1TV: Pakistan is seeking to get the Taliban control two or three provinces in Afghanistan and move their leadership there, acting head of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency National Directorate of Security, said on Tuesday. Ahmad Zia Siraj, who was addressing parliament’s domestic security commission, said that the Taliban are not willing to make peace, rather they try to seize power through military means. Click here to read more (external link).
UN Calls For Reduction In Violence As U.S. Envoy Meets Taliban
Khalilzad
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
May 19, 2020
The United Nations has called for an immediate reduction of violence in Afghanistan, warning that civilian deaths by both the Taliban and Afghan security forces are on the rise, as the U.S. special peace envoy opened another round of talks with the Taliban to press the militants to start talking with the Kabul government.
The statement from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which also voiced concern about the stepped-up attacks and the brutality of assaults claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants, came after a horrific attack last week at a maternity hospital in the Afghan capital that killed 24 people, including two infants and several young mothers.
The Taliban denied involvement in the attack, which has not been claimed by any group, while Washington said the assault bore all the hallmarks of Afghanistan’s IS affiliate — targeting the country’s minority Shi’a in an area of Kabul that IS militants have repeatedly attacked in the past.
UNAMA said in the statement that the Taliban killed 208 civilians last month and also said that operations by Afghan forces in April had killed 172 civilians.
“Parties have committed to finding a peaceful solution and should protect the lives of all Afghans and not jeopardize people’s hope for an end to the war,” UNAMA chief Deborah Lyons said.
She added that “intra-Afghan peace negotiations need to start as soon as possible.”
The Taliban has ramped up attacks in recent weeks despite a pledge to reduce violence, a tactic that it may be employing to strengthen its negotiating position.
Meanwhile, IS militants also continue to conduct deadly attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians.
On May 19, eight Afghan soldiers were killed while repelling a Taliban attack on the northern city of Kunduz, officials said.
The militants attacked several government posts on the outskirts of the city overnight, a Defense Ministry statement said, triggering heavy fighting.
The assault was repelled with the support of air power, the ministry said.
The attackers “suffered big losses,” according to Defense Minister Assadullah Khalid.
Three civilians were also killed and 55 others wounded in the violence, provincial health director Ehsanullah Afzali said.
The attack came as U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad prepared to open another round of talks with the Taliban to press it to start talking to the newly reconciled political leadership in Kabul.
Khalilzad was scheduled to also visit Kabul, the U.S. State Department said in a statement on May 18.
Khalilzad will meet in Doha with Taliban representatives to discuss implementation of the agreement “and press for steps necessary to commence intra-Afghan negotiations, including a significant reduction of violence,” the statement said.
He will then meet with senior government officials in Kabul “to explore steps the Afghan government needs to take to make intra-Afghan negotiations begin as soon as possible,” the statement said.
During the meetings, Khalilzad will continue to reinforce the U.S. view that “the best path to end the conflict is for all parties to sit together and negotiate an agreement on the political future of Afghanistan,” the statement said.
Khalilzad’s departure came after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, reached a power-sharing agreement under which Abdullah will lead the government’s efforts to reach a peace deal with the Taliban.
The power struggle had been one of the main impediments to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations to end more than 18 years of war.
The talks were to begin on March 10 under a February 29 agreement, which calls for U.S. and foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan following an intra-Afghan deal in exchange for guarantees from the Taliban not to allow the country to become a haven for transnational terrorist groups such as IS and Al-Qaeda.
The Taliban has said stepping up violence was in response to Ghani ordering Afghan forces to go on the offensive against the militant group.
With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
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1TV Afghanistan Dari News – May 19, 2020
Son Of Revered Afghan Resistance Hero Tests Positive For COVID-19
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
May 19, 2020
The son of Ahmad Shah Masud, the revered anti-Soviet and anti-Taliban commander, says he and several members of his family have tested positive for the coronavirus.
In a May 19 post on Twitter and Facebook, Ahmad Masud said his COVID-19 symptoms were not “so serious,” while warning that this did not mean that the virus should not be taken seriously.
Masud said he and several family members received the results of their coronavirus tests conducted a few days ago on May 19. He said they will go into quarantine for two weeks.
Masud, 31, called on his countrymen to follow health protocols and guidelines by the Health Ministry to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Masud, who was 12 when his father, known as the Lion of Panjshir, was assassinated by Al-Qaeda suicide bombers, said last year that he wanted to work to galvanize anti-Taliban groups.
“Let’s defeat the coronavirus by working together and respecting guidelines,” Masud wrote on Facebook on May 19.
The outbreak has so far killed 178 Afghans and infected over 7,600, according to official figures.
The actual numbers are likely to be significantly higher, as few tests are being carried out in the war-ravaged country.
Earlier this month, Health Minister Ferozuddin Feruz tested positive for the coronavirus. His condition was reported as “stable” by his spokesman, who said he self-isolated at home.
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
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Ghani-Abdullah agreement repetition of past failed experiences: Taliban
Ghani (left) and Abdulllah (right) – File photo
Ariana: The Taliban said that the political agreement between President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the president of the High Council for Reconciliation is “just a repetition of the previous mistakes.” The spokesperson of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen added, “Afghans sides should focus on the real and sincere solution of the issue. The solution of the Afghan issue lies in the implementation of the Doha Accord, with avoidance from creating further hurdles.” Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – May 18, 2020
Coronavirus Cases in Afghanistan Passes 7,000
Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Sunday said that it registered 408 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total positive cases to 7,072. The number of total known active cases in Afghanistan is 6,098, said the MoPH. According to the Health Ministry, three people lost their lives over the past 24 hours and 23 more recovered. The known death toll from coronavirus is now 173 deaths. The total number of recoveries is 801. Click here to read more (external link).
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Taliban Spring Offensive Launched, Claim Afghan Officials
Taliban fighters (file photo)
Ayesha Tanzeem
VOA News | May 18, 2020
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – A car bomb attack on an intelligence base in central Ghazni province in Afghanistan early Monday morning killed at least seven members of the security forces and wounded 40 others.
Dr. Baser Ramaki, head of the Ghazni provincial hospital that received both the bodies and the wounded, confirmed the number to VOA. Provincial officials say the number of casualties may increase.
Tariq Aryan, a spokesman for the ministry of interior confirmed the attack. Ahmad Khan Serat, a spokesman for Ghazni provincial police headquarters told VOA the bomb targeted the 703 contingent of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency.
An Islamic culture center was located near the site of the attack, Serat added.
Locals living near the site complained of damage to their houses including shattered glass.
Taking responsibility for the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement the attack was in response to the enemy declaring war as well as attacks on civilians in areas under Taliban control.
He named the suicide bomber as Zayd Kandahari and said the attacker used a Humvee.
Last week, after a spate of deadly attacks including one that killed newborn babies and new mothers in a hospital in Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani ordered his forces to resume offensive operations against the Taliban and other groups. For the last two months, Afghan forces have been in a defensive mode following a deal signed between the United States and Taliban in February.
The Taliban denied responsibility for last weeks’ attacks but senior Afghan officials, including Vice President Amrullah Saleh, refused to accept their denial.
Senior American officials, including Zalmay Khalilzad, the special representative charged with helping to end the war in Afghanistan, said the attacks were carried out by the local chapter of Islamic State group, but Saleh said the Taliban had close links with IS Khorasan, as the local chapter is called.
In a separate attack Monday morning, Taliban fighters ambushed and killed seven members of a local anti-Taliban militia in Takhar province.
Khalil Aser, a spokesman for the Takhar police confirmed the attack in the Yangi Qala district and said at least two militiamen were wounded as well.
In a news conference in Kabul Monday afternoon, Afghan military and security officials said it looked as if the Taliban had started their spring offensive without the usual formal announcement of an end to the winter lull.
In the joint news conference, Masood Andarabi, acting minister of interior, Ahmad Zia Seraj, NDS chief, and Bismillah Waziri, army chief, said the Taliban have launched more than 3,800 attacks since the signing of U.S- Taliban peace deal in Doha.
The NDS chief said Taliban have recruited many students from Pakistani seminaries after their closure due to COVID-19.
He said their intelligence information shows a closed cooperation between the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Tehreek e Islami Uzbekistan, Tehreek e Turkmenistan Sharqi, and Lashkar-e-Tayba, and fighters from these groups are fighting alongside Taliban.
He also said IS Khorasan is working closely with the Haqqani network, a deadly faction of the Taliban.
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262 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Afghanistan, Total 6,664
Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Sunday said that it has registered 262 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total positive cases to 6,664. The known death toll from coronavirus is now 169 deaths. The total number of recoveries is 784. Click here to read more (external link).
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