Posts published in “Day: June 9, 2016”

the writer is the staffer of the daily The recent systematic killings and unmitigated militancy reflect the Taliban’s lukewarm response to peace and security. The Taliban guerillas have intensified their offensive and target political figures to send a terse message of war to Afghan government. According to Afghan officials, the warring factions enjoy safe havens across the border – as al-Qaeda’s founder Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad of Pakistan on May 2, 2011…

The writer is senior media analyst. THE story of the killing of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike in Balochistan last month remained on the media’s radar for barely more than a week. Pakistan traditionally remains immune to such events, despite their high-profile nature. In the US, Osama bin Laden’s killing was followed soon after by an action-packed Hollywood account of the hunt and killing of the Al Qaeda leader.…

The writer heads an independent research organisation in Islamabad. The death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour remained a mystery for quite a few days and was finally resolved by the Taliban’s confirmation and ultimate succession of its new chief. Mansour’s death on Pakistani soil, however, left dozens of unanswered questions for the country’s political and military establishment which has been fighting a decade-long war against terror and defending its volatile frontiers. In addition, the death of…

The writer teaches at the Sarhad University At the core of the Afghan imbroglio is the question of who should rule Afghanistan. The answer to this question is as mysterious as it is certain. The simple and straightforward answer is that the Afghans should decide who gets to rule them. This would certainly be an ideal solution but it is based on many ifs and buts. The Taliban want the US to withdraw its forces…

KABUL:  When the outsiders first arrived in the eastern Afghan district of Shinwar, they made no effort to hide their allegiances. “We are part of Daesh,” they said, using the Arabic-language acronym by which the Iraq- and Syria-based Islamic State group is known. At first, they tried to reassure residents. “Our fight is with the Taliban, not you,” local Afghans recall them saying. Before long, the outsiders had driven out the Taliban. “That’s when they…

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Wednesday at least 7 terrorists were killed in an airstrike in the restive Ghazni province of Afghanistan. According to MoD, the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Geru district and at least six motorcycles belonging to the terrorists were also destroyed. In a separate operation in Moqor district, at least five suspected militants were arrested by the Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers. The anti-government armed militant groups…

A commander of the loyalists of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group was killed during an operation in eastern Nangarhar province. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said at least five other ISIS loyalists were also killed during the operation conducted in Kot district. Kot is a key district in eastern Nangarhar province where the ISIS loyalists started their operations. The Afghan security forces have been busy in clearing the district from the…

Unknown gunmen on Wednesday launched a grenade attack against a local radio station in Jalalabad in Nangarhar, officials confirmed. Engineer Zalmay, head of Enikas Radio in Jalalabad, confirmed the incident and said it happened on Wednesday morning but that no one had been wounded in the attack. This comes just three days after two journalists were killed in Helmand after the convoy they were traveling in came under Taliban fire. Afghan journalist Zabihullah Tamanna and…

A key member of the Haqqani terrorist network was killed in a drone strike in southeastern Paktika province of Afghanistan. According to the provincial government media office, the airstrike was carried out late on Tuesday night in Sarwaza district. The key Haqqani network member killed in the raid has been identified as Sirajuddin Khademi who was reportedly providing logistics support to the fighters of the terror network. The airstrike also destroyed some weapons belonging to…

The Taliban insurgents have executed at least 12 people the group abducted from Ghazni-Paktika highway recently, local officials said Wednesday. A security official in Ghazni confirmed that the dead bodies of 12 people shot dead by the Taliban insurgents have been found in Andar district. The official further added that the identities of the deceased individuals have not ascertained so far. This comes as reports suggest that some of the hostages were members of the…