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Daesh attempting to establish base in Ghor: Security official By Farhad Naibkhel and was transported to Pakistan Operation Freedom’s Sentinel au- embassy in Kabul. He stated that thority, the counter-terror mission KABUL: Afghan and US troops Afghanistan expected Pakistan to was planned and launched after AT Monitoring Desk tral government should take im- freed Ali Haider Gilani, son of Pa- take action against terrorist groups evidence of terrorist activity was mediate action to send more forc- kistan’s former Prime Minister inside its soil. Defense ministry confirmed,” the mission said in a KABUL: A senior security offi- es to cleanse the region from the Yousaf Raza Gilani during an op- spokesman Dawlat Waziri, said statement. “Four enemy combat- cial says that the Islamic State also ISIL terrorists,” source quoted eration in eastern part of the coun- that the operation was launched ants were killed as a result of the known as Daesh, is attempting to him, as saying. This statement try, officials confirmed Tuesday. Monday night. He said that Gi- operation. No other injuries or establish a command center and comes as Zamir Kabulov, the head “Gilani was released through a lani was abducted and kept by the damage was observed or report- positions in the western part of of the Asia and Meddle East de- joint operation in Giyan district al-Qaeda terrorist network, adding ed.” Through Operation Freedom’s the country, calling on the govern- partment of the Russian foreign of Paktika province,” National that four fighters of the network Sentinel, the U.S. continues its ment to speed up action to halt ministry, who also serves as spe- Security Council’s Spokesman were killed during the operation. counterterrorism mission. The the terrorist group from routing. cial envoy of the Russian presi- Tawab Ghorzang said. Gilani the President Ashraf Ghani twitted U.S. partnership with the Govern- “The ISIL is trying to prepare dent to Afghanistan, said that the junior was kidnapped by a group that Gilani was safely handed over ment of the Islamic Republic of Ghor province as a center for co- presence of the Daesh in Afghan- of armed men three years ago in to the Embassy of Pakistan in Afghanistan is highly effective and ordination to increases integrity istan is a significant security Pakistani city of Multan after a Kabul. The NATO-led Resolute critical to the fight against terror- among its members in Western threat. He also said that Daesh short gunfire in which his two col- Support mission also confirmed ism and ensuring peace and stabil- Afghanistan and extend its terror- terrorist group has dramatically leagues were killed. He was be- the release of Gilani in Afghani- ity in the region. It is pertained to ist plots this way,” Deputy Police increased its presence in Afghan- lieved to have been brought to Af- stan by the U.S. Special Opera- mention that according to report Commander of Ghor province, istan and is preparing to expand ghanistan. Ghorzang said that Gi- tions Forces and Afghan Comman- Pakistan former premier son was Aman Azimi told Fars News Agen- into other Central Asian countries lani was in good health condition dos in a partnered raid. “Under in lock up for three years. cy (FNA) on Tuesday. “The cen- and Russia. Afghans suspected of plotting TORKHAM GATE CLOSEDAFTER DISPUTEWITHPAKISTANI FORCES attacks detained in Italy JALALABAD : The Torkham other. Shops near Torkham gate ABUL : Two Afghan migrants were detained by Italian police on gate on the Durand Line have been were closed and the gate between Tuesday on charges of plotting attacks on targets in London, a closed for passengers on Tuesday the two countries has been blocked UK-based newspaper reported Restaurants, hotels and a pedes- after a dispute between Afghan and for travelers, he said. K Pakistani forces, an official said. Commander of 302nd brigade trian footbridge east of London, as well as Rome’s Coliseum and Circus Maximus, a venue for modern-day concerts, were among the targets. An Afghan shopkeeper in of border police, Col. Ayub Hu- Daily Express said Hakim Nasiri, 23, and Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29, were Torkham, Javed Shina, told Pajh- sainkhel, said the Pakistani securi- detained in Italy’s southern city of Bari in the morning. Nasiri, working wok Afghan News that Pakistani ty forces wanted to extend barbed at a refugee reception centre near the airport in Bari, was granted protec- border security guards were try- wire but the police prevented tion on May 6. He has allegedly been planning attacks on airports, ing to extend a barbed wire near them. ports, police vehicles, shopping centres, hotels as well as other unspec- their security checkpoints along A meeting was held between ified terrorist strikes in Italy and Britain,the newspaper said, citing the Durand Line, but Afghan Bor- the local officials of both sides in police documents. Ahmadzai was held on charges of aiding illegal immi- der Police (ABP) prevented them Torkham, he said while expecting gration by smuggling migrants into Italy from Afghanistan and Pakistan and the border police of both coun- that the issue would be resolved and helping them reach Britain via France. (Pajhwok) tries took positions against each soon. (Pajhwok) 100 INSURGENTS KILLED IN POLICE Access to Health Services In the recent past, the villagers in all aspects of life had many difficulties. They were deprived of all facilities of life OPERATIONS and had to live in a very desperate situation in many parts of country. In most villages, there was no clean water to drink and the children were at risk of catching numerous diseases due to unclean water that they were consuming. AT News Report KABUL: 100 Taliban in- surgents were killed and 55 others injured in differ- People were suffering from various diseases because they were dirking the same water drunk by animals from ent offensives launched by the police forces in the streams, rivers accumulated dams. In most villages, there were no medical facilities, as patients were treated by past 24 hours, a security official said Tuesday. Inte- barbers and locally brought-up midwives that could cause other potential problems to human life. They had to take rior ministry spokesman Seddiq Seddiqi said that their patients to the capital, Kabul or even abroad for treatment. As most of Afghan villages are situated far from the police were fully helped by the Afghan National provincial centers in, the villagers have to cover long distances in order to take the patients on their backs or in the Army and National Directorate of Security during pushcarts on the roads and paths, even difficult to travel bake and forth on either by foot or by vehicle. Most of the operations launched against insurgents in differ- the times, the patients would lose their lives on the way before reaching the health centers. ent areas of Kunar, Nangarhar, Parwan, Logar, Ward- ak, Daikundi, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand, Such deaths in most villages have occurred frequently, as communities in Tanai district, Khost province have Herat, Sar-e-Pul, Jowzjan, Kunduz and never remained intact of such plights. In addition, inaccessibility to essential human needs has deeply suffered the Takhar provinces. “In these operations, 100 Tali- residents of this district. Every day, they experienced a new problem. Fortunately, their problems reduced day by ban rebels were killed, 55 injured and nine others day after the National Solidarity Programme of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/NSP) were arrested,” Seddiqi said. He added: “During these covered the villages and districts by establishing the Community Development Council (CDCs) as well as imple- operations, the security forces also discovered and menting the infrastructure projects across the country. confiscated two rocket launchers with 47 rocket- propelled grenades, 31 mortars, 100 kilograms of In 1394 solar year, the CDC members and people of six villages including Hesark, Kutgai, Haji Yaqoob, Mir Zahid, improvised explosive device, 18 different types of Nazarabad and Said Gul gathered together and decided to build a health clinic to benefit all villages. The implemen- rifles, nine AK-47 machineguns and 14 motorbikes.” tation of health clinic project was supposed to take longer; however, the consistent efforts and strong determina- He asserted that unfortunately, as a result of the tion of people and the CDCs made it possible to complete it in a short period of time. clearance operations, eight troops were martyred As such, the residents of communities located in Tanai district do not have any concerns about their health. They and 16 others were injured. built a health clinic at a sum of AFN 9,000,000 funded by MRRD/ NSP including 10% community contribution (financial, labor or in-kind). Now, they can take their patients to the hospital on a timely manner. Upon construction of the health, the mortality and morbidity rates have dramatically declined in this district. 34 policemen Indeed, the local CDCs have demonstrated great initiative in encouraging two or three CDCs in order to construct a joint health clinic project that could benefit overall residents in the region. Certain practices have taken place in defect to Taliban many provinces where the villagers are happy and satisfied. It is worth mentioning that in most communities, the people in cooperation with their CDCs have constructed many health clinics with even more than 10% contribution AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: At least 34 and secured their lives usually threatened by drinking unsafe water. policemen and a local police commander along with AT News Report statement mentioned. Separately, In addition to rehabilitating and developing our villages, the MRRD/NSP has consistently worked hard to provide their weapons and ammunition, defected to Taliban villagers including men, women, children and the elderly with basic human needs in the country. The construction Afghan National Police launched in the Do Laina district of western Ghor province, KABUL: The Afghan National an operation in the Jawahiran vil- of a health clinic could be one of the examples of essential human needs that reflect the commitment of the MRRD/ Border Police have seized 9,700 an official said Tuesday. “Afghan Local Police Com- lage of the Ghoryan district of mander Ziaul Haq had joined the Taliban with 29 of NSP towards the vulnerable people of Afghanistan. More and more a number of other necessary activities includ- kilograms ammonium nitrate, used Herat province, in which four Tal- ing construction of social centers, water reservoirs, pavement of kariz (underground canals) and roads, excavation by Taliban militants to make his comrades and four national police officers in iban fighters were arrested, accord- Khak Yarak locality, some 40 kilometers southwest bombs and other explosives. “The ing to the interior ministry’s state- of wells equipped with hand pumps, extension of water supply networks, conduct of community collective for ammonium nitrate was recovered of the district center,” Mohammad Hassain Dan- clearing irrigation canals, etc have so far successfully been channeled by the MRRD/NSP across Afghanistan. ment. “Police have also seized ishyar, district administrative chief, quoted by Pa- in a Pakistani truck heading for some weapons and ammunition,” Recently, the National Unity Government has announced the implementation of Maintenance Afghanistan during a search oper- jhwok Afghan News, as saying. They took 30 AK- statement concluded. The govern- 47 assault rifles, three machine guns, one anti-air- Cash Grant (MCG) project designed to operate under the “National Employment Generation Programme for ation at Torkham area late Mon- ment had earlier banned imort of Peace” in order to maintain the projects already executed through the MRRD/NSP. So far, this programme has been day,” interior ministry said in a craft gun, one mortar and a large quantity of other the ammonium nitrate in Afghani- weapons to the Taliban, the source added. Accord- implementing in many provinces as villagers showed full support and interest in implementing this project. statement, referring to the border stan because Taliban insurgents use point with Pakistan. It said that ing to the source, despite several phone calls, the it in homemade bombs, which are agency failed to reach Ghor governor Ghulam Nas- the ammonium nitrate was hidden most often planted along roads and under the fruit. “Two suspects re- er Khazeh in order to have his comments into the are a leading killer of civilians and matter. garding the case were arrested,” the troops in Afghanistan.

By Akhtar M. Nikzad and their prisoners would be exe- the nation. “People welcome those militants who cuted. Six of Taliban fighters were leave conflict and put down their guns,” he stated KABUL: Chief Executive Offic- hanged Sunday in Kabul, follow- Acting Director of the National Directorate of Secu- er (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah ing Ghani’s promise. rity Mohammad Massoom Stanekzai claimed that asked the armed opposition He however, stressed that the terrorist groups were supported by neighboring coun- groups to put their guns down security forces were obligated to tries. “Despite the victories, security organs face and join the peace negotiation suppress the militants and enemies many challenges which requires unity in the security with the government. who fight against security of the organizations,” he said He termed assistance of the “The armed insurgents should nation. “At first, the armed op- jihadi and political leaders important, asking Ulema stop hostility with people and position was optimistic to occu- and jihadi leaders to support their security forces join in peaceful live with the gov- py a large part of the country, but against armed insurgents. Recently president Ghani ernment,” Abdullah said, without they were suppressed in every introduced Massoom Stanekzai and Abdullah Habi- clarifying the groups. corner and nook of the country,” bi as caretakers for the national directorate of securi- Earlier, President Ashraf he said. He added that anyone who ty and the defense ministry. Some security analysts Ghani had said that Taliban mili- picks up gun against the govern- believe that political deference between the two lead- tants would face serious actions ment and people is the enemy of ers resulted to insecurities in the country. WEDNESDAY . MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

Gardaí have searched a number of properties in the Nutgrove area of south Dublin this morning in con- To go through Bamyan or Salang? That is the question. nection with an apparent racist assault last week. Brothers Naqeeb Ahmadzai (18) and Fazalrahman Ahmadzai (20), along with their nephew Ab- dul (13) were punched in the face, kicked and beaten unconscious by a gang of four men as they were cycling home from Marlay Park in Rathfarnham last Thursday evening. They were discharged from hospital at the weekend after re- ceiving treatment for injuries they suffered in the attack. Gardaí have not yet made any arrests, but officers seized items including hatchets and iron bars recovered during searches on Tues- day. Abdul’s father, who asked for his full name not to be used, said his son, who suffered cuts and bruises to his face, had requested to be discharged from hospital on Saturday as he was afraid that the attackers would find him there. within minutes and all three vic- Garda spokeswoman said that it a blue Peugeot in the direction of “The hospital said my son tims were taken to hospital. A was seeking four men who fled in Dundrum. (irishtimes) should stay there, but my son was scared that they would come again to the hospital. He’s just 13. He Central Asia has no shortage of operations in these countries, the ernment. Mohammad Mohaqiq, was not happy in hospital – he Afghan held over 'terror attack critical, politically fraught, logisti- current network configuration is CEO Abdullah Abdullah’s depu- was saying, ‘Maybe they will cally challenging, and financially highly inflexible.” In order to con- ty, said the government rejecting come’.” important energy projects. nect power from one network to a public demands to use the Bamy- Mr Ahmadzai said gardaí had plots in Italy, UK and France' There’s the Turkmenistan-Afghan- neighboring one–allowing flexibil- an route “is a clear discrimination visited the family home three istan-Pakistan India gas pipeline ity in supply and more efficient and bullying against the people of times since Friday and had said (TAPI) and the Central Asia South load dispatch–converter systems central provinces.” Da Afghanistan that “if we want them to come at Asia Electricity Transmission and need to be installed. These “back- Breshna Sherkat (DABS), as any time, they will come”. Trade Project (CASA-1000), both to-back” converter systems are TOLOnews reports, blames the Three Afghans leave hospital of which have been discussed in part of the TUTAP project, as are previous government for the con- after apparent racist attack depth here at Crossroads Asia and energy transmission stations to fusion about routes. DABS says Afghan family assaulted in feature in an excellent recent pod- link the grids together. it inherited the decision to go apparent racist attack cast from RFE/RL. But there’s Earlier this year, Second Vice through Salang, meanwhile former Anti-racism leader condemns another project in the work that’s President Mohammad Sarwar Second Vice President Karim Kha- ‘frightening’ Rathfarnham attack run into trouble. Danish spoke out against routing lili rejected the charge. The 2013 The family had asked neigh- A change in the route for the the TUTAP projects through Sa- assessment considers the con- bours to report any suspicious Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajiki- lang rather than Bamyan. He point- straints of the Salang route but activity around the house to gardaí, stan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TUT- ed to a 2013 assessment prepared nonetheless refers to the Bamyan he added. AP) electricity project has by Fichtner, a German engineering route as an “alternative”–this “Naqeeb has not been eating. sparked protests in central Af- consultancy, for the ADB that rec- seems to indicate that while the Whatever he eats, he just vomits ghanistan which moved to Kabul ommended Bamyan for the assessment recommended the back . . . he’s just 18,” Mr Ad- on Monday. project’s second line crossing the Bamyan route, the plans were in madzai said of his brother. Khaama Press reported Friday Hindu Kush–a 500 kV transmis- place for Salang. The benefits of “They’re scared. They’re that thousands had gathered in sion line. “The Bamyan route will the Salang route are financial, but thinking that the people who did Bamyan to protest the decision to avoid the narrow space and diffi- the costs seem to be political. Pro- this will come again. I can see the route the project through Salang, culties along the Salang Pass, will tests occurred Monday in Kabul fear in the eyes of the children. rather than Bamyan. The project– allow connecting further generation over the issue, Mohaqiq said. “The Hopefully it won’t happen again.” financed by the Asian Develop- by coal fired power plants along people will not accept the recent Mr Ahmadzai (32) moved to ment Bank under a less acronym- the route and will secure power decision made by the cabinet. Ireland from Afghanistan six years friendly title–seeks to boost Af- supply of Kabul and south Af- They [people] will not remain si- ago, was granted refugee status and ghan access to electricity. A major ghanistan by using a separate lent until their demands are met.” became an Irish citizen in 2013. UPDATED: Italian police on itary targets, public institutions, One even had a picture taken feature of the project is linking to- route.” President Ashraf Ghani has prom- He said he and his family were Tuesday arrested an Afghan sus- international companies and civil- with Bari's mayor, Antonio De- gether the ten separate grids that It’s not clear precisely when ised a review of the project plans, returning home after 8pm last pected of plotting attacks in Italy, ian targets." caro, during a march in solidarity currently provide electricity in the decision was made to switch a guarantee of further stalemate. Thursday after a few hours spent Britain and France after finding with refugees last September. Afghanistan. from Bamyan to Salang. Khaama One additional detail from the enjoying the sunshine in Marlay incriminating evidence on his mo- The phones also contained Interior Minister Angelino Al- In a November 2015 energy suggests it was made in a recent ADB energy sector assessment Park. He and other members of the bile phone. images of Italian and Afghan mili- fano hailed the "success of a high- sector assessment, the ADB writes cabinet meeting, though Danish’s underscores why TUTAP is im- family drove, but Abdul and his Man arrested on suspicion of tary vehicles and weapons, as well level inquiry" and said the case that “Afghanistan needs a unified January comments indicate that portant. The project is fundamen- two uncles cycled. recruiting terrorists in Italy (09 as Taliban propaganda videos and showed no country was "zero national electricity grid.” The doc- the Salang route had been chosen tal to seeing the promise of CASA- As the three cycled along Nut- May 16) "a series of chants traditionally risk". ument further comments that “dif- previously. In addition, Khaama 1000 fulfilled. According to the grove Way towards Broadford A second Afghan has been ar- sung in preparation for martyr- Eccellente operazione #anti- ferent parts of Afghanistan’s net- cites an unnamed source as saying assessment, “bulk export of ener- Road in Ballinteer, a car with five rested for alleged people traffick- dom", he said. terrorismo: 2 arresti a #Bari. Dopo works are supplied as passive is- that an additional transmission gy is not possible and [Afghani- adult men slowed down beside ing while warrants have been is- lungo lavoro di indagini altro suc- lands by power fed from Iran, line–220 kV–is planned for Bam- stan] cannot serve as a transit sys- them. sued for three other people, two One of the defendants was also cesso Squadra-Stato.Nostre leggi Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and yan. Nonetheless, the issue has tem for transmitting electricity “They rolled down the win- Afghans and a Pakistani man, po- seen in a photograph posing with funzionano Uzbekistan.” The problem is that dovetailed with wider tensions in from Central Asian countries to dow and started shouting the F- lice said. an MS16 semi automatic rifle, — Angelino Alfano (@an- “because of asynchronous grid Afghanistan and within the gov- South Asia.” (thediplomat) word many times, swearing a lot The men allegedly belonged to which Rossi said was "not an easy gealfa) May 10, 2016 Story con- and saying, ‘Why are you here? a five-strong terror cell with links weapon to find on the market". tinues below… More from The Go back to your country,’” Mr to Al Qaeda and Isis. He also had links on his smart- Local Why Italian merry widows Ahmedzai said. The investigation began in phone to websites "only accessi- perk up after husbands die US Inside Afghanistan's “The men drove the car across December after four Afghans were ble to those with connections to passports now need six months in front of them, blocked them in. spotted taking videos inside a shop- the international jihadist network". validity for Italy Niqab-wearing They didn’t check their pockets ping centre in Bari in southern Ita- The suspects had been taking tourist stopped from entering Ital- for money or take their bikes – ly, and a police search of their expensive trips around Europe, ian museum Police said the inves- prosthetics center they went straight to punch them.” phones uncovered other images of which they had paid for in cash, tigation would continue, with Some of the attackers used “a the city's airport and port, as well Rossi said. Rossi suggesting it was "likely" Last week, bioengineering’s most Red Cross’s physical rehabilita- not quite as advanced as those black metal object” to beat the men, as sites in Rome, Paris and Lon- Investigators also uncovered the wanted men had returned to advanced prosthetics were shown tion center in Kabul, Afghanistan. shown off in Germany last week. the father said. don. details of trafficking prices and Afghanistan and Pakistan, but off at the world’s largest orthope- There, those who have suffered the Think less of carbon fiber and 3D “Both my brothers fell uncon- "It was clear these were not routes of migrants into Italy, but could also be in other European dics event in Germany. But in Af- loss of a limb—whether children printing, and more of plaster and scious after they were punched in tourist images. They appear to also through Hungary or Calais. countries. On Sunday, a 26-year- ghanistan, things are a little differ- with birth defects or adults who’ve orbital sanders. But even if they’re the face. At the end of it, they have been scouting sensitive sites," But they were unable to pull old Slovenian man was also ar- ent. These photographs, from AP, been injured in war—are fitted with less advanced, the constructions punched my son in the face and prosecutor Roberto Rossi said at information from one of the rested – accused of recruiting and show the work being carried out at the best prosthetics the ICRC can still give a new lease of life to those head. Everything happened in four a press conference in Bari. phones recovered: a locked iPhone. radicalizing potential terrorists. In the International Committee of the provide. As you can see, they’re who receive them. to five minutes.” The men arrested, aged 23 and The two men arrested had each 2015, 259 people were arrested The men then got back into 29, allegedly helped to establish been awarded a humanitarian resi- on terrorism charges across the their car. “They stuck up their fin- the terror cell, which was provid- dence permit in Italy - one in 2011 country, 67 of which were ex- ger saying, ‘We’ll see you again. ing logistical support to Isis. and one last week - and the latter pelled. Italy's security level re- Go back to your own country. This Rossi earlier told La Repub- was still living at a reception cen- mains at level two, the highest is a warning, next time we’ll kill blica that the cell was planning at- tre for asylum seekers when he was possible in the absence of a direct you.’ They used the F-word about tacks against "government and mil- detained. attack. being Muslim too.” Gardaí arrived Bamyan women rally against government to its unfair decision,” she observed. unjust decision of govt The protestors read out a res- olution letter, saying the project BAMYAN CITY : Dozens of (AWN) head, Sughra Attayee, told long. The national unity govern- should be implemented through women from central Bamyan prov- Pajhwok Afghan News the aim of ment is racist. We have lit up lan- Bamyan province, where people ince on Tuesday rallied against the the rally was to indicate people’s terns to attract the attention of the were still living in dark caves. government’s decision to imple- disappointment with govern- ment the Turkmenistan-Uzbeki- ment’s injustice. stan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Paki- She alleged the government’s stan (TUTAP) power project decision to change the route of through Salang Pass. TUTAP project from Bamyan to The power project will import Salang was creating divisions 500kv of electricity from Turk- among different tribes. The deci- menistan, Uzbekistan and Tajiki- sion was not right scientifically or stan to Pakistan through energy- technically, she claimed. starved Afghanistan. “Women are standing beside The protestors accused the their brothers against this discrim- government of fueling differences ination against and insult to our among Afghan tribes, imbalanced people. We would raise our voice development and depriving central for justice across the world,” she provinces of progress. They asked added. the United Nations (UN) to high- Razia Iqbalzada, a women’s light the injustice. rights activist in Bamyan who par- The protestors carrying lan- ticipated in the protest, asked the terns rallied in front of the government to pay attention to UNAMA office in Bamyan City, people’s demands and address the capital of the province, and their problems. asked for justice. “The government, without dis- Afghan Women Network pensing justice, would not last WEDNESDAY . MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Europe sees rise in unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, with almost half from Afghanistan KABUL : The Ministry of Fi- nance (MoF) on Tuesday said the High Economic Council (HEC), opposing the merger the New Kabul Bank, has stressed an effec- tive plan to save the institution and improve the banking sector. A statement from the minis- EMERGENCY try said the HEC, at a meeting on Monday, discussed the privatisa- CALLS tion of the New Kabul Bank and other economic issues. MoF offi- Police cials shared with the council progress in privatising the New Kabul Bank. The council believed 100 - 119 merging the bank with the agricul- ture development fund to provide financial services to farmers was Hospitals not a good option. It tasked a team of experts to assess the situation FMIC Hospital of the New Kabul Bank and evolve Behind Kabul Medical an effective plan in consideration University: of the current state of Da Afghan- 0202500200-+93793275595 Men and women, old and young nors – 76,700, or 39% – have trav- istan Bank (DAB) to the benefit have all been part of the recent eled from Afghanistan, about a of all institutions concerned. surge of asylum seekers into the 3,000-mile trip. That makes Af- MoF had previously an- Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital European Union, Norway and ghanistan by far the single largest nounced that Join Stock and Paki- Pule Bagh-e- Umomi Switzerland. But a lesser-known source country of unaccompanied stan’s Muslim Commercial Bank story about this surge is the rapid minors in Europe since data be- (MCB) were qualified for purchas- 070263672 ing the New Kabul Bank. rise in child migrants traveling with- came available. Unaccompanied liament. The Senate decided the plunged into deep financial crisis cluding the stakeholders.The gov- out an adult guardian. minors also come from other far- However, selling the Kabul Bank to the MCB sparked an an- Pakistani bank should be expelled due to the issuance unauthorised ernment has so far recovered $437 Since 2008, about 198,500 flung places. Some 13,200 arrived from the bidding process. loans and other anomalies. Reports million. Twenty-four defaulters Khairkhana Hospital gry reaction from the Meshrano unaccompanied minors have en- from Somalia and another 11,600 Kabul Bank, once the coun- put at 937.7 million the loans is- have paid back their debts until 0799-321007 Jirga -- or upper house of the par- tered Europe seeking asylum, ac- have arrived from Eritrea since try’s largest private-sector lender, sued to a number of people, in- now. cording to data from Eurostat, the 2008. Travel from both countries 2401352 EU’s statistical agency. The first requires navigating treacherous ter- significant jump came in 2014, rain and a perilous journey across when the number of unaccompa- the Mediterranean Sea. Other top Indira Gandhi Children nied minors seeking asylum almost countries of origin include places IDOMENI INCIDENT: PAKISTANI Hospital, Wazir Akbar doubled compared with 2013, closer to Europe, including Syria from 13,800 to 23,200. A year lat- (19,300 arrived since 2008) and Khan, Kabul 2301372 er, in 2015, the total quadrupled Iraq (9,100), while some source to a record 96,000. The 2015 total countries are in continental Eu- AND AFGHANI MIGRANTS CLASH alone accounts for nearly half rope, including Albania (3,100) and Ibn-e- Seena (48%) of unaccompanied minors Russia (2,700). At least one person has been in- Pul-e-Artan, Kabul that have entered Europe since Unaccompanied minors do not jured in the clashes that broke out 2008. Nearly 7% of all first-time always apply for asylum in the in the refugee camp near the Greek 2100359 asylum applications in 2015 were first European country they enter. village of Idomeni when Pakistani and Afghani migrants have started from unaccompanied minors, the Many travel north through the Wazir Akbar Khan highest share since data on accom- continent. Between 2008 and throwing stones and other objects panied minors became available in 2015, almost a third (58,500) of at each other. Hospital Greek police have used tear- 2008. Europe is not alone when it all unaccompanied minors seeking 2301741, 2301743 comes to increases in child migra- asylum in the European Union, gas to stop the fight in which 300 tion. Since 2008, thousands of un- Norway or Switzerland have refugees and migrants took part. accompanied minors have entered sought asylum in Sweden. Anoth- Nobody was arrested, according to Ali Abad the U.S. In 2014 alone, some er 29,600 have applied for asylum AP news agency. 68,600 unaccompanied children in Germany (15%) and 17,800 The hurt person was taken to Shahrara, Kabul were apprehended at the U.S.- (9%) have applied in the United hospital. 2100439 Mexico border, a total that fell dra- Kingdom. Police said what caused the matically in 2015. But so far in But the eight-year totals mask incident, in which rocks, sticks and 2016, apprehensions have risen to a change in destination countries metal bars were used, is still not Malalai Maternity levels comparable to 2014. More among unaccompanied child mi- known. than half of those apprehended grants applying for asylum in Eu- Around 10,000 persons are Hospital were from Central America, El Sal- rope. In 2015, Sweden received staying at the makeshift camp, 2201377/ 2301743 vador, Guatemala and Honduras. more than a third (37%) of Euro- who, due to the closure of the Bal- (The U.S. data are of apprehen- pean unaccompanied minors, up kan route, cannot continue their sions of unaccompanied minors at from 11% in 2008. By contrast, journey northwards to the more Banks the U.S.-Mexico border, while the the United Kingdom declined dra- prosperous European countries. European figures are unaccompa- matically as a destination for un- The Greek government has Da Afghanistan Bank nied minors who apply for asy- accompanied child migrants. In been attempting to relocate the ref- lum after reaching Europe. Though 2008, 32% of unaccompanied mi- ugees in organized camps in other 2100302, 2100303 the data measure different points nors sought asylum in the UK, a parts of the country for months, in the migration process, they rep- share that dropped to just 3% in but without a visible success. Bakhtar Bank resent the best available measures 2015. The British House of Com- 0776777000 of the total number of unaccom- mons is debating whether to ac- Here's how the fledgling rorist groups like the Taliban and panied minors entering each re- cept more child migrants. Other Afghan Air Force is Al Qaeda, the US has provided A- ASIA FOUNDATION’S Azizi Bank gion.) European nations are also grap- 29 light air support planes to the 0799 700900 In both the U.S. and Europe, pling with child migrant policies, training to take on Al fledgling Afghan Air Force. LOTUS CIRCLE HONORS FIRST the great majority of unaccompa- as thousands of asylum seekers Qaeda and the Taliban Throughout the video, you can Pashtany Bank nied minors are teenage boys. In wait on Europe’s borders to enter. hear US Air Force trainers instruct- LADY OF 2015, about three-fourths of un- Statistics on the success rates It was just a few months ago that ing the Afghan pilots. The A-29s 2102908, 2103868 accompanied minors seeking asy- for asylum applications of unac- the first A-29 Super Tucanos in the video are firing off rockets, AFGHANISTAN RULA GHANI lum in Europe were males ages 14 companied minors are unavailable. touched down in Afghanistan, and as well as the .50 calibre guns. The Air Services to 17. In the U.S., about three- But recent success rates for all asy- a new video of live fire drills gives A-29s sent to Afghanistan are US AND CARNEGIE fourths of unaccompanied minors lum seekers to Europe are highest us a rare look at the Afghan pilot's made, designed specifically for Safi Airways apprehended at U.S. borders were for Syrians, Eritreans and Iraqis. progress since then. As part of counter insurgency and are super CORPORATION OF NEW YORK also teenage boys of the same age By contrast, success rates are con- NATO's Operation Resolute Sup- versatile. The planes have five 020 22 22 222 in fiscal 2015. siderably lower for asylum seek- port to provide support and secu- hardpoints on each wing and can NEW YORK: The Asia Founda- affected by decades of conflict, to Since 2008, about four-in-ten ers from European countries such rity to the Afghan National Gov- carry up to 3,300 pounds of addi- tion and The Lotus Circle, a com- now reclaim the country's history Ariana of Europe’s unaccompanied mi- as Albania and Russia. ernment in the face resurgent ter- tional ordinance. munity of U.S. individuals, foun- of strong female leadership. Said dations, and corporations who Mrs. Ghani: "We need to give Af- 020-2100270 raise private capital to rapidly re- ghan women the tools to succeed.” spond to challenges and opportu- Asia Foundation President David nities facing women in Asia, will D. Arnold noted that "the progress Kam Air Paktia protestors warn against honor First Lady of the Islamic of Afghanistan is not ensured un- 0799974422 Republic of Afghanistan Mrs. Rula less there is an increase of educa- Ghani at the sixth annual Lotus tion and opportunities for wom- Leadership Awards Gala in New en. As First Lady, Madame Ghani Hotels change in TUTAP project route York City on Wednesday, May 11, is a wonderful champion of wom- Safi Landmark 2016. Mrs. Ghani, selected as one en’s education and gender equali- of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most ty.” After the Taliban regime fell, GARDIZ Hundreds of people Influential People in 2015, will be Afghan women had one of the 020-2203131 from southern Paktia province recognized for her efforts to im- highest illiteracy rates in the SERENA staged a rally, asking President prove living standards for Afghan world—only 10 percent of Afghan Ashraf Ghani not to change the women. Dr. Vartan Gregorian, pres- women could read and write. In route of a multinational power ident of Carnegie Corporation of 2012, Dr. Gregorian announced the 0799654000 project. New York, will accept a Lotus Carnegie Corporation Scholarships The Turkmenistan-Uzbeki- Leadership Award on behalf of the for Afghan Women, a $1 million New Rumi Restaurant stan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Paki- institution for its partnership with grant to The Asia Foundation that 0776351347 stan (TUTAP) power project will The Asia Foundation to improve has enabled women from diverse import 500kv of electricity from access to university and advanced backgrounds to gain university Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and level education to Afghan women. degrees. Said Dr. Gregorian: “To- Internet Services Tajikistan to Pakistan through Af- Proceeds from the evening will gether we are empowering inspir- UA Telecom ghanistan. support innovative women’s em- ing, self-reliant individuals and in- 0796701701 / 0796702702 Hundreds of people, including powerment projects at The Asia stitutions—through knowledge— tribal elders and civil society ac- Foundation. The evening is a plat- so that they are able to tackle the tivists, gathered in Paktia province, form for advancing the rights and complex development challenges of Exchange Rate urging the president to implement opportunities of women and girls their country.” Mr. Arnold added: the TUTAP project through the and is attended by global leaders. "The Carnegie Corporation under- Purchase: Salang pass. Former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush stands that women’s education is The protestors chanted slo- will offer a special video message essential to help address pressing gans that implementation of the to First Lady Rula Ghani. In 2015, economic and social needs in Af- One US$ = project through Paktia province journalist and author Sheryl Wu- ghanistan. Their scholarships are 68.26Afs was their right, an issue they said Dunn, and Dr. Ranjana Kumari, a providing life-changing opportuni- One Pound Sterling= should not be politicised. leader in the women's rights move- ties that make all the difference.” Shayesta Jan, a civil society ment in India, were honored. In The Asia Foundation is at the fore- 96.69Afs activist who participated in the 2014, Asia Foundation Trustee front of empowering women One Euro = rally, told Pajhwok Afghan News Ambassador Melanne Verveer, across Asia. In Afghanistan, this 76.61Afs that 60 percent work on the project appointed by President Obama as includes a focus on girls’ and wom- had been completed in Paktia. He the First U.S. Ambassador-at- en’s education as the key to 1000 Pak Rs = said it would be an injustice if the Large for Global Women’s Issues, strengthening women’s participa- 640Afs project route was altered. introduced a video appearance by tion in social, political, and eco- A tribal elder, Habibullah Mas- former Secretary of State Hillary nomic life. In the Foundation’s Sale: tan, declared: “We have no prob- Clinton in which she congratulat- 2015 Afghan Survey of 9,586 Af- One US$ = lem with other provinces, but we ed Nobel Peace Laureate Muham- ghan citizens, Afghans listed edu- 68.46 Afs will not let anyone snatch our route of the project was changed. Helmand province also stressed Agha Mohammad Quraishi, a mad Yunus on his Lotus Leader- cation and illiteracy (20.4%) and rights.” He said the government In the interest of social harmony, the route of the project should not civil society activist, alleged some One Pound Sterling= ship Award. Former ABC 20/20 unemployment/lack of job oppor- 74.43Afs should use other resources for elec- he hoped, the authorities would be changed. Helmand civil society politicians were provoking Bam- correspondent Lynn Sherr, who tunities (11.3%) as the two largest trifying Bamyan and other prov- not allow things to come to such a institutes’ head, Sardar Mohammad yan residents to serve their per- has reported on women’s issues problems facing women. The One Euro= inces. sorry pass. Hamdard, said differences over the sonal interests. He said the gov- for 30 years, hosts the gala. Mrs. Foundation began working in Af- 71.21 Afs Mastan warned the govern- According to another report, project route could lead to dis- ernment should look for an alter- Ghani is being recognized for her ghanistan in 1954 and re-opened 1000 Pak Rs= 648Afs ment of a knee-jerk reaction if the civil society activists of southern putes. native way to electrify Bamyan. encouragement of Afghan women, its Kabul office in 2002. WEDNESDAY. MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Ex-ISI chief admitted Mumbai attack planners TWO KILLED, FIVE were ‘our people’, claims Husain Haqqani INJURED IN BLAST Pakistan’s former ambassador to recounted in three books earlier — autobiography, “Playing to The was confirmed by the fact that had been provided: not just by In- the US, Husain Haqqani, has by then US National Security Ad- Edge”. However, this is the first Pakistan’s government never pros- dia, but by the US, by the Ameri- NEAR BALOCHISTAN claimed that shortly after the 2008 viser Condoleeza Rice in her mem- time General Pasha’s words cor- ecuted the accused. “The fact that can NSA, including intercepts of Mumbai attacks the then Inter- oirs, Bob Woodward in his book roborating the ISI link have been we never pursued the case against conversations during the attacks, Services Intelligence (ISI) chief “Obama Wars” and earlier this year recorded by a Pakistani official. the accused [officers] in the 26/11 that pointed a finger at us, at the UNIVERSITY IN QUETTA General (retd) Shuja Pasha had by General Hayden himself in his According to Haqqani, the link case despite all the evidence that Pakistan government,” he said. QUETTA: At least two policemen installations are not rare in the re- admitted the planners of the 26/11 were killed while five others in- gion. attacks were “our people” but it jured in an explosion near The outlawed Tehreek-e-Tali- was not “our operation”. Balochistan University in Quetta, ban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch The revelation, which appears Express News reported on Tues- insurgents frequently carry out in Haqqani’s a forthcoming book day. The injured include three po- attacks on security forces and gov- on India-Pakistan relations, re- licemen. ernment installations in the prov- counts the visit by General (retd) Police and rescuers rushed to ince which is home to a raging in- Pasha to Washington on Decem- the site of the blast and started res- surgency that has claimed the lives ber 24-25, 2008, where the former cue efforts with the help of local of hundreds of soldiers and mili- spy chief is said to have made the people. Further investigations tants since it re-ignited in 2004. startling admission, according to were underway. The province’s roughly seven The Hindu. While talking to the Express million inhabitants have long com- On November 26, 2008, 10 News, Balochistan Home Minis- plained they do not receive a fair heavily-armed gunmen laid siege to ter Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed the share of its gas and mineral wealth. the capital of India’s Maharash- incident. “The attack targeted a On May 3, at least five Rapid tra, including luxury hotels, a Jew- check-post during which two po- Response Group (RRG) person- ish centre, a hospital and a bus- lice personnel lost their lives while nel, including an officer, were in- tling train station, killing 166 peo- five more are injured including three jured as their vehicle came under ple. The lone surviving gunman more personnel,” Bugti said. attack by a roadside bomb in East- Ajmal Kasab was hanged in India “All injured have been shifted ern Bypass area of Quetta. on November 21, 2012. to the hospital and bomb disposal Last month, a father and his At the end of his meetings with squad is carrying out investigation son were killed in a landmine blast his CIA counterpart General of the blast,” the home minister in the Lehri area of Sibi. The inci- Michael Hayden, Pasha had re- added. However, he declined to dent occurred when a motorbike portedly visited Haqqani at the disclose any further detail. ran over a landmine in the Goth latter’s residence. “Pasha said to No group has claimed respon- Abdul Ghafoor neighbourhood, me ‘Log hamaray thay, operation sibility for the attack but attacks resulting in a huge blast, the Lev- hamara nahin tha’,” Haqqani writes on security forces and government ies forces said in a statement. in the book — “India vs Pakistan: Why Can’t We Just Be Friends?” “General Pasha had also told General Hayden that ‘retired mili- tary officers and retired intelligence officers’ had been involved in the planning of the attacks,” Haqqani said while speaking to the Indian newspaper over telephone from Washington. The conversation between the chiefs of the ISI and CIA has been Sri Lanka man caught in bid to FBI suspects insider involvement in $81m travel to Canada with fake IDs Taipei, May 10 (CNA) A Sri Lan- fake Canadian permanent resident was planning to work in Canada, Bangladesh bank heist ka national has been caught at- card when he was waiting for a tran- where the pay is much better. U.S. investigators suspect the theft as accomplices in the heist. “The tempting to travel to Canada via sit flight to Toronto, the agency He disclosed that a human traf- by computer hackers of $81 mil- central bank is pursuing this case Taiwan using fake Canadian iden- said. ficking ring had helped him arrange lion from Bangladesh’s central bank with the utmost vigor and if any- tification cards, the National Im- A fake Canadian citizenship the trip for a price equivalent to was partly an inside job—the first one within the bank is found to be migration Agency (NIA) said card, health card and driver's license about NT$120,000 (US$3,690). hint of culpability in a case that involved, we will take legal action Bangladesh set to Tuesday. were seized from his luggage after He had made a transit stop in Sin- has exposed new vulnerabilities in as appropriate,” he said. The 24-year-old man was dis- a search, according to the NIA. gapore before arriving in Taiwan. the international banking system. Publicly, Bangladesh officials covered by immigrant agents at When questioned by the im- The man was repatriated back Agents with the Federal Bu- have suggested some of the blame Taiwan Taoyuan International Air- migration agents, the man said he to Sri Lanka after questioning, the reau of Investigation have found lies with the Society for World- hang top militant port late Monday to be holding a was a truck driver in Sri Lanka and NIA said. evidence pointing to at least one wide Interbank Financial Telecom- Dhaka: Bangladesh police stepped up security at the capital Dha- bank employee acting as an accom- munication, or Swift—a coopera- ka’s main prison where the authorities are expected to hang the leader of plice, people familiar with the tive of financial institutions that the country’s largest Islamist party for war crimes on Tuesday. matter said. The evidence suggests operates a crucial messaging sys- Motiur Rahman Nizami, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, could a handful of others may also have tem among thousands of banks. be hanged Tuesday night after the country’s highest court published the assisted hackers in navigating Bang- Bangladesh officials have also final judgement upholding his execution order. ladesh Bank’s computer system, hinted some responsibility may lie “He (Nizami) will now be asked whether he would seek mercy to the people said. with the Federal Reserve Bank of the president. If he does not, the government can execute him any time,” The hackers tried to steal near- New York, which stopped as sus- Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said. ly $1 billion in a brazen attack that picious most of the 35 transfer Nizami’s lawyer told AFP last week that he would not seek any involved an extensive penetration orders sent by the attackers but pardon as it would require him to admit crimes he was convicted of of Bangladesh Bank’s computers, let five through. A spokeswoman including mass murder, rape and orchestrating the killing of secular intel- dozens of orders on the official for the New York Fed also declined lectuals during the 1971 war of independence. interbank fund-transfer network to comment on the investigation. Security has been stepped up outside Dhaka Central Jail, where and a money trail that ran through At a conference in Miami last Nizami was brought on Monday from a prison outside of the capital. the Philippines’ murky casino week, Richard Dzina, New York Three senior Jamaat officials and a leader of the main opposition business, according to investiga- Fed executive vice president, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have been executed since Decem- tors. the bank acted on properly authen- ber 2013 for war crimes despite global criticism of their trials. All of The attackers successfully ticated message instructions. The them were executed at the Dhaka jail. transferred $100 million out of the head of Bangladesh’s central bank “Extra policemen have been deployed at the jail,” Deputy Commis- bank’s account at the Federal Re- is scheduled to meet Tuesday in sioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mofizuddin Ahmed told AFP. serve Bank of New York. Officials Switzerland with New York Fed Nizami’s execution would exacerbate tensions in the country after a have been able to recover about $20 President William Dudley and se- string of killings of secular and liberal activists and religious minorities million so far. nior Swift officials in an effort to by suspected Islamist militants. Subhankar Saha, a spokesman speed recovery of the stolen funds. Since last month an atheist student, two gay rights activists, a liberal for Bangladesh Bank, said the FBI The FBI and federal prosecutors professor, a Hindu tailor who allegedly made derogatory comments hadn’t informed it that one or more in Manhattan are investigating the against the Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] and a Sufi Muslim leader have of its employees could have acted attack. been hacked to death. Rehman Malik against World Bank says India faces stark digital divide NEW DELHI: India is a global IT exposing powerhouse but a huge majority of the population remains locked out of the benefits brought by the offshore assets digital economy, the World Bank ISLAMABAD: Former interior said Tuesday. minister Rehman Malik has called India’s vibrant business pro- for drafting laws on offshore busi- cess outsourcing sector, centred in nesses as public disclosure of such the southern hubs of Bangalore and assets can lead to serious problems Hyderabad, has made it the lead- for overseas Pakistanis. ing exporter of IT services and The senator presented his pro- skilled manpower in the develop- posed legal review of declaration ing world. of overseas wealth by Pakistani Yet nearly a billion people have nationals and mode of investiga- no Internet access, the biggest of- tions before the Standing Commit- fline population of any country, tee on Interior and Narcotics Con- World Bank economists said at the trol on Monday. India launch of the World Devel- Panama Papers: Finding bene- opment Report 2016, Digital Div- ficiaries of offshore companies idends. Fewer than two in five In- won’t be easy dian businesses have an online pres- Relevant laws need to be re- ence, compared with almost two- visited and redrafted to meet the thirds of Chinese firms, the report new challenges as witnessed in the found. India needs to strengthen Panama leaks scandal, where no the “analogue foundations” of its legal or investigative institution has digital economy — providing af- taken up the matter, he said, add- fordable Internet access, training ing Pakistanis abroad will face a workers in new skills and beefing hard time if their properties are up regulations to ensure competi- exposed by the media, which is also tion, the authors write. “Skills and unfair. Malik, who heads the Sen- access, that is the key. India has all ate committee, maintained in his the other elements but that is what proposals that it was in greater will really make it an inclusive rev- public interest to examine the rele- olution for India,” said Onno Ruhl, vant laws and to propose neces- World Bank country director for sary amendments to make them India. One barrier to online access more comprehensive and result- for India’s millions of poor citi- oriented. zens is cost — a residential broad- The senator’s name is among band service is six to ten times more the over 200 Pakistanis exposed expensive than in China. Howev- by Panama Papers for owning off- er, India scored highly on the gov- shore holdings. However, he claims ernment’s use of technology, large- the real question is whether or not ly because of Aadhaar, a vast bio- Pakistani laws have been violated metric database that aims to give and what should be the legal course every citizen a unique digital ID against such people. which can be linked to bank ac- Malik also attached a list of counts. “Adoption of digital tech- questions and answers with the nologies shows great variation proposed legal review of declara- within the country: very high for tion of overseas wealth, which, government and relatively low for according to him, depicts the real businesses,” the World Bank said picture of the grey areas. in a press statement. WEDNESDAY. MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief Aleppo truce extended amid bursts of violence A ceasefire in the northern Syri- an city of Aleppo will be extend- ed by 48 hours beginning at 1 a.m. on Tuesday (6 p.m. ET Monday), state news agency President Barack Obama will SANA said on Monday, quot- meet with his National Security ing the Syrian military high com- Council on Tuesday morning to mand. discuss US efforts to fight ISIS Aleppo, Syria’s largest pre- militants, the White House said. war city, has witnessed a vicious “The session is the latest in a flare-up in fighting in recent series of NSC meetings in recent weeks, shattering a nationwide months convened at the White cessation of hostilities agreement House and at key departments and and causing peace talks to col- agencies, including the CIA, the lapse. Department of State and the De- The cessation of hostilities partment of Defense, on our cam- and such local truces do not in- paign against the terrorist group,” clude extremist groups ISIS or it said in a statement. al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, the Nusra Front. Rebels and the mainstream Syrian opposition have said the ISIS leader in Syrian government uses this fact to continue to attack rebel posi- Iraq killed in tions. Both sides accuse the other of causing the cessation of hos- US airstrike tilities to break down. In an attempt to revive the A US-led coalition air strike has cessation of hostilities, a num- killed a prominent ISIS leader in ber of short-term local truces Iraq’s western Anbar province, the have been put in place since Pentagon said Monday. April 29, first around Damascus Pentagon spokesman Peter and northern Latakia and then in Cook said the May 6 strike near Aleppo. the town of Rutba - deep in the The Aleppo truce went into Anbar desert - targeted Abu Wa- effect in the middle of last week, hib, ISIS’s “military emir” for the but there has still been some vast western province, AFP re- fighting between rebels and gov- ported. ernment forces. Wahib was “a former member of Al-Qaeda in Iraq who has ap- peared in ISIL execution videos,” UN deplores Cook said, using an acronym for ISIS. rights abuses by “We view him as a significant leader in ISIL leadership overall, Turkish military not just in Anbar Province,” he added. in southeast “Removing him from the bat- One killed in tlefield will be a significant step The United Nations has forward.” Iran to sue US for assets seizure Munich train deplored widespread rights The men were traveling in a abuses in the Kurdish-domi- nated southeast of Turkey, station knife where army, police and securi- at The Hague: Rouhani ty forces claim to be cracking attack down on suspected militants. President Hassan Rouhani zure of the frozen assets as “high- of powers. The UN High Commis- says Iran will soon lodge a com- way robbery,” vowing that the Is- Larijani said “the US banditry A German national attacked pas- sioner for Human Rights Zeid plaint against Washington with The lamic Republic will retrieve the goes against all international regu- sengers with a knife at a train sta- Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a state- Hague over a US court ruling that sum anyway. lations." tion in the Munich area in south- ment on Tuesday that infor- paves the way for the use of bil- Last week, 120 member states "This attitude is akin to that ern Germany early on Tuesday, mation emerging from “a vari- lions of Tehran’s frozen assets. of the Non-Aligned Movement of brigands,” he said, noting that leaving one dead and many with ety of credible sources” proves “The government will never denounced the US ruling, calling it the action had been taken “brazen- life-threatening injuries, Bavarian that the Turkish military and allow for the money that belongs a violation of Washington’s inter- ly and frivolously.” radio reported. security forces have commit- to the Iranian nation be easily gob- national and treaty obligations con- ‘Europe sending arms to Syr- German media said police had ted acts that violate human bled up by the Americans,” he told cerning “the sovereign immunity ia’ arrested the perpetrator and that rights at an "alarming" level. a large crowd in the southeastern of states.” Elsewhere in his remarks, Lar- the victims were men. Police were “The picture that is emerg- city of Kerman on Tuesday. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani ijani said an arms-laden vessel had not immediately reachable for ing, although still sketchy, is Rouhani pledged that Iran on Tuesday urged the Foreign recently been sent from Europe to comment when contacted by Reu- extremely alarming,” he said of would “take this case to the Inter- Ministry to take the case of the Syria amid a shaky and repeated- ters. the situation in Turkey’s national Court [of Justice] in the US misappropriation of Iranian ly-violated ceasefire. Germany, which is playing a southeast, especially in the near future and will not spare any assets to The Hague-based Inter- The truce, brokered by Russia supporting role in the fight against town of Cizre where govern- vehicle when they were hit. Cook ISIS, has not suffered a major at- provided no additional details and effort towards the restoration of national Court of Justice. and the United States, went into ments imposed curfews from the nation’s rights through legal, “We also ask Majlis National effect late February in a bid to fa- tack by extremist militants the like mid-December to early March did not specify if a warplane or a of which neighboring France and drone had carried out the strike. political and banking channels.” Security and Foreign Policy Com- cilitate negotiations between war- in a bid to root out militants On April 20, the US Supreme mittee to diligently pursue this is- ring sides to the 2011-present con- Belgium have experienced. linked to the outlawed Kurdis- The killing of Wahib is the lat- Witnesses said the assailant, a est in a series of attacks on senior Court ruled that nearly $2 billion sue,” he said. flict. tan Worker's Party (PKK). of Iran’s frozen assets had to be Larijani said, “Even when this frozen in the US. “There is nothing more pathet- 27-year-old man, shouted “Allahu He said reports suggest ISIS leaders in Iraq and Syria, where Akbar” (‘God is Greatest’ in Ara- that the military has deliber- the militants still control huge turned over to the American fami- (misappropriation) was not pos- Iran says the action was un- ic for the West and the US that, lies of the victims of a 1983 bomb- sible through US legal channels, constitutional because Congress while themselves have been pes- bic), according to police. ately shot dead many unarmed tracts of land despite an intense “The perpetrator made re- civilians, including women and US-led air campaign dating back ing in Beirut and other attacks. The Congress passed a law tailor-made was encroaching on the power of tered by Daesh and al-Nusra, they Islamic Republic has denied any for the case.” the judiciary. send arms-carrying vessel to Syria marks during the attack which children, by snipers, or by gun- to August 2014. point to there being a political fire from tanks and other mili- Wahib's distinctive face fea- role in the attacks. Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Lar- The Central Bank of Iran also to reap tactical benefits,” the offi- The money, which belongs to ijani says the US Congress passed the cial said. motive,” Bavarian police said in a tary vehicles. tured prominently in ISIS propa- statement, adding he had been ar- ganda. Last year, he was mocked the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), had He was referring to a law law to change the outcome of the “They must be sure that these been blocked under US sanctions passed by Congress, which includ- case. It has asked the US federal weapons will in the future [end up rested and there were no further on social media outlets for wear- suspects. ing a military outfit that some lik- before the court ruling. ed a provision making it easier for courts to decide whether that vio- in] terrorists’ hands [and] be Brazil: Dilma Tehran has denounced the sei- the Americans to use Iranian funds lates the constitutional separation flowed back to them,” he added. A 50-year-old died of stab ened to shawarma sandwich meat. wounds in hospital shortly after Rousseff's the attack. The other stabbed men, aged between 43 and 58, sustained impeachment lighter injuries, police said. Philippines election: Rodrigo Duterte claims victory The attack took place at about thrown into Populist mayor Rodrigo Du- and Senator Grace Poe - both con- ner by brazenly defying political "He orders his police to basi- 5 am local time (0300 GMT) at terte has claimed victory in the ceded defeat after polls showed the tradition, drawing comparisons to cally go out and shoot criminals," the train station at Grafing, a com- Philippine presidential elections, mayor heading for a resounding Republican presidential candidate Ortigas said. "He also says cor- muter town about 32 km (20 miles) chaos following the withdrawal of his victory. Donald Trump in the US. rupt politicians can face being shot southeast of the Bavarian capital opponents. Duterte said he accepted the "He made some astonishing by policemen. in southern Germany. Brazil's Senate is pressing Ministers have repeatedly ahead with the impeachment Nicknamed "the punisher", mandate with "extreme humility". claims that in the first three to six "So, there is this fear that he 71-year-old Duterte has promised Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas, months of office he is going to can turn into a mini dictator." warned an attack is possible and process against President Dil- German security services are on ma Rousseff despite a surprise a relentless crackdown on crime reporting from Manila, said many solve major problems, like crime Many Filipinos are concerned and the overhaul of the country's Filipinos had grown frustrated and corruption," Richard Heydar- that Duterte's style of governance alert. decision by the lower house's Over 800 home-grown radicals interim speaker to annul it. constitution. during six years under President ian of De La Salle University told can carry the country back to the The Parish Pastoral Council Benigno Aquino. Al Jazeera. days of Ferdinand Marcos's dicta- have left Germany to join extrem- Renan Calheiros, the head ist groups in Syria and Iraq and of the Senate or upper house, for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) "They were years of broad "Of course no experts will torship that ended with an upris- said that with 90 percent of the economic growth but that prosper- agree with him." ing 30 years ago. about 260 have returned. said on Monday he had reject- Germany has also been a tran- ed the interim speaker's deci- presidential ballots counted, Du- ity didn’t trickle down fast The mayor's single-issue cam- On the other hand, Al Jazeera's terte had about 39 percent of the enough. Aquino and his adminis- paign focusing on law and order Wayne Hay, reporting from Du- sit country for militants who car- sion and that a vote in the Sen- "This used to be regarded as one ried out attacks in Belgium this votes. tration were criticised as too elite, chimed with popular anxiety about terte's homebase, Davao, said his of the most dangerous cities in Phil- ate on whether to put Rouss- year and Paris last year. The PPCRV is a Catholic too impersonal, and out of touch," corruption, crime and drug abuse, supporters see him as an authen- ippines, but now it's regarded per- eff on trial would continue as There are concerns that some scheduled. "No monocrotic de- Church-run monitor accredited by she said. but for many his incendiary rheto- tic man of action. haps as one of the safest. the government. Tapping into that sentiment, ric and talk of extrajudicial killings "He is very popular here. One "His supporters, people who of the more than 1 million migrants cision can super impose a col- who arrived in the country last Duterte's main rivals - the rul- Duterte, mayor of the southern city echo the country's authoritarian of the reasons he is so popular is are voting for him, believe he should lective decision, specially when year have slipped off officials’ ra- ing party candidate Mar Roxas of Davao, emerged as the frontrun- past. his crackdown on crime," he said. take a lot of credit for that." the decision was taken with the dar. highest form of collectiveness in the house," he said. Earlier, Waldir Maranhao, who took over as acting speaker of the Trump: London mayor ‘exception’ to Muslim ban lower house last week, said there were procedural flaws in the April 17 vote in the cham- US Republican presidential candi- militants in Paris and California of New York and Chicago were implementing, but that he would have to visit before January in case Trump won the Nov. 8 election. ber when it accepted the im- date Donald Trump, who has called last year. Muslim and human rights “If Donald Trump becomes the president I’ll be stopped from going there by virtue of my faith, which means I can’t engage with American peachment charges against for a temporary ban on Muslims groups, Trump’s Democratic rivals mayors and swap ideas,” Khan said. Rousseff. "I am aware that this entering the United States, suggest- and many of his Republican pres- is a delicate moment. A time at ed on Monday he would make an idential opponents condemned the which we have the obligation exception for London’s newly proposal as divisive, counterpro- to save democracy through de- elected Muslim mayor, the New ductive and contrary to American bate. We are not, nor will we York Times reported. values. ever be playing with democra- “There will always be excep- Khan, the Labour Party can- cy," Maranhao said. The pre- tions,” the Times quoted the real didate, defeated his Conservative vious speaker of the lower estate billionaire and presumptive rival by a record margin to secure house, Eduardo Cunha, who Republican nominee as saying the biggest individual mandate in orchestrated the impeachment when asked how his controversial British political history after an process against Rousseff, was proposal would apply to Sadiq acrimonious campaign. forced out by the Supreme Khan, the son of a Pakistani Speaking of the Conservatives’ Court last Thursday on charg- immigrant bus driver and a seam- tactics, Khan, 45, told Britain’s es of money laundering and stress, who was sworn in as Lon- Observer newspaper: “They used corruption. After that vote in don’s mayor on Saturday. fear and innuendo to try to turn the lower house, the impeach- Trump said he was happy to different ethnic and religious ment process was passed to the see Khan elected, the Times re- groups against each other - some- Senate, where a committee rec- ported, adding: “You lead by ex- thing straight out of the Donald ommended on Friday that ample, always lead by example. If Trump playbook.” Rousseff be put on trial by the he does a good job ... that would In an interview with Time full chamber for breaking bud- be a terrific thing.” magazine, Khan said he wanted to get laws. Trump put forth the idea of go to the United States to see the the ban after deadly attacks by interesting programs the mayors WEDNESDAY. MAY 11, 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 Aziz Amin Ahmadzai Email: [email protected] Prolonged conflicts are al- insurgency against the for- pacts regarding the Taliban. porters to strike a peace ways difficult to resolve, eign forces and the Afghan Their return to the political deal with the Afghan gov- www.afghanistantimes.af since most of the time they government, which contin- field in Afghanistan will def- ernment that will pave a Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi depend on unexpected win- ues today. initely encourage the Tali- way for the return of its lead- dows of opportunity. Unfor- Since then, there have ban to join the political set- ership through democratic Advisory editorial board tunately, Afghanistan has been many initiatives, on the tlement too, since they are means. Also, the removal of Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, been at war for the past thir- part of both the Afghan gov- reluctant to trust the Afghan their leaders’ names from ty-nine years. Warring par- ernment and the internation- government. On the bright the blacklist will permit a Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal ties, foreign interventions al community to settle the side, the addition will play a chance for them to play a and internal power struggles Afghan dispute; none have key role in decreasing vio- key role in the transforma- Graphic-Designer: have all made it difficult to succeeded so far. lence across the country. tion of Afghan politics. Edriss Akbari find a peaceful solution to After his elevation to the However, if the government Conclusion Marketing & Advertising: the protracted conflict. presidential palace, Presi- fails to reach an agreement The current national uni- Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 Despite the long war, dent Ghani stated that he with HIA, it will be difficult ty government is facing too many opportunities have would bring peace to the to bring both HIA and the many troubles, and has not Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan arisen that could have re- country by convincing both Taliban into political and dip- delivered on some of its Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 solved the conflict. Follow- Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami lomatic negotiations. HIA is promises. The NUG has yet Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press ing the Soviet withdrawal in leadership. In a bid to bring considered a modernizing to complete its cabinet, im- 1989, both the United States about peace, he approached group when compared to the prove the security situation and Pakistan failed to influ- the Pakistani government hard-line Taliban. Further- and tackle the country’s eco- ence the mujahedin to reach and its military to persuade more, HIA consists mostly nomic problems. It also failed The constitution says a political settlement with the Taliban to approach the of Afghans who are interest- to create employment op- Afghanistan’s former presi- negotiations table for diplo- ed in national diplomacy, un- portunities for the youth, and dent, Najibullah. Seizing this matic peace talks. Ghani’s like ISIS and other groups as a result, hundreds of opportunity could have efforts were only recipro- that have no interest in thousands of people have Article Twenty-Six: Crime is a personal act. Investigation, arrest and saved thousands of lives and cated by lip service from bringing peace to the Afghan left the country for abroad. detention of an accused as well as penalty execution shall not incriminate government institutions, Pakistan instead of concrete population. HIA was one of Despite of all these fail- another person. while preventing the dissem- actions. As a result of the the most renowned political ures, if the current NUG ination of radicalism. But the Pakistani government’s un- parties of Afghanistan dur- succeeds in reaching a po- United States and Pakistan cooperative and careless di- ing the eighties and nineties, litical settlement with HIA, utterly failed to seize it. plomacy, Ghani has stated including members from all it will enjoy massive credi- The second missed op- clearly that he will not rely ethnic groups of Afghani- bility. The government led portunity to reach a political on nor request Pakistan to stan. Since the party still by President Ghani delivered settlement in Afghanistan urge the Taliban to seek enjoys robust support across one of its key promises in was from 1996 to 2001, peace. the country, its arrival will bringing peace to this coun- when the Taliban regime Disappointed by the Tal- play a very key role in try, which the former Karzai controlled over 90 percent of iban’s behavior and lack of strengthening Afghanistan’s administration failed to do so the country. The Taliban re- a sincere cooperation from democratic system. After in its fourteen years of gov- gime and the resistance led the Pakistani leadership, the fall of the Taliban, a po- ernance. The four decades by the late Ahmad Shah Ghani’s government is cur- litical vacuum was created of long war have destroyed Massoud, whose Northern rently negotiating with other when both the Taliban and the entire country, and the Today the good news was about rescue of Ali Haider Gilani, son of Paki- Alliance was confined to the major warring parties. Hezb- HIA were driven out of the people have not breathed stan’s former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. It made the nation proud. country’s extreme northeast, i-Islami has sent its delega- political arena, which was peace since. When the lead- When the entire military, police force and intelligence agencies of Paki- had held several meetings in tion to Kabul in order to subsequently filled by the ers of HIA are also willing stan failed to stop the kidnappers from entering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighboring countries includ- reach a political agreement Jamiat Party, led by the late to have diplomatic negotia- ing Turkmenistan but did not with the Afghan govern- Burhanuddin Rabbani. Thus tions, it will give a clear pic- then crossing the Durand Line, a small group of Afghan commandos res- succeed in reaching a con- ment. HIA, which was once their arrival will definitely fill ture of a great opportunity cued Ali Haider. Earlier, reports confirmed that Ali Haider was kept in sensus. one of Afghanistan’s biggest an important role in Afghan- for peace. This is especially Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but Pakistani forces failed to Following the September political parties, has a soft istan’s political balance. vital at a time when neigh- rescue him. The raid in Nowshera ended with no achievement. Instead of 11, 2001 attacks in Ameri- approach when compared to According to many polit- boring countries are no long- criticizing their own government, most of Pakistani analysts started blam- ca, the United States and its the Taliban. This is therefore ical analysts, Afghan refu- er interested in the establish- ing Afghan government. Fortunately, Afghans proved that they have no ‘good’ allies decided to launch a a golden opportunity for the gees who still reside in Pa- ment of peace for Afghani- or ‘bad’ militants. Terrorists are terrorists and their sponsors also deserve military campaign against Afghan government, led by kistan are used against the stan. It is necessary for Af- the Taliban, ousting its re- Ghani, to reach a political Afghan state by both state ghans to recognize other severe punishment. gime in a very short period settlement with HIA—a and nonstate actors. If a po- Afghans and remove politi- However, this good news was accompanied by a bad news. Thirty-four of time. On November 25, win-win for both the Afghan litical agreement is reached, cal misinterpretation for the policemen defected to the Taliban in Dolina district of Ghor province. 2001, the Bonn Conference government and HIA. it will pave the way for a sake of peace. According to official sources, the Afghan Local Police (ALP) command- was arranged, where differ- Dividends for the Gov- smooth return of a large Bringing HIA to the po- er Ziaul Haq along with his 29 ALP comrades and four Afghan National ent groups and influential fig- ernment and Hezb-i-Islami number of refugees, who are litical arena of Afghanistan Police (ANP) personnel pledged allegiance to the Taliban in Khak Yarak ures of Afghanistan were If the Afghan govern- waiting for such a deal. is important to restoring the invited to participate. How- ment reaches a political After the Soviets invad- country’s political balance, area of the district. What Pakistani media cannot dare to do, Afghan media ever, two major Afghan agreement with Hezb-i-Isl- ed Afghanistan, a large num- and reducing violence across shall do—criticizing the government for its failures. groups, the Taliban and ami, it will be the national ber of Afghan cadres either the country. By the same It is not the first incident of defection. Several such cases were report- Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan unity government’s (NUG) left Afghanistan or were token, it will also encourage ed in the past five years. However, the former and current leaders paid no (HIA), were not invited to biggest success since its killed. HIA’s members have the Taliban to join the peace heed towards this serious issue. It is believed that the government has no the Bonn Conference, and election. The government isolated themselves from talks. control over the ALP because it is established by powerful individuals at denied a share in the future can successfully include in working with the govern- —(The National Inter- of the Afghan government. the system a party that has ment for the past four de- est) local level. These individuals enjoy cordial ties with powerful people in This was the third crucial not accepted the offers of cades. The Afghan state will Aziz Amin Ahmadzai the system. Thus, it is very difficult to hold the ALP commanders account- mistake of the United States other governments over the be strengthened by their re- writes on political, security able for their deeds and mistakes. A few black sheep is defaming the whole and its allies. The effect was past four decades, which is turn to the system.. and social issues in South, force. There is no denying to the fact that local police had rendered match- the marginalization of a large the case for Hezb-i-Islami. On the other hand, this is West and Central Asia. He less sacrifices to establish writ of the government in insecure areas. Per- segment of society, which Further, the inclusion of a golden opportunity for the is based in Kabul and tweets formance and achievements of these cops is beyond question. But, those later became a systematic HIA will have salutary im- HIA leadership and its sup- at @azizamin786. who are defaming the ALP shall be brought to the court of justice. Through them, the weapons that the government is providing to the lo- cal police force are finding way to the Taliban. In serious crimes it would be hard to investigate who used these weapons, the militants or govern- ment employees. The more serious issue is the creation of security vacu- um created by the local police commanders defecting to the Taliban. More- over, the defectors can leak important information to the insurgents. To address this issue in more efficient way, the government shall na- tionalize the ALP. It shall be merged with ANP, so same force and same rules will prevent such incidents from happening. The commanders shall have no links with the warlords or influential people. The government shall force reforms on the ALP after the today’s incident because it is better to be late than never. Furthermore, the national intelligence agency, NDS, shall be directed to investigate the case and carry out thorough background check on other ALP commanders. In addition to that the Ministry of Interior should col- lect data about performance of the ALP commanders to avoid such cases in future. If the defectors were not punished it will diminish the legitima- cy of the system—the system which promises security and stability. Moreover, a special team of researchers shall be established to probe such incidents and record activities of the local police force. The fundamental lack of central law-enforcement oversight is also a serious issue which should be addressed on war footing. 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. MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Mistakes committed in Yemen Iran’s worst week in Syria: Jamal Khashoggi Heavy losses, no exit Let us imagine that the Houthis and that the Houthis cannot be re- eight years. This enabled the coup against the and former President Ali Abdullah jected even if they still carry the Subsequent military rule un- legitimate government. We must Joyce Karam Saleh are defeated and leave Sanaa. same project. How, then, can the der Saleh did not bring fair gover- help Yemen build state institutions Let us imagine that a new agree- new roadmap help Yemen build its nance, yet his example was repeat- with new leadership that has noth- For a country that does not even the visit of Ali Akbar Velayati, an constitute the lifeline for the re- ment is reached between Yemeni civil society while they are still ed by Saddam Hussein in Iraq, ing to do with the former regime. acknowledge its troops are fight- adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader gime. Absent of Russia’s air sup- belligerent parties, and President present? How can Yemen carry Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Muam- One more mistake was the mar- ing on the ground in Syria (calling Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to Assad port, they cannot score large mili- Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his this out while Houthis still have mar Gaddafi in Libya, and other ginalization of the reform move- them instead “volunteers”), admit- on the same day that Tehran an- tary victories for the regime, but ministers return to Sanaa. By then weapons and cells inside the state, Arab republics. ment, without which a modern ting that it lost 13 commanders in nounced the IRGC casualties last they can keep it going while main- we would be back to the starting and are increasingly tightening their It is impossible to expect a Yemeni state cannot be built be- one week is a testament to its deep- week, is a statement of continuity taining a strong influence for Iran point, when Yemen was already in grip over the country, its civil in- breakthrough in the negotiations in cause it is one of the main engines ening involvement and the lack of in supporting the regime and in- in key parts and power circles in the midst of turmoil caused by stitutions and its army in coalition Kuwait, as they are taking place for fair governance. an immediate exit. vesting in the fighting. Syria. Saleh. However, we would not be with Saleh? between Yemenis who want a fair The Houthis are hoping we In the last week, the Aleppo Iran vs. Russia For Russia, a deal with the at war. The Houthis are hoping we state based on partnership, and will repeat these mistakes, leading battle has accentuated Iran’s loss- The Assad-Velyati meeting United States that safeguards its Let us go back to May 2012 will repeat these mistakes, leading Saleh, who represents the old re- to the failure of the political tran- es in the conflict, with 13 Iranian also stands in contrast with Rus- intelligence and security presence when the late Abed al-Karim al- to the failure of the political tran- gime. Any party against the Arab sition process, and enabling them Revolutionary Guards Command- sia’s messaging on Syria. While in Syria is an acceptable outcome. Aryani, the Yemeni politician who sition process, and enabling them Spring and its demands in Yemen to lead another ‘divine’ coup. ers (IRGC) dead, 21 others Velyati was issuing statements that Not for Iran, however. Tehran is headed the national dialogue com- to lead another ‘divine’ coup after the war must be rejected, in- This article first appeared in wounded, and several kidnapped Assad remaining in power is tactically going for an outright vic- mittee, announced that the Houthis Four more mistakes led to the cluding the Houthis. Al Hayat on May. 07, 2016. according to the Iranian media. “Iran’s redline”, Russian Foreign tory and control over Syria through were accepted to participate in the current situation in Yemen, includ- Taking advantage ______Iran’s total losses in Syria, esti- Minister Sergie Lavrov was telling expanding its ground presence in committee tasked with setting up ing the rejection of the Arab Spring Another mistake was that the Jamal Khashoggi is a Saudi mated at 342 soldiers between Jan- Sputnik that “Bashar Assad is not Damascus, near the Golan Heights, the famous roadmap that aimed to in Yemen, and dealing with it as Gulf states and Yemen were hesi- journalist, columnist, author, and uary 2012 and February 2016, Moscow's ally like Ankara is to and on the full spectrum of the elect a new president, constitute a conspiracy and a chaotic plan. It tant about the political transition general manager of the upcoming make the Aleppo toll even more Washington.” borders while conceivably conced- new parliament, pass a new con- reflected the aspirations of the process, which caused stagnation Al Arab News Channel. He previ- staggering, without promising Sources close to Russia have ing middle of country for the rebels stitution and build a civil state. Yemeni people, especially the that enabled the Houthis and Saleh ously served as a media aide to however a shift in its role or offer- been consistent over the last few or the Islamic State (ISIS). That That was the first mistake com- youth, to equitable governance that to carry out a military coup. This Prince Turki al Faisal while he was ing a glimpse of an exit. months in relaying “frustrations” marks the significance of the Alep- mitted by Yemen and Gulf states was pursued by the country since has led to Western powers seeking Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the Goals and strategy for Moscow in dealing with As- po battle as a prelude to Assad’s sponsoring the initiative. the launch of the 1948 revolution non-democratic solutions in Ye- United States. Khashoggi has writ- Since its involvement in the sad. These include his lack of co- plan to retake the border areas with Houthis were not, and are still that rejected tyranny claiming le- men. Yemenis have been circulat- ten for various daily and weekly conflict in 2012, some have pro- operation and violations to the ces- Turkey. not, considered a political party. gitimacy by divine right. ing a project, said to be American, Arab newspapers, including jected the Syrian war to turn into sation of hostilities reached last While Lavrov and his US coun- They did not even participate in This divine right is a pillar of which would lead to the “Iraqiza- Asharq al-Awsat, al-Majalla and Iran’s Vietnam, while others have February, unwillingness to release terpart John Kerry signal agree- the popular revolution that top- Zaidism, which kept power in the tion” of the country, dividing it into al-Hayat, and was editor-in-chief warned of a Iraqi scenario where- detainees from jails, and inability ment on several benchmarks on pled Saleh because they did not hands of Hashemite families for quotas between the Houthis, re- of the Saudi-based al-Watan. He by Tehran would gain the upper to offer real compromises at the Syria, hoping to reach a political believe in its goals. They wanted 1,000 years. Their reign was asso- formists, the southern separatist was a foreign correspondent in hand over matters in Syria as it did negotiating table in Geneva. solution before US President their own project based on a fun- ciated with injustice, poverty and movement, and forces affiliated Afghanistan, Algeria, Kuwait, in post-Saddam Iraq. The reality While Iran has gained leverage Barack Obama leaves office (Jan- damentalist Zaidi legacy that Ye- ignorance, especially in the era of with Saleh. It is enough to look at Sudan, and other Middle Eastern today is neither. and doubled down its support for uary, 2016), the reality on the men had eliminated in the after- Hamid al-Dine. This injustice trig- Iraq to reject this bad idea. countries. He is also a political While Iran has gained leverage the Assad regime, a Iraqi scenario ground is being driven by Iran, math of the 1962 revolution. gered the bloody revolutions of Another mistake was the im- commentator for Saudi-based and and doubled down its support for is unlikely because of a stronger Assad and the rebels. One can say every political 1948 and 1962. The one of 1962 munity granted to Saleh as part of international news channels. Twit- the Assad regime, a Iraqi scenario anti-Iran/Assad component in Syr- “Don’t be deceived, there are regime has its own way of ruling, turned into a civil war that lasted the deal that saw him step down. ter: @JKhashoggi is unlikely because of a stronger ia no near solutions to conflicts in anti-Iran/Assad component in Syr- Those sources say that as far the region”, Hezbollah’s Secretary ia. Also, Iran’s intervention is not back as 2014, Russian officials General Hassan Nasrallah told his a quagmire given that the majority have told both the United Nations supporters last Friday. His state- Why dark money is bad business of Iranian military investment is and the United States that they ment echoes both Iran’s and As- rooted in foreign Iraqi, Lebanese, “can counsel Assad but cannot sad’s goals in the Syrian war, By KATHLEEN M. DONOVAN-MAHER and STEVEN L. GROOPMAN and Afghani militiamen fighting its control him.” The Kremlin empha- whose cost will only climb up as battles. sized that the “relation with As- the regime eyes an outright mili- Iran’s goals in Syria are defined sad the son is different from the tary solution. Boston — IT’S only May, but this and has openly gay employees, ers of America, a trade association ing significant resources toward by keeping the regime afloat, se- father” making the case that with ______presidential election is on track to donated $150,000 to a Minnesota whose members include major developing green energy technolo- curing weaponry routes to Hezbol- the latter, relations were “deeper, Joyce Karam is the Washing- be one of the most expensive ever. organization called MN Forward, manufacturers of contraceptive gies, its ALEC membership dues lah, and expanding a militia pres- broader and more strategic.” ton Bureau Chief for Al-Hayat So far two-thirds of election dol- which advocates pro-business tax products such as Merck and were helping campaigns seeking to ence inside Syria. Despite its loss- Indeed, Assad the son has Newspaper, an International Ara- lars have largely come from anon- and economic development poli- Johnson & Johnson, gave a total gut renewable energy standards. es and rising costs, Tehran is meet- drove his regime closer to Iran and bic Daily based in London. She has ymous corporate donations, fun- cies. But MN Forward ran TV ads of $4.8 million to two nonprofits, Why aren’t companies more ing these goals, having built large to a level of dependency. Even be- covered American politics exten- neled through what have been re- supporting a candidate for gover- the American Action Network and careful? One major reason is that paramilitary force allied with the fore the conflict, young Assad al- sively since 2004 with focus on ferred to as “dark money” non- nor who sought a state constitu- the American Future Fund, be- the very nature of dark-money giv- regime, and having secured the lowed the transport of qualitative U.S. policy towards the Middle profit groups that freely engage in tional amendment banning same- cause they promoted limited gov- ing means that investors have vir- routes connecting Damascus to the weaponry to Hezbollah, and re- East. Prior to that, she worked as electoral and legislative politics, sex marriage. When news about ernment. Both organizations, how- tually no information about it, and coast and to Hezbollah in the Be- ceived its leader in Damascus, both a Journalist in Lebanon, covering but don’t have to disclose their the donation came to light, the ever, used the money to help elect therefore cannot hold companies kaa valley. would have been taboos under the the Post-war situation. Joyce donors, expenditures or even their company faced an employee back- lawmakers who voted to eliminate accountable for their mistakes. Despite its losses over four father. holds a B.A. in Journalism and an members. lash and a boycott from consum- funding for access to contracep- Political spending is consid- years in Syria, there are no signs Today, it is Hezbollah’s inter- M.A. in International Peace and One of the most promising ers that ultimately resulted in a tives through programs like Title ered an ordinary business expense of Iranian willingness to scale down vention, and Iranian financial, mil- Conflict Resolution. Twitter: strategies to stem the tide of cor- personal apology from Gregg X and Planned Parenthood. under corporate law, which means its role in the conflict. If anything, itary and logistical support that @Joyce_Karam porate dark money is a proposed Steinhafel, Target’s chief executive, A number of corporations had that companies have no obligation rule at the Securities and Exchange and the formation of a committee also placed their business interests to disclose it to shareholders (and Commission that would require to review the company’s political at risk as members of the Ameri- rarely do so voluntarily). It is public companies to report the spending. can Legislative Exchange Council, therefore impossible for investors amounts and recipients of their That same year, the Pharma- until they resigned in 2014. For to track dark-money spending, at Intimacy meets politics at this political spending. The rule has ceutical Research and Manufactur- instance, while Google was devot- best learning about it long after the received a groundswell of support fact from watchdog groups and from a bipartisan group of former investigative journalists. year's film festival at Cannes S.E.C. commissioners, state trea- Every weekday, get thought- byAgnes Poirier surers and law professors, and has provoking commentary from Op- Agnes Poirier is the UK editor for the Palme d'Or, while Italians la- does so in comic ways. generated more than one million Ed columnists, The Times editori- the French political weekly MAR- mented the absence of a compatri- For 97 minutes, Clash takes public comments. al board and contributing writers IANNE, and a political commen- ot in the competition line-up. place in a police van where pro Defenders of the status quo from around the world. tator for the British, American, Others, however, pointed to and anti-Muslim brotherhood mil- argue the companies are simply The rule wouldn’t restrict the Canadian, French and Italian the fact that there were reasons to itants have been rounded up in July exercising their right to free speech; companies’ right to give money, press, and a regular contributor to rejoice such as the presence of four 2013 and are forced to coexist. critics contend that such speech, and there may be instances where the BBC, Sky News, and Al first-time directors in competition As Diab himself put it: "This when anonymous, does immense political spending is a smart move. Jazeera. She is the author of 'Tou- (Maren Ade, Kleber Mendonca prisoners transport vehicle is car- harm to the democratic process. For example, a company may rea- che, A French woman's take on the Filho, Alain Guiraudie and Cristi rying detainees from all walks of But as lawyers who special- sonably believe that giving to an English' Puiu), a rare occurrence, and the life - activists, Islamists and mili- ize in investor rights, we see an- organization that opposes some of In what appeared to be a sign strong showing of Romanian and tary supporters. In the course of a other critical, nonpartisan reason its products is worthwhile because of the times, a large-scale terror South Korean cineastes with three hellish day, they are forced to see to support the rule: When it comes the organization successfully lob- attack exercise involving 200 peo- films each. one another beyond the stereo- to political spending, companies bies for lower corporate tax rates. ple was held a few days before the What struck many film critics types and discover each other's are often not as informed as one Beyond the risk to business red carpet fitters on the Croisette most this year, was the strong pres- humanity." might think — especially when it interests, investors should have a for the forthcoming 69th edition ence of the Middle East in the of- Mohamed Diab likes confined comes to dark money. right to know whether their mon- of the Cannes Film Festival. ficial selection... spaces. His first feature film, Cairo By mandating disclosure, the ey is going toward politicians, leg- A month before the start of the Yet what struck many film crit- 678, dealt with the sexual harass- rule would allow investors to serve islation or causes that they sup- Euro 2016, in a country where the ics most this year was the strong ment Egyptian women endure dai- as a potential check on risky po- port or oppose, as union members State of Emergency has been in presence of the Middle East in the ly in public transport and triggered litical donations, and help inves- already have. More and more in- place for six months, police and official selection (Competition and a nationwide debate on the sub- tors determine whether a compa- vestors are choosing to make deci- rescue services had better be as Un Certain Regard) and sidebar ject. ny’s political spending habits make sions on that basis: Between 2012 fully prepared as film stars and film sections (namely, Directors' Fort- A shared humanity but also a its shares a good investment in the and 2014, socially responsible in- critics to face the world's most night and Critics' Week). seething violence ready to explode first place. vesting in the United States in- important film festival and mar- Israel has three films with One at all times are indeed what the In theory, a company gives creased by 76 percent, from $3.74 ket. Week and A Day by Asaph Polon- other films from the Middle East money to influence politics in its trillion to $6.75 trillion. With the arrival of 125,000 sky, Beyond the Mountains and are all about. favor. But there are countless ex- The S.E.C. has yet to official- festival-goers, of whom 32,000 are Hills by Eran Kolirin and Personal In the much-awaited The amples where dark-money spend- ly endorse a political-spending rule. accredited professionals, Cannes Affairs by Maha Haj; Iran has two Salesman by Iranian filmmaker ing has undermined their business However, this week, the commis- almost triples its population and films with The Salesman by As- Asghar Farhadi, social, moral and interests. In fact, giving to dark- sion will be required to finally state becomes - for 10 days - a beacon ghar Farhadi (in competition) and political themes weave through the money groups may be the riskiest its position on the rule in response of high art, intense glamour, brisk Inversion by Behnam Behzadi; life of the main character who, kind kind of political spending, because to a lawsuit in the United States business and, this year, a centre of Egypt has Clash by Mohamed at first, slowly mutates into a cru- companies often have no idea who Court of Appeals for the D.C. Cir- heightened security. Diab; Turkey has Album by Meh- el and ruthless man, wrecking his else is giving, and whether their cuit. We believe that, in addition Cannes film festival begins met Can Mertoglu and Lebanon, marriage. interests are in competition. to the integrity of our democracy, No doubt this year's selection Tramontane by Vatche Boulghour- In 2007, Eran Kolirin's first For example, in 2010 Target, a transparent political spending is of films will reflect, one way or jian. feature film, The Band's Visit, had company that supports gay rights essential to good corporate gover- another, the times we live in. Intimate portraits of people successfully highlighted the absur- nance and sound investment. Cannes has always been a mirror All these films focus on inti- dities of the Arab-Israeli conflict to the world, and a springboard for mate portraits of people, of cou- with a bittersweet comedy about filmmakers with the most acute ples (The Salesman), siblings (In- an Egyptian military band that gets vision. version), grieving parents (One lost in a remote Israeli town. More scrutinised Week and A Day), on family dy- This year, in Beyond the LETTER TO THE EDITOR It has also become an even namics (Personal Affairs), on Mountains and Hills, he concen- more scrutinised event than before. neighbourhood stories and gossip trates on the life of an ex-Israeli As soon as the official selection is (Inversion), on the quest for one's army officer who feels inadequate announced mid-April, observers origins (Tramontane), to illuminate in plain clothes and finds getting do their maths: how many wom- the current political climate in the back to civil life very difficult. en, how many nationalities repre- region. Intimacy meets politics, with Accelerate fight against Taliban sented, how ethnically diverse, etc. Among them, only Clash by a sense of humour: this might However, the festival's artis- Mohamed Diab directly confronts prove to be this year's overriding tic director Thierry Fremaux has the fall of Mohamed Morsi, but it theme at Cannes. Time is ripe for the government to speed up its operation against Taliban in Helmand province as at least 20 Taliban militants were managed through his 15-year ten- ure the feat of not only being at- reported to be killed in the latest infighting among different factions of the militants. Local provincial officials confirmed the news tentive to these issues but has also and said that clashes between the supporters of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and Mullah Mohammad Rasool broke out in Marjah resisted pressures that the aesthet- district of the province, the other day. It is a good news for us. Helmand people suffered a lot at the hands of the Taliban and now ic and artistic choice be reduced to when they kill each other, they would fell the same pains as the residents were felt when they lost their nears and dearest one. a quota exercise. They turned Marjah district most insecure. Since they are hell-bent on killing themselves, the Afghan security forces should not As for the internet-fuelled so- let the opportunity to be wasted, rather massive operation against them in the district should be conducted. As usual the Taliban cial media attacks with its revenge- insurgents would not be able to stand against Afghan security forces, especially at that time when they are already broken. We ful hashtags, Cannes has always appreciate their infightings. We pray that Taliban always remain in their infighting and kill each other, because been impervious, in a very French they rejected to join the Afghan-owned and Afghan-lead peace and reconciliation process. way. The reason there won't be the Ahmad Javed, Helmand, Afghanistan hashtag #CannesSoWhite for in- stance, unlike for the Oscars, or Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and #CannesNotDiverseEnough, is address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] also because the festival is the Olympic Games of cinema with more than 110 countries represent- ed in the international village with their own little pavilion, each pro- moting their national cinematogra- Disclaimer: phy. This year, observers were of course quick to notice that only The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) three female directors (Andrea Ar- and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. nold, Nicole Garcia, Maren Ade) out of 22 would be competing for WEDNESDAY . MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Tabbasum Adnan was married at status quo. The men had issues the age of 13. By the time she was that the women were now sitting 20, she had three children. At 33, together making decisions and solv- after suffering years of domestic ing problems. abuse, she was able to get a di- They actually used to say vorce. these women must be smashed and But she was left homeless and beaten up. But the situation has without custody of her children. changed. Five years later, and the wom- Al Jazeera: How did you get an from the town of Mingora in them to take you seriously? Pakistan's Swat Valley is a cele- TA: When you actually take it brated human rights defender. upon yourself and take up a chal- It all started in 2013, when lenge, and decide that nothing can Adnan established Pakistan's first stop you then you overcome that women-led council - called the fear. Khwendo Jirga, or Sister's Coun- I can actually look into their cil - to represent women in her eyes and fight because these are community. our rights. And if you know you An independent all-woman are working for the right thing and group, the Sister's Council began your direction is right, I think it pressuring police and the courts brings out a lot of confidence, a lot to take action on previously ig- of power within yourself. nored rape, honour killing and acid And then you feel like nothing attack cases and started providing can stop you. legal assistance to survivors who Al Jazeera: You were married had no one else to turn to. at 13 and getting to this point has Last week, in the Colombian been a major struggle. capital of Bogota, Adnan received TA: I never experienced my the coveted Nelson Mandela- childhood. I never experienced my Graça Machel Innovation Award teen years, because by the time I for her work. Organisers called it was 20 I was already a mother of "inspiring", "brave" and "pioneer- three. ing". Even my married life was full Adnan dedicated the award to of torture. It was full of domestic "all women and mothers in Paki- violence, full of things impossible stan and everywhere". for me to bear. I found no support Al Jazeera spoke to her about at my parents' house. her personal journey to activism After 20 years, I made the very and the ongoing issues facing hard decision to divorce that man. women in the Swat Valley. I faced struggles during that pro- Al Jazeera: You created the cess as well. My own brother first Sister's Council in Pakistan. threatened to kill me. My father How did you do it? told me "it's better for you to eat Tabassum Adnan: The whole poison" rather than get divorced. idea of creating the Sister's Coun- Even my own mother, although she cil came about because all existing knew everything that what was We protested because the coun- honour killings, trafficking, rape, to provide that type of comfort that I am confident because of the around you, in the country, then councils excluded women. happening in my life, wanted me cils were not doing anything. With land disputes. and platform. outside support. the circumstances in your region I came across a story of a wom- to die rather than get divorced. But our involvement, the government There are problems like some Al Jazeera: Does the acknowl- Al Jazeera: You are from Min- will change also. I don't think I can an whose very young daughter was I took the decision despite them. was forced to listen and put all families sending their daughters to edgement you've received outside gora, which is also Malala give credit to any particular per- attacked with acid. We went to a I had to give up my kids to those people in jail. other homes in return for solving Pakistan help or hinder your work Yousafzai's home town. Has ac- son for those changes. Al Jazeera: lot of councils but nobody wanted him. I could not get any assets or This incident gave us confi- an issue [a dispute between the at home? cess to education for girls improved How do you navigate the difficul- to support us. the money due to me. dence that we could take up other families]. So there are issues. TA: It gets difficult because since the Taliban attacked her in ties of life in the Swat Valley, while Initially they said they would After the divorce, I joined a issues. And that's how the entire Of course, these types of is- when I received the International 2012? also working to raise the living stan- help us, but nothing ever hap- very small organisation for wom- platform started. sues exist everywhere, but I would Courage of Women award, I start- TA: It's not as if there was no dards of women? TA: I think the pened. I thought why not just cre- en, where we used to talk about Al Jazeera: Does the council say because of the cultural taboos, ed getting a lot of threats and even education for girls in our region. It first and primary thing that we are ate one for women? And that's peace-building and where we spoke receive any financial or legal sup- the issues are higher in our area. now I'm here to receive an award I was always there. The generation trying to address is the awareness how the Sister's Council started. about forgiveness. port? For example, I'm sitting right now know that before I reach my coun- before me, like my parents and my within our community. It's very We were 10 to 12 members [at TA: There is nobody who [talking to you] and I'm showing try or my region there will be grandparents, were all educated. important for the people who are first] but then we became 25 to One day, while I was talking supports us right now. my face. This is a taboo for the threats ready for me. They were actually very well edu- living here to be aware, to have a 50, and now we are across the en- and sharing how important peace We have some people who of- people back in my area. They start believing that I am cated. And one can only be edu- good education. Being educated is tire region. There are almost 1,000 is and how important forgiveness fer legal advice voluntarily. But So, for the women in my area getting a lot of funding or that I am cated if education is available and empowering. It allows people to women who come from different is in life, one woman stood up and everything is restricted to when to express themselves, to talk about an agent. if there is a presence. know when religion is being wrong- regions with their issues and prob- questioned me. She said, 'What if a people have time to help. their issues, it's a big problem for But we have so little support But, of course, if a war starts, ly used. It also allows people to lems, and we try to resolve them man attacks your own daughter When we seek help from some them. It's not very easy to express from anyone. I am still trying to nobody would want their children know their rights. Most people between ourselves. with acid? Are you going to for- legal advisers and advocacy their feelings. find someone to help write pro- going to school and if I know there don't know their rights. Al Jazeera: Do men listen to give that man too?' groups, they help and then take all There are fathers who bring posals for us. We can't even get are bullets here and there and ev- It's not possible to suddenly the council? The question left me speech- the credit for the cases. their daughters to our council and that. Access to justice is also es- erywhere I would not tell my child change a place, and it will come TA: They listen to us and ac- less. Al Jazeera: What is life like for feel very secure that their daugh- sential to our work. And we are to go study. Of course, things gradually. But for that to happen, tually they have to listen to us. And that is how I started as- women and girls in the Swat Val- ter can share issues and problems still battling for that. have changed, the situation has it's very important for women to We give them no choice now. sisting a family whose child had ley? with a woman. So it's very com- So the outside recognition changed and the entire education know their rights and about the There were a lot of objections been involved in an acid attack. Her TA: There are issues in my fortable for them and it's a very hasn't changed much for us mate- system will improve. It's a very things they can fight for. because our work challenged the attackers were roaming free. area. There are a lot of issues like good thing for us that we are able rially. But people in Pakistan think global thing. If things are changing Aljazeera Senegal's handicrafts: Made in China? ISRAEL'S BLOCKADE Every morning, Ibrahima Syla chasing power." ports, at a value of nearly $407m, the country's total - are connected arrives early to open the doors of The owners of stalls in Ngor in 2015 (PFD). to the tourism industry (PDF). KEEPS GAZA IN THE DARK the Fama Boutique, his shop at the Beach, Pointe des Almadies and China's largest exports to Sene- American Carmen Paraison The electricity crisis in the homes that were never rebuilt. electricity cuts off, it's dangerous. Soumbédioune Craft Village in Sandaga display products they say gal are manufactured goods. Cissé visited Dakar from her current res- besieged Gaza Strip affects every We go to bed worrying about It needs to be continuous," nurse Dakar's Medina neighbourhood. they made by hand themselves, says local production of clothing idence in the Ivory Coast. The 27- facet of daily life, from making flooding and fires. Amany Sadeq, 28, told Al Jazeera. Along the narrow shop walls, the although there is a clear similarity and footwear has been most affect- year-old bought several souvenirs bread, to obtaining medical treat- Asmahan al-Arair, mother The babies need the incubator entrepreneur arranges his leather between most of the items on of- ed by this, but Chinese-made hand- from the city's markets, including ment, to earning a living. It also The few shops that can afford to live on ... When the electricity creations - handbags, wallets and fer around the nation's capital. icrafts are also entering the mar- a "boubou" - a traditional dress. endangers lives: Last week, three a backup generator are bright spots cuts off, it's dangerous. shoes - fashioned out of snake, croc- Not far from the ferry termi- ket. While the items aren't labelled, siblings were burned alive after the in the darkness. A blue glow also Amany Sadeq, nurse odile and camel. nal to Ngor Island, a shopkeeper "Senegal itself is a good place Paraison believes most of her pur- candles they were using during a emanates from some apartment "When the ventilator is down, "Leather is in my blood," says who introduces himself as Mâme for handicrafts. There is a compe- chases were made in Senegal, with power cut set their house on fire. windows, as families use LED we have to give manual oxygen to the 56-year-old, who learned the Fall welcomes us to his small tition happening nowadays with the exception of the boubou. Gaza is currently on a sched- lights powered by car batteries. the babies until the electricity art of working with animal pelts store. Although he sells the same the Chinese handicrafts coming "This particular store that I ule of eight hours off and eight This densely populated area comes back," she added. "Two from his father. "I can kill the ani- objects as his neighbours, Fall says into the market," he explains. "But went into had many different hours on, but even this is unreli- of Gaza City has yet to recover months ago, we had to continue mal, tan it, cut it, and produce it." he stitched every piece by hand. I still think people would be more boubous among other products like able and subject to frequent change. from the 2014 Israeli offensive that pumping oxygen to the babies for Syla's handicrafts retail at be- "[This dress] is made in Sene- in favour of buying local handi- purses, key chains and jewellery. Distribution is unequal, and cuts killed more than 2,000 Palestinians two hours, as the hospital was tween $10 and $175, depending on gal - I made it at home," he says. crafts than Chinese ones." They had a very large quantity of of up to two hours are common and flattened entire neighbour- completely out and they were try- their size and the type of leather. "The workshop here is small, so I Some of these items are sold each product in different colours," during each eight-hour span. The hoods. ing to stretch an electricity line Many of his customers are Euro- just expose my work here and make by the dozens of Chinese shop- explains Paraison. "Variety is fine, bombing of Gaza's power plant in "The electricity network in this from the municipality. The tem- pean or American tourists eager to them at night." keepers concentrated in the Cen- but it just looked like [the handi- 2006, coupled with sanctions and area was never rehabilitated," said perature of the incubator is also snag a leather handbag for a frac- While the dress isn't labelled, tenaire neighbourhood. These ven- crafts] were mass-made." restrictions imposed as part of Is- Muataz al-Arair, a 23-year-old important and needs to be stable." tion of the price they would pay several cotton T-shirts featuring dors often double as importers or Counterfeits of traditional rael's blockade on the coastal en- unemployed electrician who shares While there have not been any at home. pieces of African-style print have wholesalers who sell their prod- clothing and fabrics, such as Gha- clave, have exacerbated the crisis, two tin-sheet caravans with his cases of death here because of pow- "Tourists who come to Sene- a "Made in India" label on the col- ucts to local entrepreneurs. na's famous "kente" cloth, are com- while the electricity network suf- family of 10. er cuts, the neonatal unit, which gal and appreciate art come to [the lar. When asked about them, Fall And, despite concerns for his monplace in West African markets. fered further damage in the 2014 Electricity lines hang above typically cares for between six and Craft Village] to buy something doesn't miss a beat. own livelihood, Syla says he has The more affordable copies are war. Shujayea's streets, as many fami- 10 babies at a time, is one of the original," explains Syla. "It is ille- "[The T-shirts] are Sene- no qualms with the Chinese ven- often made in China and imported Meanwhile, the Palestinian lies connect illegally to the net- most affected by the electricity gal to sell items here that aren't galese," he explains. "It's Sene- dors selling their products in Dakar. across the continent, but retain Authority (PA) in Ramallah and work. crisis. made in Senegal." galese fabric - I buy the T-shirts "I am not against the Chinese some distinct differences from the the Hamas authorities in Gaza "When it rains, our caravan is According to the maternity The former president, Léopold and afterwards, I add the Sene- because they also need to earn their locally made versions. have been at a stalemate on how to at risk of electrocution," Muataz's department's clinical nurse manag- Sédar Senghor, established craft galese fabric." daily bread," he explains. "I would "I could tell that it wasn't real solve it. At the funeral of the three mother, Asmahan, told Al Jazeera. er, this wing of the hospital expe- villages around Senegal to protect Similar items can be found like that the Chinese make original traditional African fabric and the siblings last week, senior Hamas "The children are afraid of touch- riences three or four power cuts a the country's traditional artisans. across Dakar. things. They are capable of doing construction of [the dress], the leader Ismail Haniyeh blamed the ing the doors. They keep crying day. While the hospital has three But Syla, who has worked in Sino-Senegalese economics so." way that it was sewn, I could tell crisis on PA policies, such as im- until someone comes and opens generators, they often need repair- Soumbédioune since 1999, says he After a decade of recognising Made in Senegal that it wasn't hand-made," contin- posing fuel taxes and refusing to the door for them. We go to bed ing and cannot always be relied has noticed a rise in Chinese ven- only Taiwan, Senegal re-established Tourists are among the most ues Paraison. "The boubou was in build a gas pipeline to increase the worrying about flooding and fires." upon, particularly when fuel is dors selling imitation products in diplomatic ties with the People's sought-after clientele for Dakar's a plastic cover and it just looks power station's capacity. One of her sons has a nine- scarce in Gaza. markets across the city over the Republic of China in 2005. Chi- handicraft vendors. With an esti- like it was something made in a Gaza's estimated daily elec- month-old baby. "Even changing "Solving the electricity crisis past two decades. nese products amounted to 7.7 mated 836,000 arrivals in 2014, factory." tricity needs range from 350 to 450 diapers can be a challenge when in Gaza is not simply about keep- "I feel concerned about it [af- percent of the country's total im- 306,000 jobs - or 9.9 percent of Aljazeera megawatts, which would rise to it's really cold and we have no hot ing the lights on; it is about saving fecting my business]," he says. 600 if the Israeli blockade was lift- water," she said. The family fears lives," Tony Laurance, CEO of "An original product is something ed and Gaza's economy was al- the summer months, which can get Medical Aid for Palestinians, told like a dream and you don't want lowed to prosper. Gaza currently unbearably hot in the caravans, Al Jazeera. "The regular fluctua- someone to take it." gets around 200 megawatts a day, with fans only usable for a few tions in power supply as hospi- Chinese products well short of its needs, and has start- hours a day. There has been no tals regularly switch from mains In Senegal, Chinese-made ed looking to alternatives such so- progress yet on rebuilding their to backup generator power dam- goods are often equated with low- lar power - although this is unaf- home. ages sensitive equipment, causes cost, low-quality products. Many fordable for the average resident. "I can't count the times I start- delays to treatment and puts pa- merchants hawking their wares to Here, Al Jazeera profiles a ed baking bread, and had to throw tients at risk." both local and foreign customers cross-section of Gaza residents it away because the electricity Despite improvements in pro- hesitate to admit that an item is who have been affected by the went off," Asmahan said. "They viding hospitals with a continued made elsewhere - even in the rare power crisis in different ways. do not keep to the schedule. And source of energy supply in the case that it carries a "Made in Chi- Al-Arair family, Shujayea we can't afford an alternative sys- past two years, whether through na" or "Made in India" label. The al-Arair family still lives tem." solar or spare generators, the prob- "In terms of business, you in makeshift caravans built on the Amany Sadeq, 28, nurse, lem endures. Sameeh Akila lives on have both sides: you have local site of their destroyed home in Khan Younis the fifth floor of a high-rise build- people in any country in the world Shujayea. At Khan Younis' Nasser hos- ing in Tel al-Hawa, a neighbour- who benefit from products com- When night falls during Gaza's pital, nurses in the neonatal inten- hood in southern Gaza City. The ing from elsewhere," explains rolling blackouts, darkness envel- sive care unit, specialising in the former taxi driver, used to travel- Daouda Cissé, an expert on Chi- ops entire streets. Headlights from care of premature babies, work on ling freely all across the city, now nese imports and exports to Afri- the occasional passing car reveal a permanent state of alert. relies on the presence or absence can countries. "You also have buy- small groups of children playing "The babies need the incuba- of electricity to come and go from ers who favour certain products by the side of the road, as young tor to live on. The most important his home. Life follows the rhythm because of [the customer's] pur- men sit on the broken walls of thing is the ventilator. When the of the power schedule. WEDNESDAY . MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES US economic policymakers ignore China at their peril The Chinese economy, which is now the world's second largest The Saudi Binladin Group will economy and the world's largest pay delayed salaries to 10,000 trading nation, has become highly workers by the end of this month, imbalanced as a result of an exces- sive reliance on credit creation and director of the branch of the Min- investment-led growth. As a result, istry of Labor and Social Devel- China's economic growth model is opment in Makkah Abdullah Al- now showing every sign of having Olayan has said. run its course. This has prompted He said the company has com- the Chinese government to signif- pleted the formalities to transfer icantly mark down its long-term residence permits of more than economic growth forecast for the 15,000 workers allowing them to country. It would be a mistake for U.S. join other companies. policymakers to minimize the large Olayan said though the com- adverse impact that a further slow- pany has been reclassified as a con- ing in the Chinese economy could struction company and the travel have on the U.S. economy. While ban on its officials has been lifted, China's direct links to the U.S. the computer services are still economy might be limited, a blocked till all workers are paid change in China's economic for- their delayed salaries. tunes could have a strongly ad- verse impact on the world econom- However, the company is able ic outlook and on global financial to renew residency permits of markets. That in turn would al- workers so that their bank accounts most certainly materially affect the are not frozen and they can trans- U.S. economy. fer their services elsewhere. In assessing China's potential “Recruitment services, the is- to impact the U.S. economic re- suance of work visas, change of covery, it is well to recall how im- professions and other services are portant China has become to the global economy. Through two de- still on hold,” he explained. cades of very rapid — albeit un- Olayan asked the staff, who balanced — economic growth, are demanding payment of delayed China's share in the world econo- salaries, to file complaints at the my has increased from 2 percent commission’s office on Hira Street in 1995 to 15 percent in 2015. This in Al-Marwah district in Jeddah. has made China the world's sec- According to the latest statis- ond largest economy, now ahead tics, the company has paid off of Germany and Japan. A primary concern about the 69,000 workers. Of whom 34,207 Chinese economy is that it has re- have left Saudi Arabia after receiv- lied excessively on an unbalanced ing their dues. Some 15,834 work- and unsustainable economic ers have transferred their residen- growth model to drive its rapid cy to other sponsors while 7,754, economic growth. The unbalanced who have been issued final exit vi- nature of the Chinese economy is sas, are still staying in Saudi Ara- most apparent from the fact that bia. Chinese investment accounts for around 45 percent of China's gross Olayan promised the compa- domestic product (GDP). It is also nies wishing to employ the laid off apparent from the fact that China Binladin workers to complete their has relied excessively on credit cre- residency transfer procedures ation from its banking and shadow within 24 hours. banking systems to drive econom- He asked national construction ic growth and investment. Indeed, companies to benefit from Binla- since 2009, Chinese credit to its din workers because they have non-financial private sector has increased by around 90 percent of sufficient expertise. China's GDP. GAP'S LATEST QUARTER OF FALLING SALES Emirates airline says profits are up amid SIGNALS MORE STORE CLOSURES AHEAD lower oil prices After a horrible first-quarter show- Banana Republic and Old Navy store network. According to Mathrani, most For its part, Gap has shuttered The Middle East's biggest air- That's helped its hub at Dubai In- ing because of continued fashion fleets, primarily outside of North "If you really ask me what the retailers need to downsize to the hundreds of stores following the line, Emirates, said Tuesday its ternational Airport claim the man- miscues, Gap (GPS - Get Report) America, in order to "sharpen its big issue is [in retail], it's that the top 500 stores in their portfolio in Great Recession in the hopes of profits were up by about 56 per- tle as the world's busiest for inter- may be looking to take some dras- focus on geographies with the country is over-retailed, and that order to be as productive as possi- improving its bottom line amid cent to $1.9 billion in the last fis- national passengers, handling some tic actions to protect its profit. greatest potential." is causing the most pain -- the rea- ble. Mathrani views were echoed weak sales. According to data com- cal year largely due to lower oil 78 million passengers last year. The The company reported on "Our industry is evolving and son why we are over-retailed is do elsewhere on Tuesday. piled by TheStreet, Gap has closed prices that drove down fuel oper- world's overall busiest, however, Tuesday that sales in the first quar- we must transform at a faster pace, you really need 800 Gap stores, I "With a string of disappoint- about 513 of its namesake stores ating costs. remains Hartsfield-Jackson Atlan- ter fell 6% year over year to $3.44 while focusing our energy on what mean who needs 800 stores in the ing results prompting management in North America since 2009. To- The Dubai government- ta International Airport. billion, badly missing forecasts for matters most to our customers -- country?" said General Growth to acknowledge the need to stream- tal square footage for the once pop- owned airline said revenue, how- In addition to Emirates, other $3.66 billion. Gap said it expects we are committed to better posi- Properties GGP CEO Sandeep line its operating model, we remain ular apparel destination has de- ever, fell in 2015-2016 by four Gulf carriers such as the Abu-Dhabi earnings in the quarter of 31 cents tioning the business to recapture Mathrani in an interview with concerned that at 3,275 stores, the clined from 11.5 million in 2009 to percent to $23.2 billion from $24.2 based Etihad Airways and Doha's a share to 32 cents a share, well market share in North America and TheStreet. When asked what the Gap's businesses are simply too 9.1 million last year. The compa- billion in 2014, mostly because of Qatar Airways, have increasingly below analysts' forecasts of 44 to capitalizing on strategic inter- optimal size for a specialty retail large in the new normal where ny ended 2015 with roughly 866 a stronger U.S. dollar that impact- challenged Western airlines in long- cents. The company oddly left its national regions where there is a concept should be, Mathrani adds, physical distribution has become Gap brand stores in North Ameri- ed currencies in many markets haul flights. full-year earnings guidance of strong runway for growth," said "If you ask me about H&M, my a liability and uniformity is no ca after it closed 128 locations and where the Emirates operates, in- U.S. carriers — including $2.20 to $2.25 a share unchanged, Gap CEO Art Peck in a statement. personal opinion is 500 to 600 longer cool," said Nomura analyst -- believe it or not -- opened 34 cluding in its base in the United American Airlines, Delta Air Lines but that will likely be lowered One prominent mall executive stores, but if you ask me about an Simeon Siegal in a new note to cli- new locations despite continuing Arab Emirates where the dirham and United Airlines — have criti- when it reports earnings on May is likely unsurprised by Gap's de- Abercrombie & Fitch, I would say ents. Siegal added that he doesn't to struggle connecting with cus- is pegged to the dollar. cized the three major Gulf carri- 19. cision to rethink the size of its vast about 250 to 300 stores. think Gap is done closing stores. tomers. Emirates President Tim Clark ers, saying they are aggressively STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet told The Associated Press that expanding services to the United Quant Ratings has identified a hand- despite the drop in revenue, the States while receiving unfair sub- ful of stocks with serious upside airline's fuel bill decreased to $5.4 sidies from their governments. potential in the next 12-months. billion over the last year, compris- They have pressed Washington to Learn more. ing around 26 percent of operating renegotiate treaties that allow Gulf Gap once again saw stunning costs, compared to 35 percent the airlines to fly to the U.S. sales declines in the quarter. Same- year before. Still, fuel remains the Emirates, Etihad and Qatar store sales at Gap fell 3% despite airline's biggest cost. Airways deny they are subsidized. an overhaul of the look of the com- "The revenue fall has been well Emirates, which flies to 10 U.S. pany's merchandise this spring. managed, let me say that. It could cities, has made it no secret it Same-store sales at Banana Repub- have been a lot worse," said Clark, wants to expand to more. lic and Old Navy declined 11% who added that the company was "That will not sound very and 6%, respectively. Trends also able to save on its supply good. It won't resonate well in cer- didn't improve in April, either. costs. tain quarters in the US. But we Same-store sales at Gap declined The airline, which marked its have stated that's what we're go- 4% in April, with respective drops 30th anniversary last year, has ing to do," Clark said. of 7% and 10% at Banana Repub- posted profits for 28 consecutive When asked if Emirates would lic and Old Navy. years. be open to codeshares with more A badly missed quarter has Its parent company, Emirates U.S. airlines, he said that would be Gap evaluating the size of its glo- Group, which includes the Dnata the sensible thing to do given the bal store base. ground and travel services provid- amount of travel through Dubai as The company said it is "iden- er, reported that profits also a global hub for passengers con- tifying opportunities to streamline climbed to $2.2 billion from $1.5 necting between Europe, Asia and its operating model to be more ef- billion in the previous fiscal year, Africa. The airline currently has a ficient and flexible, while more ful- though revenue fell three percent codeshare agreement with U.S. car- ly exploiting its scale advantage." to $25.3 billion. Emirates Group rier Jetblue Airways. Gap added that it's evaluating its employs some 95,000 people, "It would make sense for them with 61,000 working for the air- to engage with us rather throw line. bricks at us and there will be a com- Emirates carried nearly 52 mil- mercial benefit, a mutual commer- Nokia network sales weighed down byAlcatel integration lion passengers in 2015-2016. cial benefit," he said. Nokia's (NOKIA.HE) mobile net- cent in the Middle East, 6 percent cult, which seems to add pressure stock. Ericsson, which last month post- work equipment sales fell more in Asia-Pacific and 5 percent in to step up their cost-savings pro- Nokia shares were down 3.1 ed its sixth consecutive quarter of than expected in the first quarter China, but up 6 percent in Latin gram," said Mikael Rautanen, ana- percent at 0820 GMT. The stock declining sales. and will continue to decline this America. lyst at Inderes Equity Research, has fallen recently along with that For the full year, Nokia fore- year, the Finnish company said, "Some of our customers could who has an "increase" rating on the of mobile networks market leader cast falling network sales and an as customers hold off new orders be holding back a bit while waiting operating margin of more than 7 while it integrates its purchase of for deliveries from our new com- percent, compared with 6.5 per- rival Alcatel-Lucent. bined roadmap," Chief Financial cent in the first quarter and ana- Nokia bought Franco-Ameri- Officer Timo Ihamuotila told re- lysts' average estimate of 9.4 per- can Alcatel for 15.6 billion euros porters in a conference call, as the cent. Analysts expect the margin ($17.8 billion) earlier this year to company shrinks two product to rise to 11.6 percent by 2018, help it more broadly compete with portfolios into one. once cost cuts from the merger Sweden's Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and "However, we have no reason have been completed. China's Huawei [HWT.UL] in to believe we have lost footprint Sales in Nokia's small technol- both fixed-line and mobile network with any of our major customers," ogies unit, which includes its vast equipment. he said patent portfolio, fell 27 percent in The first unified results after Nokia nudged up its cost-cut- the first quarter. Nokia did not pro- the deal showed growth in Alca- ting target for the merger, seeking vide an annual outlook for the unit, tel's fixed-line equipment business savings of "above" 900 million eu- citing uncertainties in timing of softened the blow from the decline ros in the course of 2018, com- some licensing deals. of Nokia's mobile wireless busi- pared with "approximately" 900 Rautanen said the business was ness. million euros before. being hurt by weakening sales of First-quarter network sales in The company started the cuts smartphones. Nokia once ruled the total dropped 8 percent in from a month, saying it would axe thou- global handset business but failed year ago to 5.18 billion euros, miss- sands of jobs worldwide, includ- to compete in the smartphone era ing analysts' average forecast of ing 1,400 in Germany and 1,300 in created with the advent of the 5.51 billion in a Reuters poll. Finland. Apple iPhone in 2007. It eventu- Sales fell 17 percent in North "The decline in (Nokia's) wire- ally sold its phone unit to Mi- America, the company's largest less networks was surprisingly crosoft (MSFT.O) in 2014, while market. They were down 11 per- fierce ... The market remains diffi- holding on to its patents. WEDNESDAY. MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES ‘I write because I want to make interesting films’

Day two of Bridal Couture Week (BCW) Gold Edition 2016 wit- 'UDAARI' nessed designer heavyweights play it safe with their colour palettes. With different hues of red leading STARS WALK the pack, the ramp saw an inter- esting blend of traditional embel- THE RAMP lishments with almost every col- lection on display. Here’s a run- down of who showed what at the AT event. BCW Deepak & Fahad Collection name: Taajwardi FINALE FOR The crimson tones, the floral prints and the magical magnetism of the colour gold were all that the A CAUSE showcase was about. Sherwanis created in flamboyant cuts and The finale of this year’s Bridal Couture Week Gold Edition offered women wear in red and gold com- a lot more than sartorial specta- bination dominated the collection. cles and amazing performances. While bridal wear dominated the Day 3 of the bridal extravaganza line, wedding outfits including raised the bar as the leading cast of ghararas and shalwar kameez were Udaari took to the ramp to create also in attendance. awareness about child abuse. Ayesha Ibrahim The hit TV serial has earned Collection name: Jashn-i- praise for highlighting the issue and Aroosi the makers, it seems, are leaving With the collection name mean- no stone unturned in promoting the ing “wedding festive” in Persian, message. On Sunday, Bushra An- Jashn-i-Aroosi featured a myriad sari, Samiya Mumtaz, Ahsan Indian film-maker Rajat Kapoor’s CROWN Khan, Haris Waheed, Urwa Ho- critically-acclaimed directorial of long gowns, angarkhas, and cane and Farhan Saeed sashayed Ankhon Dekhi was screened at farshi ghararas. The outfits were down the ramp, holding placards T2F on Saturday evening. embellished with Swarovski crys- GETSA with thought-provoking messages. Part of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali tals, zardozi, resham embroidery However, it was child star Bhutto Institute of Science and and French knots. Done in red, sil- Areesha who clearly stole the Technology’s Paish-e-Lafz festi- ver, grey and white on fabrics such show as she made a bold statement val, the screening was followed by FROWN as silk, tissue, cotton nets and FLORIDA: Britain’s Prince Har- while exuding innocence on the the director himself joining the at- Chantilly nets, the kamdaani work ry criticised what he called an “in- ramp. tendees for a Skype Q&A session, was definitely a visual treat. cessant need” of the media to delve Hadiqa Kiani’s power-packed sharing his experiences. Tena Durrani into his private life, saying he live performance alongside Farhan Upon its release nearly two Collection name: Mon Reve would work hard to protect the was an added bonus. years ago, Akhon Dekhi garnered line dividing his public and per- Durrani’s stunning mix of tra- Here are all the showstoppers: raving reviews from movie-goers sonal life. Harry, who is fourth in Stars turn showstoppers on and critics alike. However, exactly ditional and contemporary silhou- line to the throne, told the BBC he thought it was “unnecessary” that Day 1 of Bridal Couture Week the way the film’s lead character ettes in shades of grey and mauve But that wasn’t it! was coupled with bright coloured there was a desire to know “every Bauji would have wanted, the at- little bit of detail about what goes Ace designer Amir Adnan set tendees got a chance to actually dupattas. Swarovski crystals and on behind the scenes”. The British a new record as a host of celebri- see for themselves what all the pearls added bling on the runway, royal family has long had a frac- ties turned showstoppers to un- hype of about. while detailed embroidery on tious relationship with the media. veil his ‘Ceremony Collection’. As expected, the audience was ghararas was done with kora and Harry’s mother, the late Princess The ramp was set on fire as left in awe of the impeccable di- dabka work. Belted dupattas were Diana, was often pursued by the stars including Azfar Rehman, press and died in a car crash in rection, concept and strength of a sure-fire standout. Aijaz Aslam, Shehzad Sheikh, Ali the characters portrayed by the 1997 as she was chased by tabloid Zahid Khan photographers. The 31-year-old Safina, Hira Tareen, Fahad Mirza, cast. Acting veteran Saba Hameed Collection name: Untitled said that the line between his pub- Sarwat Gillani, Ahsan Khan, Ad- and film director Nadeem Baig Khan’s collection saw more lic and personal life had become nan Siddiqui and the legendary Jav- were also present at the event. hits than misses. The designer went almost non-existent. “We will con- ed Sheikh made their way. The popular Indian stage and tinue to do our best to ensure that film actor was welcomed with rap- a little over the top with his colour there is the line,” he said in a pre- turous applause when he first choices, which ranged from bright recorded interview from the Unit- signed in, following the screening. pink to parrot green, queer cuts ed States, where he is currently During his interaction with the at- and odd styling. A tribute to the attending the Invictus Games, a sporting event for wounded Brit- tendees, Kapoor opened up on old-fashioned bride, the showcase ish, American and allied military why the movie took so long to focused on vintage Banarsi attires personnel. complete. “Every film that I’ve embellished with tilla work, chan- made, and I’ve directed six so far, di tilla, naqshi, and lots of gota. has always taken a lot of time to Zainab Chottani generate funding. I don’t make Collection name: Dastaan mainstream films with all these The ensembles exuded a femi- stars in them,” he shared, adding nine feel with dreamy colours of that his projects are rather differ- ent from what one usually sees on blue, white and silver dominating screen, as they are based on the showcase. Flowy gowns, “whacky ideas” which take more shararas, Dhaka pajamas, bell bot- time to plan, execute and release. toms and even the uber chic dhoti For a film which narrates sto- shalwar were done to perfection, ries of several interesting charac- thanks to Chottani’s own unique ters simultaneously, many in the touch. Extensive detailing and ka- audience were curious to know mdaani work left us floored. about the director’s inspirations Fozia Hammad behind the project. Kapoor shared Collection name: Self Portrait that each character was purely fic- Stars turn showstoppers on tional, and yet he could resonate Day 1 of Bridal Couture Week with all of them on some level. Playing with a palette of pas- “You never actually base an entire film on somebody you know. tels, Hammad employed chiffons When anyone writes a film, they and nets for the collection, at the incorporate a part of them into the same time relying on her embel- story,” he explained. “In some way lishments of choice — thread or the other, I can relate to all my work, kiran work and dabka work. characters. Bauji exists in me, but Looking at the shalwar kameez and so do Amma and Rishi chacha, for lehnga-cholis, we were overjoyed instance.” to see how Hammad envisioned the Like several of his contempo- elegant bride. Her fascination with raries, Kapoor directs and writes pearls continued and we were sure his own films. Elaborating on this not to leave it unnoticed. element of multitasking, Kapoor Uzma Babar stated that he doesn’t assume both roles to retain creative control or Collection name: Durr-e-She- because he has trust issues, but var because film-making has always Babar’s collection was an ode been his passion. “Why would I to the last heir to the Ottoman give my scripts to others, when throne. It featured a blend of mod- my only passion in life is to make ern cuts and designs, yet remained films? I’m writing only because I loyal to cultural aesthetics. The want to make interesting films.” colour palette focused on rich and Although only a weak Skype royal tones ranging from midnight signal connected him with the ven- blue and plum to emerald and ruby. ue, the Kapoor & Sons actor did A subtle hint of gold to the ensem- not deprive the attendees of his bles provided the finishing touch- sharp wit and incomparable sense es. The line comprised shararas of humour. Having recently shared screen and ghararas based on luxe fabrics space with Fawad Khan, Kapoor including silk net, French net, was, inevitably posed with a ques- Chantilly net and organza net with tion regarding the Pakistani heart- heavy brocade and raw silk for throb. “Normally girls ask this edging and finishing. The offerings question, why are you asking were embellished with kora, dab- this?” Kapoor laughed, adding, ka, and pearl work. “Nevertheless, he [Fawad] is a Bibi London (Neetu Lulla, great guy, brilliant actor and has a Tarun Tahiliani) very gentlemanly vibe … but he’s Collection name: Untitled married,” he added. The two designers reminded us Baig commended his Indian that a traditional bride trusts noth- It seems that Bollywood’s Mas- wood actors are contending for the over the past 18 months, Priyan- in doing two-bit roles.” The source counterpart for tackling a complex ing but the colour red for her big tani and Kashibai are going head to role. Currently, both PeeCee and ka Chopra has been shooting for added, “Who wouldn’t want to be subject. “If you look at it, Ankhon head once again, but this time it Deepika are in the US shooting for Quantico, and only recently she the Bond girl? It’s a role that’s on Dekhi is a very scary film,” he said. day. With undertones of bright or- isn’t for Bajirao’s affection. their respective Hollywood started work on Baywatch too. everyone’s wish list but only the “It is about a man who questions ange and shocking pink, the line The two Bollywood beauties projects, and both of them have Both actresses have very strong chosen one gets it. Now, it’s en- his surrounding and environment, primarily comprised traditional Priyanka Chopra and Deepika already auditioned for the role. teams there who are deftly manag- tirely up to the makers.” While all the while trying to formulate ensembles such as lehnga-cholis Padukone, are interested in being ‘Priyanka has outdone herself ing their work and have been both actors are strong contenders his own thoughts and ideas.” and saris done in gold wire work. Bond’s leading lady in the next in Hollywood’ A source told pitching them to various Holly- and have expressed an interest in Hameed also shared that the film Bird motifs and floral designs on James Bond movie. Pinkvilla, “Deepika is finishing the wood studios. And they have also coming aboard the Bond team, tugged at her heartstrings and that the sari pallu completed the col- According to Pinkvilla, the final leg of xXx — she had given made it clear to their respective there are a few other names that she could relate to it. lection. two Bollywood-turned-Holly- them bulk dates for the film. And agents that they are not interested are being considered. WEDNESDAY. MAY 11, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Steph Curry went supernova in the clutch in his return from injury The big question for Monday night's Western Conference Semi- finals Game 4 between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers was how Stephen Curry Just because a Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor superfight is highly unlikely doesn’t mean that the would look after a 15-day layoff potential participants can’t have fun with the idea, right? due to an MCL sprain in his right A rumor fueled by United Kingdom tabloid "The Sun" suggested that a potential fight between retired knee. It took a little while to get a boxing kingpin Floyd Mayweather and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor was close to being concrete answer on the back-to- made. Although there was no truth to the rumor and UFC president Dana White quickly shot it down, both back MVP's level of play, but a McGregor and Mayweather found an opportunity to toy with the fantasy matchup between two of the most record performance in overtime entertaining and polarizing athletes in all of combat sports. provided the clearest one possi- "It's possible. It was a name that was shot at me, but the rumors that y'all been hearing is the rumors that ble. I started," Mayweather said in an interview with FightHype.com. "It may not be a rumor, keep y'all fingers Although he did not start and crossed. It may be boxer vs. MMA fighter." entered the game with a rough ex- Mayweather hasn’t fought since defeating Andre Berto last September and has remained firm that he’s pectation that he would play 25 retired. However, it appears that he’s softening his stance a bit as the inquiries continue to roll in. Mayweather minutes, Curry dominated crunch stated that if he were to fight again, it would have to earn him in excess of $100 million. Although the logistics time to put together one of the of a fight with McGregor would be an absolute mess, it’s certainly something that has the general public greatest performances in a season talking. that already ranked among the As for McGregor, the Irish fighter quickly took to Instagram to post a photoshopped poster of the most thrilling individual campaigns potential showdown. Although he’s not retired, we're sure the prideful MMA fighter wouldn’t mind the in NBA history. After shooting 6- massive payday the mega matchup would generate. of-18 from the field (with no made McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, took to Twitter with his own lighthearted poke at the idea. “It’s really three-pointers) for 13 points in the fine Mayweather we’re having here,” he tweeted with a picture while out in Rotterdam for a UFC Fight Night first three quarters, Curry caught card where he was cornering McGregor’s training partner, Gunnar Nelson. fire in the fourth quarter and went There may be a number of hurdles that makes this fight more of a dream than reality but it certainly is an supernova in overtime to finish interesting event for the world to fantasize over. with a game-high 40 points in 37 minutes. That total includes 17 in overtime (including the Warriors' Spieth, Day paired together for first 12), a new NBA record for Cycling - extra-period scoring. The Players Championship If there were any doubt about Vorganov free his health before OT, Curry si- The top two golfers in the world will get an up-close look at one another lenced it. He's back. to race after after Jason Day and Jordan Spieth were paired together for The Players' Curry out-scored Portland by Championship. three points in overtime by him- UCI lifts drug World number one and two, Day and Spieth, will play in the mar- self to carry Golden State to a 132- quee grouping at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, with 11th-ranked Branden 125 victory that puts them up 3-1 Grace rounding out an impressive trio. in the series. With the league's top ban The group is set to tee off at 08:43 local time (12:43 GMT) on offensive weapon in top form, the Thursday May 12 in the opening round of the tournament, which is Warriors look like a good bet to largely considered as golf's fifth major. clinch a spot in the West finals in While Day and Spieth have been paired atop the world rankings for Wednesday's Game 5. Frankly, some time, each will have something to prove this week. this overtime alone has probably Both players missed the cut at last year's event, with Australian restored them as overwhelming Day shooting an uncharacteristic 81 on Friday. favorites to claim back-to-back Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson - all in the top 10 championships. in the world - will tee off later in the afternoon, as well as the trio of His return was that stunning defending champion Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and Matt Kuchar. and emphatic. Just ask Blazers Former champions of the tournament Phil Mickelson (2007), Hen- owner Paul Allen: rik Stenson (2009) and Martin Kaymer (2014) will tee off just before The basketball world has the Day, Spieth and Grace trio in the morning. grown used to unreal scoring spurts from Curry throughout this sea- son, but this late-game showing defied all reasonable expectations set by the circumstances of his re- turn from injury and his play through the first three quarters. Although Curry was mostly effec- tive and used his pump fake to cre- ate space for drives, he lacked his Cycling's ruling body on Monday Venus Williams wins singles, usual agility as an elite perimeter lifted Russian Eduard Vorganov's ballhandler and unprecedentedly provisional suspension for testing great pull-up shooter. The result positive for meldonium. The Ka- loses doubles with Serena was a Curry who was clearly dan- tusha rider was banned in Febru- gerous but not necessarily fright- ary after he emerged as one of a Singles was the easy part for Venus Williams on Monday. The difficult part came with younger sister Serena in doubles. After Venus comfortably beat CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open, the ening, a capable scorer with limi- slew of sportsmen and women who tations. Head coach Steve Kerr had tested positive for the Latvi- Williams sisters lost to Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-1, 7-5. It was the first time the sisters played doubles together since the 2014 U.S. Open. They are pre- seemed to recognize it, as well — an-made anti-ischemia drug which he tied Curry's minutes to those boosts oxygen supply to the blood paring for an attempt at a fourth Olympic gold medal in doubles in Rio de Janeiro. ''We didn't play our best at the same time,'' Venus said. ''That's not of Andre Iguodala both for defen- and tissues in the body. The former sive purposes and to ensure the Russian road race champion failed typical. Usually one of us is playing well. That helps the team a lot. Two of us are playing well, it usually goes our way.'' In other first-round match- Warriors always had another high- a control for the drug in an out of level facilitator on the floor. competition test in January. The es, Sara Errani was slowed by physical problems in losing to Heather Watson of Britain 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, and Lucia Safarova of the Czech Republic Conventional wisdom said that International Cycling Union (UCI) Curry would not dominate crunch did not offer reasons for their de- defeated former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-2. On a rough day for the home players even in the men's tournament, Fabio time if only because he had been cision to free the rider to compete away from the challenges of in- again. "At this stage of the pro- Fognini of Italy was beaten by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 6-1, 7-6 (2). Raonic will next face Nick Kyrgios, who eliminated Salvatore Caruso, game conditioning for so long. Af- cess and until a ruling in this case ter all, Curry's total 37 minutes in the UCI will not make any further another Italian wild card, 6-1, 6-2. Seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew due to a muscle problem and was replaced in the draw by fellow Game 5 nearly matched the 39 he comment," a UCI spokesman said. had played in the postseason pri- Meldonium was only placed on Frenchman Lucas Pouille. He doesn't have much time to recover before the French Open, which begins in two weeks. ''It's not something good to be a or to Monday night. Most play- World Anti-Doping Agency ers need time to get back into game (WADA)'s list of banned sub- little bit injured before this event,'' Tsonga said. ''I hope I will have the chance to recover.'' shape, and it would have been per- stances at the start of 2016. fectly understandable for Curry to miss longer shots off the front of the rim or to be a little out of sync when trying to break down a de- He's here! Kentucky Derby champ Nyquist arrives at Pimlico fender off the dribble. Our mistake was to assume When it comes to selecting a stall Nyquist,'' Sisterson said. ''It over the stuff he'll run on.'' to the track jogging,'' Sisterson said. ''We won't change anything. the same training routine, and we're that Curry is like other NBA play- for his Kentucky Derby winner at worked with I'll Have Another. So The plan is to go easy on the ''Then he'll do like we've done his Again, the beauty with Nyquist not going to change it now.'' ers. He came out with newfound Pimlico Race Course, trainer Doug we kept kind of the same routine horse this week. whole career. mentally is that whatever we put Sisterson will oversee the care springiness in the fourth quarter, O'Neill doesn't care much for tra- and got him over here early. He ''He'll walk the next couple He jogs one day and then gal- in front of him, he handles it. His and training of Nyquist until making his first quintessentially dition. gets acclimated and he gets to turn days and then we'll get him back lops the next. whole career, we've kept him on O'Neill arrives on Thursday. Curry-like pull-up jumper just He'd rather go with his own outside of the 9:00 mark to give tested method for success. the Warriors a 92-87 lead. He went Unbeaten Nyquist arrived at to the bench for a three-minute rest Pimlico on Monday and was eased about 1:30 later and returned to into Stall 24 of the Stakes Barn nail his first three-pointer of the with six other horses trained by night (after 10 misses) on his first O'Neill. possession after re-entry. Curry The Kentucky Derby winner continued to play with newfound is usually kept in highly regarded energy through the remainder of Stall 40 of the Preakness Barn, regulation, although he missed an home of several Triple Crown 11-foot runner in the final seconds champions, including Secretariat that could have won it. and Seattle Slew. Then came overtime, which O'Neill spurned Stall 40 in should go down as one of the great- est moments of Curry's historic 2012 with Derby winner I'll Have season. It would be wrong to say Another, choosing instead to keep the fourth quarter prepared every- the horse in the Stakes Barn. one for what he did in OT — I'll Have Another won the there's no way to prepare for 17 Preakness, and Nyquist's handlers points in five minutes — the two can only hope this horse does like- periods were not entirely dissimi- wise. lar. The fourth at least prepared ''It really keeps the horses hap- Curry for overtime by proving py. It worked with I'll Have An- that he could handle a superstar's other and we're going to do the share of the scoring, ballhandling, same thing with Nyquist,'' assis- and playmaking loads. The quar- tant trainer Jack Sisterson said. ter-by-quarter shooting numbers Nyquist improved to 8-0 af- show that he generally got more ter winning by 1 1/4 lengths at confident as the game went on: Churchill Downs. He will seek to The late-game outburst was make in nine a row in the 1 3/16- perhaps most impactful because mile Preakness on May 21. the Warriors looked in need of a Nyquist was transported by superstar performance for most of plane from Kentucky on Monday the night. Curry first entered at the afternoon. He covered the final leg halfway point of the first quarter of the trip with a police escort from with his team down 16-2 follow- Baltimore-Washington Interna- ing a 1-of-12 shooting start. Cur- tional Airport before being led to ry's entry didn't exactly raise Gold- the barn shortly after 6:30 p.m. en State into championship form It isn't often that the Derby right away, but he help them to winner arrives so soon in Balti- make up a significant portion of more, but that's what O'Neill and the deficit to trail 26-18 by quar- owner J. Paul Reddam did four ter's end. That trend continued into years ago and the strategy proved the second quarter, when the War- sound. riors regained their footing and cut ''We can do anything with the lead to as few as four with sev- eral minutes remaining in the half. WEDNESDAY . MAY 11. 2016-Saur 22, 1395 H.S Vol:X Issue No:280 Price: Afs.15

Education ministry to employ 13,000 people

David Cameron has called Nigeria was shared on Twitter by ITV and Afghanistan "possibly the two News deputy political editor Chris most corrupt countries in the Ship. Number 10 declined to com- world". ment directly on the premier's con- By Farhad Naibkhel provided with teachers, he noted. The Prime Minister was versations with the Queen but The minister said that an agreement caught making the comments as he pointed out that the leaders of both KABUL: Ministry of Education signed with the labor ministry chatted with the Queen at an event countries had acknowledged the said Tuesday that it would employ would make clear their responsi- to mark her 90th birthday. In an scale of the problem they faced. 13,000 to fill the vacancies in its bilities regarding vocational train- apparent reference to the anti-cor- Afghanistan's Ashraf Ghani departments across the country. ing schools and institutes. He said ruption conference he is hosting in and Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari “All vacancies in the capital and that based on the agreement, stu- London later this week, he can be have written essays for a book ac- provinces will be filled soon,” ed- dents under the age of 18, would heard telling the Queen: " We've companying the summit. Mr ucation minister Assadullah Hanif be covered by the ministry’s insti- got the leaders of some fantasti- Ghani, they said, acknowledges in Balkhi said. He said that competi- tutes and those older would go cally corrupt countries coming to his piece that Afghanistan is "one tive exams were in progress in dif- under the vocational schools of Britain." Footage published by of the most corrupt countries on ferent provinces to fill the empty ministry of labor. “We are work- ITV News of the Buckingham Pal- earth" and Mr Buhari that corrup- vacant. But our problem in the ing on a draft to generate vocation- insecure areas will remain unsolved al training after ninth class at ace event - where the PM is seen tion became a "way of life" in his where schools are closed or teach- chatting in a group including the country under "supposedly ac- schools and motivate students to ers are not ready to go there, he follow their lessons in vocational Archbishop of Canterbury and countable democratic govern- added. He stated that the minis- training institute after ninth class,” Commons Speaker John Bercow - ments".( belfasttelegraph) try would strive hard to provide he asserted. The education minis- encouragement salaries for teach- try has 296 vocational institutes ers in insecure areas. “After the and 52 higher vocational ones, end of hiring process, if we fail to where thousands of students Atmar meets Govt's efforts termed insufficient to uproot corruption fill the empty posts in insecure across the country are being areas, we will divide 50 percent of trained. Minister of Labor and So- French Officials from the High Office of symbolic. The head of the risk as- deceived in this regard." said MP Syed Ali Kazemi. This the posts to the cities of the prov- cial Affairs Nasrin Oryakhil, said Oversight and Anticorruption sessment of anticorruption and "Even members of the public comes after Ghani last month called inces based on requirements.” The that the ministry would establish ambassador (HOOAC) on Tuesday termed oversight committee, Abdul Aziz know that a number of individuals corruption a "national shame" in rest 50 percent posts will be kept 36 new vocational training insti- government's efforts inadequate to Aryaee, said: "The NUG's strug- who were accused of corruption Afghanistan, vowing further ef- standby, because if the schools re- tutes to train the youth in accor- AT News Report uproot endemic corruption in pub- gles to overcome corruption are not are now living free. This can re- forts to root out this problem. open in the area, they would be dance with the needs of the time. KABUL: The National Security lic offices. acceptable. People should not be duce public trust in government," (ToloNews) Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar The head of the office, Sayed met French ambassador to Kabul Ghulam Husain Fakhri, said the Germany donates Jean-Michel Marlaud, discussing National Unity Government important issues, his spokesman (NUG) should not delay in assess- Donors to halt funds for TUTAP said Tuesday. “The two sides held ing big corruption cases. Lower house of the parliament has ment not to implement the Turk- Urfanullah Urfan said,” TA is €5.3m for potable talks about ongoing political and "Government's efforts to over- summoned the deputy of the Min- menistan- Afghanistan( TA) elec- known as TUTAP among Afghan security situation in Afghanistan come corruption [in public offic- ister of Water and Energy to pro- tricity project through central officials and Nation has taken water storage, supply and the issue of Afghan refugees es] is not enough nor satisfactory. vide more details over the TA provinces, over costing of the political shape in it, all Afghans Much more should have been done project which has recently pro- project, 28 months of delays,$35 should be convinced, and officials in Europe,” said Tawab Ghorza- AT News Report technical support for improvement ng. During the meeting, the am- but was not done [in this aspect]," voked major disagreements among million new power cables should in Ministry of Water and energy of drinkable water storage in the bassador said that France would he said. President Ashraf Ghani residents of some of the provinces be bought for 80 kilo meters, and and Afghanistan electricity de- KABUL: The Federal Republic of country.” He remarked that the last month said Kabul will attend in Afghanistan under the name of the deadline of the donors if we partment should do this.” Offi- continue supporting Afghanistan’s TUTAP electricity project. Dep- don’t finalize the draft of the cials in Ministry Water and En- Germany donated 5.3 million Eu- amount would be spent in strength- latest stance to define the enemies the Brussels and Warsaw summits ros to the Afghan government for ening of urban water storage, plan- showing achievements not messag- uty Minister of Water and Energy project donors will cut their finan- ergy have mentioned that the fol- of Afghanistan and the Afghans, Amanullah Ghalib declared differ- cial aids Deputy Minister of Wa- lowing electricity project is the improvement of water sector ning, water management and im- he added. Marlaud also informed es; however, there are concerns in three provinces. An agreement proving of water quality in Kabul, over a lack of assessment of big ent major problems are stance ter and Energy Mr. Ghalib said,” named TA where cheaper elec- Atmar of the end of his tenure as against the following National Meanwhile head of the Afghani- tricity is ensured by Turkmeni- was signed between Abdul Sattar Kunduz, Badakhshan and Balkh French ambassador to Kabul in the corruption cases. power project, over costing of the stan power department Mirwais stan to Afghanistan, but officials Murad, Minister of Economy and provinces. Germany had earlier al- near future. Atmar praised and ap- Fakhri commented on this, project, 28 months delays, and Alemi said,” efforts are underway and Afghan Nation has mistak- Hanns Brend Kuchta, Germany’s located 204 million Euros for wa- preciated the efforts and achieve- saying that the support from a deadline of the Donors will make to ensure electricity for Bamyan enly repeated the word for TU- GIZ Program Director. “The re- ter sector in Afghanistan through ments of Marlaud’s diplomatic number of high-ranking officials Afghanistan officials to finalize the Province by coming 2018, if we TAP, TUTAP has been drafted form program for water was one which thousands of people have tenure as ambassador in Kabul. towards corrupt figures is among following project as soon as pos- don’t finalize the plan for electric- and agreement was also signed in of the important schemes of Ger- been benefited. “Maintain drink- He added that during Mich- the biggest obstacles in govern- sible.” He also mentioned that Af- ity coming from Turkmenistan we between the Turkmenistan, many in Afghanistan began in 2014 able water and energy is the top el’s mission at Kabul, the relations ment's efforts to assess big cases. ghanistan Government is commit- will have to pay $ 50 million dam- Uzbeckistan,Tajikistan, Afghan- and will continue up to 2017,” priority of Germany to assist Af- had expanded extensively, and Meanwhile, a number of offi- ted to ensure electricity for Bam- ages because the electricity com- istan and Pakistan several years Murad said. “This is the third ghan people in this area,” said the hoped the same would continue in cials and MPs termed govern- yan residents till 2018. “Different ing from Turkmenistan is much ago which it practical work yet round of cooperation by Germa- GIZ program director Hanns future as well. ment's anti-corruption efforts as issues have halted Afghan Govern- cheaper than Uzbekistan.” Mp to begin. ny which provides financial and Brend Kuchta.