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TOLOnews 10pm News 02 December 2015

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10pm-news-02-Dec-2015Top news in this Bulletin:

British Ambassador to Kabul Karen Pierce has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's agreement to work towards resuming peace talks with the Taliban.

To watch the whole news bulletin, click here:

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The Council of Ministers (CoM) has ordered government organizations to identify and question military and non-military officials who attended the Kabul prot.


NATO Wraps Up Two-Day Summit

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Nato Afghanistan meeting

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said that the two-day meeting of alliance members had been successful and significant decisions to improve global security had been made.

He said alliance members had decided to invite Montenegro to begin accession talks to become the 29th NATO member.

In addition he said: "We have agreed to sustain the presence of our mission in Afghanistan, to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces. And we will sustain our force level at around 12,000 troops during 2016. We have also launched work to ensure the Afghan forces continue to be funded until 2020."

He went on to say the alliance has also stepped up efforts to deal with current security challenges, "with further measures to assure Turkey, the NATO Ally who's on the frontline of that volatile region".

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference late Wednesday, U.S Secretary of State, John Kerry said: "On Afghanistan, alliance ministers discussed the progress of the Resolute Support Mission and the need for increased investment and long-term backing for Afghan security forces. And we discussed the significant steps that the Afghan forces have taken to assume responsibility themselves for the security operations of Afghanistan, and notwithstanding, a several-day propaganda initiative in Kunduz."

He went on to say: "They fought back valiantly, retook the city, and they are continuing to expand their capacity and to broaden their abilities on a national basis. We also talked about the importance of maintaining a productive across-the-board partnership with the government in Kabul and the citizens of that country."

On Tuesday, Stoltenberg said NATO had decided to work to secure the necessary pledges for the sustainment of the Afghan security forces through to 2020.

Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani welcomed NATO's commitment and said "we also discussed the need to develop, strengthen and enhance the NATO-Afghan enduring partnership agreement."

A Divided Taliban Explained

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mullah-mansour-mullah-rasool

An in-depth look into the Taliban post-Mullar Omar shows how months after the announcement of the death of the group's leader, tension within the Taliban's hierarchy remains.

In fact, since the July announcement of his death two years earlier, the Taliban has split into two groups – one in support of Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who was appointed as Mullah Omar's successor, an the second group in support of Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Nowrozi as leader.

But the question is who are these leaders and who supports them. In the first part of a five part documentary, TOLOnews delves into the Taliban's current structures and alliances.

Firstly, there is Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who was appointed by Pakistan's Quetta Shura. His first deputy is Shikh Haibatullah Akhundzada and his second deputy is Sirajuddin Haqqani.

All three figures are influential among insurgents in the eastern, southern and south-western parts of Afghanistan.

Shikh Haibatullah is also considered influential over Madrasas in Balochistan in Pakistan.

Mullah Mansour was born in 1968 in Temor village of Maiwand district in southern Kandahar province.

However, a number of people think that he is from northern Jawzjan province while others believe he hails from Zurmat district of eastern Paktia province. He graduated from Haqqania Madrasa and during the Taliban's regime he was appointed by Mullah Omar as the head of Kandahar airport.

He then took control of the air force in this province and once Taliban took control of Kabul, he was appointed as minister of aviation and became the commander of the air force.

It is widely believed Mullah Mansour lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta, Pakistan and also in Banaras Road in Karachi.

Meanwhile, his first deputy Shikh Haibatullah is from Garmsir in southern Helmand but currently lives in Quetta city. He was the administrative assistant of Mullah Omar.

Mawlawi Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Mansour's second deputy, is from Jaji Maidan in eastern Khost province but now lives in Miranshah in Pakistan.

In total there are 13 individuals within the Taliban leadership that support Mullah Mansour.

1.  Mullah Hayatullah who is known as Haji Lala is from Arghandab district in Kandahar but now lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He heads up the unit that plans suicide attacks and blasts and oversees shadow governors in Kandahar.

2.  Mawlawi Abdulhai Mutmaen is from southern Uruzgan province but lives in Pakistan. He is a member of the cultural commission.

3.  Mawlawi Kabir hails from Paktia province but now reportedly lives in Pakistan. He heads the Taliban's military commission in Peshawar.

4.  Amir Khan Mutaqi comes from Sherana in Paktia but now reportedly lives in Banaras Road in Karachi, Pakistan. He is the head of the Cultural Shura of Quetta.

5.  Mullah Abdullah, who is also known as Torak Agah, is from Panjwai district in Kandahar but currently resides in Quetta. He is a member of the Taliban's internal and external relations commission.

6.  Abdul Samad Sani, from Band-e-Temor area in Maiwand district, Kandahar, lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He is a member of the financial commission of the Quetta Shura.

7.  Amir Khan Haqqani used to live in Mezan district in Zabul but now resides in Banaras Road in Karachi. He is a member of the internal and external relations commission.

8.  Shikh Abdul Hakim, from Band-e-Temor village in Maiwand district, Kandahar, lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He is the head of the Taliban's court commission.

9.  Mawlawi Sani, is from Arghandab district, Kandahar, but now lives in Karachi in Pakistan. He is the head of the Taliban's internal and external relations commission.

10. Haji Gul Agha, hails from Spinboldak district, Kandahar. He is the head of the financial commission.

11. Mullah Mohammadzai, lived in Kandahar but now lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He is the head of intelligence for the Taliban.

12. Mullah Mohammad Naeem, from Garmsir district in Helmand now lives in Gard-e-Jangal in Pakistan. He is a member of the Taliban's military commission.

13. Sardir Mohammad Ibrahim, who is from Sarwand village, Sangin district in Helmand now apparently lives in Hazara Ganji in Quetta. He is the head of the military commission.

Speaking to TOLOnews, Jawid Kohistani, a military analysts said: "Mullar Mansour was a smuggler in the past but today is dependent on Pakistan's intelligence service (ISI). Mullah Rassoul's group says they support Mullar Omar but are against Pakistan's policy. In fact they were formed inside Afghanistan and they believe Mullah Mansour murdered Mullar Omar."

"They also believe Mullah Mansour has ties with U.S, Britain and other countries' intelligence agencies."

Meanwhile, the breakaway Taliban group, which is opposed to Mullah Mansour, appointed Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Nowrozi as leader.

He in turn appointed Mullah Baz Mohammad and Mullah Mansour Dadullah as his military deputies.

Mullah Manan Neyazi was also appointed as his third deputy over politics and also as spokesman for their supreme council.

Mullah Rassoul hails from Loy Kariz village in Spinboldak district in Kandahar and is 40-years-old. He was governor of Nimroz during the Taliban's regime and worked closely with Mullah Omar for years. Mullah Omar considered him trustworthy. He now reportedly lives in
Quetta.

Mawlawi Baz Mohammad is from Khak-e-Safid district in western Farah province but lives in Gard-e-Jangalgah, in Quetta city.

Mullah Mansour Dadullah is from Dehrawood district of southern Uruzgan province and he was a commander for his brother, Mullah Dadullah who at the time of his death in 2007 was senior military commander. After the death of his brother, Mullah Mansoor Dadullah took on all his responsibilities.

Mullah Abdul Manan Neyazi, who comes from Torghondi in western Herat, previously worked as the spokesman for Taliban. He was also shadow governor of Kabul province. He now lives in Ishaqabad of Pakistan.

This Taliban group has strong influence in Farah, Herat, Nimroz and Uruzgan provinces and high ranking members of Quetta Shura support them. In addition, seven others support them.

1.  Shir Mohammad Mansour, from Zurmat district in Paktika.

2.  Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rahmani, resident of Meyanshin district of Kandahar but now believed to be living in Pashton Abad in Quetta city. He is the head of the recruitment commission for the Quetta Shura.

3.  Mawlawi Habibullah, from Khak-e-Safid in Farah now lives in Gard-e-Jangal in Pakistan. He is a member of the Taliban's military commission and head of Habibullah Madrasa in this area.

4.  Mullah Abbas, from Khas Urzgan district of Uruzgan lives in Kharot Abad in Quetta city. He is head of the Taliban's health commission.

5.  Mawlawi Ahmad, originally lived in Kandahar but now resides in Quetta.

6.  Mawlawi Jalil, who is known as Haqqani, is from Kandahar but lives in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. He is a member of the intelligence commission of the Quetta Shura.

7.  Mullah Abdul Razaq, from Zar Qala village in Spinboldak district, Kandahar, lives in Chaman area in Pakistan. He is a member of the Quetta Shura's recruitment commission.

Political analysts, Nazar Mohammad Mutmayen meanwhile said: "Mullah Abdul Manan (Mullar Omar's brother) and Abdul Yaquob (Mullar Omar's son) are said to be aligned to Mullah Rassoul."

In the next episode of this report TOLOnews looks at the differences among the Taliban leadership that led to the split.

To watch the full report click below.

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Political Party Carries Out Kabul Cleanup Campaign

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In joint cooperation with the Kabul Municipality, volunteers loyal to Hizb-e-Islami Arghandiwal faction on Thursday launched a cleanup campaign in the city, in an effort to promote awareness of the dangers of pollution.

Campaign organizers hope to improve cooperation between the citizens and relevant government bodies involved in environmental issues, they said.

Backed up by dozens of vehicles, volunteers gathered early Thursday morning in Company Square where they hoisted Hizb-e-Islami flags and chanted slogans in favor of a clean environment. Volunteers called on the citizens to help clean up the city in a bid to stop the spread of diseases.

The cleanup campaign was carried out between the Company Area of Kabul and the Kot-e-Sangee bridge – a distance of about 5kms.

"We realized it is our duty to do the job. But all citizens must take part in the cleanliness of the city," Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal , head of the faction said.

Members of the public have however been up-in-arms recently, saying that garbage has not been removed from some areas in the city for a few months. They are concerned that this could start affecting people's health.

When contacted, Kabul municipality officials said that garbage in some areas had not been removed due to a lapsed contract they had with a private company.

Kabul is Afghanistan's largest and most populated city, with an estimated population of five million. But most feel it is the responsibility of the municipality to keep the city clean.

"May God bless these volunteers who came to our help today to clean the city. All residents must take part in such campaigns in order for us to have a clean city," an employee of Kabul municipality Gul Mohammad said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, an organization known as Rangeen Kaman also organized a photo exhibition under the theme "Kabul from the Bridge" in a bid to increase public awareness about a cleaner environment.

The exhibition was held at the Allawuddin Bridge where scores of photographers displayed their work to protest environmental awareness.

Volunteers put flowers inside empty beverage cans and placed them on the bridge to draw attention to the exhibition. They also urged people to say "No" to plastic bags and to stop using plastic goods.

"If you see the environment in Kabul city, it is covered with dust and smoke and this threatens the population in our country," Chairman of Rangeen Kaman organization Ali Parsa told TOLOnews.

To watch the full report click below.

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Rights Activists March to Demand Peace, Justice

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Civil rights activists marched in Kabul on Thursday, calling on government to come up with more inclusive measures to bring peace and security to the country.

Protestors, chanted slogans and sang songs in a bid to promote peace in front of the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) offices where they also renamed the street "Tolerance Road".

"All Afghans living in this country want peace and are eager to contribute towards peace," one civil society activist Giso Yari said at Thursday's demonstration.

"Thirty-five years have passed since the country started burning in war. The entire population is tired of war and wants peace and security to be restored," rights activist Parwiz said.

Protestors marched along Dehbori Road to the MoHE under tight security.

"We also march to express our hatred over ethnic discrimination," civil society activist Massouma Hashemi said.

"We want to raise the voice of peace in Afghanistan, peace is not a dream, it is a reality and applicable," another activist Niamatullah said.

The protestors, carrying placards denouncing issues such as violence, insecurity, hatred, war and discrimination, asked the government to take strong measures and do more to establish sustainable peace and security in the country.

To watch the full report click below.

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Ghani Calls for Collective Efforts to Curb Illegal Migration

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President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday stressed the need for collective efforts to be adopted to control the refugee crisis by changing public mindsets on the consequences migrants face in their quest to reach Europe.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ghani said they discussed a number of important issues concerning bilateral cooperation between the allies, strengthening ties and focusing on the issue of the refugee influx into European over the past few months.

"It is a horrible process, it is a costly process, because every Afghan that tries to move to Europe invests something between $20,000 to $25,000 USD, and for everyone that succeeds in reaching European ... (many) lose everything along on the way, we need to get the right information (out there) and make sure that everybody understands," Ghani said.

Afghanistan and Germany will work together to find legal ways for resolving migration issues, Ghani said adding that the first step would be for Germany to divert focus towards helping with the development of 30 million Afghans inside the country, not 30,000 migrants.

"Dealing with legal migration is a joint responsibility - in dealing with the impact of illegal migration requires a proper framework."

But Merkel said Germany is committed to helping Afghanistan.

"We are aware of terror threats in Afghanistan - 980 German soldiers will stay in northern Afghanistan and this proves our long term commitment to Afghanistan. We want the peace negotiation process with the Taliban to be accelerated in order to find a political settlement to the Afghan crisis," Merkel said.

Afghans constitute the second largest number of migrants in Germany after Syrian nationals. But now it seems that Germany feels reluctant to host more refugees.

Ghani who is currently on a two-day visit to Germany held talks with German officials on a number of issues relating to the two nations including the issue of migration.

However, Merkel said early Thursday that Berlin will deport economic migrants and would only give Afghans asylum if their lives were under direct threat.

Merkel said Germany would meet its humanitarian obligations for Afghans who are in "acute" danger because they worked for foreign forces, such as the German military.

Merkel stressed that there is not sufficient reason to grant asylum or residency status to refugees who are seeking a better life in Germany, adding that in such cases people would be deported.

"But where refugees come hoping for a better life - and I know that this hope is big for many - that is no reason to get asylum status or residency status here," she said. "And that one needs to think about the 35 million Afghans at home and the land has to develop with this. That is why we will, in such cases, have to send people back to Afghanistan."

About 800,000 migrants sought refuge to Europe this year, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, causing the most severe migrant crisis in the continent since World War Two.

To watch the report, click here:

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Herat Police Detain 6 For Landing Plane Illegally

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Herat police have detained six people that were on board a flight that landed in Herat without clearance from airport officials.

According to the governor's spokesman a plane allegedly from Sharjah in the Persian Gulf landed last week at the airport without official clearance.

Six passengers, one Pakistani and five Afghans, allegedly offloaded the plane. On board were 10 high-end vehicles and food.

Officials said the plane departed after its cargo was offloaded.

When questions were raised, police raided the hotel in Herat city where the passengers were staying. Good were confiscated and the six passengers were arrested.

Provincial Police Chief Gen. Abdul Majid Rozi said that five Afghans and one Pakistani citizen had been arrested at a hotel in Herat city.

"At the moment they are in the custody of police and their goods have been confiscated by security forces," said Rozi.

Meanwhile provincial governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi, said that the plane landed illegally and had not had landing clearance from airport officials. He said President Ashraf Ghani is aware of the incident and was concerned about it.

Rahimi added that a number of airport officials have been dismissed over the incident.

"Herat provincial administration was not aware of this issue at all, this issue was discussed in Kabul. I was made aware of it from Kabul and the president is very angry about this. The president dismissed Herat aviation officials," said Rahimi.

It is not however yet clear what the purpose of the flight was but officials have speculated that it could have been a private or charter flight for wealthy hunters from the United Arab Emirates - who have in the past come to Afghanistan to hunt rare birds.

The vehicles and goods offloaded from the plane have been confiscated by Herat police who say the court will take a decision in this regard.

TOLOnews 6pm News 03 December 2015

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Top news in this Bulletin:

President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday stressed the need for collective efforts to be adopted to control the refugee crisis by changing public mindsets on the consequences migrants face in their quest to reach Europe.

To watch the whole news bulletin, click here:

{youtube}SfwDC3_IaJY{/youtube}

An in-depth look into the Taliban post-Mullar Omar shows how months after the announcement of the death of the group's leader, tension within the Taliban's hierarchy remains.


MEHWAR: International Day of Disabilities Discussed

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Mehwar-04-dec-2015

International Day of Disabilities was marked‎ in the country Thursday - a country with an estimated 650,000 disabled people. Most of whom struggle to make ends meet.

A number of disabled people say that if ‎opportunities to work are provided, many disabled people could play a constructive role in society.

In this episode of Mehwar host Haris Jamalzada discusses the topic with Sadiq Muhibi a civil society activist with a disability

To watch the program, click here:

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GOFTMAN: Role of Media in Promoting Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations Scrutinized

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In this episode of Goftman, host Haris Jamalzada discusses the topic with the following guests:

• Bari Salam, civil society activist

• Danish Karokhail, head of Pajhwok News Agency

• Imran Mukhtar, senior correspondent from Pakistan-based The News Daily

The theme of the discussion:

What is the current situation of the media in Afghanistan and Pakistan?

What has been the role of media in Afghanistan so far?

What has been the role of media in Pakistan so far?

What has been the role of media in Afghanistan and Pakistan on worsening bilateral relations between the two countries?

Where and which people were mostly affected by the media in the two countries?

Click below to watch the full episode:

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FARAKHABAR: 40 Percent of Insurgents Fighting Afghan Forces Are Former Inmates

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Farakhabar-3-dec-2015

Afghan army chief Gen. Qadam Shah Shahim has said that 40 percent of insurgents fighting the government on the battlefields have been released from prison. He said that those who decided to free such elements must apologize to the nation.

Former president Hamid Karzai's administration faced a major backlash over its push to release prisoners from jails around the country in his final years in office.

This move was met with harsh criticism from many in Parliament, in the Afghan security forces and especially among the international community. Although experts said the releases could pave the way for peace talks with the Taliban, others said they only served to demoralize the Afghan security forces who were sacrificing themselves to capture such prisoners and embolden the Taliban to continue their fight against the government.

It appears now however, that many of these former inmates returned to the battlefields and continue to fight.

But who should be held accountable for this?

In this episode of FARAKHABAR, host Fawad Aman discusses the topic with the following guests:

• Abdul Shokor Dadras, former chairman of the assessment committee on Bagram prisoners

• Asif Ashna, political analyst

Click below to watch full episode:

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TAWDE KHABARE: U.S Congress Committee on Foreign Relations Urges Afghan Mission Be Reviewed

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Tawedekhabare-3-dec-2015

Members of the US congressional committee on foreign relations have said that Washington must review the situation on the ground in Afghanistan - despite its recent move to keep troops in the country through 2016.

According to the committee members, President Ashraf Ghani however extended the hand of friendship to Pakistan, but Islamabad did not value the move.

In this episode of FARAKHABAR, host Shahpoor Bakhtiyar discusses the topic with the following guests:

• Abdul Qadir Zazai Watandost, member of parliament's international relations committee

• Abdullah Faiz, lecturer

Click below to watch full episode:

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12 Killed In Wardak Blast

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Wardak

Local officials say at least 12 people including children were killed in a mortar attack in Wardak province on Friday morning.

Secretary of Wardak provincial council, Sharifullah Hotak said the incident took place near a mosque in Dandokai village in Sayed Abad district at around 10am.

He said war was ongoing between Afghan National Army troops and the Taliban in the area.

He added that at least six people were also injured.

Russia Warns Turkey Will Regret Plane Downing

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday vowed that the Turkish leadership would be made to regret the downing of one of Moscow's warplanes, as Ankara presented its condolences for the death of a Russian pilot in the incident.

Moscow announced a halt to talks on a major gas pipeline with NATO member Ankara as Putin fired another salvo in their war of words and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan shot back by claiming he had "proof" Russia was involved in illegal oil trading with Daesh.

Following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Belgrade in the highest bilateral level contact since the crisis began, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu presented his condolences for the death of a Russian pilot in the incident.

But he stopped short of issuing the apology that Moscow has demanded and admitted that there had been no breakthrough in the 40-minute talks on the sidelines of a security conference.

Russia and Turkey have been plunged into their worst crisis since the Cold War over Turkey's downing of a Russian jet on its border with Syria on November 24 -- sparking fury and economic sanctions from the Kremlin.

Russia has accused Erdogan and his family of personally profiting from the oil trade with Daesh which controls a large chunk of Syrian territory including many oil fields.

"We will not forget this complicity with terrorists. We always considered and will always consider treachery to be the ultimate and lowest act," Putin told lawmakers in his annual state of the nation speech.

"We know for example who in Turkey fills their pockets and allows terrorists to make money from the stolen oil in Syria."

Erdogan has furiously denied the accusations against him and his family and said Turkey had proof that Russia was, in fact, involved in trading oil with Daesh.

"We have the proof in our hands. We will reveal it to the world," the Turkish leader said in a televised speech in Ankara.

TOLOnews 10pm News 03 December 2015

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10pm-3-nov-2015Top news in this Bulletin:

President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday stressed the need for collective efforts to be adopted to control the refugee crisis by changing public mindsets on the consequences migrants face in their quest to reach Europe.

To watch the whole news bulletin, click here:

{youtube}ju3-w6t5ahU{/youtube}

An in-depth look into the Taliban post-Mullar Omar shows how months after the announcement of the death of the group's leader, tension within the Taliban's hierarchy remains.


Afghan-US Forces Free 40 From Taliban Prison

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A joint Afghan and US Special Forces operation successfully liberated at least 40 Afghan security personnel from a Taliban prison in Nawzad district of southern Helmand province, the United States Forces-Afghanistan said in a press release on Friday.

The operation started Thursday night. After securing the prison the troops managed to free more than 40 detainees in a Taliban jail comprised of security personnel from Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and border guards.

The liberated inmates were then handed over to the authorities of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to receive medical care, read the statement.

However, details around their initial capture remain uncertain, the press release read.

The embattled Helmand province has witnessed ongoing violence in recent months followed by a number of major Taliban offensives against Afghan forces. Both sides have sustained large numbers of casualties.

Ghani Vows To Stay True To Constitution In Peace Talks

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Addressing guests at the Korber-Stiftung Foundation in Germany on Friday, President Ashraf Ghani said that any peace deal reached with the Taliban would be in accordance with the country's Constitution.

He said he would never seal a deal for peace that would "be the shame of history".

Ghani said the concept of peace talks is to secure the future of Afghanistan and said that regarding terrorism, no terrorist from Afghanistan exists in other countries but "terrorists enter our soil from other parts of the world and destabilize our nation."

While the outcome is still unclear of Ghani's talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - which took place last week on the sidelines of the UN climate change conference in Paris - the Afghan leader vowed not to compromise on national interests during peace talks with Taliban.

"The first and the second chapters of the Constitution of Afghanistan are not for negotiation. Our women can not go back to apartheid. Equal rights of the citizens of Afghanistan can not be compromised. I will never deal and enter into any sort of peace that is going to be the shame of history - it needs to be a peace that is within our constitutional terms and guarantees the future of our citizens," Ghani said.

Ghani went on to say that the presence of terror hideouts and training camps beyond the borders are the main obstacle in the way of peace negotiations.

However, he stressed that Kabul is talking to Islamabad from the position of a sovereign and independent country and that Afghans want peace between the sovereign states of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"The mental peace for us is peace between the state, the sovereign state of Afghanistan with the sovereign state of Pakistan," he said.

According to Ghani, terrorists enter Afghanistan for destructive activities from countries such as China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and especially form Pakistan.

"Where do the majority of the terrorists come from? Ghani asked, adding that, "they come from China, they come from Russia, they come from Tajikistan, they come from Uzbekistan, they come from Saudi Arabia, they come from Egypt and particularly from Pakistan. Where are Afghans as terrorists in other countries? Please point out to me."

Referring to activities of terrorists associated to notorious Daesh, Ghani said that some of the terror groups are coordinating with Daesh while some others are fighting the group.

This comes after peace talks stalled in July following the news of Mullah Omar's death two years earlier and Pakistan's failure to abide by its commitment regarding the Afghan peace dialogue.

Bilateral ties between Kabul and Islamabad has been strained ever since - especially after insurgents allegedly operating out of Pakistan hit a number of targets inside Afghanistan's major cities these past few months.

To watch the report, click here:

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Herat's Salma Dam Project Complete

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Afghan Water and Energy Minister Eng. Ali Ahmad Osmani said on Thursday that the Salma Dam construction project is complete and that the dam is already 40 percent full.

According to officials Salma Dam water storage work began five months ago and currently 40 percent is full. The water collection process will stop once the dam is about 100 percent full.

Osmani said that the construction process has been completed and by next year the water supply from Salma Dam will change agriculture in Herat province. He said from next year the twin-turbine dam will also be able to start supplying electricity.

"The construction process is completed and next year [the dam will] practically begin to work. Two turbines have been installed and one other turbine will be installed soon," said Osmani.

According to officials, over the next six months, about 640 million cubic liters of water will be stored in the dam and that water will irrigate 80,000 hectares of land in Herat province.

"This project is one of the most important projects for the people of Herat in the next year and with utilization of this dam the face of Herat districts will be changed," said provincial council member Sayed Azim Kabarzani.

Meanwhile security officials from Salma Dam blame neighboring countries for destabilizing the area. They say neighbors are trying to stop the dam from being used.

"About 20 days ago our forces stopped a vehicle in which 24 satellite phones, a sack of explosives and two sets of Iranian Revolutionary Guards uniforms were founded. If the Iranians do not have enmity with us then why are they sending these thing to us," said Salma Dam security commander Wali Mohammad Rashidi.

Govt Workers Have The Right To Protest: Activists

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Rights activists raised their concerns on Friday over government's decision to probe government employees who participated in the Kabul protest against the beheaded of seven Zabul residents last month.

The seven were allegedly beheaded by Daesh militants after being kidnapped by the group.

The beheading sparked national outrage.

Activists said that government leaders who impose restrictions on the civil rights of citizens are violating the principles of freedom of expression and their commitments they made to the people.

inflicting limitations and restrictions on the voice of people will create a gap between the people and government, said one activist. Such a move could help the militants to make their way within the government structure, the activist said.

"Those who intend to suppress our voice must remember that our voices will get louder and louder. Government is responsible to provide security to the media and the journalists and respect freedom of press," civil society activist, Ahmad Shah Stanikzai said.

"Dr. Abdullah [Abdullah, CEO] talks about Hizb ut-Tahrir, but now government itself wants to suppress the voice of the people. Such moves could facilitate only militant groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir," activist Zia Mubaligh said.

The activists accused the government of trying to influence freedom of press, but warned that such an action is a clear violation of international laws.

"Why has the office of the chief executive ordered an investigation into government employees who participated in the 11 November demonstration. If the government creates a better environment for the people, why would the people participate in protests and why would people migrate to Europe and America," activist Wadood Pedram said.

"Press has so far resisted against threats posed by the Taliban and also in the way of infiltration of other groups inside the government, therefore, we need to encourage the media," activist Ahmad Zaki said.

Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Executive Officer has expressed its views regarding the investigation of government employees in this manner.

"We were directed to probe the case. Government employees are set to be on duty during official hours and serve the people - investigation aims to make them realize [government employees] they may not leave their jobs in future when there is a demonstration," the spokesman for the CEO, Mujiburrahman Rahimi said.

To watch the report, click here:

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Still No Confirmation On Reports Of Mullah Mansour's Death

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Reports continue to circulate that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansour was killed during a Taliban faction clash on Wednesday in Quetta, Pakistan, but a spokesman for the group has denied these claims.

The spokesman also said that Mullah Mansour was not in Quetta at the time of the clash, but that he was in Peshawar.

Political analysts believe however, that clashes between the Taliban and the breakaway group have reached a pinnacle.

Earlier reports circulated about the death of Mullah Mansoor Dadullah one of the splinter-Taliban group's deputies, and now reports of Mullah Mansour's death are doing the rounds.

"Many of Mullah Mohammad Rasoul Noorzai's branch have been killed. Those Taliban who separated from [Mullah Mansour's] Taliban are really worried and afraid because apparently the Taliban is not talking to them nor talking about negotiations, but in reality they are in search of them and waiting for an opportunity to target them," said Hassan Haqyar a former deputy minister during the Taliban regime.

However, details are sketchy about the clashes between the two factions.

But Ghaleb Mujaheed, Achin district governor, in Nangarhar, said: "Both of the Taliban [groups] are puppets of Pakistan. This is Pakistan that brings one group for us and then another group."

The reports of Mullah Mansour's apparent death have however come close on the heels of renewed efforts this past week by Kabul and Islamabad to restart the stalled peace talks process with the Taliban.

However a number of Afghan analysts said they do not trust Pakistan's promises and said Pakistan is trying to make sure the Taliban is prepared for next year's fighting season.

To watch the report, click here:

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