Security
Nangarhar: Dozens of militants killed in Sherzad
On 30 October 2016, at least 25 Taliban militants were killed during an airstrike conducted by Afghan security forces in Sherzad district of eastern Nanagarhar province. Owing to the growing militant activities in Nangarhar, both Afghan and the US forces are conducting security operations repeatedly in different districts of the province.[1]
Kandahar: Suicide attempt foiled in Kandahar city
Afghan security forces, on 30 October 2106, arrested an alleged suicide bomber and foiled a suicide attack in Kandahar city. The arrested militant was looking to target a police station in the city. Although the security situation has improved in southern Kandahar province in the recent past, the militants have been attempting to carry out their activities in order to challenge the state.[2]
Baghlan: Taliban kill civilians in Baghlan-e-Markazi district
On 30 October 2016, at least seven people, including a woman and four children, of a family were killed while another minor was wounded when a mortar, allegedly fired by Taliban militants, struck a residential house in Baghlan-e-Markazi district. The Taliban militants are actively operating in different areas of northern Baghlan province and frequently carry out their activities in order to destabilize the security situation.[3]
Helmand: Huge cache of weapons recovered in Nahr-e-Saraj district
Afghan security forces, on 30 October 2016, recovered a huge cache of weapons during a security operation conducted in Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province. The munition cache included rockets, rocket launchers, grenades, machine gun bullets and explosives. According to Ministry of Interior, the militants were planning to use the confiscated weapons and explosives to carry out militant activities in the province.[4]
Kunar: Airstrike kills Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in Dangam district
On 30 October 2016, at least 19 militants, allegedly associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed while eight others wounded during an airstrike in Dangam district of eastern kunar province. The airstrike was a part of a major security operation by Afghan security forces in order to clear the locality of the presence of militant elements. LeT, also known as Army of the Righteous, is a militant outfit largely operating in Kashmir region; however, according to government officials, LeT is resorting to establish its bases in eastern Afghanistan.[5]
Kabul: Premature explosion kills two militants in Qarabagh district
On 30 October 2016, about two Taliban militants were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Qarabagh district of Kabul. The incident took place when the explosives went off prematurely while the militants were implanting the device. Moreover, the security forces defused another IED planted by insurgents in the locality.[6]
Kabul: Over five thousand security personnel killed in 2016
According to a report published by US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), at least 5,523 Afghan security personnel were killed while over 9000 wounded during the first eight months of 2016 across the country. The report highlighted that the Taliban-led insurgency inflicted a total 15,000 casualties during the said period. Moreover, about 257 security personnel were killed while 125 other wounded in insider attacks during the same period in 2016. On the other hand, Afghan government also lost its control of 2.2 percent territorial area. “Of Afghanistan’s 407 districts, 258 districts were under government control or influence, 33 districts were under insurgent control or influence, and 116 districts were “contested,” the report said.[7]
Kabul: Over three thousand security operations launched in past seven months
According to reports by Ministry of Defence, at least 3600 security operation has been launched against the militant elements across the country in past seven months. The reports highlight that abut 900o thousand terrorists, including more than 100 high-ranking commanders, had been killed during the operations.[8]
Farah: Taliban kill ISIS commander in Golestan district
On 30 October 2016, a high-ranking militant commander associated with ISIS was killed in a Taliban attack in Golestan district of Farah province. The ISIS commander was involved in training of suicide attackers in the district.[9]
Paktia: Militants killed in security operation in Janikhel district
On 30 October 2016, at least nine Taliban insurgents were killed while six others wounded during a military operation launched in Koh-e-Chelam and Reshpegi areas of Janikhel district. The operation was carried out by Afghan security forces along with foreign soldiers. The security personnel also recovered a huge cache of weapons during the operation.[10]
Jawzjan: Militants set on fire a girls’ school in northern Afghanistan
On 30 October 2016, some unidentified assailants entered a girls’ school premises, beat the security guards and set on fire the school building in northern Jawzjan province. The police official claim that the attack was carried out by Taliban militants. The exact location of the incident was not revealed. According to government officials, the Taliban militants have destroyed about 300 schools within past two months across the country.[11]
Political
Kabul: National Unity Government to resolve the disputes within leadership
According to media reports, the National Unity Government (NUG) leaders met to resolve their disputes and agreed to construct a framework to reduce the rifts within fifteen days. The NUG leaders have come about this understanding after the repeated calls by political leaders and rights activists.[12]
References
[1] “25 Taliban Insurgents Killed an airstrike in East of Afghanistan,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/25-taliban-insurgents-killed-an-airstrike-in-east-of-afghanistan-02170
[2] “Suicide Attack Foiled on a Police Station in Kandahar City,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/suicide-attack-foiled-on-a-police-station-in-kandahar-city-02173
[3] “Taliban Mortar Kill 7 a Family in Baghlan Province of Afghanistan,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/taliban-mortar-kill-7-a-family-in-baghlan-province-of-afghanistan-02174
[4] “Huge Weapons Cache including 54 BM-21 Rockets Discovered in Helmand,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/huge-weapons-cache-including-54-bm-21-rockets-discovered-in-helmand-02175
[5] “Airstrike kill 19 Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in East of Afghanistan,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kill-19-lashkar-e-taiba-militants-in-east-of-afghanistan-02176
[6] “Kabul Explosion: 2 Insurgents Blown by Own Explosives,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/kabul-explosion-2-insurgents-blown-by-own-explosives-02172
[7] “5,523 Afghan Security Personnel Lost their Lives in First 8 Months of 2016: SIGAR,” Khaama Press, October 30, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/5523-afghan-security-personnel-lost-their-lives-in-first-8-months-of-2016-sigar-02177
[8] “Over 3,500 Military Operations Launched In Seven Months,” Tolo News, October 30, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28077-over-3500-military-operations-launched-in-seven-months
[9] “Daesh Commander Killed by Taliban In Farah,” Tolo News, October 30, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28072-daesh-commander-killed-by-taliban-in-farah
[10] “9 Insurgents Killed in Paktia Operation,” Tolo News, October 30, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28066-9-insurgents-killed-in-paktia-operation
[11] “Armed Men Burn down School in Afghanistan,” Afghanistannews.net, October 30, 2016. http://www.afghanistannews.net/index.php/sid/248974829
[12] “NUG Leaders to End Their Tension in Near Future,” Tolo News, October 30, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28076-nug-leaders-to-end-their-tension-in-near-future; “Political Leaders Call For End Of Rift Between Ghani, Abdullah,” Tolo News, October 30, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28062-political-leaders-call-for-end-of-rift-between-ghani-abdullah
