KABUL: Lt. Gen. Mohammad Afzal Ludin, minister-designate for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), has withdrawn his nomination, Presidential Palace said Wednesday. Last Monday, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani nominated Gen. Ludin as defense minister. However, the statement received by Pajhwok Afghan News said Gen. Ludin in a statement decided to pull …

Since their ouster way back in 2001, the Taliban insurgents are like a bear with sore head. None looks to be safe from the anger of the Taliban. Whoever, stands in their way or even remains on the sidelines or away, are gored. They don’t differentiate among foreigners, locals, Muslims, …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Security forces fought rebels linked to the militant group of ISIS aka Daesh for the ‘first time’ after the insurgents attacked their check point in western Farah province, said security official on Tuesday. Radio Azadi quoted Abdul Rauf Rahmani, spokesman for Second Unit of Afghan National Army …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: A number of civil society activist in northern Balkh province on Tuesday blamed the government for inattention to provide safe environment for journalists in the country. The activists gathered in a ceremony observing the eight death anniversary of Ajmal Naqshbandi, an Afghan journalist who was beheaded by …

KABUL: A high-powered Saudi Arabia delegation has arrived in Kabul on an official visit to discuss a range of issues with Afghan authorities, a statement from Presidential Palace said on Tuesday. The Saudi delegation included officials from the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Human Resource, Works and Labor affairs Ministries. The officials …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Flash floods have killed at least seven people and injured five others in northern Baghlan province the other day, said an official source in the province on Tuesday. The provincial director of Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), Ahmad Nasir Kohzad said that the dead people include …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Tens of Kabul residents protested against recruitment of Afghan refugees as mercenaries by Iran to use them in proxy wars in the Middle East. The protestors said that Tehran is taking advantage of Afghan refugees’ miseries. The protest was organized by Musharekt-e-Melli party. The protestors accused Iran …

By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday marked the World Health Day with the theme “From farm to plate make food safe”. The day is observed by MoPH and WHO in the country, whereas daily tens of people lose their …

By Farhad Naibkhel-KABUL: Amnesty International on Tuesday in its report said that women’s rights defenders are under constant threat and attack in Afghanistan. Amnesty International covered 50 women’s rights defenders, both men and women. The watchdog said the rights activists are facing different challenges such as threat, sexual assault, and …

Tribal rivalries in Tikrit motivated the recent wave of looting and reprisals, Iraqi officials say. Baghdad – Arson and looting incidents in Tikrit after the Iraqi army recaptured the city last week from fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have highlighted the deep divisions between …