US drone strike on ISIS 'planner' in Afghanistan

Ground Report | New Delhi: US drone strike on ISIS; The U.S. military says it has killed a "planner" for ISIS's Khurasan branch in Afghanistan in a drone strike. ISIL claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport on Thursday that killed more than 175 people, including 13 Americans.

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US drone strike on ISIS

Capt. Bill Urban of the US Central Command said in a statement on Friday: "The drone strike was carried out in the Afghan province of Nangarhar and there are initial indications that we hit the target and killed it." "We know there were no civilian casualties in the attack," he claimed.

US ruled out immediate recognition of Taliban govt

The United States has ruled out immediate recognition of the Taliban government. The United States has ruled out any immediate recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, saying the White House has not yet decided whether to maintain a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of troops next week.

White House spokeswoman Jane Sackie told reporters on Friday: "I want to make clear that there is no urgency on the part of the United States or any of our international partners to recognize the Taliban government." Washington insists that future recognition of the Taliban government will depend on not allowing Afghan soil to be used as a base for terrorism and respecting human rights, especially women's rights.

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State Department spokesman Ned Price said the Taliban had demanded that the United States maintain a diplomatic presence in the country after the withdrawal of all US troops on August 31. "During the contacts, they (the Taliban) have made it clear to us that they want to see a US diplomatic presence in the country," Price said. But it does not depend on the Taliban.

"It's a commitment that we need to adapt quickly, and it's about the security and safety of US officials," he said. He said the Taliban had promised "security and safety" but that it was "words" and that Washington needed more reassurance before making any decision.

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