Posts published in June 2016

The writer works for an Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies Handling the burden of almost three million refugees, disputed border, absconding of militants across the border, and to accusations of instability in each other’s state of affairs, Pak-Afghan relations have never enjoyed a honeymoon period. There is a complicated history of border, and it is still a bone of contention between the two states. Though the Durand Line is accepted…

The writer is an independent political analyst based in the USA Back in 2012 when Barak Hussain Obama was running for his second term against Mitt Romney, my younger son, Uzair, who was in first grade in the elementary school, became a big Obama fan. Every day when he returned from his school, he would be loaded with new reasons why we should vote for Obama. And although he had many arguments to support his…

Kabul: Nearly five Taliban insurgents were killed when a bomb they were making exploded, local officials said on Monday. The incident took place in Sayed Karam district in Paktia province on Sunday night, the provincial police chief Qadir Zadran said. He added that nine rebels were wounded in the blast. The Interior Ministry confirmed the incident in a statement.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/25990-five-taliban-killed-by-own-explosives-in-paktia

A leader of the Taliban group identified as Qari Ghafar was killed in an airstrike in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the airstrike was carried out in the restive Chardara district. According to a statement by MoD, at least 14 militants fighting for Qari Ghafoor were also killed and two others were critically wounded. It is yet not clear if the airstrike was carried out by the Afghan forces…

A suicide bomber trained in Peshawar city of Pakistan was arrested before he manage to carry out an attack in the provincial capital city of Kunar province in Asadabad. The Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate of Security (NDS), said the suicide bomber has been identified as Hafiz-ur-Rehman son of Mohammad Nabi who wanted to carry out an attack in Asadbad city. According to a statement by NDS, Hafiz-ur-Rehman was arrested before he manage to carry out…

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has expressed its serious concern over reports that thousands of Afgan refugees are fighting in Syria after having been lured there by foreign government organizations. “The Afghan government is addressing the matter through diplomatic channels and has informed the UN High Commission for Refugees accordingly. We are working closely with the Commission in this regard,” said MoFA spokesman Shekib Mustaghni said. The MoFA is treating the issue with caution,…

The Afghan government is mulling to purchase aircraft and other military equipment from Russia, it has been reported. The Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexandar Mantytskiy has said the Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai has shared the issue with his Russian counterpart Igor V. Morgulov. Karzai during his meeting to Moscow nearly two weeks ago said “We sent a request to the Russian Security Council for expanding cooperation [in the military field], including for…

The First Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum has accused the National Unity Government (NUG) leaders of excluding him from power and side-lining his supporters. Talking to journalists during a military operation in Dawlat Abad district in Faryab on Monday, Dostum said President Ashraf Ghani and the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have shared the power among themselves. His role in the administration is now unclear. Dostum said considering his efforts in bringing President Ghani to power, at…

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, on Monday withdrew from peace talks with the National Unity Government (NUG). Hekmatyar said the peace agreement with the Afghan government, which was about to be finalized, has been terminated. In a message published in a Shadat publication linked to Hizb-e-Islami, Hekmatyar demanded the termination of the national unity government. Hekmatyar claimed that the national unity government was not acceptable to majority of the Afghanistan people. Therefor the efforts…

. ISLAMABAD: After four months talks between Kabul and Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) have broken down, the group’s chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar claimed on Monday. “The [National Unity] government wants Hizb to accept the security pacts with the United States. The government said it is a red line and cannot cross it. They say this agreement is obligatory and final. But we made it clear that we will not accept this red line,” former warlord Hekmatyar said…