October 12, 2018 - Taliban restore Red Cross Security Guarantee in Afghanistan
Taliban restore Red Cross security guarantee in Afghanistan | Reuters
The Taliban have reinstated a security guarantee in Afghanistan for the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), two months after withdrawing safe passage for the neutral humanitarian agency, the militant group and an ICRC official said on Friday.
A meeting in the Taliban’s Qatar-based political office between its leaders and agency officials ended with the renewal of a pact allowing the agency to continue to provide, and expand, medical aid to all parties harmed by warfare.
“The security agreement...is once again reinstated and calls on all mujahideen to grant access...and provide security for the personnel and equipment of this organization,” the Taliban said in a statement, referring to its members.
The Taliban leadership in Doha discussed the humanitarian situation and security concerns before renewing the pledge, said Andrea Catta Preta, the ICRC’s spokeswoman in the Afghan capital.
“We told the Taliban leaders about our support to all prisoners in Afghanistan jails, we explained our medical programs,” she added. “Finally, we reached an understanding.”
In August, the Taliban had accused the Red Cross of failing to provide adequate medical aid to prisoners on a hunger strike in Kabul’s Pul-e Charkhi prison and withdrew the security cover.
The decision forced the ICRC to suspend several emergency programs in Afghanistan, where it has had a presence for three decades and about 1,000 staff. Last year it scaled back operations after attacks killed seven of its staff.
The ICRC treats all parties harmed by warfare and does not take sides. It operates in Taliban-controlled areas with guarantees of safety and helps to repatriate bodies from both sides after fighting between the militants and the Afghan army.
Fri Oct 12, 2018 - Several Dead as Airstrikes Target Gathering of Taliban Leaders in Wardak
Farsnews
Several Taliban militants including their high ranking leaders were killed during the operations of the Afghan armed forces in Central Maidan Wardak province.
The Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate of Security (NDS), in a statement said the intelligence operatives conducted a special operation in Syedabad district with the support of the air forces, Khaama Press reported.
The statement further added that 21 militants including some high ranking leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani network were killed during the operations.
The key Taliban leaders killed during the operations include Taliban’s shadow intelligence chief Mawlavi Naqibullah also famous as Majid, Taliban leader in charge of looking after the disabled militants Mawlavi Abdul Rahman, Haqqani network leader Mawlavi Saif Ur Rehman, Mawlavi Samad, Taliban’s shadow district chief for Syedabad, Taliban’s commander for Tangi area of Syedabad Mawlavi Syedullah, and Taliban commander in charge of a group of 15 militants Mullah Naqib, NDS said.
At least 15 other militants were also killed during the operations and 2 others sustained injuries, NDS added in its statement.
The statement also added that the operations were conducted while the militants were busy planning their future attacks.
Fri Oct 12, 2018 - Taliban Militants, Civilians Suffer Heavy Casualties in Premature Car Bomb Explosion
Farsnews
At least nineteen people, including Taliban militants and ordinary civilians, were killed or wounded in a premature car bomb explosion in Northern Faryab province of Afghanistan.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan Military in the North in a statement said the incident has taken place in the vicinity of Khwaja Namosi Bazar, leaving at least ten militants and five civilians dead, Khaama Press reported.
The statement further added that the Taliban militants were looking to detonate the car bomb in Maimana city to target security forces or the electoral campaigns.
However, the 209th Shaheen Corps said the car bomb went prematurely as the militants were transporting it to the city, leaving ten militants dead and four others wounded.
According to the 209th Shaheen Corps, at least five civilians also lost their lives in the explosion.
The anti-government militant groups including Taliban have not commented regarding the incident so far.
Faryab is among the relatively volatile provinces in North of Afghanistan where the Taliban militants are actively operating in some of its districts and often carry out terrorist related activities.
Thu Oct 11, 2018 - UN: +8,000 Afghan Civilian Killed, Injured in 2018
Farsnews
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that at least 8,050 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first nine months of 2018.
The UNAMA said in a report issued on Wednesday that the figure in 2018 saw slight increase compared to the same period a year earlier, when there were 8,084 casualties, with deaths this year increasing five percent to 2,798 and injuries decreasing three percent to 5,252, World News reported.
"As there can be no military solution to the fighting in Afghanistan, the United Nations renews its call for an immediate and peaceful settlement to the conflict," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the top UN official in Afghanistan, stated.
Afghan people still face insecurity 17 years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
Wed Oct 10, 2018 - Taliban Commander Leading Group of 50 Militants Killed in Faryab Airstrike
Farsnews
A Taliban local commander who was in charge of a group of at least 50 militants was killed in an airstrike in Northern Faryab province of Afghanistan.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan Military in the North in a statement said the airstrike was carried out at around 12:20am on Wednesday, Khaama Press reported.
The statement further added that the airstrike left at least seven militants dead, including a Taliban commander who was in charge of a group of at least 50 militants.
According to 209th Shaheen Corps, the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Shakh area of Qaisar district.
The Taliban commander killed in the airstrike has been identified as Mullah Daud Taimani, the 209th Shaheen Corps added in its statement.
Taliban restore Red Cross security guarantee in Afghanistan | Reuters
The Taliban have reinstated a security guarantee in Afghanistan for the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), two months after withdrawing safe passage for the neutral humanitarian agency, the militant group and an ICRC official said on Friday.
A meeting in the Taliban’s Qatar-based political office between its leaders and agency officials ended with the renewal of a pact allowing the agency to continue to provide, and expand, medical aid to all parties harmed by warfare.
“The security agreement...is once again reinstated and calls on all mujahideen to grant access...and provide security for the personnel and equipment of this organization,” the Taliban said in a statement, referring to its members.
The Taliban leadership in Doha discussed the humanitarian situation and security concerns before renewing the pledge, said Andrea Catta Preta, the ICRC’s spokeswoman in the Afghan capital.
“We told the Taliban leaders about our support to all prisoners in Afghanistan jails, we explained our medical programs,” she added. “Finally, we reached an understanding.”
In August, the Taliban had accused the Red Cross of failing to provide adequate medical aid to prisoners on a hunger strike in Kabul’s Pul-e Charkhi prison and withdrew the security cover.
The decision forced the ICRC to suspend several emergency programs in Afghanistan, where it has had a presence for three decades and about 1,000 staff. Last year it scaled back operations after attacks killed seven of its staff.
The ICRC treats all parties harmed by warfare and does not take sides. It operates in Taliban-controlled areas with guarantees of safety and helps to repatriate bodies from both sides after fighting between the militants and the Afghan army.
Fri Oct 12, 2018 - Several Dead as Airstrikes Target Gathering of Taliban Leaders in Wardak
Farsnews
Several Taliban militants including their high ranking leaders were killed during the operations of the Afghan armed forces in Central Maidan Wardak province.
The Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate of Security (NDS), in a statement said the intelligence operatives conducted a special operation in Syedabad district with the support of the air forces, Khaama Press reported.
The statement further added that 21 militants including some high ranking leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani network were killed during the operations.
The key Taliban leaders killed during the operations include Taliban’s shadow intelligence chief Mawlavi Naqibullah also famous as Majid, Taliban leader in charge of looking after the disabled militants Mawlavi Abdul Rahman, Haqqani network leader Mawlavi Saif Ur Rehman, Mawlavi Samad, Taliban’s shadow district chief for Syedabad, Taliban’s commander for Tangi area of Syedabad Mawlavi Syedullah, and Taliban commander in charge of a group of 15 militants Mullah Naqib, NDS said.
At least 15 other militants were also killed during the operations and 2 others sustained injuries, NDS added in its statement.
The statement also added that the operations were conducted while the militants were busy planning their future attacks.
Fri Oct 12, 2018 - Taliban Militants, Civilians Suffer Heavy Casualties in Premature Car Bomb Explosion
Farsnews
At least nineteen people, including Taliban militants and ordinary civilians, were killed or wounded in a premature car bomb explosion in Northern Faryab province of Afghanistan.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan Military in the North in a statement said the incident has taken place in the vicinity of Khwaja Namosi Bazar, leaving at least ten militants and five civilians dead, Khaama Press reported.
The statement further added that the Taliban militants were looking to detonate the car bomb in Maimana city to target security forces or the electoral campaigns.
However, the 209th Shaheen Corps said the car bomb went prematurely as the militants were transporting it to the city, leaving ten militants dead and four others wounded.
According to the 209th Shaheen Corps, at least five civilians also lost their lives in the explosion.
The anti-government militant groups including Taliban have not commented regarding the incident so far.
Faryab is among the relatively volatile provinces in North of Afghanistan where the Taliban militants are actively operating in some of its districts and often carry out terrorist related activities.
Thu Oct 11, 2018 - UN: +8,000 Afghan Civilian Killed, Injured in 2018
Farsnews
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that at least 8,050 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first nine months of 2018.
The UNAMA said in a report issued on Wednesday that the figure in 2018 saw slight increase compared to the same period a year earlier, when there were 8,084 casualties, with deaths this year increasing five percent to 2,798 and injuries decreasing three percent to 5,252, World News reported.
"As there can be no military solution to the fighting in Afghanistan, the United Nations renews its call for an immediate and peaceful settlement to the conflict," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the top UN official in Afghanistan, stated.
Afghan people still face insecurity 17 years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
Wed Oct 10, 2018 - Taliban Commander Leading Group of 50 Militants Killed in Faryab Airstrike
Farsnews
A Taliban local commander who was in charge of a group of at least 50 militants was killed in an airstrike in Northern Faryab province of Afghanistan.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan Military in the North in a statement said the airstrike was carried out at around 12:20am on Wednesday, Khaama Press reported.
The statement further added that the airstrike left at least seven militants dead, including a Taliban commander who was in charge of a group of at least 50 militants.
According to 209th Shaheen Corps, the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Shakh area of Qaisar district.
The Taliban commander killed in the airstrike has been identified as Mullah Daud Taimani, the 209th Shaheen Corps added in its statement.