Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, India in an apparent reference to Pakistan has said the support for terror groups like Taliban, the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) must be forced to stop.

Terrorists continue to attack the most vulnerable, including the sick in hospitals, children in schools, devotees in mosques and even mourners at funerals. Terror groups have gained territory, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to UN, Tanmaya Lal said during an open debate of the Security Council on Afghanistan.

&quot;The support for terrorist organisations like the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Daesh, Al Qaeda and its designated affiliates such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e- Mohammed from outside Afghanistan, must be forced to stop,&quot; Lal said.

&quot;All safe havens and sanctuaries available to such groups outside Afghan borders must end. Security Council has an important responsibility in this regard in our collective interest,&quot; Lal said.

The continued resilience shown by the Afghan people and security personnel has been exemplary but hopes of a better future still appear distant, he said.

&quot;Our regular consultations and the work done by the Council have not been enough to more effectively reverse the situation on the ground,&quot; he added.

Lal said it has been painfully clear since long that the security situation in Afghanistan has implications not only for the region but the entire world.

&quot;While new threats emerge from the Daesh, the Security Council cannot even decide whether to designate the new leaders of Taliban or to freeze the assets of the slain leader of the group more than a year after the issue was brought to its attention,&quot; Lal said.

In his address to the Security Council, Afghan Ambassador to the UN Mahmoud Saikal said Afghanistan&#39;s patience on indiscriminate shelling from across the border by Pakistan should not be tested.

&quot;Under the pretext of receiving fire from our side, Pakistan&#39;s violations across the Durand Line, including indiscriminate artillery shelling, has continued unabated throughout 2017, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and destruction of villages,&quot; he said.

The proposal of Afghanistan for engagement and operational coordination towards addressing these concerns has not seen any response, he told the UN Security Council.

&quot;At the same time, Afghanistan has the will and the capacity to defend its territory and our patience should not be tested,&quot; Saikal said.

Afghanistan believes that confidence building measures can only be successful when violations of this nature come to a complete halt, he said.

&quot;In a similar vein, we are also in communication on the imperative of addressing terrorists&#39; regional safe havens and hope to see positive developments on this front soon,&quot; he said, adding that Afghanistan looks forward to the upcoming trilateral meeting in Beijing next week between the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan and China.

Terror groups have gained territory, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to UN, Tanmaya Lal said during an open debate of the Security Council on Afghanistan.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, India in an apparent reference to Pakistan has said the support for terror groups like Taliban, the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) must be forced to stop. Terrorists continue to attack the most vulnerable, including the sick in hospitals, children in schools, devotees in mosques and even mourners at funerals. Terror groups have gained territory, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to UN, Tanmaya Lal said during an open debate of the Security Council on Afghanistan. "The support for terrorist organisations like the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Daesh, Al Qaeda and its designated affiliates such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e- Mohammed from outside Afghanistan, must be forced to stop," Lal said. "All safe havens and sanctuaries available to such groups outside Afghan borders must end. Security Council has an important responsibility in this regard in our collective interest," Lal said. The continued resilience shown by the Afghan people and security personnel has been exemplary but hopes of a better future still appear distant, he said. "Our regular consultations and the work done by the Council have not been enough to more effectively reverse the situation on the ground," he added. Lal said it has been painfully clear since long that the security situation in Afghanistan has implications not only for the region but the entire world. "While new threats emerge from the Daesh, the Security Council cannot even decide whether to designate the new leaders of Taliban or to freeze the assets of the slain leader of the group more than a year after the issue was brought to its attention," Lal said. In his address to the Security Council, Afghan Ambassador to the UN Mahmoud Saikal said Afghanistan's patience on indiscriminate shelling from across the border by Pakistan should not be tested. "Under the pretext of receiving fire from our side, Pakistan's violations across the Durand Line, including indiscriminate artillery shelling, has continued unabated throughout 2017, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and destruction of villages," he said. The proposal of Afghanistan for engagement and operational coordination towards addressing these concerns has not seen any response, he told the UN Security Council. "At the same time, Afghanistan has the will and the capacity to defend its territory and our patience should not be tested," Saikal said. Afghanistan believes that confidence building measures can only be successful when violations of this nature come to a complete halt, he said. "In a similar vein, we are also in communication on the imperative of addressing terrorists' regional safe havens and hope to see positive developments on this front soon," he said, adding that Afghanistan looks forward to the upcoming trilateral meeting in Beijing next week between the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan and China.

Support for terror outfits must be forced to stop: India at UN

US President Donald Trump has put Pakistan on notice for providing safe haven to the Taliban and other terror organisations in its soil, Vice President Mike Pence said during his unannounced visit to Afghanistan.

&quot;For too long Pakistan has provided safe haven to the Taliban and many terrorist organisations, but those days are over,&quot; Pence told American troops at the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.

&quot;President Trump has put Pakistan on notice,&quot; Pence said, addressing about 500 troops in a hangar decorated with Christmas decorations and massive armoured vehicles.

&quot;As the President said, so I say now: Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with the US, and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists,&quot; the vice president said, issuing another stern warning to Pakistan, for which using non-state actors against its two neighbours India and Afghanistan has been part of its national security policy.

Trump, he said, has unleashed the full range of American military might.

&quot;We&#39;ve lifted the restrictions that limited the effectiveness of our armed forces, so you can, as the President has said, fully and swiftly wage battle against the enemy,&quot; he said.

The Trump Administration, he said, has given the troops new authorities to directly target the terrorists and militants no matter where they hide. 
He has empowered battlefield commanders with the freedom and flexibility they need to win.

Pence said this new strategy is already bearing fruit all across Afghanistan.

&quot;American people deserve to know that with the courage of everyone gathered here, we&#39;re making real progress in this fight for freedom in Afghanistan. We&#39;ve dramatically increased American air strikes. And together with our Afghan partners, we&#39;ve put the Taliban on the defensive,&quot; he said.

&quot;We&#39;ve prevented them from launching a major campaign against a provincial capital for the first time in three years. We&#39;ve targeted the Taliban&#39;s funding as never before through renewed attacks on its drug trafficking networks,? Pence said.

&quot;All across this country we&#39;ve won new victories against the terrorists, no matter what they call themselves or where they try to hide. Our enemies will have no time to recover or rebuild because we will continue to bring overwhelming force to defeat them every day, every time,&quot; Pence said.

Trump, according to him, has ordered the integration of every facet of American power, diplomatic and economic measures to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan.

&quot;And until that day comes, you can be assured, we will be relentless in our campaign to destroy our enemies. Because as history attests, weakness arouses evil, and peace only comes through strength. So be strong and courageous, and do the work of freedom,&quot; Pence said.

In Afghanistan, Pence met the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

&quot;We discussed the progress that we&#39;ve made in this country and America&#39;s commitment to the Afghan government and the commitment of the Afghanis to their own freedom in this land,&quot; he said.

&quot;I said to them what I say to you now:? Under President Donald Trump, the Armed Forces of the United States will remain engaged in Afghanistan until we eliminate the terrorist threat to our homeland, our people once and for all,&quot; he added.

&nbsp;

Trump, he said, has unleashed the full range of American military might.

US President Donald Trump has put Pakistan on notice for providing safe haven to the Taliban and other terror organisations in its soil, Vice President Mike Pence said during his unannounced visit to Afghanistan. "For too long Pakistan has provided safe haven to the Taliban and many terrorist organisations, but those days are over," Pence told American troops at the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan. "President Trump has put Pakistan on notice," Pence said, addressing about 500 troops in a hangar decorated with Christmas decorations and massive armoured vehicles. "As the President said, so I say now: Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with the US, and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists," the vice president said, issuing another stern warning to Pakistan, for which using non-state actors against its two neighbours India and Afghanistan has been part of its national security policy. Trump, he said, has unleashed the full range of American military might. "We've lifted the restrictions that limited the effectiveness of our armed forces, so you can, as the President has said, fully and swiftly wage battle against the enemy," he said. The Trump Administration, he said, has given the troops new authorities to directly target the terrorists and militants no matter where they hide. He has empowered battlefield commanders with the freedom and flexibility they need to win. Pence said this new strategy is already bearing fruit all across Afghanistan. "American people deserve to know that with the courage of everyone gathered here, we're making real progress in this fight for freedom in Afghanistan. We've dramatically increased American air strikes. And together with our Afghan partners, we've put the Taliban on the defensive," he said. "We've prevented them from launching a major campaign against a provincial capital for the first time in three years. We've targeted the Taliban's funding as never before through renewed attacks on its drug trafficking networks,? Pence said. "All across this country we've won new victories against the terrorists, no matter what they call themselves or where they try to hide. Our enemies will have no time to recover or rebuild because we will continue to bring overwhelming force to defeat them every day, every time," Pence said. Trump, according to him, has ordered the integration of every facet of American power, diplomatic and economic measures to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan. "And until that day comes, you can be assured, we will be relentless in our campaign to destroy our enemies. Because as history attests, weakness arouses evil, and peace only comes through strength. So be strong and courageous, and do the work of freedom," Pence said. In Afghanistan, Pence met the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah. "We discussed the progress that we've made in this country and America's commitment to the Afghan government and the commitment of the Afghanis to their own freedom in this land," he said. "I said to them what I say to you now:? Under President Donald Trump, the Armed Forces of the United States will remain engaged in Afghanistan until we eliminate the terrorist threat to our homeland, our people once and for all," he added.

President Donald Trump has put Pakistan on notice: Mike Pence

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack near a training facility of Afghanistan&rsquo;s main intelligence agency in the capital, Kabul, on Monday as gunmen exchanged fire with security forces.

Details of the attack remained unclear after a group of armed men seized a building under construction in a heavily populated area of the city.

&ldquo;The number of attackers, possible casualties and their target is not yet clear,&rdquo; said Najib Danish, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.

The Afshar area of Kabul where the attack was underway is close to a training facility of the National Directorate of Security, the main Afghan intelligence agency, as well as a private university.

Another government official said the attack was near the intelligence agency training centre.

Islamic State claimed responsibility in a statement on its Amaq news agency, in which it said two of its fighters had attacked an intelligence agency centre in Kabul.

The group, which first appeared in Afghanistan in 2015, has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Kabul over the past several months.

But much remains unknown about how it operates and many observers are sceptical about its ability to mount complex attacks on its own.

&quot;Around 10:10 am, a group of armed attackers entered an under-construction building in (the) NDS training centre in (the) Afshar area of Kabul,&quot; interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP, referring to the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan&#39;s spy agency.

&quot;The fighting is ongoing and we have also launched our operation.&quot;

Nasrat Rahim, a deputy interior ministry spokesman, said the sound of large and small arms fire could be heard from the fighting.&nbsp;

&quot;There are three attackers involved... the clearance operation is ongoing,&quot; said the spokesman, adding there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Roads to the area were closed and dozens of police and intelligence officers were blocking access to the public. AFP reporters, who were held more than a kilometre away from the scene, saw ambulances and reinforcements headed towards the site.

&quot;I was going toward my school. It (the attack) happened suddenly... the police arrived in the area fast and blocked the roads, not allowing anyone to get to their homes,&quot; Naweed, a student, told AFP.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda arm.

&quot;Two IS attackers raid the Afghan intelligence centre in Kabul,&quot; the jihadists&#39; Amaq outlet reported.

The Afghan capital has become one of the deadliest places in the war-torn country for civilians in recent months, as the resurgent Taliban and increasingly IS both step up their attacks, targeting security installations and mosques.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the city&#39;s diplomatic quarter, killing about 150 and wounding around 400 people, mostly civilians.

No group has officially claimed responsibility for that attack, which the government has blamed on the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network.

Monday&#39;s attack represents another blow to beleaguered Afghan forces.&nbsp;

The Taliban have targeted military installations in recent months, including a spate of attacks in October that killed around 150 people.

Afghan forces, already beset by desertions and corruption, have seen casualties soar to what a US watchdog has described as &quot;shockingly high&quot; levels since NATO forces officially ended their combat mission in 2014.

Morale has been further eroded by long-running fears that the militants have insider help -- everything from infiltrators in the ranks to corrupt Afghan forces selling equipment to the Taliban.

But IS, which has expanded its presence in Afghanistan since it first appeared in the region in 2015, has also dramatically scaled up its attacks in Kabul, including on the country&#39;s Shiite minority.

In November, a suicide attacker blew himself up outside a political gathering in Kabul, killing at least 14 people in an attack claimed by IS.

The number of attackers, possible casualties and their target is not yet clear

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack near a training facility of Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency in the capital, Kabul, on Monday as gunmen exchanged fire with security forces. Details of the attack remained unclear after a group of armed men seized a building under construction in a heavily populated area of the city. “The number of attackers, possible casualties and their target is not yet clear,” said Najib Danish, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The Afshar area of Kabul where the attack was underway is close to a training facility of the National Directorate of Security, the main Afghan intelligence agency, as well as a private university. Another government official said the attack was near the intelligence agency training centre. Islamic State claimed responsibility in a statement on its Amaq news agency, in which it said two of its fighters had attacked an intelligence agency centre in Kabul. The group, which first appeared in Afghanistan in 2015, has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Kabul over the past several months. But much remains unknown about how it operates and many observers are sceptical about its ability to mount complex attacks on its own. "Around 10:10 am, a group of armed attackers entered an under-construction building in (the) NDS training centre in (the) Afshar area of Kabul," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP, referring to the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's spy agency. "The fighting is ongoing and we have also launched our operation." Nasrat Rahim, a deputy interior ministry spokesman, said the sound of large and small arms fire could be heard from the fighting. "There are three attackers involved... the clearance operation is ongoing," said the spokesman, adding there were no immediate reports of any casualties. Roads to the area were closed and dozens of police and intelligence officers were blocking access to the public. AFP reporters, who were held more than a kilometre away from the scene, saw ambulances and reinforcements headed towards the site. "I was going toward my school. It (the attack) happened suddenly... the police arrived in the area fast and blocked the roads, not allowing anyone to get to their homes," Naweed, a student, told AFP. IS claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda arm. "Two IS attackers raid the Afghan intelligence centre in Kabul," the jihadists' Amaq outlet reported. The Afghan capital has become one of the deadliest places in the war-torn country for civilians in recent months, as the resurgent Taliban and increasingly IS both step up their attacks, targeting security installations and mosques. Security in Kabul has been ramped up since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the city's diplomatic quarter, killing about 150 and wounding around 400 people, mostly civilians. No group has officially claimed responsibility for that attack, which the government has blamed on the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network. Monday's attack represents another blow to beleaguered Afghan forces. The Taliban have targeted military installations in recent months, including a spate of attacks in October that killed around 150 people. Afghan forces, already beset by desertions and corruption, have seen casualties soar to what a US watchdog has described as "shockingly high" levels since NATO forces officially ended their combat mission in 2014. Morale has been further eroded by long-running fears that the militants have insider help -- everything from infiltrators in the ranks to corrupt Afghan forces selling equipment to the Taliban. But IS, which has expanded its presence in Afghanistan since it first appeared in the region in 2015, has also dramatically scaled up its attacks in Kabul, including on the country's Shiite minority. In November, a suicide attacker blew himself up outside a political gathering in Kabul, killing at least 14 people in an attack claimed by IS.

Islamic State claims attack on Kabul spy centre

Checkpoints in Southern Helmand province were attacked by Taliban insurgents on Sunday, killing 11 Afghan police officials, media reports said.&nbsp;

Afghan forces later repelled the attack in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital - the insurgents were reported injured. Although the number has not yet been disclosed, media reports said.&nbsp;

The attack was claimed by the Taliban who have been spreading all across in Helmand.&nbsp;

It has been reported that these insurgents have been attacking the country, mainly the security forces, on a daily basis.&nbsp;

Earlier, a suicide car bomber attacked foreign forces in the southern Kandahar province, killing a woman and injuring around five other civilians, reports said.&nbsp;

Afghan forces later repelled the attack in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital - who were reported injured. Although, the number has not yet been disclosed

Checkpoints in Southern Helmand province were attacked by Taliban insurgents on Sunday, killing 11 Afghan police officials, media reports said. Afghan forces later repelled the attack in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital - the insurgents were reported injured. Although the number has not yet been disclosed, media reports said. The attack was claimed by the Taliban who have been spreading all across in Helmand. It has been reported that these insurgents have been attacking the country, mainly the security forces, on a daily basis. Earlier, a suicide car bomber attacked foreign forces in the southern Kandahar province, killing a woman and injuring around five other civilians, reports said.

Taliban insurgents kill 11 Afghan police officials in Helmand province: Reports

The most important aspect of Afghanistan is its location. The country is located right between the countries of erstwhile USSR, China, Pakistan and the major oil producing nations in the Middle East. Any country having its presence in Afghanistan is virtually having an eye over entire Asia. Being the largest democracy of the world and a nuclear power nation, India too must have its influence in Afghanistan.

So far, India has provided over US$2 billion in humanitarian and economic aid, making it the largest regional provider of aid for Afghanistan.&nbsp;

India&#39;s rebuilt their air links, power plants and invested heavily in health and education sectors as well as helping to train Afghan civil servants, diplomats and police. Indian teams were sent to Afghanistan to facilitate the same and at a later stage, 2004 onwards, the officials started coming to India for training at Mussouri, Hyderabad and&nbsp;Delhi. India has an important aim behind it.

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OTA plays a crucial role in raising the women officers of the Afghan National Army (WION)
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Initially, after the establishment of democratic government in Afghanistan, the entire top brass of their Army, Civil Servants and Police Officers was made up of warlords, coalition fighters and senior members of various tribes. They were controlling the entire government machinery. To have a strong footprint in the Middle-East and Central Asia, it was inevitable for India to keep harmonious relations with Afghanistan.

Sizable numbers of Afghan National Army Officers are sent to be trained in&nbsp;India&nbsp;either at the&nbsp;Indian Military Academy&nbsp;in&nbsp;Dehradun, the&nbsp;National Defence Academy&nbsp;near&nbsp;Pune&nbsp;or the&nbsp;Officers Training Academy&nbsp;in&nbsp;Chennai. &nbsp;

This year a group of 20 Afghan women officers from their Army and Air Force arrived at OTA Chennai for training along with Indian Army Women Cadets.&nbsp;

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The Afghan woman contingent stands proudly, ready to fight all odds (WION)
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The women army cadet received a training on how to fire AK-47 rifles at the OTA. The Indian Army officers guided them through the entire training process

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Indian Army officers teaching Afghan woman soldiers how to handle, aim and fire an AK-47. (WION)
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Later in the day, the 20 cadets of the Afghan National Army trained them in ambush operations in the simulation room of OTA.&nbsp;

Each of the cadets came to know how many Taliban terrorists they killed while firing at them.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Afghan women being trained in ambush operation in the weapon simulation room of OTA (WION)
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An extensive training session also took place on cybersecurity measures. This is just the beginning but the army officers of the Indian army believed that with some rigorous training, these women cadets will be effective in meeting cybersecurity challenges.&nbsp;

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Woman cadets of the Afghan National Army getting training in cybersecurity breaches (WION)
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Each of these cadets has some gruesome stories to share. They have been attacked upon while going to school.&nbsp;

They can&#39;t wear their uniforms.&nbsp;

Kabul is little better. But the villages continue to be the den of Taliban.

The women of Afghanistan, long oppressed and denied of their basic rights, are now fighting for their rights. And India is turning to be a valuable partner in this effort.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The women of Afghanistan, long oppressed and denied of their basic rights, are now fighting for their rights. And India is turning to be a valuable partner in this effort.

The most important aspect of Afghanistan is its location. The country is located right between the countries of erstwhile USSR, China, Pakistan and the major oil producing nations in the Middle East. Any country having its presence in Afghanistan is virtually having an eye over entire Asia. Being the largest democracy of the world and a nuclear power nation, India too must have its influence in Afghanistan. So far, India has provided over US$2 billion in humanitarian and economic aid, making it the largest regional provider of aid for Afghanistan. India's rebuilt their air links, power plants and invested heavily in health and education sectors as well as helping to train Afghan civil servants, diplomats and police. Indian teams were sent to Afghanistan to facilitate the same and at a later stage, 2004 onwards, the officials started coming to India for training at Mussouri, Hyderabad and Delhi. India has an important aim behind it. OTA plays a crucial role in raising the women officers of the Afghan National Army (WION) × Initially, after the establishment of democratic government in Afghanistan, the entire top brass of their Army, Civil Servants and Police Officers was made up of warlords, coalition fighters and senior members of various tribes. They were controlling the entire government machinery. To have a strong footprint in the Middle-East and Central Asia, it was inevitable for India to keep harmonious relations with Afghanistan. Sizable numbers of Afghan National Army Officers are sent to be trained in India either at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, the National Defence Academy near Pune or the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. This year a group of 20 Afghan women officers from their Army and Air Force arrived at OTA Chennai for training along with Indian Army Women Cadets. The Afghan woman contingent stands proudly, ready to fight all odds (WION) × The women army cadet received a training on how to fire AK-47 rifles at the OTA. The Indian Army officers guided them through the entire training process Indian Army officers teaching Afghan woman soldiers how to handle, aim and fire an AK-47. (WION) × Later in the day, the 20 cadets of the Afghan National Army trained them in ambush operations in the simulation room of OTA. Each of the cadets came to know how many Taliban terrorists they killed while firing at them. Afghan women being trained in ambush operation in the weapon simulation room of OTA (WION) × An extensive training session also took place on cybersecurity measures. This is just the beginning but the army officers of the Indian army believed that with some rigorous training, these women cadets will be effective in meeting cybersecurity challenges. Woman cadets of the Afghan National Army getting training in cybersecurity breaches (WION) × Each of these cadets has some gruesome stories to share. They have been attacked upon while going to school. They can't wear their uniforms. Kabul is little better. But the villages continue to be the den of Taliban. The women of Afghanistan, long oppressed and denied of their basic rights, are now fighting for their rights. And India is turning to be a valuable partner in this effort.

India makes soldiers out of Afghan women to fight Taliban

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dont-enjoy-dealing-with-pakistan-us-pak-relationship-drifted-over-the-years-tillerson-26591">Don&#39;t enjoy dealing with Pakistan, US-Pak relationship drifted over the years: Tillerson</a>

Pakistan is under pressure to &quot;show results&quot; with US President Donald Trump intent on implementing his new Afghanistan strategy which he spelled out openly in August.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-soldiers-training-under-indian-army-to-kill-taliban-26527">Afghan women soldiers training under Indian Army &#39;to kill Taliban&#39;</a>

The Afghan women have been flown in from Kabul to the OTA as this is the only military institution in India which trains women.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-and-anushka-sharmas-honeymoon-destination-is-ethereal-26573">Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma&#39;s honeymoon destination is ethereal</a>

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are now reported to have left for their honeymoon.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/gayle-breaks-sixes-record-in-bangladesh-premier-league-final-26574">Bangladesh Premier League final: Chris Gayle hits 18 sixes</a>

Chris Gayle hit 18 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 146 off 69 balls for the Rangpur Riders against the Dhaka Dynamites to create Twenty20 cricket history.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jumanji-welcome-to-the-jungle-stars-the-rock-kevin-hart-jack-black-share-success-formula-26590">Dwayne &quot;The Rock&quot; Johnson talks about success and film &#39;Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle</a>

&quot;Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle&quot; premiered on Monday at the historic T.C.L.&nbsp;

Chris Gayle hit 18 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 146 off 69 balls for the Rangpur Riders against the Dhaka Dynamites to create Twenty20 cricket history.

Don't enjoy dealing with Pakistan, US-Pak relationship drifted over the years: Tillerson Pakistan is under pressure to "show results" with US President Donald Trump intent on implementing his new Afghanistan strategy which he spelled out openly in August. Afghan women soldiers training under Indian Army 'to kill Taliban' The Afghan women have been flown in from Kabul to the OTA as this is the only military institution in India which trains women. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's honeymoon destination is ethereal Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are now reported to have left for their honeymoon. Bangladesh Premier League final: Chris Gayle hits 18 sixes Chris Gayle hit 18 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 146 off 69 balls for the Rangpur Riders against the Dhaka Dynamites to create Twenty20 cricket history. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson talks about success and film 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" premiered on Monday at the historic T.C.L.

WION morning news brief, December 13, 2017

It was a secluded part of the Officers&#39; Training Academy in Chennai. A military car took us only so far but beyond that, we had to walk through a muddy path to reach a green patch of land, surrounded by a white wall. I am sure no one could see what was going on inside. &nbsp;

On the wall is written: Shoot to Kill, Ek Goli Ek Dushman and HAT.&nbsp;

A red flag fluttered slowly as the jawans went about explaining to us what HAT stands for: Hold, Aim, Trigger press. Trained in this Academy, the soldiers, upon graduation, take up crucial positions in the war against terror in different parts of India. The price for a moment of hesitation is too stiff, and the training ensures that the soldiers are ruthlessly accurate in what they do.&nbsp;

India trains Afghan woman to take on the Taliban

We waited with baited breath as the jawans prepared for the drill shootout. On the ground lay dozens of AK-47. The trr trr trr sound rattled the still humid air of the morning. Unaccustomed to the sound, I startled every time I heard the sound throughout the morning session. Made me wonder, how one can get accustomed to bullets whizzing pasts, ignoring it and go on with their daily lives. &nbsp;

It was no ordinary Monday morning for either us or the officers and instructors of the OTA. Soon in a line, more than a dozen woman in war fatigue and head covered with headscarf walked into the ground. They constitute the core of the women unit of the Afghan National Army.&nbsp;

Led by a lady officer of the Indian Army, the women soldiers slowly walked up the podium, the male officers sat down with them, helping them with the AK-47. A volley of fires started soon. Determined jaws, focused eyes, strong grip, here are the women of Afghanistan getting ready to fight against evil, powerlessness, in a quest for liberty.

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Afghanistan is about to witness a revolt, starting from its kitchen. (WION)
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Each of these women has a story to tell that is gruesome and gritty while their response has been nothing less than gallant. To fight the years of oppression heaped upon them by one of the cruelest and oppressive regimes the world has seen, the Afghan National Army has now taken the decision to send out women from each of the tribes of the country for a training period of 20 days in India.

The Indian government, driven by strategic and humanitarian concerns, has agreed to it. The Afghan women have been flown in from Kabul to the OTA as this is the only military institution in India which trains women. Side by side with Indian women cadet, the Marwahs, Arbiyas and Hasinas of Afghanistan are learning to fire AK-47, fight cyber terror and participate in other military training.&nbsp;

AK-47 in henna painted hands

This is not a mean feat. One needs to keep in mind that these women led a burqa-clad existence through their teens. Their palms are still decorated with Henna, they wear bangles, and gold rings adorn their slender fingers. Pink and purple nail polish shine from their fingernails. They are still, in appearence at least, very different from their Indian counterpart but no less motivated and, perhaps, will be operating in a more challenging position.&nbsp;

The Afghan women come from a country where they cannot wear their military uniform at the fear of being killed, the officers told me repeatedly.&nbsp;

Marwah was sitting at the corner of drill ground, all by herself, when I approached her. She is 24 years old, married to her childhood sweetheart who is now a major in the Afghan army. Marwah is a Pakhtun and comes from region replete with Taliban. Living had become a nightmare for little Marwah. But she and her family courageously fought against all odds.&nbsp;

Marwah went to study law at Wood University, a US-aided institution, which gets regularly attacked by Taliban suicide bombers.&nbsp;

When I asked Marwah why she came to India, pat came the reply, &#39;to kill Taliban&#39;.&nbsp;

The tide is turning against the Taliban

Soon, Marwah&#39;s henna painted hands will hold an AK-47 to defend the rights of women in a war-torn country. While it sounds all heroic to hear Marwah talk about resisting Talibans to save her motherland, how could I forget her deep sigh when she said, I am lucky because in my country, Indian women are free to be lawyers. She wanted to be a lawyer until the Taliban came sword rattling to chop off the nose of any girls going to school.&nbsp;

Marwah&#39;s story is very similar to other women of the Afghan National Army. They are dead against Taliban. They had the support of their family in their fight. They are deeply appreciative of India&#39;s help. They wanted a longer period of training in India. More importantly, they want to go back to Afghanistan and impart whatever they learned in the OTA to other Afghan women. &nbsp;

I witnessed a historic moment in South Asian history as I stood watching these women fire AK-47. In agreeing to equip these women, India has got a chance to leave an indelible mark on the global war against terror. The country&#39;s bigger strategical and political goals may see a fruitful realisation as more and more women (and men) come for training at our shores.&nbsp;

As for Afghanistan, this is a now or never moment. The tide is turning against the Taliban who still occupies 40 per cent of the national territory. But the country is about to witness a revolt starting from its kitchen. It will be, as we say, mother of all battles, led by the mothers of the nation.

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When I asked one of the soldiers why she came to India, pat came the reply, 'to kill Taliban'.?

It was a secluded part of the Officers' Training Academy in Chennai. A military car took us only so far but beyond that, we had to walk through a muddy path to reach a green patch of land, surrounded by a white wall. I am sure no one could see what was going on inside. On the wall is written: Shoot to Kill, Ek Goli Ek Dushman and HAT. A red flag fluttered slowly as the jawans went about explaining to us what HAT stands for: Hold, Aim, Trigger press. Trained in this Academy, the soldiers, upon graduation, take up crucial positions in the war against terror in different parts of India. The price for a moment of hesitation is too stiff, and the training ensures that the soldiers are ruthlessly accurate in what they do. India trains Afghan woman to take on the Taliban We waited with baited breath as the jawans prepared for the drill shootout. On the ground lay dozens of AK-47. The trr trr trr sound rattled the still humid air of the morning. Unaccustomed to the sound, I startled every time I heard the sound throughout the morning session. Made me wonder, how one can get accustomed to bullets whizzing pasts, ignoring it and go on with their daily lives. It was no ordinary Monday morning for either us or the officers and instructors of the OTA. Soon in a line, more than a dozen woman in war fatigue and head covered with headscarf walked into the ground. They constitute the core of the women unit of the Afghan National Army. Led by a lady officer of the Indian Army, the women soldiers slowly walked up the podium, the male officers sat down with them, helping them with the AK-47. A volley of fires started soon. Determined jaws, focused eyes, strong grip, here are the women of Afghanistan getting ready to fight against evil, powerlessness, in a quest for liberty. Afghanistan is about to witness a revolt, starting from its kitchen. (WION) × Each of these women has a story to tell that is gruesome and gritty while their response has been nothing less than gallant. To fight the years of oppression heaped upon them by one of the cruelest and oppressive regimes the world has seen, the Afghan National Army has now taken the decision to send out women from each of the tribes of the country for a training period of 20 days in India. The Indian government, driven by strategic and humanitarian concerns, has agreed to it. The Afghan women have been flown in from Kabul to the OTA as this is the only military institution in India which trains women. Side by side with Indian women cadet, the Marwahs, Arbiyas and Hasinas of Afghanistan are learning to fire AK-47, fight cyber terror and participate in other military training. AK-47 in henna painted hands This is not a mean feat. One needs to keep in mind that these women led a burqa-clad existence through their teens. Their palms are still decorated with Henna, they wear bangles, and gold rings adorn their slender fingers. Pink and purple nail polish shine from their fingernails. They are still, in appearence at least, very different from their Indian counterpart but no less motivated and, perhaps, will be operating in a more challenging position. The Afghan women come from a country where they cannot wear their military uniform at the fear of being killed, the officers told me repeatedly. Marwah was sitting at the corner of drill ground, all by herself, when I approached her. She is 24 years old, married to her childhood sweetheart who is now a major in the Afghan army. Marwah is a Pakhtun and comes from region replete with Taliban. Living had become a nightmare for little Marwah. But she and her family courageously fought against all odds. Marwah went to study law at Wood University, a US-aided institution, which gets regularly attacked by Taliban suicide bombers. When I asked Marwah why she came to India, pat came the reply, 'to kill Taliban'. The tide is turning against the Taliban Soon, Marwah's henna painted hands will hold an AK-47 to defend the rights of women in a war-torn country. While it sounds all heroic to hear Marwah talk about resisting Talibans to save her motherland, how could I forget her deep sigh when she said, I am lucky because in my country, Indian women are free to be lawyers. She wanted to be a lawyer until the Taliban came sword rattling to chop off the nose of any girls going to school. Marwah's story is very similar to other women of the Afghan National Army. They are dead against Taliban. They had the support of their family in their fight. They are deeply appreciative of India's help. They wanted a longer period of training in India. More importantly, they want to go back to Afghanistan and impart whatever they learned in the OTA to other Afghan women. I witnessed a historic moment in South Asian history as I stood watching these women fire AK-47. In agreeing to equip these women, India has got a chance to leave an indelible mark on the global war against terror. The country's bigger strategical and political goals may see a fruitful realisation as more and more women (and men) come for training at our shores. As for Afghanistan, this is a now or never moment. The tide is turning against the Taliban who still occupies 40 per cent of the national territory. But the country is about to witness a revolt starting from its kitchen. It will be, as we say, mother of all battles, led by the mothers of the nation. ×

Afghan women soldiers training under Indian Army 'to kill Taliban'

At least 76&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=militants">militants</a>&nbsp;belonging to the Taliban insurgent group were killed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Afghan%20National%20Army">Afghan National Army</a>&nbsp;in a five-day&nbsp;military operation in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Kunduz%20province">Kunduz province</a>.

Tolo News quoted a spokesman of the corps, Jawed Salim, as saying, in a statement, that dozens of other militants were injured in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=military%20operation">military operation</a>.

The operation was carried out to clear the insurgent areas, which started five days ago, Salim added.

&quot;An officer was also killed and two commandos were wounded during the operation,&quot; he said.

Taliban hasn&#39;t commented on the incident so far.

An officer and two commandos were also killed

At least 76 militants belonging to the Taliban insurgent group were killed by the Afghan National Army in a five-day military operation in Kunduz province. Tolo News quoted a spokesman of the corps, Jawed Salim, as saying, in a statement, that dozens of other militants were injured in the military operation. The operation was carried out to clear the insurgent areas, which started five days ago, Salim added. "An officer was also killed and two commandos were wounded during the operation," he said. Taliban hasn't commented on the incident so far.

Afghan Army kills 76 Taliban militants in 5-day operation

Terror outfit Taliban has dubbed the reports of Al-Qaeda&#39;s top leader&#39;s death a &#39;propaganda.&#39;

Taliban&#39;s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement terming the killing of the militants in a US-Afghan joint operation in three Afghan provinces Zabul, Ghazni, and Paktia propaganda.

&quot;No foreign or local militants were killed during the operations in the three provinces as claimed by the security institutions,&quot; reported Khaama Press, citing Mujahid as saying in a statement.

It was earlier reported that 80 militants, including terror outfit Al-Qaeda&#39;s top leader, have been killed in the joint operation on Monday.

Khaama Press had reported that Afghan&#39;s Intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) identified the gunned down senior Al-Qaeda leader as Omar Khetab, who was also famous as Omar Mansoor.

Taliban's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement terming the killing of the militants in a US-Afghan joint operation in three Afghan provinces Zabul, Ghazni, and Paktia propaganda

Terror outfit Taliban has dubbed the reports of Al-Qaeda's top leader's death a 'propaganda.' Taliban's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement terming the killing of the militants in a US-Afghan joint operation in three Afghan provinces Zabul, Ghazni, and Paktia propaganda. "No foreign or local militants were killed during the operations in the three provinces as claimed by the security institutions," reported Khaama Press, citing Mujahid as saying in a statement. It was earlier reported that 80 militants, including terror outfit Al-Qaeda's top leader, have been killed in the joint operation on Monday. Khaama Press had reported that Afghan's Intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) identified the gunned down senior Al-Qaeda leader as Omar Khetab, who was also famous as Omar Mansoor.

Taliban dubs death of top Al-Qaeda leader a 'propaganda'

A roadside bomb killed at least six people and wounded eight others on Tuesday in Pakistan&#39;s restive northwestern tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

The blast took place in North Waziristan, one of the country&#39;s seven semi-autonomous tribal districts, where the army has been battling Taliban militants.

&quot;The casualties came from a bomb planted in a motorcycle parked on a roadside in Khadi market of Mir Ali town,&quot; Kamran Khan Afridi, a senior administration official in the area, told AFP.

&quot;The blast targeted two vehicles passing along the road. Six people who died and eight who were injured are believed to be the vehicles&#39;&nbsp;passengers,&quot; he said.

Local government and security officials also confirmed the attack and casualties.

Mir Ali town and neighbouring Miranshah, North Waziristan&#39;s capital, have long been home to Taliban militants.

Although violence in Pakistan has declined in recent years following a series of military offensives against insurgents along the northwestern border, militant groups are still able to carry out bloody attacks.

In a number of assaults in recent weeks, militants have killed several people in the northwest as well as in southwestern Balochistan province.

Last week, gunmen wearing burkas boarded a rickshaw and killed nine people in an attack on an agriculture institute in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

This latest wave of attacks came as hundreds of people displaced from their homes during the offensives in North Waziristan prepared to return after the military declared the region safe.

The blast took place in North Waziristan, one of the country's seven semi-autonomous tribal districts, where the army has been battling Taliban militants

A roadside bomb killed at least six people and wounded eight others on Tuesday in Pakistan's restive northwestern tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said. The blast took place in North Waziristan, one of the country's seven semi-autonomous tribal districts, where the army has been battling Taliban militants. "The casualties came from a bomb planted in a motorcycle parked on a roadside in Khadi market of Mir Ali town," Kamran Khan Afridi, a senior administration official in the area, told AFP. "The blast targeted two vehicles passing along the road. Six people who died and eight who were injured are believed to be the vehicles' passengers," he said. Local government and security officials also confirmed the attack and casualties. Mir Ali town and neighbouring Miranshah, North Waziristan's capital, have long been home to Taliban militants. Although violence in Pakistan has declined in recent years following a series of military offensives against insurgents along the northwestern border, militant groups are still able to carry out bloody attacks. In a number of assaults in recent weeks, militants have killed several people in the northwest as well as in southwestern Balochistan province. Last week, gunmen wearing burkas boarded a rickshaw and killed nine people in an attack on an agriculture institute in the northwestern city of Peshawar. This latest wave of attacks came as hundreds of people displaced from their homes during the offensives in North Waziristan prepared to return after the military declared the region safe.

Blast in Pakistan's north Waziristan, 6 dead

The commander of the Taliban&#39;s &quot;special forces&quot; branch, known as the &quot;Red Unit,&quot; was killed last week in Helmand province by Afghan forces, according to Afghanistan&#39;s main intelligence agency.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Mullah Shah Wali, also known as Mullah Naser, was killed in an air operation in Helmand.

The province is a Taliban stronghold in the heartland of Afghanistan&#39;s lucrative drug trade.

Wali became the commander of the Taliban&#39;s &quot;Red Unit&quot; as well as deputy shadow governor of Helmand province three years ago and was directly involved in Taliban offensives, the statement said.&nbsp;

The &quot;Red Unit&quot; is thought to be equipped with advanced weapons, including night vision scopes, 82mm rockets, heavy machine guns and US-made assault rifles, according to the Afghan military.

Wali was killed alongside a suicide bomber and two other Taliban commanders in Helmand&#39;s Musa Qala district, according to the NDS.

The United States has worked hard to build up Afghan air support and attack capabilities since they were found inadequate after most foreign forces withdrew three years ago.

The National Directorate of Security said Mullah Shah Wali, also known as Mullah Naser, was killed in an air operation in Helmand

The commander of the Taliban's "special forces" branch, known as the "Red Unit," was killed last week in Helmand province by Afghan forces, according to Afghanistan's main intelligence agency. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Mullah Shah Wali, also known as Mullah Naser, was killed in an air operation in Helmand. The province is a Taliban stronghold in the heartland of Afghanistan's lucrative drug trade. Wali became the commander of the Taliban's "Red Unit" as well as deputy shadow governor of Helmand province three years ago and was directly involved in Taliban offensives, the statement said. The "Red Unit" is thought to be equipped with advanced weapons, including night vision scopes, 82mm rockets, heavy machine guns and US-made assault rifles, according to the Afghan military. Wali was killed alongside a suicide bomber and two other Taliban commanders in Helmand's Musa Qala district, according to the NDS. The United States has worked hard to build up Afghan air support and attack capabilities since they were found inadequate after most foreign forces withdrew three years ago.

Commander of Taliban 'special forces' killed in Afghanistan: Officials

The US is not satisfied with Pakistan&#39;s cooperation in the war against terror as it has not done &quot;anything significant&quot; to rein-in the Taliban and the Haqqani network and destroy their sanctuary on its territory as part of its promise, a senior White House official has said.

He also termed the release of Mumbai-terror attack accused Hafiz Saeed as &quot;a step backward&quot; in that direction.

The official said that the release of the Coleman family, held captive for five years by the Haqqani network, from inside Pakistan was &quot;not an indication&quot; of Islamabad&#39;s cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism.

Based on the intelligence shared by the US, in October, the Pakistan Army rescued Caitlan Coleman, her husband Joshua Boyle and their three children after five years of their abduction by terrorists having ties to the Afghan Taliban from the mountainous Kurram Valley region, bordering Afghanistan.

&quot;Our diplomatic pressure, as well as our own intelligence agencies diligent work led to the release of the Coleman family. So, I am not sure if that qualifies as step forward (by Pakistan as part of the South Asia Strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August),&quot; the official told PTI.

&quot;We are happy that the Colemans are free and that they have been released. But we are still waiting to see Pakistan take steps to rein in the Taliban and the Haqqani network. We are not satisfied that they have done anything significant on this front,&quot; he said.

The US, the official said, has now a different approach to Pakistan. &quot;We expect, Pakistan to take steps against terror sanctuary on its territory&quot;.

Acknowledging that Pakistan has not taken steps it promised after the announcement of the South Asia Strategy, the senior administration official said that the White House is still hopeful that Pakistan sees that it is in its interest to co-operate on the US strategy in Afghanistan.

&quot;But we have not yet seen any significant changes. We still remain hopeful. And we recognise that some of these changes take a bit of time and wouldn&#39;t necessarily occur overnight.

&quot;But we will expect to see these changes within a certain time-frame. Our patience is not unlimited when it comes to the steps that we expect them to take,&quot; he said.

The Trump Administration has been very specific with Pakistan on the steps that it needs to take, we have laid out very specific steps that they need to take to degrade these groups activities and to facilitate a genuine dialogue, the official said.

&quot;But, I don&#39;t think we have seen any significant steps in that direction. So, we are still waiting and watching and monitoring (Pakistan) very closely. And we&#39;re still hopeful that we will see Pakistan take some of those steps to crack down on the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and ensure that there are no safe havens, for these groups to continue operating inside Pakistan,&quot; he added.

The US, the official said, would be looking for very specific action from Pakistan within coming weeks and months.

He said that by spring, the Trump Administration would hope to see some real efforts on &quot;genuine&quot; peace process, as it is not interested in talks for talk&#39;s sake.

&quot;We would like to see a genuine peace dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban. We know that the Taliban has made gains for the last several years. So until they are convinced that they are not going to have sanctuary in Pakistan, we don&#39;t believe they&#39;ll be ready for talks.

&quot;They will continue to believe that they can advance on the battlefield rather than on the negotiating table,&quot; he said, adding &quot;so, we need to see Pakistan ensures that they don&#39;t have a sanctuary within Pakistan. And only at that time we assess that they&#39;ll really be ready for genuine negotiations with the Afghan government&quot;.

The White House official, however, refused to give any timeline for actions on Pakistan, saying he thinks that it would not be helpful.

&quot;But I just want to assure you that that we are thinking in terms of timelines and we are monitoring the progress and we do expect meaningful actions in a certain time-frame and we are prepared to implement new policies and take different steps if we don&#39;t see some progress,&quot; he said.

The US is not satisfied with Pakistan's cooperation in the war against terror as it has not done "anything significant" to rein-in the Taliban and the Haqqani network and destroy their sanctuary on its territory as part of its promise, a senior White House official has said

The US is not satisfied with Pakistan's cooperation in the war against terror as it has not done "anything significant" to rein-in the Taliban and the Haqqani network and destroy their sanctuary on its territory as part of its promise, a senior White House official has said. He also termed the release of Mumbai-terror attack accused Hafiz Saeed as "a step backward" in that direction. The official said that the release of the Coleman family, held captive for five years by the Haqqani network, from inside Pakistan was "not an indication" of Islamabad's cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism. Based on the intelligence shared by the US, in October, the Pakistan Army rescued Caitlan Coleman, her husband Joshua Boyle and their three children after five years of their abduction by terrorists having ties to the Afghan Taliban from the mountainous Kurram Valley region, bordering Afghanistan. "Our diplomatic pressure, as well as our own intelligence agencies diligent work led to the release of the Coleman family. So, I am not sure if that qualifies as step forward (by Pakistan as part of the South Asia Strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August)," the official told PTI. "We are happy that the Colemans are free and that they have been released. But we are still waiting to see Pakistan take steps to rein in the Taliban and the Haqqani network. We are not satisfied that they have done anything significant on this front," he said. The US, the official said, has now a different approach to Pakistan. "We expect, Pakistan to take steps against terror sanctuary on its territory". Acknowledging that Pakistan has not taken steps it promised after the announcement of the South Asia Strategy, the senior administration official said that the White House is still hopeful that Pakistan sees that it is in its interest to co-operate on the US strategy in Afghanistan. "But we have not yet seen any significant changes. We still remain hopeful. And we recognise that some of these changes take a bit of time and wouldn't necessarily occur overnight. "But we will expect to see these changes within a certain time-frame. Our patience is not unlimited when it comes to the steps that we expect them to take," he said. The Trump Administration has been very specific with Pakistan on the steps that it needs to take, we have laid out very specific steps that they need to take to degrade these groups activities and to facilitate a genuine dialogue, the official said. "But, I don't think we have seen any significant steps in that direction. So, we are still waiting and watching and monitoring (Pakistan) very closely. And we're still hopeful that we will see Pakistan take some of those steps to crack down on the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and ensure that there are no safe havens, for these groups to continue operating inside Pakistan," he added. The US, the official said, would be looking for very specific action from Pakistan within coming weeks and months. He said that by spring, the Trump Administration would hope to see some real efforts on "genuine" peace process, as it is not interested in talks for talk's sake. "We would like to see a genuine peace dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban. We know that the Taliban has made gains for the last several years. So until they are convinced that they are not going to have sanctuary in Pakistan, we don't believe they'll be ready for talks. "They will continue to believe that they can advance on the battlefield rather than on the negotiating table," he said, adding "so, we need to see Pakistan ensures that they don't have a sanctuary within Pakistan. And only at that time we assess that they'll really be ready for genuine negotiations with the Afghan government". The White House official, however, refused to give any timeline for actions on Pakistan, saying he thinks that it would not be helpful. "But I just want to assure you that that we are thinking in terms of timelines and we are monitoring the progress and we do expect meaningful actions in a certain time-frame and we are prepared to implement new policies and take different steps if we don't see some progress," he said.

Pakistan hasn't done anything significant in war against terror: US

Twelve Afghan&nbsp;soldiers have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Nimroz province, reports said.

Afghan news agencies reported district governor of Khashrood in Nimroz said the blast occurred due to a&nbsp;roadside bomb.

No group has taken responsibility for the attack.

A fortnight ago the Islamic State had carried out an attack at Khair Khana near the Lab-e-Jar square in Kabul killing at least eight policemen and 10 civilians.&nbsp;

Developing

Reports said the attack took place in Afghanistan's Nimroz province

Twelve Afghan soldiers have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Nimroz province, reports said. Afghan news agencies reported district governor of Khashrood in Nimroz said the blast occurred due to a roadside bomb. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. A fortnight ago the Islamic State had carried out an attack at Khair Khana near the Lab-e-Jar square in Kabul killing at least eight policemen and 10 civilians. Developing

12 Afghan soldiers killed in attack by Taliban

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As&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-india-two-wickets-away-from-crushing-win-against-sri-lanka-25236" target="_blank">India beat Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;by an inning and 239 runs in the Nagpur test today,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/ashwin-breaks-record-as-india-crush-sri-lanka-in-2nd-test-25259" target="_blank">spinner Ravichandran Ashwin penned history</a>&nbsp;by becoming the quickest bowler to collect 300 Test wickets in 54 matches, two shy of Australian pace bowler Dennis Lillee&#39;s who held the record previously.

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It is official. Prince Harry of UK is engaged to actress Meghan Markle. The two will be getting married in the spring of 2018, Harry&#39;s father Prince Charles announced in a statement on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/12-afghan-soldiers-killed-in-attack-by-taliban-25258" target="_blank">12 Afghan soldiers killed in attack by Taliban</a>

Twelve Afghan&nbsp;soldiers have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Nimroz province, reports said. Afghan news agencies reported district governor of Khashrood in Nimroz said the blast occurred due to a&nbsp;roadside bomb. No group has taken responsibility for the attack.

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The American president&#39;s daughter, who is a White House adviser, will be in the country to promote female entrepreneurship and economic power.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-love-jihad-nia-submits-100-page-report-on-hadiya-25262" target="_blank">Kerala &#39;love jihad&#39;: I want freedom, Hadiya tells Supreme Court</a>

The Supreme Court has directed that Hadiya be&nbsp;taken to college for her studies and that the college should provide her hostel facilities. The next hearing of the case&nbsp;has been postponed the next hearing for&nbsp;the third week of January.&nbsp;

After bagging quickest 300 Test wickets, Ashwin eyes 'super 600' As India beat Sri Lanka by an inning and 239 runs in the Nagpur test today, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin penned history by becoming the quickest bowler to collect 300 Test wickets in 54 matches, two shy of Australian pace bowler Dennis Lillee's who held the record previously. Prince Harry announces his engagement to actress Meghan Markle It is official. Prince Harry of UK is engaged to actress Meghan Markle. The two will be getting married in the spring of 2018, Harry's father Prince Charles announced in a statement on Monday. 12 Afghan soldiers killed in attack by Taliban Twelve Afghan soldiers have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Nimroz province, reports said. Afghan news agencies reported district governor of Khashrood in Nimroz said the blast occurred due to a roadside bomb. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. Ivanka Trump in India, mum about working conditions of employees The American president's daughter, who is a White House adviser, will be in the country to promote female entrepreneurship and economic power. Kerala 'love jihad': I want freedom, Hadiya tells Supreme Court The Supreme Court has directed that Hadiya be taken to college for her studies and that the college should provide her hostel facilities. The next hearing of the case has been postponed the next hearing for the third week of January.

WION Evening News Brief, November 27

Islamic State beheaded 15 of its own fighters due to infighting in Afghanistan&#39;s eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said, while a separate suicide attack on Thursday tore into a crowd in the provincial capital, Jalalabad, killing at least eight.

The two incidents underline the insecurity and lawlessness across Afghanistan, where thousands of civilians have been killed or wounded this year, amid unrelenting violence involving militant groups including Islamic State and the Taliban.

In a bloody day for the province, a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing at least eight people at a meeting of supporters of a police commander who was sacked for illegal land grabbing.

There was no claim of responsibility and no immediate indication of who was behind the attack on the crowd in Jalalabad, which had gathered to demand the reinstatement of the commander, who survived the attack.

A spokesman for the Jalalabad hospital confirmed eight people had been killed and 15 wounded.

Nangarhar, on the porous border with Pakistan, has become a stronghold for Islamic State, generally known as Daesh in Afghanistan, which has grown to become one of the country&#39;s most dangerous militant groups since it appeared around the start of 2015.

Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial governor&#39;s spokesman, said the 15 Islamic State fighters were executed after a bout of infighting in the group, which has become notorious for its brutality. The killings occurred in the Surkh Ab bazaar of Achin district.

Further details were not available and there was no confirmation from Islamic State, whose local branch is known as Islamic State in Khorasan, an old name for the area that includes modern Afghanistan.

The Taliban and Islamic State have frequently fought each other in Nangarhar and both have been targeted by sustained US&nbsp;air strikes.

But the exact nature of the relationship between the two groups is little understood. There have been isolated incidents in Afghanistan in which the fighters of both appear to have cooperated.

Afghan intelligence documents reviewed by Reuters this year showed security officials believe Islamic State is present in nine provinces, from Nangarhar and Kunar in the east to Jawzjan, Faryab and Badakhshan in the north and Ghor in the central west.

The fighters were beheaded because of infighting

Islamic State beheaded 15 of its own fighters due to infighting in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said, while a separate suicide attack on Thursday tore into a crowd in the provincial capital, Jalalabad, killing at least eight. The two incidents underline the insecurity and lawlessness across Afghanistan, where thousands of civilians have been killed or wounded this year, amid unrelenting violence involving militant groups including Islamic State and the Taliban. In a bloody day for the province, a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing at least eight people at a meeting of supporters of a police commander who was sacked for illegal land grabbing. There was no claim of responsibility and no immediate indication of who was behind the attack on the crowd in Jalalabad, which had gathered to demand the reinstatement of the commander, who survived the attack. A spokesman for the Jalalabad hospital confirmed eight people had been killed and 15 wounded. Nangarhar, on the porous border with Pakistan, has become a stronghold for Islamic State, generally known as Daesh in Afghanistan, which has grown to become one of the country's most dangerous militant groups since it appeared around the start of 2015. Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial governor's spokesman, said the 15 Islamic State fighters were executed after a bout of infighting in the group, which has become notorious for its brutality. The killings occurred in the Surkh Ab bazaar of Achin district. Further details were not available and there was no confirmation from Islamic State, whose local branch is known as Islamic State in Khorasan, an old name for the area that includes modern Afghanistan. The Taliban and Islamic State have frequently fought each other in Nangarhar and both have been targeted by sustained US air strikes. But the exact nature of the relationship between the two groups is little understood. There have been isolated incidents in Afghanistan in which the fighters of both appear to have cooperated. Afghan intelligence documents reviewed by Reuters this year showed security officials believe Islamic State is present in nine provinces, from Nangarhar and Kunar in the east to Jawzjan, Faryab and Badakhshan in the north and Ghor in the central west.

Islamic State beheads 15 of its own fighters: Afghan officials

U.S. and Afghan forces have launched joint attacks on Taliban opium factories to try to curb the insurgent group&#39;s economic lifeline, officials from both countries said on Monday.

U.S. Army General John Nicholson showed videos at a press conference of targeted aerial strikes against what he described as Taliban drug factories.

&quot;Last night we conducted strikes in northern Helmand to hit the Taliban where it hurts, in their narcotics financing,&quot; said Nicholson, flanked by Afghan Army Lieutenant General Mohammad Sharif Yaftali.

The southern province of Helmand suffers heavy fighting and is the single-largest producer of opium.

Opium production in Afghanistan reached record highs this year, up 87 percent on last year, the United Nations said last week.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said output of opium made from poppy seeds in Afghanistan, the world&rsquo;s main source of heroin, stands at around 9,000 metric tons this year.

UNODC has warned in the past that Kabul&#39;s weakening grip on security was contributing to a collapse in eradication efforts.

Narcotics trafficking

Nearly half of Afghan opium is processed, or refined into morphine or heroin, before it is trafficked out of the country, according to U.S. and Afghan officials.

&quot;We&#39;re determined to tackle criminal economy and narcotics trafficking with full force,&quot; said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Twitter.

Nicholson said the attacks were part of U.S. President Donald Trump&#39;s new policy towards Afghanistan as he boosts troop numbers.

The four-star general showed one video of an F-22 fighter jet dropping 250-pound bombs on two buildings, emphasising that a nearby third building was left unscathed.

U.S. troops have long been accused of causing unnecessary collateral damage and civilian deaths. The United States says it takes every precaution to avoid civilian casualties.

The United Nations said at least 10 civilians may have been killed by a strike in Kunduz earlier this month, contradicting a U.S. investigation that found no civilian deaths.

'Last night we conducted strikes in northern Helmand to hit the Taliban where it hurts, in their narcotics financing,' US Army General John Nicholson said

U.S. and Afghan forces have launched joint attacks on Taliban opium factories to try to curb the insurgent group's economic lifeline, officials from both countries said on Monday. U.S. Army General John Nicholson showed videos at a press conference of targeted aerial strikes against what he described as Taliban drug factories. "Last night we conducted strikes in northern Helmand to hit the Taliban where it hurts, in their narcotics financing," said Nicholson, flanked by Afghan Army Lieutenant General Mohammad Sharif Yaftali. The southern province of Helmand suffers heavy fighting and is the single-largest producer of opium. Opium production in Afghanistan reached record highs this year, up 87 percent on last year, the United Nations said last week. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said output of opium made from poppy seeds in Afghanistan, the world’s main source of heroin, stands at around 9,000 metric tons this year. UNODC has warned in the past that Kabul's weakening grip on security was contributing to a collapse in eradication efforts. Narcotics trafficking Nearly half of Afghan opium is processed, or refined into morphine or heroin, before it is trafficked out of the country, according to U.S. and Afghan officials. "We're determined to tackle criminal economy and narcotics trafficking with full force," said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Twitter. Nicholson said the attacks were part of U.S. President Donald Trump's new policy towards Afghanistan as he boosts troop numbers. The four-star general showed one video of an F-22 fighter jet dropping 250-pound bombs on two buildings, emphasising that a nearby third building was left unscathed. U.S. troops have long been accused of causing unnecessary collateral damage and civilian deaths. The United States says it takes every precaution to avoid civilian casualties. The United Nations said at least 10 civilians may have been killed by a strike in Kunduz earlier this month, contradicting a U.S. investigation that found no civilian deaths.

US, Afghan forces strike opium factories to curb Taliban funds

At least six policemen were killed in an attack at several check posts in Afghanistan&#39;s Farah province on Saturday night, Tolo News reported citing local officials.

Farah police spokesman Aqbal Baheer confirmed the incident saying eight police soldiers were also injured in the incident.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Farah police spokesman Aqbal Baheer confirmed the incident saying eight police soldiers were also injured in the incident

At least six policemen were killed in an attack at several check posts in Afghanistan's Farah province on Saturday night, Tolo News reported citing local officials. Farah police spokesman Aqbal Baheer confirmed the incident saying eight police soldiers were also injured in the incident. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Taliban attack kills six policemen in Afghanistan

The Afghan special forces raided a Taliban prison in southern Helmand province on Sunday and rescued over 30 people, including children, and two policemen.

At least four children under the age of 12 were also among those rescued.

The prisoners were rescued during an operation in the early hours of Sunday morning, Khaama Press&nbsp;quoting Afghan military officials as saying.

A local official has stated that the prisoners&nbsp;were arrested on charges of supporting the government or they&nbsp;were family members of the Afghan army and police.

The Taliban has claimed that the rescued people were criminals of robbery, kidnapping, personal disputes and other crimes and they were awaiting trial.

The reason for the arrest is still being investigated, Reuters quoted Abdul Qadir Bahadurzai, a deputy spokesman for the army&rsquo;s 215th Maiwand military corps as saying.

Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) also rescued at least eleven people from a Taliban prison in Helmand province in May.&nbsp;

(With inputs from news agencies)

The Afghan special forces raided a Taliban prison in southern Helmand province on Sunday and rescued over 30 people, including children, and two policemen

The Afghan special forces raided a Taliban prison in southern Helmand province on Sunday and rescued over 30 people, including children, and two policemen. At least four children under the age of 12 were also among those rescued. The prisoners were rescued during an operation in the early hours of Sunday morning, Khaama Press quoting Afghan military officials as saying. A local official has stated that the prisoners were arrested on charges of supporting the government or they were family members of the Afghan army and police. The Taliban has claimed that the rescued people were criminals of robbery, kidnapping, personal disputes and other crimes and they were awaiting trial. The reason for the arrest is still being investigated, Reuters quoted Abdul Qadir Bahadurzai, a deputy spokesman for the army’s 215th Maiwand military corps as saying. Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) also rescued at least eleven people from a Taliban prison in Helmand province in May. (With inputs from news agencies)

Afghan forces rescue 30 from Taliban-run prison

The Afghan Taliban attacked more than a dozen checkpoints over six hours in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 22 police and wounding 15, officials said on Tuesday, as militants killed eight soldiers in the west in a growing insurgency.

Government forces killed 45 insurgents and wounded 35 and none of the police checkpoints was captured in the overnight attacks, officials said.

&ldquo;Our forces resisted until they received reinforcements and air support,&rdquo; said Zia Durrani, spokesman for Kandahar&rsquo;s police chief. &ldquo;The Taliban were defeated.&rdquo;

The Taliban told reporters by WhatsApp that they killed 43 police and members of a militia and destroyed 13 armoured vehicles.

The insurgents often exaggerate battlefield casualties.

The Taliban, fighting to restore Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster by U.S.-led troops, also attacked Bala Boluk, in the western province of Farah, on Tuesday, killing eight soldiers and wounding three, according to the provincial government.

The government&rsquo;s control or influence over the country has fallen to just under 60 percent, down six percentage points from last year, according to the United States&rsquo; Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

The government?s control or influence over the country has fallen to just under 60 percent, according to the United States? Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

The Afghan Taliban attacked more than a dozen checkpoints over six hours in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 22 police and wounding 15, officials said on Tuesday, as militants killed eight soldiers in the west in a growing insurgency. Government forces killed 45 insurgents and wounded 35 and none of the police checkpoints was captured in the overnight attacks, officials said. “Our forces resisted until they received reinforcements and air support,” said Zia Durrani, spokesman for Kandahar’s police chief. “The Taliban were defeated.” The Taliban told reporters by WhatsApp that they killed 43 police and members of a militia and destroyed 13 armoured vehicles. The insurgents often exaggerate battlefield casualties. The Taliban, fighting to restore Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster by U.S.-led troops, also attacked Bala Boluk, in the western province of Farah, on Tuesday, killing eight soldiers and wounding three, according to the provincial government. The government’s control or influence over the country has fallen to just under 60 percent, down six percentage points from last year, according to the United States’ Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Taliban attacks checkpoints in Afghanistan, 22 cops killed

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-fir-can-be-registered-against-a-judge-says-supreme-court-24210">No FIR can be registered against a judge, says Supreme Court</a>

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking SIT probe into an alleged case of bribery in the name of judges, saying such a plea has raised unnecessary doubts over the integrity of judges.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chennai-girl-dies-after-boy-sets-her-ablaze-24200">Stalker sets Chennai woman, mother &amp; sister on fire; woman dies</a>

A stalker in Chennai allegedly set on fire a woman, her mother, and sister. Akash, 23 years old, who has been detained by the police for setting ablaze the three was stalking the woman for over a month.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wpi-inflation-at-6-mth-high-of-359-onion-veggies-costlier-24199">WPI inflation at 6-month high of 3.59%</a>

Inflation at the wholesale level rose to a 6-month high of 3.59 percent in October as the prices of food articles, led by onions and vegetables, rose sharply.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-iffi-2017-ib-ministry-drops-two-films-from-the-festival-jury-head-sujoy-ghosh-resigns-24157">IFFI 2017: I&amp;B Ministry drops two films from the festival; jury-head Sujoy Ghosh resigns</a>

The film festival, that takes place in Goa every year, has been in the news for some of the films that the I&amp;B Ministry has decided to drop from the final list of films that will be screened at the festival. The 13-member jury for the Indian Panorama section has alleged that the Sanal Sasidharan&rsquo;s Malayalam movie S Durga and Ravi Jadhav&rsquo;s Marathi film Nude were dropped from the final list without their knowledge. The panel&#39;s head, filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh has resigned from his post.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-attacks-more-than-a-dozen-checkpoints-in-afghanistan-killing-22-police-24189">Taliban attacks checkpoints in Afghanistan, 22 cops killed</a>

The Afghan Taliban attacked more than a dozen checkpoints over six hours in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 22 police and wounding 15, officials said on Tuesday, as militants killed eight soldiers in the west in a growing insurgency.

No FIR can be registered against a judge, says Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking SIT probe into an alleged case of bribery in the name of judges, saying such a plea has raised unnecessary doubts over the integrity of judges. Stalker sets Chennai woman, mother & sister on fire; woman dies A stalker in Chennai allegedly set on fire a woman, her mother, and sister. Akash, 23 years old, who has been detained by the police for setting ablaze the three was stalking the woman for over a month. WPI inflation at 6-month high of 3.59% Inflation at the wholesale level rose to a 6-month high of 3.59 percent in October as the prices of food articles, led by onions and vegetables, rose sharply. IFFI 2017: I&B Ministry drops two films from the festival; jury-head Sujoy Ghosh resigns The film festival, that takes place in Goa every year, has been in the news for some of the films that the I&B Ministry has decided to drop from the final list of films that will be screened at the festival. The 13-member jury for the Indian Panorama section has alleged that the Sanal Sasidharan’s Malayalam movie S Durga and Ravi Jadhav’s Marathi film Nude were dropped from the final list without their knowledge. The panel's head, filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh has resigned from his post. Taliban attacks checkpoints in Afghanistan, 22 cops killed The Afghan Taliban attacked more than a dozen checkpoints over six hours in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 22 police and wounding 15, officials said on Tuesday, as militants killed eight soldiers in the west in a growing insurgency.

WION evening news brief, November 14, 2017

WION Evening News Brief, November 14, 2017

Islamic State <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gunmen-storm-kabul-tv-station-in-ongoing-attack-employee-23653">has claimed has responsibility for the attack </a>on the TV station in Afghanistan&#39;s capital Kabul.

At least one person <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/suicide-bombers-gunmen-attack-afghan-police-training-centre-officials-22527">was killed in the attack after gunmen stormed </a>the station. The terrorists had fired rocket-propelled grenades at the guards, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The terrorist organization&#39;s news agency Amaq said it was behind the attack.

&quot;I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing,&quot; Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP.

&quot;Many of my colleagues are still in the building,&quot; he added.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish had said as many as three attackers were involved in the assault.

Taliban had denied involvement in the attack on Twitter.

The attack came to an end after Afghan security forces rescued the staff inside.

At least one person was killed in the attack after gunmen stormed the TV station in Kabul

Islamic State has claimed has responsibility for the attack on the TV station in Afghanistan's capital Kabul. At least one person was killed in the attack after gunmen stormed the station. The terrorists had fired rocket-propelled grenades at the guards, AFP reported. The terrorist organization's news agency Amaq said it was behind the attack. "I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP. "Many of my colleagues are still in the building," he added. Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish had said as many as three attackers were involved in the assault. Taliban had denied involvement in the attack on Twitter. The attack came to an end after Afghan security forces rescued the staff inside.

Kabul: Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on TV station

Afghanistan`s telecoms regulator wrote to internet service providers this week ordering them to block the messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram but it was not immediately clear whether they had complied.

Use of social media and mobile instant messaging services has exploded in Afghanistan over recent years. Social media users and civil rights groups reacted with outrage to initial reports of the move and the letter sent by telecoms regulator ATRA was widely shared on social media.

&nbsp;Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the move had been ordered by the National Directorate for Security to thwart the use of the encrypted messaging services by the Taliban and other insurgent groups.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports.

The acting minister for telecommunications, Shahzad Aryobee, posted a message on Facebook saying that the telecoms regulator had been ordered to put a gradual block on the services to improve their functioning after complaints had been received.

&quot;The government is committed to freedom of speech and knows that it is a basic civil right for our people,&quot; he wrote.

The letter by telecoms regulator ATRA, dated Nov. 1 and signed by an official of the regulator, directed internet companies to block Telegram and Facebook Inc`s WhatsApp services &quot;without delay&quot; for a period of 20 days.

However, the service worked normally this week and still appeared to be working normally on Saturday on both state-owned operator Salaam and private service providers.

On Friday, there were reports of interruptions but it was not clear whether they were caused by a deliberate shutdown or by the unrelated issues with WhatsApp services that were experienced in several countries.

Mobile phone services have been one of the big success stories in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted from power by a U.S.-led campaign in 2001, but there are also frequent complaints from users about quality and coverage.

WhatsApp and similar services, including Facebook Messenger and Viber, are widely used by Afghan politicians and members of the government as well as by the Taliban, which has a sophisticated social media operation of its own.

The movement`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote to reporters this week giving his Viber number &quot;in case WhatsApp is not working&quot;.

Afghanistan`s telecoms regulator wrote to internet service providers this week ordering them to block the messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram but it was not immediately clear whether they had complied.

Afghanistan`s telecoms regulator wrote to internet service providers this week ordering them to block the messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram but it was not immediately clear whether they had complied. Use of social media and mobile instant messaging services has exploded in Afghanistan over recent years. Social media users and civil rights groups reacted with outrage to initial reports of the move and the letter sent by telecoms regulator ATRA was widely shared on social media. Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the move had been ordered by the National Directorate for Security to thwart the use of the encrypted messaging services by the Taliban and other insurgent groups. It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports. The acting minister for telecommunications, Shahzad Aryobee, posted a message on Facebook saying that the telecoms regulator had been ordered to put a gradual block on the services to improve their functioning after complaints had been received. "The government is committed to freedom of speech and knows that it is a basic civil right for our people," he wrote. The letter by telecoms regulator ATRA, dated Nov. 1 and signed by an official of the regulator, directed internet companies to block Telegram and Facebook Inc`s WhatsApp services "without delay" for a period of 20 days. However, the service worked normally this week and still appeared to be working normally on Saturday on both state-owned operator Salaam and private service providers. On Friday, there were reports of interruptions but it was not clear whether they were caused by a deliberate shutdown or by the unrelated issues with WhatsApp services that were experienced in several countries. Mobile phone services have been one of the big success stories in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted from power by a U.S.-led campaign in 2001, but there are also frequent complaints from users about quality and coverage. WhatsApp and similar services, including Facebook Messenger and Viber, are widely used by Afghan politicians and members of the government as well as by the Taliban, which has a sophisticated social media operation of its own. The movement`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote to reporters this week giving his Viber number "in case WhatsApp is not working".

Afghanistan moves to block WhatsApp, Telegram messaging services

Omar Khalid Khorasani, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/top-pakistan-taliban-leader-killed-in-afghanistan-6787">leader of Khorasani&#39;s Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, the </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/top-pakistan-taliban-leader-killed-in-afghanistan-6787">breakway</a> group of &nbsp;Pakistan Taliban was killed in a drone strike on Thursday with reports suggesting senior militant commander Asad Afridi emerging as a new leader of the terrorist faction.

Khorasani died<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-suicide-attack-in-kandahar-military-base-at-least-40-soldiers-killed-22617"> of injuries suffered after a US drone strike</a> in Afghanistan&#39;s Paktia province.

&ldquo;Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Umar Khalid Khorasani, who sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike in Afghanistan&#39;s Paktia province, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening,&rdquo; JuA spokesman Asad Mansoor told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.&nbsp;

&ldquo;At least nine close associates of Khorasani were also killed in the strike,&rdquo; the spokesman said.

A former journalist, Khorasani was born Abdul Wali in a village called Lakaro in the northwestern Mohmand tribal region in Pakistan.

Khorasani started his operations by targeting Kashmir before joining the Pakistan Taliban in 2007 but left it seven years later after a quarrel to form his own outfit Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

Later, his group turned&nbsp;to the Pakistan Taliban once again about two years ago.

JuA was responsible for the deadly attack at Wagah in 2014 which targeted Pakistan soldiers, at least 60 people were killed in the attack including three Pakistan soldiers.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar was&nbsp;allegedly responsible for suicide bombings which&nbsp;killed more than 250 people, with the group claiming eight major attacks in the last two years. The US had designated JuA as a terrorist organization last year.

Khorasani is believed to have had links to al Qaida and its chief, Ayman Al-Zawahiri.&nbsp;

The killing of JuA chief Omar Khalid Khorasani is being seen as a major boost for Pakistan which is keen to restore ties with the US, especially since secretary of state Rex Tillerson is set to visit the region next week.

Khorasani died of injuries suffered after a US drone strike in Afghanistan's Paktia province.

Omar Khalid Khorasani, leader of Khorasani's Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, the breakway group of Pakistan Taliban was killed in a drone strike on Thursday with reports suggesting senior militant commander Asad Afridi emerging as a new leader of the terrorist faction. Khorasani died of injuries suffered after a US drone strike in Afghanistan's Paktia province. “Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Umar Khalid Khorasani, who sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike in Afghanistan's Paktia province, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening,” JuA spokesman Asad Mansoor told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location. “At least nine close associates of Khorasani were also killed in the strike,” the spokesman said. A former journalist, Khorasani was born Abdul Wali in a village called Lakaro in the northwestern Mohmand tribal region in Pakistan. Khorasani started his operations by targeting Kashmir before joining the Pakistan Taliban in 2007 but left it seven years later after a quarrel to form his own outfit Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. Later, his group turned to the Pakistan Taliban once again about two years ago. JuA was responsible for the deadly attack at Wagah in 2014 which targeted Pakistan soldiers, at least 60 people were killed in the attack including three Pakistan soldiers. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar was allegedly responsible for suicide bombings which killed more than 250 people, with the group claiming eight major attacks in the last two years. The US had designated JuA as a terrorist organization last year. Khorasani is believed to have had links to al Qaida and its chief, Ayman Al-Zawahiri. The killing of JuA chief Omar Khalid Khorasani is being seen as a major boost for Pakistan which is keen to restore ties with the US, especially since secretary of state Rex Tillerson is set to visit the region next week.

Omar Khalid Khorasani, anti-India terrorist, former Pak Taliban operative killed in US drone strike

Afghanistan&nbsp;was struck by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/suicide-bombers-gunmen-attack-afghan-police-training-centre-officials-22527">terror attacks at two places as suicide bombers</a>&nbsp;targeted&nbsp;mosques in Kabul and Ghor.

At least 50 people were killed in the two attacks.&nbsp;There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack.

In the first attack, on a Shia mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, at least 32 people including women and children were killed and 41 others wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up as worshippers gathered for evening prayer.

&quot;Unfortunately this evening a suicide bomber detonated himself among the worshippers inside a mosque in Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul city,&quot; Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid told AFP.

A senior security official told Reuters that security forces at the scene had removed at least 30 dead bodies in Kabul, but that the exact number of casualties was unknown.

In the second attack, a suicide bomber detonated himself in a Sunni mosque in the central province of Ghor.

Iqbal Nezami, a spokesman for the Ghor provincial police, told Reuters the bombing appeared to target a local political leader of the Jamiat political party who was also killed along with several other worshippers.

On Thursday, two suicide bombers on Humvees had targeted a military base in Kandahar in Afghanistan. The attack had occurred in Maiwand district of Kandahar.

The attack carried out by the Taliban killed at least 43 Afghan troops after the bombers stormed the military base in southern Afghanistan.

On Thursday, two suicide bombers on Humvees had targeted a military base in Kandahar in Afghanistan

Afghanistan was struck by terror attacks at two places as suicide bombers targeted mosques in Kabul and Ghor. At least 50 people were killed in the two attacks. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack. In the first attack, on a Shia mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, at least 32 people including women and children were killed and 41 others wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up as worshippers gathered for evening prayer. "Unfortunately this evening a suicide bomber detonated himself among the worshippers inside a mosque in Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul city," Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid told AFP. A senior security official told Reuters that security forces at the scene had removed at least 30 dead bodies in Kabul, but that the exact number of casualties was unknown. In the second attack, a suicide bomber detonated himself in a Sunni mosque in the central province of Ghor. Iqbal Nezami, a spokesman for the Ghor provincial police, told Reuters the bombing appeared to target a local political leader of the Jamiat political party who was also killed along with several other worshippers. On Thursday, two suicide bombers on Humvees had targeted a military base in Kandahar in Afghanistan. The attack had occurred in Maiwand district of Kandahar. The attack carried out by the Taliban killed at least 43 Afghan troops after the bombers stormed the military base in southern Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Suicide bombers target two mosques, at least 50 dead

Two suicide bombers <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-attacks-the-hamid-karzai-international-airport-in-kabul-20750">on Humvees targeted a military base in</a>&nbsp;Kandahar in Afghanistan, reports said.

The attack occurred in&nbsp;Maiwand district of&nbsp;Kandahar, Tolo news reported.

Afghanistan&#39;s Defense ministry said Taliban militants killed at least 43 Afghan troops&nbsp;when they stormed the&nbsp;military base in southern Afghanistan, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The ministry said 60 soldiers were manning the base in the southern province out of which 43 were killed, nine were wounded and six were missing after Taliban militants stormed the base in the middle of the night, the Defense ministry said in a statement.

At least nine Taliban were also reported killed.

Defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP the attackers detonated at least one explosive-packed Humvee vehicle and razed the compound in the early morning assault.

&quot;We have sent a delegation to assess the situation. The base is under ANA (Afghan National Army) control,&quot; Waziri told AFP.

It was the third suicide and gun attack on a security installation this week and takes the total death toll to more than 100, including soldiers, police and civilians.

The attack occurred in?Maiwand district of?Kandahar

Two suicide bombers on Humvees targeted a military base in Kandahar in Afghanistan, reports said. The attack occurred in Maiwand district of Kandahar, Tolo news reported. Afghanistan's Defense ministry said Taliban militants killed at least 43 Afghan troops when they stormed the military base in southern Afghanistan, Reuters reported. The ministry said 60 soldiers were manning the base in the southern province out of which 43 were killed, nine were wounded and six were missing after Taliban militants stormed the base in the middle of the night, the Defense ministry said in a statement. At least nine Taliban were also reported killed. Defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP the attackers detonated at least one explosive-packed Humvee vehicle and razed the compound in the early morning assault. "We have sent a delegation to assess the situation. The base is under ANA (Afghan National Army) control," Waziri told AFP. It was the third suicide and gun attack on a security installation this week and takes the total death toll to more than 100, including soldiers, police and civilians.

Afghanistan: Taliban attack Kandahar military base, at least 43 soldiers killed

A<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/roadside-blast-kills-five-in-quetta-22584">&nbsp;Pakistani&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;bomber&nbsp;rammed a car into a&nbsp;police truck</a>&nbsp;in the southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, killing at least seven people,&nbsp;police&nbsp;said.

The attack killed five&nbsp;police&nbsp;officials and two passers-by on the outskirts of the volatile frontier city, Quetta&nbsp;police&nbsp;chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said. He said another 22 people were wounded, eight of them critically.

Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province, told Reuters: &quot;It was a&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;blast.&quot; Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province and lies about 100 km (60 miles) east of the border with Afghanistan.

Bugti said the&nbsp;truck&nbsp;carrying the&nbsp;police&nbsp;officials was on its way to the city to drop them at their posts when the&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;bomber&nbsp;rammed into the vehicle, ripping it apart. Television pictures showed the burnt wreckage of the vehicles.

The&nbsp;Pakistani&nbsp;Taliban, an umbrella of various militant groups within Pakistan and loosely allied to the Afghan&nbsp;Taliban, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.

Baluchistan province has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas- and mineral-rich region&#39;s resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination.

The&nbsp;Taliban, Sunni Islam militants and sectarian groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan.

The violence has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistan&rsquo;s southern deep-water port of Gwadar.

A&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;bombing claimed by Islamic State at a Sufi shrine earlier this month killed 22 people and wounded more than 30.

Ayub Qureshi, the provincial&nbsp;police&nbsp;chief, said a counter-terrorism&nbsp;police&nbsp;officer was also shot and killed in another part of Quetta on Wednesday at the time when authorities were dealing with the suicide&nbsp;bombing.

No one has claimed that shooting.

The attack killed five?police?officials and two passers-by on the outskirts of the volatile frontier city, Quetta?police?chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said. He said another 22 people were wounded, eight of them critically

A Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber rammed a car into a police truck in the southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, police said. The attack killed five police officials and two passers-by on the outskirts of the volatile frontier city, Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said. He said another 22 people were wounded, eight of them critically. Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province, told Reuters: "It was a suicide blast." Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province and lies about 100 km (60 miles) east of the border with Afghanistan. Bugti said the truck carrying the police officials was on its way to the city to drop them at their posts when the suicide bomber rammed into the vehicle, ripping it apart. Television pictures showed the burnt wreckage of the vehicles. The Pakistani Taliban, an umbrella of various militant groups within Pakistan and loosely allied to the Afghan Taliban, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. Baluchistan province has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas- and mineral-rich region's resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination. The Taliban, Sunni Islam militants and sectarian groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan. The violence has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistan’s southern deep-water port of Gwadar. A suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State at a Sufi shrine earlier this month killed 22 people and wounded more than 30. Ayub Qureshi, the provincial police chief, said a counter-terrorism police officer was also shot and killed in another part of Quetta on Wednesday at the time when authorities were dealing with the suicide bombing. No one has claimed that shooting.

Pakistan: Taliban suicide bomber rams car into police truck, 7 dead

Two separate suicide and gun attacks on government forces in Afghanistan left nearly 50 dead and more than 200 wounded, officials said Tuesday, the latest devastating assault on beleaguered security forces.

The Taliban claimed the most deadly of the two assaults, a coordinated attack on police in the southeast Afghan city of Gardez that left hospital officials calling for blood donations and desperate scenes as relatives queued for news of their loved ones after the hours-long gun battle.&nbsp;

A separate ambush blamed on the Taliban in the neighbouring province of Ghazni on Tuesday killed 15 security officials with 12 wounded on a bloody day for government forces.

The assaults are a fresh blow as militants step up their offensives across Afghanistan, with security forces already beset by corruption, desertions and suffering shocking casualties over the past year.

&quot;The hospital is overwhelmed and we call on people to donate blood,&quot; said Shir Mohammad Karimi, deputy health director in Gardez.

Doctors and nurses rushed to attend to the wounded women, children and police filling the corridors where some bodies also lay. Outside, university students formed a queue to donate blood, an AFP photographer said.&nbsp;

The attack, claimed by the Taliban in a tweet, began when two suicide car bombs blew up near the training centre, which is close to the Paktia police headquarters, making way for the gunmen to start their assault, the interior ministry and local police said.

&quot;Most of the victims are civilians who had come to the police headquarters to get their passports and national IDs,&quot; according to a statement from the Paktia governor&#39;s office.

A student at a nearby university who was in class at the time of the attack said he heard &quot;a big boom&quot; which caused the building to shake and windows shatter.&nbsp;

&quot;As we were trying to find our way (out of the building) I heard a second blast and then the dust and dirt covered us in the class. Several of my classmates were wounded by broken glass,&quot; Noor Ahmad told AFP.&nbsp;

The battle between the attackers, armed with guns and suicide vests, and security forces lasted around five hours before it ended with all five militants killed, officials said.&nbsp;

Photos posted on Twitter showed two large plumes of smoke rising above the city.

The second attack, in Ghazni some 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Gardez, involved insurgents detonating an explosives-laden Humvee vehicle near a police headquarters and attackers storming the building, Haref Noori, the Ghazni governor&#39;s spokesman, told AFP.

&quot;Dozens of Taliban&quot; were killed in the attack, Ghazni police chief Mohammad Zaman said.

The attacks are the latest in a series of assaults by militants targeting Afghan security installations, including one on a military hospital in Kabul in March which may have killed up to 100 people, and a devastating attack on a base in Mazar-i-Sharif which left 144 people dead.

They came one day after four-way talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China were held Monday in Oman with the aim of ending the Taliban&#39;s 16-year insurgency.&nbsp;

Paktia province borders Pakistan&#39;s militancy-plagued tribal areas where the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network has a presence.

Tuesday&#39;s attack in Gardez came hours after a US drone strike in Pakistan&#39;s Kurram tribal district, part of which borders Paktia, killed at least 26 Haqqani militants, officials have said.

Local officials told AFP that drones were still flying above Kurram after the attack, the deadliest targeting militants in the Pakistani tribal region this year.&nbsp;

In Kurram last week the Pakistani military rescued a US-Canadian family who had been abducted by militants in Afghanistan in 2012. US President Donald Trump has said they were being held by the Haqqani network.

The extremist group has been blamed for carrying out spectacular attacks across Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in 2001 and is known for its frequent use of suicide bombers.

It was blamed for the truck bomb deep in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul in May that killed around 150 people.

The Haqqanis have also been accused of assassinating top Afghan officials and holding kidnapped Westerners for ransom.

These include the recently rescued hostages Canadian Joshua Boyle, his American wife Caitlan Coleman, and their three children -- all born in captivity -- as well as US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was released in 2014.

The police training centre in Gardiz in southeast Afghanistan was attacked by suicide bombers and gunmen

Two separate suicide and gun attacks on government forces in Afghanistan left nearly 50 dead and more than 200 wounded, officials said Tuesday, the latest devastating assault on beleaguered security forces. The Taliban claimed the most deadly of the two assaults, a coordinated attack on police in the southeast Afghan city of Gardez that left hospital officials calling for blood donations and desperate scenes as relatives queued for news of their loved ones after the hours-long gun battle. A separate ambush blamed on the Taliban in the neighbouring province of Ghazni on Tuesday killed 15 security officials with 12 wounded on a bloody day for government forces. The assaults are a fresh blow as militants step up their offensives across Afghanistan, with security forces already beset by corruption, desertions and suffering shocking casualties over the past year. "The hospital is overwhelmed and we call on people to donate blood," said Shir Mohammad Karimi, deputy health director in Gardez. Doctors and nurses rushed to attend to the wounded women, children and police filling the corridors where some bodies also lay. Outside, university students formed a queue to donate blood, an AFP photographer said. The attack, claimed by the Taliban in a tweet, began when two suicide car bombs blew up near the training centre, which is close to the Paktia police headquarters, making way for the gunmen to start their assault, the interior ministry and local police said. "Most of the victims are civilians who had come to the police headquarters to get their passports and national IDs," according to a statement from the Paktia governor's office. A student at a nearby university who was in class at the time of the attack said he heard "a big boom" which caused the building to shake and windows shatter. "As we were trying to find our way (out of the building) I heard a second blast and then the dust and dirt covered us in the class. Several of my classmates were wounded by broken glass," Noor Ahmad told AFP. The battle between the attackers, armed with guns and suicide vests, and security forces lasted around five hours before it ended with all five militants killed, officials said. Photos posted on Twitter showed two large plumes of smoke rising above the city. The second attack, in Ghazni some 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Gardez, involved insurgents detonating an explosives-laden Humvee vehicle near a police headquarters and attackers storming the building, Haref Noori, the Ghazni governor's spokesman, told AFP. "Dozens of Taliban" were killed in the attack, Ghazni police chief Mohammad Zaman said. The attacks are the latest in a series of assaults by militants targeting Afghan security installations, including one on a military hospital in Kabul in March which may have killed up to 100 people, and a devastating attack on a base in Mazar-i-Sharif which left 144 people dead. They came one day after four-way talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China were held Monday in Oman with the aim of ending the Taliban's 16-year insurgency. Paktia province borders Pakistan's militancy-plagued tribal areas where the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network has a presence. Tuesday's attack in Gardez came hours after a US drone strike in Pakistan's Kurram tribal district, part of which borders Paktia, killed at least 26 Haqqani militants, officials have said. Local officials told AFP that drones were still flying above Kurram after the attack, the deadliest targeting militants in the Pakistani tribal region this year. In Kurram last week the Pakistani military rescued a US-Canadian family who had been abducted by militants in Afghanistan in 2012. US President Donald Trump has said they were being held by the Haqqani network. The extremist group has been blamed for carrying out spectacular attacks across Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in 2001 and is known for its frequent use of suicide bombers. It was blamed for the truck bomb deep in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul in May that killed around 150 people. The Haqqanis have also been accused of assassinating top Afghan officials and holding kidnapped Westerners for ransom. These include the recently rescued hostages Canadian Joshua Boyle, his American wife Caitlan Coleman, and their three children -- all born in captivity -- as well as US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was released in 2014.

Twin suicide attacks in Afghanistan, at least 50 killed

Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and US officials met on Monday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-set-to-restart-afghan-peace-process-without-india-21220">behind closed door to restart the Quadrilateral Coordination Group</a>(QCG) talks on kick-starting the Afganistan peace process in Muscat with the Taliban boycotting the meeting altogether.

The meeting was led by Pakistan&#39;s foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, US assistant secretary of state Alice Wells and Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai.

The QCG is a four-nation group comprising of Afganistan, Pakistan, China and the US tasked to restart the peace process in Afghanistan.

Pakistan&#39;s foreign minister Khawaja Asif had told Washington last week that Pakistan is ready to bring the Taliban and Afghan government to the negotiating table through the quadrilateral peace process.&nbsp;

Pakistan foreign minister Asif was in the US to assure Trump government officials about his country&#39;s intent in Afganistan.

Pakistan has big stakes in Afganistan which seems to be slipping from its hand after President Trump emphatically laid down his strategy accusing the country of offering a safe haven to &quot;agents of chaos&quot;.&nbsp;

Trump openly called for more troop deployment in Afghanistan and spoke about India&#39;s role in the country.

In a statement, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that the quadrilateral meeting would improve Kabul and Islamabad&rsquo;s relationship.

&ldquo;Afghanistan-Pakistan relations will be discussed at the meeting and the results will be released,&rdquo; Afghanistan&#39;s Tolo News quoted him as saying.

The latest peace moves in Afganistan comes with the US exerting pressure on Pakistan to do more.

Just last week Pakistan commandos helped free an American family from the clutches of the Taliban which was praised by President Trump.

Pakistani officials, however, told Reuters that talks had resumed due to their initiative.&nbsp;

The group did not release any official statement and none of the players divulged any detail of the meeting. 
&nbsp;

The QCG is a four-nation group comprising of Afganistan, Pakistan, China and the US tasked to restart the peace process in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and US officials met on Monday behind closed door to restart the Quadrilateral Coordination Group(QCG) talks on kick-starting the Afganistan peace process in Muscat with the Taliban boycotting the meeting altogether. The meeting was led by Pakistan's foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, US assistant secretary of state Alice Wells and Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai. The QCG is a four-nation group comprising of Afganistan, Pakistan, China and the US tasked to restart the peace process in Afghanistan. Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif had told Washington last week that Pakistan is ready to bring the Taliban and Afghan government to the negotiating table through the quadrilateral peace process. Pakistan foreign minister Asif was in the US to assure Trump government officials about his country's intent in Afganistan. Pakistan has big stakes in Afganistan which seems to be slipping from its hand after President Trump emphatically laid down his strategy accusing the country of offering a safe haven to "agents of chaos". Trump openly called for more troop deployment in Afghanistan and spoke about India's role in the country. In a statement, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that the quadrilateral meeting would improve Kabul and Islamabad’s relationship. “Afghanistan-Pakistan relations will be discussed at the meeting and the results will be released,” Afghanistan's Tolo News quoted him as saying. The latest peace moves in Afganistan comes with the US exerting pressure on Pakistan to do more. Just last week Pakistan commandos helped free an American family from the clutches of the Taliban which was praised by President Trump. Pakistani officials, however, told Reuters that talks had resumed due to their initiative. The group did not release any official statement and none of the players divulged any detail of the meeting.

Pakistan, China, US meet on Afghanistan, without Taliban

Freed hostage Joshua Boyle has told public broadcaster CBC his children are exploring their new home in Canada but are still very fearful after a brutal years-long ordeal at the hands of Taliban-linked kidnappers.

Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed Wednesday in Pakistan after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

In a chilling statement on the family&#39;s arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, Caitlan Coleman. He said his priority now was to protect his family.

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<h5>Joshua Boyle said his children are terrified to leave their new home but beginning to understand that there are decent people in the world</h5>
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In a message sent later to Canadian media from his parents&#39; home town of Smith Falls, around 80 km (50 miles) from Ottawa, the 34-year-old said the family had safely arrived in the first real &quot;home&quot; his children had ever known.

In remarks emailed to CBC, he said the children -- boys aged four and two, and a girl just four months old -- were starting to adapt to new surroundings after their harrowing ordeal.

The CBC said Boyle told them his four year-old was examining post-it notes and curtains and boardgames.

&quot;Everything in the house, he said, is a wonderland to him, and that said, he is still terrified to leave the house, even to go out on the porch,&quot; CBC correspondent Susan Armiston said.

Boyle said his two-year-old was &quot;nearly as distressed as he was in prison&quot; but his baby girl while scared had also discovered &quot;there are more decent people in the world than she ever knew,&quot; Armiston said.

Kidnapped 
Boyle and his wife were kidnapped by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in a remote area of Afghanistan in 2012.

The family was freed Wednesday by Pakistani troops acting on US intelligence.&nbsp;

Visibly angry, Boyle told reporters the network had ordered the killing of their baby -- a fourth child, whose existence had not previously been known -- as retaliation for his refusal to accept an offer from them.

&quot;The stupidity and evil of the Haqqani network&#39;s kidnapping of a pilgrim and his heavily pregnant wife engaged in helping ordinary villagers in Taliban-controlled regions of Afghanistan was eclipsed only by the stupidity and evil of authorizing the murder of my infant daughter,&quot; he said.

Boyle also said his wife had been raped, not by a lone guard but with the aid of the captain of the guard and a Haqqani commander he identified as Abu Hajr.

The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban&#39;s deputy leader.

The faction has long been suspected of having links with Pakistan&#39;s shadowy military establishment.

Boyle said both incidents took place in 2014, some two years after they were taken captive.

He said the Taliban had confirmed the crimes took place, in an investigation in 2016, and called on the group&#39;s leaders to take action against the &quot;criminal miscreants.&quot;

&#39;Secure sanctuary&#39; 
Boyle said his focus was now on rebuilding a life for his wife and children.&nbsp;

&quot;Obviously it will be of incredible importance to my family to build a secure sanctuary to call a home, to focus on edification and to regain some portion of the childhood they have lost,&quot; he said.

But questions remain about how Boyle and his pregnant wife found themselves in Taliban-controlled territory, and Coleman&#39;s father lashed out at his son-in-law in an interview on ABC.

&quot;Taking your pregnant wife to a very dangerous place, to me, and the kind of person I am, is unconscionable,&quot; said Jim Coleman.

Before marrying Coleman, Boyle was briefly married in 2009 to Zaynab Khadr, the sister of Canadian-born Omar Khadr, who was captured in battle as a teenager in Afghanistan in 2002 and held for a decade in the US military at Guantanamo Bay.&nbsp;

Family ties 
Boyle was active in the campaign to win Khadr&#39;s release from Guantanamo and his transfer to Canada in 2012, where he was freed on bail in 2015.

On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Boyle was not a target of any investigation.

In a video broadcast by CBC, which said it was shot by the Pakistani military following their release, Boyle claims that the vehicle they were travelling in was &quot;riddled with bullets,&quot; and praised the soldiers for shielding his family from the gunfire.

&quot;The criminals who held us, they were not good Muslims,&quot; Boyle is shown as saying. &quot;They were not even bad Muslims.&quot;

&quot;They were undoubtedly criminals, undoubtedly pagans, they were directed by commanders who were not guided by Islam,&quot; he said.

The family was freed Wednesday by Pakistani troops acting on US intelligence

Freed hostage Joshua Boyle has told public broadcaster CBC his children are exploring their new home in Canada but are still very fearful after a brutal years-long ordeal at the hands of Taliban-linked kidnappers. Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed Wednesday in Pakistan after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In a chilling statement on the family's arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, Caitlan Coleman. He said his priority now was to protect his family. Joshua Boyle said his children are terrified to leave their new home but beginning to understand that there are decent people in the world × In a message sent later to Canadian media from his parents' home town of Smith Falls, around 80 km (50 miles) from Ottawa, the 34-year-old said the family had safely arrived in the first real "home" his children had ever known. In remarks emailed to CBC, he said the children -- boys aged four and two, and a girl just four months old -- were starting to adapt to new surroundings after their harrowing ordeal. The CBC said Boyle told them his four year-old was examining post-it notes and curtains and boardgames. "Everything in the house, he said, is a wonderland to him, and that said, he is still terrified to leave the house, even to go out on the porch," CBC correspondent Susan Armiston said. Boyle said his two-year-old was "nearly as distressed as he was in prison" but his baby girl while scared had also discovered "there are more decent people in the world than she ever knew," Armiston said. Kidnapped Boyle and his wife were kidnapped by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in a remote area of Afghanistan in 2012. The family was freed Wednesday by Pakistani troops acting on US intelligence. Visibly angry, Boyle told reporters the network had ordered the killing of their baby -- a fourth child, whose existence had not previously been known -- as retaliation for his refusal to accept an offer from them. "The stupidity and evil of the Haqqani network's kidnapping of a pilgrim and his heavily pregnant wife engaged in helping ordinary villagers in Taliban-controlled regions of Afghanistan was eclipsed only by the stupidity and evil of authorizing the murder of my infant daughter," he said. Boyle also said his wife had been raped, not by a lone guard but with the aid of the captain of the guard and a Haqqani commander he identified as Abu Hajr. The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader. The faction has long been suspected of having links with Pakistan's shadowy military establishment. Boyle said both incidents took place in 2014, some two years after they were taken captive. He said the Taliban had confirmed the crimes took place, in an investigation in 2016, and called on the group's leaders to take action against the "criminal miscreants." 'Secure sanctuary' Boyle said his focus was now on rebuilding a life for his wife and children. "Obviously it will be of incredible importance to my family to build a secure sanctuary to call a home, to focus on edification and to regain some portion of the childhood they have lost," he said. But questions remain about how Boyle and his pregnant wife found themselves in Taliban-controlled territory, and Coleman's father lashed out at his son-in-law in an interview on ABC. "Taking your pregnant wife to a very dangerous place, to me, and the kind of person I am, is unconscionable," said Jim Coleman. Before marrying Coleman, Boyle was briefly married in 2009 to Zaynab Khadr, the sister of Canadian-born Omar Khadr, who was captured in battle as a teenager in Afghanistan in 2002 and held for a decade in the US military at Guantanamo Bay. Family ties Boyle was active in the campaign to win Khadr's release from Guantanamo and his transfer to Canada in 2012, where he was freed on bail in 2015. On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Boyle was not a target of any investigation. In a video broadcast by CBC, which said it was shot by the Pakistani military following their release, Boyle claims that the vehicle they were travelling in was "riddled with bullets," and praised the soldiers for shielding his family from the gunfire. "The criminals who held us, they were not good Muslims," Boyle is shown as saying. "They were not even bad Muslims." "They were undoubtedly criminals, undoubtedly pagans, they were directed by commanders who were not guided by Islam," he said.

Freed Canadian hostage says Haqqani network raped American wife, murdered baby

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