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www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimes www.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes MONDAY . MAY 08. 2016 -Saur 19, 1395 HS Yo ur Yo ur ad ad he re he re 0778894038

AGO PLEDGES HARSH ANTI-CORRUPTION STANCE Amid a surge in public concern over the issue of corruption, Afghani- stan's Attorney General's Office announced that it has decided to take more robust action against the trend. The AGO has said that those taking or receiving bribes will not be excluded from the law. "The high ranking government officials said. "We are deeply concerned and the ordinary citizens against about the next generation, if the Minister of Foreign Affairs Begzad, meanwhile said that al- bid, if the government does not take whom we gathered evidence and same trend is imposed on them, Salahuddin Rabbani said it would Qaeda is orchestrating the war in action to eliminate militants before those who were arrested on the this will create problems for them be a historical mistake, if govern- Badakhshan. that snow melts, the militants spot while taking or receiving as well," local resident Mehrollah ment fails to eliminate militants. "Al-Qaeda is leading the war might achieve their goal in Bada- bribes, the AGO has dealt with in said. In a recent survey, the Euro- Speaking during a trip to Bada- in Badakhshan and the group is try- khshan province," said Bashir line with the law and they are now pean Union (EU) announced that khshan, Rabbani urged people to ing to bring insecurity to the prov- Samim, head of Badakhshan pro- serving their jails terms in prisons the majority of Afghans do not mobilize against terrorists. He de- ince. Other problems that people vincial council. in Afghanistan," AGO spokesman trust in the effectiveness of gov- scribed the situation in Badakhs- have in Badakhshan include the lack Since the formation of the na- Basir Azizi said. Meanwhile, a ernment institutions. "If there are han as shocking and warned that if of security forces. In one of our tional unity government, several number of religious scholars and ten good people, another thousand the National Security Council does districts, we have 50 troops, which high ranking officials, including citizens have said that those pay- are not on the right path, so the not take timely action to suppress in the current situation is not President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Ex- ing bribes to government officials government must stop those who militants, it will be a big mistake. enough," he added. ecutive Officer (CEO) Abdullah are just as guilty and have also con- are violating the law," university "If the central government Members of Badakhshan pro- Abdullah, Former Minister of In- tributed to the expansion of the student Najib said. According to does not take action against ter- vincial council voiced their deep terior, President's Special Repre- trend in the country and in gov- field experts, corruption and the rorists in Badakhshan, it would be concerns over security in the prov- sentative for Reforms and Good ernment institutions. "Those who culture of bribery threatens the a great mistake. However, I assure ince and warned that if government Governance Ahmad Zia Massoud offer bribes have chosen one way integrity of markets, undermines you that the central government is fails to take action in time, the mil- and now Rabbani have visited and their approach is wrong, be- fair competition and distorts the also ready to defend this province itants will reach to their goal in the Badakhshan. Residents of the cause, corruption is the biggest allocation of resources in the coun- and I will take your complaints to province. province say however that they obstacle in the way of develop- try. Corruption is also one of the the National Security Council," he "The security situation in haven't witnessed any improve- ment and it is a central factor that biggest impediments in the way of added. Badakhshan is deteriorating with ment in security in the province undermines growth," a religious economic development and affects The provincial governor, Faisal the passage of each day. Allah for- so far. (ToloNews) scholar Maulavi Habibullah Hisam rule of law. (ToloNews) 29 Taliban fighters Four children from Access to Health Services same family killed In the recent past, the villagers in all aspects of life had many difficulties. They were deprived of all facilities of life and killed in Kunar had to live in a very desperate situation in many parts of country. In most villages, there was no clean water to drink By Mansoor Faizy cording to officials, the Taliban in Zabul blast and the children were at risk of catching numerous diseases due to unclean water that they were consuming. People militants had sustained heavy ca- AT News Report KABUL: Four members were suffering from various diseases because they were dirking the same water drunk by animals from streams, rivers sualties. “Unfortunately, one po- KABUL: At least 29 Taliban mili- of the same family were accumulated dams. In most villages, there were no medical facilities, as patients were treated by barbers and locally liceman was killed and three oth- killed and one another injured in a roadside bomb tants were killed after the Afghan ers were wounded in the attack,” brought-up midwives that could cause other potential problems to human life. They had to take their patients to the security forces repulsed their co- in Shajoy district of southern Zabul province, capital, Kabul or even abroad for treatment. As most of Afghan villages are situated far from the provincial centers in, the source said while wishing ano- local official said on Saturday. District Chief, ordinated attack on a police check nymity. the villagers have to cover long distances in order to take the patients on their backs or in the pushcarts on the roads posts in Ghaziabad district of Wazir Mohammad Jawadi, said that the roadside and paths, even difficult to travel bake and forth on either by foot or by vehicle. Most of the times, the patients would However, the Taliban’s bomb went off in Tazi area of the district on late Kunar province on Saturday morn- spokesman, Zaibullah Mujahid, lose their lives on the way before reaching the health centers. ing, provincial official said. In ad- Friday. He said that the children were playing at claimed that the militants killed 11 the roadside when the improvised explosive de- Such deaths in most villages have occurred frequently, as communities in Tanai district, Khost province have never dition 30 Taliban insurgents re- Afghan security forces. Two Tali- ceived injuries in the attack. Ac- vice (IED) went off. He blamed the Taliban for remained intact of such plights. In addition, inaccessibility to essential human needs has deeply suffered the resi- ban were killed and...P2 planting the IED to target security forces. How- dents of this district. Every day, they experienced a new problem. Fortunately, their problems reduced day by day ever, the insurgents have not commented on the after the National Solidarity Programme of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/NSP) tragic incident. Separately, a man and a woman covered the villages and districts by establishing the Community Development Council (CDCs) as well as implement- 43 insurgents were killed for having allegedly extramarital af- ing the infrastructure projects across the country. fairs. According to the district chief of Shajoy, In 1394 solar year, the CDC members and people of six villages including Hesark, Kutgai, Haji Yaqoob, Mir Zahid, the slain woman’s husband was also among the Nazarabad and Said Gul gathered together and decided to build a health clinic to benefit all villages. The implemen- killed military ops assailants. Police have arrested a few suspects and investigation is underway. It is worth to men- tation of health clinic project was supposed to take longer; however, the consistent efforts and strong determination of people and the CDCs made it possible to complete it in a short period of time. AT News Report har, Uruzgan, Balkh, Herat, Farah, tion here that in February this year, the United Jawzjan, Faryab, Baghlan, Kun- Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan As such, the residents of communities located in Tanai district do not have any concerns about their health. They KABUL: Forty three Taliban duz, Nuristan, Takhar and Hel- (UNAMA) in its annual report recorded 11,002 built a health clinic at a sum of AFN 9,000,000 funded by MRRD/ NSP including 10% community contribution fighters were killed and 15 others mand provinces. In these opera- civilian casualties including 3,545 deaths and (financial, labor or in-kind). Now, they can take their patients to the hospital on a timely manner. Upon construction wounded in different crackdowns tions 43 rebels including six for- 7,457 injured, the highest record since 2009. of the health, the mortality and morbidity rates have dramatically declined in this district. within the past 24 hours, said of- eigners were killed and 15 others UNAMA finding showed that in 2015, UNAMA Indeed, the local CDCs have demonstrated great initiative in encouraging two or three CDCs in order to construct a ficials. In a press release issued were injured. Thirteen insurgents documented a 37 per cent increase in women’s joint health clinic project that could benefit overall residents in the region. Certain practices have taken place in many here, Ministry of Defense (MoD) were arrested and handed over to casualties while the casualties of children had a said that Afghan National Army provinces where the villagers are happy and satisfied. It is worth mentioning that in most communities, the people in the relevant judicial body for in- 14 per cent increase. “In 2015, the conflict caused cooperation with their CDCs have constructed many health clinics with even more than 10% contribution and (ANA) in collaboration with Af- terrogation, added the statement extreme harm to the civilian population, with par- ghan National Police (ANP) and “Unfortunately, seven ANA sol- ticularly appalling consequences for children. Un- secured their lives usually threatened by drinking unsafe water. National Directorate of Security diers were killed in the operation precedented numbers of children were needless- In addition to rehabilitating and developing our villages, the MRRD/NSP has consistently worked hard to provide (NDS) had conducted joint opera- as result of enemy firing,” said the ly killed and injured last year – one in four casu- villagers including men, women, children and the elderly with basic human needs in the country. The construction of tions against insurgents in differ- statement. The national army also alties in 2015 was a child,” said Danielle Bell, a health clinic could be one of the examples of essential human needs that reflect the commitment of the MRRD/NSP ent areas of Kunar, Nangarhar, discovered and seized weapons UNAMA Director of Human Rights. She said towards the vulnerable people of Afghanistan. More and more a number of other necessary activities including Paktia, Paktika, Ghazni, Kanda- and ammunition in the operations. that “Other children suffered the loss...P2 construction of social centers, water reservoirs, pavement of kariz (underground canals) and roads, excavation of wells equipped with hand pumps, extension of water supply networks, conduct of community collective for clearing irrigation canals, etc have so far successfully been channeled by the MRRD/NSP across Afghanistan. Recently, the National Unity Government has announced the implementation of Maintenance Cash Grant (MCG) project designed to operate under the “National Employment Generation Programme for Peace” in order to maintain the projects already executed through the MRRD/NSP. So far, this programme has been implementing in many provinces as villagers showed full support and interest in implementing this project.

By Akhtar M. Nikzad The other day, the former sec- mad Mohaqiq, warned the government that if ond vice president Karim Khalili Bamyan province was ignored in the TUTAP KABUL: Members of the Wolesi at a gathering with his supporters power project, he would resign from his post and Jirga on Saturday warned that asked the government implement would be standing with the protesting people. political interference in Turkmen- the project through Bamyan prov- People in Khost province has also launched pro- istan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Af- ince. He said that people of Bam- test demonstrations asking the public policymak- ghanistan-Pakistan (TUTAP) yan, Daikundi and Maidan Ward- ers to stick to their decision and pass the power power transmission project ak provinces are expecting that the transmission line through Salang pass which is would create crisis in the coun- government would pay heed to economical and feasible. They said that it would try. Legislators asked the gov- their demand. “Pass the power be difficult to maintain security of the project if ernment to deal with all those with supply line from these provinces the power transmission line was passed through iron hands who are sabotaging the instead of Salang pass,” he asked Bamyan. Recently, the Council of Ministers de- project. They said that the pow- the unity government leaders. cided to pass the TUTAP electricity line through er transmission line shall pass He also warned of protests if Salang. The decision was criticized by ethnic Haz- through Salang rather than Bam- the government failed to meet their ara and termed it an act of injustice against the yan as decided by the government demand. Earlier, Deputy to the minority. To calm down the situation while keep- and approved by the World Bank. Chief Executive Officer, Moham- ing the national interests in view,...P2

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78.96 76.96 SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES "This is a warning, next time we'll kill you'' - ghan ashak. “It is a dish similar to dumplings. We get a lot of requests Afghan man tells of alleged for it and people also get it packed.” Another dish which is a hit with the guests is the Meetha racist attack against his Khajur which is a donut-like sweet dish. When asked what their favou- rite dish was, the unanimous an- family in Dublin swer was chicken biryani. “I love chhole bhature and gajar ka halwa”, adds Khatera. A traditional biry- ani preparation that the women make. The city has now been home a lot of them for close to about a decade and managing as single mothers has not been easy. Some of their children have grown up and are working in call centres. Some are still completing their education from Open School. “Every place has its good side and bad side. Peo- ple here have accepted us, so that’s a good thing. But there are instanc- es of discrimination. We are asked to pay a higher rent. If we had that kind of money, would we be living like this?” says Khatera. Qadria has four children-three sons and a daughter. Her daughter dropped out of school due to security rea- sons. “My eldest son is 18 years old and couldn’t complete his ed- An Afghan man fears for the safe- "At the end of it, they ucation. He now works in a call ty of his family, after his and two punched my son in the face and centre to help support us”, she young adult brothers and his 13- head. Everything happened in four says. Qadria was a trained college- year-old son, were apparently to five minutes." level teacher in Afghanistan and the subjected to a brutal assault near He also revealed how some of fact that her own children have to Marlay Park in Dublin. the attackers used 'a black metal struggle to complete school brings According to the 32-year-old, object' to beat his family members a wry smile to her face. Their ref- who relocated to Ireland six years and continued threatening them ugee status and the legal troubles ago, a gang of five men attacked after returning to their vehicle. that come with it cause a hindrance the three boys shortly after a fam- "They stuck up their finger in conducting even day-to-day ac- ily day out in the Rathfarnham saying, ‘We’ll see you again. Go tivities. Afghan Ashak served pip- park on Thursday evening. back to your own country. This is ing hot. Standing strong in the face He claims his brothers were a warning, next time we’ll kill you.’ of adversities, these women are cycling home along with the man's They used the F-word about be- setting examples for others in their teenage son, when the incident took ing Muslim too." community. But one thing they place. They were travelling along The Afghan native, who has have in common is their love for Nutgrove Way, when a car carry- been an Irish citizen since 2013, the city. “We love the festivals ing the five alleged attackers, added that his family have not en- here, especially Diwali and Holi slowed down and began verbally countered any trouble in the area as we have never seen such cele- abusing them. prior to this incident. brations in Afghanistan”, says Referring to the attack which "This is my home. I can’t be- Qadria. Ziyagul, the most vocal of ensued, he said: lieve this attack has happened. the lot, loves dancing. “There are "They rolled down the win- Why would people want to hurt festivals taking place all year dow and started shouting the F- my son like this? Nothing has ever round. People here have showed word many times, swearing a lot happened like this,” he said. This Mother’s Day, meet the future for their children and the country. Qadria, a member and there. She says, “Most parties that us love and also invite us to be women from Afghanistan who had community. Ilham, an initiative by translator of the group says, “Il- we had back home had a gathering and saying, ‘Why are you here? “From what the men said, I can part of the celebrations”, says Ziy- Go back to your country.'" see it’s racism." to leave their homeland to start a UNHCR and Access has brought ham means to learn something of 40-50 people. We used to cook agul. Their initiative has got a great new life in the city. These women together seven refugee women from others. When we started this lavish meals and that is why we "The men drove the car across His brothers were transferred response in the past and they wish in front of them, blocked them in. to St James's Hospital emergency are single mothers who have come from Afghanistan in a culinary af- catering service in Delhi, we rea- decided to take up catering in Del- to serve more Afghani delicacies together to form Ilham, a catering fair of sorts. lised that we were learning more hi as well”. They didn’t check their pockets department to receive treatment for to the people. Their willpower and for money or take their bikes – their injuries while his son is said service that serves traditional Af- All these women are single and more about the city’s flavours Their food is a hit among the determination are proof that a ghani dishes to Delhiites. Over- mothers whose husbands either and cultures”. Qadria reminisces people and they get regular orders they went straight to punch them. to be recovering well after suffer- mother will always find a way to Both my brothers fell unconscious ing some bruises and cuts. coming all odds, these women are died or were left behind in Afghan- over life in Afghanistan and the facilitated by UNHCR. One dish keep her children safe. working towards an empowered istan because of the conflict in the grandeur of daawats (parties) that always gets praises is the Af- after they were punched in the Gardai are investigating the al- (hindustantimes) face." leged attack. (newstalk) Govt asked to fill...... P12 faced by youth in the country, adding Representative of Advisory Board going in the wrong direction. The that the government should take steps to re- of Chief Executive Office, Parasto number of Afghans who say they solve these problems. Sayed Akhtar, a researcher Yari, said the Chief executive Of- are afraid for their personal safety in DI, said that access to higher education and fice would carve out plans accord- is at the highest recorded level insecurity were the other challenges consequent- ing to the findings of the report in (67.4%) since the survey began. ly. He said that youths termed weak governance, order to cope with the issues And despite government efforts to lack of opportunities and corruption in admin- throughout the country. Accord- curb corruption, 89.9% of Afghans istration main challenges behind unemployment ing to a survey report published say corruption is a major problem and poverty across the country. The report’s last month, investment in Afghan- in their daily lives, the highest per- findings show that 98 percent of respondents istan has dropped by 26 percent centage reported since 2004. Youth believe that the law must be obeyed by youths, in 2015; thus, leaving many peo- cite unemployment and illiteracy but 57 percent youth believed that living in Af- ple jobless. The Asia Foundation as biggest challenges; the increas- ghanistan without corruption and paying bribes in its “2015 Survey of the Afghan ing availability of media and ac- is impossible. The report said that over 60 per- People” revealed that pessimism cess to information seen as bright cent of respondents supported the National over political, security and econo- spot. As foreign aid declines, Af- Unity Government (NUG), but 47 percent of my affairs is at high level. The an- ghans say unemployment (71.4%) household youth are unsatisfied with perfor- nual Asia Foundation survey cov- and illiteracy (26.5%) are the two mance of the president and the Chief Executive. ered 9,586 Afghans (50.6 percent biggest problems facing their Youth urged the NUG to fulfill commitments in male and 49.4 female), represent- youth. order to help the young generation. The survey ing 14 ethnic groups and all 34 The 39.9 percent respondents said also demonstrated that trust over electoral bod- provinces. The public opinion poll that if they give opportunity ies, political parties and judicial organs declined. reveals rising concern over politi- would leave Afghanistan. Confi- A traditional biryani preparation that Welcomed the report released by the DI, Presi- cal transition, insecurity, and strug- dence in the Independent Election dent’s Advisor on Social Affairs, Adela Bahram gling economy this year as com- Commission (IEC) dropped near- the women make. Afghan Ashak served piping hot. Nezami, said that considering the challenges pared to last decade surveys. More ly in half over the past year, from mentioned in the report, the government would than half of all Afghans (57.5% 66.4 percent in 2014 to 36.4 per- try to explore ways to resolve these problems. respondents) say the country is cent in 2015. Interference in TUTAP project.... Four children from ...P1the lawmakers expressed sabotaging the project,” Ms deep concerns over interference of Karokhil asked the national spy same family... certain influential people for their agency for thorough probe into the personal benefits. They said that matter. Salih Mohammad Salih, ...P1of parents, and increasingly their mothers, these people were using the project another lawmaker, said that gov- sisters, and female role models – one in 10 casu- as a political tool to gain popular- ernment is responsible to provide alties was a woman.” ity. Members of the Wolesi Jirga electricity to Bamyan province, said that individuals who are med- but no one can mobilize people She reiterated anti-government elements dling in the project have lost their against the government in the cur- continued to cause the most harm – 62 per cent credibility and now wanted to re- rent situation. “It is regretful that of all civilian casualties, Pro-Government Forc- emerge on the political scene while a political leader [Mohammad es caused 17 per cent of civilian casualties, two making the TUTAP a bone of con- Mohaqiq] eats the food of the gov- per cent from international military forces, and tention between certain ethnic ernment and mobilizes people one per cent from pro-Government armed groups. “If these people contin- against it. It is the duty of the gov- groups. ued interference, residents of oth- ernment to provide public servic- Fighting between the parties to the con- er provinces will not sit silent. Peo- es, but it is also responsibility of flict, which could not be attributed to one spe- ple of other provinces will also the government to prevent anyone cific party, caused 17 per cent of the rest civil- stage demonstrations. They will from hampering the national ian casualties, she mentioned. stand against those who are asking project,” he asserted. Ground engagements between parties to the for change in route of the power Nasima Naizi, an MP from Hel- conflict caused the highest number of total ci- transmission line. It will damage mand, alleged that Iran wants to vilian casualties, followed by improvised ex- the national unity and create seri- create hurdles for the power plosive devices and suicide and complex attacks, ous issues,” Shinkai Karokhil, an project by influencing some peo- causing the most fatalities amongst civilians, MP from Kabul, said. She said that ple inside and outside the govern- followed by targeted and deliberate killings, the it was a matter of great concern ment. She remarked that interfer- that some political leaders moti- ence in TUTAP project will halt it report said. vated people against the important because the project is supported Anti-Government elements continued to national project to delay the by the World Bank. The Wolesi cause the most harm – 62 per cent of all civilian project. “I hope that the National Jirga ordered a special commission casualties – despite a 10 per cent reduction from Directorate of Security will inves- to evaluate the dispute over TUT- 2014 in the total civilian casualties resulting tigate the issue to know if any coun- AP power project with the gov- from their attacks. Notwithstanding the overall try is supporting those who are ernment. decrease, the report documents anti-government elements increasing use of some tactics that de- liberately or indiscriminately cause civilian harm, including targeted killings of civilians, complex 29 Taliban fighters ... and suicide attacks, as well as indiscriminate ...P1 five others wounded in the at- Provincial security officials as- and illegal pressure-plate IEDs. In addition this tack, he claimed. The attack on secu- sured the residents of tight securi- reduction of Anti-Government Elements caused rity posts was carried out at a time ty to avoid any untoward incident. casualties must be considered in the light of the when the Taliban insurgents an- They also said to improve the se- increase in unattributed casualties. nounced their spring offense code- curity further to defeat the Tali- Ground engagements between parties to the named “Operation Omari” and ban in the province. Insecurity conflict caused 4,137 civilian casualties (1,116 pledge to carry out more attacks has increased in the eastern prov- deaths and 3,021 injured) – a 15 per cent in- across the country. This is not for inces. In the start of February, hun- crease from 2014 – and the leading cause of the first time that the Taliban are fac- dreds of Nangarhar residents civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Improvised ing the wrath of Afghan security forc- staged demonstrations in Kabul to explosive devices caused 2,368 civilian casual- es as they previously, conducted a protest what they said “mounting ties (713 deaths and 1,655 injured). While this massive coordinate attacks on six dis- insecurity” in several parts of the represents a 20 per cent decrease it is still the tricts of the Kunar province, but the province, calling the empowerment second leading cause of civilian casualties in Afghan security forces repulsed their of the Taliban insurgents and attack in which scores of Taliban emerging of the Islamic State the Afghanistan. fighters were killed and wounded. major elements. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

KABUL : Finland and Afghanistan are working on a draft agreement on the future of Afghan asylum seekers in the North European country, a top official announced on Tuesday. EMERGENCY In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Permanent CALLS Secretary to Finland’s Ministry of Interior Päivi Nerg said her coun- Police try was dealing with the mass im- migration issue in two ways. One way of resolving the prob- 100 - 119 lem was a joint Finland-EU strate- gy, she said. The two sides will meet on May 17 in Brussels on Hospitals the future of asylum seekers. A second way for Finland was FMIC Hospital take up the issue bilaterally with As controversy grows over an al- Behind Kabul Medical Afghan authorities, added Nerg, ternate route to a 500kw Tajiki- who is currently in Kabul to dis- stan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pa- University: cuss the matter of asylum seekers kistan electricity project known as 0202500200-+93793275595 with the Afghan government. TUTAP, CEO Abdullah Abdullah's A memorandum of understand- second deputy Mohammad Mo- ing (MoU) containing the flow of haqiq on Friday called the move Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital illegal migrants was being drafted, an act of discrimination against Pule Bagh-e- Umomi she revealed, saying she had un- certain ethnic groups in the coun- 070263672 derlined the need for the voluntary try. return of refugees in her meeting Mohaqiq, who serves as sec- with Afghan officials. ond deputy of Abdullah in the na- Khairkhana Hospital The visiting secretary said EU tional unity government, threat- countries had been pondering over ened to end his alliance with the 0799-321007 how they could provide financial NUG if government moves for- 2401352 support to the individuals who ward with the new plan – to redi- were ready to return to their coun- rect the project through Salang. try voluntarily. "Relocating the electricity Indira Gandhi Children When asked about the future project from central regions means of refugees and her government’s a clear discrimination against cer- Hospital, Wazir Akbar strategy for treating them, she said tain people. This means that the Khan, Kabul 2301372 the cases of all 7,000 Afghan asy- president and his administration lum seekers were being studied. act against particular people and it Finland understood situation would mark the end of our coop- Ibn-e- Seena in Afghanistan and the reason why Cases of the remaining 4,000 security in home countries. expressing deep concerns over the lives due to border closures by eration," said Mohaqiq. these people had chosen to leave applicants are being investigated. But those who merely wanted recent humanitarian crisis in the some EU countries. She said EU Back in January, hundreds of Pul-e-Artan, Kabul their country, Nerg said, hinting She quotedthe Finnish president to have more comfortable lives EU region. member countries had been work- residents in central Daikundi prov- 2100359 3,000 of the asylum seekers might as directing government officials to would not be given permission to Some asylum seekers, includ- ing to prevent such tragedies. ince staged a demonstration after be allowed stay there. help the individuals facing grave stay in Finland, explained Nerg, ing women and children, lost their (Pajhwok) reports surfaced over the changing of the proposed route for TUTAP Wazir Akbar Khan electricity project, a project de- signed to transfer 500 kilowatts of Hospital electricity through the Salang Pass 2301741, 2301743 161 OF 162 ARTICLES OF CONSTITUTION of Afghanistan to Kabul and on- ward to Pakistan. AFGHANISTAN Meanwhile, Mohammad Ka- Ali Abad rim Khalili, second vice president HAVEBEEN VIOLATED: REPORT RUGSAND to former president Hamid Karzai Shahrara, Kabul top violators of the constitution," has also called on President Ashraf 2100439 said Ali Aqa Mazidi, a senior re- CARPET CENTER Ghani and Abdullah to review the searcher at the organization. LAUNCHED IN redirection plan of the project Findings of the study shows through Salang to Kabul, saying Malalai Maternity that of 113 laws suggested by the KABUL that Bamiyan is the safest and most Hospital constitution, only 45 of them have economically viable region for the been created and this issue has transfer of the key power project. 2201377/ 2301743 paved the way for corruption. He alleged that certain govern- "Other laws are very impor- ment institutions have been mount- tant to be created. For instance, ing pressure on the company sur- Banks the lack of laws over the authori- veying the project to think of an ties of ministers has led to an in- alternative to Bamiyan and change Da Afghanistan Bank crease in corruption and bureau- the route of the project. 2100302, 2100303 cracy," Mazidi added. "The president, chief executive Although the Presidential Pal- officer and the government leader- Bakhtar Bank ace did not come up with a clear ship must respond to the people. response to the finding of the The Afghanistan Rugs and Car- People must not indulge in issues 0776777000 study, it did stress on govern- pet Center (ARCC) was official- which are based on spite," Khalili ment's efforts to strengthen rule ly launched on Saturday in Kab- said. Azizi Bank of law. ul. The center aims at reviving "Bamiyan is the most secure, 0799 700900 "The base of the relation be- the carpet sector of Afghanistan economically beneficial route and tween nation and government is by developing state of the art will ensure future development and Pashtany Bank transparency in performances and production setups with im- economy of the people of Afghan- 2102908, 2103868 provision of services. The govern- proved work standards. At this istan," Khalili added. ment is trying to have a good rela- new facility, rugs and carpets are Despite efforts, TOLOnews tion with people through being le- produced based on modern de- was not able to get comment from Air Services gal-centric and institution-centric," signs incorporating traditional officials at the Ministry of Water said Shahussain Murtazawi, the patterns and ethic concepts such and Energy. Safi Airways deputy spokesman for President It is believed that both routes Ashraf Ghani. as the use of organic colors . Moreover, the center is not only could however have their own ben- 020 22 22 222 Based on the report, govern- efits. If the project is implement- ment, parliament and the judicial involved with production and sales but it will also act as a hub ed through Salang, the cost impli- Ariana system, all three, have violated the cation will be less as the route will constitution. It has termed lack of for professional development, 020-2100270 art research and promotion. be shorter. However if routed awareness among officials and law through Bamiyan and Maidan enforcement officials regarding the ARCC offers an unique business model where carpet weavers Wardak, it would be more secure, Kam Air A study by Freedom House has constitution is mostly violated by article 21 which states that Kabul constitution, the culture of impu- but more money will be needed found that out of 162 articles of the Presidential Palace, ministers, is the capital of Afghanistan. nity, corruption, ambiguity in the (marginalized communities and 0799974422 mostly women) will have an and the project will be delayed for the constitution, 161 of them have high ranking officials and gover- "Those in the Presidential Pal- constitution and lack of political two years. But, whatever route is been repeatedly violated over the nors. ace, high ranking officials, minis- will to implement the constitution opportunity to get their prod- finally settled on, it is said that Hotels past 13 years. The report shows the only ar- ters, governors, deputy ministers, as the main reasons for the viola- ucts to regional and internation- Bamiyan will still benefit from the According to the findings the ticle that has not been violated is commanders and strongmen are the tions. (ToloNews) al markets. electricity. (ToloNews) Safi Landmark 020-2203131 SERENA 0799654000 New Rumi Restaurant An Afghan media watchdog many to leave the country. The many, and other European coun- estimates that 300 journalists have bombing, which killed seven Moby tries. He said some journalists have 0776351347 fled Afghanistan for Europe in the employees and left at least 27 oth- fled to Europe to seek a better life. past year because of growing se- ers wounded, was the deadliest Joining migrant flow Internet Services curity concerns. The journalists attack on journalists in Afghani- Journalists leaving Afghanistan UA Telecom include employees of major TV stan in the past 15 years, accord- are economic migrants, Afghan networks such as 1TV and Tolo, ing to Nai. It occurred near the Minister for Information and Cul- 0796701701 / 0796702702 the country’s leading commercial Russian embassy in Kabul. ture Abdul Bari Jahani said. He broadcaster, according to Sidiqul- A female journalist for a major added that those leaving Afghani- Exchange Rate lah Tawhidi of Nai-Supporting TV network – who recently fled stan are “not only journalists but Open Media in Afghanistan, a lo- Afghanistan for Turkey and is try- Afghans from all walks of life.” Purchase: cal media advocacy organization. ing to reach Europe – said that af- Jahani pointed out the need for Some of the journalists fled in ter the suicide attack her family all Afghan government agencies to groups of 15 to 20 while others told her “not to work anymore.” join in creating a secure environ- One US$ = left the country with their fami- In an interview with VOA, she said ment for journalists to continue 68.26Afs lies, Tawhidi said in a phone in- she had no choice but to quit her their work and to get rid of incen- terview with VOA’s Afghanistan job and leave the country. tives for leaving. One Pound Sterling= service. “They’ve tried to reach According to the United Na- Asked about the mass exodus 96.69Afs Europe via Turkey and Greece,” tions, about 200,000 Afghans fled of Afghan journalists, One Euro = Tawhidi said. “Some of them have to Europe last year. Insecurity and the Committee for Protection of arrived in Europe. Others are ei- unemployment are cited as the Journalists (CPJ) said in an email 76.61Afs ther in Turkey or Greece.” His two leading causes of migration. that it does “not track numbers,” 1000 Pak Rs = group surveyed media outlets UNESCO, the U.N.’s cultural but it said it has received “an in- 640Afs around Afghanistan to estimate the organization, marked World Press creasing number of requests for number of journalists that have Freedom Dayon Tuesday. Direc- assistance from Afghan journal- Sale: fled the country, Tawhidi said, tor-general Irina Bokova noted the ists.” It said: “We don’t want to One US$ = adding that 40 to 50 women were importance of free and indepen- see the country drained of its most 68.46 Afs among them. Taliban suicide at- dent journalism “as a cornerstone valuable people. But I think as the tack A January 20 Taliban suicide of democracy.” country continues to founder and One Pound Sterling= attack on a bus carrying employ- Danish Karokhil, director of the level of violence increases, we 74.43Afs ees of Moby Group, the coun- the Pajhwok News Agency, told can expect to see more people try One Euro= try’s largest media company, VOA that several of his employ- to leave – and some of those peo- 71.21 Afs raised fears about the safety of ees left Afghanistan in the past ple will be journalists.” 1000 Pak Rs= 648Afs Afghan journalists and prompted year and are now in Turkey, Ger- (VOA News) SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES China can’t have double standards on terrorism: V K Singh After China blocked India’s bid at the United Nations to ban Jaish-e- Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, the neighbouring country was told that it cannot have double stan- MELBOURNE: Australian state public value across the world. cals sector as one of six key growth a year including USD 1.98 billion dards on terrorism, Union Minis- of Victoria today announced two "The Labor Government is pro- industries to drive jobs in Victoria in exports," according to minister ter of State for External Affairs V agreements with India in the area viding ongoing support to the med- - the sector currently generates rev- for small business, innovation and Last week, the Kalvari, India’s first to match. The fact that SSNs are K Singh on Saturday said. of medical technology to address ical technology and pharmaceuti- enues of more than USD 12 billion trade Philip Dalidakis. indigenous stealth submarine’s sea bigger, tougher, more heavily “We have conveyed to China major health challenges in India. trials outside Mumbai Harbour armed and longer-ranged than con- in very clear terms that you can- During the government-led created considerable excitement in ventional subs makes them indis- not have two standards on terror- Neuroscience Victoria trade mis- India’s maritime circles. The Kal- pensable assets. They can also ism. You cannot say that you don’t sion to India this week, Swinburne vari is the first of India’s six sub- perform functions that diesel-elec- accept or you are against terror- University signed two memoran- marines based on the Scorpene- tric subs generally cannot – like ism and at the same time you sup- dums of understanding to partner class being built under the much- cross an ocean underwater and at port a leader of a terrorist outfit,” with major Indian healthcare pro- delayed Project 75. Its sail-around high speed or remain submerged Singh said. India’s view has been viders. was widely seen as an important for weeks outside critical littoral conveyed to China at many fora, Neuroscience leaders from step forward in meeting the Sep- spaces. The powerful weapons including the External Affairs min- Swinburne signed one agreement tember 2016 target for the subma- and sensors they host far outweigh istry, the former Army chief said with Medanta, one of India's larg- rine’s commissioning. the combat capabilities of conven- here on the sidelines of a seminar est private hospitals, on a project Despite the absence of its “pri- tional submarines. by Centre for Eastern and North to improve the diagnosis of epi- mary weapon” – the heavyweight Eastern Regional Studies Kolkata lepsy across India. “Black-Shark” torpedoes – the In 1999, when the Indian Navy (CENERS-K). The project will develop prod- Kalvari’s presence in the open seas first proposed a 30-year plan for China can't have selective ap- ucts and technologies that can be emphasized India’s efforts at reju- the construction of 24 submarines, proach towards terrorism: VK used to help diagnose epilepsy in venating its indigenous submarine it did not intend to build nuclear Singh on Masood Azhar rowInd- villages and remote communities production program. While the attack submarines. At the time, the ia, Pak should have direct talks on across the sprawling nation, using project has faced long delays, In- plan was to construct six subma- Masood Azhar: ChinaIndia, Chi- technology to help local health dian naval technicians and project rines each with Western- and East- na agree to stay in touch on Ma- workers make early diagnosis and managers have worked tirelessly ern-stream technology in the ini- sood issueNeed for heart-to-heart refer patients quickly for treatment to meet construction deadlines. tial phase, before developing 12 talk with China over Masood in urban centres. The Kalvari’s appearance in the conventional submarines of an in- Azhar: Salman KhurshidFor UN Swinburne university also open seas last week then created digenous design. Unfortunately, ban, India listed JeM chief Ma- signed a memorandum of under- new hope for India’s submarine for New Delhi, the plan failed to sood Azhar's global terror connec- standing with the prestigious All ambitions. The cheery tidings take off as intended. Many fac- tionsMasood Azhar doesn't meet India Institute of Medical Scienc- aren’t limited to the conventional tors have been blamed for this lack UN criteria to be banned as terror- es to develop a cutting edge 'smart submarine program. Indian mari- of success in implementation: the ist: ChinaChina can't have selec- helmet' to reduce the incidence of time watchers are pleased with the apparent lack of funds, strong di- tive approach towards terrorism: head injuries for motorcyclists. impending induction of the first in- visions in the navy over a propos- VK Singh on Masood Azhar row- Two thirds of road vehicles in digenous nuclear-powered subma- al for a mix of conventional and India, Pak should have direct talks India are two-wheelers and tens of rine, the Arihant. Having cleared nuclear submarines, and the appar- on Masood Azhar: ChinaIndia, thousands of people die on India's its diving trials and missile tests, ent absence of visionary leader- China agree to stay in touch on roads every year with many more the Arihant could soon be commis- ship. Whatever the reasons for its sioned into the naval fleet as In- initial failure, New Delhi is now Masood issueNeed for heart-to- suffering injury and trauma. ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister According to a statement from the party stalwarts and coalition heart talk with China over Masood The 'smart helmet' is designed dia’s first nuclear ballistic missile making up for lost time and op- Nawaz Sharif is holding meetings the PM House, “The meetings will members, the mandate to be grant- platform (SSBN). At 6,00 tons dis- portunity by combining its ongo- Azhar: Salman KhurshidFor UN to be light-weight and incorporate with party leaders to discuss the take note of the current political ed to the committee will be fina- ban, India listed JeM chief Ma- technology to address the issues placement, the new submarine is a ing construction of conventional opposition’s letter regarding the situation of the country and dis- lised. The government will also unique technology demonstrator submarines with a proposal to sood Azhar's global terror connec- that currently discourage people Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the cuss the formation of a high-level consult its legal team on respond- tionsMasood Azhar doesn't meet from wearing helmets. and showcases the best of Indian build six nuclear attack submarines. judicial commission, and to con- party committee to engage the ing to the opposition’s letter per- naval design capability. Even Notably, barring some top-tier UN criteria to be banned as terror- These breakthrough agree- stitute a committee to negotiate the opposition.” The committee is taining to the Panama leaks. ist: ChinaChina can't have selec- ments demonstrate the world-lead- though it draws heavily from Rus- navies such as the U.S. Navy, issue on the government’s behalf. likely to be headed by Finance The formation of the commit- sian technology and has a limited Royal Navy and French Navy, no tive approach towards terrorism: ing expertise being generated from Panama leaks: Opposition in- Minister Ishaq Dar and will include tee is said to prove that the gov- VK Singh on Masood Azhar row- Victoria's renowned medical re- ballistic missile capability (its other submarine operating force vites government to settle probe senior members of the coalition. ernment is not isolating matters twelve indigenous K-15 Sagarika has completely done away with India, Pak should have direct talks search institutes with technologi- terms Following consultations with pertaining to the Panama Leaks. on Masood Azhar. cal advances that are adding real missiles have a range of only 700 conventional subs. While the sim- kilometers) the Arihant’s commis- ple advantages of SSKs like ease sioning is a milestone for Indian and quietness of operation have designers who have worked tire- been factors of interest, the past lessly for years to refine proce- few years have seen technological ASYLUM SEEKERS DEPORTED FROM COCOS dures for the submarine’s con- advances that have helped diesel struction. Needless to say, the electrics overcome their tradition- prospects of the induction this al disadvantage of less time sub- year of two submarines – one con- merged before surfacing to charge ISLANDS ARRESTED BYSRI LANKAN POLICE ventional, the other nuclear ballis- batteries. Air independent propul- The 12 Sri Lankan asylum seekers Typically, asylum seekers who ers intercepted at sea, the UNH- Sri Lankans expelled from UK The boat that reached Cocos tic – has caused a fair bit of curios- sion technology and fuel cells have deported from Australia’s Cocos are returned to Sri Lanka are held CR said the abbreviated assess- allege torture after deportation to Islands this week is one of only a ity about the Indian Navy’s pro- made it possible for conventional Islands have been arrested and tak- in police custody or Negombo pris- ment process was unlawful under Colombo handful to have reached Australian posed submarine force structure, submarines to remain underwater en into police custody in Colom- on. They face a magistrate’s court international law. Rights groups worldwide have territorial waters in the past two particularly in the wake of reports much longer that previously. bo. The group, which included a and are usually fined for the of- “UNHCR has previously raised serious concerns about Sri years. Last November, an asylum- that India has been exploring the Not surprisingly then, navies woman, one child, and one infant, fence of illegally leaving the coun- made known its concerns to Aus- Lankan asylum seekers – particu- seeker boat came within 200 me- possibility of manufacturing nu- today prefer a combination of nu- were flown back on a secret char- try. Some spend weeks, or even tralia about its enhanced screening larly members of the ethnic Tamil tres of Flying Fish Cove on Christ- clear attack (SSNs) submarines. At clear and conventional submarines, ter flight from the islands overnight months in jail, and the fines can be procedures and their non-compli- minority – being returned. In the mas Island. That vessel was inter- an international seminar in New with each class playing a specific on Thursday. up to 100,000 rupees ($A930). ance with international law,” it UK, deportations to Sri Lanka cepted and towed out to sea. Delhi recently, a participant won- role. Increasingly modern maritime The Australian government According to reports from the said. “UNHCR’s experience over have been halted by the high court, Last February, four Sri Lan- dered why the navy was continu- forces deploy advanced non-nucle- has declined to comment on the Cocos Islands, the asylum-seeker the years with shipboard process- and government documents show kan asylum seekers, intercepted in ing with its dependence on con- ar subs like the German Type 214 arrival of the asylum-seeker boat boat arrived in the lagoon between ing has generally not been posi- at least 15 Tamil asylum seekers a boat near the Cocos Islands, were ventional submarines when most for sensitive operations. Some at Cocos, or the group’s rapid two populated islands on Mon- tive. Such an environment would sent back to Sri Lanka subsequent- transferred at sea to the custody advanced navies had shifted to all- European navies, like the Norwe- forced removal, saying only “the day, before being met by the Cus- rarely afford an appropriate ven- ly escaped again and were granted of the Sri Lankan navy. nuclear submarine forces. gian Navy, have prioritized pro- government does not comment on toms vessel Ocean Protector. ue for a fair procedure.” Under the refugee status because they had Asylum-seeker boats still at- Indeed, there has been a long- curement of non-nuclear subma- on-water matters”. Asylum seek- The group was transferred to 1951 Refugees Convention, to been tortured upon return. tempt to reach Australia – though running debate within the Indian rines to carry out specific tasks, ers who reached Cocos Islands the Customs vessel, before being which Australia is a party, and Several reports have alleged at a much lower rate than at the Navy about the inherent attributes such as protecting the Arctic’s could be back in Sri Lanka moved on Thursday to a third boat, under customary international law, that asylum seekers returned from peak of boat arrivals in 2011 and of an all-nuclear undersea arsenal. fringes. Unsurprisingly, there have However, flight records of the and brought to the Cocos’ West countries cannot “refoule” a per- Australia to Sri Lanka have faced 2012 – but most are intercepted Notwithstanding the distinct ad- been offers to partner the Indian chartered jet that took the asylum Island, where they were trans- son, that is, send them back to a arbitrary arrest, persecution, po- and forced back before they reach vantages that nuclear submarines Navy in developing the design of seekers away, as well as Sri Lan- ferred to a bus. place where they will face harm. lice brutality, and torture. Australian territorial waters. (SSNs) enjoy over conventional the new class of nuclear-powered kan government officials and vid- A person on the island told subs (SSKs), however, an all-nu- attack submarines. The U.S. has eo evidence of the group’s arrival Guardian Australia the transfer clear submarine force, in an Indian made an expression of interest, in Colombo, confirm they have was “done cloak and dagger style”. context, is an essentially flawed though New Delhi is said to have been removed. Cardboard was placed over the idea. This is because a conventional its eyes set on the new Barracuda- The group was taken from the windows of the bus used “to min- submarine offers benefits in lit- class SSN being developed by the airport directly into the custody imise people getting eyes on toral waters that more than ade- French firm DCNS. Following re- of the criminal investigation de- them”. The group was placed on quately offset its most glaring con- ports that New Delhi has ap- partment of the Sri Lanka police. board a chartered jet, which left straint –limited operating endur- proached Moscow for the lease of Video footage of them arriving the island at 9:30pm Thursday, ance. A diesel electric sub’s biggest a second Akula-class (after the INS shows them being escorted through arriving at Colombo’s Ban- advantage is that it is smaller hull Chakra), there is also speculation Colombo’s Bandaranaike airport, daranaike airport in the early hours that is easier to maneuver in shal- of another collaborative venture some trying to cover their faces, of Friday. low waters and harder to detect. with Russia for the construction before being marshalled into a po- It appears the 12 had their ref- The fact that it costs a fraction of of SSNs. lice vehicle. The infant appears ugee claims assessed on board one price of a typical nuclear sub, India’s choice of partners for asleep in a man’s arms. of the boats, under the “enhanced makes a diesel electric an irresist- its tactical submarines, however, Lakshman Soysa, an immigra- screening” procedure introduced ible proposition for a midsize navy. is independent of its efforts to de- tion and emigration media spokes- by the Gillard Labor government Its attractiveness is only enhanced velop a nuclear ballistic missile man, told the Daily Mirror in Sri in 2012, which has attracted seri- by the ease of operation and the submarine. A cherished endeavor Lanka that all of the deportees had ous international criticism. absence of the risk of dangerous of the Indian defense scientific been arrested on arrival and hand- Assessments can be as short nuclear leaks. Simply put, devel- community for over two decades, ed over to the Criminal Investiga- as asylum seekers being asked four oping maritime states like India New Delhi has invested a great deal tion Department. questions: their name, country of cannot afford to overlook the prac- of financial and political capital in Several media reports in Sri origin, where they departed from, tical utility and effectiveness of an making the dream a reality. After Lanka suggest that some of the and why they had left. SSK in South Asia’s littoral spac- the Arihant, three more submarines members of the group had tried to In 2014, after Australia re- es. That said, nuclear submarines in the same class are currently un- reach Australia previously. turned 41 Sri Lankan asylum seek- confer an edge to a fighting force der construction at the shipyards that diesel electrics find difficult in Visakhapatnam. Karachi police arrest prime suspect in Perween Rahman murder case KARACHI: Karachi police on imous decision was taken that Saturday apprehended the prime Swati who is an active worker of a suspect in social activist Perween political party, was the key play- Rahman’s murder, a statement re- er in Rahman’s murder and was leased on Saturday confirmed. also involved in ethnic, as well as “Rahim Sawati was arrested religious terror activities. by Karachi’s district west police,” Perween Rahman remembered SSP Azfar Mahesar said during a Rahman, the director of the press conference at his office. Orangi Pilot Project, was gunned Perween Rahman case: ATC down by unidentified armed mo- remands prime suspect in activ- torcyclists in a drive-by shooting ist’s murder According to reports, near Banaras Flyover on March the accused was arrested from 13, 2013. The very next day, the Manghopir’s Sultanabad area and police claimed to have killed the a pistol was also recovered from alleged mastermind of the assassi- his possession. nation plot, a Tehreek-e-Taliban “It was very difficult to trace Pakistan operative identified as and arrest the suspect as he used Qari Bilal, in an encounter. Anoth- various methods, including differ- er suspect, Bilal alias Tension, was ent SIM cards to keep his identity also taken into custody but was hidden,” SSP Mahesar said. released by the court last year for He further added that dozens want of evidence against him. of suspects involved in land grab- In March 2015, the police bing, tanker mafia and extortion claimed to have arrested one of the were also arrested for investigation prime suspects in Rahman’s mur- by a joint interrogation team (JIT). der, Ahmed Khan alias Pappu About 15 meetings were held Kashmiri, from Mansehra in Khy- by the JIT, following which a unan- ber-Pakhtunkhwa. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief Dozens of ISILmass Egypt court recom- graves found in mends death for 6 defendants, but not Iraq, says UN envoy Mursi UN Iraq envoy says there is evidence 'hei- An Egyptian court recom- nous crimes' were committed as over 50 mended death sentences on Saturday for six codefendants mass graves found in former ISIL areas. of Mohammad Mursi but not for the ousted Islamist presi- More than 50 mass graves have The envoy said that the hu- dent in their trial on espionage been discovered in territory for- manitarian crisis was worsening in charges. merly controlled by the Islamic Iraq, with nearly a third of the The presiding judge in the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) population, or over 10 million peo- trial asked the mufti -- the in Iraq, including three burial pits ple, now requiring urgent aid - dou- country's official interpreter of in a football field, the UN envoy ble the number from last year. Islamic law -- to consider death has said. Iraqi civilians trickle back He projected that a further two sentences for the six codefen- into a devastated Ramadi million people could be displaced dants, saying the court would Jan Kubis, Special Represen- by the end of the year by new mil- convene again on June 18 after tative of the UN Secretary-Gener- itary campaigns aimed at driving the mufti's response. al for Iraq, told the Security Coun- out ISIL. It will then pronounce its cil on Friday that evidence of the Iraqi and Kurdish forces verdict and sentence for the "heinous crimes" committed by launched an offensive in March in remaining five defendants, in- the group in Iraq were being un- the province of Nineveh, of which cluding Mursi, on charges of covered as territory is retaken from ISIL-controlled Mosul is the cap- having supplied Qatar with ISIL. "More than 50 mass graves ital. ISIL have held Mosul since classified documents. have been discovered so far in sev- June 2014. Egyptian law requires the eral areas of Iraq," he said. Kubis urged Iraqi leaders to mufti to sign off on death sen- Iraqi forces, with backing from resolve differences that have led tences. His opinion is not bind- the US-led coalition that carries out to street protests in Baghdad, say- ing but is usually respected by daily air strikes against ISIL, also ing that the turmoil will only help courts. known as ISIS, have retaken sig- ISIL maintain its foothold. Qatar was a main backer nificant ground in recent months. "They are the ones who stand of Mursi and his Muslim In the city of Ramadi, three to benefit from political instabili- Brotherhood movement while graves containing a total of up to ty and lack of reforms," the UN he was in power between 40 sets of remains were found in a envoy said. 2012 and July 2013, when the football field on April 19, said Last week, protesters in Bagh- military overthrew and de- Kubis. Ramadi was retaken from dad stormed parliament after MPs tained him. ISIL when Iraqi forces seized the again failed to approve nominees He has since been sen- main government compound late for a cabinet of technocrats to re- tenced to death, life in prison last year, but the city was com- place the government of party-af- and 20 years in three separate pletely retaken only in February. filiated ministers. trials. Israel raids hit Gaza as violence flares for Erdogan says fourth day Russia’s defense ministry said a “regime of calm” truce in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo and parts of Latakia province had been extended “for Turkey will not Israeli aircraft hit two Hamas 72 hours beginning at 1 a.m. on Saturday” (1700 ET on Friday), Syrian state news agency SANA reported. A fragile local truce had been in place targets in Gaza early on Satur- for Aleppo city since early on Wednesday. In northern Latakia province, it first took effect on April 29, after a wider truce deal in western Syria day in response to rocket fire brokered by Washington and Moscow broke down. change terror as the worst flare-up of vio- lence since a 2014 war entered a fourth day. Obama to There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Trump: ‘This laws for EU rocket launch and most such fire since 2014 has been carried out Turkish president tells Europe he will not by fringe Islamist groups but is not a Israel holds Hamas responsi- change anti-terror measures in exchange ble for all such attacks. reality show’ for visa-free travel for Turks in EU. "Earlier today (Saturday)... a rocket was fired from the US President Barack Obama Gaza Strip at southern Israel," warned on Friday that occupying the army said in a statement. the Oval Office "is not a reality "In response... aircraft tar- show," in a swipe at outspoken geted two Hamas terror infra- Republican candidate Donald structures in the southern Gaza Trump who is vying to replace Strip." Hamas security sourc- him in the White House. Fighting es said the retaliatory raid hit with Obama is a battle Trump two brickworks in the south- would likely relish as he tries to ern city of Khan Yunis, caus- rally support within his own par- ing damage but no casualties. ty. During hard-fought Republican But witnesses said two primary campaigns, the billionaire missiles hit a base of Hamas's delighted in responding to attacks military wing east of the city, from rivals and found that his sup- causing significant damage. port grew when he lashed out at It was the fourth day of the his opponents. Asked about worst cross-border violence Trump at a media briefing in the since the 50-day war between The Pentagon acknowledged for support,” but declined to say if The Pentagon announced it White House, Obama called on the Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Recent actions taken under the Israel and Hamas which left the first time Friday it has de- they are special operations forces. has carried out a recent string of press and public to weigh past Erdogan has rejected easing anti- anti-terror laws include proposals 2,251 Palestinians and 73 Is- ployed US troops to Yemen since AQAP fighters have now fled strikes on AQAP in recent weeks, statements by the Republican but terror legislation in exchange for to strip Turkish citizenship from raelis dead in 2014. the country’s collapse last year, in Mukalla and other coastal areas, outside of Mukalla. did not point to any specific is- visa-free travel for Turkish citi- people accused of backing the sep- Mortar fire by Palestinian a push to bolster Arab and local due to the government offensive. “We have conducted four sues or remarks. "This is not en- zens in the European Union. aratist Kurdistan Workers' Party fighters and Israeli air strikes government forces battling al-Qae- While the number of US per- counterterrorism strikes against tertainment," Obama said, a refer- Erdogan told EU states, "We'll (PKK) and the closing of newspa- and shelling have raised con- da in the Arabian Peninsula sonnel on the ground is limited, the AQAP since April 23, killing 10 ence to Trump's television back- go our way, you go yours," in a pers such as Zaman. cerns for the future of an infor- (AQAP). United States is also offering an Al-Qaeda operatives and injuring ground. "This is not a reality show. statement released on Friday, just The government seizure of the mal truce that has held since Spokesman Navy Captain Jeff array of assistance to partners in another,” Davis said. This is a contest for the presiden- a day after the resignation of his daily, owned by United States- the conflict ended. Davis said the US military has also Yemen, including air-to-air refuel- The United States periodical- cy of the United States," he said. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. based Fethullah Gulen, came at the An Israeli tank round killed stepped up air strikes against ing capabilities, surveillance, plan- ly targets AQAP in Yemen, includ- Republican presidential candidate Davutoglu - who negotiated request of a state prosecutor in- a Palestinian woman when it AQAP fighters in the war-torn ning, maritime security and medi- ing a strike in March on a training Donald Trump speaks during a the deal with EU states - is be- vestigating the Islamic leader on hit her home east of Khan Yu- country. cal help. camp that killed more than 70 rally at The Palladium in Carmel, lieved to have stepped down after terrorism charges. nis on Thursday. A “very small number” of The Pentagon previously had fighters. Ind., Monday, May 2, 2016. (AP) a rift with the Turkish president. Presidential system Since Wednesday, Hamas American military personnel has more than 100 special operations AQAP, which has long been Some top Republican leaders - US European leaders wanted Tur- Critics of Erdogan say the and other groups have fired at been working from a “fixed loca- forces advising the army in Yemen, entrenched in Yemen, is regarded House Speaker Paul Ryan among key to reverse recent anti-terror former prime minister is trying to least 12 mortar rounds at Is- tion” with Yemeni and Arab coali- but pulled them out early last year by Washington as the network’s them - are still expressing wariness measures in exchange for allowing increase his power by expanding raeli forces searching along the tion forces -- especially the Emir- as the country collapsed. most dangerous branch. about Trump, who became the Turks to visit the EU without visa the role of the president, which border, and short distances in- atis -- in recent weeks around The US The group claimed responsi- party's presumptive nominee this for stays of up to 90 days. was previously largely ceremoni- side Gaza, for infiltration tun- Mukalla, a port city seized by Navy also has several ships bility for last year’s deadly attack week when two Republican rivals The laws were brought in af- al. On Friday the Turkish leader nels leading into Israel. Such AQAP a year ago, Davis said. nearby, including an amphibious in Paris on the staff of satirical dropped out of the White House ter a number of attacks carried out said that a rapid switch to a pres- tunnels were among the most “This is of great interest to us. assault ship called the USS Boxer weekly Charlie Hebdo, and has race. Former Florida Governor Jeb by the Islamic State of Iraq and idential system over the current feared weapons of Hamas fight- It does not serve our interests to and two destroyers. been linked to more than one at- Bush, who ran unsuccessfully for the Levant (ISIL) group and Kur- parliamentary system would make ers during the 2014 conflict and have a terrorist organization in AQAP took advantage of the tempt to blow up aircraft bound the Republican nomination, post- dish separatists, respectively. the country stronger and more sta- one was uncovered by the army charge of a port city, and so we are chaos of fighting between pro-gov- for the United States. ed on Facebook that he will not The government says that the ble. on Thursday. assisting in that,” the spokesman ernment forces and Iran-backed The Yemen conflict has killed vote for Trump - one of the sharp- laws will allow it to take on the The ruling AK party, to which added. rebels to expand its control in more than 6,400 people and dis- est slights yet against the New groups more effectively but crit- both Erdogan and Davutoglu be- He said the troops were help- southern Yemen, including the sei- placed 2.8 million since March last York real estate mogul by a senior ics say the country's leadership is long, is expected to select a new Egypt gives Italy ing the Emiratis with “intelligence zure of Mukalla. year. Republican. unfairly targeting opponents. prime minister. union chief phone records in Regeni LIBYA, TUNISIA EYE ‘ANTI- case TERRORIST COOPERATION’ Neighbors Libya and Tunisia, they have set up a training camp Egypt has handed over the mo- which have been hit by a string of for Libyan and foreign militants. bile phone records of the head extremist attacks, pledged Friday The Libyan news agency of a street vendors union to Ital- to “cooperate in the fight against LANA said Tunisia and Libya are ian investigators who are look- terrorism.” expected to set up a joint commit- ing into the killing in Cairo of “We will conquer terrorism tee tasked with controlling the student Giulio Regeni, a legal but it will take time and coopera- main Ras Jedir border crossing be- source said on Friday. tion,” Tunisian Prime Minister tween the two. Regeni, who was doing Habib Essid told a joint news con- Last year a string of deadly postgraduate research into the ference in Tripoli hours after his attacks claimed by ISIS killed doz- union, was last seen by his arrival in the Libyan capital. ens of holidaymakers in Tunisia friends on Jan. 25. His body, The head of Libya’s new uni- and dealt a devastating blow to its which showed extensive signs ty government, Fayez al-Sarraj, tourism industry. of torture, was found in a road- agreed on the need to bolster bilat- Officials have said the attacks side ditch on the outskirts of eral cooperation against extremists were planned in Libya. the Egyptian capital on Feb. 3. active in both countries. Tunisia has built a 200-km Italy, which has repeatedly “We spoke about security co- (125-mile) barrier stretching about complained that it has not re- ordination for the battle against half the length of its border with ceived full cooperation from terrorism,” Sarraj told reporters. Libya in an attempt to prevent Egypt over the killing, has asked “What happened yesterday in militants from infiltrating. for the phone records of 13 in- the Abu Grein area... was very In March, Tunisia closed two dividuals as well as a mass of close,” he added. border crossings with Libya for other information, including On Thursday extremists from two weeks in response to a deadly video from surveillance camer- ISIS advanced on the town of Abu extremist attack on a town near the as. Grein east of Tripoli and overran a frontier. Earlier this week, the Egyp- key crossroads in an assault dur- Thousands of Tunisians are tian authorities sent to Rome ing which a suicide bomber killed believed to have gone abroad to the records of five people, in- two policemen. join extremist groups, many to Lib- cluding Mohammed Abdullah, The crossroads spills onto the ya which plunged into chaos after the head of the street vendors coastal highway that stretches fur- the 2011 uprising that toppled and union, said the legal source, who ther east to the border with Tuni- killed dictator Muammar Qaddafi. has direct knowledge of the sia. ISIS has exploited this chaos probe but declined to be named. ISIS launched the assault from and established a stronghold in Lib- The identities of the other four their stronghold in Sirte, which ya, where it has claimed bombings people whose phone. they captured last June and where and executions. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 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 By Afrasiab Khattak become a hybrid of military rule Musharraf’s “enlightened against civilians will not allow Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir and civilian dispensation with moderation” had remarkable even the best of political gov- Phone No: +93-772364666 The Panama leaks are expected a permanent inner contradic- similarities when it came to the ernment to deliver. E-mail: [email protected] to dominate the “national” po- tion. The clash between de jure adoption of a constitutional Fearing to lose power the litical discourse in Pakistan in and de facto is not invisible scheme of controlled democra- sitting governments stick to the the foreseeable future like the anymore. This is the root cause cy giving a veto power to the mantra of being at the same Email: [email protected] charges of rigged election mo- of the “permanent crises” in Pa- generals. page with the security estab- nopolized it in 2014. kistan, but ironically this is a In the process the Consti- lishment and aspiring to come www.afghanistantimes.af Along with numerous oth- subject that is generally avoid- tution lost its basic structure to power riding the crises most er Pakistanis I had vehemently Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi ed in public debate. of a federal and parliamentary of the opposition political par- supported a full investigation It all started in 1971 after the system and acquired the char- ties deny the existence of the into the charges of rigging in political and military debacle in acter of a quasi unitary and problem. Advisory editorial board elections at that time and to- East Pakistan. quasi presidential system. All the while the said con- Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, day I am wholeheartedly in fa- Since the military junta had In 2010 the parliament was tradiction not only persists but vor of credible investigation presided over the disintegra- able to restore to a large extent it is also eating into the very Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal into the questions arising out tion of the country the gener- the Constitution of 1973 to its vitals of state and society by of the contents of Panama Pa- als had to beat a political re- original form through the 18th blocking almost all avenues of Graphic-Designer: pers. treat from the power politics, at amendment, something that is development. Edriss Akbari and Bilal Yusufi After putting the question least for the time being. hard to swallow for the propo- The problem of civil-mili- of investigation out of the way It was during this interval nents of controlled democracy. tary divide in the state system Marketing & Advertising: I want to draw attention to a that the elected political lead- Be that as it may, Pakistan is too big and too deeply en- Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 completely different dimension ership put together a federal can’t afford to live with this trenched for any one party or of the situation. parliamentary Constitution of ever-deepening contradiction one institution. Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan We remember very well that 1973. indefinitely. Its resolution will require Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 the elected political govern- But the security establish- Terrorism fed by religious collective wisdom of the peo- ment had narrowly escaped a ment of the country has never extremism, rampant corruption ple of Pakistan. Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press putsch at the climax of the pre- fully reconciled with the sys- in all state institutions, environ- As the main repository of vious polarisation (although it tem enunciated by the afore- mental degradation and inter- the people’s will and wisdom it had to cede a lot of space in mentioned Constitution. national isolation among so is the duty of elected parliament policy and control to the kha- They felt “cheated” at the many other challenges are to address this issue and de- The constitution says kis) and can face a similar threat end of controlled democracy. threatening the very existence vise ways and means for its in the coming few months when The generals have in prac- of the federation. amicable resolution. Article Twenty-Four: Liberty is the natural right of human beings. This the situation heats up due to tice regarded it to be an aberra- A country at loggerheads It doesn’t have to be a zero right has no limits unless affecting others freedoms as well as the public the current stand off. tion and have made efforts to with three out of its four imme- sum game. interest, which shall be regulated by law. Liberty and human dignity are But have we not been here “correct” it more than once. diate neighbours can’t be a But the solution will defi- inviolable. The state shall respect and protect liberty as well as human before? Remember Memogate The civilian government country living in peace. nitely have to be with in the and Prime Minister’s letter to led by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto faced No civilian government can framework of the democratic dignity. Swiss banks? Many of these three military coups. focus on resolving these seri- vision of the founding fathers stories that made headlines in The first two were unsuc- ous challenges when it is prov- of the country. the past are completely forgot- cessful but the third one result- en to be “ shallow” or weak in Will it be too much to ex- ten now. ed in the overthrow of civilian the face of political machina- pect from the Honourable The aforementioned “cri- rule. tions of the deep state. Speaker of the National Assem- ses situations” that seemed to General Zia’s military dicta- Electronic media, largely bly and Honourable Chairman spell disaster, and were sup- torship did not hide its inten- controlled and manipulated by Senate of Pakistan to consti- posed to be created by the ci- tion of overhauling the Consti- the deep state, is instrumental tute a joint Parliamentary Com- vilian dispensations, were ac- tution. in creating artificial crises and mittee (or Committee of Whole tually produced by the refusal After Zia’s death in a plane hysterics. if the rules permit) with the ap- of the deep state to reconcile crash in 1988 the military was Here the purpose is not to proval of members of both the with the system dominated by not in a position to continue a whitewash the weaknesses of houses to tackle this problem Government of civilians. direct rule so it settled for indi- political elites arising out of over and above partisan poli- But the deep state, after rect control. corruption and incompetence. tics with help from civil soci- strengthening its grip on the But in 1999 it intervened But that is something that ety? Otherwise we shall be wait- caretakers commanding heights of the once again and had no hesita- can be overcome by continu- ing some thing on the pattern system of governance and tion in imposing distortions ity of democratic process where of Arab Spring. modern media, has developed and deformations on the Con- people can reject the old polit- But as we have seen in Iraq, The two leaders of the unity government are apparently still looking political engineering into a fine stitution. ical teams and elect new ones. Libya and Syria it may kill the art. For all practical purposes Interestingly General Zia’s But the entrenched diarchy patient along with the dis- for ‘competent’ persons to fill the vacancies of defense ministry the Pakistani state system has “Islamization” and General in the state system tilted ease.—(The Nation) and intelligence agency since they took power 20 months ago. The president and chief executive usually promise the people that they would solve this problem “in the near future”. In his recent state- ment, President Ashraf Ghani loudly said in front of the people’s representatives at the house of people, the Wolesi Jirga, some three weeks ago that the nominees of the ministry of defense and the national directorate of security would be introduced to parliament By Hisham Melhem Obama’s universe words some- others who constitute Obama’s Vatican, he assigned that mission times are synonymous with policy inner circle of advisors are more to Ben Rhodes, who began his con- for the vote of confidence. The defense ministry is directed by The world according to President and action. In these two lengthy powerful and influential than Sec- tacts without the knowledge of Barack Obama described recently articles, Obama’s universe is cold, retaries of State and Defense. Secretary of State John Kerry. caretakers since the beginning of the new government in Septem- in the Atlantic Magazine and the unsentimental, calculating, deceitful, Obama insists on controlling na- Rhodes was tasked with selling the portrait of Ben Rhodes, deputy and its inhabitants are willing to live tional security issues and foreign Iran deal to congress and the Amer- ber, 2014. Some nominees for the positions were rejected by the national security advisor for stra- comfortably with horrendous trag- policy from the White House. ican people. When Rhodes joined lawmakers, and as they were the only scholars across Afghanistan, tegic communications, in the cur- edies like Syria’s “where more than Former Secretary of Defense the Obama campaign in 2007 he rent issue of the New York Times 450,000 people have been slaugh- Chuck Hagel found that out in a was 30 years old, and he brought the government had to ask them to run the post as caretakers. The Magazine reveal an insular White tered.” What is so egregious in these humiliating way when he was with him “a healthy contempt for House suspicious of the foreign two lengthy articles is that the Pres- asked to step down because he was the American foreign-policy estab- top defense and security organs lack directors as the Taliban mili- policy establishment entrenched in ident and his men did not even come out of step with the White House lishment, including editors and re- Washington and New York, includ- close to questioning a single deci- on Syria and ISIS, and because the porters at The New York Times, tants have intensified attacks against the security forces in different ing senior members of Obama’s sion or position they have taken in inner circle never warmed up to The Washington Post, The New cabinet, contemptuous of tradi- the Middle East in more than seven him. One of Obama’s most conse- Yorker and elsewhere, who at first provinces. This has caused a big concern for the people who ex- tional allies and friends in Europe years. There was no hint of an at- quential and most controversial applauded the Iraq war and then pected Mr. Ghani for great performances. The president and his and the Middle East, and disdain- tempt at introspection or honest decision was taken, after he took a sought to pin all the blame on Bush ful of what they see as the very self-criticism; only naked, unbridled walk and consulted Dennis Mc- and his merry band of neocons electoral rival turned partner in the administration are believed to gullible American Media they be- arrogance and self-righteousness. A Donough at the height of the Syr- when it quickly turned sour.” came very adept at skillfully ma- portrait of the advisor as a young ian crisis in the summer of 2013, Rhodes derisively refers “to the have problems in dividing the power, so they cannot agree to select nipulating and ventriloquizing its manThe portrait of Ben Rhodes as when Obama decided to retreat American foreign-policy establish- narratives. Some of the president’s “the single most influential voice from his announced decision to ment as the Blob. According to a specific individual for these positions. While people’s lives are in relatively young men, particularly shaping American foreign policy punish the Syrian regime after its Rhodes, the Blob includes Hillary Rhodes and Jon Favreau a former aside from Potus (Obama) himself use of chemical weapons and kill- Clinton, Robert Gates and other danger, the two leaders are struggling to overcome their insider speechwriter, are like him, gifted “ is stunning. Rhodes channels and ing 1,400 civilians. It was after the Iraq-war promoters from both differences. This is a big shame for a government that has failed to wordsmiths who see the skillful mirrors the President. The two are walk, that Obama called his Secre- parties who now whine incessant- use of “messaging” and the way inseparable. The braggart Rhodes taries of State and Defense, to in- ly about the collapse of the Amer- complete its cabinet members for some two years. What can peo- the “narrative” is advanced, as im- boasts “I don’t know anymore form them of his decision. Obama ican security order in Europe and portant as the content of the poli- where I begin and Obama ends.” did not even bother to consult them the Middle East”. One would sus- ple expect such government about their personal and social securi- cy, and at times the “narrative” Rhodes and Denis McDonough, first. When Obama began his se- pect that Obama shares this senti- ty, fight with corruption and provide education and employment supersedes everything else. In White House Chief of Staff, and cret contact with Cuba, via the ment with his young guru. for their youth? Foreign countries are usually blamed by our lead- ers for the deteriorating security, but they have never thought that part of this situation is themselves. Massoum Stanekzai is a re- spectful person, but he is not the only one to lead this or that ministry. When the legislators give negative vote for a government’s candidate, the president should introduce another one. We have to work for democracy, in which different people with different ideol- ogies serve for their homeland in the same government if we be- lieve democracy. There are several military officers with higher ed- ucation and great experiences that should be asked to take part in serving Afghanistan. No problem if they are not from our political parties or have served for a previous regime. People want the gov- ernment to bring security and stability for them and the government is very responsible to meet the nation’s demands. 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. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

By Amina J Mohammed By Abdulrahman al-Rashed tive structures don’t go hand- think it will slowly move to es- The ministry of communi- in-hand with the modernizing tablishing huge economic en- cation opposed the idea citing There is an old Nigerian prov- While examining Saudi Ara- philosophies of the govern- tities to plug the holes and two reasons: the high incomes erb that says "fine words do bia’s Vision 2030, spearheaded ment. bridge the gaps and eventual- of the phone sector that repre- not produce food". So I will by Deputy Crown Prince Mo- Contrary to popular beliefs, ly, limit the economic slow- sented a second source of in- keep my words as simple and hammed Bin Salman, there are officials in the public sector down. come for the country after oil, clear as possible. several challenging long-term spend time more than their This would be a great op- and secondly, the question of Africa is facing a harsh re- and short-term commitments counterparts in the private sec- portunity for Saudi Arabia be- security. But after the telecom- ality that is exacerbated by cli- that must be assessed. tor just to achieve one task. cause reorienting its economy munication industry was priva- mate change, poverty and con- Establishing a huge logis- Therefore, it is quite neces- to big institutions, as opposed tized, the government’s income flict. Data shows that one in tics center linking three conti- sary that the mindset has to to heavily populated countries doubled threefold and did not every two people on the conti- nents by air, sea and land is a change as the role of the state like Egypt, will need to further pose threat the country’s na- nent lives in extreme poverty. strategic and ambitious project evolves. This has to be done break down its sectors on a tional security. In 15 years, most of the that will require a lot of time, as the state now plays a role in wider scale. Saudi Arabia needs to move world's poor will reside here in effort and money, as well as the daily life of the Saudi citi- Through huge economic from the Rentier state mentali- Africa. Sadly as I write, about plans to attract 30 million pil- zen – from birth to retirement, entities, the country will be ty to one embracing the free 240 million people go to bed grims a year by 2030. from home permits to his child’s able to move to the next stage economy market. hungry every night (PDF) while When it comes to cutting education. Half a century later, that will enable it to rehabilitate This is where re-structuring malnutrition kills more than 50 down government bureaucra- modern-day life has placed the society to a more produc- the systems to do away with percent of the African children cies, in terms of reducing big more burdens on the citizen’s tive one that can compete in bureaucracy will help jumpstart who die before they reach the government and easing the shoulders and hence, leading today’s modern demands. the expansion efforts toward age of five (PDF). We cannot roles in which administrative formation lies in the continent's tor that is expected to be worth to higher expectations de- In Saudi Arabia, some sec- developing a freer and bigger continue to let this happen. systems play at, will inevitably manded of the government to tors have been able to break economy. Counting the Cost - Has the rich soil. Simply raising crop $1 trillion by 2030 (PDF). lead to a reduction in wasted yields by 10 percent reduces The World Economic Fo- perform. away from big governance like This article was first pub- World Trade Organisation time, helps in mobilizing efforts Before, the population the petrochemical and commu- lished in Asharq al-Awsat on failed poor countries? poverty by about seven per- rum Grow Africa Initiative pro- and spare some costs. If done cent. vides a platform for engaging could be counted in millions. nication ministries, banking May 7, 2016. Waste and inefficiency in the right way, it would help Now, the population accounts companies and businesses like Abdulrahman al-Rashed is These stark statistics are Today, we already have the African business and entrepre- widen the circle of stakehold- knowledge to do this. Simply neurs. This collaboration em- for more than 24 million inhab- dairy giant ‘Al Maraai. So no the former General Manager of hard to grapple with. Imagine ers involved. itants. Because of all this, the doubt that small businesses Al Arabiya News Channel. A for a moment the pain of a moth- raising agricultural productivi- phasises the importance of The process of developing ty is not enough. If we want to green jobs for business. old ways don’t cut it anymore. have stayed vulnerable and veteran and internationally ac- er who cannot feed her new- efficient working systems Enabling the private sector suffered with the failure to pro- claimed journalist, he is a former born daughter with the proper achieve food security we must By prioritising healthy ec- should not take much time and ensure that we look after the osystems with this type of ag- The government has initi- vide adequate training and na- editor-in-chief of the London- food she needs to live beyond costs but rather requires good ated ways in which the private tionalization efforts to see it based leading Arab daily the age of five. vital ecosystems that allow us riculture, we can also help to management to follow through. to produce our food. More re- combat climate change, reverse sector plays its part by employ- succeed. Asharq al-Awsat, where he still Imagine the mother who Reorganizing will help over- ing citizens and providing them The government will lead regularly writes a political col- toils all day in the field but still search will be conducted to find environmental degradation, come obstacles and introduce innovative solutions to these which is costing the continent with the basic services. The the change in the markets dur- umn. He has also served as the goes to bed with a stomach the necessary reforms to the Vision 2030 is set to create new ing the first phase, by the editor of Asharq al-Awsat’s aching from hunger because challenges. up to $68bn annually, fight de- systems and modernize them. As the continent continues sertification and stop biodiver- opportunities for the private privatization of some of its ser- sister publication, al-Majalla. she cannot afford enough food I do not imagine any of the sector to invest in more vital vices like the health ministry. Throughout his career, Rashed to feed her family. to battle with climate change, sity loss. Vision 2030 objectives can be we can no longer afford to play This is why the creation of areas like education and health The path to privatization has interviewed several world And now picture this: Mil- achievable without firstly re- and promises to reform the sys- will inevitably face doubters to leaders, with his articles garner- lions of perfectly good, nutri- the proverbial fool for we al- the Africa Ecosystems Based forming structures and doing ready know that the continent's Adaptation for Food Security tem and legislation. its path to potential success. I ing worldwide recognition, and tious tomatoes rotting in the away with lengthy bureaucra- But I don’t envision the can recall a similar case in the he has successfully led Al Ara- hot Nigerian sun. While 13 mil- transformation lies in the rich- Assembly (EBAFOSA), is nec- cy. Reorienting the structures ness of the African soil. essary. government solely relying on 1990’s when there were de- biya to the highly regarded, lion Nigerians suffer from hun- The late Saudi politician, the capacities of the private mands for full privatization of thriving and influential position ger and more than one million This means looking after the The assembly serves as the Ghazi El Kasaybi, was one of bees and insect pollinators that continental policy platform to sector, which might not be the telecommunications sector it is in today. He tweets @aal- children suffer from malnutri- the foremost critics stifling bu- ready to take on the burden. I by the state. rashed tion, the country wastes more are necessary for the growth of foster and enhance access to reaucracy and considered it than 50 percent of its annual 75 percent of all our crops renewable energy that can one of the main obstacles in tomato harvest (PDF). (PDF). It means looking after power agro-processing, and governance. He even wrote a There is another West Afri- our soils and our water sourc- boosts access to markets and famous book about it title “Life can proverb: ''It is a fool whose es. And it means sharing the nurture partnerships through in management” based on his tomatoes are sold to him." Un- knowledge and the technolo- branch formation in each Afri- What next for the deep experience in facing bu- fortunately this is the reality in gy that allows us to do all of can country. reaucracy. Nigeria and most part of our these things. The launch of EBAFOSA I once asked him whether continent. But the true fool is If we can do this - if we can branches across the continent, bureaucracy was from the fault the man who grows enough optimise food production by including one in Nigeria last media in Middle East of the government employee or tomatoes to feed himself only embracing an ecosystem- month, is a step in the right di- vis-à-vis the environment said to throw them away and buy based adaptation approach to rection. government employee was someone else's tomatoes. agriculture - we can boost In the coming weeks, 193 working under. He replied with This is not just a Nigerian yields by up to 128 percent. countries will meet in Nairobi and N-Africa? a smile on his face: “Not every- problem. It is an African prob- What is even better about for the United Nations Envi- one is like Ghazi.” This revealed lem. Sub-Saharan Africa this approach is that it does not ronment Assembly - the world's his own unique character in By Roxane Farmanfarmaian different perspective, as Habermas increase government restrictions spends $35bn on importing require enormous resources. parliament on the environment. fighting impediments, which is did. Scholars can track trends, and on free media access. food each year (PDF) and the There is an ancient farming It is vital that the interna- something that we don’t al- The media's power to engage soci- foresee changes in the public At the same time, the media region loses a further $48bn technique in West Africa called tional community uses this op- ways see in others who simply ety is increasingly transforming square that might escape those landscape is never flat, but multi- from food that is wasted post- "zai". This simple technology - portunity to recognise that follow the system and can’t find society itself. The "satire crisis" working with a focus on the mar- levelled. This means that under- harvest because of poor roads, a circular depression is dug into healthy ecosystems underpin that erupted between the German ketplace in the shorter term. standing why and how restrictions alternative pathways to get government and Turkish President Media programmes have been are occurring in one area - for ex- inadequate storage and poor dry soil and used to grow seed- human health, wellbeing, live- things done. lings - can turn crusted land lihoods, jobs and sustainable Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid- ballooning in universities around ample, newspaper closures - and access to markets (PDF). Through huge economic April illustrates this well. the world. At the University of why parallel restrictions are not These are enormous re- into nurseries by improving growth. entities, Saudi Arabia will be The explosion over this inter- Cambridge, a Media in Political occurring in another media area - sources that - when added to water retention. If properly ex- As the continent continues able to move to the next stage play of free speech, freedom of the Transition programme was start- such as online - can provide useful the $68bn the continent loses ecuted, zai can increase yields to battle with climate change, that will enable it to rehabilitate arts and politics went viral as a ed three years ago. The programme insights on government power, each year due to depleted soils by up to 500 percent in some of we can no longer afford to play the society to a more produc- subject of public debate, turning a looks at how media transforma- technological capabilities, and au- and degraded land - could be the trickiest terrains on Earth. the proverbial fool for we al- tive one that can compete with local story into a global one over- tions in the southern Mediterra- dience activism. ploughed back into African We must also focus our ef- ready know that the continent's today’s modern demands. night. nean are being affected by politics Media and surveillance economies to drive the trans- forts on improving every part transformation lies in the rich- Why? Because media is now - and vice versa. The second dimension is me- Abdulrahman al-Rashed both messenger and message - The project has concentrated dia and surveillance. Another indi- formation that the continent so of the food chain. We will have ness of the African soil. The Saudi government has to improve our transport links And we already know how powering big-data levels of audi- on Tunisia, Morocco, and Turkey, cator of the intertwined nature of badly needs. been functioning now for more ence response with rapid-fire but many of the findings are equal- the media and politics is the surge The resources saved could and storage facilities so that we to harness this vast potential. than half of a century. Back rounds of news, in this case threat- ly relevant for neighbouring states in surveillance programmes and be used to empower more wom- don't waste so much food after So the time has come for us to then, it started operating with ening both countries' leader image, as well as for many of the south- whistle-blowers. en, end hunger, achieve food it is harvested. put aside our fine words, pick simple measures; a small piece cultural values, even diplomatic ern European states across the Debates point to a significant security, improve nutrition, Opportunities ahead up our tools and start to sow of paper was enough for past relations. Mediterranean. uptick in controlling and combat climate change, create The benefits of an ecosys- the seeds of the future we so finance ministers to get things Al Jazeera marks World Press The final results will be pub- un(covering) consumer communi- jobs and promote sustainable tem-based adaptation ap- desperately want. through instantly. Today, the Freedom Day lished in spring 2017. Two dimen- cation habits by surveillance pro- agriculture, leading to the at- proach to agriculture are clear. Amina J Mohammed is the Transforming popular will sions, for now, stand out when grammes but, likewise, a growth same formality would take days. How has this become possi- looking at the media's societal con- in leaks, not just on a global scale, tainment of the global goals, Investing in ecosystem-based, Minister of Environment of Ni- The state’s institutions are adaptation-driven agriculture geria under President Muham- ble? German academic Jurgen Hab- text. such as the Edward Snowden case 2030 Agenda for Sustainable now preoccupied with adopt- ermas anticipated this back in 1962 Media and government and the recent Panama Papers, but Development. Solution is not and its linkages to sustainable madu Buhari. ing procedures and protocols in his classic work The Structural The first dimension is the me- locally. far commercial value chains could The views expressed in this instead of focusing on specific Transformation of the Public dia and government. It is often as- In Turkey, the messages sent If these numbers are alarm- boost farmers' incomes and cre- article are the author's own and goals and objectives they were Sphere (PDF). Media, he argued, sumed that media should function by mysterious Tweeter Fuat Avni ing, then they should also give ate up to 17 million jobs while do not necessarily reflect Al set out to achieve. So many of is powerful because it gives soci- as a fourth estate independent of conveyed surprisingly accurate us hope for as Africa's trans- catalysing an agricultural sec- Jazeera's editorial policy. these long-drawn administra- ety knowledge and perspective to government, and hence should act insider information about govern- make sense of the environment. as society's conscience. ment intentions towards the me- It helps explain technological This is a globally ambivalent dia for over a year. In Morocco, a developments, economic growth, issue. Freedom House's report similar strategy was adopted by and the effect of population in- Freedom of the Press 2016 states an equally mysterious Twitter han- creases - all of which, in turn, ac- that "[o]ver the past 10 years, dle bearing the name of Chris Cole- centuate the media's own power Europe as a whole has suffered the man. In both cases, government LETTER TO THE EDITOR in modern societies. What Haber- largest drop in press freedom of documents and decisions were re- mas realised was that this gives the any region." layed as evidence, illustrating that media the ability to form, and in- In the Middle East and North a reconfiguration is taking place in deed, transform, popular will. Africa, even with the advent of which information secrecy is no We are living in a time of pro- social media, and despite its im- longer guaranteed, and individual Create jobs to overcome found media impact. Google, Fa- portance to the 2011 Arab upris- will is shifting the rules of public cebook and Twitter are outpacing ings, the media's relationship with and private. It is worth asking, all the established print and broad- government remains in flux, some- does the sheer number of partici- cast platforms as sites of choice times acting as the people's con- pants transform what becomes unemployment for breaking news. science, sometimes acting as the "mediated surveillance" - and "me- It is crystal clear that the young bloods of Afghanistan are leaving the country to the European countries due to poverty and lack Discussion about the intercon- government's instrument. diated whistle-blowing"? And how of jobs. The National Unity Government is well aware of this. Several times, the people of Afghanistan called on the government nection of old and new media - Listening Post - Journalism in is that differently interpreted in hybrid media - and their societal the age of surveillance states such as Turkey, Tunisia and to do their best aimed at creating jobs in order to stop the brain drain from the country. From its part, the government always implications is gripping the board- In each of the countries being Morocco? Media is political by assured people and also called on the people not to leave the country, instead struggle to rebuild the war-hit, Afghanistan. But rooms of media companies around examined, the agencies responsi- nature in addressing the public. what happens when a jobless youth, with education decree at hands, come to know that there are plenty of posts in the the world. ble for regulating audio-visual me- This is what lies at the heart of its governmental organization which are empty and the government is reluctant to fill the vacant positions through vacancy [The differences in media mon- dia are semi-independent of the effect on societal transformation. advertisement aimed at providing jobs to the unemployed youth. Based on reporters there are over 25,000 vacant positions in itoring] create distinct modes of government and, in principle, able By looking at these changes from different government organizations. If the government want to steer the country toward development, should fill legitimacy - and depending on the to provide a level of immunity from both a commercial and an academ- the vacant posts by qualified, but jobless youth and put a full stop to the trend of illegal immigration that claimed historical and political climate they government interference. ic perspective, and by combining several lives of young Afghans. can reduce or increase government Turkey's Radio and Television information in interdisciplinary Mudasir Ahmad, Kabul, Afghanistan restrictions on free media access. Supreme Council (RTUK) and ways, it becomes possible to think Anticipating where media is Tunisia's Independent High Au- out of the box. And then to antici- Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and going, however, is not just about thority of Audiovisual Communi- pate what society's relationship address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] the future - and how today's mil- cation (HAICA) consist of mem- with media might turn into next. lennials are using it. Because of bers chosen and confirmed by their Roxane Farmanfarmaian is a lec- media's multifaceted effect on so- respective parliaments. Morocco's turer at the University of Cam- ciety, questions about its current High Authority for Audiovisual bridge, Centre for the Study of the and future trajectory, if they are to Communication (HACA) has International Relations of the Mid- be accurately addressed, depend on members appointed by the king, dle East and North Africa. Ali Disclaimer: context, since the media is a can- the prime minister and president Sonay is the Al Jazeera postdoc- vas that not only records news but of the parliament. toral research fellow with the Uni- The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) public memory. These differences create dis- versity of Cambridge-Al Jazeera This is where the academic tinct modes of legitimacy and, de- Center for Studies media project and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. community comes in, for looking pending on the historical and po- at the Department of Politics and at the media-society nexus from a litical climate, they can reduce or International Studies. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

In Leban o n , m an y Syrian s w ho fled the w ar sim ply w an t to return ho m e, an d have little in terest in resettlem en t.

Beirut, Lebanon - Caught between for my children and to see my fam- a civil war and Europe, which does ily reunited," said Salwa, who is not seem to want them, Syrian from the village of al-Zara, near refugees in Lebanon are struggling Homs. to find a place to call home. Her daughter Ramia died when Among them are Asim and shells hit their house in the spring Zeinab, who have been married for of 2014. Just two months later, 20 years and are the parents of two her sons Youssef and Mahmoud children. (Their names have been were killed during clashes between changed to protect their security.) rebels and the Syrian army near Before the war, they owned land the Krak des Chevaliers, a 12th- in their hometown of Talkalakh, century Crusader castle. and worked in construction and "My boys did not deserve to tending olive trees. die. We never thought that one day Now, they live in an informal we would be living in garages in tent settlement in northern Leba- Lebanon. We feel humiliated," said non, and own nothing. Salwa. "But I never thought of go- In May 2011, the Syrian army ing to Europe. How could I aban- raided Zeinab's hometown. She don my family and go to an un- fled, along with her husband and known place? I don't want to go two children, over the al-Kabir anywhere except to my country, River into Lebanon [Natalia as I have God and my children as Ojewska/Al Jazeera] priorities in my life." "We used to celebrate every Salwa used to run a successful occasion. We used to fast during shoe shop, but today she is strug- Ramadan and buy clothes and toys gling to make ends meet, and often for our children. But we stopped has no money to buy basic prod- celebrating anything. We stopped ucts like milk or bread. fasting, because of bad living con- "Every refugee I talked to said ditions and lack of income. We that they would like to go back to don't feel joy any more," Zeinab, Syria," said Dana Sleiman, spokes- 40, told Al Jazeera. woman in Lebanon for UNHCR, In May 2011, the Syrian army the United Nations refugee agency. raided their hometown. With their "In the ideal world, refugees want two-month-old son, Fahim, and to go back to Syria as soon as they 13-year-old daughter, Rama, can. They wish to stay here [in Zeinab and Asim fled over the al- Lebanon] not because they like it, Kabir River into Lebanon. but because they are close to Asim and Zeinab are two of home." the more than one million Syrians We never thought that one day who have registered as refugees in we would be living in garages in Lebanon since the Syrian civil war Lebanon. We feel humiliated. But began. A total of 1.5 million Syr- I never thought of going to Europe. ians are estimated to be living in How could I abandon my family Lebanon, including those who are and go to an unknown place? In May 20 11, the Syrian arm y raided Zein ab's ho m eto w n . She fled, alo n g w ith her not registered refugees. But, Sleiman added, resettle- Despite their growing frustra- ment to Europe could be the only husban d an d tw o children , o ver the al-Kabir River in to Leban o n [Natalia Ojew ska/ Al Jazeera] tion and depression, Asim and chance for the most impoverished Zeinab have ruled out attempting Syrian refugees to secure a better Syrians, while the vast majority The solution for Lebanon, Homs after clashes between rebels [Natalia Ojewska/Al Jazeera] 17,000 Syrian refugees in north- to be resettled in Europe. future for their children. The per- will stay in Lebanon waiting for Helou believes, must be in finding and forces loyal to Syrian Presi- Wojtek Wilk , the chief execu- ern Lebanon with funding from the "We would not consider the centage of Syrian refugees in Leba- the war to end," said Hala El- a peaceful solution inside Syria - dent Bashar al-Assad erupted in tive of PCPM, explained that di- Polish foreign affairs ministry. option [of going to Europe]. I pre- non living under the poverty line - Helou, adviser to the Ministry of and then attracting international in- October 2011. rect financial assistance allows refu- In Wilk's opinion, Mahmoud's fer to eat a piece of bread with salt approximately $3.84 a day - dras- Social Affairs in Lebanon. vestment to Lebanon, to generate As a father of 11 children, gees to set up new businesses or family is a positive example, be- here - close to my country, rather tically increased from 49 percent The Lebanese government, job opportunities for both Leba- Mahmoud was determined to cre- find other types of employment. cause they were able to become than die abroad, where no one in 2014 to more than 70 percent in along with experts and humanitar- nese and Syrians. ate stable living conditions for his "PCPM extends its cash-for-rent financially stable. knows me," said Asim. 2015. ian agencies, has warned the inter- Sami Atallah, executive direc- family upon their arrival to the vil- programme also to Syrian refugee "It's true that we are living in He walks every day to a Single mothers and people national community not to lose tor at the Lebanese Centre for lage of Aidamoun in northern Leba- families with men unable to find good conditions, better than other nearby hill, from where he can see with specific healthcare needs are sight of the Syrians who will stay Policy Studies, said: "The key is non. "When we came, we did not decent employment in Lebanon, refugees," Mahmoud said. "But we the roof of his home in Talkalakh. prioritised for resettlement. in Lebanon and will need more hu- to be proactive in creating jobs [in have anything to start a new ga- because we know that if a man is are not lying down, or smoking He hopes that eventually, the time Sleiman explained that UNHCR manitarian assistance. Lebanon], reducing the cost of such rage. I used to borrow screwdriv- unable to sustain his family, he cigarettes and shisha, waiting for will come when he can take his fam- officers will analyse the database Helou admitted that Lebanon services as electricity or water. ers from my clients to work on might be pushed by the extreme the money to arrive. We are sleep- ily back to Syria. of registered refugees and contact was not prepared to host 1.5 mil- This requires serious efforts going their cars. The Polish aid agency poverty to go back to Syria and ing under the car and working hard Asim looks at the hills of his those whom they believe meet lion Syrians, and does not have a beyond humanitarian assistance". PCPM provided us with cash for join one of the armed groups to get for our earnings." hometown Talkalakh in Syria these criteria. long-term plan to deal with the "In Syria I worked as a me- rent, so I was able to invest half of any income," Wilk told Al Jazeera. Despite Mahmoud's success, [Natalia Ojewska/Al Jazeera] Yet it is unlikely that more spike in its population. "Lebanon chanic, but would you think of re- my income to buy necessary "We want to prevent it. If this he does not consider Lebanon his Salwa, a 52-year-old widowed than a small percentage of Syrian does not have job opportunities pairing your car when a war breaks tools," Mahmoud told Al Jazeera. person is a refugee in Lebanon, we new home. "I am not as happy as mother of 13 who is renting a refugees will be resettled. for Syrians, [nor] for Lebanese," out? Everything was suspended. Mahmoud, a father of 11 chil- want this person to stay in rela- if I was in Syria. I wish I could go home in northern Lebanon, feels "Resettlement is definitely a Helou said. "The presence of refu- People were dying every day," re- dren, was determined to create tive safety in Lebanon until they back. We would go even today, on similarly. "My dream is to go back good option. However, [it is] avail- gees is not the only crisis Lebanon called Mahmoud, 52, who escaped stable living conditions for his fam- can return to Syria," Wilk added. foot, if only it was safe." to Syria to rebuild decent graves able only for a limited number of is facing." the Baba Amr neighbourhood of ily upon their arrival in Lebanon Since 2012, PCPM has assisted Al Jazeera Depressio n reign s An alysis: The ‘bad bo y’ cleric as EU presiden ts debate po ised to be Iraq’s n ext kin gm aker or years after the 2003 aimed at ending political corrup- ficult to distinguish in the fight a defiant brand of Shi’ism in Iraq. American invasion of Iraq, tion and financial mismanagement. against ISIS. With Sistani’s appeal Because Sistani and other senior the Shiite cleric Moqtada In scenes reminiscent of uprisings and the intervention of Iran, which theologians shun direct political future o f Euro pe al-Sadr had an outsized in- in other Arab capitals, Sadr armed and helped organize the involvement, they create a power fluence on the country’s politics: brought tens of thousands of Ira- Shiite militias, Iraqis began to turn vacuum among Iraqi Shiites -- one he was able to mobilize the Shiite qis into the streets of Baghdad. the tide against the jihadists. that Sadr is eager to fill. He wants masses in a way few other Iraqi The cleric demanded that Abadi But the effort to retake Mosul to be both a respected cleric and a leaders could match, his followers follow through on his promises to has stalled, due to the political political broker. created one of the most powerful form a new government and im- bickering and because Iraq’s Shiite militias during Iraq’s civil war, and pose political reforms -- eliminat- leaders have not shown a willing- In the Shiite world, it is un- he played kingmaker in the selec- ing the three posts of vice presi- ness to share power with the be- usual for a young cleric with Sadr’s tion of prime ministers. dent, cutting government spend- leaguered Sunni minority. Since he limited theological credentials to But after US troops withdrew ing and removing sectarian quotas reemerged this year, Sadr has tried gain such a wide following. Sadr is from Iraq in late 2011, Sadr went in political appointments -- that to portray himself as an agent of several ranks and years away from into a self-imposed seclusion from had stalled since last summer. Sadr political reform who can also make attaining the title of ayatollah. But politics, even as his supporters did not call for Abadi’s ouster, but a nationalist appeal to Iraq’s he is the only surviving son of continued to run for parliament instead framed his protests as an Sunnis. Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq and to control several key minis- effort to help the prime minister But his overtures to Sunnis al-Sadr, who was assassinated by tries. consolidate support. failed to generate support in that the Iraqi regime in 1999. The elder Sadr was waiting on the side- On March 31, Abadi an- community. Sadr was a leading Shiite scholar, lines for his opportunity to play nounced a new cabinet made up of “Today I am among you to say, and -- unlike Sistani -- he advo- the savior of Iraq’s Shiites. Today, technocrats, most of them unaf- frankly and bravely, that the gov- cated a strong political role for the Sadr is making a comeback -- this filiated with the powerful politi- ernment has left its people strug- clergy. Sistani and the elder Sadr time positioning himself as an Iraqi cal parties that divvied up patron- gling,” Sadr told his supporters at became rivals in the Shiite religious nationalist who can both fight ISIS age jobs and government contracts. a rally in late February, “against hierarchy. and stand up to Iran’s growing in- Sadr declared victory, called off his death, fear, hunger, unemploy- Aside from his pedigree, Sadr fluence over Iraq, especially protests in the center of the capi- ment, occupation, a struggling has another claim to leadership: he through its support of Shiite mili- tal and returned to his home in the economy, a security crisis, poor did not leave Iraq to live in com- tias. southern city of Najaf. But since services and a major political cri- fortable exile during Saddam On April 30, after months of then, Shiite parties forced several sis.” Hussein’s rule. Ye ars o f e co n o m ic u n de rpe rfo rm an ce , particu larly in th e co n tin e n t’s s o u th e rn protests over political reforms, of the proposed ministers to with- Sadr's 'peace brigades' Amid the euphoria that fol- rim , h ave als o fraye d th e fabric o f Eu ro pe an s o lidarity. (Re u te rs ) hundreds of Sadr supporters draw their candidacies and pres- The 42-year-old Sadr does not lowed Hussein’s ouster in 2003, stormed Parliament in Baghdad’s sured Abadi to replace them with have the religious credentials of clergymen debated their role in The presidents of Europe’s three when hundreds of thousands of other European countries to share heavily fortified Green Zone. The political operatives. Iraq’s parlia- Sistani or other senior clerics, but politics. Sadr and his supporters main institutions on Thursday pre- migrants are fleeing into Europe in the burden. protesters withdrew after 24 ment also failed to approve the he is the son of a revered ayatollah argued that they must fill the void sented a bleak picture of the Euro- search of a better life, sending a However, Poland, the Czech hours, but Sadr has threatened an- new cabinet, setting off a new and he has broad support among left by the Baathist system. They pean Union, saying the 28-nation shockwave through the staid and Republic, Slovakia and Hungary other mass protest on May 6. round of protests led by Sadr, who the Shiite masses. Sadr has denounced the US occupation and bloc lacked leadership and was conservative continent. have rejected European Commis- As Iraq’s Shiite-dominated is now threatening to oust the emerged once again as the bad boy Washington’s plan to install an in- descending into petty, nationalis- Britain, the Union’s second sion plans to introduce mandato- government tries to retake territory weakened Abadi and to call for of Najaf, who challenges the reli- terim government made up mainly tic politics. biggest economy, is due to hold a ry quotas of refugees and have ac- from ISIS militants and to cope early parliamentary elections. gious hierarchy represented by of exiled Iraqi politicians like “We have a lot of salesmen in referendum in June on whether to cused Brussels of trying to black- with the loss of revenue caused by The months-long political pa- Sistani. Ahmad Chalabi and Ayad Allawi. the European Council and only a withdrawal from the bloc. mail them. the global collapse in oil prices, the ralysis is diverting the attention of In the days after the fall of Sadr started out as a militia few statesmen,” said Martin Years of economic underper- Juncker, a former Luxembourg country faces a new danger: an in- Iraqi leaders from the fight against Mosul, Sadr called for establish- leader, with the populist appeal Schulz, the president of the Euro- formance, particularly in the con- prime minister who has been at the tra-Shiite conflict among factions ISIS. Iraqi military officials have ing “peace brigades” that would and credibility that comes from pean Parliament, bemoaning the tinent’s southern rim, have also heart of EU policy making for competing for power. While most been working with American coun- protect Shiite shrines, churches being heir to a family of martyrs. current crop of EU government frayed the fabric of European sol- three decades, reminisced about the attention has been focused on the terparts to prepare a major opera- and other holy sites in Iraq. He then turned himself into one of chiefs who are struggling to over- idarity. time when Europe moved towards struggle between the weak Prime tion to retake Mosul, Iraq’s sec- It soon became clear that Sadr’s Iraq’s most effective politicians. come a string of crises. We have full-time Europeans economic union and created the Minister Haider al-Abadi and his ond largest city. “peace brigades” were simply a The elder clerics watched from the Schulz joined European Com- when it comes to taking and part- single euro currency. Shiite competitors -- including his In June 2014, ISIS militants, new label for his feared Mahdi sidelines, confident that their reli- mission President Jean-Claude time Europeans when it comes to “In former times we were predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki -- the backed by Sunni tribal fighters, Army, which supposedly dis- gious authority would be more Juncker and EU Council President giving,” said a particularly down- working together ... we were in once-renegade Sadr has once again captured Mosul and announced banded in 2008. enduring than Sadr’s fleeting po- Donald Tusk for a debate on the beat Juncker, adding that the “part charge of a big piece of history. taken center stage. that they would march on to In June 2014, his militia re- litical power. future of Europe in the room time” Europeans were often those This has totally gone,” he said, While Sadr is trying to cast Baghdad and the southern Shiite turned to its stronghold, the Now, the renegade cleric is once where the Treaty of Rome was who received most from EU funds complaining that EU citizens did himself as a populist and reformer, heartland of Karbala and Najaf. capital’s teeming Shiite slum in again poised to command the Shiite signed in 1957, which laid the foun- -- a clear reference to new member not understand what the Europe- he has a bloody history in Iraq. After the takeover of Mosul, Sadr City. In its largest show of street, and to become a kingmaker dations of today’s European states from the east. an Union was trying to do. His paramilitary force, the Mahdi Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the force in six years, thousands of in Iraq. Union. Without naming names, Tusk “This is fertile ground for the Army, led a Shiite rebellion against most revered cleric in Iraq, issued Shiite fighters marched through the (Mohamad Bazzi is a jour- “The idea of one EU state, one also said that the newcomers were populists.” American troops in Iraq starting a call to arms, urging all able-bod- streets with machine guns, rocket- nalism professor at New York vision ... was an illusion,” said often the most opposed to finding Tusk, Juncker and Schulz are in 2004, and it carried out ied Iraqi men to join the security propelled grenades and suicide ex- University and former Middle Tusk, a former Polish prime min- a common policy on the migration in Rome for the presentation of kidnappings, assassinations and an forces. plosive belts strapped to their East bureau chief at Newsday. A ister, who is now tasked with find- crisis “sometimes in a very irritat- the Charlemagne Prize to Pope ethnic cleansing campaign against Within weeks, tens of thou- chests. former fellow at the Council on ing consensus and cohesion ing fashion”. Francis on Friday. The prize is Sunnis during the subsequent civil sands of Shiite volunteers signed “I will purify Mosul, I am a Foreign Relations, he is writ- amongst EU leaders. Italy and Greece are the main awarded to people who are seen war. up to join the Iraqi military or one Sadrist,” some of the fighters ing a book on the proxy wars Such unity has become an al- ports of entry for the migrants but to have furthered the cause of Eu- In February, Sadr instigated a of a growing number of Shiite mili- chanted. between Saudi Arabia and Iran. most impossible mission at a time say they should then be sent on to ropean unification. mass protest campaign in Baghdad tias -- two forces that became dif- Sadr represents the triumph of He tweets @BazziNYU) SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Kuwait has deported around months of this year, compared to around 70 percent of Kuwait’s affected by collapsed oil prices, the ministry of labor “convinced the paper reported that authori- deal with the nearly 53,000 domes- 41,000 expats from Kuwait since 26,600 in the whole of 2015. population of around 3.4 million. which have lowered revenues and the workers to return to work af- ties were studying a plan to de- tic helpers – who often work for January 2015, as the small Gulf Most of the deported work- “This is the highest number of ex- trimmed budgets around the region. ter the company agreed to pay port workers who had been sacked locals as gardeners, drivers, maids state mulls plans to expel workers ers were of Asian nationality who patriates to be deported from Ku- Cutting workers In Monday, more them their dues,” the English-lan- by their employer. Expat workers or cooks – who have absconded. who lose their jobs. had broken residency and labor wait in decades,” the source, said than 1,200 expat oil workers in guage Kuwait Times paper report- who stay in Kuwait after being let Last year, Kuwait was listed Local Arabic-language daily Al- laws, according to the daily. Ex- to be a high-level security official, Kuwait went on strike over un- ed. Kuwait’s government is cur- go “[put] further pressure on pub- in a survey as the world's worst Anba reported that 14,400 expats pats, many of whom work in the told Al-Anba. Kuwait is among six paid allowances owed to them by rently looking to cut its large ex- lic services,” a source told the pa- country to live and work - below had been expelled in the first four country’s oil industry, make up oil-rich Gulf states that has been a state-owned firm. A day later, pat population. Late last month, per. Authorities are also looking to Greece and Nigeria. Glo bal eco n o m y Yen 's o n go in g stren gth n o t favo r- n o t gro w in g as able fo r Japan eco n o m y: Kuro da FRANKFURT: Bank of Japan impacts on the economy," he told central bank will take additional tations that Japanese monetary Governor Haruhiko Kuroda voiced journalists in Frankfurt, adding he monetary easing steps if its 2 per- authorities would intervene to ar- fast as it sho uld concern Monday about the adverse is closely watching what effects cent inflation target is deemed dif- rest the yen's strength. effects the yen's ongoing strength financial market movements ficult to hit. Kuroda is currently visiting could have on the Japanese econ- would have on economic and price The yen briefly rose to an 18- Frankfurt to attend a series of fi- be: Obam a omy. stability. month high against the U.S. dollar nancial meetings involving Japan, India's gas supply deficit is "The yen's current round of Kuroda also reiterated his oft- in the lower 106 range in Tokyo China and South Korea, as well as expected to widen from 78 uptrend could have unfavorable stated position that the Japanese on Monday, amid receding expec- Southeast Asian countries. million cubic metres a day (mscmd) this fiscal year to 117 mscmd in 2021-22, according to a government estimate. UK eco n o m y Q. and A.: Arthur In dia to ‘n ear stallin g’ R. Kroeber on gradually move to as gro w th ‘China’s Economy’ gas-based economy: en gin e stutters The UK economy is "near stall- showed businesses faced the ing", according to a closely- steepest rise in costs in almost two WASHINGTON: US President advantage of, Obama said in a Dharmendra watched survey that showed ac- years last month, with a 50p rise Barack Obama urged Congress on statement. Obama said new US tivity in Britain's dominant servic- in the minimum wage to £7.20 de- Friday to take actions that would regulations announced on Friday Pradhan es sector dropped to a three-year scribed by Markit as a "key factor W o r k er s w eld in g a s t eel fr a m e fo r a n a d v er t is in g help the US economy, including on requiring the financial industry low in April. Markit said the slow- driving up input costs". Mr Noble billboard in Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province, China. raising the federal minimum wage, to identify the real owners of com- NEW DELHI: India plans to shift down in services reflected uncer- said Britain was stuck "between a passing new trade agreements and panies “are going to make a differ- to a gas-based economy by boost- tainty over next month's EU refer- rock and a hard place". "Mounting Arthur R. Kroeber is managing di- ment is also proposing that Internet simplifying the tax code. ence.” He called on Congress to ing domestic production and buy- endum and higher costs due the global economic uncertainty at the rector of Gavekal Dragonomics, a companies like Alibaba, Tencent and “Only Congress can fully close pass legislation that would help ing cheap liquefiednatural introduction of the National Liv- top of the supply chain and the research firm that he helped found Baidu sell a 1 percent golden share the loopholes” that wealthy indi- law enforcement investigate and gas (LNG) as the world’s third- ing Wage. Business optimism was reality of the new National Living in Beijing in 2002, and editor of to the government, apparently with viduals or corporations can take prevent financial crimes. biggest oil importer seeks to curb the joint weakest in more than Wage at the bottom mean that firms China Economic Quarterly. For- the idea that these companies will its greenhouse emissions, oil min- three years, while the pace of job are feeling the pinch from both merly a financial journalist based be better — or at least more politi- isterDharmendra Pradhan said. creation was the weakest in two- ends," he said. "As a result, the in Asia, he is a nonresident fellow cally controllable — if they have New Delhi has promised to and-a-half years. Chris Williamson, sector credited with being the main of the Brookings-Tsinghua Center government involvement. Unfortu- Australia’s big fo ur shave a third off its emissions rate chief economist at Markit, said the driver of the UK’s economic for- for Public Policy and an adjunct nately, all the evidence is that these by 2030, partly by boosting the slowdown suggested the UK econ- tunes appears to be slowing professor at the School of Interna- companies are successful because use of cleaner burning fuels. omy started the second quarter down". Martin Beck, senior eco- tional and Public Affairs at Colum- they are not government controlled. ban ks fin ally feel the “Gradually we are shifting growing at a pace of just 0.1pc. nomic adviser to the EY ITEM bia University. His new book, In the long run, this obsession with towards a sustainable gas econo- This was reflected in the Markit/ Club, expects a "very soft outturn" “China’s Economy: What Every- government control is a big problem e co n o m ic slo w do w n my,” Pradhan told Reuters in an CIPS services purchasing manag- for GDP growth in the second one Needs to Know,” was pub- for innovation. interview. ers' index (PMI), which fell to 52.3 quarter, with a risk that the slow- lished in April by Oxford Univer- Q. Financial reform has been a Bank bosses rarely concede their ity, it's now. The big four are under Gas accounts for about 8 per- in April, from 53.7 in March. down could continue, even if Brit- sity Press. key battleground under President Xi shareholders may need to lower intense political pressure and fac- cent of India’s energy mix, while While this is above the 50 level ain votes to remain within the EU Q. An ability to innovate is Jinping. Why is that? their expectations. Yet this is what ing the threat of a royal commis- oil accounts for more than a quar- that signals growth, Markit said it on June 23. "As the lowflation in- often portrayed as necessary for A. Financial sector reform was many of them are now saying. Not sion from Labor. Nevertheless, ter. was "indicative of only a muted duced sugar rush is beginning to China to take the next step to be- looking promising but has fallen into quite as bluntly as that, of course. record-breaking profits are becom- India’s gas supply deficit is rise in services output". It also rep- fade, the consumer appears to be coming a world-class economy. Is disarray. The problem crystallized But it is an underlying message of ing rarer, and the rewards to share- expected to widen from 78 mil- resents the weakest expansion slowing down, while the other it really so important? last year. Reformers wanted a more this week's major bank profit re- holders less generous. What's lion cubic metres a day (mscmd) since February 2013, and was well components of demand don’t seem A. You can get a lot of eco- flexible exchange rate and a more vig- sults, and the wild response from more, analysts expect this softer this fiscal year to 117 mscmd in below economists' expectations. to be able to step up and fill the nomic growth without being at the orous stock market. But you had market. This little piggy is feeling period - characterised by flat or 2021-22, according to a govern- Mr Williamson said the data void," he said. Markit noted that technological cutting edge and, in others who viewed the stock mar- the pinch. This little piggy is feel- possibly falling dividends - to con- ment estimate. rounded off a "triple-whammy" of the combined surveys of the ser- fact, this is what most countries ket simply as an index of economic ing the pinch. Photo: Simon Bosch tinue as the economy tries to find India recently negotiated bet- disappointing news on the econo- vices, manufacturing and construc- do. China can still grow quite fast performance and the exchange rate Australia's big four banks still re- its feet after the resources boom. ter terms for a long-term LNG my, after surveys of the manufac- tion sectors had “pushed the sur- simply through technological as an anchor of stability. When the main enormously powerful and Last year some in the market were deal with Qatar and importer turing and construction sectors this veys into territory which has in catch-up. Moreover, Chinese pri- stock market crashed, rather than highly profitable. But they are so keen on bank stocks that they Petronet LNG is in talks with week showed activity fell close to the past seen the Bank of England vate companies are already very allowing a bust — which you should, starting to feel the impact of a were being compared to term de- Exxon to renegotiate pricing for a three-year low. "Some of the start to worry about the need to proficient at what you could call if you really want more market forc- weaker economy, and the pain of posits that have a taxpayer-guar- gas from Australia’s Gorgon slowdown may be attributable to revive growth, either by cutting “adaptive innovation,” where es — the government opted to in- overseas banks which have spent anteed return. project. the early timing of Easter, but busi- interest rates or quantitative eas- they’re not inventing new things, tervene, ordering state firms to buy much of the year being dragged Analysts always dismissed “The price should be afford- ness confidence has also deterio- ing”. However, Bank policymak- but are making things work better shares to keep prices artificially down. The slower grind is now be- these comparisons as foolish, and able to us. We respect long-term rated in recent months, worsening ers said in April that they would in the Chinese context. high. Now it’s trapped, because the ing felt by hundreds of thousands they have been vindicated by the contracts but everybody has to again in April," he said. David “react more cautiously to data On the negative side, what you state firms that bought these shares of shareholders, who receive volatility in bank shares in the last appreciate the changing scenario,” Noble, head of the Chartered In- news” over the next few months don’t see in China so far is much can’t sell them without triggering a roughly $20 billion a year in divi- year or so. S&P's Australian bank said Pradhan. “In a bigger canvas stitute of Procurement & Supply, than would normally be the case. exportable or globally significant panic sell-off. As for the exchange dends from the banks. index is down 25 per cent from last ... India has the potential of a huge said the EU referendum was hav- “We do not expect any knee- innovation. You don’t see people rate, the central bank wants a flexi- Dividends, once the bedrock year's peak in March, compared market base”. ing a "profound effect" on the ser- jerk policy reactions to the latest coming to China and saying, “Oh ble rate that will help it set mone- of many share investors' portfo- with an 11.6 cent fall in the broader Pradhan last month visited vices sector , "keeping prices rela- raft of poor PMIs,” said Simon isn’t that neat — let’s bring that tary policy in a more normal way, lios, are now staying flat or falling. ASX 200. And this week's results Saudi Arabia, the United Arab tively stagnant and delaying new Wells, chief UK economist at back to the U.S., or Japan, or wher- but the political leaders don’t want After a much-hyped Asian expan- showed the returns they pay are Emirates and Iran to deepen ties orders". Thursday's figures also HSBC. ever.” the volatility that comes with that. sion failed to deliver as promised, still heavily influenced by the eco- with its main oil suppliers. Q. But should China be at that You’ve had a direct collision between ANZ has cut its dividend for the nomic backdrop. ANZ chief “We want to move beyond a level? It still has a per capital the technocrats who honestly were first time since the global financial Shayne Elliott used his first profit buyer-seller relationship,” he said, G.D.P. about one-fourth of the trying to get a more market-oriented crisis. But long-term pressure on result as CEO to cut the interim adding that India was offering them Auto m atio n the future U.S. level. mechanism and those saying the key returns are also being felt by its dividend to 80c a share. He also stakes in its pipelines, petrochem- A. True, but it’s interesting is for the exchange rate to be stable, major rivals. NAB chief executive signalled a lower dividend in the ical complexes and refineries. that China looks quite different because if it’s not stable, then peo- Andrew Thorburn, who has also second half, after soured loans rose India is also in talks with Abu of Singapore econom y from where Japan was in the early ple will think that China isn’t stable left the bank's dividend flat, says to $918 million. Yet despite the Dhabi National Oil Co and Saudi 1970s, when it had about the same and that will be bad. comparing banking today with the surprise cut, he was rewarded Aramco to lease strategic oil stor- per capita income. At that point Q. That sounds like the hallmark pre-global financial crisis era is a handsomely by the market. In an age. Japan was already becoming fa- of Xi’s government style. case of "chalk and cheese". extraordinary roller-coaster ride, Pradhan said Prime Minister mous for manufacturing process- A. Xi belongs to the group of He has never seen more vola- ANZ shares initially plunged 4 per Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran lat- es that were leading-edge, and Jap- stability-oriented people. In many tility in markets. "It's become a lot cent on the news, only to end the er this month would “certainly” anese companies were getting to- other areas as well, the desire to con- tougher," he says. "You go back day 5.6 per cent higher. The bounce deliver concrete results. ward leading-edge in their products. trol things has won out over the de- pre-GFC, it was a completely dif- was partly explained by hedge Iran has set aside its Farzad B You don’t really see that in China. sire to reform and liberalize. ferent economy, there were differ- funds cashing in their bets on fall- gas field for development by In- For the most part, you don’t see Q. Maybe from a broader per- ent credit standards, different regu- ing prices - which requires them to dian firms, a move that could re- Chinese firms operating outside spective this could be seen as nor- lation." Thorburn wants to turn buy back stock they have sold sult in the building of an LNG the walled garden of China. mal. When countries undertake ma- around NAB's fortunes after a pe- "short," pushing up the price. plant as India consumes Q. It has some companies that jor changes, they need breaks for riod of underperformance. He con- However, the market also wel- or markets its production share, are highly touted. people to catch up. A. Economists cedes it is now "unrealistic" for comed Elliott's vision for a more he said. A. You could say that Alibaba who call for reforms often ignore the shareholders to expect bumper re- conservative bank, even if it meant Over two years Asian LNG Self-ordering kiosks at Popeyes’ Punggol East outlet. is potentially China’s equivalent social and political costs of these turns well above what is appro- a lower dividend. "The sticker prices have slumped by three to what Sony was for Japan in the reforms. So, yes, it may be reason- priate level of risk for the com- shock was pretty nasty, but when quarters to $4.65 per million Brit- As someone who patronises the face of a local workforce on 1970s and 1980s. It is an interest- able for the government to take re- pany. It's a change from in the past you got into the detail it was not ish thermal units (mmBtu). Popeyes' Punggol East branch fre- the verge of shrinking, while not ing company that has really pio- forms slowly, so that society has a when banks routinely smashed the as bad," says senior portfolio man- Pradhan expects hefty LNG quently, I can attest to the effec- relying on foreign labour for neered e-commerce and online pay- chance to adjust. Another way to market's expectations. Westpac ager at Aurora Funds Management, investments worldwide to ensure tiveness of the new self-ordering growth. Of course, the prospec- ments in China. And it recently look at it is that after three decades chief executive Brian Hartzer has Hugh Dive. As well as paying a affordable long-term prices, a trend kiosks ("Popeyes' self-ordering tive shrinking of the workforce is bought a controlling stake in a Fil- of economic growth that was main- also left the dividend at the 94c smaller dividend in dollar terms, that “will suit India as a consum- kiosks serve up efficiency"; Thurs- a problem that has to be nipped in ipino e-commerce company, Laza- ly about building stuff — infrastruc- paid six months earlier - the first Elliott also announced the bank ing country.” day). The long queues, especially the bud with population policies, da, so they’re beginning to move ture, housing, heavy industry — time this has happened since 2009. would give a lower proportion of GAS CONNECTIVITY at dinnertime, are now gone, and and will take time to resolve. But out internationally. This will be a China is now entering the phase After Hartzer's predecessor Gail profits back to shareholders over India is building import ter- staff can concentrate on the prep- automation provides crucial inter- good test of whether Chinese com- where economic growth has to come Kelly declared in 2012 that it had the longer term, lowering its divi- minals on its eastern and western aration of orders, so that custom- im alleviation for the negative ef- panies can turn their success in mainly from squeezing efficiency a "line in the sand" and would not dend payout ratio target range to coasts and pipelines to boost in- ers' waiting time is shaved by al- fects of the manpower crunch. their home market into an interna- out of the assets you’ve already in- allow a key profit measure, return 60 to 65 per cent, down from 65 to dustrial use of gas. most half. The efficiency of auto- Automation can also help to tional presence. The productivity stalled. That is always a tough tran- on equity, to drift below 15 per 70 per cent. "We want to know In the fiscal year to March, mation has been shown not only raise productivity in the long run. of state-owned companies in Chi- sition and we should expect it to be cent, Westpac's returns did exactly that when we turn up on a Mon- India’s gas production declined by in fast-food chains such as But, it is still crucial for workers na has stagnated, widening the gap rocky. The key thing is that all of that, falling to 14.2 per cent. day morning, that unless somebody about 4.2 percent, while imports Popeyes, but also in several sec- to upgrade their skills to keep up with private firms. This chart, pro- economic history tells us that while Hartzer now calls it a "useful tar- does something really stupid, the rose around 15 percent. tors, from supermarkets to food with this automation in industries. vided by Mr. Kroeber, tracks the state firms can be good at building get." Commonwealth Bank, the bank will continue to grow and gen- India recently offered better and beverage outlets. Service has Singaporean workers increas- return on assets of Chinese indus- stuff, when it comes to squeezing country's biggest and most pow- erate capital and pay out a respon- gas pricing to boost domestic out- become faster, as more customers ingly need to learn to be able to trial enterprises. Credit CEIC, out efficiencies you need private erful bank, also left its dividend sible dividend that's competitive put, but its most recent invest- can be served in a given time. In- handle automated technology, so Gavekal Data/Macrobond The key companies. In China today, private flat earlier this year. CBA's former for our shareholders and do the ment in an LNG terminal in the deed, automation is the future of that automation can serve its pur- thing for China now is for the gov- industrial companies have a return boss David Murray has suggested right thing," Elliott said. Michael southern state of Kerala has been our economy. Last year, the net pose - to benefit productivity. ernment to relax and let these kinds on assets of 9 percent, compared to banks need return on equity of O'Neill, senior equities analyst and underutilised since it lacks pipe- growth of Singapore's local work- Another change to complement of companies spread their wings, just 3 percent for state companies. about 12 per cent - which is about portfolio manager at Investors lines to connect to demand cen- force was but a measly 100 work- automation would be the prolifer- both at home and abroad. If these Plus, state companies take on twice 30 per cent less than the 17 per Mutual, said ANZ's dividend cut tres after farmer opposition caused ers ("Job growth hits 17-year low, ation of e-commerce. Automated kinds of dynamic private compa- as much debt as private companies. cent CBA makes today. The banks was a warning that investors need land acquisition problems. but real wages up 7%"; Jan 29), transactions would help to slice nies get space, then China can en- So they are twice as indebted, but still racked up a massive $14.8 bil- to remember the sustainability of Pradhan said the government and labour productivity last year labour demands further. We need joy a phase of strong growth com- have a third of the performance. lion in combined earnings in the dividends. "It's a real reminder that was talking to the states and fell by 0.1 per cent, when mea- to prepare for the possibility that ing both from catch-up and from That’s a huge gap, but the govern- first half of this year. They remain banks' earnings are quite unpredict- hoped obstacles to a pipeline con- sured as value added per worker cashiers may one day be difficult innovation. The problem is we ment keeps channeling too much among the highest-returning banks able," he said. "It's the first real necting Kochi ("Higher-skilled workers make up to employ. There might come a seem to be moving in the other di- money to this inefficient part of the in the developed world. So, if there evidence we've seen that maybe to Mangalore would be resolved bulk of layoffs"; March 16). With time when automated payment is rection, and not only because of economy. was ever a politically convenient they've pushed their dividend pay- after state elections in Kerala. automation, Singapore's economy no longer sophisticated technolo- government censorship or controls Follow Ian Johnson on Twitter time to talk down their profitabil- out ratios too hard." can maintain a Singaporean core in gy, but a mainstream system, in- on higher education. The govern- @iandenisjohnson. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Captain America Civil War review: Watch and learn, Batman v Superman

Captain America: Civil War review Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, William Hurt, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Don Cheadle Rating: 4/5 What happens after superhe- roes like Captain America and Iron Man do their superdeeds, vanquish the baddies and head home for a quiet supper? People count their dead. It seems governments of the world (and we, the audience) can look away no more. In Captain America: Civil War, collateral dam- age not only catches up with the Last night saw some of the biggest Hussayn, Yasmin Zaman, Erum Adnan Siddiqui, Ayesha Omar, an appearance on the ramp and we Avengers, it leaves them divided names of our entertainment indus- Khan, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha, Armeena Rana Khan, Bilal Ashraf, bring to you all the amazing high- in the middle. try strutting designers stuff on the Tabbasum Mughal, Naushad Im- Ayub Khosa and Gohar Rasheed lights. Read: Avengers Infinity War ramp at the Bridal Couture Week dad, Mansoor Akram and Saadia took over the ramp to promote The evergreen singer had cut a won’t be called Avengers Infinity Gold Edition. Day one of the brid- Mirza. However, the biggest sur- their upcoming film. dazzling figure in a Fahad Hussayn War, say directors al wear extravaganza showcased prise came in when Yalghaar‘s lead That wasn’t all, though. There ensemble as she performed While Captain America (Chris dazzling collections by Fahad cast including Humayun Saeed, were many more stars who made Udaari‘s soundtrack. Evans) believes you can’t save them all, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) is ready to become a soldier controlled by the United I feel some of Nations. Enter the unity-destroy- ing Sokovia accords, play the re- the TV shows are quiem for an end of a friendship. Make it friendships. too dressed up: More Avengers 3 than a Cap- tain America sequel, directors An- Shah Rukh Khan thony and Joe Russo manage to keep superheroes snappy and smart in the film while ensuring a fast-paced, emotion-driven sum- mer firework. Read: Varun Dhawan found it challenging to be Captain America’s Hindi voice Civil War is so crackling because it is intimate. Instead of flabby ac- tion scenes a la Age of Ultron, set pieces in Civil War – just like the stakes – are personal. Downey Jr tones down his hyper-verbal shtick, Chris Evans makes Cap- tain America’s reasons compelling and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow is more about dialogues Shah Rukh Khan made his first on- screen appearance on the 1989 tele- than smouldering looks. vision series, Fauji. A second TV The scenes with Tom show, called Circus, followed, and Holland’s Spider-Man and SRK continued to do a few other Chadwick Boseman’s Black Pan- TV roles on the small screen until ther are some of the best in the he finally made his Bollywood film. They lead up to their indi- debut with Deewana in 1992. Who cares about injecting a dash ensemble, comprising a three-piece vidual movies and prove Marvel’s However, even though he went on of colour to ensembles when Hol- suit which plunged down the true superpower is its casting. to become one of India’s biggest lywood royalty got spotted don- middle into a sultry V-neck. Let- The sweetest scenes are the superstars, the actor is still fond ning black this sizzling summer — ting her tresses do what they do ones introducing the new entrants. of the tube. Ask him what he dishing out the most desirable best, the blonde bombshell rocked Chadwick Boseman’s Black Pan- thinks of the Indian television in- black-out this season. Georgia her messy hair-do with poise. ther is a class act but it is Tom dustry today, and he says, “I hope May Jagger and Elizabeth Hurley The timeless Bedazzled actor Holland as high-on-hormones, un- we can get into the zone of one- glided into snazzy jet outfits this was clearly a vision of elegance in usually chatty Spider-Man who is hour shows, short series in 10 parts, week, proving that the hue is ap- lack as she sauntered through the the pick of the lot. Read: Captain etc., like the American TV indus- plicable to every season under the streets of Washington DC. Pulling America Civil War is the longest LOS ANGELES: After receiving to fight for rights around the world. The Crazy for You hit-maker try,” says Shah Rukh. He also adds, sun — literally. off the little black dress in a so- Marvel movie ever Civil War mixed responses to her revealing When it comes to women’s rights wore a custom Riccardo Tisci-de- “What I have been made to under- Of course, she inherited her in- phisticated fashion, the diva im- doesn’t hold back its punches in Met Gala outfit, Madonna hit back we are still in the dark ages,” Ma- signed black Givenchy gown which stand is that TV’s reach is extend- imitable style from her rocker dad pressed on the outing. She added a either the action or the script de- at critics, saying her fashion choice donna wrote alongside a photo- she teamed with a pair of latex ing into the heartland of India more and supermodel mum but this babe tasteful touch of glitz to the en- partment. Just when things start was to make a statement in sup- graph of herself. “My dress at the knee-length boots and a silver head- than ever before. So, TV series surely has a fashion sense of her semble through the brooch at the getting rough, along comes a witty port of gender equality. The sing- Met Ball was a political statement piece for the event. She flashed her [now] are actually turning to those own. Georgia turned up the heat waist which matched her twinkling one-liner or a rousing speech. And er, who turned heads at the star- as well as a fashion statement,” she torso which was only covered by kind of stories (subjects that audi- at the 10th Annual Delete Blood gold clutch and sparkly earrings. it has that secret weapon that studded event held at the Metro- added. “The fact that people ac- lace overlay and black tape. Speak- ences from India’s interiors can Cancer DKMS Gala at Cipriani Looking classically ageless, she Batman v Superman sorely needed politan Museum of Art Costume tually believe a woman is not al- ing about her outfit, she shared, “I relate to), which is very interest- Wall Street in New York City in a styled her chestnut mane into loose – charm and wit that can cut Institute Benefit in New York with lowed to express her sexuality and have never thought in a limited way ing.” picture-perfect all-jet look. The waves which toppled over her through all the grandstanding. her racy outfit, took to Instagram be adventurous past a certain age and I’m not going to start. We can- SRK also says that TV shows 24-year-old model oozed class and shoulders and perfectly framed her Watch the trailer of Captain to seemingly hit back at critics. is proof that we still live in an age- not effect change unless we are today have over-the-top sto- erudition in an androgynous chic impeccably made-up face. America: Civil War “We have fought and continue ist and sexist society.” willing to take risks.” rylines. “I don’t mean to go against television; I have been a TV star, but I feel some of the content is too dressed up for a certain pur- What’s the delay? pose. For example, ek widow ki kahaani leke, uski do baar shaadi Tom Hiddleston hasn’t been karwake… thoda formulated hota hai (If the story is based on a wid- ow’s life, they will get her married approached for James Bond twice; it works on a tried-and-test- ed formula). But then, who am I to say anything? I make formula [movies] too. Those are required for one’s bread and butter, but The Rolling Stones have become fan, has featured The Rolling their music at rallies, which have Adele and Aerosmith front man they can also be interesting,” he the latest musicians to ask US Re- Stones songs at his rallies for repeatedly been marred by vio- Steven Tyler asked the candidate says. SRK received rave reviews publican presumptive presidential months as part of a diverse lence. to stop using their recorded songs for his recent release Fan. SRK also nominee Donald Trump to stop soundtrack that includes Elton Everlast, whose real name is to fire up crowds. “Adele has not says that he wouldn’t mind return- using their songs in his campaign John, opera and classic rock songs, Erik Schrody, earlier demanded given permission for her music to ing to TV. “I’d love to act on tele- events, reported AFP. reported The Guardian. The Roll- Trump to stop playing Jump be used for any political campaign- vision again, because some stories In a statement, the rock leg- ing Stones’ 1969 classic You Can’t Around by the rapper’s former ing,” a statement from the singer’s can’t be told in two hours. You ends attempted to keep their songs Always Get What You Want was band House of Pain. “I would love spokesperson said. Neil Young need 10 hours for them,” he adds. under their collective thumb, say- a popular song for his events, and to meet you and smack that comb- also objected when Trump used However, Shah Rukh points ing that they have not given per- during an event on Tuesday night, over right off your scalp,” Ever- Rockin’ in the Free World during out that it’s important to create mission to the Trump campaign the campaign played Start Me Up. last wrote on Instagram in one of his campaign kick-off announce- content for different kinds of view- to use their songs and “have re- The Stones join a growing num- his less profane statements, de- ment last year. In these cases, ers. “India has a huge young pop- quested that they cease all use im- ber of musicians who have ex- scribing Trump as “ignorant” and Trump’s campaigners stopped us- ulation today. You have a lot of mediately”. Trump, an avid music pressed anger at Trump’s use of “racist”. Other artists such as ing the songs. people between the ages of 18-35, even in the urban spheres, and we’re (TV) not catering to them as yet. The Housefull 3 team mass There’s nothing for you Actor Tom Hiddleston has played to show host Graham Norton, (young audiences) to really watch, entertains all did the hook step of the peppy down rumours over playing the Hiddleston, 35, said: “The thing is except maybe a House Of Cards dance track for the live audience. next James Bond, saying “no one the position isn’t vacant as far as I or a Breaking Bad. So, [when it Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bach- Post that along with Sajid Nadiad- has talked to me about it”. Hid- am aware. No one has talked to me comes to TV shows that are made] chan, Riteish Deshmukh and Jac- wala and the directors Farhad - dleston, who got acclaim for his about it.” Tom Hiddleston in a still in India, what do I watch?” says queline Fernandez got a suburban Sajid, they showcased the video role as an undercover agent from The Night Manager. (BBC) the actor. Shah Rukh asserts that mall to a standstill when they did of the song to the press and hun- Jonathan Pine in The Night Man- The star said that the Bond there have been attempts to revise a little jig there. dreds of fans of the franchise who ager, downplayed his chances of speculation had surfaced after his and bring in new content on televi- All of them were there to were present in excitement to see playing the ultimate spy role of acclaimed portrayal of John Le sion. “Anil [Kapoor] did well with launch their second song from the the cast and more content of their 007 during a pre-recorded appear- Carré’s character in the hit BBC 24, and Amitji’s (Amitabh Bach- upcoming film Housefull 3, titled favourite franchise. ance on Friday night’s The Gra- adaption earlier this year. chan) Yudh was great. But since 'Taang Uthake'. Before getting into The catchy track received fab- ham Norton Show, reports He said: “I think the rumours it’s a new market, it will take some the planned press conference, they ulous response from everyone dailymail.co.uk. Read:Tom Hid- have all come about because in The successes and some support [to treated everyone present with a present there. There was a lot of dleston is strongly hinting that he’ll Night Manager I play a spy and gain momentum]. But, it will hap- surprise dance performance. They hooting and cheering. take over as James Bond Speaking people have made the link.” pen,” he says. SUNDAY . MAY 08, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Dho n i’s team lo o ks to m ake sen se o f seaso n ahead o f Daredevils tie

Rising Pune Supergiants, licking Amla, another accomplished bats- their wounds after so many revers- man who was ignored at the auc- es in their inaugural season, were tions, to replace the injured Shaun at the Ferozeshah Kotla for prac- Marsh. tice on Wednesday ahead of the It seems there were too many game against Delhi Daredevils. batsmen available during the auc- None exemplified the downcast tions. But running out of options, mood in the team better than Is- the teams are being forced to bring hant Sharma, the strike bowler, in those not deemed fit for their who has been played in just four requirements. matches, taking three wickets. The two Aussies are expected Captain MS Dhoni and R Ash- to form the core of the Pune bat- win were not present and coaches ting along with Ajinkya Rahane. Stephen Fleming and Eric Simons Simons was seen explaining to were trying to make sense from Khawaja the adjustments he may the depleted squad with them. have to make, something along the This season’s IPL is going lines that the ball will stop before through a meltdown, and injury coming onto the bat and how he woes, especially those of Pune, must tackle DD’s slow bowlers. have had a knock on effect. Dho- Bowling blues Liverpool romped into the Euro- booking after 71 minutes. Mariano Ferreira grabbing a third backed by a ferocious home crowd, seemingly failed to convince man- ni’s team had banked heavily on Weakened batting is just one pa League final with a 3-0 win over It was a superb evening for to book Sevilla’s spot in the final broke the deadlock with an own ager Juergen Klopp of his suitabil- Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis worry for Dhoni. The bowling has Villarreal on another magical night Sturridge, whose place in the start- in Basel on May 18. Villarreal goal from Soriano, who turned in ity, but gave the German a taste of and Steve Smith but all have pulled been terrible. Their most success- at Anfield to tee up a showpiece ing lineup had been in doubt after might have fancied their chances Roberto Firmino’s cross from the his immense talent with a superb out due to injury. ful bowler economy rate-wise, clash with holders Sevilla who he was left out of key recent fix- of reaching their first major Euro- left with Sturridge lurking. It was display. Usman arrives Mitchell Marsh, too has pulled out swatted away visitors Shakhtar tures, but he was instrumental in a pean final, having snatched an ad- largely one-way traffic as Liver- Villarreal still needed one goal In a desperate move, Big Bash due to injury. Ishant apart, the oth- Donetsk 3-1. Five times Europe- one-sided victory that prevented vantage in the first leg that ensured pool, who had beaten heavy- to gain the advantage, but their League’s second most successful er pacers too have been ordinary, an champions Liverpool reached a Spanish dominance of Europe’s an away goal would leave Liver- weights Manchester United and hopes were hit when Ruiz saw red batsman, Usman Khawaja (who leaving a lot of work for off-spin- 12th continental final thanks to an two major finals. With Real pool needing to score three times. Borussia Dortmund in their last for a second booking after stamp- was the second highest run-getter ner R Ashwin. own goal from Bruno Soriano and Madrid and city rivals Atletico set The fact that the hosts managed two Europa League encounters at ing on the foot of Lallana who then and averaged 172), has been called Ashwin, who has clicked in further strikes from Daniel Stur- to contest the Champions League that total without Villarreal find- Anfield, laid siege to the Villarreal turned the ball in from Sturridge’s up after he was ignored at the auc- just one game, should be excited ridge and Adam Lallana to over- showpiece, Sevilla ensured there ing the net was no mean feat. The goal throughout the first half. It mis-hit shot with eight minutes to tions in February. Fellow Aussie with the pitch marked for Thurs- turn a first-leg deficit and go would also be a Spanish team in Spanish side were on a club record took until the 63rd minute, how- play. George Bailey, who averaged 60 in day, the one where DD’s match through 3-1 on aggregate. Villarreal the continent’s second-tier compe- 12-match unbeaten run in Europe ever, for the hosts to add to their “Wonderful night, brilliant Big Bash but was also given the with KXIP was played and leg were largely anonymous through- tition, while staying on course for and boasted a watertight defence lead as Sturridge justified his se- game from my side,” said Klopp, boot at the auctions, has also been spinner Amit Mishra picked four out and seemed to wilt in the face a record third straight title. They that had not conceded a goal in 280 lection with a sharp finish when who has now guided Liverpool to signed on. wickets. But DDCA pitch com- of a raucous atmosphere and early had Kevin Gameiro to thank for a minutes in all competitions, before he turned in Firmino’s effort from two finals in his short time at the Both attended practice on a mittee chief, Chetan Chauhan, is onslaught by the hosts, while their comfortable 5-3 aggregate win over the damn was burst just seven close range. The England striker club, after they lost to Manches- day when Kings XI Punjab an- there to spoil the joy. He says it’ll demise was hastened by a sending Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar with the minutes into the encounter at An- has been on the bench in a number ter City in this season’s League nounced the signing of Hashim be a 180 wicket. off for Victor Ruiz for a second France striker scoring twice and field. SHARP FINISH Liverpool, of key games this season, having Cup final at Wembley. Midterm o n co urse fo r Dan te Amir Khan was in confident mood as he weighed in right on the 155lbs limit for Saturday's world title fight against Canelo Alvarez. The Briton is jumping two weight divisions to challenge for Alvarez's WBC middleweight crown, although the fighters agreed to a catchweight 5lbs below the standard 160lbs limit. Alvarez was also recorded at 155lbs outside Las Vegas' new T- Mobile Arena, the venue for Khan's first world title fight since he was stopped by Danny Garcia almost four years ago. Alvarez (L) and Khan face off during Friday's weigh-in The pair then faced off with Midterm headed up the eighteen and a half from Algometer. It was a the same show of mutual respect horses at Friday's confirmation win that strengthened his position that has characterised the long stage for next Thursday's at the head of the market for the build-up to Saturday's meeting £160,000 Betfred Dante Stakes at Investec Derby and he is current- before both spoke confidently York - and connections are looking ly a 3/1 chance with Sky Bet but about their chances. Khan said: forward to their impeccably-bred before a date at Epsom, Midterm "I'm up against a great fighter but colt lining up in the "definitive must face the challenge of the I'm 100 per cent confident I can go Derby trial". Owned and home- Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes. in there and win this fight. Being bred by Prince Khalid Abdulla, his The race's reputation as the pre- the underdog, I want to prove I dam is the six-time Group One- eminent Derby trial was boosted belong at the top. This is my winning Juddmonte Farms mare, again only 12 months ago when time." Alvarez said: "I feel great Midday. The impressive colt has Golden Horn led home stable-mate making the weight. I'm looking for- won both of his career starts to Jack Hobbs - a result that was re- ward to a great fight tomorrow. I date. Trained by Sir Michael peated in the Blue Riband in Sur- know I'm fighting an opponent Stoute, the son of leading stallion rey, making the champion the tenth who moves a lot but I'm pre- Galileo, was victorious on his de- winner of the Knavesmire/Epsom pared." The contest is being billed but in a Newbury maiden last Oc- double. as speed vs size although the nat- claims the bold leap to middle- taking a huge risk by fighting Al- Not every expert agrees, and meanwhile, now believes his fight- tober before winning on his sea- Lord Grimthorpe, racing man- urally-bigger Mexican, whose sole weight has not slowed his re- varez but believes Khan can still Lennox Lewis this week told Sky er "can beat Canelo worse than sonal bow in a Group 3 at San- ager at Juddmonte Farms, said: "We defeat in 48 professional fights nowned hand movement, but he win the fight Lennox Lewis says Sports News HQ he expects the Floyd" after initial misgivings down last month. He showed a were very pleased with Midterm's came against Floyd Mayweather, will start as a big underdog as far Khan is taking a huge risk by fight- Bolton man's hand to be raised if about the match-up. good attitude in knuckling down reappearance in the Classic Trial has warned he is ready to outbox as the bookmakers are concerned. ing Alvarez but believes Khan can the fight goes the distance. "I wouldn't call it an upset if to land the Classic Trial by a length at Sandown. the challenger if necessary. Khan Lennox Lewis says Khan is still win the fight Khan's trainer Virgil Hunter, Amir wins," he said. Ro ry McIlro y and Rickie Fo w ler Dum o ulin w in s Giro o pen er stay in co n ten tio n at Quail H o llo w dor (Movistar). Dumoulin will bunched group tied for fifth. now wear the race leader's pink "The number was definitely a jersey on Saturday's flat second good score out there today," Fowler stage from Arnhem to Nijmegen in told Sky Sports. "I had a couple of the Netherlands, where the first little mistakes, but it was nice to three stages of this year's race are see some birdies and I made a good being held. "I'm a very lucky man par at the last." today," Dumoulin said. "I realise Having holed 15-footers to how narrowly I have won by. "I'm save par at the third and fourth, feeling sick in my stomach, but at McIlroy picked up his first shot the same time so happy I did it. at the par-five fifth but posted a Luck was on my side today. In the three-putt bogey from 30 feet at Netherlands it is very, very spe- the next. cial. "I didn't do my best TT, but The Northern Irishman lit up also definitely not my worst. I his round with a chip-in eagle from didn't really do a mistake. I would just off the far side of the seventh have liked it to be a little bit faster, green, before leaving a kick-in gain but at the end, the result is what at the next and birdieing the ninth counts and I did it." As well as the Former Quail Hollow winner ing his three-under 69 with back- to reach the turn in 32. pink jersey, Dumoulin's win also Rickie Fowler moved himself in to to-back bogeys. Playing in the McIlroy continued his run on gives him an early advantage over a strong position at the Wells Fargo same group as McIlroy alongside the back nine with another close- his rivals for overall victory in Championship, where defending Hideki Matsuyama, Fowler made range birdie at 10, but had to settle Turin in three weeks' time. champion Rory McIlroy stayed in progress by reeling in a hat-trick for par at the next after leaving his He gained 19 seconds on race contention despite a poor finish of birdies from the sixth during a approach short of the green. favourite Vincenzo Nibali (As- to his second round. bogey-free front nine. Last year's The world No 3 then missed tana), 24 seconds on Alejandro Fowler fired a four-under 68 Players Championship winner the 12th green and took two at- The Netherlands' Tom Dumoulin onds. 11min 3sec, fractionally ahead of Valverde (Movistar), 33 seconds at Quail Hollow to get within three then recovered from missing a six- tempts from 15 feet for a second took the overall lead of the Giro The Giant-Alpecin rider stopped runner-up Primoz Roglic (Lot- on Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) strokes of leader Andrew Loupe, foot par save at the 13th to post bogey of the day, but got back to d’Italia by winning stage one’s in- the clock on a flat 9.8km course in toNL-Jumbo) and six seconds fast- and 40 seconds on Mikel Landa while McIlroy heads in to the successive gains over the next two five under for the round with a tap- dividual time trial by just 0.02 sec- the Dutch city of Apeldoorn in er than third-placed Andrey Ama- (Team Sky). weekend six shots adrift after clos- holes, parachuting him in to a in gain at 14. MONDAY . MAY 08. 2016-Saur 19, 1395 H.S Vol:X Issue No:277 Price: Afs.15

Kuwait, Afghanistan to buy Iranian gas

OVER 200 MoE will fill 13,000 vacant posts: Press Dept. SUSPECTED mation, Ahmad Zia Anwari, said them with job opportunities in next that 37 posts area lying vacant in ten years.” Head of Labor Union INSURGENTS the ministry and pledged that with- Maroof Qaderi, said that the gov- in three months qualified people ernment must pave the ground for ARRESTED IN would be interviewed to fill the investment in the country to fight positions. Pointing to the employ- joblessness. He urged the govern- PARWAN ment process, he said that besides ment to reactivate factories and problems related to the procedure step up efforts to extract mines. n less than a week 210 suspect the ministry also has to deal with Deputy Afghanistan Chamber of ed insurgents have been arrest Commerce and Industries Khan- ed in Parwan province while nepotism to make the recruitment onI their way to northern Afghani- process transparent and fair. This jan Alokozai said that private in- vestment could be a good alterna- stan, officials confirmed. Accord- week, Ministry of Labor and So- ing to Parwan Governor Moham- cial Affairs said the unemployment tive to overcome unemployment challenges. He said that private mad Asem, 16 of the arrested men rate is above 40 per cent. “Al- have been found to have links with TEHRAN: NIGC international af- we could aim at large markets of though there is no new survey re- sector was willing to invest, but terrorist groups. In addition, 150 fairs director has announced Ku- India, China and Europe through garding unemployment rate, but it insecurity and kidnapping issue is of the group claim to not know wait and Afghanistan as new cus- pipelines and LNG as participa- AT News Report positions. The deputy chief of the can be above 40 percent in the the main problem before invest why they are traveling to the tomers of Iran’s gas. tion at LNG market and gaining its Press Department of Ministry of country,” Minister of Labor and mentors in the country. In Janu- north. Asem said that most of the Azizollah Ramazani, Chair- shares requires further invest- KABUL: Deputy Minister for ary, the Democracy International Youth at Ministry of Information Education, Abdul Saboor Ghofra- Social Affairs Nasrin Oryakhil said arrested people are from southern man of National Iranian Gas Ex- ment.” The official further touched ni, said that efforts are on table to on last Sunday. She said that based (DI) in its annual report revealed and southeastern provinces of Af- port Company (NIGEC) and In- upon NIGC’s plan to boost export and Culture, Kamal Sadat, urged that majority of youth sees unem- the government to fill the vacant speed up the process of identify- on a survey conducted in 2014, ghanistan, and were on their way ternational Affairs Director of volume recalling “given the in- ing the vacancies to announce it work force estimated 15 million in ployment and poverty as a major to Kunduz, Takhar and Faryab (NIGC), described the latest sta- creased production and implemen- positions through vacancy adver- problem in the country. The sur- provinces. "This thing happened tisements in order to provide jobs soon. He said the ministry has Afghanistan. She stated that 8.5 tus of Iran’s natural gas exports in tation of new South Pars phases, a million work forces are willing to vey covered 4,020 young Afghans, last year as well. I myself heard the post-sanction era saying “cur- daily export capacity of 200 mil- to the unemployed youth. “Ac- taken different steps to help young that a large number of people went people to find jobs. The Ministry work where only 3.5 find jobs and aged 18-25 years. Fifty percent of rently, Iran produces a total of 700 lion cubic meters will be created cording to reports there are over the respondents were males. The to northern parts of the country 25,000 vacant positions in differ- of Education has established tech- the rest have full time job. “Lack cubic meters of gas per day while while the figure can hit 350 million survey covered 402 villages in 34 in convoys of vehicles and there the figure has been estimated to cubic meters by taking advantage ent governmental organization. nical and vocational training cen- of implementation of labor law is were two, three to four people in ters in different provinces to train another challenge in the country,” provinces of the country. Chief reach 1.2 billion cubic meters by of optimization projects.” Therefore, the government shall fill Technical Advisor for DI, Zekria every vehicle and when the vehi- the vacant posts to provide jobs youths according to the needs of she added. Providing job opportu- cles returned there were only the the end of the Sixth National De- NIGEC chairman later point- job market. “It is necessary to deal nity is the top agenda for the gov- Barakzai, said that findings of the velopment Plan.” ed to the economic justification of to the unemployed young Af- survey show that 82 percent of drivers in them and no one else. It ghans,” said the deputy minister. with unemployment and utilize ernment, thus, the ministry exerts is not clear which part of northern Ramazani stated that Iran cur- gas exports explaining “gas pro- young population for develop- utmost efforts to boost up em- respondents see unemployment Afghanistan those people went rently holds import, export and gas duction is rising inside the coun- He said that there is a workforce and poverty as a key challenge of 12 million of which four million ment of the country,” Ghofrani ployment facilities in the country to," he added. He said however a swap trade deals with Turkey, try and the gas export profit can said. He said that training of local in future, the minister highlighted. across the country. After releasing full investigation is being conduct- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmeni- contribute to the development of are jobless. According to the dep- the report here, he said that ignor- uty minister for youth, jobless- people is imperative to run the “Afghan delegation met with Sau- ed into the situation. Bahauddin stan as well as Pakistan; “more- the industry which gives it Eco- state machinery effectively while di Arabia officials to send laborers ing voice of the young people re- Jailani, the chairman of Parwan over, negotiations are underway nomic viability and compatibility. ness is a biggest challenge for youth garding participation in political to deal with. Thus, he urged the filling the vacuum left by foreign- to Saudi,” she noted. She added provincial council, meanwhile said with Afghanistan, Oman, Kuwait “Export remain as one of Iran’s ers in the country. Scores of for- that in order to train professional process is the second problem that if government failed to take and Persian Gulf littoral states in priorities and a daily amount of governmental organizations to co- faced by the youth. About 70 per- ordinate their efforts with the eigners worked and are working on laborers, the ministry will estab- action against the influx of sus- order to reach stipulated objectives 300 to 350 million cubic meters of lish 46 vocational training centers. cent of youth complained in this pected fighters in northern Afghan- by exporting gas to neighboring gas will be deployed to 15 neigh- youth department of Ministry of different positions in Afghanistan. istan, a repeat of last year's Kun- Chief of the Human Resources at “We are also working to empower aspect. He said that release of the countries.” boring countries over the coming Culture and Information to begin report is aimed to inform the gov- duz crisis could happen in other recruitment process for the vacant the Ministry of Culture and Infor- three million women and provide Deputy oil minister highlight- years,” Ramazani concluded. ernment about problems...P2 provinces. ed “besides neighboring countries, (en.mehrnews)

While Helmand residents claim are reporting from the frontline in poppy cultivation and the opium Helmand have said that the opium trade in southern Helmand is help- trade is widely believed to have ing to finance the Taliban's insur- been the main reason for the ongo- gency in the province, officials ing Taliban insurgency in the area. have stated that not only does gov- Niaz Mohammad is a local farmer ernment not have the capacity to who cultivates poppies in his end the trend but that if it was to fields and has done so for over fif- be brought it under control, it teen years. would have a devastating effect on "Taliban have imposed taxes local farmers. on the fields, drug mafia is involved Surveys conducted in the past in the trend, so far we have not have found that not only has opi- talked to them" another farmer, um been financing the Taliban in- Niaz Mohammad, said. surgency but it is also a major "No one is able to tackle the fields in Helmand," provincial gov- maintain the expenditures of their source of revenue for criminal Taliban. They have a lot of sup- ernor Hayatollah Hayat said. families, if there is no drug, Tali- groups, terrorist organizations, and porters in the village, even civil- Security forces said only a few ban will not be able to buy weap- local and international mafia. ians are supporting them," an Af- areas in Helmand have not been ons and equipment," a police of- However embattled troops in ghan National Police officer said. used for poppies and that the mon- ficer, Safauddin, said. KABUL: Former President Hamid Karzai met Saturday with a number of clerics, the area have said the only way to "Our farmers will suffer much ey gained from this goes directly "We know that what we har- tribal elders and influential figures of the Achin district of Nangarhar province, in end the war in Helmand is to elim- if drug fields are eliminated. The to the pockets of the Taliban. vest brings devastation, but we do his office in Kabul. These elders spoke about the national issues, local problems inate poppy cultivation. TOLO- fact is that the government of Af- "If opium is eliminated, the not have an option as there are no and the peace process, offering their viewpoints to the ex-president. news correspondents Abdul Wali ghanistan at the moment has not war will also come to an end. Tal- jobs," local farmer, Abdul Ghafar, Arian and Abdullah Hamim who the capacity to eliminate poppy iban have launched opium trade and said. (ToloNews) DABS BLASTED FOR INCREASING ELECTRICITY TARIFF wners of industries in Kab the current electricity prices, so ul on Friday criticized a how can we afford the bills after Orecent decision to increase the electricity price is increased?" electricity rates by power compa- said Kabul resident Abdul Wahid. ny, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sher- Meanwhile, DABS officials kat (DABS), and said it would said they lost up to $20 million damage the country's industrial last year therefore they took the sector. Head of Afghanistan's In- decision in order to avoid bank- dustries Association, Sakhi Ahmad ruptcy. Paiman, said they pay 6.5Afs per "The reason behind an increase kilowatt electricity which is the in electricity prices is the decrease highest electricity charges in the in Afghani currency value. We have region, but now it has increased to to implement the plan to increase nearly 7.5Afs. the electricity charges [on custom- "The price for one kilowatt ers]," he added. electricity is 1Afs in Iran but here Analysts in economic affairs we pay 6.5Afs for that. This new meanwhile said DABS has failed decision by DABS is a problem to collect money owed by power- for industries in the country," he ful figures therefore it has taken said. Some residents of Kabul such an "unjust decision". "DABS called the DABS decision unjust – should collect its debt from pow- considering the current situation in erful people. This increase in elec- the country. They said DABS of- tricity price is unjust for those ficials instead of increasing the customers who regularly pay their charges should recover its unpaid electricity bills," said Sayed Qiyas bills from powerful figures. Saeedi, economy lecturer at Kabul "We do not have to pay for University. (ToloNews) Mazar-e-Sharif parks come alive at night for locals Afghan army helicopter makes emergency Making the most of seemingly Musavi that one positive point is landing in Kandahar, no casualties reported improved security in the northern that there is no gender discrimina- Balkh city of Mazar-e-Sharif, lo- tion and women, girls and children A helicopter of the Afghan Nation- lems. Khpolwal further added that cident in eastern Kunar province cal residents flock to parks in their join their male relatives for such al Army (ANA) forces made a security personnel on board the of Afghanistan late in the month landmark city for picnics where outings. "People come to the park emergency landing in southern helicopter did not suffer any casu- of March. they are able to put aside their to get spiritual peace, because Kandahar province of Afghanistan, alties. The Taliban group claimed The emergency landing of the worries and enjoy some semblance there is better security situation local officials said Saturday. that the helicopter was shot down helicopter in Kandahar comes as of freedom and peace. and people stay till 1:00 am," one Provincial governor’s spokes- by the group’s fighters and all on the Afghan forces are busy in sup- Reporting from Mazar, Mazar resident, Mohammad Mis- man Samim Khpolwak said the board were killed after it pressing the insurgency activities TOLOnews correspondent Sayed aq, said. According to visitors to incident took place late on Friday crashed.Hoewever, the local offi- of the Taliban group. Arif Musavi caught up with some one park, they still remember the in Shahwali Kot district. cials have rejected the Taliban The defense officials said last families who enjoyed the sunshine chaotic era of the Taliban regime He said the helicopter was claims as baseless. week at least 32 militants were outdoors this weekend – many which had banned people from providing logistics to the Afghan This comes as an Afghan army killed and 18 others were wound- also, however, enjoy long evenings going to parks and enjoying other armed forces when it made emer- helicopter was forced to perform ed during a raid by the Afghan forc- in the parks. Residents told amusement programs.(ToloNews) gency landing due to technical prob- emergency landing in a similar in- es in this province. (KP)