US forces conducted airstrikes against Taliban insurgents attacking Afghan security forces in Zheri district of southern Kandahar province, local officials confirmed on Friday.

A district police chief has been killed during an operation against criminals in Kabul, an official said on Saturday.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has operated several chartered flights to Afghanistan, transporting hundreds of tonnes of pharmaceutical supplies to the Afghan national army and police.

UN Acting Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham during his visit to Afghanistan said the war-torn country needed $1.3bn in 2021 to provide assistance to 16 million people.

The World Bank has approved two grants totaling almost $85 million from the International Development Association (IDA), as part of a $393 million financial package to help Afghanistan overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve access to clean water, sanitation, and public services.

The Afghan Ministry of Interior said that based on initial reports four rockets were fired from the Khair Khana area in Kabul city early Saturday morning, killing at least one person and wounding another.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib said on Saturday the next stages of peace talks between the Afghan Republic’s team and the Taliban should take place in Afghanistan.

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) in its annual World Terrorism Index placed Afghanistan as the most-affected country on earth, imposing devastating loss to the country’s economy.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Saturday, at least 90 Taliban were killed in Kandahar province. According to the statement, Afghan defense forces repelled Taliban attacks in Panjwai, Zherai, Arghandab, and Maiwand districts of Kandahar province on Friday.

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) in its annual World Terrorism Index has placed Afghanistan as the most-affected country on earth from the impacts of terrorism.