are being controlled from Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and North Waziristan. Khaama
US Pushes for Legitimate Peace Process in Afghanistan
US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson has said that Washington would seek its interest in Afghanistan by pushing for a legitimate peace process and keeping the terrorist networks confined. Pajhwok
