U.S. military drones crossed into Pakistani territory and fired missiles into a vehicle carrying Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, killing him and a driver. The killing was a setback to the peacemaking efforts by the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, the conflict-resolution group that met with Taliban representatives in Qatar. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
More than a dozen people believed to have been foreign contractors were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul, the Afghan capital, on Monday, according to police and government officials. – New York Times
A foreign drone strike and ensuing ground operation by Afghan forces have killed more than two dozen Islamic State loyalists in eastern Afghanistan, local officials said. – Stars and Stripes
Civilian casualties in Afghanistan are at record highs, according to a Pentagon report released Friday that paints a bleak picture of a country where the Taliban continues its resurgence and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) continues to be uneven. – The Hill
Afghans feel less secure than at any recent time, a new Pentagon report says, as Afghan battlefield deaths continue to escalate and civilian casualties hit a record high. – Associated Press
The Afghan parliament approved President Ashraf Ghani's choices for defense minister and intelligence chief on Monday, ensuring continuity in command at time when the Taliban insurgency has intensified and more U.S. troops are preparing to go home. - Reuters