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WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): Alleging that ISI has been using Pakistani soil to plan terror attacks in Afghanistan, the newly formed World Muhajir Congress (WMC) in a letter to President Ashraf Ghani has extended its full support in his fight against terrorism.

It is now a well-established fact that Pakistani soil is being used for terrorist attacks not only in Afghanistan but also in other countries, the World Muhajir Congress said in a letter to Ghani.

Reports from all major news organizations and think tanks suggest that Haqqani network, factions of Taliban, ISIS and Al Qaeda are all operating from save havens in Pakistan under the protection of Pakistani Army and its notorious intelligence agency, ISI, it alleged.

Representing the Muhajir cause at international level, the Congress in its letter dated June 11 strongly condemns the recent suicide attacks in Kabul which have killed and injured hundreds of innocent Afghan civilians.

We can feel the pain of our Afghan brothers as thousands of Muhajirs have also lost their lives in the war against terrorism. We stand against ruthless terrorism being inflicted on our Afghan brothers and sisters in the name of religion by killers operating from Pakistani soil, it said.

It is evident that Pakistani military establishment and ISI do not see Afghanistan as a respectable neighboring country. Instead, they see it in the context of regional security and use their sponsored terrorist outfits as proxies to increase their strategic depth against India. World Muhajir Congress strongly condemns such policies, the letter said.

Noting that the Afghan government has been bravely fighting the menace of Taliban for more than two decades, the letter said with the emergence of murderous outfit ISIS, the region is now faced with another serious security threat.

The footprint of ISIS in recent times has extended from the Middle East and Afghanistan to the port city of Pakistan, Karachi, where secular and liberal Muhajirs are in majority who support liberal MQM political party, it said.

The letter alleged that under the blatant and unashamed patronage of Pakistan Army and ISI, religious and sectarian terrorist outfits are making Karachi as their operational hub.

This is an alarming trend and World Muhajir Congress will continue to highlight this serious issue at every appropriate international forum. Muhajir Nation and their sole political representative party have been the major obstacle in ISIs plans to handover port city of Karachi to religious terrorist outfits and this is the reason for Armys continued crackdown in Karachi against Muhajirs and their elected political party, wrote the World Muhajir Congress.

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ISI supports terrorism in Afghanistan: Muhajir Congress - Pajhwok Afghan News (subscription) (blog)

New York Times

US Is 'Not Winning' in Afghanistan. Mattis Promises to Change That. New York Times WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Jim Mattis promised Congress on Tuesday that the Trump administration would hammer out a new strategy for Afghanistan by mid-July to turn around a war that he acknowledged the United States was not winning.. White House expected to grant Pentagon authority for Afghanistan troop levelsCNN International Mattis: 'We are not winning in Afghanistan,' new strategy is weeks awayWashington Post Defense Secretary James Mattis admits US 'not winning in Afghanistan'CNBC TIME -Politico -Reuters all 193 news articles »

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US Is 'Not Winning' in Afghanistan. Mattis Promises to Change That. - New York Times

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge loved being a soldier since joining right after high school graduation and re-enlisted before shipping out late last year to Afghanistan, where he was killed with two fellow soldiers over the weekend, his aunt said Monday.

"He just loved adventure, and he was always ready to challenge himself and make himself better in some way," Melissa Strickland of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, said as her nephew's body was returning to the United States. But "the thing he was most passionate about was his family."

Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina, was one of three 101st Airborne Division soldiers killed Saturday in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, authorities said. Also killed were Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, California, and Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore.

Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore, Md.; Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, Calif.; and Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, N.C.

Department of Defense

The Department of Defense said in a statement that the soldiers died of wounds received while supporting a military operation called Freedom's Sentinel. But it didn't elaborate, saying the deaths remain under investigation and no other details were being released at this time.

In Washington, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer spoke about the deaths at his regular press briefing Monday.

"I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the three service members that were killed this weekend in Afghanistan. The incident is currently under investigation, but our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of these American heroes who've lost their lives in this tragic event," Spicer told reporters.

Baldridge's maternal grandmother Debbie Horan remembered a happy young boy who had no fear of the spotlight.

"Even at the youngest age, we'd go into a restaurant and he loved music and he would just belt out a song and everybody would just stand around and listen to him sing, at 4 years old," Horan said.

Baldridge's family was proud of his service, but knew it could come with a price, reports CBS Raleigh, North Carolina affiliate WNCN-TV.

"There was always that possibility, which we were all well aware of, and accepted that fact, although you don't want to," said his brother, Zach Palmer.

Palmer remembers Baldridge as optimistic and always ready for a good laugh.

Baldridge and Houck had been due to return home next month, their families said.

Three U.S. soldiers were killed in an attack in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan on Sat., June 10, 2017.

CBS News

Houck enlisted a few years after graduating from high school in the Baltimore suburbs. He had married his high school sweetheart and found in military duty a way to support his growing family and serve his country, his father said. The soldier leaves behind two young children.

"He was a husband and father first," said his father, Mike Houck. "He was a son and brother, and then he was a soldier. His family was the most important thing to him." He also loved playing soccer, football and baseball.

Mike Houck said he was nervous when he learned his only son would be heading overseas.

"If he was nervous, he didn't let on," Houck added. "He took it bravely, as his responsibility as a soldier. He was unwavering in his dedication to that. But as a parent you're nervous every day."

Houck began his military career as a private and rose to the rank of sergeant in just three years, his father said. He added that his son would travel in forward positions with the infantry and was responsible for directing airstrikes.

"He was exemplary," Houck said. "He was a hell of a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a soldier."

There was no immediate information about Bays, the third soldier who died.

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Families share memories of US soldiers killed in Afghanistan - CBS News

BBC News

Tough school? War, illiteracy and hope in Afghanistan BBC News But how would this model fare in a country where the education system had been pulverised by four decades of constant war and conflict - Afghanistan? The answer to this question is unfolding in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, where 80 ... and more »

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Tough school? War, illiteracy and hope in Afghanistan - BBC News

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. Sgt. Eric M. Houck was a dedicated soldier, a proud father of two and was several months into his first overseas deployment when he was killed in Afghanistan with two fellow soldiers, his father says.

Houck, 25, was to have returned home next month. He died along with two fellow members of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, an Army post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.

The sergeant from Baltimore was killed Saturday in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province along with Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, California, and Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina, authorities said.

The Department of Defense said in a statement Monday that the soldiers died of wounds received while supporting a military operation called Freedom's Sentinel. But it didn't elaborate, saying the deaths remain under investigation and no other details were being released at this time.

"Today, as we grieve, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Cpl. Baldridge, Sgt. Houck and Sgt. Bays. We take this as a family loss," said Maj. Gen. Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell. "In the days ahead, the 101st Soldiers ... will continue the fight against terrorism with unbridled determination."

In Washington, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer spoke about the deaths at his regular press briefing Monday.

"I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the three service members that were killed this weekend in Afghanistan. The incident is currently under investigation, but our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of these American heroes who've lost their lives in this tragic event," Spicer told reporters.

Houck enlisted a few years after graduating from high school in the Baltimore suburbs. He had married his high school sweetheart and found in military duty a way to support his growing family and serve his country, his father said. The soldier leaves behind two young children.

"He was a husband and father first," said his father, Mike Houck. "He was a son and brother, and then he was a soldier. His family was the most important thing to him." He also loved playing soccer, football and baseball.

Mike Houck said he was nervous when he learned his only son would be heading overseas.

"If he was nervous, he didn't let on," Houck added. "He took it bravely, as his responsibility as a soldier. He was unwavering in his dedication to that. But as a parent you're nervous every day."

Houck began his military career as a private and rose to the rank of sergeant in just three years, his father said. He added that his son would travel in forward positions with the infantry and was responsible for directing airstrikes.

"He was exemplary," Houck said. "He was a hell of a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a soldier."

In North Carolina, WRAL-TV reported that the principal of Franklinton High School said many were saddened there by the death of Baldridge. A 2012 graduate of that school, he had gone to Afghanistan last October and was due to return in August, relatives told the station.

"Those that knew Dillon well remember him as a distinguished alumni of the class of 2012, who was a kindhearted and possessed a truly giving personality," Franklinton High School Principal Russell Holloman said in a statement. "He made an early commitment to the military during his high school career and maintained that focus and selfless dedication after graduation."

There was no immediate information about Barstow, the third soldier who died.

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NC soldier among 3 killed in Afghanistan, deaths under investigation - Greensboro News & Record