Security
Kabul: The start of Afghanistan’s election season was marred by deadly violence, just hours after President Ashraf Ghani insisted “peace is coming” to the war-torn nation. At least two people were killed and 25 others wounded in an attack targeting the Kabul office of Ghani’s running mate, Amrullah Saleh. The violence came on the official starting day of campaign season for the upcoming presidential elections. The News, Dawn, Tribune
Kabul: A large blast rocked Afghanistan’s capital city injuring at least six people, just hours after the official start of campaign season for upcoming presidential elections. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the explosion happened close to a well-known wedding hall in northern Kabul, nearby the airport, at about 4:40 pm. The wedding hall had hosted a campaign rally earlier in the day for Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah, who is one of the leading candidates running against President Ashraf Ghani on September 28. The News
Socioeconomic
Kabul: The Taliban said, they will not hold direct talks with Afghan government and rejected a statement from a senior minister about plans to hold the meeting within the next two weeks, a senior Taliban official said. The News, Dawn, Tribune
Washington: US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said that intra-Afghan talks will only start after certain agreements are reached and non-official elements will be included in the official Afghan team. Dawn
Miranshah: The first ever formal police meeting was held at the deputy commissioner’s office of North Waziristan which was attended by police officers and constables in large number. District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur said besides police lines, 14 police stations and 42 police posts will also be established in North Waziristan. TNN, Dawn
Kabul: Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul announced that it will resume routine consular services after Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Idress Zaman assured that a gang of conmen operating in the premises will be “immediately busted”. Earlier, the embassy had issued a press release, saying that visas issued to Afghan nationals will be restricted and will only be issued to patients, the elderly, women and businessmen. The News, Tribune
Multan: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Taliban were ready for negotiations and Pakistan was playing the role of a mediator for restoration of peace in Afghanistan. Dawn, Tribune
Landi Kotal: A local youth organization Naujawanan Khugakhel held a protest demonstration against imposition of ban on daily wagers at Torkham border and import of sacrificial animals from Afghanistan. Dawn
