At least eleven militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have been killed during the United States' drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.

According to Afghan's news agency Khaama Press, the provincial government media office, in a statement, confirmed the number of casualties.

The militants have been killed in Ghulam Dak area of Chaparhar district.

The airstrike also left two IS militants wounded and three vehicles were destroyed, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the report makes note of the fact that at least two heroin labs belonging to the militants were destroyed in a separate airstrike conducted by the Afghan Air Force.

The Afghan forces have also launched operations in Bati Kot district and several areas have been cleared of the militants by far.

This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities.

The US military based in Afghanistan also conducts regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups.

The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports.

No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including the IS militants in connection with this report by far.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the report makes note of the fact that at least two heroin labs belonging to the militants were destroyed in a separate airstrike conducted by the Afghan Air Force

At least eleven militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have been killed during the United States' drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province. According to Afghan's news agency Khaama Press, the provincial government media office, in a statement, confirmed the number of casualties. The militants have been killed in Ghulam Dak area of Chaparhar district. The airstrike also left two IS militants wounded and three vehicles were destroyed, the statement added. Meanwhile, the report makes note of the fact that at least two heroin labs belonging to the militants were destroyed in a separate airstrike conducted by the Afghan Air Force. The Afghan forces have also launched operations in Bati Kot district and several areas have been cleared of the militants by far. This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities. The US military based in Afghanistan also conducts regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups. The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports. No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including the IS militants in connection with this report by far.

Afghanistan: 11 IS militants killed in US drone strike

A civilian was murdered by militants in Jammu and Kashmir`s Bandipora district, reports said quoting police sources.

Three-to-four militants had forced their entry into the house of Muhammad Yaqoob Wagay in the Hajin area late on Thursday.&nbsp

They slit the throat of Wagay, a butcher by profession. He died immediately, a police officer said.

A case has been registered. 
&nbsp

Three-to-four militants had forced their entry into the house of Muhammad Yaqoob Wagay in the Hajin area late on Thursday

A civilian was murdered by militants in Jammu and Kashmir`s Bandipora district, reports said quoting police sources. Three-to-four militants had forced their entry into the house of Muhammad Yaqoob Wagay in the Hajin area late on Thursday. They slit the throat of Wagay, a butcher by profession. He died immediately, a police officer said. A case has been registered.

Militants murder civilian in Jammu and Kashmir

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed on Monday in an encounter with security forces in&nbsp;Jammu-Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.

The two militants have been identified as&nbsp;Sameer Tiger and Aaqib Khan.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a>: 2 terrorists, Sameer Tiger and Aaqib Khan, gunned down during ongoing encounter with security forces in Pulwama's Drabgam.
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An army Major and a soldier have been injured in the ongoing encounter. The injured have been evacuated to a hospital.&nbsp;Reports said at least 1 civilian was killed in the crossfire.

Reports said that the CRPF and army men laid siege around the Drabgam village in Pulwama early this morning after receiving information about the presence of some militants there.

They said while the security personnel was conducting searches in the area, they came under fire from the militants hiding in the area.&nbsp;

Reports say that as soon as gunshots were heard, locals from the village gathered near the spot and staged protests in an attempt to break the cordon and help the militants escape.&nbsp;

Locals claim that at least 12 people were injured during the protests till now and police and paramilitary forces have resorted to heavy tear smoke shelling and pellet firing to disperse the crowd.&nbsp;

The militants have not been identified yet and the internet has been shut in order to prevent further flow of information.&nbsp;

A civilian was killed in the crossfire between the terrorists and the security forces. Reports said at least two militants — most likely top commanders — are still trapped at the encounter site

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed on Monday in an encounter with security forces in Jammu-Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said. The two militants have been identified as Sameer Tiger and Aaqib Khan. #JammuAndKashmir: 2 terrorists, Sameer Tiger and Aaqib Khan, gunned down during ongoing encounter with security forces in Pulwama's Drabgam. — ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2018 × An army Major and a soldier have been injured in the ongoing encounter. The injured have been evacuated to a hospital. Reports said at least 1 civilian was killed in the crossfire. Reports said that the CRPF and army men laid siege around the Drabgam village in Pulwama early this morning after receiving information about the presence of some militants there. They said while the security personnel was conducting searches in the area, they came under fire from the militants hiding in the area. Reports say that as soon as gunshots were heard, locals from the village gathered near the spot and staged protests in an attempt to break the cordon and help the militants escape. Locals claim that at least 12 people were injured during the protests till now and police and paramilitary forces have resorted to heavy tear smoke shelling and pellet firing to disperse the crowd. The militants have not been identified yet and the internet has been shut in order to prevent further flow of information.

J&K: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed in Pulwama encounter

A security personnel and a policeman lost their lives in an encounter&nbsp;with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday.

One terrorist was also killed in the gunbattle that started on Tuesday morning.

The gunbattle between the army forces and terrorists started in Pulwama's Lam village of Tral.

The army had deployed security forces in the area&nbsp;after reports of gunshots firing.&nbsp;

The forces have cordoned off the area as militants are expected to have been trapped in the region.&nbsp;

A day before Pakistani Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control at Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a>: One Army jawan & one Policeman lost their lives in ongoing encounter with terrorists in Lam village of Tral in Pulwama district. One terrorists also gunned down. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a>
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The gunbattle between the army forces and terrorists started in Pulwama's Lam village of Tral early Tuesday. One terrorist was also killed in the gunbattle

A security personnel and a policeman lost their lives in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday. One terrorist was also killed in the gunbattle that started on Tuesday morning. The gunbattle between the army forces and terrorists started in Pulwama's Lam village of Tral. The army had deployed security forces in the area after reports of gunshots firing. The forces have cordoned off the area as militants are expected to have been trapped in the region. A day before Pakistani Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control at Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. #UPDATE: One Army jawan & one Policeman lost their lives in ongoing encounter with terrorists in Lam village of Tral in Pulwama district. One terrorists also gunned down. #JammuAndKashmir — ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2018 ×

Soldier, policeman killed in encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

Kurdish militants attacked Turkish security forces in southeast Turkey early on Monday, killing three soldiers and wounding one, security sources said.

They said the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants staged the attack in the Kuyutepe military base area of Sirnak province.

As per local reports, the attackers used long-barreled weapons and rocket launchers.

Further, it was learned that reinforcements were sent to the area after the attack.&nbsp;

They said the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants staged the attack in the Kuyutepe military base area of Sirnak province

Kurdish militants attacked Turkish security forces in southeast Turkey early on Monday, killing three soldiers and wounding one, security sources said. They said the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants staged the attack in the Kuyutepe military base area of Sirnak province. As per local reports, the attackers used long-barreled weapons and rocket launchers. Further, it was learned that reinforcements were sent to the area after the attack.

Three Turkish soldiers killed in Kurdish terrorist attack - Security sources

Several people died including district governor of &nbspKhawaja Omari district, Afghanistan on Thursday after Taliban militant attacked governor's compound and police check posts.

The local media reported seven people killed in the attack while nine other security forces were wounded.

The security checkpoints of Khawja Omari were reportedly attacked early morning around 2 am by Taliban insurgents and was followed with hours of the fierce gunfight. 
&nbsp 
Part of governor's compound was also torched.

Tolo news of Afghanistan reported citing an official statement that after the attack forces called for air support and 27 Talibanis were also killed during the air strikes and clashed.&nbsp

The Taliban militants have claimed the responsibility of the attack and claimed that they have captured district headquarters.

However local police have rejected these claims. 
&nbsp

Several people died including district governor of Khawaja Omari district, Afghanistan on Thursday after Taliban militant attacked governor's compound and police check posts

Several people died including district governor of &nbspKhawaja Omari district, Afghanistan on Thursday after Taliban militant attacked governor's compound and police check posts. The local media reported seven people killed in the attack while nine other security forces were wounded. The security checkpoints of Khawja Omari were reportedly attacked early morning around 2 am by Taliban insurgents and was followed with hours of the fierce gunfight. Part of governor's compound was also torched. Tolo news of Afghanistan reported citing an official statement that after the attack forces called for air support and 27 Talibanis were also killed during the air strikes and clashed. The Taliban militants have claimed the responsibility of the attack and claimed that they have captured district headquarters. However local police have rejected these claims.

Afghanistan: 7 killed in Taliban attack including district governor

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to take action against fugitives and the irreconcilable militants under a bilateral agreement for regional peace and security, the Foreign Office said today.

In a statement, it said that the two sides have agreed to "operationalise the working groups under Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS)" during Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's visit to Kabul on April 6.

It said that Pakistan was committed to "support the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation."

"The two countries to undertake effective actions against fugitives and the irreconcilable elements posing security threats to either of the two countries," it further said.

"Both countries commit to deny use of their respective territories by any country, network, group or individuals for anti-state activities against either country," according to APAPPS.

They agreed to put in place a joint supervision, coordination and confirmation mechanism through Liaison Officers for realisation of the agreed actions.

The two countries vowed to avoid territorial and aerial violations of each other's territory.

The two countries also agreed to avoid public blame game and instead use APAPPS cooperation mechanisms to respond to mutual issues of contention and concerns.

They would establish Working Groups and necessary cooperation mechanism as per APAPPS for full its implementation and the above mutually reinforcing principles.

The APAPPS was agreed in February and the officials of the two countries held several high level meetings before it was decided to operationalize the agreement.&nbsp

The two countries vowed to avoid territorial and aerial violations of each other's territory

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to take action against fugitives and the irreconcilable militants under a bilateral agreement for regional peace and security, the Foreign Office said today. In a statement, it said that the two sides have agreed to "operationalise the working groups under Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS)" during Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's visit to Kabul on April 6. It said that Pakistan was committed to "support the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation." "The two countries to undertake effective actions against fugitives and the irreconcilable elements posing security threats to either of the two countries," it further said. "Both countries commit to deny use of their respective territories by any country, network, group or individuals for anti-state activities against either country," according to APAPPS. They agreed to put in place a joint supervision, coordination and confirmation mechanism through Liaison Officers for realisation of the agreed actions. The two countries vowed to avoid territorial and aerial violations of each other's territory. The two countries also agreed to avoid public blame game and instead use APAPPS cooperation mechanisms to respond to mutual issues of contention and concerns. They would establish Working Groups and necessary cooperation mechanism as per APAPPS for full its implementation and the above mutually reinforcing principles. The APAPPS was agreed in February and the officials of the two countries held several high level meetings before it was decided to operationalize the agreement.

Pakistan, Afghanistan to act against fugitives, irreconcilable militants

A local Taliban leader along with another militant have been killed an explosion which was triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan's eastern Laghman province.

The explosives went off prematurely, killing the two militants, as they were busy planning to plant it on a roadside frequented by the Afghan forces in Alisheng district, Khaama Press reported, citing, The provincial government media office, as saying, in a statement.

The militants killed in the explosion were reportedly involved in major terrorist-related activities in Laghman province.

In a bid to target the government staff and security personnel, the anti-government armed militant groups often use explosives materials for the roadside as well as the car bombings, the reports said.&nbsp;

The explosives went off prematurely, killing the two militants, as they were busy planning to plant it

A local Taliban leader along with another militant have been killed an explosion which was triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan's eastern Laghman province. The explosives went off prematurely, killing the two militants, as they were busy planning to plant it on a roadside frequented by the Afghan forces in Alisheng district, Khaama Press reported, citing, The provincial government media office, as saying, in a statement. The militants killed in the explosion were reportedly involved in major terrorist-related activities in Laghman province. In a bid to target the government staff and security personnel, the anti-government armed militant groups often use explosives materials for the roadside as well as the car bombings, the reports said.

Afghanistan: Local Taliban leader dies as IED he was planting explodes

A special police officer (SPO) was killed after he was fired upon by a group of suspected militants near Muran Chowk area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. This is the second such incident of the day where militants targeted policemen in south Kashmir.

"Slain SPO identified as Mohammad Ashraf was posted in Srinagar resident of Mouchpona village. He had gone to Pulwama for a funeral when Militants fired upon him from close range. He died at the hospital," said SSP Pulwama.

Sources said that Ashraf, a former militant was an SPO in Cargo, Srinagar and at present was residing at Chanapora in Srinagar.

Earlier in the morning, a police officer who was on traffic duty in Khanbal Chowk of Anantnag district south Kashmir was attacked by suspected militants. He was critically injured and underwent treatment at the district hospital.&nbsp;

The day before yesterday militants attacked three places in south Kashmir, killing one and injuring two those attacks.

"Slain SPO identified as Mohammad Ashraf was posted in Srinagar resident of Mouchpona village. He had gone to Pulwama for a funeral when Militants fired upon him from close range. He died at the hospital," said SSP Pulwama. Sources

A special police officer (SPO) was killed after he was fired upon by a group of suspected militants near Muran Chowk area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. This is the second such incident of the day where militants targeted policemen in south Kashmir. "Slain SPO identified as Mohammad Ashraf was posted in Srinagar resident of Mouchpona village. He had gone to Pulwama for a funeral when Militants fired upon him from close range. He died at the hospital," said SSP Pulwama. Sources said that Ashraf, a former militant was an SPO in Cargo, Srinagar and at present was residing at Chanapora in Srinagar. Earlier in the morning, a police officer who was on traffic duty in Khanbal Chowk of Anantnag district south Kashmir was attacked by suspected militants. He was critically injured and underwent treatment at the district hospital. The day before yesterday militants attacked three places in south Kashmir, killing one and injuring two those attacks.

Militants kill police officer in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district

As many as six Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a US drone strike in Kunar province in northeastern Afghanistan, local officials said on Friday.&nbsp

The officials said that the latest airstrike was carried out in Chapa Dara district in the province.&nbsp

The spokesperson of Kunar provincial governor Faridullah Dehqan, was quoted by the Khaama Press as saying that two top IS commanders were among those killed in the airstrike.&nbsp

He said that the airstrike was necessitated to clear out the terror hideouts of the dreaded militant group in Kunar province. The IS group has not commented on the incident so far.

This comes as at least five militants affiliated with the terror group were killed in a similar airstrike conducted in the same district last week.&nbsp

The US forces, along with the Afghan forces frequently carries out airstrikes on IS targets in Kunar province and elsewhere in Afghanistan, in a bid to eliminate the presence of the militant group in the country.&nbsp

Furthermore, three IS militants hailing from Uzbekistan were killed in a similar airstrike on Wednesday in Haska Meyna district of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, according to the local officials.

The officials said that the latest airstrike was carried out in Chapa Dara district in the province

As many as six Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a US drone strike in Kunar province in northeastern Afghanistan, local officials said on Friday. The officials said that the latest airstrike was carried out in Chapa Dara district in the province. The spokesperson of Kunar provincial governor Faridullah Dehqan, was quoted by the Khaama Press as saying that two top IS commanders were among those killed in the airstrike. He said that the airstrike was necessitated to clear out the terror hideouts of the dreaded militant group in Kunar province. The IS group has not commented on the incident so far. This comes as at least five militants affiliated with the terror group were killed in a similar airstrike conducted in the same district last week. The US forces, along with the Afghan forces frequently carries out airstrikes on IS targets in Kunar province and elsewhere in Afghanistan, in a bid to eliminate the presence of the militant group in the country. Furthermore, three IS militants hailing from Uzbekistan were killed in a similar airstrike on Wednesday in Haska Meyna district of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, according to the local officials.

US airstrike kills 6 Islamic State terrorists in Afghanistan

As many as 26 militants have been killed in the last 24 hours by the Afghan air forces and ground operations, Afghanistan`s defence ministry said.&nbsp

TOLOnews quoted the defence ministry`s spokesperson, Mohammad Radmanish as saying that out of the 26 killed, 12 Taliban militants were killed in Khak-e-Safed and Balabuluk districts of Farah province and in Farah, the provincial capital.Six militants lost their lives in Trinkot district of Uruzgan province, while four others were killed in Greshk province of Helmand province.

The Taliban and other militant groups are yet to react to the latest development.

Afghanistan`s defence ministry said the militants were killed by Afghan air forces and ground operations

As many as 26 militants have been killed in the last 24 hours by the Afghan air forces and ground operations, Afghanistan`s defence ministry said. TOLOnews quoted the defence ministry`s spokesperson, Mohammad Radmanish as saying that out of the 26 killed, 12 Taliban militants were killed in Khak-e-Safed and Balabuluk districts of Farah province and in Farah, the provincial capital.Six militants lost their lives in Trinkot district of Uruzgan province, while four others were killed in Greshk province of Helmand province. The Taliban and other militant groups are yet to react to the latest development.

Afghanistan: 26 militants killed in last 24 hours

More than 70 militants inclusing 14 belonging to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) have been killed in operations by the Afghan security forces in the past 24 hours, reports said on Saturday.&nbsp;

In addition to that 34 other insurgents received injuries in the operation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the operation was carried out in Faryab, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Badghis, Jawzjan and Helmand provinces.

The statement said 41 militants were killed in Faryab&#39;s Pashtun Kot, Sharin Tagab and Kohistan districts and another 17 were injured. Some weapons and ammunitions were also destroyed.

No insurgent group has commented on the incident so far.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the operation was carried out in Faryab, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Badghis, Jawzjan and Helmand provinces

More than 70 militants inclusing 14 belonging to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) have been killed in operations by the Afghan security forces in the past 24 hours, reports said on Saturday. In addition to that 34 other insurgents received injuries in the operation. In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the operation was carried out in Faryab, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Badghis, Jawzjan and Helmand provinces. The statement said 41 militants were killed in Faryab's Pashtun Kot, Sharin Tagab and Kohistan districts and another 17 were injured. Some weapons and ammunitions were also destroyed. No insurgent group has commented on the incident so far.

Over 70 militants killed in Afghanistan in 24 hours

No ransom was paid for the release of scores of Nigerian schoolgirls by Islamist militants on Wednesday, Nigeria&#39;s information minister said.

&quot;No ransom was paid to them to effect this release. The only condition they gave us is not to release (the girls) to the military but release them in the town of Dapchi without the military presence,&quot; Information Minister Lai Mohammed told Reuters in Abuja.

Boko Haram insurgents freed the students in the northeastern town of Dapchi, from where 110 girls were taken on February 19 in the biggest mass abduction since Chibok in 2014, witnesses told.

Some of the released students said five of their friends had died in captivity and another was still being held.

The fighters from the Boko Haram group, some of them shouting `God is greatest`, drove the girls back into the northeast town of Dapchi in a line of trucks in the morning, dropped them off then left, witnesses told.

&quot;Five among us taken away were dead. One is still with them because she is a Christian,&quot; one of the freed girls, Khadija Grema, told.

Dapchi resident Muhammad Bursari said his niece Hadiza Muhammed, another of the freed girls, told him the remaining student was still in captivity because she had refused to convert to Islam.

Witnesses said more than 100 of the 110 girls seized in Dapchi on February 19 were returned, though the government issued a statement saying 76 girls had been freed in an &quot;ongoing process&quot;.

Nigeria had secured the release &quot;through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country,&quot; Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said in a statement, without elaborating.

&quot;For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option,&quot; he said.

The kidnapping of the girls aged 11-19 was the biggest mass abduction since Boko Haram took more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014 - a case that triggered international outrage.

There were no immediate details from the government or from Boko Haram on why the girls were taken. Commentators feared the Dapchi girls had been taken for ransom after Boko Haram received millions of euros for the release of some of the Chibok girls last year.

The Dapchi abduction has piled pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in 2015 promising to crack down on Boko Haram`s nine-year-old insurgency and could face the voters again next year.

Mohammed Dala said he had found his 12-year-old daughter in a crowd of the girls in the centre of town.

&quot;Some motors painted in military colour came with our girls,&quot; he told. &quot;They (the militants) ... said we should not flee. They dropped the girls at the centre of town, near Ali`s tea shop. I found my daughter and left.&quot;

Most of the other girls were taken to a hospital guarded by the military, witnesses said.

Boko Haram insurgents freed the students in the northeastern town of Dapchi, from where 110 girls were taken on February 19

No ransom was paid for the release of scores of Nigerian schoolgirls by Islamist militants on Wednesday, Nigeria's information minister said. "No ransom was paid to them to effect this release. The only condition they gave us is not to release (the girls) to the military but release them in the town of Dapchi without the military presence," Information Minister Lai Mohammed told Reuters in Abuja. Boko Haram insurgents freed the students in the northeastern town of Dapchi, from where 110 girls were taken on February 19 in the biggest mass abduction since Chibok in 2014, witnesses told. Some of the released students said five of their friends had died in captivity and another was still being held. The fighters from the Boko Haram group, some of them shouting `God is greatest`, drove the girls back into the northeast town of Dapchi in a line of trucks in the morning, dropped them off then left, witnesses told. "Five among us taken away were dead. One is still with them because she is a Christian," one of the freed girls, Khadija Grema, told. Dapchi resident Muhammad Bursari said his niece Hadiza Muhammed, another of the freed girls, told him the remaining student was still in captivity because she had refused to convert to Islam. Witnesses said more than 100 of the 110 girls seized in Dapchi on February 19 were returned, though the government issued a statement saying 76 girls had been freed in an "ongoing process". Nigeria had secured the release "through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country," Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said in a statement, without elaborating. "For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option," he said. The kidnapping of the girls aged 11-19 was the biggest mass abduction since Boko Haram took more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014 - a case that triggered international outrage. There were no immediate details from the government or from Boko Haram on why the girls were taken. Commentators feared the Dapchi girls had been taken for ransom after Boko Haram received millions of euros for the release of some of the Chibok girls last year. The Dapchi abduction has piled pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in 2015 promising to crack down on Boko Haram`s nine-year-old insurgency and could face the voters again next year. Mohammed Dala said he had found his 12-year-old daughter in a crowd of the girls in the centre of town. "Some motors painted in military colour came with our girls," he told. "They (the militants) ... said we should not flee. They dropped the girls at the centre of town, near Ali`s tea shop. I found my daughter and left." Most of the other girls were taken to a hospital guarded by the military, witnesses said.

No ransom paid for release of school girls: Nigerian information minister

At least 28 Taliban militants were killed and more than 15 others were injured in airstrikes carried out by the Afghan air forces in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan, local military officials said on Monday.

According to an Afghan military source, the airstrikes were carried out in the last 24 hours in Khas Uruzgan and Chora districts of the province, reported The Khaama Press.

Meanwhile, counter-terrorism operations are underway in other restive districts of Uruzgan Province to crack down on anti-government armed forces.

Last week, 15 Taliban militants were killed and 16 others were injured in a series of airstrikes in Khas Uruzgan district, Afghanistan&#39;s Ministry of Defence (MoD) had said in a statement.

the airstrikes were carried out in the last 24 hours in Khas Uruzgan and Chora districts of the province reported The Khaama Press

At least 28 Taliban militants were killed and more than 15 others were injured in airstrikes carried out by the Afghan air forces in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan, local military officials said on Monday. According to an Afghan military source, the airstrikes were carried out in the last 24 hours in Khas Uruzgan and Chora districts of the province, reported The Khaama Press. Meanwhile, counter-terrorism operations are underway in other restive districts of Uruzgan Province to crack down on anti-government armed forces. Last week, 15 Taliban militants were killed and 16 others were injured in a series of airstrikes in Khas Uruzgan district, Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence (MoD) had said in a statement.

28 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

The first group of fighters surrendered their arms and were evacuated from Syria&rsquo;s rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on Friday, as an aid convoy delivered food to the hunger-stricken residents of the enclave despite renewed bombardment.

Reports say that a group of 13 unarmed militants left Eastern Ghouta, along the humanitarian corridor opened in Muhayam al-Wafideen, Maj Gen Yuri Yevtushenko, the chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of warring sides in Syria, said on Friday.

Some appeared to be young, while others wore hoodies to cover their heads and faces.

The limited operation came as the powerful Jaish al-Islam said HTS fighters would be evacuated to the northern province of Idlib, in an arrangement struck following consultations with the United Nations and other international players.

&ldquo;It has been agreed that the first group of HTS members be released from the prisons of Jaish al-Islam &hellip; (and) moved to Idlib at their request,&rdquo; Jaish al-Islam said.

Jaish al-Islam said it had come to an agreement with a variety of parties, including the UN, to evacuate the fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - an alliance of factions led by the Nusra Front, which sprung from al-Qaeda.

The Syrian government&rsquo;s two-week onslaught in eastern Ghouta has killed around 950 civilians, the war monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

As per reports, the pro-government has taken over half the area.&nbsp;

Eastern Ghouta&rsquo;s 400,000 inhabitants have lived under government siege since 2013 and the enclave &mdash; more than half of which has over the past three weeks been retaken by regime forces &mdash; is home to a myriad of armed groups.

On Friday, a convoy of relief trucks with 2,400 food parcels crossed front lines into the rebel-held Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta and unloaded all its food to the trapped population, despite fighting that the Red Cross said had come &ldquo;extremely close&rdquo;.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/SYRedCrescent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SYRedCrescent</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/ICRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICRC</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> get ready to enter <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastern_Ghouta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eastern_Ghouta</a> again and continue the delivery of Monday&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/humanitarian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#humanitarian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aid</a> convoy <a href="https://t.co/1SFoxqNHsm">pic.twitter.com/1SFoxqNHsm</a>
&mdash; Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) <a href="https://twitter.com/SYRedCrescent/status/972026788863008768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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For eastern Ghouta&rsquo;s civilians, mostly trapped underground with little food or water, the choice of whether or not to emerge to seek supplies may be one of life or death.

&ldquo;People were hopeful after the bombardment decreased and went out onto the streets,&rdquo; said Moayad al-Hafi, a man in the Ghouta town of Saqba. &ldquo;But then air strikes began again, and there are still people under the rubble that we couldn&rsquo;t get out.&rdquo;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Now?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Now</a> :<a href="https://twitter.com/SYRedCrescent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SYRedCrescent</a> teams in cooperation with <a href="https://twitter.com/ICRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICRC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> enter <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastern_Ghouta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eastern_Ghouta</a> on Friday, March 9, 2018. They will carry out a delivery of a remaining of aid that wasn&#39;t offloaded during the previous convoy on 5th March. The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/convoy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#convoy</a> carries 2400 food parcels, 3240 flour bags <a href="https://t.co/DOTVItM4DQ">pic.twitter.com/DOTVItM4DQ</a>
&mdash; Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) <a href="https://twitter.com/SYRedCrescent/status/972083171268481024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But &ldquo;shelling&rdquo; near the enclave&rsquo;s main town of Douma threatened &ldquo;to put at risk&rdquo; the joint ICRC, Syrian Arab Red Crescent and United Nations convoy, said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Ali al-Zaatari.

The aid was delivered as helicopters hovered overhead and warplanes targeted areas outside Douma, a correspondent said.

&nbsp;

Reports say that a group of 13 unarmed militants left Eastern Ghouta, along the humanitarian corridor

The first group of fighters surrendered their arms and were evacuated from Syria’s rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on Friday, as an aid convoy delivered food to the hunger-stricken residents of the enclave despite renewed bombardment. Reports say that a group of 13 unarmed militants left Eastern Ghouta, along the humanitarian corridor opened in Muhayam al-Wafideen, Maj Gen Yuri Yevtushenko, the chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of warring sides in Syria, said on Friday. Some appeared to be young, while others wore hoodies to cover their heads and faces. The limited operation came as the powerful Jaish al-Islam said HTS fighters would be evacuated to the northern province of Idlib, in an arrangement struck following consultations with the United Nations and other international players. “It has been agreed that the first group of HTS members be released from the prisons of Jaish al-Islam … (and) moved to Idlib at their request,” Jaish al-Islam said. Jaish al-Islam said it had come to an agreement with a variety of parties, including the UN, to evacuate the fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - an alliance of factions led by the Nusra Front, which sprung from al-Qaeda. The Syrian government’s two-week onslaught in eastern Ghouta has killed around 950 civilians, the war monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. As per reports, the pro-government has taken over half the area. Eastern Ghouta’s 400,000 inhabitants have lived under government siege since 2013 and the enclave — more than half of which has over the past three weeks been retaken by regime forces — is home to a myriad of armed groups. On Friday, a convoy of relief trucks with 2,400 food parcels crossed front lines into the rebel-held Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta and unloaded all its food to the trapped population, despite fighting that the Red Cross said had come “extremely close”. #BREAKING: @SYRedCrescent,@ICRC & @UN get ready to enter #Eastern_Ghouta again and continue the delivery of Monday's #humanitarian #aid convoy pic.twitter.com/1SFoxqNHsm — Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) March 9, 2018 × For eastern Ghouta’s civilians, mostly trapped underground with little food or water, the choice of whether or not to emerge to seek supplies may be one of life or death. “People were hopeful after the bombardment decreased and went out onto the streets,” said Moayad al-Hafi, a man in the Ghouta town of Saqba. “But then air strikes began again, and there are still people under the rubble that we couldn’t get out.” #Now :@SYRedCrescent teams in cooperation with @ICRC and @UN enter #Eastern_Ghouta on Friday, March 9, 2018. They will carry out a delivery of a remaining of aid that wasn't offloaded during the previous convoy on 5th March. The #convoy carries 2400 food parcels, 3240 flour bags pic.twitter.com/DOTVItM4DQ — Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) March 9, 2018 × But “shelling” near the enclave’s main town of Douma threatened “to put at risk” the joint ICRC, Syrian Arab Red Crescent and United Nations convoy, said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Ali al-Zaatari. The aid was delivered as helicopters hovered overhead and warplanes targeted areas outside Douma, a correspondent said.

First group of militants leave Eastern Ghouta, convoy delivers aid

Nearly 42 militants part of the Islamic State (IS) group and Taliban were killed in separate airstrikes by the Afghan forces in the last 24 hours,&nbsp;

The news was confirmed by Afghanistan&#39;s Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday.

Seven Taliban members were killed and six were injured in airstrikes launched by the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Garmsir, Grishk and Nad Ali districts of Helmand province, the MoD said in a statement.

Also, two terrorist bases and two vehicles were destroyed during the airstrikes.

An airstrike in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province killed 15 insurgents and injured 16 others, the ministry added. &nbsp;

In the third airstrike, 20 IS militants were killed in Darzab district of Jowzjan province in Afghanistan respectively.&nbsp;

The news was confirmed by Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence on Monday

Nearly 42 militants part of the Islamic State (IS) group and Taliban were killed in separate airstrikes by the Afghan forces in the last 24 hours, The news was confirmed by Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday. Seven Taliban members were killed and six were injured in airstrikes launched by the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Garmsir, Grishk and Nad Ali districts of Helmand province, the MoD said in a statement. Also, two terrorist bases and two vehicles were destroyed during the airstrikes. An airstrike in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province killed 15 insurgents and injured 16 others, the ministry added. In the third airstrike, 20 IS militants were killed in Darzab district of Jowzjan province in Afghanistan respectively.

Nearly 42 militants killed in Afghan airstrikes

At least nine Taliban militants were killed and three others were left injured in northern Baghlan province in Afghanistan on Saturday.&nbsp;

The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces carried out military operations in the area and attacked Taliban hideouts in Tala-o-Barfak, an army spokesman in the northern region Major Mohammad Hamid Rezai said on Sunday.&nbsp;

The militants were killed during Alburz-24 operations after forces launched a coordinated attack on militants, reports said.&nbsp;

The operations, which were conducted in Turmosh valley in Tala Barfak district, destroyed a check post established by the militants.

The check post was being used to collect money from the vehicles carrying coal, the report said.

No comments have been received by the anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban militants with respect to the report, so far.&nbsp;

The attack comes after Taliban militants <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-23-killed-in-multiple-suicide-bombings-in-afghanistan-33913">stormed an army base</a> in the western province of Farah overnight, killing at least 18 soldiers on Saturday.

The attack comes after Taliban militants stormed an army base in the western province of Farah overnight, killing at least 18 soldiers on Saturday

At least nine Taliban militants were killed and three others were left injured in northern Baghlan province in Afghanistan on Saturday. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces carried out military operations in the area and attacked Taliban hideouts in Tala-o-Barfak, an army spokesman in the northern region Major Mohammad Hamid Rezai said on Sunday. The militants were killed during Alburz-24 operations after forces launched a coordinated attack on militants, reports said. The operations, which were conducted in Turmosh valley in Tala Barfak district, destroyed a check post established by the militants. The check post was being used to collect money from the vehicles carrying coal, the report said. No comments have been received by the anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban militants with respect to the report, so far. The attack comes after Taliban militants stormed an army base in the western province of Farah overnight, killing at least 18 soldiers on Saturday.

9 Taliban militants killed by Afghan forces

At least three suspected terrorists of the Haqqani network were killed on Wednesday in a suspected US drone strike in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.

The drone strikes, carried out by US spy planes, targeted the house belonging to Afghan refugees, the report said.

Two missiles hit a house and killed Taliban-allied Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his two companions in the Dappa Mamazoi area.&nbsp;

Local sources belonging to the Orakzai Agency said that the strike was carried out on the Haqqani Network hideout.

Last week, two other militants were also killed in a drone strike in Shanqilay area of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

There has been a slight uptick in US drone strikes inside Pakistan in the mountainous border regions bordering Afghanistan since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, though they are a long way off their peak in 2010.

Pakistan has repeatedly said that drone strikes on its soil are a violation of its sovereignty and denies the charge, saying it acts against militants without discrimination.

Two missiles hit a house and killed Taliban-allied Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his two companions in the Dappa Mamazoi area

At least three suspected terrorists of the Haqqani network were killed on Wednesday in a suspected US drone strike in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. The drone strikes, carried out by US spy planes, targeted the house belonging to Afghan refugees, the report said. Two missiles hit a house and killed Taliban-allied Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his two companions in the Dappa Mamazoi area. Local sources belonging to the Orakzai Agency said that the strike was carried out on the Haqqani Network hideout. Last week, two other militants were also killed in a drone strike in Shanqilay area of Afghanistan. There has been a slight uptick in US drone strikes inside Pakistan in the mountainous border regions bordering Afghanistan since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, though they are a long way off their peak in 2010. Pakistan has repeatedly said that drone strikes on its soil are a violation of its sovereignty and denies the charge, saying it acts against militants without discrimination.

US drone strike kills Haqqani network commander, 2 others in Pakistan

As part of its latest security operation, Egypt&#39;s military has reported destroying close to dozens of targets, killing over a dozen of militants and detaining more than 30 suspects in the northern Sinai Peninsula.&nbsp;

According to Egyptian Army spokesman Tamer el-Rifaai vehicles, weapons caches, communications centres and illegal opium fields were targeted in the sweep.

The operation was launched on Friday and targets terrorist agents and organisations.&nbsp;

Egyptian army and police forces have been actively deployed to cover areas like north and central Sinai, the Nile Delta, the Western Desert and the border with Libya.

Militant attacks in Egypt escalated dramatically after President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in the year 2013.&nbsp;

Militant attacks in Egypt escalated dramatically after President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013

As part of its latest security operation, Egypt's military has reported destroying close to dozens of targets, killing over a dozen of militants and detaining more than 30 suspects in the northern Sinai Peninsula. According to Egyptian Army spokesman Tamer el-Rifaai vehicles, weapons caches, communications centres and illegal opium fields were targeted in the sweep. The operation was launched on Friday and targets terrorist agents and organisations. Egyptian army and police forces have been actively deployed to cover areas like north and central Sinai, the Nile Delta, the Western Desert and the border with Libya. Militant attacks in Egypt escalated dramatically after President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in the year 2013.

Egypt: Army reports successes in Sinai operation against militants

At least 25 Taliban militants have been killed and 13 others have been injured in the central Ghazni province of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The Provincial Police Office&#39;s statement on Monday said&nbsp;that the militants were killed on Sunday during an ongoing military operation.

The &#39;Nabard-e-Ahanin&#39; operation was launched a week ago in Deh Yak district of the province to clear the area of insurgents.

Officials say that the operation is still underway adding that &quot;the air force is also supporting the forces.&quot;

Separately, 12 militants were killed as Afghan military warplanes attacked Taliban hideouts in the northern Badakhshan, Faryab and Sari Pul provinces on Monday.&nbsp;

The government attacked the hideouts with bombs in Badakhshan province&rsquo;s Wardoj district, killing six insurgents.&nbsp;

On Sunday, at least 100 militants were killed in total by the security forces in the country. This comes following three major militant attacks in Kabul during the past two weeks.

The Provincial Police Office's statement on Monday as saying that the militants were killed on Sunday during an ongoing military operation

At least 25 Taliban militants have been killed and 13 others have been injured in the central Ghazni province of Afghanistan. The Provincial Police Office's statement on Monday said that the militants were killed on Sunday during an ongoing military operation. The 'Nabard-e-Ahanin' operation was launched a week ago in Deh Yak district of the province to clear the area of insurgents. Officials say that the operation is still underway adding that "the air force is also supporting the forces." Separately, 12 militants were killed as Afghan military warplanes attacked Taliban hideouts in the northern Badakhshan, Faryab and Sari Pul provinces on Monday. The government attacked the hideouts with bombs in Badakhshan province’s Wardoj district, killing six insurgents. On Sunday, at least 100 militants were killed in total by the security forces in the country. This comes following three major militant attacks in Kabul during the past two weeks.

At least 25 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba&nbsp;militants were arrested in Baramullah, Kashmir by Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday.&nbsp;

The militants went to Pakistan on a valid Pakistani visa obtained from&nbsp;Pakistan High Commission in Delhi for arms training in a camp located near Burma Town of Islamabad, Pakistan. It&#39;s&nbsp;run by terrorist commander operating under the code name Hanzala Adanan.&nbsp;

Arrested militants&nbsp;were identified as Abdul Majeed Bhat and Mohammad Ashraf Mir. They were nabbed after they returned back to India from their training via Wagah-Attari border before they could join militant ranks in Kashmir.&nbsp;

Abdul Majeed Bhat is resident of Kreeri while Mohammad Ashraf Mir is resident of Pal Pora in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the questioning, the arrested militants confessed that they had undergone training and revealed that many Pakistanis&nbsp;participate in such training and most of them are from Balochistan.

They&nbsp;also said that the people from Balochistan getting arms training were as young as 10-year-olds.

The duo said they obtained their passports specifically for the purpose of getting arms training. The militants got their visas from Pakistani high commission.

Police have begun its investigation in the matter and an FIR has also been filed in Baramulla police station.

police have unearthed several such modules who lure young boys to Pakistan for training and coax them into joining&nbsp;militancy. In the past several such boys have been arrested while some of them had been killed in encounters.&nbsp;

In 2017,&nbsp;two militants-- Azharuddin alias Qazi resident of Natnusa, Kupwara and Sajad Ahmad alias Babar Resident of Duroo, Sopore in a Baramulla district were killed in an encounter in Amargarh, Sopore.

&nbsp;

The militants went to Pakistan on valid Pakistani visa to obtain arms training in a camp located near Burma Town of Islamabad, Pakistan

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were arrested in Baramullah, Kashmir by Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday. The militants went to Pakistan on a valid Pakistani visa obtained from Pakistan High Commission in Delhi for arms training in a camp located near Burma Town of Islamabad, Pakistan. It's run by terrorist commander operating under the code name Hanzala Adanan. Arrested militants were identified as Abdul Majeed Bhat and Mohammad Ashraf Mir. They were nabbed after they returned back to India from their training via Wagah-Attari border before they could join militant ranks in Kashmir. Abdul Majeed Bhat is resident of Kreeri while Mohammad Ashraf Mir is resident of Pal Pora in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. During the questioning, the arrested militants confessed that they had undergone training and revealed that many Pakistanis participate in such training and most of them are from Balochistan. They also said that the people from Balochistan getting arms training were as young as 10-year-olds. The duo said they obtained their passports specifically for the purpose of getting arms training. The militants got their visas from Pakistani high commission. Police have begun its investigation in the matter and an FIR has also been filed in Baramulla police station. police have unearthed several such modules who lure young boys to Pakistan for training and coax them into joining militancy. In the past several such boys have been arrested while some of them had been killed in encounters. In 2017, two militants-- Azharuddin alias Qazi resident of Natnusa, Kupwara and Sajad Ahmad alias Babar Resident of Duroo, Sopore in a Baramulla district were killed in an encounter in Amargarh, Sopore.

Two Pakistan trained militants arrested in Baramulla

Pakistan said today that it had killed more than 17,600 militants in counter-terrorism operations started after the 9/11 terror attacks and destroyed their training camps in the restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said at the weekly briefing that Pakistan had also cleared more than 46,000 km of land from terrorists.

&quot;Counter-terrorism operations within Pakistan have cleared 46,378 km of land and eliminated 17,614 terrorists, ensuring that our soil is not used against any other territory; we expect the same from our neighbours,&quot; he said.

US President Donald Trump has asked Pakistan to take &quot;decisive action&quot; against terror groups operating from its soil.

Unveiling his first National Security Strategy (NSS), Trump said Pakistan has to intensify its counter-terrorism efforts and help in eliminating terror sanctuaries as America was making &quot;massive payments&quot; to it every year.

Faisal said the ongoing counter-terrorism operation Raddul-Fassad which was launched by Pakistan military last year eliminated terrorists especially those belonging to Tehreek-i-Taiban Afghanistan (TTA) and Haqqani Network (HN).

&quot;Actions against HN include rooting out of terrorist camps in Waziristan, blocking medical assistance to terrorists &amp; breaking their financing &amp; training camps,&quot; he said.

Faisal said Pakistan continued to prevent suspected TTA and HN elements from using its soil for any terrorist activity in Afghanistan.

He said that 27 individuals suspected of belonging to TTA and HN were handed over to Afghanistan in November 2017.

Faisal also alleged that &quot;tensions and escalation by India at the Eastern border adversely impact our counter- terrorism efforts&quot;.

Pakistan has deployed 202,000 troops for action against militants, the largest counter-terrorism deployment.

Faisal said effective border management remained one of Pakistan&#39;s prime objectives in preventing cross-border terrorism.

&quot;Pakistan has 975 border posts to man Pak-Afghan border; Afghanistan has 218,&quot; he said.

He said Pakistan was keen to assist the Afghan government while highlighting that on the southern side of the border, &quot;a stretch of 648 km has no check post on the Afghan side&quot;.

&quot;Large swathes of ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan are leaving a vacuum for safe havens and terrorist sanctuaries to flourish and launch attacks on Pakistan. Incidence of cross- border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan has increased since 2016, and peaked to 417 in 2017,&quot; he said.

The spokesman also said that &quot;Pakistan continues to share intelligence with more than 70 countries&quot; and has lost 75,000 civilians and 6000 soldiers to the scourge of terrorism. 
He said Pakistan had one of the highest officer-to- soldier casualty rates globally.

Faisal also said his country had suffered economic losses worth USD 123 billions in the war against terrorism.

He also mentioned the recent fatwa jointly issued by 1,829 highly qualified religious scholars, condemning terrorism and declaring it contrary to the teachings of Islam.

&quot;The fatwa outlaws the use of force by individuals or groups to take up arms against state for imposition of Sharia. The Fatwa also prohibits Pakistani citizens from violating territorial boundaries in the name of helping other armed groups and struggles outside Pakistan, offering intellectual and practical training and recruitment of terrorists,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan had cleared over 46,000 km of land from terrorists

Pakistan said today that it had killed more than 17,600 militants in counter-terrorism operations started after the 9/11 terror attacks and destroyed their training camps in the restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said at the weekly briefing that Pakistan had also cleared more than 46,000 km of land from terrorists. "Counter-terrorism operations within Pakistan have cleared 46,378 km of land and eliminated 17,614 terrorists, ensuring that our soil is not used against any other territory; we expect the same from our neighbours," he said. US President Donald Trump has asked Pakistan to take "decisive action" against terror groups operating from its soil. Unveiling his first National Security Strategy (NSS), Trump said Pakistan has to intensify its counter-terrorism efforts and help in eliminating terror sanctuaries as America was making "massive payments" to it every year. Faisal said the ongoing counter-terrorism operation Raddul-Fassad which was launched by Pakistan military last year eliminated terrorists especially those belonging to Tehreek-i-Taiban Afghanistan (TTA) and Haqqani Network (HN). "Actions against HN include rooting out of terrorist camps in Waziristan, blocking medical assistance to terrorists & breaking their financing & training camps," he said. Faisal said Pakistan continued to prevent suspected TTA and HN elements from using its soil for any terrorist activity in Afghanistan. He said that 27 individuals suspected of belonging to TTA and HN were handed over to Afghanistan in November 2017. Faisal also alleged that "tensions and escalation by India at the Eastern border adversely impact our counter- terrorism efforts". Pakistan has deployed 202,000 troops for action against militants, the largest counter-terrorism deployment. Faisal said effective border management remained one of Pakistan's prime objectives in preventing cross-border terrorism. "Pakistan has 975 border posts to man Pak-Afghan border; Afghanistan has 218," he said. He said Pakistan was keen to assist the Afghan government while highlighting that on the southern side of the border, "a stretch of 648 km has no check post on the Afghan side". "Large swathes of ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan are leaving a vacuum for safe havens and terrorist sanctuaries to flourish and launch attacks on Pakistan. Incidence of cross- border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan has increased since 2016, and peaked to 417 in 2017," he said. The spokesman also said that "Pakistan continues to share intelligence with more than 70 countries" and has lost 75,000 civilians and 6000 soldiers to the scourge of terrorism. He said Pakistan had one of the highest officer-to- soldier casualty rates globally. Faisal also said his country had suffered economic losses worth USD 123 billions in the war against terrorism. He also mentioned the recent fatwa jointly issued by 1,829 highly qualified religious scholars, condemning terrorism and declaring it contrary to the teachings of Islam. "The fatwa outlaws the use of force by individuals or groups to take up arms against state for imposition of Sharia. The Fatwa also prohibits Pakistani citizens from violating territorial boundaries in the name of helping other armed groups and struggles outside Pakistan, offering intellectual and practical training and recruitment of terrorists," he said.

17,600 militants killed in counter-terrorism operation after 9/11: Pakistan

A PDP MLA from Kashmir has sparked controvery after saying militants &quot;are martyrs, they are our brothers&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Militants who are from Kashmir are martyrs, they are our brothers, some of them are minors who don&#39;t even know what they are doing,&quot; PDP MLA Aijaz Ahmed Mir said Thursday.&nbsp;

Mir, the MLA from Watchi constituency in Kashmir&#39;s Shopian, added that the killing of militants should not be celebrated. And that &quot;we feel sad when our security forces are martyred as well&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;We should not celebrate the killings of militants, it is our collective failure, we feel sad when our security forces are martyred as well, we should sympathize with parents of security jawans and with parents of militants as well,&quot; Mir said.&nbsp;

2017 has been a tough year in Kashmir, with the security forces killing close to 200 militants.&nbsp;

Some of them have been students as young as 15.&nbsp;

On Thursday, newspapers reported the killing of 15-year-Old Farhan Wani who had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen last year.&nbsp;

Farhan was killed in an encounter in Anantnag on Tuesday. The other three militants with him when the security forces caught up with them managed to escape.&nbsp;

In 2017, 77 security forces personnel were killed in counter-insurgency operations Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Mir&#39;s statements were condemned by the both the BJP, which shares power with the PDP in Kashmir, and the opposition National Conference, which said the PDP is a party of contradictions. On the one hand, they said, militants are killed under their watch, and on the other, they make statements like Mir&#39;s.&nbsp;

'Militants who are from Kashmir are martyrs, they are our brothers, some of them are minors who don't even know what they are doing,' PDP MLA Aijaz Ahmed Mir said Thursday

A PDP MLA from Kashmir has sparked controvery after saying militants "are martyrs, they are our brothers". "Militants who are from Kashmir are martyrs, they are our brothers, some of them are minors who don't even know what they are doing," PDP MLA Aijaz Ahmed Mir said Thursday. Mir, the MLA from Watchi constituency in Kashmir's Shopian, added that the killing of militants should not be celebrated. And that "we feel sad when our security forces are martyred as well". "We should not celebrate the killings of militants, it is our collective failure, we feel sad when our security forces are martyred as well, we should sympathize with parents of security jawans and with parents of militants as well," Mir said. 2017 has been a tough year in Kashmir, with the security forces killing close to 200 militants. Some of them have been students as young as 15. On Thursday, newspapers reported the killing of 15-year-Old Farhan Wani who had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen last year. Farhan was killed in an encounter in Anantnag on Tuesday. The other three militants with him when the security forces caught up with them managed to escape. In 2017, 77 security forces personnel were killed in counter-insurgency operations Jammu and Kashmir. Mir's statements were condemned by the both the BJP, which shares power with the PDP in Kashmir, and the opposition National Conference, which said the PDP is a party of contradictions. On the one hand, they said, militants are killed under their watch, and on the other, they make statements like Mir's.

Kashmir MLA says 'militants are martyrs, our brothers', controversy follows

The United States is examining ways to mitigate any Pakistani retaliation as it piles pressure on Islamabad to crack down on militants, a senior US&nbsp;official said on Friday, cautioning that US&nbsp;action could extend beyond a new freeze in aid.

Pakistan is a crucial gateway for US&nbsp;military supplies destined for the US&nbsp;and other troops fighting a 16-year-old war in neighbouring, landlocked Afghanistan.

So far, the Pentagon says Pakistan has not given any indication that it would close its airspace or roads to military supplies and US&nbsp;Defence Secretary Jim Mattis played down concerns on Friday.

But Washington has only just begun to work through its new plan to suspend up to roughly $2 billion in US&nbsp;security assistance, announced on Thursday. It came days after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump tweeted that Pakistan had rewarded past US&nbsp;aid with &quot;nothing but lies &amp; deceit.&quot;

The senior Trump administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Washington hoped that the aid suspension would be enough to communicate its concern to Islamabad.

But the official cautioned that the freeze was also not the only tool that America had to pressure the country -- suggesting it might resort to other measures if needed.

&quot;We are considering many different things, not just the (financial) assistance issue,&quot; the official said.

&quot;We are also looking at Pakistan&#39;s potential response ... and we are looking at ways to deal with that and to mitigate the risks to the relationship.&quot;

The official declined to detail what steps were under consideration, including whether that might include possible unilateral US&nbsp;military action against militants in Pakistan.

But as Trump allow the US&nbsp;military to again ramp up its war effort in Afghanistan, including with the deployment of more US&nbsp;troops alongside Afghan forces, the official acknowledged a sense of urgency.

The United States has long blamed the militant safe havens in Pakistan for prolonging the war in Afghanistan, giving insurgents, including from the Haqqani network, a place to plot attacks and rebuild its forces.

&quot;We believe we owe it to the Americans in harms&#39; way in Afghanistan. We simply can&#39;t ignore the sanctuaries if we are going to make progress in Afghanistan,&quot; the official said.

Mattis plays down concerns&nbsp;

Mattis, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said he was not concerned about America&#39;s ability to use Pakistan as a gateway to resupply U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

&quot;I&#39;m not concerned, no,&quot; Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, adding he had not gotten any indication from Pakistan that it might cut off those routes. Mattis travelled to Pakistan last month.

&quot;We&#39;re still working with Pakistan and we would restore the aid if we see decisive movements against the terrorists -- who are as much a threat against Pakistan as they are to us.&quot;

The United States has also said some of the frozen aid could be released on a case-by-case basis, and none of it will be spent elsewhere -- leaving the door open to full reconciliation.

The Pakistani reaction has so far been limited to harsh rhetoric, with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif saying the United States was behaving towards Pakistan as &quot;a friend who always betrays.&quot;

But opposition leader Imran Khan, a former cricket star tipped as the next Pakistani prime minister, said it was time for Pakistan to &quot;delink&quot; from the United States.

The senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity acknowledged that a Pakistani cut-off would greatly complicate US&nbsp;resupply efforts in Afghanistan.

The official said the administration was developing &quot;risk mitigation plans,&quot; but acknowledged that examination of a northern network of alternative routes used in the past was &quot;still at a very broad level.&quot;

&quot;If something were to happen to the ground lines of communication or airlines of communication through Pakistan, certainly that would be very difficult for the U.S. and we would have to look for alternatives,&quot; the official said.

&quot;And it would not be easy.&quot;

The senior Trump administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Washington hoped that the aid suspension would be enough to communicate its concern to Islamabad.

The United States is examining ways to mitigate any Pakistani retaliation as it piles pressure on Islamabad to crack down on militants, a senior US official said on Friday, cautioning that US action could extend beyond a new freeze in aid. Pakistan is a crucial gateway for US military supplies destined for the US and other troops fighting a 16-year-old war in neighbouring, landlocked Afghanistan. So far, the Pentagon says Pakistan has not given any indication that it would close its airspace or roads to military supplies and US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis played down concerns on Friday. But Washington has only just begun to work through its new plan to suspend up to roughly $2 billion in US security assistance, announced on Thursday. It came days after US President Donald Trump tweeted that Pakistan had rewarded past US aid with "nothing but lies & deceit." The senior Trump administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Washington hoped that the aid suspension would be enough to communicate its concern to Islamabad. But the official cautioned that the freeze was also not the only tool that America had to pressure the country -- suggesting it might resort to other measures if needed. "We are considering many different things, not just the (financial) assistance issue," the official said. "We are also looking at Pakistan's potential response ... and we are looking at ways to deal with that and to mitigate the risks to the relationship." The official declined to detail what steps were under consideration, including whether that might include possible unilateral US military action against militants in Pakistan. But as Trump allow the US military to again ramp up its war effort in Afghanistan, including with the deployment of more US troops alongside Afghan forces, the official acknowledged a sense of urgency. The United States has long blamed the militant safe havens in Pakistan for prolonging the war in Afghanistan, giving insurgents, including from the Haqqani network, a place to plot attacks and rebuild its forces. "We believe we owe it to the Americans in harms' way in Afghanistan. We simply can't ignore the sanctuaries if we are going to make progress in Afghanistan," the official said. Mattis plays down concerns Mattis, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said he was not concerned about America's ability to use Pakistan as a gateway to resupply U.S. forces in Afghanistan. "I'm not concerned, no," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, adding he had not gotten any indication from Pakistan that it might cut off those routes. Mattis travelled to Pakistan last month. "We're still working with Pakistan and we would restore the aid if we see decisive movements against the terrorists -- who are as much a threat against Pakistan as they are to us." The United States has also said some of the frozen aid could be released on a case-by-case basis, and none of it will be spent elsewhere -- leaving the door open to full reconciliation. The Pakistani reaction has so far been limited to harsh rhetoric, with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif saying the United States was behaving towards Pakistan as "a friend who always betrays." But opposition leader Imran Khan, a former cricket star tipped as the next Pakistani prime minister, said it was time for Pakistan to "delink" from the United States. The senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity acknowledged that a Pakistani cut-off would greatly complicate US resupply efforts in Afghanistan. The official said the administration was developing "risk mitigation plans," but acknowledged that examination of a northern network of alternative routes used in the past was "still at a very broad level." "If something were to happen to the ground lines of communication or airlines of communication through Pakistan, certainly that would be very difficult for the U.S. and we would have to look for alternatives," the official said. "And it would not be easy."

US weighs Pakistani blowback as it piles pressure on Islamabad

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