Security
Kabul: President urges inclusion of Taliban supremo in UN Security Council Sanctions list
On 14 November 2016, President Ashraf Ghani, during a meeting with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation in Kabul, urged the delegation to include Taliban supremo in the UNSC sanctions list. The President also called for international talks to curb the financial sources of terrorist outfits. He also added that more than 30 terrorist outfits were operating across the country and were contributing in the Afghan war.[1]
Ghor: Government official killed in provincial capital
On 14 November 2016, a senior government official and his bodyguard were killed by unidentified assailants in Ferozkoh, the provincial capital of Ghor. The official was affiliated with the revenue department.[2]
Ghor: Army helicopter makes emergency landing at Ferozkoh airport
On 14 November 2016, a helicopter owned by Afghan National Army made an emergency landing at Ferozkoh airport of central Ghor province. The helicopter was returning after conducting a security operation and was landed due to technical issues. Although the helicopter caught fire, no casualty was reported during the incident.[3]
Ghazni: Militant attack plot foiled in Ghazni city
As was reported on 14 November 2016, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) foiled a plot to target Friday prayers in Ghazi city. According to National Directorate of Security officials, a high-ranking Taliban commander, named Mullah Agha, was plotting to target Mustafa mosque through a Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) in Ghzni city. The security personnel confiscated the VBIED and defused the explosives, as reported by the officials.[4]
Helmand: High-ranking security official wounded in bomb blast in Lashkargah
On 14 November 2016, an Afghan National Army commander, Brig. Gen. Niamatullah, was wounded, along with three bodyguards, following a roadside bomb blast in Bashran locality of Lashkargah, the provincial capital of Helmand. No further details about the health condition of Mr. Niamatullah were provided.[5]
Helmand: Car bombing foiled in Lashkargah
On 14 November 2016, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) confiscated a Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), with the explosives weighing 150 kilograms, and foiled a militant attack plotted by the anti-state insurgents in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of Helmand. According to security officials, the VBIED was seized in the 2nd police district of the city.[6]
Balkh: German Consulate assailant arrested
As was reported on 14 November 2016, an assailant involved in the attack on German Consulate was arrested by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). The arrestee was one of the three suicide bombers who carried out coordinated attack on the German Consulate on 10 November 2016. No further details about the detained militant were provided.[7]
Parwan: Bagarm airbase assailant was employed at base, says Governor’s spokesman
On 14 November 2016, the spokesman of Governor, Wahid Sediqqi, said that the suicide bomber who attacked the airbase in Bagram had been working at the airbase. The assailant was a member of Taliban insurgents as proclaimed by the spokesman. He further added that the attacker joined the peace process about four years ago.[8]
Political
Kabul: Justice Minister secures vote of confidence in Parliament
On 14 November 2016, the Minister of Justice, Abdul Basir Anwar, secured a vote of confidence from the parliamentarians during a session of Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga. However, the Minister of Higher Education, Farida Momand, failed to secure the vote of confidence in Wolesi Jirga. The parliamentarians resorted for impeachment of all the 17 ministers who failed to utilise more than 70 percent budget allocated to the ministries. Conversely, the National unity Government has called for halting the impeachment as the Wolesi Jirga was not well informed regarding the utilisation of budget by different miniseries.[9]
Kabul: Minister of Urban Development secures parliamentarians confidence
On 14 November 2016, the Minister of Urban Development secures vote of confidence in the Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga. The lawmakers have denied the vote of confidence to the five ministers so far during the impeachment process.[10]
Kabul: Journalists’ forum urges government to halt peace process
On 14 November 2016, a journalists’ forum, Reporters without Borders, urges the government to halt peace process with Taliban until they end attacks against the journalist community. The members of journalist community said this during a press conference in Kabul.[11]
Foreign Affairs
Moscow to host negotiations on Afghanistan
On 14 November 2016, the Foreign Ministry of Russia said that Moscow would hold a round of Russia-China-Pakistan negotiations on Afghanistan during the next month in Moscow. According to Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s director of the Second Asian Department, the talks would be held to build regional cooperation over Afghanistan.[12]
References
[1] “Ghani Wants Taliban Chief to be Included in UN Security Council Sanctions List,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/ghani-wants-taliban-chief-to-be-included-in-un-security-council-sanctions-list-02279
[2] Hassan Hakimi, “Senior Revenue Department Official Killed in Ghor,” Pajhwok Afghan News, November 14, 2016. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/security-crime
[3] “Afghan Army Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Ghor Province,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/afghan-army-helicopter-makes-emergency-landing-in-ghor-province-02276
[4] “Plot to Target Friday Prayers with Car Bomb Foiled in Ghazni City,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/plot-to-target-friday-prayers-with-car-bomb-foiled-in-ghazni-city-02273
[5] Zainullah Stanikzai, “Senior ANA Commander among 4 Injured in Lashkargah Blast,” Pajhwok Afghan News, November 14, 2016. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2016/11/14/senior-ana-commander-among-4-injured-lashkargah-blast
[6] “Deadly Car Bombing Foiled in Lashkargah City in South of Afghanistan,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/deadly-car-bombing-foiled-in-lashkargah-city-in-south-of-afghanistan-02272
[7] “One of German Consulate Attackers Arrested by Afghan Forces,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/one-of-german-consulate-attackers-arrested-by-afghan-forces-02271
[8] Mir Aqa, “Bagram Suicide Bomber Worked at the Base,” Tolo News, November 14, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28344-bagram-suicide-bomber-worked-at-the-base
[9] “Afghan MPs Approve Justice Minister, Dismiss Higher Education Minister,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/afghan-mps-approve-justice-minister-dismiss-higher-education-minister-02275
[10] “Minister Naderi Secures Parliament’s Vote of Confidence,” Khaama Press, November 14, 2016. http://www.khaama.com/minister-naderi-secures-parliaments-vote-of-confidence-02274
[11] Tariq Majidi, “Taliban Asked to Respect Journalists as a Pre-condition for Peace,” Tolo News, November 14, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28338-taliban-asked-to-respect-journalists-as-a-pre-condition-for-peace
[12] “Moscow to Host Talks with China, Pakistan on Afghanistan,” Tolo News, November 14, 2016. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28336-moscow-to-host-talks-with-china-pakistan-on-afghanistan
