SECURITY
MoD Draws up New Plan to Oust Taliban from Kunduz
Kunduz: The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that it has drawn up a new military plan to get the Taliban out of Qala-e-Zal district in Kunduz and to retake the fallen district. New army chief of staff Gen. Sharif Yaftali said that Operations will be launched especially in Kunduz in order to clear the area from insurgents and to root out their sleeping cells. Tolonews
Kandahar Governor’s Media Advisor Gunned Down
Kandahar: Ghafoor Feroz, the Kandarhar governor’s media adviser, was gunned down in Kandahar. The incident took place in the Najib Nemro area. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. He had worked as a media advisor in the governor’s office for about a year. Tolonews
Clashes Ongoing Close to Kunduz City
Kunduz: Heavy clashes are ongoing in parts of northern Kunduz province including the Charkhab area of the city. This comes after Qala-e-Zal district of the province collapsed to the Taliban after two days of heavy clashes between the insurgent group and security forces. Details about casualties among either security forces or the Taliban have not yet provided. Tolonews
Five Prominent Taliban Leaders among 37 Killed in Qala-e-Zal of Kunduz
Kunduz: At least 37 Taliban insurgents including five of their prominent commanders were killed during the operations in Qala-e-Zal district of Kunduz. The clearance operations are still underway in the district. The Taliban leaders killed during the operations have been identified as Qari Belal, Shamshad, Jabir, Abdul Rauf and Habib. Khaama
Seven ISIS-K Militants Killed in Drone Strike in East of Afghanistan
Nangarhar: At least seven militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. The militants were targeted in an airstrike carried out by the foreign forces using unmanned aerial vehicle in the vicinity of Chaparhar district. Local residents and security forces on the ground did not suffer any casualties in the airstrike. Khaama
Two ISIS Suicide Bombers Killed in Premature Blast before Targeting Afghan Forces
Kandahar: Two suicide bombers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were blown up by their suicide bombing vests before they manage to target the Afghan security forces. The incident took place in Achin district. Khaama
ISIS and Foreign Terrorists among 19 Killed in Afghan Forces Airstrikes: MoD
At least nineteen insurgents, including militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot, ISIS Khurasan, and foreign militants fighting with the Taliban insurgents, were killed in a series of airstrikes in three provinces. A vehicle belonging to the Taliban insurgents was also destroyed in an airstrike. Khaama
36 Daesh Militants Killed in Nangarhar Offensives
Nangarhar: At least 36 Daesh or so called Islamic State (IS) militants have been killed in separate incidents in eastern Nangarhar province. They were killed during the military operations. Pajhwok
POLITICAL
Gen. Yaftali Asks Rebels to Reconcile or Face Defeat
New Afghan Army chief Lt. Gen. Mohammad Sharif Yaftali asked the insurgents to either reconcile with the government or face defeat. He further said that peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the interests of all. Pajhwok
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Iran, Afghanistan Vows to Expand Ties, Fight Terror
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister, said that insurgency is a common threat to the region and the world, but warned that terrorism would destabilize the security of nations that were sponsoring terror groups. Zarif called for further cooperation between the two neighbors to fight common threats and to cooperate in various other fields such as in the fight against violence, narcotics and human trafficking. According to him, “It is very sad that the region is grappling with violence, terror and extremism issues due to the moves by foreigners; there is still the need to strengthen fight against terrorism, violence and extremism in the region”. Tolonews
Afghanistan Reacts at Pakistani Claims Regarding the Killing of 50 Afghan Troops
The Afghan government reacted at the remarks of a Pakistani general regarding the killing of at least 50 Afghan troops during the clash in Spin Boldak district located along the Durand Line. Sediqi, the head of the Government Media and Information Center, said that only two border police forces lost their lives along with civilians and not what the Pakistani authorities are claiming. Khaama
Raziq Warns Pakistan of Fallout if Border Issue Talks Fail
Abdul Raziq, Kandahar police chief General, has warned Pakistan of dire consequences if a diplomatic solution was not found to ease tensions along the border. He further said that the Afghan security forces maintained the right to retaliate if efforts for a political solution failed. Tolonews
Border Clash: MPs Ask Govt to Move UN against Pakistan
The Meshrano Jirga or Senate denounced Pakistan for a recent border violation and asked the Afghan government to call a Loya Iirga into session on the matter. They asked the government to move the United Nations Security Council against Pakistan over making inroads into Afghanistan’s soil. Pajhwok
