Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
At least seven Pakistan paramilitary troops and four Afghan militia were killed in the latest border skirmish close to the disputed Durand Line between the two neighbors, officials said on on Sunday.
Abdul Baseer, spokesman for the Afghan National Police (ANP) in the southeastern Khost province, told Anadolu Agency that an armed assault began this morning with alleged indiscriminate shelling on the Zazai Maidan district by Pakistani forces from across the Durand Line.
According to local Salam Afghanistan radio, Pakistani troops wearing civilian dress allegedly came into Khost and started shooting at Afghan forces.
With over 100 lawmakers inside, the Turkish parliament was hit by bombs three times on July 15, 2016, the night of the defeated coup. While Turks were flocking to central squares across the country in defense of democracy, Turkish lawmakers did the same by going to parliament. A total of 106 deputies were at parliament during the defeated coup attempt: 80 from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, 16 from the Republican People's Party (CHP), and 10 from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). As the lawmakers had worked until early morning on July 14 to pass a 75-item bill on improving the investment climate, parliament was supposed to be adjourned on July 15.Turkish parliament speaker marks July 15Most of the lawmakers had returned to their home districts after long, busy working hours.The lawmakers who were in Ankara during the defeated coup bid saw the jets flying over the capital at around 9:30 p.m. (1830GMT) local time.By consulting fellow party members through social media, AK Party deputies were able to figure out that it was a coup attempt.After debating whether to go to AK Party headquarters or parliament, they decided for the latter.Jerusalem marks anniversary of defeated coup in TurkeyThen-Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman was working at parliament and left it at around 9:41 p.m. local time. He learned about the coup attempt only after getting home.Deputies flock to parliamentThe deputies who came to parliament during the coup attempt include Ahmet Gundogdu, Aydin Unal, Julide Sarieroglu, Ayse Sula Koseoglu, Ilknur Inceoz, Lutfiye Selva Cam, Mustafa Sahin, Orhan Atalay, Ayse Kesir, Sema Kirci, and Bennur Karaburun, all from the AK Party.Later that night, lawmakers from the opposition parties also began to come to parliament.Kahraman got back to parliament at around 11:26 p.m. and ordered that the General Assembly come back into session. He later left at 11:45 p.m. for the Cankaya Palace -- then the prime minister’s residence -- where a crisis desk was established. Kahraman returned to parliament at 1:20 a.m. local time.Erdoğan pens letter to families of July 15 martyrsThe first bomb hit the garden of parliament at 2:33 a.m. A second bomb hit a corridor close to the Prime Ministry room, causing severe damage and leaving General Assembly hall swirling with clouds of dust.After the second attack, Turkish lawmakers moved into the parliament shelter. When the third bomb hit parliament at 3:33 a.m., the deputies had taken shelter.In the wake of the defeated coup, many foreign leaders visited the parliament building and saw with their own eyes the damage the coup-plotters had done.Turkey’s great struggle against FETÖOn July 15, Turkey marks the second anniversary of the defeated coup attempt, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.According to the Turkish government, the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.Erdoğan to march in commemoration of second July 15 anniversary
What happened night of July 15 at Turkey's parliament?
Pakistan generally does not comment on such border skirmishes.
In April, Afghan authorities handed over to Pakistan a captured Pakistani border guard and the dead bodies of five Pakistani troops slain during clashes in the same area.
A convoy carrying regime opponents left Syria’s southwestern Daraa province on Sunday toward the northern Idlib province.The convoy of 15 buses carried 700 evacuees, including 60 children and 30 women, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter in the region.It remains unclear whether more convoys will follow.Aid convoy reaches southwest Syria: Syrian Arab Red CrescentLast month, regime forces launched a wide-ranging military operation -- supported by Russian air power – in Daraa, leading the regime and its allies to establish control over most of the country's southernmost border with Jordan in line with a cease-fire deal between Russia and armed opposition groups.The fighting has led to a major displacement crisis, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing Daraa in recent days towards areas near the Jordanian border.Video: 1st convoy of regime opponents leaves Syria’s DaraaFollowing peace talks held last year in Kazakh capital Astana, Daraa was designated a “de-escalation zone” in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Erdoğan, Putin discuss energy projects over phone
1st convoy of regime opponents leaves Syria’s Daraa
Back then, both sides gave conflicting death tolls and accused each other of opening fire on their troops along the disputed 2,430-kilometer (1,510-mile) border region known as the Durand Line, named after British colonial officer Sir Mortimer Durand, who drew it in 1896 between then-British India and Afghanistan.