Security officials fail to attend session to brief MPs on Raziq’s Assassination

Heads of defense, security and intelligence institutions were expected on Monday to brief the lawmakers about General Raziq’s assassination and the overall security situation of the country, but the security officials failed to attend the parliament’s session.

 Criticizing the government over the Kandahar incident on October 18, a number of MPs said that that General Raziq’s assassination case is not exposed and that the security officials should share the details of the incident.

“The Talib who killed Raziq was the bodyguard of the governor. Where is his dead body and where has been buried? Why General Raziq has not been shifted to the forensic laboratory so that it should have been clear where the ballot hit him and which kind of weapon was used against him,” questioned MP Allah Gul.

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Gulbuddin Hekmatyar challenged Atta Muhammad Noor

The leader of Hezb-e Islami, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has challenged the former Balkh governor, Atta Muhammad Noor to recapture the Chamtal district instead of seizing the Presidential Palace (ARG).

Previously, Atta Mohammad Noor, Chief Executive of Jamiat-e-Islami party in an interview with Ariananews has claimed that if “foreigners” allow him he can seize the Presidential Palace (ARG) in three days.

“Noor cannot capture only one district. Seizing the Presidential Palace is a big issue. Some parts of Balkh province are under the control of Taliban,” Hekmatyar told Ariananews.

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Mohaqiq: insurgents have more advanced weapons than gov’t forces

Second Deputy to CEO, Mohammad Mohaqiq says the government is not facilitating modern equipment to military forces, insisting that the militants have more advanced weapons than the Afghan security forces.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the 10th of Muharram, the Day of Ashura in Kabul, Mohaqiq strongly criticized the government for not equipping the security forces with modern weapons. He said the issue has caused the forces to suffer high number of casualties.

“We have 390,000 military forces including police and ANA forces, they have huge shortages, and can’t cover all regions,” he said, adding that the militants making progress by forming new setup in all the districts and that carrying new weapons and seizing regions.

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CE Abdullah: Haqqani’s death won’t affect activities of his network

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah says the death of Haqqani Network founder Jalaluddin Haqqani will not affect the activities of the militant group.

“I don’t think his death will affect the activities of Haqqani Network. His sons were leading the activities of the network recently,” Abdullah told reporters on Tuesday.

Following the issue, Javid Kohistani, a military analyst said that since 2007, Jalaluddin Haqqani had not been involved in group’s plans.

“Except issuing fatwas against the foreign military forces, he had no role in recent times and his son Anas Haqqani is leading the activities of the network,” Kohistani said, adding that the founder’s death will not have an impact on the going situation in the country.

Earlier today, the Taliban armed group in a statement confirmed that founder of the Haqqani Network has died due to the illness he was suffering from in recent years. In the statement, the Taliban also claimed that he was buried in Afghanistan. 

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Noor threatens to boycott elections and form interim Gov’t

Atta Mohammad Noor, the former governor of Balkh province and CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami party on Tuesday warned that if transparency of the upcoming elections was not guaranteed, they would boycott the elections and would announce an interim government.

Addressing at an Eid ceremony in Mazar-e-Sharif city, Noor said the political parties have set a two-week deadline for the National Unity Government (NUG) in order to bring reforms and transparency in the upcoming election processes.

“If they don’t bring changes for transparency in the electoral system and didn’t hold a fair election, we will boycott the election process in advance and will take our next step,” Noor said.

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‘Political parties not effective in Afghanistan’

The political parties are not effective in Afghanistan and that except criticizing the government do not have “comprehensive” plans, according to First Deputy of Meshrano Jirga.

“Let’s strengthen the system instead of destroying and condemning it further. We urge the [political] parties to pay heed on national interest,” said First Deputy of Senate House (Meshrano Jirga).

Some political parties, however, believe that they do not have any kind of responsibility regarding the issues of war and peace in the country except having an encouraging and supporting role.

“In political issues [the parties] can play a constructive role but the issues of war and peace are the responsibility of the government. Political parties could only encourage and support and can’t have an active role in the issue of war,” said Anwarulhaq Ahadi, Chairman of New National Front of Afghanistan.

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Taliban shadow chief justice signals green light for peace talks

The Taliban Shadow Chief Justice Mawlawi Abdul Hakim in a signed letter has called for peace in Afghanistan. The letter was also indicating rifts and dissensions within the Taliban.

The letter purportedly has been released by the people affiliated to Taliban Shadow Chief Justice in Herat province, in which Mawlawi Abdul Hakim addressed the Taliban leader Habtullah Akhundzada to respond to the Afghan people’s “legitimate demands” for peace.

The letter indicates a green light for peace talks with the Taliban and rift and dissensions within the militant group’s leadership.

In the letter, Mawlawi Hakim has welcomed the latest 3-day ceasefire between the Taliban and the government in which the fighters of the group were able to enter the cities and celebrate Eid days with people.

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New political party announces presence in Kabul

A new political group called “Omid Saba” has merged under the leadership of the former Afghan intelligence chief Asadullah Khalid in Afghanistan’s crowded political field.

Speaking during a gathering of his supporters, Khalid stressed on unity among Afghan tribes and the transparency of forthcoming election, saying we would not allow the country face crisis.

Pointing at the peace process, he declared that Afghan people want a peace with dignity that all Afghans are involved.

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Panjwayee turns into ‘most secure’ district in Kandahar

Panjwayee has turned into the most secure district in southern Kandahar province after being seized from the Taliban, local military forces told Ariana News on Monday.

The district which shares border with Pakistan had been recognized as the Taliban’s main center and a “death region” for the Afghan and foreign forces in the province over the last five years.

However, currently, the military forces can feel safe and there is no presence of the Taliban in the district.

“The district has a better security and there was no [security] incident during the ceasefire. This district is secure since a while,” Qurban, a Panjawyee based soldier told Ariana News.

The government forces had been involved in deadly clashes with the Taliban since years in Panjwayee district, and the foreign trainers and advisors are no longer the district.   Only the local security forces have presence and maintaining the security of the district.

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Climate change will take a serious toll on Afghanistan by 2050

Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday warned that climate change will take a serious toll on Afghanistan by 2050.

Speaking at an international water management summit in Tajikistan he promised that his country will remain a good partner in terms of water management.

“Afghanistan will experience an increase of approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius in mean temperature and a doubling of population by 2050,” Abdullah said in his address to delegates.

Participants at the Sustainable Development conference said political, religious, linguistic and ethnic divisions need to be put aside in order for the world to maintain and manage its water resources properly.

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