Posts published in “Day: August 3, 2016”

The writer works for Geo TV. Pakistan considers itself a victim of the Afghanistan problem instead of its cause. Soon after 9/11, Pakistan broke ties with the Taliban government and joined the war on terror. Consequently, the Taliban and their supporters became our fierce enemies and started a spate of suicide bombings in public places in big cities. More than 50 thousand people, including security personnel, have lost their lives. And Pakistan has also sustained…

The writer heads the independent Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad and is author of Pakistan: Pivot of Hizbut Tahrir’s Global Caliphate Negatives continue to dominate the Pakistan-Afghanistan conversation. The Afghan government remains unhappy with Pakistan over the Haqqani network. On August 1, it officially “regretted” the installation of a new gate at Torkham, accusing Pakistan of violation of centuries-long traditions, despite repeated assertions by President Ashraf Ghani and his colleagues that Afghanistan be…

Taliban insurgents have shot dead a 19-year-old Sar-e-Pul woman, after she ran away from home, local officials said on Tuesday. The incident took place in Kohistanat district of the province. The teenager reportedly ran away from home two months ago after being beaten by her husband, a spokesman for the provincial governor, Zabihullah Amani, confirmed. Azada lived in Kohistanat district of the province and spent almost two months at a women’s shelter in the capital…

The Afghan intelligence operatives foiled a coordinated attack plot in Mehtarlam city, the provincial capital eastern Laghman province of Afghanistan. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said a group 6 terrorists belonging to the Taliban group were arrested in connection to the attack plot. A statement by NDS said the group was led by Rahmatullah and the other detained militants have been identified as Habib-ur-Rehman also known as Bidar son of Nik Mohammad, Syed Yaqoob…

Two top Taliban leaders were killed in a drone strike in the restive southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, local officials said Monday. According to a statement released by the provincial governor’s office, the two top Taliban leaders were identified as Mullah Abdul Rahim and Commander Mustaqeem. The statement further added that Mullah Abdul Rahim was the group’s shadow governor for southern Helmand province while Commander Mustaqeem was the war commander of the group who was…

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan has said construction of gate at Torkham border is “against the good neighbourhood and previous agreements.” Officials in Khyber tribal region say construction of the gate had been completed and a formal inauguration is likely to be held on August 8. The opening of the “Pakistan Gate” was previously scheduled on August 1 but was postponed, local sources said. Afghan and Pakistani forces were involved in exchange of firing in June after Afghanistan…

President Barack Obama said on Monday that the U.S must never allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists again. Speaking at the 95th National Convention for Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta, Georgia, Obama said: “Today we salute our forces serving there on a more limited mission — supporting Afghan forces, going after terrorists — because we must never allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack…

Russia is willing to revive joint projects with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Afghanistan after receiving signals of that nature from the Western military alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Director of the Second Asian Department said Monday. “Certain signals are there, but these are just signals and only words, although we do not see practical steps from NATO yet. They say Afghanistan is a common subject that concerns both Russia and NATO, and…

China said on Tuesday it maintains contact with all parties related to the Afghan peace talks, confirming, though indirectly, the visit of a Taliban delegation to Beijing last month. Analysts said the visit came at a delicate time after a former Taliban leader was killed in a US drone strike a few months ago, as China is interested in learning the new leader’s political stance to help facilitate the peace talks. In a faxed statement…

PESHAWAR: An imprisoned Indian national, Hamid Nehal Ansari, has claimed that he had been kept in a prison barrack with hardened criminals, one of whom physically assaulted him. He has requested Peshawar High Court to order his shifting to a safer place in Peshawar Central Prison. A two-member bench comprising Justice Mussarat Hillali and Justice Qalander Ali Khan summoned Peshawar jail superintendent on August 4, directing him to explain his position. An application was filed…