Starting with General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law in the late 1970s, the anomaly of military control has become a permanent feature of Pakistan’s hybrid military-civilian system. Over the years it has also become a factor in tilting the balance in favor of the generals when it comes to calling the shots in framing the security and foreign policies of the state.

Two Daesh militants, who were involved in an attack on Vice President AmrullahSaleh and recent attacks in Shinwari district of Nangarhar province, have been arrested, an official said on Thursday.

Ariana News presenter Faridin Amini died on Friday under mysterious circumstances. Police and Amini’s colleagues confirmed the journalist’s death but offered no details.

The government has announced arresting suspects in the killing of two journalists — Malalai Maiwand and Ilyas Daee. Radio Azadi reporter Ilyas Daee was killed last month in southern Helmand province when a magnetic bomb attached to his vehicle exploded.

Journalists based in eastern Nangarhar province on Friday asked the government to try in public and award severe punishment to the killers of TV and radio presenter Malalai Maiwand.

While the peace talks are underway in Doha Taliban on Friday in a statement blamed US forces in Afghanistan for conducting airstrikes in Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces resulting in civilian deaths. The Taliban claims that at least 11 civilians died of US airstrikes in Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces and wounded two others.

The administrative chief for the Bangi district of northern of Takhar province has been killed in a Taliban attack, an official said on Thursday.

Responding to US Charge d’Affaires Ross Wilson’s comment about the Taliban wanting the release of an additional 7,000 prisoners, Afghanistan’s National Security Council (NSC) said on Tuesday that such a move, before a peace agreement and a permanent ceasefire, will not help the peace process.

Ghazni provincial governor’s spokesman Wahidullah Juma Zada has confirmed that parts of Andar district came under attack on Tuesday night by the Taliban.

Russian Helicopters, the manufacturer of Mi-17V-5 choppers used in Afghanistan, has warned that the lives of US and Afghan soldiers could be at risk as the helicopters are being repaired by unauthorized enterprises in Ukraine.