Trump withdraws more than 5,000 troops from Afghanistan

The U.S. President Donald Trump withdraws more than 5,000 U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan amid reports verbal orders have been given to start work on withdrawal plans.

A U.S. official speaking condition of anonymity has told Reuters that a decision had been made and verbal orders had been given to start planning for the drawdown.

The official has further added that timelines were being discussed but it could happen in weeks or months.

This comes as the U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier ordered the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Syria.

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Taliban formulates 10-member negotiating team for peace talks

High Peace Council (HPC) says Taliban has formulated a 10-member negotiating team for peace talks with the Afghan government.

The direct talks between the U.S. and Taliban have raised hopes among many interested parties to ensure peace in war-torn Afghanistan.

Recently, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, where the North Atlantic Council expressed support for the U.S. efforts to promote an Afghan-led and owned peace process.

In early October, Khalilzad met with the Taliban representatives in Qatar and then met with the Afghan government officials in Kabul where he has asked both sides to come up with an authorized team of negotiators for peace talks.

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Taliban’s command and control center eliminated in Helmand province

The local officials in southern Helmand province are saying that the command and control center of the Taliban group has eliminated in this province.

Provincial governor Gen. Mohammad Yasin said Tuesday the command and control center of the group has been eliminated during the night.

He made the remarks during a press conference also attended by military council officials and added that the night operations kicked off in this province over two month sago.

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Afghan forces discover cache of weapons in Ghazni

Afghan National Army forces have discovered a cache of weapons and other military equipment in central Ghazni province, a local security official said Saturday.

The provincial police chief Ghulam Daoud Tarakhail said that the cache has been discovered at house of an individual identified as Tafan in an area near Ghazni City.

Tarakhail said that most of the discovered weapons and military equipment have come from Iran.

“The weapons are totally new and have been imported from Iran,” Tarakhail said.

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Survey shows over 80 percent of Afghans have ‘No sympathy’ for Taliban

Afghans continue to lose sympathy for the armed opposition groups, 82 percent indicating that they have “no sympathy” for the Taliban, according to a new survey released by The Asia Foundation on Tuesday.

The foundation’s survey – which is based on face-to-face interviews with 15,012 people from all major and most minor ethnic groups in 34 provinces – shows that 79 percent of Afghans in northwest identify the Taliban as the biggest threat to local security while in east 57 percent see Daesh/ISIS as the biggest threat to local security.

The survey which was conducted in July 2018, indicates the optimism about country’s direction has remained unchanged (33%) despite the nation’s challenges to maintain security against the Taliban insurgency and the growing presence of ISIS/Daesh while 61 percent more said the country is moving towards the wrong direction.

According to the survey, insecurity is the most frequently cited reason for pessimism, followed by unemployment, bad economy and high prices.

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Manan’s death will have ‘direct’ impact on security of many provinces: MoI

The Interior Affairs Ministry says the death of Mulla Abdul Manan who was the Taliban’s shadow governor for southern Helmand province and a key member of the armed group will have a direct impact on the security of many provinces.

Mulla Rahim was also known as Mulla Manan was killed on Saturday night in a U.S. airstrike in Nawzad district of Helmand province. The Taliban confirmed the death of Manan – who had also been the militant group’s military in-charge – and termed it as a great loss.

Manan was leading the war for the Taliban in Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces.

“The death of Manan will have a direct impact on the security of these provinces,” the Interior Ministry Spokesman Najib Danish said. “We are hoping to strike more targets with such kind of plans and operations.”

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Taliban kidnap 25 passengers in Sar-e Pul

At least 25 passengers have been kidnapped by a Taliban commander in Balkhab district of Sar-e Pul province, officials said on Tuesday.

Assadullah Khurram, a Provincial Council Member in Sar-e Pul said the passengers were kidnapped by a Taliban commander, identified as Mahdi Mujahid, while they were traveling from Balkh province to Balkhab district in Sar-e- Pul.

According to Khurram, Taliban militants have taken these passengers into custody in Kandalik area of Sancharak district.

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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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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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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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