Provincial Council Elections

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Dozens of tribal elders offered condolences to the families of the victims of Kunduz violence, saying the city had fallen as a result of government’s negligence.
During a gathering in the provincial council office, the elders from different parts of Kandahar asked the government to take urgent measures to bring to justice all those who contributed to the debacle.

SAR-I-PUL (Pajhwok): The Taliban are locked in an intense battle with security forces for the Kohistanat district of central Sar-i-Pul province, a public representative said on Saturday.
The insurgents had besieged the district centre following coordinated attacks from four sides, provincial council member Asadullah Khurrami told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said the roads leading to Kohistanat, which the Taliban seized for several days earlier this year, had been closed and communications lines disrupted as a result of fighting.

Intense battle underway for Kohistanat district

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The Tala wa Barfak district of northern Baghlan province has been overrun by the Taliban, who also captured the Khawaja Ghar town of Takhar province, residents and officials said on Thursday.
A former jihadi commander from Tala wa Barfak district, Khairullah, told Pajhwok Afghan News the district was overrun by militants at 11pm.He said the town’s police chief and security forces had to the Roi Duab district of neighbouring Samangan province.

3 more northern districts fall to resurgent Taliban fighters

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Provincial Council (PC) of northeastern Badakhshan province on Thursday called a delay in distribution of computerised Identity (ID) cards harmful to the upcoming election.
The 15-member council, including three women, said the law allowing distribution of e-ID cards had already been approved and, therefore, the process should began.
Naji Nazari, the PC head, told Pajhwok Afghan News, all members agreed writing the word Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the e-ID cards justified the word Afghan and there was no need for its separated mention.

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): At least six-month salaries of over 2,750 contract-based teachers in central Bamyan province have not been paid, forcing some of them into manual labour for making ends meet.
More than 145,000 students including 70,000 girls study in 270 schools in Bamyan. They are being taught by 2,850 permanent and 2,750 contract-based teachers, officials say.
According to the Education Department, more than 17,000 students were enrolled in schools this year, including 50 percent girls.

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The Afghan government has signed a deal with tribal elders in northern Baghlan province seeking to keep the insurgents from attacking security forces and emplacing landmines in two districts, but local residents, members of the provincial council and civil society activists say the accord amounts to glorifying militants.

QALAT (Pajhwok): Passengers and residents of southern Zabul province on Tuesday urged the reconstruction of the Kandahar-Kabul highway, saying most of deadly traffic accidents resulted the lousy condition of the road.
Roadside bombings, natural disasters and heavy trucks had extensively damaged the road, which witnesses accidents with a disturbing frequency. Passengers believe the highway’s reconstruction would help reduce such mishaps.

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Some more than 100 people through a demonstration in southern Kandahar province on Sunday demanded the inclusion of words “Afghan and Islam” in the computerised Identity (ID) cards.
The protesters, who first gathered at the Ahmad Shahi Stadium later rallied to push for their demand. Provincial council members, civil society activists, tribal elders and common people took part in the rally.
The council members and elders in their speeches stressed Afghan and Islam should be mentioned in the biometric ID cards because it was a national demand.