Taliban group suffered 113 casualties in Northern Afghanistan

At least 113 Taliban insurgents have been killed in northern Afghanistan, an official confirmed on Monday.

Ghafoor Javid, spokesman for the Defense Ministry said that air and ground operations were conducted in Shirin-Tagab district of Faryab, as well as in Chahar-Bulak district of Balkh.

He added that the operations were conducted jointly by MoD and Resolute Support troops in which at least 113 Taliban insurgents were killed.

According to the statement, 11 militants have been arrested and nine more are wounded.

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Rahgozar to be introduced as new Balkh governor today

The local officials in northern Balkh province are saying that the new governor of the province Mohammad Ishaq Rahgozar will be introduced to the provincial officials today.

The provincial government media office in a statement confirmed the appointment of Rahgozar as the new Balkh governor a day after the former governor of the province Ata Mohammad Noor informed of a breakthrough in the talks to end the stalemate with the government.

The statement states that Mohammad Ishaq Rahgozar has been appointed as the new Balkh governor based on the recommendation of the Independent Local Governance Department and approval of the Office of the President.

According to the officials, Rahgozar will be introduced during a ceremony scheduled for today in the afternoon.

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Taliban kills 17 public uprising forces, one ALP in Balkh

At least 17 members of public uprising forces and a local police were killed when the Taliban militants attacked them in northern Balkh province of Afghanistan on Saturday night, a security official said.

The incident has taken place during the night in Buzboy village in Sholgara district of Balkh province when a Taliban infiltrator had allowed the militants into the area.

“Unfortunately, the insurgents have martyred a local police and 17 public uprising forces including Haji Abdul Hameed and his son who was an influential local figure and head of the uprising forces,” said Abdul Raziq Qaderi, provincial deputy police chief.

According to the security official, the alleged Taliban insider has escaped the scene and joined the insurgent group.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman said the group carried out the attack and that 18 weapons were also seized.

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Newly-appointed Balkh governor visits Mazar amid rising political tensions

The newly-appointed provincial governor of the northern Balkh province Engineer Mohammad Daud arrived to Mazar-e-Sharif city, the provincial capital of Balkh province late on Tuesday night.
According to the informed sources, Eng. Daud has visited the Balkh province to participate in the funeral ceremony of his father.

The sources further added that Eng. Daud was escorted by a large number of the security forces as he landed in Mawlana Jalauddin Balkhi International Airport.

This comes as tensions still remain high between the government and the ousted governor of Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor over his dismissal from the provincial political leadership.

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Ghana and Jamiat Leaders To Sign Agreement

Atta Mohammad Noor, executive director of Jamiat-e-Islami party on Thursday said an agreement will be signed between President Ashraf Ghani and Jamiat-e-Islami leaders and based on the agreement, Jamiat leaders will be consulted over major political decisions.

The Presidential Palace has confirmed this.

Noor said in recent meetings between him and Ghani, they moved to sign an agreement and put aside disagreements, which stem from Noor having been an opposition candidate during elections.
“I am happy with the meetings and hope that everything goes forward as we want. However, the agreement is not yet signed,” he said.

“We have drafted an agreement and have finalized and agreed on many issues. The draft will be shared with leaders and allies of Jamiat-e-Islami Party. If it needs more changes, we will work on it, otherwise it will be implemented,” he added.

Noor meanwhile added that he intends to step down as acting governor of Northern Balkh province.
“I have been in Balkh for a long time. It is natural that I should open the way for others to take the seat,” he said.

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Afghans Celebrate Eid Around The Country

Afghans, like millions of Muslims around the world, on Monday started the three day Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.

Early Monday morning, Afghans flocked to the central mosques where they prayed for the security and prosperity of the war-torn country.

Religious scholars in their Eid messages urged the country’s political elite and ordinary people to work together to strengthen efforts for longstanding peace and security.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in his Eid speech expressed hope that the country will reach peace in the near future.

He said that a final peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami, a powerful militant group, will be sealed soon.

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Bomb goes off in crowded city market in Mazar-i-Sharif

A bomb in a crowded in market in the north Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Tuesday killed at least two people and wounded 15, police officials said.

Mazar-i-Sharif, an important commercial centre near the border with Uzbekistan, has generally been spared the violence unleashed by insurgent groups battling the NATO-backed government in Kabul.

The attack on Tuesday was carried out by a suicide bomber, said police commander Baba Jan.

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Key Taliban leaders among 27 killed in Badakhshan clearing ops

At least 27 Taliban insurgents including three key local leaders of the group were killed during clearing operations in northeastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.

According to the local government officials, the militants were killed in Raghistan district during the “Kokcha 07′ clearance operation.

Provincial governor’s spokesman Ahmad Navid Frotan said the three key local Taliban leaders have been identified as Mawlavi Nasir Ahmad Farooqi, Fasihullah Sultani, and Mullah Samiullah Shamil.
He said at least 32 militants were also wounded during the operations and 12 villages were cleared from the militants presence.

Frotan further added that 2 security personnel also lost their lives and six others sustained injuries during the same operations but the local residents did not suffer any casualties.
The Taliban militants group however rejected the report regarding the heavy casualties of the group’s militants during the operations.

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