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www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimes www.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30. 2016 -Hamal 11, 1395 HS Yo ur Yo ur ad ad he re he re 0778894038 0778894038

AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: Two civilians were killed suspended following the incident. and seven others injured in a road- A delegation was assigned to side bomb blast Tuesday morning evaluate if the officers were guilty, in Kabul city, a security official it added. said. The ministry strongly con- “A bomb placed under a bridge demned the attack. in police district 11, exploded at Separately, a former senator 9:00 am, killing a woman and a child Rafiullah Gul Afghan claimed that and wounding seven other civil- it was a remote-controlled bomb ians,” Najib Danish, deputy placed to target his convoy. spokesman for interior ministry He said that four civilians were said. killed and over 10 injured. The interior ministry said in a No armed group has claimed statement that five officers were responsibility for the incident yet. Key HPC members work for foreigners: Shahid A spokesman for the High Peace HERAT CITY: Former national Council on Tuesday said funding security advisor Dr. Rangin Dad- for 2,400 HPC projects has been far Spanta has said inappropriate embezzled and that key members policies of the incumbent govern- of the council are being paid by ment had raised concerns about foreign embassies. political instability and fear of es- While appearing on a TOLO- calation in war. news current affairs show, Tawde Also a former foreign minis- Khabare, Mawlavi Shahzada Sha- ter, Spanta said he would render hid, spokesman for the HPC, let all possible sacrifices but would slip that prominent members of the not allow the Pakistani establish- HPC's secretariat were working for ment to influence Afghanistan’s foreign embassies. foreign policy or meddle in its in- "President [Ashraf] Ghani and ternal affairs. Speaking at the resi- [Chief Executive Officer] Abdul- dence of Mohammad Ismail Khan, lah Abdullah should know this. A former jihadi leader and minister person, who was working in the der for them to broadcast HPC re- on Monday night, he alleged most High Peace Council and is now lated news. achievements of the past decades working at the Ministry of De- He went on to say that "2,400 had been reversed over the last two fense, was receiving €9,000 Euro projects have been approved by years by the unity government. (about $10,580 USD) monthly the council for provinces, but the Ismail Khan had invited key mem- salary from a [foreign] embassy," funding was embezzled". bers of the Karzai administration he said. He said that there are people to dinner at his home in Herat City, Speaking of embezzlement in in the council who don't have the the capital of western Herat prov- the HPC, Shahid said that the expertise to work there and they ince. Spanta assailed the Ghani-led council was paying $3.5 million rarely appear at sessions of the government and countries such as USD to a television channel in or- council. the United States for following weak and ambiguous policies. As a consequence, he said the sitting government had weakened and Stanikzai pledges to equip southern there were concerns about politi- Response to Natural Disasters cal instability. He said the nation troops with modern weapons TheTogholqaha,one ofvillages related to Doshidistrict ofBaghlan province is located abouteight had rendered scarifies for liberat- The acting minister of defense, Masoom Stanikzai, during his trip to Kandahar on ing the country from Soviet and Tuesday assured security forces in southern Afghanistan that they will eventually be kilometers west of the district center. Most of the residents of this village fulfill their daily needs from British occupation. In case of need, equipped with modern weapons. "The Ministry of Defense (MoD) wants to equip farming, livestock, horticulture and shop-keeping activities while a number of them are working for he added, the Afghans would de- Afghan army forces in southern Afghanistan with modern weapons," he said. The trip the government. fend their motherland and frustrate was aimed at visiting Afghan army troops. Kandahar provincial council members and Islamabad’smeddling. tribal elders from the province meanwhile commended the Afghan security forces for Considering the year-round climate of the territory, the farmers in this community cultivate their lands Former energy and water min- their bravery. "We praise the activities of the Ministry of Defense and people in the twice a year. They mainly grow wheat, barley, peas,etc on their forms. The fruit produced in their ister Ismail asked the nation to southern zone, particularly Kandaharis are standing beside their security forces to stand united against all threats and defend their country," said Sayed Jan Khakrezwal, chairman of the Kandahar provin- gardens includes peach, apple, plum, grape andberry. protect the government system. He cial council. Mohammad Essa Khan, a tribal elder, said that they say no to war in order The irrigation canal providing water to villagers’agricultural landsis located at the edge of the Baghlan reiterated his resolve to keep Tali- to bring lasting peace and security to Afghanistan. The trip comes at a time that Afghan ban from destabilising the coun- security forces are engaged in fighting in different parts of Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul River. In the past, this canal was usually washed away by seasonal floods as the villagers were quite and Kandahar provinces. try. (Pajhwok) concerned in this regard. However, the villagers every time put a lot of effort into reconstructing it temporarily. In order to earn their living and cover their daily expenditures, they had to endure great hardship to keep their lands arable. Soon after this community came under the coverage of the National Solidarity programme of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/NSP) in its second round of black grants disbursement, the villagers had an opportunity to come together and include the construction of a PRAGUE: Extremist attitude to- The school argued that stu- retaining wall as a priority need in their Community Development Plan (CDP) in close consultation wards Muslims especially girls dents must not have their heads with their Community Development Council (CDC), established in 2014. The project completed in wearing veil in schools had forced covered in the classroom. Sabatova CJ’s father rescued from 2015 at a sum of AFN 3,000,000 funded by the NSP including 10% community contribution (financial, an Afghan female student to leave demanded that the school rules be school. changed as the hijab is a religious kidnappers in Nangarhar labor or in-kind) is currently benefitting 423 families that mainly subsist on farming. A foreign female student, symbol. The school did not change JALALABAD: The Supreme Court Chief Justice’s fatherhas been rescued from kidnappers during an Mr. Abdul Hakim 37, a resident of Togholqaha village revealed:”The irrigation canal lying alongside whom a Prague secondary nursing the rules, but it gave the school operation in eastern Nangarhar province, an official the river, waters around 400 jirebs of villagers’ agricultural lands. The seasonal floods and water level school banned from wearing the director the right to grant excep- said on Tuesday. Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi Muslim veil covering her head and tions for religious reasons. told Pajhwok Afghan News Syed Hassan, the father rise particularly in summer usually damaged the canal badly.However, the villagers were obliged to neck (hijab) during classes in 2013, This dispute provoked discus- of Chief Justice Syed Yousuf Halim,had been kid- has sued the school, her lawyer sions about whether to let Mus- napped by unidentified men about a week ago. reconstruct it again and again desperatelyin another place with great hardship and tireless efforts in Radka Korbelova Dohnalova has lim women wear coverings such as He said Hassan was rescued as result of an oper- order to keep their lands cultivable. In 2012 and 2013, the same canal was severely damaged by the told CTK. The lawyer said a Pra- the hijab, niqab or even the burka ation and tribal elders’ mediation on Tuesday morn- gue district court will deal with the in the Czech Republic. ing. He did not provide information about the loca- flooding. On one occasion,for 7 days while on another occasion, for 29 days around 50 villagers tion where Hassan was released. Local officials said case. Two Muslim girls left their Unlike Sabatova, Deputy no one had so far detained in connection with the including men and women were working to repair the canal to nurture their lands that were the only school due to the ban on hijab in Ombudsman Stanislav Krecek was incident but police were looking for the kidnappers. source to subsist on. As such the villagers were living a life full of worries and distress.” the Czech Republic in 2013. One against it. According to President A day earlier, the governor’s spokesman, At- was from Somalia and the other Milos Zeman, the state should not taullah Khogyani, said Hassan was kidnapped on “We hope the MRRD/NSP does not leave us alone half way down in further assisting us how to put from Afghanistan. allow Muslim coverings at schools his way from home to a mosque early in the morning an end to the rest of difficulties plaguing our community as well as providing us with a happy and Ombudsman Anna Sabatova and medical facilities because Is- on March 17. supported the girls then and said lam is an aggressive religion. Zem- untroubled environment”, he added. the school discriminated against an is known for his resolute oppo- them indirectly. sition to Islam.—(ÈTK) 39 insurgents AFGHANISTAN HAS A JUSTICE SYSTEM killed in raids THAT MONEY CAN BUY: SOPKO AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: Special Inspector Gen- working with some honest and KABUL: Thirty-nine Taliban fighters have been eral for Afghanistan John Sopko, brave Afghan policemen, prose- killed and 17 others wounded in different military highlighting widespread corruption cutors and judges. But many of operations in the past 24 hours in different provinc- in Afghanistan, says the war-torn them hadbeen intimidated or es, security officials said. country has the best justice sys- killed,making the fight against cor- In a press release issued on Tuesday, the de- tem that money can buy. In an in- ruption difficult, he said. SIGAR fense ministry said that Afghan National Army with terview published in a British news- exposed in recent that months the collaboration of Afghan National Police and Na- paper on Tuesday, he was asked millions of dollars were spent on tional Directorate of Security (NDS), conducted joint to comment on how dealing with importing rare goats in a bid to operations against insurgents in different areas of corruption in Afghanistan com- boost the cashmere industry in Kunduz, Uruzgan and Nangarhar provinces. In these pared to tackling the mafia: “It’s Afghanistan, but the animals van- operations, 39 rebels were killed and 17 others were different and it’s harder,” Sopko ished. Additionally, a petrol sta- replied. He told the Independent: tion that should have accounted injured. “When I was with the organised for a few hundred thousand dol- Three suspects were arrested and handed over crime section, Department of Jus- lars ended up costing $43m. He to judiciary organs for further inquiries. tice, you’re dealing with a legiti- said many problems were Unfortunately, 11 army soldiers were killed in mate legal system…you don’t have spawned by the way the US ad- the operations as result of enemy firing, said the that in Afghanistan...and the joke ministration did business, and the statement. is Afghanistan has the best justice biggest issue was that individuals Also the army discovered and confiscated weap- system that money can buy.” The were never held accountable for ons and ammunition in the operations, mentioned top US official acknowledged their mistakes. (Pajhwok) the statement.

WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakh- tunkhwa Commissionerate Afghan Refugees (CAR), is collecting data on refugees residing in Hayatabad, Peshawar. This is the first time CAR is EMERGENCY conducting such a survey with fi- nancial support from the United CALLS Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). While talk- Police ing to The Express Tribune, Af- ghan Refugees Repatriation Cell Director Fazal Rabi shared CAR 100 - 119 is conducting a door-to-door sur- vey on the population of Afghan refugees who have been living in Hospitals Hayatabad for years. “The aim is to collect data on FMIC Hospital documented and undocumented Behind Kabul Medical refugees living in the city,” he said. The survey started in January and University: is in its final stages as almost all of 0202500200-+93793275595 Hayatabad has been covered, he said. The director added he could not share the data as of now, but Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital only after the survey was complet- Pule Bagh-e- Umomi ed. “It clearly differentiates be- tween registered and unregistered 070263672 Afghan refugees,” Rabi added, say- ing initially, the survey was limit- ed to Hayatabad, but now will be Khairkhana Hospital extended to other parts of the prov- 0799-321007 ince. “This survey will help us un- 2401352 derstand the needs of refugees. We will be able to ask for seats for Afghan refugees in schools, colleg- Indira Gandhi Children es and universities in Peshawar,” Hospital, Wazir Akbar he said. Rabi also shared this survey Khan, Kabul 2301372 would also disclose the status of undocumented refugees living in Hayatabad. He said the status of Ibn-e- Seena all refugees whose Proof of Regis- tration (PoR) expired would be Pul-e-Artan, Kabul considered “illegal”. 2100359 According to a report released by CAR in October 2015, there were over 148,225 Afghan refugee Wazir Akbar Khan families residing in 43 camps Hospital across the province. In these camps, 31,662 families were liv- 2301741, 2301743 ing in seven camps in Peshawar district and 14,773 families in three camps of Haripur, among other Ali Abad districts. Shahrara, Kabul However, according to a UN- HCR report issued in February, 2100439 2016, a total of 976,303 individual Afghan refugees are living in K-P in which 55% are living in host Malalai Maternity communities while 45% are living Hospital in camps. The report showed that in 2016, 371 refugees repatriated 2201377/ 2301743 of which 192 were from camps and 179 from host communities. The United States Agency for In- Banks ternational Development (US- US military AID) officially transferred two Da Afghanistan Bank new hospitals in Paktiya and Pak- 2100302, 2100303 tika provinces to the Ministry of donates nearly Public Health (MoPH), which will contribute significantly to better Bakhtar Bank access to healthcare for Afghans $1b in property living in the region. 0776777000 The two facilities – a 100-bed Azizi Bank A rampant Afghanistan proved watchful eyes of coach Inzamam some pride with two points un- 48 matches so far, that is almost to Afghan govt hospital in Gardez, Paktiya Prov- once again they are not just the ul Haq, seem to be bearing luscious like underdogs Bangladesh, who 61 per cent success rate, which is ince and a 20-bed hospital in Zar- 0799 700900 perennial makeweights in the bout fruit now. went pointless in the other group more than that of Australia, South Between January 2010 and Feb- ghun Shar (also known as Khayr of heavyweights at the World The credit for their success despite being around for more than Africa, England, West Indies and ruary 2015, the Defense Depart- Kot) District of Paktika Province Pashtany Bank Twenty20. goes to Inzamam, who has turned two decades in the international Pakistan. ment donated roughly $858 mil- – were built by the International Their meteoric rise is not a re- a bunch of mortals not only into a arena. There are many positives Going by the brand of cricket lion worth of real property to the Organization for Migration (IOM) 2102908, 2103868 sult of some ad hoc solutions or an winning combination but also a that Afghanistan can take home Afghanistan are playing it looks Afghan government through the Afghanistan, with funding from overnight change of fortune but the force to be reckoned with in the after ending their campaign on a they will soon emerge as another transition of military bases it op- USAID. During a ceremony in Air Services Kabul, Minister of Public Health seeds, which were sown under the cricket fraternity. high note. Afghanistan defended Asian powerhouse of the game erated in Afghanistan over the Ferozuddin Feroz accepted the It is a turnaround few would the second lowest total of the tour- from the Subcontinent like India, course of the war, a government transfer of the hospitals and Safi Airways Artwork created by have thought possible. nament against mighty West In- Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the watchdog agency said Monday. stressed Afghan government’s Under the leadership of cap- dies. shortest format of the game. How- The former bases, ranging from commitment to maintaining them. 020 22 22 222 officer on duty in tain Asghar Stanikzai, whose gen- The way Afghans played, it ever, West Indian captain Darren small, tactical combat outposts to “These hospitals will provide Afghanistan to teel demeanour hides a steely re- was evident their repertoire needs Sammy showed his ungracious large operational bases, cannot be the same level of health care to the Ariana solve, Afghans have seen them- no embellishment but just more side when he refuted to concede sold to the government of Afghan- people of Paktiya and Paktika and the surrounding provinces as they feature in Shepreth selves through some rocky stretch- exposure at international level to defeat and give credit to Afghans, istan, the Special Inspector Gen- 020-2100270 es on the road to World Cup suc- hone their skills and learn to hold saying: “They did not beat us but would get in Kabul or Kandahar,” exhibition eral for Afghanistan Reconstruc- Feroz said. “This is a step toward cess from a mountainous, land- their nerves in nail-biting finishes. we lost the game.” West Indies tion said in a fact sheet. Kam Air locked country. This was the third appearance became their second Full Member raising the standard of healthcare The exhibition at The Plough is If it is not transferred to an- across the entire country.” 0799974422 part of a charity project launched Not only did Afghanistan of Afghans at the showpiece event scalp after Zimbabwe, who failed IOM’s Construction of Health by Cambridge artist Vandy Mas- spring the biggest upset by stun- post their first qualification in 2010 to qualify for the Super Ten. other military department or fed- eral agency, it can be abandoned, and Education Facilities (CHEF) sey called Running With Brushes, ning table topper West Indies but as they failed to make it to the It seems cricket, finally, might team completed the hospitals in Hotels which supports Care For Casual- they have also been very impres- Super Ten in 2012 after two con- bring some reprieve and give some- dismantled or donated. Transfer- late December 2015. Previously, ties, an appeal associated with The sive since their debut in the short- secutive losses. thing to cheer about to the people ring the property to the Afghan MoPH healthcare workers in Pak- Safi Landmark Rifles Regiment. government is more cost effective The regiment saw almost con- est format of the game in 2010. Afghans have the second best of the war-torn country after de- tiya and Paktika either worked in tinuous action in Iraq and Afghan- Though they finished last in winning rate in Twenty20s after cades of civil war.—(The Gulf than the other options in most cas- rented facilities or in over-crowd- 020-2203131 istan between 2007 and 2012 and the points table they salvaged India. They have won 29 of their Today) es, Christine Abizaid, deputy as- ed hospitals that were not adequate so the charity provides badly need- sistant secretary of defense for for proper attention to patients’ SERENA ed support to the severely wound- needs. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central “These hospitals will provide ed, their families and the families Asia, wrote in a letter attached to of fallen riflemen. their communities the full gamut 0799654000 The exhibition at The Plough the report. of health services from childhood will be held between Thursday, For example, during the trans- immunization, care for mothers and New Rumi Restaurant April 14 and Sunday, May 8, fea- fer of Camp Leatherneck in Octo- their newborns, and surgery,” said turing the work of 10 accomplished ber 2014, when NATO formally Mission Director Herbie Smith. 0776351347 Cambridge artists. ended its mission in Helmand prov- “And we are grateful for the assis- Their work covers a wide range tance that IOM provided to build Internet Services of subject matter, style and media, ince, roughly $236 million worth these facilities for the people of and includes paintings and draw- of property was donated to the Paktiya and Paktika.” UA Telecom ings by war artist Sophie Whit- Afghan government. About $39 Both facilities are built to in- 0796701701 / 0796702702 taker, pictured right, a serving army million worth was dismantled. ternational structural and medical officer. On two evenings during the Of the 715 bases the U.S. op- standards, and will provide health- exhibition – Thursday, April 14 and erated over the course of the war, care providers the space to more Exchange Rate Thursday, April 21 – the main ex- effectively offer quality medical hibition will be supplemented by 391 were turned over to the gov- services. They include amenities 250 postcard-sized original paint- ernment of Afghanistan, with the such as outpatient, emergency and Purchase: ings donated by more than 30 art- majority — 57 percent — going to operation facilities, as well as male ists from all over the world. the Afghan National Army, the re- and female wards to accommodate One US$ = Anyone who buys a £20 tick- port found. The Afghan National patients, educational and adminis- et, visitors will be able to choose Police received 30 percent of the tration offices, conference and 68.78Afs and take away one of the small art- meeting rooms, laboratories and One Pound Sterling= works while enjoying a glass of transferred bases, the second-larg- other services. “It was rewarding wine at The Plough’s gallery. est share. Other bases were trans- to have USAID and IOM collabo- 98.50Afs Vandy set up the project when ferred to other components of the rating so closely in Afghanistan to One Euro = her son joined the rifles, as she Defense Ministry and the Interior strengthen the capacity of local in- liked the way the charity supports stitutions and to enable the better 76.78Afs veterans get back on their feet. The Ministry. SIGAR found that the U.S. provision of essential services to 1000 Pak Rs = initial aim of the project was to the Afghan people,” Lawrence sell 1,000 postcard-sized waterco- closed 219 bases, and the total value Hart, IOM’s Afghanistan Chief of 638Afs lours, and so far about 500 have of property destroyed or aban- Mission and Special Envoy, said Sale: been sold. doned on all of the transitioned of the completed project. Since This is the first public exhibi- bases amounted to roughly $48 One US$ = tion the project has put on. January 2008, USAID’s $57 mil- She said: “I am enormously million. Six bases were transferred lion CHEF program has support- 68.98 Afs grateful to all the artists, as the to other U.S. government agencies. ed Afghanistan’s Ministries of One Pound Sterling= commission goes to the charity. It’s There were other bases where U.S. Public Health and Education by 99.30Afs also exciting to make art accessible providing much needed infrastruc- forces shared locations with coali- ture in the form of hospitals, mid- One Euro= and affordable to everyone, to peo- tion or Afghan forces, SIGAR said. ple who don’t usually buy art. It’s wife training centers, teacher train- 77.38 Afs important that people do support Twelve U.S.-operated bases ing colleges, and other medical and art in its original form.” remain open.—(Stars and Stripes) education facilities. Wadsam 1000 Pak Rs= 646Afs WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Pakistan team in India's

Nawaz, however did not ex- Pathankot to plicitly mention the ongoing sit-in at D-Chowk or announce a securi- ty operation against militant ele- ments in southern Punjab. investigate The premier's address comes a day after the horrific suicide at- tack in Lahore's crowded Gulshan- i-Iqbal park and thousands of pro- attack testers breached the Red Zone in the federal capital. PM cancels vis- it to Washington The prime minister on Mon- day cancelled his visit to Washing- ton to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in the wake of the tragic Lahore terror attack, Radio Paki- stan reported. The delegation will now be led by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi. High-level security huddle Nawaz Sharif, while chairing a high-level security meeting in Lahore earlier on Monday, called for more proactive coordination amongst law enforcement and in- telligence agencies against terror- ism. He said all provinces must step up intelligence-based operations against terrorists, adding that the goal is not only to eliminate the terror infrastructure but also to get ISLAMABAD: A day after a sui- The prime minister said that of terrorist attacks outside of Pa- The prime minister elaborated rid of the extremist mindset. cide bomber killed 72 people in a the entire nation is mourning after kistan, the premier stated, "Ter- that the country is on "the path of Around 2,000 people are also Lahore park, Prime Minister the terror attack in Lahore. rorism has become a global threat success despite ongoing terror at- protesting the execution of Nawaz Sharif in his address to the "We will avenge every last and the whole world is affected by tacks, and the government is on Mumtaz Qadri and are staging a nation reiterated Pakistan's "re- drop of our countrymen's blood," it." track to make Pakistan the land of sit-in at D-Chowk within the cap- solve to fight the menace of terror- said Nawaz. "In the past three years, the happiness and success." ital's Red Zone. ism till it is rooted out from our He stated that although the government and security agencies The premier also paid his sin- The demonstration that start- society." armed forces are carrying out Op- — with national resolve backing cerest condolences to the injured ed early Sunday evening is still "The government’s leniency eration Zarb-i-Azb, the fight is not them — have reduced terror activ- and the families which suffered the underway although the crowd has should not be mistaken for state’s over yet. ities across the country," said loss of their loved ones in the diminished from 10,000 to around weakness," warned the premier. Referring to the recent spats Nawaz. Lahore attack. 2,000 protesters. Abbott's Sri Lanka A five-member Pakistani team has known persons" over the arrived at Pathankot air force base Pathankot attack. in India to investigate a deadly An official of the interior min- comments 'excuse war militant attack on the base in Jan- istry of Pakistan had filed the com- uary. plaint, which mentioned some Pa- Opposition parties have se- kistani mobile numbers provided verely criticised the government for by Indian authorities. crimes', Tamil refugee letting the team, which includes a Scepticism over claim Pakistani intelligence officer, visit The United Jihad Council the area. (UJC) - a coalition of more than a India has accused Pakistan- dozen militant groups fighting advocates say based group Jaish-e-Mohammad against Indian rule in Kashmir - said The former prime minister Tony of carrying out the assault. they carried out the attack. Abbott has excused war crimes in Seven Indian soldiers and six But the claim was met with comments that the Sri Lankan gov- militants were killed in the attack. scepticism - the UJC is not known ernment’s actions in its civil war Pakistan has said it has arrest- to have carried out attacks outside were “probably unavoidable”, ed several members of Jaish-e- Indian-administered Kashmir - and Tamil refugee advocates have said. Mohammad. India instead blamed Jaish-e-Mo- In an article in Quadrant mag- The investigation team left in hammed. azine Abbott defended his nation- bullet-proof cars from Amritsar, in Started by Masood Azhar, the al security record as prime minis- Punjab, for Pathankot on Tuesday Islamist militant group has been ter: “I’m sure that the Sri Lankan morning, Indian media reports blamed for attacks on Indian soil president was pleased that Aus- said. in the past, including one in 2001 Heralding a new chapter in the ficer Anil Yendluri and chief oper- tralia didn’t join the human rights Authorities have said the visi- on the Indian parliament which Indo-Bangladesh maritime trade ating officer S. Subba Rao. The lobby against the tough but prob- tors would have "limited access" took the nuclear-armed rivals to the and bilateral cooperation, a direct new direct service would not just ably unavoidable actions taken to to the base and that they would be brink of war. shipping service was launched be- be limited to Chittagong but it end one of the world’s most vi- taken to the area where the attack- Grey line tween Krishnapatnam and Chit- would be stretched up to Pangaon cious civil wars”. ers fought a gun-battle with the Pathankot: A strategic location tagong ports at a ceremony held at inland container port located at The foreign minister, Julie security forces on 2 January. Indian air force soldiers stand the Krishnapatnam port here on just 15 km from the capital city Bishop, has rebuked one aspect of place.” He added: “But we accept and 2012 had concluded that the Some sensitive areas on the in position outside the Air Force Monday. The direct service is ex- Dhaka. Named the Krishnapat- his comment, telling Guardian base have been barricaded and base following an encounter with pected to significantly reduce nam-Pangaon weekly direct ser- that sometimes in difficult circum- Sri Lankan military bombed hos- Australia that the government had stances, difficult things happen.” pitals and no-fire zones. would be out of bounds for the militants at Air Force base in transportation cost thereby boost vice, the new shipping line was “consistently raised human rights Pakistanis, Indian Defence Minis- PathankotImage copyrightEPA the already promising exports of welcomed by the traders on both Tamil Refugee Council conve- The 2012 report also found the issues with the former Sri Lankan nor Trevor Grant told Guardian Tamil Tigers were responsible for ter Manohar Parrikar has said. The Pathankot air force base cotton, steel, tyres, minerals, and sides as it would greatly reduce the government”. Indian security forces stand extends over about 2,000 acres, other goods to Bangladesh. It is transit cost and also saves a lot on Australia “he excused torture then, human rights abuses, including Abbott did not indicate what now he’s excusing war crimes”. forced conscription of teenagers guard at an air force base near the including some areas covered with said 50 per cent cotton imported time. Dhaka-based Neepa Pariba- actions or lobby groups he was Pakistani borderImage copyright- tall vegetation. by Bangladesh is from India. To- han, which has long experience in UN calls for Sri Lanka war for their military service and as referring to. crimes court to investigate atroci- suicide bombers. AP Seven Indian soldiers died in The base's commanding offic- day’s event marked the berthing shipping, operates these direct ser- The United Nations has said the attack on the Pathankot air base er Air Commodore JS Dhamoon of the first historic vessel named vices. On the occasion, Mr. ties Grant said Abbott’s comments Grant called on Bishop to re- it found evidence “strongly indi- were “predictable but despicable” ject the claim the Sri Lankan gov- Meanwhile, small groups of has described it as a "mini-city". It MV Harbour-1 which arrived at Chowdhury termed the event as a cating” war crimes, including tor- demonstrators have held protests includes homes and a school for the Krishnapatnam Port Contain- historic one in the Indo-Bangladesh as Abbott had “a history of align- ernment’s actions were unavoid- ture, executions, forced disappear- ing himself with the brutal [Raja- able, which he said was “wrong outside the base, demanding that the children of air force personnel. er Terminal (KPCT) here amid high ties considering the fact that this ances and sexual abuse committed the Pakistani team should not be Pathankot is home to a fleet of expectations among exporters and happened after the agreement was paksa] regime”, referring to their and dishonest”. by the Sri Lankan security forces cooperation on stopping boats of Australian Tamil Congress na- allowed in since Pakistanis were MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-25 and importers on future opportunities signed between the two countries against the country’s Tamil ethnic thought to be involved in the dead- Mi-35 attack helicopters, along for industry and trade between the at the level of the Prime Minis- asylum seekers from Sri Lanka tional spokesperson Sam Pari said minority, who were fighting a sep- reaching Australia. “it is disappointing that rather than ly attack. with other military hardware. two countries. Dignitaries who ters. High potential Stating that aratist war. This is the first time that Pa- It occupies a highly strategic graced the occasion included Mem- Bangladesh had high potential with “For Abbott to say that sort upholding human rights, Abbott Asked about allegations of tor- of thing flies in the face of all chose instead to please the Sri Lan- kistani intelligence and police offi- position on the main highway con- ber of Bangladesh Parliament its exports to US and Europe ture in 2013 at a Commonwealth cials have travelled to India to in- necting Kashmir with the rest of Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, Neepa touching 31.5 billion US $ last year, known facts, put out there not just kan president who failed to pro- heads of government meeting in Sri by Tamil groups but also by inde- tect and promote international hu- vestigate a militant attack. the country. It is also very close - Paribahan chief executive officer Mr. Chowdhury said that the new Lanka, Abbott said: “The Austra- In February, police in Pakistan about 35km - to the border with Md. Sirajuddin Rahaman, Krish- shipping service would prove to pendent investigators of the UN.” man rights law and international lian government deplores any use Grant said UN reports in 2015 humanitarian law”. registered a complaint against "un- Pakistan. napatnam port chief executive of- be a win-win situation . of torture ... wherever it might take Around 700 pro-Qadri protesters remain in Islamabad's Red Zone ISLAMABAD: Around 700 pro- a sit-in in front of Parliament, is- weakness. Mumtaz Qadri protesters contin- sued a list of 10 demands under Know more: Mil- ued to protest in Islamabad's Red the banner of the Tehreek-i-Lab- itary gives go-ahead Zone on Tuesday, police official baik Ya Rasool (SAW). for Punjab operation Mohammad Kashif confirmed, Their demands include the un- after Lahore carnage despite warnings from the govern- conditional release of all Sunni cler- The address fol- ment, bringing the most sensitive ics and leaders booked on various lowed a massive sui- parts of the capital to a standstill. charges, including terrorism and cide bombing at A rally organised by the Sunni murder; the recognition of Lahore's Gulshan-i- Tehreek (ST) saw more than Mumtaz Qadri as a martyr and the Iqbal park in which at 10,000 charged protesters enter the conversion of his Adiala Jail cell least 72 people were city on Sunday, damaging build- into a national heritage site; assur- killed. Hours after ings and setting fire to the metro ances that blasphemy laws will not Sunday's attack, the station, containers and buses. be amended; and the removal of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pa- Explore: Nearly 2,000 pro- Ahmadis and other non-Muslims kistan Jamatul Ahrar Qadri protesters continue sit-in who occupy key posts. claimed responsibility. outside Parliament They also demanded the exe- The army re- A crowd consisting of around cution of blasphemy accused Aa- sponded by launching at least 25,000 people had attend- sia Bibi, the woman former Pun- raids on suspected ed the chehlum of former Punjab jab Governor Salmaan Taseer was militant hideouts governor Salman Taseer's killer, killed for defending. across Punjab. Mumtaz Qadri, in Rawalpindi's Also read: Liaquat Bagh to D- More than 200 Liaquatbagh earlier that day. Chowk — a trail of destruction suspects have been Mumtaz Qadri, an Elite Force Over 700 protesters were detained in the raids in commando, was executed at Raw- picked up from parts of Islama- the past 48 hours, a alpindi's Adiala Jail on February bad and sent to various jails in security official said. 29. Qadri shot Taseer 28 times in Punjab, Dawn Newspaper learnt Another official also broad daylight in Islamabad’s from officials of the capital police confirmed the arrests Kohsar Market on January 4, on Monday, and four separate cas- and said most of those 2011. es were registered against 501 reli- detained were sus- Qadri said he killed Taseer over gious workers, including their lead- pected to belong to what he called the politician's vo- ership, under the Anti-Terrorism outlawed militant and cal opposition to blasphemy laws Act by police. extremist groups. of the country. He was sentenced Tuesday's sit-in continues de- The two officials to death for assassinating Taseer spite Prime Minister Nawaz spoke on condition of on Oct 1 the same year. Sharif's Monday night address to anonymity as they Know more: Taseer's killer the nation during which he warned were not authorised to Mumtaz Qadri hanged radical Islamists not to take the publicly speak to jour- The protesters, while staging government's leniency as a sign of nalists. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief EgyptAir hijack: Sisi sacks man who alleged Egypt state Cyprus airport corruption hostage drama President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday sacked Egypt's top auditor who had stirred contro- versy by publicly concluding ends that government corruption had cost the country billions of dol- lars. Hesham Geneina came un- der heavy fire from senior offi- “The (US-led) international cials and pro-government media coalition did not succeed in Syria after he alleged widespread graft because it did not coordinate with in newspaper interviews at the the regime. Russia was successful end of last year. Hesham Ge- because it coordinated with us,” neina. (Photo courtesy: Ahram Bashar Ja’afari said in an interview Online) Sisi appointed a presi- with Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen dential commission that quick- TV. ly concluded that Geneina had “We are for the creation of an misled the public by saying cor- international coalition against ter- ruption had cost 600 billion rorism, but in coordination with Egyptian pounds (about $76 the Syrian government. We have billion) over a four-year period. no objection to working with The presidency did not America as long as it is done in spell out in a decree why Genei- coordination with Syria,” Ja’afari na was dismissed but the move said. came hours after the State Secu- In response, the United States rity Prosecution said his find- on Monday welcomed the victory ings were inaccurate. by Syrian leader Bashar al-As- Sisi, who as army chief re- sad’s Russian-backed forces over moved Egypt's first freely-elect- ISIS in the historic city of Palmyra, ed president in 2013, has made despite concerns over his brutal fighting corruption a top priori- record. Cyprus' foreign ministry has re- ment that pilot Omar al-Gammal ty for the government. “We do think that it’s a good ported that the hijacker of an Egyp- had informed authorities that he Geneina's removal is likely thing that Daesh no longer controls tAir passenger jet has been arrest- was threatened by a passenger to raise questions about Egypt's President Barack Obama met on conduct similar attacks here in the by ISIS, the White House said. it,” State Department spokesman ed at the island's Larnaca airport who possessed a suicide belt and commitment to fighting graft as Monday with a team of national United States," the White House Meanwhile, Syria said on John Kirby said, using his pre- after a five-hour standoff. forced him to land in Larnaca. it struggles to rebuild an econo- security advisers to discuss US said. Monday it is willing to take part ferred term for ISIS. The EgyptAir domestic flight Cyprus foreign ministry iden- my hammered by years of po- efforts to combat ISIS following Obama was told of expanded in an international coalition against “That said, we’re also mind- from Alexandria to Cairo was hi- tified the hijacker as Seif Eldin litical turmoil following a 2011 last week's attacks on Brussels, the US efforts to share threat infor- terrorism but only if the United ful, of course, that the best hope jacked on Tuesday morning and Mustafa and said it could not con- uprising that toppled veteran White House said. mation with international partners, States will work with Damascus for Syria and the Syrian people is forced to divert to Cyprus, in an firm the man was rigged with ex- autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The "The President was briefed and he directed his team to ensure in a way it has not done so far, the not an expansion of Bashar al-As- incident that was not politically plosives. most populous Arab state also that there is currently no specific, the United States is doing every- Syrian envoy to Geneva peace sad’s ability to tyrannize the Syr- motivated, the president of Cyprus Cyprus state TV said that the faces a Sinai-based Islamist mil- credible intelligence of any plot to thing possible to disrupt any plots talks said. ian people.” said. hijacker wanted to contact his ex- itant insurgency that has hurt the EgyptAir said flight 181 had wife, who is Greek-Cypriot and tourism industry, a traditional 81 people on board, including a lives in Larnaca. pillar of the economy. Egypt's crew of seven. Most of them were Witnesses told Cyprus Mail pro-government media accused released shortly after landing in newspaper that the he threw a let- Geneina of being an Islamist be- Cyprus. ter on the apron of the airport in cause was appointed by Presi- At around 11:30 GMT, the Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking dent Mohammad Morsi of the last seven people were seen leav- that it be delivered to his ex-wife. Muslim Brotherhood, which ing the aircraft, one whom escaped Other media outlets in Cyprus was outlawed and declared a ter- though the cockpit window. reported he first asked to be taken rorist group. Sisi ousted Morsi Earlier on Tuesday, aviation to Istanbul but that the pilot re- in 2013 after mass protests Britain’s Sky News quoted intelli- minister Sherif Fathy at a news fused this demand. against his rule, and then gence sources on Monday as say- conference in Cairo said three for- CYBC said the airplane was launched a fierce crackdown on ing that ISIS had “advanced plans” eign passengers were still on board, parked at an apron at Larnaca air- dissent, drawing widespread al- to kill Jewish children in Turkey together with the pilot and co-pi- port. The hijacker asked police to legations of abuse by human by attacking kindergartens, schools lot, one flight attendant and an air back away from the aircraft, it said. rights groups, allegations the and youth centers. marshal. Egypt's vital tourism industry government denies. Seen as a de- Sky Foreign Affairs Editor Initial reports said that the pi- was already reeling from the crash cisive figure who could deliver Sam Kiley said the information on lot of the plane was threatened by of a Russian passenger plane in the stability, Sisi gained the support the “imminent” threat came from a passenger strapped with explo- Sinai in late October. of millions of Egyptians. But he six operatives arrested over the sives, but Fathy said this has not President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi no longer enjoys cult-like adula- past week in the southern Turkish been confirmed. has said it was brought down by tion as Egyptians grow frustrat- city of Gaziantep. Cyprus President Nicos Anas- an attack. Islamic State of Iraq and ed with unemployment and high It was not clear which coun- tasiades said the hijacker seemed the Levant (ISIL, also known as prices. try’s intelligence service had pro- to have a personal motive and that ISIS) has said it planted a bomb, vided the information to the Brit- the incident was "not related to killing all 224 people on board. ish news network. Reuters could well as vigilance within the Jewish community,” Sky quoted an intelligence source as saying on its website. terrorism". The plane was an Air- Cyprus has seen little militant Syria has ‘no objec- not verify the report and Turkish “Undercover and other covert counter-terror measures are being implemented around the clock. This is a more bus 320, Egypt's aviation minis- activity for decades, despite its officials were not immediately than credible threat. This is an active plot,” the source was quoted as saying. More than 80 people have been try said. An official with flight- proximity to the Middle East. tion’ to work with reachable for comment. killed in a series of suicide attacks this year in Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States. The latest attack, tracking website FlightRadar24 A botched attempt by Egyp- US on ISIS “In light of these circumstanc- blamed on ISIS, killed three Israeli tourists and an Iranian in Istanbul on March 19. The group has also claimed said the plane showed no immedi- tian commandos to storm a hi- es, extraordinary security mea- responsibility for suicide blasts that killed 35 people last week in Belgium. In an upgraded travel advisory on ate signs of distress. The flight jacked airliner at Larnaca airport between Alexandria and Cairo nor- led to the disruption of diplomatic Syria is willing to take part in sures are being taken above and Monday, Israel urged its citizens visiting Turkey to leave “as soon as possible”, predicting possible follow- beyond the high alert level already up attacks. Sky said the most likely target of an attack was a synagogue in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district which mally takes about 30 minutes. relations between Cyprus and an international coalition The ministry said in a state- Egypt in 1978. against terrorism but only if in place by the Turkish police, as has a community center and a school attached to it. the United States will work with Damascus in a way it has not done so far, the Syrian en- voy to Geneva peace talks said on Monday. “The (U.S.-led) interna- Israel’s parliament gave initial ap- pend a lawmaker, an unlikely sce- remark. Israel’s Arabs make tional coalition did not succeed proval on Monday to a bill that nario in Israel’s tight and fractious up about 20 percent of the in Syria because it did not co- would allow members to suspend political arena. country’s population of 8.4 ordinate with the regime. Rus- from the legislature colleagues Rights group the Association million and they are broadly sia was successful because it whom they believe have support- for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) represented in parliament. coordinated with us,” Bashar ed Israel’s enemies or have acted warned “today this law is being The past six months has Ja’afari said in an interview against the state. promoted to harm the Arab MKs also seen the worst period with Lebanon-based al-May- The proposal was strongly (Knesset members), whose state- of sustained violence in the adeen TV. criticized by opposition members ments and actions do not find fa- West Bank, Jerusalem and the “We are for the creation of who said it was aimed against Is- vor with the political majority. Israeli interior since the sec- an international coalition rael’s Arab lawmakers. Tomorrow, (it) may harm other ond Palestinian uprising end- against terrorism, but in coor- Zouheir Bahloul, an Israel- MKs who express opposing po- ed a decade ago. dination with the Syrian gov- Arab legislator from the center-left sitions to that of the ruling con- At least 190 Palestin- ernment. We have no objection Zionist Union faction, accused the sensus.” ians, 129 of whom Israel says to working with America as right-wing ruling coalition led by The Knesset already has some were assailants, have been long as it is done in coordina- Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- powers to censure members. Last killed by security forces and tion with Syria,” Ja’afari said. yahu of “quietly stealing Arab month, three Arab-Israeli lawmak- many others were shot dur- In response, the United members’ right to a democratic dis- ers were suspended from speak- ing clashes and protests. Pal- States on Monday welcomed course.” ing in parliament as punishment estinians have killed 28 Is- the victory by Syrian leader Lawmakers voted 59-53 in fa- for supporting families of Pales- raelis and two US citizens in Bashar al-Assad’s Russian- vor of the bill, which now moves tinian assailants killed by security knife, car-ramming or gun backed forces over ISIS in the to committee but will become law forces after they attacked Israelis. assaults. An Israeli official historic city of Palmyra, de- only after two more votes at a lat- Israel’s Arabs have accused said on Monday that Netan- spite concerns over his brutal er date. Netanyahu’s coalition con- Netanyahu and his right-wing co- yahu had decided to suspend record. “We do think that it’s trols 61 seats in the 120-member alition of anti-Arab bias. He drew the return of the bodies of a good thing that Daesh no legislature. international condemnation after Palestinian assailants to their longer controls it,” State De- The proposed amendment to making a rallying call to his sup- families for burial for an in- partment spokesman John the basic law that governs the work porters on election day last year definite period because the Kirby said, using his preferred of the Knesset stipulates that at to rush to the polls because Arabs funerals were being used as term for ISIS. least 90 of the legislature’s mem- were being bussed “in droves” to incitement platforms for fur- bers would have to vote to sus- vote. He later apologized for the ther violence. China appoints first special envoy for Syria crisis The man arrested in a shooting in- Police have also confirmed this. for business. The shooting oc- tors Center when police told peo- place drill at the Capitol. Meanwhile, the US Secret Service said it tem- China on Tuesday appointed cident at the US Capitol on Mon- He also said there is “no rea- curred in the Visitors Center of the ple to leave immediately. porarily closed the north and south fence lines of the White House its first special envoy for the day had drawn a weapon at a se- son to believe it was anything but sprawling Capitol complex. Staff- Outside, on the plaza just to complex as a “routine precautionary measure” after the incident. It also Syrian crisis, a career diplomat curity checkpoint in the building’s a criminal act,” adding that the se- ers, reporters and others were told the east of the Capitol, other of- said a report that an individual tried to gain entry to the White House who has served as ambassador visitor center, where he was shot curity screening process worked to “shelter in place” while the in- ficers told those there to “get down was incorrect. Earlier, CNN reported that an individual tried to gain to Iran, as it seeks a more ac- by an officer, police said. as it was intended. cident was being investigated. behind this wall,” she said. “I heard entry into the White House. tive role in the Middle East. “The suspect is currently un- Earlier, Capitol officials said a Visitors evacuate the US Cap- what sounded like two shots off While relying on the region for dergoing surgery. His condition is gunman was taken into custody itol Building after a shooting at the to my left.” After a while police oil supplies, China tends to unknown at this time. A weapon after firing shots in the US Capitol Capitol Visitors Center in Wash- told her and others to keep run- leave Middle Eastern diploma- was recovered on the scene,” Cap- complex on Monday, and visitors ington March 28, 2016. A suspect ning. “I felt like I was in a movie. cy to the other permanent itol police chief Matthew Verde- and staff were shut in their offices was reportedly shot and captured It didn't feel real at all.” members of the UN Security rosa told reporters after the inci- and told to “shelter in place.” on Monday in the US Capitol Traffic was jammed in the vi- Council, namely the United dent, which sparked a brief lock- Initial reports said a police of- complex. (Reuters) cinity, but despite the obvious States, Britain, France and down on Capitol Hill. ficer sustained minor injuries, but Visitors were being turned emergency the scene was relative- Russia. But China has been US Capitol police stand guard later reports raised doubts about away from the Capitol as emer- ly calm. A work crew on the north trying to get more involved, in- in the middle of Independence Av- who, if anyone, was shot. How- gency vehicles flooded the street side of the Supreme Court, across cluding recently hosting both enue as people evacuate the Capi- ever, police later said a bystander and the plaza on the building’s the street, was asked to stop work Syria’s foreign minister and op- tol Building after a shooting at the suffered minor injuries and was eastern side. Police, some carrying and move away from the building position figures, though at dif- U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on hospitalized, and no officers were long guns, cordoned off the streets as a precaution. ferent times. The new special Capitol Hill in Washington March injured. immediately around the building, Capitol Police did not imme- envoy for Syria is Xie Xiaoy- 28, 2016. (Reuters) The event unfolded with Con- which were thick with tourists vis- diately return calls seeking clarifi- an, Foreign Ministry spokes- Verderosa said the suspect was gress on recess and lawmakers iting for spring holidays and the cation about the incident. man Hong Lei told a daily news known to police through previous back in their districts. The White Cherry Blossom Festival. From back home in their dis- briefing. He was most recent- contact. House was briefly put on lock- Cathryn Leff of Temicula, Cal- tricts many lawmakers got in touch ly China’s ambassador to Ethi- However, some US media out- down, but that was soon lifted. A ifornia, in town to lobby with the with staff to ensure all were safe, opia and the African Union. lets reported the name of the sus- notification sent to Senate offices California Association of Marriage and posted thanks on Twitter as it ly involved in South pect. ABC News is reporting that said no further suspects appeared and Family Therapists, said she appeared they were. Sudan, but its previous. the name of the shooting suspect to be at large, and most Capitol was going through security at the Earlier in the day, officials con- is Larry Dawson. The Capitol Hill buildings were later re-opened main entrance to the Capitol Visi- ducted an unrelated shelter-in- WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

We a r e a n a t ion a l in st it u t ion a n d n ot t h e voice of a gov t or a p r iva t e or ga n iza t ion

AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir Phone No: +93-772364666 E-mail: [email protected] By GARIMA MOHAN AND JOEL SANDHU Email: [email protected] The strategic partnership between biggest trading partner. Cooperation on fighting tran- states. India and the European Union has Europe has emerged as an im- snational terrorism needs to be a Climate and energy stagnated over the years, produc- portant destination for Indian com- top priority at the summit, given Another area for cooperation www.afghanistantimes.af ing few results in terms of strate- panies seeking to make cross-bor- that both actors are serious about is climate change, which constitutes Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi gic cooperation. der investments and overseas ac- international peace and stability. a major non-traditional security Last year, Indian prime minis- quisitions. With the Modi govern- In fact, a recent report by the EU threat for India. New Delhi seeks Advisory editorial board ter Narendra Modi dropped Brus- ment’s “Make in India” campaign, counter-terrorism coordinator greater cooperation from its part- sels from his itinerary and planned foreign direct investment is set to (CTC) identified the issue of for- ners on this issue. While the EU is Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, his trip to accommodate other im- increase in the manufacturing sec- eign fighters as a top priority. actively providing climate change Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal portant European partners, like tor – a ripe opportunity for Euro- Radicalisation within Paki- adaptation programmes with aid Germany, France and the United pean companies. stan, the deteriorating security sit- funds, there is room for more co- Graphic-Designers: Kingdom. It comes as no surprise, then, uation in Afghanistan and the cri- operation in this field. Moreover, the EU–India part- that high on the agenda for the EU– ses in Iraq, Syria and Yemen are Helpfully, policy elites in In- Edriss Akbari and Bilal Yusufi nership has been routinely held India summit will be the resump- security threats that have an im- dia view the EU as a global leader Marketing & Advertising: hostage by single issues, such as tion of talks on the FTA. pact on both India and Europe. on climate change. The forthcom- the detention of Italian marines by After 16 gruelling rounds, the India is also grappling with the ing summit can focus on EU–India Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 India or the negotiations on the FTA negotiations were suspended worsening situation in Jammu and cooperation on renewable energy, Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan EU–India Free Trade Agreement in 2013. While the reopening of Kashmir as well as left-wing ex- keeping in mind the Indian gov- Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 (FTA). talks is a welcome development, it tremism. ernment’s immense push to reduce But all of this may change alone does not guarantee a deep- While these various threats dependence on coal at the moment. Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press when Modi touches down in Brus- ening of the EU–India partnership. may seem isolated from each oth- Moreover, with the Indian en- sels on 30 March to resume the There are several issues that er, the many sources of financing, ergy market poised to grow in com- EU–India summit – an “annual” hindered FTA negotiations in the radicalisation and networking ing years, the EU could help India meeting that has not taken place in past and have yet to be resolved. could be shared by terrorist reach its renewable energy targets, The constitution says four years. What is more, Modi’s For instance, the EU has demand- groups. through investments as well as Article 4 administration has been working ed that India lower its duties on To start, cooperation and in- technology transfers. Similarly, National sovereignty in Afghanistan shall belong to the nation, manifested directly and through its elected representatives. The nation of Afghanistan is composed of all individuals who possess the citizen- assiduously to strengthen foreign cars as a condition for resuming telligence exchange between India’s initiatives such as Clean Ganga, ship of Afghanistan. The nation of Afghanistan shall be comprised of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, policy ties since he took office in FTA negotiations. But India’s in- intelligence agencies and Eurojust, smart cities and solar farms have Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui, and other tribes. May 2014. dustry body staunchly opposes Europol and the CTC need to be- tremendous potential for cooper- The word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan. The forthcoming EU–India the idea because it could hurt the come more systematic. ation between both sides. While a No individual of the nation of Afghanistan shall be deprived of citizenship. summit is an opportunity to take government’s Make in India ini- The EU and India could also focus on the se areas leaves out The citizenship and asylum related matters shall be regulated by law. advantage of these positive signs tiative. work together on the deadlocked issues that are important on the and to revitalise a partnership that Another potential hurdle to Comprehensive Convention on European side – India’s relation- is too critical to squander. resuming negotiations is India’s International Terrorism, a pro- ship with Russia, for example –

Outdated education system Students of the higher education institutes are still caught in the cobweb of decades-old and outdated education system. High school students are dealing with the same situation. Security sit- uation and inattention of the relevant authorities add to prob- lems. The National Unity Government (NUG) had repeatedly outlined its efforts to overhaul the obsolete education system at the top and grassroots levels. The reforms process was sup- posed to begin from universities. However, lecturers who yet to complete their masters are still teaching students. How strange it is that teachers who are graduates are teaching masters pro- grams. To sum up, the output of the leaders claims and effort is still zero. Whether the higher education ministry is unwilling to over- haul the teaching methodologies and structure or it is helpless before corrupt politicians and teachers, but the reality is that our education system is not producing qualified people, including doctors, engineers, botanists and scientists. Minister of Higher It is in the interest of both sides long-standing concern regarding posed United Nations treaty that the summit poses a unique oppor- to remember the strategic and eco- restrictions on the temporary seeks to criminalise all forms of tunity for the two actors to kick- Education, Farida Momand, in her visit to the Nangarhar Uni- nomic importance of their relation- movement of skilled profession- international terrorism and deny start long-term, proactive cooper- versity assured to bring changes in the curriculum. She is right. ship. als from India to the EU. terrorists access to financial sup- ation. During the summit, the EU To start, India has security in- Fighting transnational terror- port, arms and safe havens. can go beyond its “trading part- There is need for change in the curriculum. However, the re- terests in, and proximity to, Af- ism There is also potential for mar- ner” role in India, pushing the two forms shall not be limited to the extent of statements only. Ac- ghanistan and Pakistan, a highly But the summit should not re- itime security cooperation be- sides to work on other issues of tions speak louder than words. volatile area torn by war and ter- volve solely around the trade talks. tween Europe and India, since mutual interest. If the EU and In- rorism. This intersects significant- If their relationship is to live up to both are interested in securing the dia are serious about leading the In the past year such promises were made but not fulfilled. If ly with Europe’s own security in- its strategic potential, India and the Indian Ocean Region. In the Indi- world into effective multilateral- the minister translates her words into actions, these efforts will terests. EU must move beyond seeing each an Maritime Security Strategy re- ism, they need to progress from In addition, India’s growing other through an economic lens. leased in 2015, India declared its the currently lacklustre coopera- be fruitful. But in the meanwhile, there is need for more to do influence in the geopolitics of the Instead, their dialogue should aim of being a “net security pro- tion, one built on a long and unre- with prime focus on improving quality of education to achieve Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has include a strong security dimen- vider” in the region. alised wish list. If they fail to significant implications for Europe, sion, not least because India is a Based on its own knowledge, breathe new life into this relation- the goals. Lack of qualified teachers, universities, anomalies in since a major part of the continent’s critical player and potential anchor the EU could offer strategies for ship by the end of March, pros- entrance university entrance exams and monopoly of private var- trade passes through these sea of stability in the AfPak (Afghan- multi-agency and sectoral coordi- pects for a meaningful strategic lanes. istan-Pakistan) region. During the nation in the IOR. Therefore, giv- partnership could irrevocably flat- sities are the other challenges that are overshadowed the future Biggest trading partner summit, focusing on issues that are en the EU’s experiences and In- line.—(EU Observer) ( Dr. Gari- prospects. Afghan students are starting their important educa- India is the world’s fastest- of importance to both the EU and dia’s ambitions in the region, there ma Mohan is a Research Associ- growing economy, with more than India would lay the foundation for is room for cooperation, not least ate and Joel Sandhu is a Project tional journey in the mist of mismanagement and poor monitor- €100 billion worth of trade in goods taking their strategic partnership in building multilateral forums for Manager at the Global Public Pol- ing policies. Public and private universities are deprived of qual- and services, and the EU is India’s to the next level. cooperation with other littoral icy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin. ity assurance offices. The ministry shall take steps to establish quality assurance department in each and every university. The relevant authorities should not sit on the fence but come forward with hard decisions to improve quality of the education. Without complete overhaul the notion “pen is mightier than sword” bears no meaning. Only hoping for the best will not produce the desired results. Change needs reforms. Thus, the higher education ministry shall not miss the boat and take advantage of popular public support. Some teachers may try to create hurdles for their personal inter- ests but the ministry should not allow them to sacrifice brighter future of the students. Such elements shall be dealt with iron hands to successfully execute the overhauling process. It is im- perative to compete with the neighboring countries. Afghanistan Subscription Rates Fee Categories Afghanistan Times Annual Afg: 3600 at your door step For fast delivery service Six Months Afg: 1800 Afghanistan Times seeks the names, addresses of your International Organization $200 per year organizations and the number of copies you want. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES BREXIT, BUDGET CUTS AND THE FUTURE OF DAVID CAMERON Alastair Sloan The British Prime Minister David had hoped to succeed Cameron, on sugary drinks, and the removal Cameron is facing the biggest po- but for months now his hopes have of taxes for small businesses and litical crisis of his career, with ques- been ebbing away. Events last week the self-employed. Ibrahim Al-Marashi tions about his leadership and that were quite possibly the nail in the 'Civil war' in the Conservative of his key lieutenant and long-term coffin. Party ally George Osborne, accusations If Cameron knew he would face With unexpectedly effective of his role in the deaths of hun- a fight within his own party over pressure from the opposition in a dreds of disabled Britons, a blow Europe, what he hadn't counted on race that appears neck-and-neck to his campaign to keep Britain in was the left-wing leader Jeremy and a backlash from his own par- the European Union, and - worst Corbyn, who took over as leader ty, any swing Cameron hoped to of all - the resurgent possibility of the opposition in last Septem- gain will now be negligible. Every that Scotland could split from the ber. one of March 21's papers have led United Kingdom. Where did it all The media have positioned with the story of "civil war" in the go wrong? Corbyn as a clownish figure, an Conservative Party. Cameron's grip on the Conser- economic neanderthal whose left- Number Ten is now likely to vative Party has always been more wing views are irrelevant in today's be consumed by crisis management tenuous than it appeared: After post-industrial economy. and leadership speculation rather decades of unseemly infighting, he Yet, while fighting off New than effective campaigning. Worst was at the centre of soaring de- Labour loyalists at the rear, Cor- still, for the rest of his term, Cor- bates on racism and xenophobia, byn has ignored the flak in parlia- byn will be able to point to the victimising rather than empathis- ment and focused his energies resignation letter, proving these ing with the poor, and the spectre squarely on two issues neglected cuts were "politically motivated, of the European question hanging by his forebears - corporate tax rather than in the national econom- over every major disagreement. avoidance, and welfare cuts. ic interest". Counting the Cost - Brexit: Cameron, via Osborne, was Osborne went underground for Why breaking up is hard to do able to bat away such criticism so several days - re-appearing in Par- Cameron took decisive action long as the economy was recover- liament on the afternoon of March to "detoxify" the party when he ing. Yet borrowing targets are now 22. The disability benefit cuts have took over in 2005, moving it both being repeatedly missed, and wag- been called off. economically and socially to the es stagnant. Should Cameron and Osborne centre ground. Issues such as im- About 2,400 disabled or long- fail to prevent a Brexit, what next? migration were off-limits - he cham- term sick workers have died with- The Brexit campaign has the ec- pioned the environment and court- in weeks of being found "fit to centric former mayor of London, ed ethnic minorities. He remained work", and having their benefits Boris Johnson, a long-term rival ambiguous on whether he sup- withdrawn. Corbyn exposed the of Cameron's, and he would no ported staying in Europe or leav- moral inadequacies of austerity in doubt utilise the win to become ing. his latest budget response last prime minister elected by Conser- Cameron's support base with- week, a budget which appeared to vative Party members. in his own party has always been offer more tax cuts to the well-off, Whether Cameron would step narrow and begrudging - compara- while stripping away essential down immediately or not remains ble to that of Tony Blair, who never support for the most vulnerable in to be seen. Osborne is certainly managed to convince the broader society. now out of the race - no doubt frus- membership that centrism was The following morning, to trated given that he has spent the consistent with party values, or Number Ten's surprise, several past decade patiently waiting for politically strategic. Conservative MPs came out in the top job. Grand challenges support of Corbyn, saying that Brexit would also almost defi- Cameron faces similar chal- cutting disability benefits to pay nitely spark a second referendum lenges: Although viewed as an for tax cuts for the rich was im- on Scotland's independence, most Bashar al-Assad had said for years in battle. claimed its first national victory Then Palmyra fell to ISIL in arch-Thatcherite outside the par- moral. likely leading to the break-up of to both Syrians and the interna- However, the victory in Ra- against ISIL, even if the victory May 2015. With those rebel vic- ty, inside he is a relative leftist, A leading Tory disability ac- the UK. tional community that only his madi, followed by Palmyra, rep- was achieved with the aid of non- tories, questions emerged as to maintaining spending on schools tivist announced his resignation Cameron came into power on regime could prevent the spectre resents the recent rise of the state Syrian actors, including Russia, whether the Syrian regime would and the National Health Service from the party, sabotaging the par- a "compassionate conservative" of ISIL taking over Syria. military in Iraq and Syria respec- Iran, the Lebanese Hezbollah, and even survive. (NHS) when his members feel he ty's Conservative Disability Group platform, ironically with a prom- should be cutting deeper. website as he departed. ise to repair "Broken Britain". If For the first time he has acted tively. Both militaries, as national Iraqi and Afghan Shia foreign fight- Marwan Bishara, senior polit- He sparked a huge rebellion By Friday night, Ian Duncan Brexit goes ahead, he could well to deal with this threat. Damascus institutions, have defeated ISIL, ers. ical analyst at Al Jazeera, asked: when he legalised gay marriage - Smith, the secretary of state re- end up as the man who broke Brit- finally invested in amassing thus allowing each state to claim By finally taking on ISIL in "Is it truly the beginning of the end but most of all was kilometres sponsible for delivering welfare ain. enough military forces to defeat victory on behalf of the people. Palmyra, Assad can bolster what- for Assad and his decades-old re- apart from his members in Europe cuts, and Cameron's fiercest op- He has more urgent concerns. ISIL in a battle for territory. Also, The ability of the state to claim ever remains of his legitimacy gime?" - an issue that nearly split his par- ponent on Europe, has resigned, Corbyn's opposition to the con- even with the withdrawal of Rus- victory is paramount given how among his own citizens, and can The headline of an article in ty back in the 1990s. claiming Osborne had forced him troversial budget has also gone sian forces from the war, Mos- both sides of this conflict have sus- communicate to the international The Guardian asked, "Amid the Number Ten is now likely to into the cuts as a way to protect down well. A poll conducted short- be consumed by crisis management traditional Conservative voters, ly after the budget showed Cor- cow's residual airpower in Syria tained myths about their fighting community that he is the only vi- ruins of Syria, Is Bashar al-Assad and leadership speculation rather notably pensioners, from austeri- byn's ratings ahead of Cameron's can still sustain the Assad regime's prowess. able bulwark against this terrorist now finally facing the end?" than effective campaigning. ty. Cynics pointed out the same for the first time, a considerable momentum on the battlefield. ISIL's victories in Ramadi and threat, at a time when Europe is It was a question that Russia Winning a surprise majority in minister had gone along with the achievement given that last Octo- Syrian army recaptures an- Palmyra in May 2015 perpetuat- still reeling from the attacks in most likely pondered around the last year's general election im- cuts for six years before speaking ber he was ranked the least popu- cient city of Palmyra from ISIL ed the myth of its military invinci- Brussels. same time, and which, in hindsight, pressed the membership, but as the out - and it is believed by many lar new opposition leader of all The Syrian state's recent vic- bility, essential to recruiting fight- Breaking the Syrian stalemate explains its robust intervention on Brexit debate explodes, the fragili- that he simply wanted to damage time. That's a major win for a left- tory against ISIL in Palmyra rep- ers from Iraq, Syria, the greater The Syrian state's ability to behalf of the Syrian state. ty of Cameron's position is laid the prime minister, and improve wing leader, whose centrist critics barer by the day - alongside that chances of a Brexit. - especially those within his own resents a major shift not only in Middle East, and the West. recover Palmyra at the end of The US thought Russia's in- of his Chancellor, Osborne. Osborne's pre-referendum party - have labelled him "un- the war against ISIL, but also in ISIL's victories in Ramadi and March 2016 is also significant in tervention in Syria would be like Since the early 1990s, the duo budget was designed to swing un- electable". With local elections in the trajectory of the nation's five- Palmyra in May 2015 perpetuat- that it has demonstrated just how its experience in Afghanistan. In have been joined at the hip, both decided middle-class liberals to- May, Cameron should be even year civil war. ed the myth of its military invinci- fluid the battlefields in the civil war fact, it broke the stalemate of the politically and as friends. Osborne wards staying in, with a new tax more worried. Fluctuating Syrian and Iraqi bility, essential to recruiting fight- have become over the past couple civil war in favour of the Syrian frontlines ers from Iraq, Syria, the greater of months. state. Syria's victory in Palmyra Middle East, and the West. READ MORE: With scholar's Not even a year has passed comes just three months after Iraq As of 2016, the Iraqi and Syr- killing, ISIL steps up war on his- since the question of Bashar al- recovered Ramadi from ISIL. ian states have reversed ISIL's gains tory Assad's survival was raised. Now, Both Ramadi and Palmyra had on the battlefield, undermining its During most of the Syrian civ- his survival is no longer in doubt. fallen during ISIL's May 2015 of- aura of invincibility. Both states il war, rebel factions could seize However, this recent victory fensive, proving then that ISIL have gone on to leverage these vic- territory, but the Syrian state main- occurred because the cessation of could wage two simultaneous mil- tories to perpetuate their own tained a monopoly on airpower, hostilities with other Syrian rebels itary campaigns across distant myths, promising their citizens tanks and heavy artillery, creating freed up enough manpower for the Belen Fernandez frontlines. The battles for Ramadi that the military will return a mo- a bloody stalemate. Residents Syrian state to recapture Palmyra. Last year, while researching an es- el of impunity and wanton viola- thing, certainly didn't translate into and Palmyra have nullified ISIL's dicum of security to their respec- stand near a picture of Syria's pres- The Syrian state still does not have say for an upcoming collection ti- tions by state security forces. many rights for the Iraqi women gains. tive nations. ident Bashar al-Assad in Wafideen enough military resources to score tled False Choices: The Faux Fem- In a 2014 op-ed for Al Jazeera and girls blown up, maimed, raped, These victories are significant In the case of Ramadi, the Ira- Camp, in Damascus [Reuters] an outright victory against both inism of Hillary Rodham Clinton, America, economist Mark Weis- or otherwise made to suffer by the given that before it was only the qi state went to great efforts to In April 2015, the stalemate ISIL and the other Syrian rebels in edited by Liza Featherstone, I dis- brot noted some additional by- armed forces of the US. sub-state militias that defeated highlight the role of the official was overcome when a good num- the near term, even with the resid- covered that Clinton had deleted a products of the coup: "The homi- Democratising oppression ISIL. Before it captured Ramadi, armed forces in the liberation of ber of the rebel factions cooperat- ual Russian forces remaining. rather incriminating section from cide rate in Honduras, already the In other areas of the Middle ISIL had lost Tikrit in a battle with the city. In reality, the Shia mili- ed for the first time, and also re- While Assad has achieved a string the paperback edition of her auto- highest in the world, increased by East, too, Clinton-advocated poli- Iraq's Shia militias. tias still played a supporting role ceived anti-tank missiles from for- of tactical victories, breaking the biography. 50 percent from 2008 to 2011… cies have also proven highly de- Forces loyal to Syria's Presi- by containing ISIL's expansion eign sponsors, which contributed military stalemate outside Aleppo In the original version, she de- Femicides skyrocketed." structive to the lives of females - dent Bashar al-Assad walk with from Ramadi in May 2015, and to their rapid success in Idlib and against the Syrian rebels and in tailed the lengths to which she went This final detail alone should not to mention their male counter- their weapons in Palmyra city af- the US provided significant air Jisr al-Shughur in northern Syria. Palmyra against ISIL, breaking the as secretary of state under Barack do some serious damage to the parts. ter they recaptured it [Reuters] support in the final campaign to For the first time, Bashar al- political stalemate between the Obama to ensure the success of marketed image of Clinton as a fer- According to the United Na- In the summer of 2015, it was recapture it. Nonetheless, the Ira- Assad admitted publicly that the state and the opposition seems an the 2009 coup d'etat in Honduras vent champion of women's rights tions, Israel's summer 2014 assault the militia of Syrian Kurds which qi government could claim that it military had suffered setbacks af- ever more formidable challenge in against slightly left-leaning Presi- - an illusion dutifully upheld by on the Gaza Strip killed 2,251 Pal- dent Manuel Zelaya. Clinton supporters who endeav- estinians, most of them civilians; expelled ISIL from Tel Abyad, on was a national victory since it was ter losing Idlib to the rebels. the year to come. Ibrahim al-Ma- UpFront - Naomi Klein: 'I our to cast the slightest opposi- 299 were women, and 551 were the border with Turkey, followed the Iraqi security forces, a nation- After the rebels' success, the rashi is an assistant professor at don't trust' Hillary Clinton on cli- tion to the presidential hopeful as children. by its victory in Sinjar, Iraq, in al institution, and not the Shia mi- rates of desertion among the Syri- the Department of History, Cali- mate sexist and/or anti-feminist. Clinton's takeaway from the November. litias, that dealt the final blow to an armed forces increased, com- fornia State University, San Mar- After the coup, Clinton ex- Were American political cam- operation, as told to Jeffrey Gold- In both Iraq and Syria, it was ISIL on the streets of Ramadi. bined with the military's lack of cos. He is the co-author of Iraq's plained, she and select regional paigns governed by reality rather berg of The Atlantic: "I think Isra- these militias, benefiting from US In the case of Palmyra, the morale, as the state grew ever more Armed Forces: An Analytical His- counterparts "strategised on a plan than deceit, the illusion would have el did what it had to do." air support, which defeated ISIL Syrian government has ostensibly reliant on Hezbollah and Iran. tory. to restore order in Honduras and definitively shattered after the re- As for Clinton-sanctioned in- ensure that free and fair elections cent assassination of Honduran ternational economic belligerence, could be held quickly and legiti- human rights and environmental WikiLeaks cables have revealed mately, which would render the activist Berta Caceres. machinations by her State Depart- question of Zelaya moot and give As historian Greg Grandin ment to prevent a minimum wage LETTER TO THE EDITOR the Honduran people a chance to notes in an article for The Nation, increase - to a whopping 62 cents choose their own future". Caceres had held Clinton respon- per hour - for Haitian assembly Never mind that the Hondu- sible for legitimising the coup zone workers, including those em- ran people had already chosen against Zelaya, and claimed that ployed by contractors for Fruit of Zelaya for the immediate future. Washington was partly to blame the Loom, Hanes, and Levi's. Media outlets and the threat In the United States' view, appar- for post-coup Honduran laws es- As I remark in False Choices: ently, opting for anything less than sentially criminalising political Hey, US corporations need to eat, Afghanistan Times on Tuesday on its back page has published a story saying that the Taliban has warned 21 media organizations of serious totally right-wing in Latin Ameri- protest. too! consequences if they continued to criticize them. To be honest the militants are not only threat to media but to all organizations that do not ca is also a "false choice". Grandin summarises: "Caceres None of this is to imply, how- serve their interests. However, the case of media shall be look from different angles. Free media is a powerful pressure group. It works as a watchdog. Hundreds of thousands people like me support independent media because they are telling the untold stories. These stories are not Feminist illusion called it 'counterinsurgency' carried ever, that Clinton - or any other only worrying insurgents but also government officials. As per Clinton's stated vision, out on behalf of 'international cap- individual on the American politi- However, the point is that media should not be afraid of such threats but continue its job to education and inform people. Without free elections were held in Honduras - ital' - mostly resource extractors - cal scene - is the problem. The real media the democratic system will collapse in a matter of weeks. The independent media outlets are not only criticizing the state and non-state although the fact that they took that has terrorised the population, problem is the system itself, which actors in healthy way but also give them advice how to redeem. place under an illegitimate coup murdering political activists by the encourages punitive policies at Therefore, the insurgents and state actors shall support media instead of creating hurdles. It is in our larger national interest. administration naturally meant high hundreds." home and abroad in the interest of Syed Arafat they were neither "free" nor "fair". Plenty of non-lethal repres- maintaining elite dominance. Kabul City The mootness of the Zelaya sion has taken place, as well. I spent It may be easy to argue that question having been officially ren- four months in Honduras in the electing a female president would dered, Honduras began its descent aftermath of the coup and wit- constitute a victory for democra- Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and into an ever-deepening human nessed police blast even elderly cy, equality, justice, and other address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] rights abyss, predictably euphe- women with pepper spray-load- terms the political class has ex- mised by Obama & Co as a "resto- ed water cannons as they marched punged of real meaning. But while ration of democratic practices". peacefully against the coup in the a Clinton election might indeed The indicators of the alleged Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. serve to democratise oppression, democratic renaissance in Hondu- Of course, as I point out in it would hardly herald progress. ras, it seems, include a soaring lev- my essay for False Choices, it's Rather, a Clinton presidency Disclaimer: el of impunity and wanton viola- not only in Honduras that Clin- would help to obscure the fact that, tions by state security forces. ton's projected feminist orientation as things currently stand, the US The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) The indicators of the alleged fails to cohere with reality. establishment is fairly toxic not democratic renaissance in Hondu- Her previous support for the only for women but for living and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. ras, it seems, include a soaring lev- American war on Iraq, for one things in general. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

look at how many ancient stones remain in one piece and can be used in the rebuilding. New stones, if needed, will be retrieved from a nearby quarry. The intricate work means the two temples will be es- pecially challenging to repair. Before any reconstruction can begin, however, the directorate of antiquities needs authorisation from UNESCO, which categoris- es the ruins as a world heritage site. If approved, Abdel-Karim said, the funerary towers, both temples, several tombs and a Mamluk-era citadel could be rehabilitated "eas- ily". "We know the area centime- tre-by-centimetre - all we need is the help of the international com- munity." But not everyone is confident Donetsk, Ukraine - Dmitry* re- he ran through the forest, and crept that Palmyra's former glory can be members the Sunday, in the spring on his belly through the fields, restored. According to Cheikh- of 2014, when his mother disap- afraid the soldiers at the Ukrainian mous Ali, the director of the Asso- peared. The exact date is a blur to army checkpoint would think he ciation for the Protection of Syri- him, but the war in Donbass had was a separatist. an Archaeology, several buildings, already started. The fighting had "The first night I slept between including the temples and burial not spared his home town, Hor- two corpses. The field was full of tombs, "are completely razed". Il- livka, north of Donetsk city. His bodies that seemed to have been legal excavations carried out by mother had to go out to find some brought there and left to rot," ISIL fighters and other looters have food because they had nothing left Dmitry says. also destroyed areas not yet ex- to eat at home, and never came It was August, and the air was plored by archaeologists. back. hot, impregnated with the smell of For Ali, the most difficult as- Dmitry was a 16-year-old high dead bodies. "I thought if some- pect of reconstruction will be the school student, living with his one saw me, they would think I restoration of the architectural lay- mother in a flat on the outskirts of was dead. I was so afraid I would ers destroyed by bulldozers and Horlivka, near the lakes. The fam- get caught; there was nothing in dynamite. The presence of the ily was not rich, but they man- my mind except that I had to run." Syrian army is no guarantee against aged. They had everything they Dmitry reached Kras- Last September, Maamoun Abdel- from the Syrian directorate of an- beheaded in August after he report- ISIL published in July, which future looting and destruction, he needed: food on the table, clothes, noarmisk, about 70 kilometres to Karim was a broken man. tiquities visited Palmyra to assess edly refused to reveal where au- showed fighters smashing artifacts added, noting that looting was ram- and some money. the west, on foot. When he Syria's director of antiquities the destruction, providing Abdel- thorities had hidden treasures on said to have been looted from the pant in the area before ISIL moved But that was all before the war reached there, a man took him in had just received news of an ex- Karim with a stream of photo- the site. The Lion of al-Lat, a lime- site. Now, Abdel-Karim can con- in. started. After the Euromaidan rev- his car up to Dnipropetrovsk in plosion at the hands of fighters graphs from the site of the ruins. stone statue standing 10 feet tall firm that they vandalised and de- "The presence of [President olution, everything changed. The central Ukraine, from where he with the Islamic State of Iraq and They will need "several days" to outside the museum of Palmyra, capitated the heads of some 20 stat- Bashar] al-Assad's army does not euro and the dollar went up, so the hoped to find transportation out the Levant (ISIL, also known as complete their appraisal of the was initially believed to have been ues from the museum. reassure me," he said. "The loot- money his mother was making be- of the country. ISIS) group in the Temple of Bel damage, said Abdel-Karim, who annihilated, but photographic evi- This is not just for the Syrian ing that began in 2012 before the came insufficient. Everything be- When he saw a truck coming in Palmyra, an ancient structure was awaiting clearance from the dence now shows that it remains government, or the army. It's for arrival of ISIS and illicit excava- came more and more expensive, from a distance, he stopped it by dating back to the third millenni- Syrian army to head to the site intact. "This was the most beauti- the opposition also. In the end, it's tions will continue even if the Syr- and as the war crept in, there was jumping in the middle of the road. um BC. The museum at the site himself. ful news," Abdel-Karim said. for our common memory. ian army takes control of the city." not much left to buy. Life became The truck driver thought he was had been turned into a prison. "We had the idea in our heads, Through ISIL-produced vid- Maamoun Abdel-Karim, Syr- The Association for the Pro- difficult. In April 2014, the sepa- crazy endangering his life like that. Back then, the satellite images because of the barbarity of Daesh eos and satellite imagery, it was ia's director of antiquities tection of Syrian Archaeology, ratists came to his home town. The truck was heading to Aus- were not clear; Abdel-Karim could [ISIL], that everything was de- already known that the Temple of Before Palmyra fell, the direc- working with a network of Syrian They put the Russian flag on top tria and Dmitry offered to pay the only hope that the columns around stroyed," he said. "But the pic- Bel, dating back to 32 AD; three torate of antiquities relocated 400 archaeologists and local communi- of the police station and started driver to take him across the bor- the temple were still standing, de- tures confirmed to me the destruc- funerary towers; the Temple of statues from the site to safe areas ty members, has managed to inter- confiscating the houses and cars ders, somewhere in western Eu- spite the force of the blast. tion of Palmyra does not preclude Baalshamin, one of the most com- in Damascus. cept many Syrian artifacts in the of anyone who seemed well-off, rope. "I was scared to stay in Six months later, days after restoration." plete ancient structures on the site; "We couldn't get to the rest black market. Ali confirmed that Dmitry says. Then the Ukrainian Ukraine. I worried they would find Syrian troops announced they had Syrian army recaptures an- and the 2,000-year-old Arch of because of clashes," Abdel-Karim some came from Palmyra and were army came, and the war started in me. And who knows what will wrested the ancient site back from cient city of Palmyra from ISIL Triumph had been destroyed. The said, adding: "We can't restore all promptly handed over to Interpol. Horlivka. happen next in my country," Dmit- ISIL, Abdel-Karim finally has a full The recapture of Palmyra by extent of the damage, however, was of them, but the good news is that But international help is needed to "I remember people looking ry said. Ukrainian soldiers mend- picture of the damage. "The news Syrian troops is considered an im- not verifiable until now. we can restore some." follow up and repatriate more ar- forward to their arrival, asking ing the checkpoint in Donetsk is, it's not bad, but it's not good," portant and symbolic victory over The damage wrought on A group of archeologists and tifacts, Abdel-Karim added. 'When is the army coming? When?' Oblast [Ioana Moldovan/Al he told Al Jazeera over the phone ISIL, which seized the area 10 Palmyra's museum was the most experts sent by the directorate are "This is not just for the Syrian " Dmitry says. Jazeera] Beyond Ukrainian bor- from Damascus. months ago. ISIL fighters killed appalling, Abdel-Karim said. Im- now working to assess how much government, or the army," he said. In the beginning, the situation ders The boy managed to cross With international support, he many people as they overran ages from the site showed floors of the ancient site - known as the "It's for the opposition also. In the didn't seem so serious. But, sud- into the Republic of Moldova and added, Palmyra can be rebuilt. Palmyra, including the archaeolo- littered with shattered statues, "pearl of the desert" - can be reha- end, it's for our common memo- denly, homes were being attacked then to neighbouring Romania hid- On Sunday evening, experts gist Khaled al-Asaad, who was harkening back to photographs bilitated. The appraisal process will ry." with artillery fire. ing in a box in the back of the truck. Fighting in east Ukraine has Luck was on his side, and despite continued and the violence has left some close calls, he was never dis- the civilian population suffering covered by border security. For the and homeless [Ioana Moldovan/Al 100 euros ($112) he had paid, the Jazeera] "I would crawl on the truck driver got him up to Suceava, floor, hide under a chair or any- in northeastern Romania. where and just wait for it to be There, the driver told Dmitry over," Dmitry said. "It wasn't safe that he was on his own. The boy anywhere any more, not outside, wanted to go further to the west, not even in your own home." so he took a night coach from One day his apartment was Suceava to a town called Cluj in hit. But, thankfully no one was the west of Romania. "I fell asleep Tokyo, Japan - Since his return to and form its own government, but way. Election cooperation with the Jazeera that he believes a better Al Jazeera. home at the time. The Grad mis- and when I woke up, people on power in December 2012, Prime the more realistic - and many Communists, therefore, does seem approach for the DP is to go to the A 47-year-old man on the sile had entered through the win- the coach told me I must have had Minister Shinzo Abe has sailed would say necessary - objective is a necessity. public and "explain what the 'con- streets of Tokyo, walking near the dow. Dmitry could not believe his a very bad dream, because I was with remarkable smoothness to at least prevent Abe from gain- On the other hand, Prime Min- stitutionalist alliance of parties' venue where the new opposition eyes when he returned home - ev- shaking and trembling in my sleep." through the usually choppy wa- ing super-majorities in both hous- ister Abe has already been de- means and why cooperating with party was being formed, said: erything was destroyed. The base- From Cluj, Dmitry continued his ters of Japanese political party es of Japan's parliament, which nouncing the Democratic Party- the Communists makes sense". "The DPJ was a very irresponsi- ment That day his mother didn't train ride westward to Oradea on politics. would make him virtually unstop- Communist alliance, causing con- Indeed, as discussed during the ble party while they were in au- return. He was left all alone. the border with Hungary. This is He has already led the ruling pable. A majority of two-thirds by siderable annoyance to the many convention, the basis of DP-JCP thority, so I don't want to see them "My mother was very good where he was finally caught, as he party to three landslide victories the ruling coalition, according to conservative politicians within the cooperation is their shared per- return." to me. I can't imagine her leaving tried to cross into Hungary. in national elections, and if he suc- Japan's parliamentary system, opposition. spective that Prime Minister Shin- A 25-year-old man wasn't as me behind. Something definitely Dmitry's grandmother was ceeds again in the House of Coun- would allow it to pass any desired For his part, Kiuchi says: "I zo Abe is threatening the very foun- opposed to the DPJ government had to have happened to her. And Romanian. She had moved to live cillors elections this July, his rul- legislation, and even at the com- am allergic to communism and so dations of constitutional govern- of 2009-2012, but stated that he I feared the worse," Dmitry said. in Ukraine when she married his ing coalition might gain two-thirds mittee level pass its policies with are all of my supporters." ment in Japan and that he must be wasn't excited about politics gen- Two days after her disappear- Ukrainian grandfather when it was majorities in both parliamentary minimal disruption as it would But he then adds that the prac- stopped very soon. They also erally and that he felt "nothing is ance, as the shooting died down, still part of the Soviet Union. His houses and could push through control most of the assignments tical policy of DP should be to agree that the controversial securi- going to change" with the estab- he went out to look for her. At first, mother, although born in Horliv- just about any legislation it desires. and debate time. proclaim disdain for Communists ty legislation passed last Septem- lishment of the new political par- he thought she had sought refuge ka, grew up speaking Romanian at For Abe and Japanese conser- As part of efforts to fulfil this in public while working with them ber is unconstitutional and must ty. in a neighbour's house. But she was home, as did Dmitry. vatives like him, this summer will blocking role, one of the few op- closely "under the table". be abolished as soon as possible. From this weak starting point not there. He called relatives on When the border police present an unparalleled opportu- position politicians to draw blood Michael Cucek, adjunct pro- Members of the public did not the liberal and centrist opposition the other side of town. But they stopped Dmitry, they had initial- nity to rewrite the nation's paci- from Abe in recent parliamentary fessor at Waseda University and express any enthusiasm over the parties are entering what could be did not pick up. He ran through ly assumed he was from Moldova fist constitution and to reshape the debate, Shiori Yamao, has been cat- renowned analyst of Japanese pol- establishment of The Democratic the decisive struggle over Japan's the town for days looking for her. because he was communicating education policies, business prac- apulted into the position of poli- itics, on the other hand, told Al Party in response to inquiries from pacifist constitution. But she was nowhere to be found. with them in Romanian and had tices, and the political culture of cy chief of the DP. At night he would stop the search no documents on him to prove his the Japanese nation according to Yamao, a 41-year-old second- because of the intense fighting. identity or citizenship. He said their own vision, often drawing term House of Representatives "I lived alone for over a year, many of his documents had been their inspiration from those ele- member, has become a rising star in the basement of our apartment destroyed during the explosion in ments of pre-World War II Japan after embarrassing the prime min- building. For a year and a half I his apartment. He explained to the that conservatives wish to revive. ister in debate over the lack of day- lived on boiled wheat alone," he police he was from the Donetsk For the defenders of the paci- care facilities for working mothers said. His neighbour would help him region and they sent him to a cen- fist culture and moderate legaciesof and Abe's absence of a policy to on some occasions, bringing him tre for asylum seekers in Roma- post-1945 Japan, however, the address that shortcoming. some soup and bread once in a nia. After a few days he was trans- current juncture is not one of op- More broadly, however, the while. Most of the town, includ- ferred to a shelter run by an NGO portunity at all, but in fact one of new DP shares one of the same ing the local hospital, has been de- in the Romanian town of Timi- the deepest crises of democracy vulnerabilities as its predecessor, stroyed as a result of rebels being soara. A 'Danger - mines' warning that the nation has faced in 70 the Democratic Party of Japan pushed back [Ioana Moldovan/Al sign posted in a field near a mili- years. (DPJ) - a lack of a consensus Jazeera] At some point separat- tary checkpoint on one the roads It is in this context that Ja- among its politicians about most ists started bringing food for him around Donetsk Oblast [Ioana pan's No 1 and No 3 opposition specific policy issues or even and the friends he shared the base- Moldovan/Al Jazeera] Nothing left parties - though divided in many whether the party should be iden- ment with. One of them was a Dmitry wants to live in Ro- of their policy preferences - came tified ideologically as basically neighbour, fighting for the Donetsk mania. He wants to go to college together on Sunday to form a conservative, moderate, or liberal. People's Republic. He tried to con- there and become an electrical en- merged political party. The new Coordination and alliances vince Dmitry to join them because gineer. "I have nothing to go back political party will be called Min- House of Representatives they needed more soldiers. to in Ukraine. My mother is gone, shinto in Japanese, which will be member Takatane Kiuchi respond- "We have enough weapons," my house is gone. Most of my rendered into English as The Dem- ed to this concern, telling Al Jazeera the man had told him, "but we friends are gone: some dead, some ocratic Party (DP). that "the important thing is that need more men to fight." Dmitry ran away and others are fighting At the founding convention of we need to become the ruling par- refused. Then one day, he received for the separatists," Dmitry says, the DP held in Tokyo, Secretary- ty again. We can think about the a message on his mobile phone holding back his tears. General Yukio Edano painted a dire policies then." saying, "If you are not with us, "I miss my mom," he contin- picture of the current situation. Policy coordination is likely to you will die." He fled Horlivka that ues. He lost all hope when he could "The Abe administration is de- become even more difficult as the same day. "I packed the little I had, not find her. Dmitry is determined stroying constitutional govern- DP is expected to absorb several a pair of trousers, a vest, two pairs to keep searching for his mother. ment, democracy, and the liveli- liberal micro-parties in the months of socks and my phone, and I ran. Now that he is safe, he will search hoods of the people. There is not ahead. I borrowed 300 euros ($336) from for her again. He intends to start much time remaining to save Ja- Another challenging issue for my neighbour who used to bring calling the police or anyone else pan," he said. Challenges the DP is what posture to take me food, hoping that some day I that might be able to help him. Public opinion polls suggest towards the Japan Communist would be able to repay her," Dmit- "People say that experiences that the new opposition force still Party (JCP), which has recently ry said, recalling the day he left his make you unique. So yes, I am has a very long way to go. A recent become the second-largest oppo- home. Ukrainian soldiers and sep- unique, but at what cost?" Dmitry Sankei Shimbun-FNN poll put sition force and often polls a re- aratists have been taking over and says, shaking from the trauma of Shinzo Abe's ruling party at a 36.7 spectable 5 percent public support occupying residential flats and his memories. percent support rate and the new level nationally. houses in the areas of fighting [Io- "Dead men, dead women, dead DP at only a 12.8 percent rate. On the one hand, the DP can- ana Moldovan/Al Jazeera] 'I was children. Dead soldiers. All dead. I Almost no analyst believes not afford to fight a two-front bat- so scared' He passed the separat- don't wish upon anyone to see that the DP can achieve its overall tle against both Abe's ruling party ist checkpoint on foot. No cars what I have witnessed in my life- goal this year of becoming a party and the Communists and still ex- were willing to take him. He man- time." *The name of the boy was that could decisively defeat Abe pect to have hope of making head- aged to avoid being detained. Then changed to protect his identity. WEDNESDAY . MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Part of stolen Bangladeshi funds still in Philippine LONDON Oil prices fell on Tues- bolstering prices. day, reflecting growing concerns But with ballooning global in- that a two-month rally may be in ventories, signs some OPEC mem- casinos danger of fizzling, while analysts bers are losing market share, plus MANILA: About $6.9 million out forecast another rise to record lev- little evidence of a strong pick-up of $81 million stolen from Bang- els for U.S. crude stockpiles. in demand, analysts said oil is likely ladesh's central bank and sent to The oil price has risen by more to trade in a range. fake bank accounts in the Philip- than 45 percent since mid-Febru- "There is a rebalancing on the pines remain in local casinos and ary ahead of a meeting next month way, but we are still running a sur- may still be recovered, the Philip- of the world's major producers to plus and stocks are building up as pine Senate heard in testimony discuss an output freeze to sup- far as we can see," SEB commodi- Tuesday. port prices. But there is growing ties analyst Bjarne Schieldrop said. Kam Sin Wong, a Chinese jun- scepticism about the outcome of "There is a clear risk for a pull- ket operator known in the Philip- the meeting. back in Brent crude oil with a re- pines as Kim Wong, told the hear- "The amount of verbal inter- turn to deeper contango again. Long ing that the $81 million was remit- vention, which has obviously positioning in Brent is at record ted by two casino junket agents helped the market greatly over the high and vulnerable for a bearish and gamblers including a Beijing past two months, combined with repositioning." resident named Gao Shuhua whom a production slowdown in the U.S., Data on Monday from the In- he has known for eight years and a has probably taken (oil) as far as it terContinental Exchange showed Macau resident named Ding Zhize can, now the market really wants speculators hold the largest net he just met in February. to see some action," Saxo Bank long position in Brent futures on The laundering of the stolen senior manager Ole Hansen. record. [O/ICE] money in the Philippines has add- "We're seeing more and more U.S. commercial crude oil ed pressure on the Southeast Asian commentators raise the flag and stockpiles were expected to have country to close loopholes in its saying 'have we seen too much, too reached record highs for a seventh financial system. soon?' in terms of the rally across straight week, while refined prod- Wong volunteered to return the sector." uct inventories likely fell, a pre- $4.63 million dollars that remains Brent crude futures fell by liminary Reuters survey showed in a junket account in Solaire Re- $0.96 to $39.31 (27.5 pounds) a late on Monday. sort and Casino, and another 40 barrel by 1124 GMT, having lost Barclays said in a note on million pesos ($863,000) still in some six percent in the last six trad- Monday net flows into commodi- Midas Hotel casino under the ac- ing days, while U.S. crude fell 78 ties totalled more than $20 billion count of his company, Eastern cents to $38.60. OPEC and other in January-February, the strongest Hawaii Leisure Co. major suppliers, including Russia, start to a year since 2011, and pric- Silverio Benny Tan, corporate are to meet on April 17 in Doha to es could fall 20 to 25 percent if secretary of Solaire's operator discuss an output freeze aimed at that were reversed. Bloomberry Resorts Corp., told the hearing the casino has frozen 108.67 million pesos worth of chips and money in different de- nominations confiscated from the Govt denies gamblers when the bank heist is- sue came to light. Wong alleged $17 million is still with remittance company Philrem, full benefit of which the company owners denied during the hearing. Wong said Gao also paid him 450 million pesos ($9.71 million) for a loan that cov- low oil prices ered Gao's losses in an earlier gam- bling spree in the country. He said ISLAMABAD: The government than what was actually charged. if compelled to do so, he can also has recovered an extra Rs92 bil- The government’s sales tax return that money. lion from consumers of five petro- revenues from just five products Casino operators and govern- leum products during the last eight grew almost 40% in July-Febru- ment regulators said it may be dif- months by adjusting upwards the ary of this fiscal year, compared ficult to account for the rest of the sales tax rates, denying them the to Rs129.3 billion in the compara- money, which was used at gam- full benefit of reduction in prices tive period of last fiscal year. bling tables. Wong said $370,000 in the international market. Besides increasing sales tax in cash was withdrawn by the ca- The consumers of high-speed rates, the government also adjust- sino junket agents in violation of diesel, which is mainly used in ed customs duty rates, which re- their agreement that all the money public transport and agriculture sulted in a 130% increase in cus- would remain in the casino ac- sectors, paid most of the addition- toms duty collection in just eight counts. al Rs92 billion that the government months of this fiscal year. The $81 million was remitted collected from July through Feb- First in June 2015, the gov- to five accounts created with ficti- ruary 2015-16 by charging sales ernment increased customs duty tious names at a branch of the Rizal tax above the standard 17%. on high-speed diesel to 10%, in Commercial Banking Corporation, PM announces Rs5 reduction addition to levying 2% duty on consolidated then remitted to the in price of petrol other petroleum products. Then casinos and junket operators Despite a 30% reduction in the from December 2015, it levied an through Philrem. value of imported petroleum prod- additional 1% customs duty on all Wong said Maia Deguito, the ucts due to decrease in crude oil petroleum products, increasing the bank branch manager, and Gao met prices, the overall tax receipts from rate to 3%. in May in his office to discuss petroleum products increased to The value of dutiable imports opening the accounts for a big Rs275.6 billion, up by Rs51.3 bil- (imports after duty) grew 206% amount of money that will be lion or 22.9% from July through to Rs520 billion from July through brought in and invested by Gao. February, showed data of the Fed- February. Wong said he had no role in the eral Board of Revenue. However, the steep decline in fake paperwork and that was all The amount does not include crude oil prices helped the govern- arranged by Deguito. petroleum levy receipts, which ment save $3.1 billion in just eight On Feb. 4, Wong said Gao told stood at Rs68 billion in the first months, as petroleum products him that he and Ding would close half of fiscal year 2015-16. import bill stood at $5.1 billion. their casino in Macau and invest Out of Rs275 billion tax re- This shows in order to offset the Getaways to Southeast Asia and tions in Asia Pacific start from Singapore Airlines’ A330-300 air- Asia and Asia Pacific via Singapore. the money in Manila. Gao also re- ceipts, an amount of Rs252.6 bil- impact of declining prices, the gov- Asia Pacific have never looked $215; $365 for ScootBiz. The ap- craft. And through the combined portedly said he had money from lion was on account of sales tax ernment has been constantly tink- more attractive. Singapore-based plicable travel period is from May Scoot offers two cabin classes networks of partner airlines Sin- the sale of his land in China. collection from all petroleum prod- ering with sales tax rates. The rev- value carrier Scoot, a wholly- 2 to November 14, 2016, with a for guests to choose from. Scoot- gapore Airlines, SilkAir, Tigerair, On Feb. 5, the money was ucts, while the remaining Rs23 bil- enues from the petroleum prod- owned subsidiary of Singapore blackout period of September 11 Biz comprises an all-new, full Virgin Australia and Nok Air, you transferred in portions to the five lion was on account of customs ucts have increased despite the Airlines, will launch three-times- to October 12, 2016 (both dates leather seat with 38” pitch, 30kg can scoot onward to many more fictitious bank accounts. Philrem duty. The Rs252 billion was value of dutiable imports decreas- weekly, non-stop Jeddah-Sin- inclusive). Guests must travel from checked-in baggage, up to 15kg of exotic and unexplored wonders of then electronically transferred the roughly one-third of the total sales ing 30%, indicating the extent of gapore services from May 2, 2016. Jeddah, and some flights beyond cabin baggage, and meals and drinks Asia and Australia, or beyond! money to the casino accounts tax collection during this period, additional taxes that the consum- Scoot’s services will be oper- Singapore are operated by Scoot’s included, along with priority Transiting in Singapore at the while other amounts were deliv- highlighting the government’s ers have been paying. lthough, the ated with spacious, wide-bodied partner airlines. boarding and check-in. In Econo- award-winning Changi Airport will ered in cash to Wong and the jun- growing dependence on relatively government has also decreased the 787 Dreamliners and will replace The 787 Dreamliners feature my, guests can enjoy a peaceful be a breeze, with its abundance of ket agents, or received by Wong at easy source of revenue generation. price of petroleum products, the Singapore Airlines’ existing servic- improved humidity and cabin pres- journey in the ScootinSilence econ- retail and dining outlets, entertain- the house of Philrem owners Sa- High-speed diesel, light diesel oil, decision to only partially pass on es via Dubai, reducing flight time surization, the largest windows of omy class quiet zone with seat ment and recreation options such lud and Concon Bautista. kerosene oil, petrol and high oc- the benefits of reduced prices is by about four hours. Jeddah is any modern jet, more overhead pitches ranging from 31” up to 35”. as transit hotels and the famed Bangladesh also turned over to tane were the major petroleum contrary to the government’s pol- Scoot’s first destination in the compartment space and produce Scoot’s airfares are typically Butterfly Garden at Terminal 3, the committee a list of 30 other products imported. From these icy of linking the domestic market Middle East. 20% less noise compared to con- about 40 percent cheaper than and complimentary Internet con- suspicious transactions that the five petroleum products, the gov- prices with international market. To commemorate its foray into ventional aircraft. Building on this those of full service carriers. Com- nectivity. Guests with at least five Federal Reserve Bank of New York ernment earned Rs182 billion in There are no subsidies on petro- the Middle East, Scoot is offering solid foundation, Scoot has con- bined with its new and state of the and a half hours to spare before did not execute. The list showed sales tax. At 17% standard rate, leum products after 2008 and the a limited-time promotion from figured its 787 Dreamliners to art 787 Dreamliners and superior their connecting flight can also reg- another $850 million would have the collection could have been consumers had paid the full price now till 2359hrs on April 10, transform the low-cost travel ex- product offerings, Scoot’s current ister for a complimentary guided been transmitted to the fake ac- Rs90 billion, according to the when the crude oil was traded at 2016. One-way Economy fares to perience, accommodating up to network of 18 destinations offers Free Singapore Tour at the transit counts in the Philippine bank had FBR’s statistics, Rs92 billion less $150 a barrel. Singapore and selected destina- 335 guests compared to 285 on a great value getaway to Southeast area. those transfers not been stopped. New sanctions put US traders of North Korean gold at risk More than two dozen U.S.-listed es Inc, Winnebago Industries Inc Winnebago's products. Pyongyang’s gold bars The smelter appears to have audit supply chains. aware that the "Central Bank of companies have links to North and Iridium Communications Inc, A spokeswoman for Iridium Another company that listed become inactive in the past few Hong Kong buyers purchased the DPR of Korea" was located in Korean gold in their supply chains, disclosed in 2015 that their sup- said the issue is "so far in the North Korean gold in its supply years but gold from there could still 294 kilograms (650 pounds) of North Korea. according to regulatory disclosures pliers had used a gold smelter op- weeds" and declined to comment chain was Oregon technology be showing up in company sup- gold bars from North Korea for The disclosures made by the reviewed by Reuters, potentially erated by North Korea's central further. company Radisys Corp. A ply chains, because the refiner $11.1 million last year, up from companies all incorrectly list the putting them at risk of penalties bank. A spokeswoman for the U.S. spokesman said he was unsure of may still be selling gold bars it has 91 kilograms in 2014, United Na- Central Bank of the DPR of Korea under tough new U.S. sanctions Gold is widely used in elec- Treasury's Office of Foreign As- the company's ties to the North stockpiled, according to the Con- tions data shows. - short for Democratic People's against Pyongyang's mining sector. tronics, valued for its ability to sets Control, the agency tasked Korean refinery. The company flict-Free Sourcing Initiative Compliance experts say many Republic of Korea - as being locat- A March 16 executive order by conduct electricity efficiently. Re- with enforcing sanctions, declined uses gold to make electronics and (CFSI), which helps companies of the companies were likely un- ed in South Korea. President Barack Obama allows uters did not find links between to comment on the implications of would switch to another supplier the United States to blacklist any- firms and any other North Korea- the SEC filings. if required by law, he said. one found to be operating in North sourced metals based on SEC fil- While importing goods and A spokesman for Taiwan- Korea's mining sector or to have ings. material into the United States from based Siliconware Precision Indus- purchased metal from its govern- The filings were in response North Korea has long been illegal, tries which also disclosed the ment - even indirectly through a to an unrelated requirement for the sweeping new sanctions im- North Korean link, said the North third-country supplier. companies to be transparent about plemented this month mean the Korean smelter was in the compa- The use of North Korean gold whether their products contained U.S. government will enforce the ny's supply chain in 2013 and 2014 or other metals could open a com- minerals from the war-torn Congo law much more strictly, said Peter but was removed as of 2015. pany to millions of dollars in U.S. region starting in 2013. Companies Harrell, a sanctions compliance Of the 20 other companies fines, criminal prosecutions and have disclosed dozens of refiner- consultant and former State De- who disclosed a possible North costly investigations. ies used by their suppliers, includ- partment official. Korea link, 11 did not respond or The United States imposed the ing the one located in North Ko- Among other changes, U.S. declined to comment. Others told sanctions to punish Pyongyang rea. regulators could blacklist foreign Reuters that North Korean gold after it carried out nuclear and mis- A spokeswoman for Pitney suppliers using North Korean had been removed from their sup- sile tests this year. The mining sec- Bowes said its supplier that used metals, making it illegal for other ply chains, or had never made it tor is a key part of North Korea's the North Korean smelter had cut companies to buy from them. into their products. economy, which is already largely its ties with the plant "more than That could disrupt the supply The refinery operated by cut off from the rest of the world. 18 months" ago, declining to com- chain and raise costs for U.S. com- North Korea's central bank is the Experts believe revenue from the ment further. panies that rely heavily on foreign only known gold smelter in North sector helps underwrite North While Winnebago had listed minerals, since they would have Korea and produces gold bars, said Korea's military expenditures. the North Korean smelter as part to vet dozens of suppliers, mid- Bruce Calder, vice president of U.S. Securities and Exchange of its supply chain, a company dlemen, refiners, and distributors Claigan Environmental, which con- Commission (SEC) filings show 25 spokesman said gold from the to make sure they cut off anyone sults companies on compliance is- companies, including Pitney Bow- smelter never made its way into using North Korean metals. sues. WEDNESDAY . MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES To like or dislike: Batman

v Superman or Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma is trolled after every match for her ex boyfriend Virat Kohli’s perfor- Karan Arjun? mance, and the actor wasn’t spared this time either, during the WT20 India v Australia match. But it finally seems like crick- eters have had enough of this and are standing up for the Bollywood actor. First Kohli shamed people for attacking her on social media, and now the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, former captain of the Indian cricket team, has done the same. “All I can say is that they are frustros. I don’t have an idea of the status of their relationship. But she is a lovely girl and they looked absolutely terrific together. And she brought a lot of stability in him at a time when he was just emerg- ing as a lynchpin of India’s bat- ting. He himself has said that she has brought a lot of positivity in his life and career,” the former In- dia captain told NDTV. Virat Kohli defends Anushka Sharma against Twitter trolls “For people to say that she was sitting in the stands and he got out. What would he get? He doesn’t get to see her if he gets out on the first ball. He can’t go out from the dressing room and meet her up over there. So, all I can say is they have no love in their lives, and therefore, they are taking it out on the poor girl, who has been there, been a support and backed him. In my opinion, she has only helped him grow as a human being and as a cricketer,” he added. Apart from bashing the trolls, Gavaskar also gave his valued opin- ion on Kohli’s superb batting KARACHI: Although expected man — the craziest Batman ever skills, saying, ”He played cricket- right about those shots. Also he between the wickets and you got pulling India out of tough situa- believes that the young batsman to be one of the most anticipated and a solid fit for comic book fans.” ing shots (during his unbeaten 82 has got the priceless gift of power your 20 runs in an over,” he proud- tions. And the way he is playing can get even better! releases of the year, the reviews ‘Batman v Superman’ given uni- in India’s 161-run chase against and timing. And he plays correct ly stated. Anushka Sharma, Virat the game…very attractively. So no “A batsman’s peak year is from of Batman v Superman: Dawn of versal rating in Pakistan Australia in Mohali to enter the cricket. He showed that you don’t Kohli part ways surprise that he is getting the adu- the period between 26 to 33. And Justice are flailing on both sides Throughout his illustrious ca- last-four stage of World T20) and have to play slam bang cricket in When asked if Kohli could get lation and admiration of not just he is only 27, so for the next 7-8 of the spectrum. While it was an reer as a film-maker, Snyder’s pa- there was no wild slogging.” T20. You don’t have to look to hit as much love as Tendulkar in In- the Indian cricket loving public but years…my sincere advice to understood fact that the biting crit- nache for visuals has been a hall- “The drives were absolutely the sixes. Four boundaries in an dia, Gavaskar replied, “Yes, he is just about everybody world bowlers is either take up wicket icism would never be enough of a mark feature of his craft. Whether breathtaking. Everything was so over he hit and then run brilliantly winning matches for India. He is around.” And the great cricketer keeping or batting,” he quipped. kryptonite to halt cinemagoers it is his use of ultra slow motion in from flocking to local theatres to 300 or the microscopic levels of catch the caped crusaders in ac- attention to detail in Sucker Punch, SAIRA SHAHROZ tion, the film has, by and large, he is part of the conveyor belt of received a mixed response from the new wave of film-makers who SET FOR THE local artistes. Having waited for use Computer Generated Images SILVER SCREEN the action-movie for the best part (CGI) to add an extra layer to their of three years, music video direc- story. Lamenting how Snyder may tor, Sohail Javed described the film have fallen a bit short on the CGI as one of the most “painful two front, multi-instrumentalist and and a half hours of his life”. Jav- video producer Zohaib Kazi, made ed, who has been a keen follower another observation that unlike of Snyder’s work, remarked how Batman who was anchoring the NEW DELHI: For Nargis Fakhri, the director had failed to do jus- movie, Superman appeared more there really is no shortcut to fame tice to the title, let alone, the movie as an afterthought. “Batman and success. At a time when infa- itself. “It is titled Batman v Su- seemed to be superior to Super- my has become part of show busi- perman and you would go in there man (both physically and mental- ness, the Bollywood beauty says expecting an iconic battle se- ly). Even characters like Lex KARACHI: Saira Shahroz has she still panders to the “romantic quence for the ages but what you Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) lacked come a long way since hosting the notion that skill and hard work are get in return is something more motivation making it seem that he music quiz show Bheja Fry on more important than notoriety.” along the lines of Karan Arjun. just wanted to pit Batman against MTV Pakistan. She has proved her When asked about whether the Batman is just hiding behind Superman.”Having released the mettle as a dedicated television Hindi film industry gives extra at- stones throughout the fight,” pro- graphic novel, Ismail Ka Urdu She- actor and now has been roped in tention to actors who have worked claims Javed, who is also the di- her, a few months ago, Kazi was for not one, but two Pakistani in Hollywood, Nargis said the rector of upcoming Pakistani film, not all taken aback by the film. movies which she will be working statement “doesn’t ring true” for Punjabi Wedding Thriller. “I think Unlike his fellow artists, Kazi felt on simultaneously. The VJ-turned- her. “I came here with no back- [Zack] Snyder was just over- the movie did well to stay true to actor will be making her big screen ground or Hollywood credits so it whelmed following up Christo- its source material. Rating the film debut in a project by the Hot Wa- certainly doesn’t ring true for me. pher Nolan’s Batman saga.” ‘Bat- as a “seven out of ten”, he identi- ter Bottles production house, ti- I think occasionally, fame and pop- man v Superman’ shatters records fied the VFX, character develop- tled Chalay Thay Sath. The film ularity can garner more attention The director of Jalaibee, Yasir ment and philosophy as the major will be directed by Omar Adil, with for individuals or films,” the actor Jaswal, posted a lengthy note on shortcomings of the film. “You the shoot scheduled to begin in told IANS. “But as a person who his Facebook highlighting the pros usually expect a little bit of phi- April next month. It will be shot believes in her craft, I like the ro- and cons of the second film in the losophy in Batman movies such in Karachi and Hunza. mantic notion that skill and hard DC Extended Universe. “Captain as Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy or Chalay Thay Sath will follow work are more important that no- America: Civil War is so winning other DC Comics.” The ultimate the lives of four friends, depicting toriety. As the money-focused in- the versus battle this year. The showdown DC and Warner Bros an unconventional story of love, dustry that Bollywood is, I also trailers for that probably had more unlike their direct-competitors, friendship, family values and di- appreciate that there is a balance heart than all the 2 hours and 30 Marvel, have been a little late to sasters. The actor will be seen es- and we’re all part of that.” minutes of this [Batman v Super- adapt to the multi-universe con- saying the role of Resham – a free- Fakhri to fight through fitness man],” stated Jaswal. Concurring cept. Already playing catch up to spirited, adventurous youngster. goals in 2016 Over the past few with Javed’s statement too, was The Avengers, Warner Bros has Talking to The Express Tribune, years, renowned Bollywood musician Abbas Ali Khan. “Zack fast-tracked the development on Saira expressed her pleasure over names like Priyanka Chopra and Snyder got confused between Lol- the first instalment of Justice the fact that she got an opportuni- Irrfan Khan have gone to foreign lywood and Hollywood. They League of America (JLA) which is ty to voice her opinions regarding shores, breaking stereotypical no- could have easily cast Shah Rukh slated to hit cinema screens in the creative aspects of the film. tions regarding Indians with the Khan as Lex,” said Khan. Where 2017. The dark and gritty tone of “The team-members are open to roles they choose. Nargis howev- Ben Affleck has copped a lot of Batman v Superman has already suggestions on how things should er – who was born to a multi-cul- heat for his portrayal of the bil- made it the perfect foil to the Mar- be done,” she shared. “That is tural family and raised in New lionaire superhero, Batman, Jas- vel Studio movies audiences had clearly and interesting aspect – York – believes the progress to wal sang praises for the actor. become used to. Reflecting on this, where I found it lacked, I have breakdown stereotypes always Deeming Batman and Wonder musician Shahab Qamar stated, played my part.” A penny for his starts with one person. “I am so Woman (Gal Gadot) as the high- “Batman v Superman is not your thoughts From hosting, modeling, proud of Priyanka to be a shining lights of the movie, Jaswal added typical Marvel superhero movie television assignments and now example of Bollywood’s talent and wait to help break the shackles.” Nargis took her first steps towards the world of glamour as a model back in “Affleck shines as both the wea- where characters exchange cheesy films, Saira appears to have done merit,” said the 36-year-old actor. 2005. After her Bollywood debut in 2011’s Rockstar, she went on to do a variety of films like Mein Tera Hero ry, older Bruce [Wayne] and the jokes every two minutes in be- it all. But according to her, she has “Stereotyping of any race or cul- and Madras Café. She also starred in the 2015 Hollywood action-comedy Spy. Nargis will next be seen new intimidating and violent Bat- tween a serious crisis.” only just begun. “To be honest, I ture is narrow-minded and I can’t opposite Riteish Deshmukh in Banjo and Housefull 3. always wanted to direct,” she shared, adding that she would be more than happy to take the di- rector’s seat for a project of her Mama mia!— Yummy mummies turning heads own. “I don’t want to be too old and regret never having opted for Doting mums and Hollywood A-listers, Kourtney Kardashian and Fergie managed to exude effortless charm as it. So yes, I want to do it soon and they teamed up with their sons — making their weekend all about family time. From channeling the ultimate do it well. It’s definitely something I am looking to explore in the fu- fashionista aesthetic to radiating class, these ladies gave quite a few younger divas a run for their money. ture.” Nonetheless, Saira refrained from revealing too much about her Fergie Kourtney Kardashian second cinematic venture, except The Black Eyed Peas singer that it is going to be a super hero The 36-year-old Keeping Up film with a “very well-written” looked youthful and oh-so- With The Kardashians reality script. She did, however, express chic as she showed off her star turned heads with her a desire to follow in the footsteps chiseled stems in a lax, black sheer lacy top and a pair of of fellow actors Humaima Malik, jumpsuit. The Grammy Mawra Hocane and Mahira Khan high-waisted flared trousers and cross the border into Bolly- Award-winner walked side that accentuated her slender wood productions. “Yes, I am open by side with her stylish two- to Bollywood but not random of- year-old son Axl and man, waistline. The eldest of the fers,” she claimed. “The script did they stand out! The star Kardashian sisters rocked her needs to be good. There has to be ivory ensemble by Givenchy high production value and a wor- added a modish jacket over thy cast.” Syra and Shahroz: This her mini one-piece with with elegance — it would be celeb wedding just got reel Saira palm tree graphics em- fair to say that she was a vision notes a general inclination towards bossed throughout. Fergie’s in white. The glamourous lighter, more entertainment-centric films in Pakistan which have been smooth signature blonde brunette sported a large pair of influenced by Bollywood. But ac- tresses cascaded in loose aviator style shades to protect cording to her, it is important to waves past her shoulders her from the sun as she car- make films which the public can and she polished up her relate to in terms of culture. “I am ried her adorable one-year-old happy with whatever is coming on look with trendy noir ankle son Reign in her arms. the screen. boots. WEDNESDAY . MARCH 30, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES LEWIS HAMILTON: Afghanistan beat Singapore 2-1 in their last group stage match of the 2018 World Cup qualifying round in Iran on Tuesday. FASTER The match, hosted by Afghanistan but played at the Takhti Stadium in Tehran, saw CARS WON'T Afghanistan score first, in the 39th minute by Khaibar Amani and in the 80th minute by IMPROVE Yusuf Shirdel. The team played well through- out but Singapore bounced back and scored their first and only goal in the 89th minute. RACING Afghanistan lost the first leg 1-0 to Sin- gapore in October last year. IN F1 President Ashraf Ghani meanwhile imme- diately congratulated the team via twitter. He said: "Congrats AFG National Football Team for impressive performance in the qualifier match for FIFA 2018 World Cup!" Last week, Afghanistan lost 5-0 to Japan in their 7th match of the tournament. The match was hosted by Japan. Petar Segrt, Afghanistan's head coach, did however bring some changes to Tuesday's line up after last week's match against Japan. Today's win was however, key for the team because should Tajikistan and Myan- mar lose their group stage matches, Afghani- stan will go through to the qualifying round of the 2019 AFC Cup. UFCCHAMPION CONOR MCGREGOR SHOULDN'T Lewis Hamilton has again cast doubt over the planned rule chang- STAY AT WELTER- es in F1, insisting faster cars won't deliver better racing. The world champion claimed WEIGHT,SAYS GUNNAR last week that people making the sport's rules don't have an under- NELSON standing of how cars work, with the one-clutch start at the Austra- Andy Murray has dismissed talk lian GP one of his annoyances. of a rift with his coach Amelie Plans are also afoot to make Mauresmo after losing to Grigor cars five seconds per lap quicker Dimitrov in the Miami Open. in 2017 through aerodynamics but Mauresmo watched Murray Hamilton, who was criticised by lose 6-7 (7-1), 6-4, 6-3 from a dif- F1 race director Charlie Whiting ferent part of the stadium from the for failing to attend driver meet- rest of his team and family. ings to express his views, says he The Scot produced more than knows racing won't improve with 50 unforced errors in an uncharac- the proposed changes. teristic defeat in which he lost his "There's been a lot of talk temper and smashed his racquet about the rules and whether the against his bag and was given a drivers should be more involved in warning by the umpire. decision making," Hamilton said. Grigor Dimitrov is looking to "It's not our job to come up with return to the 2014 form that saw ideas and we all have different him in the world's top 10 after beat- opinions anyway. When's the ing Andy Murray in the 3rd round Bahrain GP on Sky? of the Miami Open TV times and full schedule for Murray claims Mauresmo this weekend's race purposely took up a different "But personally, I think we courtside position in an attempt need more mechanical grip and less to help him control his tantrums. aero wake coming off the back of He said: "I've just been trying the cars so we can get close and to find different ways to improve overtake. Give us five seconds' my focus on the court. I also did worth of lap time from aero and Conor McGregor has been advised step up from featherweight. the same thing at the O2 Arena as nothing will change - we'll just be to fight as a lightweight by his main The muscle that McGregor well. driving faster. training partner Gunnar Nelson. added to his frame to jump up two "I'm trying to find different "I speak as somebody who The Irishman has options in weight divisions in just three ways to improve and that's some- loves this sport and loves racing. I three weight divisions - he won the months has led to doubts about thing I've tested to see if that might don't have all the answers - but I UFC featherweight (145lbs) title whether he will ever be capable of help. "If I'd had a falling out then know that the changes we're mak- in December, was due to challenge defending his featherweight title. Amelie wouldn't be here at the tour- ing won't deliver better racing." for the lightweight (155lbs) belt And although Diaz is likely to nament. We had dinner with all our The Mercedes driver struggled earlier this month but instead lost be his next task, McGregor's team- families last night, so we certainly following cars at the season-open- a welterweight (170lbs) clash mate insists that he could drop back haven't fallen out. ing race in Melbourne and com- against Nate Diaz. to featherweight if a defence "It's one of those things that and contributed to his own down- Despite guiding Great Britain his three-set defeat to the Bulgari- plained to his team that he couldn't His striking coach Owen Rod- against Frankie Edgar allures him. when I win no one says anything fall. The 28-year-old has been to a successful start to their Davis an in Miami Murray shakes hands overtake Max Verstappen in the dy told Sky Sports last week that "He hasn't really got bigger, he about it. When I lose that's an ex- adapting to life as a father for the Cup defence against Japan, Mur- with Dimitrov after his three-set Toro Rosso. a possible rematch with Diaz always gets this big between fights cuse. I don't think that is the rea- first time following the birth of his ray suffered a surprise defeat to defeat to the Bulgarian in Miami The FIA plan to make "faster, would also be at 170lbs, but fel- - this is his usual walking-around son for me hitting 50 unforced er- daughter, winning just two ATP Federico Delbonis before losing to "There were far too many un- more aggressive" cars next season, low welterweight Nelson wants to weight," said Nelson, who will rors in this match." Tour matches. Andy Murray Dimitrov at a venue he used as his forced errors that crept in towards which look set to be made with see his training partner drop down fight Albert Tumenov in Rotter- Murray's team watches him smashes his racquet against his bag winter training base each year. "It's the end. Grigor is obviously a very aerodynamics, the reduction of car again. I think lightweight is a nice dam in May. lose to Grigor Dimitrov - with several times after being broken by very disappointing," Murray add- good player but I also had oppor- weight and wider tyres - which weight for Conor, I believe that's "He basically stepped in coach Mauresmo sitting elsewhere Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami ed. "I had plenty of time to pre- tunities in this match. could give Hamilton more of the his weight class. Gunnar Nelson against Diaz with his off-season in the stadium Open pare and practice for this. I got "I was up a break in the third, mechanical grip he desires. "I think lightweight would be weight. He has to keep himself low- While Dimitrov showed the Andy Murray smashes his myself in a winning position so it same at Indian Wells, then lost a Hamilton finished behind team- good," Iceland's Nelson exclusive- er when he's fighting featherweight kind of form that had taken him racquet against his bag several couldn't have been that bad, but run of games in both matches. I mate Nico Rosberg at Albert Park ly told Sky Sports. "It's not too but I believe he can make it again, into the world's top 10 two years times after being broken by Grigor couldn't close it out. Murray need to look at that and see where but managed to get the better of much of a cut for him, and it's a if he wants to." ago, Murray was far from his best Dimitrov in the Miami Open shakes hands with Dimitrov after I go from there." Sebastian Vettel despite a poor start and a quick opening stint from the Ferrari's. The 31-year-old believes the Sky Academy Scholar and athlete Jessica Judd ready for track after winter training Scuderia's pace is one reason to be Dreaming of Rio must have been the last leg in her qualification pro- a good foundation from which to though! After Liverpool, I got my itive for me and my aim was then However, I picked myself up af- optimistic for an exciting season tough fighting through the mud and cess towards the Olympics. add the speedy stuff! head down and really focused on to get to BUCS in the best possi- ter a couple of days and I aimed and is looking forward to the Bahr- wind on all those cross country Here are Jessica's thoughts on I really enjoyed starting my training and did a couple of Mid- ble shape. But I was so disappoint- for the National Cross Country ain GP this weekend. courses during the winter. her winter battles and preparation season at the National Cross Coun- land leagues before and after ed. That was probably the most Championships after a brief stint "There are going to be week- One of Britain's rising stars in for her big summer challenges.... try relays running for Loughbor- Christmas. They went really well upset I've been all season. To go indoors at the 3k. I ran a pretty ends where we're a few seconds the 1500m Jessica Judd has spent This winter has been really ough Uni, and then steadily pro- and all my sessions were good, al- from feeling in great shape two sensible race and although it was up the road from Ferrari, races the last few months competing exciting and a great learning expe- gressed onto the European Trials though I felt tired 100 per cent all weeks before to struggling in the very tough on the hills I managed where it's wheel to wheel and rac- around the country building up her rience. I've absolutely loved racing in Liverpool. They went well of the time! mud and finishing ninth was horri- to come in 11th. It was great to es where they might be ahead," said strength and pace for the outdoor over the cross country this year where I was sixth in the U23 race. My next big race was in ble. It took a lot of positive com- bounce back like that and some- Hamilton. "We really don't know - season. and never expected to do as well I was left off the European Cardiff which we saw as a trial for ments from my coach, family, boy- thing I really needed. After talking and that's exciting. A trip to Colorado for training as I have. team which I was a bit disappoint- British Universities and Colleges friend and team-mates to continue with my coach George [Gandy] "I have a good feeling about at Boulder will be the perfect ton- I'm building up for the track ed about. It really motivated me to Sport (BUCS) cross country. That training that next week. I'd felt that after the race we still realised there my pace. I was ahead all weekend ic for the 21-year-old Sky Acade- but cross country just helps im- see how much I could improve by went so well and I couldn't believe I'd put so much effort into that were a couple of things I needed to until the race start last time out, so my Sports Scholar preparing for prove your endurance and provides the end of the Cross season that I came fourth.It was a big pos- one race and it had gone horribly! work on. I'm confident heading to Bahrain." Roy Hodgson challenges Daniel Sturridge to prove fitness ahead of Euro 2016 Roy Hodgson has challenged En- Is Daniel Sturridge in danger of goal for England in the 3-2 gland forward Daniel Sturridge to missing out on Euro 2016 with friendly win over Germa- prove his fitness ahead of this England? "If we look back over the ny on Saturday night summer's European Champion- last two years, he hasn't been able The squad has ships. to get to get that many games be- "changed enormously" Sturridge will make his first hind him because of injury. since Sturridge's involve- England appearance for over 18 "It has been a damn sight more ment in the 2014 World months in the friendly match frustrating for him than for me be- Cup, with the emergence against the Netherlands at Wemb- cause I have others who can play. of forwards such as Harry ley on Tuesday night, with Hodg- "When he's not available some- Kane and Jamie Vardy. son confirming at his pre-match one else plays, but it must have But Sturridge has press conference that he intends been enormously frustrating for shown flashes of quality to start the Liverpool striker. him. after getting his stop-start It will be the final match be- "But, I've got to say, during season back on track, while fore Hodgson names his 23-man these seven days we've been to- Welbeck has certainly squad for the finals in France and gether now, he doesn't seem to car- looked promising since re- the England manager hopes Stur- ry any frustration with him. He turning to action last ridge and Arsenal forward Danny just seems to be back to the player month, scoring four goals Welbeck can prove their fitness he was. in nine matches for Arse- before the season is out "But I would like people like nal. Hodgson, who names "We're pleased to have anoth- him and Danny Welbeck to make his final squad for France er quality player like Daniel avail- certain that in the four or five weeks on May 12, added: "I don't able and knocking on the door, try- that remain in the season to get as see any reason at the mo- ing to make it clear that he should big a build-up as they possibly can ment to doubt the pair of be the first name on the team of fitness, conditioning and match them or their ability and sheet," Hodgson said. play, as well as training, so that capacity to challenge and "All I can do is to give him the they can convince me they are once to show us they're the best opportunity when he comes with again at the very, very height of people for the job. the England team. their powers." "But the next few "I hope he continues to get Jamie Vardy scored his first weeks are important for those opportunities as well with goal for England in the 3-2 friend- those two because I'd like his club side and that he'll take ly win over Germany on Saturday to see them getting a bit those opportunities and will con- night more match play and fit- tinue to get more games behind him. Jamie Vardy scored his first ness under their belts." WEDNESDAY. MARCH 30. 2016-Hamal 11, 1395 H.S Vol:X Issue No:239 Price: Afs.15

Resigning officials asked to share reasons with Senate KABUL: Meshrano Jirga or Sen- ate members on Tuesday ex- pressed their concern over gov- ernment’s affairs being run by act- ing ministers and departmental AT News Report heads and over recent resignations of some officials. Recently, former National KABUL: Around 14,000 people were registered affected with the Feroz added efforts were tak- centers were active across the coun- Directorate of Security (NDS) die annually by the tuberculosis in tuberculosis in the country, and en to decrease the tuberculosis last try and 97 percent of the popula- chief Rahmatullah Nabil, Interior Afghanistan, the top health offi- they necessary received treat- year, asking for more international tion had access to tuberculosis ser- AfghanAir Force receives four Minister Noorul Haq Ulumi, the cial said, despite a considerable ment,” the minister said in a health- support to uproot the disease. vices. Independent Election Commis- decrease of the epidemic disease. care session held on the occasion Afghanistan was one of the 22 Tuberculosis is one of the big- sion (IEC) head Ahmad Yousuf “Though the tuberculosis rate of the tuberculosis world day. countries most suffering from tu- gest health challenges in Afghani- moreA-29 Super Tucanos Nuristani and mines and petro- has come down recently, but it is He pointed out that women berculosis in the past, but the graph stan affecting 60,000 people in a AT News Report leum minister Daud Shah Saba re- still a serious disease that claims and children were the most vul- of the disease is lower now. year. The World Health Organiza- signed from their positions, but thousands of lives every year,” nerable with the disease and peo- “To specify the level of tuber- tion representative in Afghanistan Saba’s resignation is yet to be ap- Public Health Minister Ferozud- ple living in the remote areas with culosis cases we need to expand said that nine million people be- proved by the president. Senator Gulalai Akbari from northeastern din Feroz said Tuesday. no access to healthcare facilities the diagnostic centers,” Feroz said. came globally affected with the Badakhshan province said the res- “Last year, 37,000 people were the other victims. He said that 1,937 diagnostic tuberculosis in 2014, from whom, ignations could lead the country 1.5 million died. “It is a matter of into crisis, so reasons behind the concern that approximately 14,000 move should be identified. “There people annually die of tuberculo- are speculations these officials sis in Afghanistan, a disease that have resigned under pressure from could be prevented and cured,” said the government leaders and their Richard Peeperkorn. He said that illegal demands. If true, the resign- the government of Japan had grant- ing officials should share their ed essential tuberculosis medicines problems with lawmakers in or- to Afghanistan that over 100,000 der we are able to properly mon- KABUL: Afghan Air Force (AAF) prevent reinforcement of the Af- itor activities of the government,” patients and over half a million on Tuesday received four more A- ghan troops. he said. Senator Juma Din Giyan- people would receive free test. “It 29 Super Tucano attack aircrafts “Utilization of these aircrafts wal from southeastern Paktika was estimated that 1,100 people from the United States that would will further boost the series of province said illegal demands developed multidrug resistant tu- boost Afghan security forces abil- deadly airstrikes against terrorists’ from the government leaders might berculosis in Afghanistan we need ity in the fight against militants, hideouts in the country,” the min- be a reason behind their resigna- to do much more to reverse this Ministry of Defense said. istry said in its short statement. tions. Senator Zalmai Zabuli be- trend to strengthen screening and The four new fighter aircrafts The low, slow-flying attack lieved with such resignations, the testing, treatment with quality as- are part of the 20 A-29s plans that airplanes of Brazilian origin is al- government could face several sured anti-tuberculosis drugs and would be given to Afghan Air Force ready employed by 10 air forces challenges. by the United States till 2018 around the globe, and the Lebanese follow up,” he lamented. aimed at strengthening the fledg- air force is next in line to be ling air force. Four plans were al- equipped with American-made ex- ready delivered to Afghan army amples produced in Jacksonville, earlier this year and now with this Florida. The A-29s were gifted to batch, the AAF has a total of eight Afghanistan’s fledgling air armada Neighboring countries hinder Afghan export: ACCI A-29 fixed-wing Super Tucanos. as a replacement for the soon-to- He called high tariffs, shortage He said that although in the AAF is part of the Afghan Nation- retire Russian Mi-35 helicopter By Farhad Naibkhel of land and energy as the other past four years imports of goods al Army and yet to be made a sep- gunship, which has been kept alive KABUL: Afghanistan Chamber of challenges ahead of private sector. decreased to Afghanistan, but still arate force having an air chief to via heavy cannibalization of parts. Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Alkozai highlighted that police our export is at low level. plan independent air operations. Pilot training has been taking on Tuesday blamed the neighbor- on the highways take illegal taxes Abdul Bari Rahman, deputy “Afghanistan’s Air Force is place at the Moody AFB’s 81st ing countries for hampering the from traders. commerce minister said that a five- getting strengthened day by day Fighter Squadron in Georgia since export of Afghan merchandise that Pointing to barriers creating by year strategy was drafted to ad- and receiving more fighting equip- early 2015, and the initial cadre hurts the trade, also accusing the neighboring countries, he said that dress the abovementioned chal- ments which will more boost and graduated in December. The first government of inattention. “Pakistan increases taxes from lenges and support industries. support the Afghan ground troops four aircraft landed in Afghanistan “We ask the government to 2,500 to 7,500 Pakistani rupees on He said that efforts were go- in fight against militants,” Minis- on January 15. stop shouting slogans and support each ton of export in the seasons ing on to manage infrastructures try of Defense said in a statement, Once established, the small industries and exports,” said dep- of fruit. for industries to foster domestic issued here in Kabul. fleet will become an important air- uty chief of chambers Khanjan Afghan government must take products. He said that in order to lead goods under the name of Afghani- Afghanistan’s mountainous to-ground attack and aerial recon- Alkozai. measures to address all challenges Head of Afghanistan Invest- the country exportation toward stan from the country in order to geography most of the time limit naissance capability, and the tur- He urged that the government in order to support domestic prod- ment Support Agency Qurban betterment, the government must bring foreign currency to the coun- access of ground troops to battle boprops can also perform air in- must help private sector with pro- ucts and export, he insisted. Haqjo expressed concern over im- support private sector and indus- try. fields to support its forces in re- terdiction using air-to-air missiles. viding standard laboratories for the The ACCI Chief Executive balances between export and im- tries to produce enough goods In order to bring down prod- mote areas and air force’s role is The A-29 will be formally in- export. Officer Attiqullah Nasrat, said that port, saying that investment draw- with better quality and reasonable ucts cost the related organs must key in such conditions to defeat ducted into the Afghan inventory “The government should par- Afghanistan’s import is around down, poverty, decline of incomes prices. provide traders with loan facilities the militants in remote valleys, this spring. All 20 aircraft and 30 ticularly focus on mechanization eight billion dollars, while it ex- and unemployment are the main He said that government must and industrial parks in the coun- where militants can block the roads pilots are expected to be in place of agriculture,” Alkozai said. ports only $515 million. challenge at current situation. help traders to export Afghan try, he underlined. only with a single explosion to in Afghanistan by 2018.