US Ambassador to Kabul John Bass wrote a statement to condemn the Taliban attacks of Sunday in Maroof district of Kandahar province which killed innocent civilians, including eight employees of Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan.

Bass remarked, “Once again, the Taliban are targeting and killing Afghan civilians. The United States staunchly supports the democratic process in Afghanistan and the thousands of IEC workers across the country who put themselves in harm’s way so Afghans can vote in elections that are transparent, credible, and safe.”

On Sunday, security forces reported the repulse of Taliban suicide and offensive attack on Maroof district of Kandahar province.

Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, spokesman of Kandahar police command told Reporterly on Sunday that: “four Humvees full of explosives were detonated by Taliban suicide bombers during the attack on Maroof district compound and then Taliban led an offensive attack to the district.”

Ahmadzai added that so far there are no precise details about the causalities of this incident, but the Taliban attack is repulsed and the situation is under control of security forces.

Meanwhile, the ministry of interior said in a statement that 25 Taliban insurgents were killed in the clash.

The ministry added that, back up forces are sent to Maroof district and the clearance operation will be conducted in the following hours.

The ministry did not comment about the causalities of security forces and civilians resulted from Taliban attack.

Meanwhile officials of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) confirmed that 8 employees of the IEC were killed in Taliban attack in Maroof district.

Speaking to Reporterly on Sunday, Abdulaziz Ebrahimi deputy spokesman of IEC said that, 8 employees of the commission were killed in Taliban attack on Maroof district of Kandahar.

Eight Taliban insurgents were killed in a clash with Afghan National Police (ANP) when a clash took place in Warmami district of Paktika.

ANP seized one motorcycle, two AK-47 rifles and one radio handset as well. In another incident, five Taliban insurgents were killed and four others were injured in an encounter with Afghan National Police (ANP) in Mata Khan district of Paktika.

Mullah Yaqob, the military commander of the Taliban insurgents was among those killed. During the clash, ANP seized one rocket launcher, two anti-tank mines and some hand grenades.

In another report, 13 Taliban insurgents were killed and wounded after Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) conducted overnight clearance operation in Zerok district of Paktika.

Four AK-47 rifles were also seized by ANDSF. Eight Taliban insurgents were killed, seven injured and nine others arrested during Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) operation in Trinkot city of Uruzgan.
During the operation, ANDSF discovered and seized 19 roadside bombs.

In another report, yesterday, General Command of Police Special Units (GCPSU) seized one M-16 rifle and some amount of military equipment in Trinkot City of Uruzgan.

In another report, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) conducted a joint clearance operation in the vicinity of the Greshk district of Helmand. As a result, three Taliban insurgents were killed, two wounded and 10 Taliban hideouts destroyed.

Several villages of Greshk district cleared of terrorists and 14 roadside bombs defused. ANDSF Seized Weapons & Ammunition In Parwan

Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) discovered and seized one AK-47 rifle with 42 magazines, 22 various types of pistols, one rifle and 11 hand grenades.

The weapons and ammunition recovered from a residence in Charikar City of Parwan.

ARG, presidential palace has reported that Sediq Sediqqi has been appointed as president Ghani’s spokesperson.

A statement issued by presidential palace says that based on a presidential decree, Mr. Sediq Sediqqi has been appointed as spokesman of the president.

Sediq Sediqqi, has previously served as the head of Government Media and Information Center as well as served as the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan has announced that the government should report on what has been done in past six days for security of journalists.

“After the warning of Taliban group about targeting media and journalists, now the concerns of media community have mounted more than any other rime and the list of some media outlets which are shared on social media show as if the Taliban might attack on these medias”, Nai’s statement said.

Nai has called on the National Unity Government to pay close attention to safeguarding the media and the safety of journalists, and to ensure that they support freedom of expression and the media.

Nai supporting open media in Afghanistan also urged Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation to raise the issue of free speech and media activity as a red line in the new round of talks with the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Taliban insurgents had given one-week deadline on June 24 to Afghan Media not to air government ads against them.

Afghan Army in the northern part of the country reported that 48 Taliban insurgents including 14 senior commanders of the group (three shadow district governors) were killed in the province.

As a result of Afghan Air Force’s airstrike on a gathering of Taliban insurgents in Bodana Qala area in Sholgara district of Balkh province, 48 insurgents including 14 commanders were killed, Mohammad Hanif Rezaee spokesman of 209th Shahin Corps told Reporterly on Sunday.

Rezaee added that, Abdul Ghani known as Tarabi, the shadow district governor for Charbolak district, Mawlavi Hanan, Taliban shadow district governor for sholgara district and his deputy, Gul Nabi known as Moharez, shadow district governor for Chatmal district, Rasoul Jan saadat intelligence member of Taliban for Chatmal district, Mawlavi Hamid in charge of Taliban military committee for Chatmal district and some other key commanders of the group are among those killed in the operation.

According to spokesman of Shaheen Corps, the operation was carried out on 2AM on Sunday night when Taliban were planning to have a widespread attack on outposts of security and defense forces.

He added that, 15 insurgents were also injured in the operation.

11 prisoners were released on 27th of June 2019 based on the Presidential Decree, while the imprisonment period of 22 others was decreased.

In this ceremony, Rahimullah Ramih, Director of Khost’s Attorney Office, members of Khost provincial council and in charge of Khost Jail were present.

Ramih said, “You have to protect yourselves from any kind of crimes in the future and find a sound profession for yourselves.”
Ramih added that anyone who are committing crimes repeatedly, will not be accounted into Presidential Decrees.

Meanwhile, the released prisoners while praising the authorities and said that we will try our best to protect ourselves from committing any kind of crimes and will live under the shadow of the law.

President Ghani brought attention to the glaring cancer deaths in the country while addressing a national symposium in Kabul on fight against cancer. He said that 80 percent of 20,000 cancer patients die annually in Afghanistan.

He ridiculed the health officials for lack of measures to tackle the problem.
“You have not reached out to me even a single day to discuss what to do on cancer. This is not acceptable,” Ghani said.

Ghani said that fight against cancer may be costly, but it is important to save lives and added that there should be clear distinction between cancer diagnosis and curing centres, and there should be measures and specialities in place for different type of cancers in different provinces of Afghanistan.

“Corruption is the biggest factor behind our lack of focus,” Ghani conceded.

Security forces reported the repulse of Taliban suicide and offensive attack on Maroof district of Kandahar province.

Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, spokesman of Kandahar police command told Reporterly on Sunday that: “four Humvees full of explosives were detonated by Taliban suicide bombers during the attack on Maroof district compound and then Taliban led an offensive attack to the district.”

Ahmadzai added that so far there are no precise details about the causalities of this incident, but the Taliban attack is repulsed and the situation is under control of security forces.

Meanwhile, the ministry of interior said in a statement that 25 Taliban insurgents were killed in the clash.

The ministry added that, back up forces are sent to Maroof district and the clearance operation will be conducted in the following hours.

The ministry did not comment about the causalities of security forces and civilians resulted from Taliban attack.

Meanwhile officials of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) confirmed that 8 employees of the IEC were killed in Taliban attack in Maroof district.

Speaking to Reporterly on Sunday, Abdulaziz Ebrahimi deputy spokesman of IEC said that, 8 employees of the commission were killed in Taliban attack on Maroof district of Kandahar.

Security forces reported that brother of Kamal Nasir Osuli, a member of Afghan parliament from Khost was killed in the province.

Speaking to Reporterly on Sunday, Adil Haidar, spokesman of Khost Police Command said that, as a result of armed clash between Qadirullah , brother of Kamal Nasir Osuli, and Abdulhai Zazai, Gurbuz district governor, Qaridullah was killed and his bodyguard was injured.

Haidar added that, in the clash which occurred in Gurbuz district, a bodyguard of district governor was also injured.

According to spokesman of Khost Police Command, the clash happened due to personal motives and the police investigation is underway.

Local officials have reported that the Taliban have attacked yet again on Kajran district of Daikundi province.

“Taliban attacked on security forces outposts in Paigak and Sang Haidar Bek areas in Kajran district on Saturday night and the clashes are still going on,” Sakina Ehsani Daikundi provincial spokesperson told Reporterly on Sunday.

She added that, there aren’t enough forces in the area to fight with Taliban insurgents.
There are no details about the causalities of clashes, as per Sakina Ehsani.

Meanwhile, in Taliban’s attack on Friday morning, 7 security forces personnel were killed and 16 others were injured.

Provincial officials reported that in thr special operation of security forces in Maidan Wardak, 10 Taliban insurgents were killed.

As a result of a special operation of security forces conducted based on intelligence information on Saturday night in Chak district of the province, 10 Taliban insurgents were killed, Maidan Wardak press office said in a statement on Sunday.

Four individuals were arrested in the operation for cooperating with Taliban insurgents.

According to thr press office of Maidan Wardak, a hideout of insurgents, 4 motorcycle, several Kalashnikovs and some ammunition were also seized in the operation.

US Ambassador to Kabul John Bass, in a press conference on Saturday said that right now, for Afghanistan, the highest priority is peace. He pointed out that not just US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, but also President Ghani, CE Abdullah, other Afghan political leaders have expressed that peace is paramount.

He added that it’s therefore important for everybody to work together for this common goal of Afghan peace.

Ambassador Bass added that they anticipate that their (US) ongoing discussions with Taliban about US’s concerns of terrorism in Afghanistan and Taliban’s understanding of troop withdrawal, reaches a conclusion to the point that would open the way for intra-Afghan dialogue which is what is needed for durable settlement and peace in Afghanistan.

“We hope that our ongoing talks wth Taliban will open this door, and the Intra-Afghan dialogue discussions are something only Afghans can solve”, Bass said.

He also hoped that Afghan society is prepared for this opportunity of intra-Afghan talks.

He conceded by saying that “Secretary Pompeo noted that highest priority is peace, as well as its important for election planning to go ahead without delay”, and added that they urge everyone who has some responsibility to help achieve those results-Afghan election commissions, legal side, Afghan government, candidates and political parties and observers and wider society help in achieving fair and transparent elections.

Security forces have reported that they repulsed a Taliban attack on Qaramqol district of Faryab province.

Speaking to Reporterly, Abdul Karim Yourish, the spokesman of Faryab Police Command said that: “around Saturday midnight, Taliban insurgents attacked on the center of Qaramqol district but the attack was repulsed as back up forces were sent to the area.”

He further added that, four Taliban insurgents were killed and 3 others were injured in the clashes.

An outpost of the security forces was taken by Taliban for a while but the forces succeeded in recapturing the outpost and now the situation is under control, according to Yourish.

He confirmed that one security personnel was killed and another was injured in the clashes.

The Office of the president has announced that, Faizullah Kakar has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the President’s office.

Based on president Ghani’s decree, Faizullah Kakar has been appointed as thr chief of staff of the presidential palace office, Office of president said in a statement on Sunday.

The president’s decree states that, “in accordance with the Article 13 and Item 64 of the Constitution of Afghanistan, Mr. Faizullah Kakar is approved as chief of staff of the office of the president.”

Mr Kakar replaces Salam Rahimi, who served as president’s Ghani chief of staff and was recently appointed as President’s Special Envoy for Peace & State Minister for Peace Affairs.

The World Bank has approved $722 million loan for Pakistan that will largely be used for improving civic and public transport facilities in Karachi, according to The Tribune.

The World Bank was committing $652 million through three projects to strengthen institutions, municipal services and infrastructure in Karachi, according to a handout that the local office of the Washington-based lender issued on Friday.

The board of directors of the World Bank approved the loan a day earlier.

The World Bank also approved another loan of $70 million for improving tourism services in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Pakistan’s economy has been struggling for the past several months, especially i the face of severe debts and balance of payment issues. It has also applied to many international banks for aid and bailout.

The seventh round of US-Taliban talks for Afghan Peace began in Qatar on Sunday. US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad leads the US delegation.

The talks, held in the Qatari capital, Doha, aim to put out a provisional schedule for American troop withdrawal in exchange for Taliban guarantees that international terror groups will not be allowed to operate on Afghan soil.

An agreement like the above is seen as a crucial step toward kickstarting negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government over the country’s political future.

The previous rounds of talks have delivered no tangible provisional agreement, and has been facing criticism. However the international
Community has chimed in to say that Afghanistan is closer than ever to peace.

Pakistan has promised to extend the access of Afghans to Torkham Crossing from 12 hours to 24 hours, as President Ashraf Ghani acknowledged at a meeting with Afghan investors in Pakistan during his two-day visit to the neighboring country on June 28, as reported by TOLO News.

Normally, the Torkham gate is opened for Afghan investors and travelers from 8 am to 8 pm – for 12 hours a day.

President Ghani addressed Afghan investors, Afghan refugees and Pakistani officials at three separate events on his two-day visit to Pakistan.

At one of them in Lahore on June 28, president Ghani revealed that he held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistani Army’s Chief of Staff Gen. Qamar Bajwah where they promised to allow Afghan trucks to cross Wagah and have direct access to India.