54 militants lay down arms, join peace process

54 Taliban militants including four of their commanders have laid down arms and joined peace process in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

“These individuals were involved in terror activities. After they discovered the facts with the efforts of the Afghan intelligence agency, they joined peace process,” said Ataullah Khogyani, provincial governor spokesman.

According to Khogyani, the group has handed over around 54 light and heavy weapons as well.

These individuals were involved in anti-government activities in Bati-Kot, Achin, Rodat, Momand Dara and Khogyani districts, the official added.

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Protesters close Kabul – Gardiz Highway in Logar

Hundreds of protesters on Wednesday closed Kabul – Gardiz highway, accusing the Afghan forces of killing eight civilians in an airstrike.

Protesters claimed that Afghan intelligence operatives have killed eight civilians including women and children during an operation in Muhammad Agha district on Tuesday night.

Demonstrators called on the government to punish the culprits.

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Explosion targets religious gathering in Kabul, leaving dozens killed

An explosion took place on Tuesday at a wedding hall in Kabul, leaving dozens killed and wounded.

Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi, Spokesman of the Public Health Ministry, said that at least 45 people were killed and 85 more were wounded in the explosion which happened inside Uranus Wedding Hall in the city.

The Interior Ministry Spokesman Najib Danish confirmed the incident and said that the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives inside the wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammad.

Ariana News reporter Bais Bayat who was at the site of the explosion said that most of the victims were religious scholars. 

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IECC invalidates ballots of over 170 polling stations

The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) has invalidated ballots of 174 polling stations, insisting that it has addressed 80 percent of the registered complaints and that 119 cases have been referred to judiciary institutions in this regard.

The IECC had registered over 12,000 complaints regarding the last month’s chaotic parliamentary elections. The commission on Monday said that it has addressed more than 10,000 complaints so far and that has invalidated ballots of 174 voting stations.

“There is no assurance that we could be able to accurately address all of the received complaints,” Said the IECC Spokesman Ali Reza Rohani.

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U.S. likely agreed to set timetable for troops withdrawal – HPC

Afghanistan High Peace Council (HPC) says the United States has probably reached on an agreement to set a timetable for withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, following the peace talks with Taliban delegation in Qatar.

According to HPC, the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, the release of Taliban prisoners, and removal of some Taliban figures from the UN blacklist are the key conditions of the armed group for entering into peace talks with the Afghan government.

Haji Din Mohammad, the Deputy Head of HPC said that they have met with the Taliban delegation on the sidelines of the recent Moscow summit and that the Taliban has shown the intent to end the ongoing war.

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Students clash in Kabul University Dormitory over unknown reasons

A clash broke out between the students in Kabul University dormitory this afternoon with the main cause of the incident yet to be ascertained.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that a clash broke out between the students in Kabul University dormitory but did not elaborate further regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to reports, the students hurled stones at each other and the sounds of gunshots were also heard from the area.

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30 policemen lost their lives in Taliban attacks in Farah

At least thirty policemen have lost their lives during the attacks carried out by the Taliban militants in western Farah province of Afghanistan.

According to reports, the attacks were carried out in Khak Safid district of Farah province late on Wednesday night.

The provincial government and security officials have not formally commented regarding the deaths of the policemen so far.

But a member of the provincial council Dadullah Qani said at least thirty members of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces were martyred in the attacks in Khak Safid district.

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International Islamic University to be built in Nangarhar: Ghani

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has said the International Islamic University would be built in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan along with the Technology Park.

He made the remarks during a meeting with the tribal elders, religious scholars, and other representatives of Nangarhar province.

In his speech during the gathering, President Ghani said the residents of Nangarhar have bravely stood against the ISIS terrorists which helped the Afghan forces to retake Nazian district.

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U.S. mulls pressing Afghan government to suspend presidential elections

The Trump administration mulls pressing the Afghan government to suspend the presidential elections as Washington seeks to engage the Taliban in peace talks, it has been reported.

The issue of the suspension of April-2019 elections was raised by the U.S. Special Adviser for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, sources privy of the development have told The Wall Street Journal.

However, the Office of Ambassador Khalilzad has declined ot comment in this regard.

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Germany hands over 1000 body armor vests to Kabul police

The government of Germany handed over one thousand body armor vests to the Afghan National Police (ANP) forces in Kabul.

The Kabul Police Commandment in a statement said the body armor vests were handed over to Kabul Police during a ceremony organized in the Police Commandment of Kabul on Thursday.

The statement further added that the body armor vests were handed over as part of Germany’s ongoing support to the Afghan Police forces.

The Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Kabul and a representative of Germany’s police had also participated in the ceremony.

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