Latest Updates on Afghanistan, 3 January 2021

1- Kandahar:
– Kandahar Governor Hayatullah Hayat: 70% of the security forces have been disbanded following recent Taliban attacks. After these remarks, he was fired by Ashraf Ghani and was replaced by a “Ruhollah Khanzadeh”.
According to local officials in Kandahar, government forces in the cities of Zhairi, Maiwand, Arghandab and Panjwai have withdrawn from 193 checkpoints and security points, and some of their commanders have been reported to military court for negligence and failure to perform their duties.
– Three security forces were injured when a mine exploded in the path of security forces in Ain Mino town.

2- Afghan Ministry of Defense regarding the Helmand conflict:
During the clashes in Surgdar and Basharan districts near Lashkar Gah and Nawa, Garmsir and Nade Ali areas, with the support of the air force, a Taliban commander named “Abdul Salam”, 3 miners and 50 Taliban members were killed.

3- Uruzgan:
Security forces discovered and defused 28 mines planted by the Taliban in Gizab district.

4- Nangarhar:
– According to local officials, 18 internal and external Taliban members were killed during an Afghan army airstrike on Taliban positions in Pachiragam district.
– Afghan Army airstrikes on Taliban positions in Bati Kot.

5- Pakistan:
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the commanders of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was arrested by the Pakistani military.