TEHRAN (FNA)- Azerbaijan Republic is sticking to plans to reduce oil exports to the EU and increase shipments to Iran, as the South Caucasus country home to another Russia-influenced frozen conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh seeks to spread the risk.

TANG KHATTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani forces have killed up to 1,000 Islamist militants in fighting in the strategically important northwestern region of Bajaur this month, an army commander said on Friday.

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Taliban insurgents have freed 118 laborers they kidnapped in western Afghanistan last week, Taliban commanders and Afghan officials said on Friday.