International FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Afghan Taleban leadership is in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani official has said for the levers to pressurize them to say: ‘Come to the table’,” Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United States and first time publicly that the Afghan Taleban’s leader- he added, according to a transcript on the think China held their fourth round of talks aimed at reviv- ship enjoys a safe haven inside his country, which tank’s website. ing direct peace talks between Kabul and the Islamabad uses as a “lever” to pressure the group The remarks confirm what has become an open Taleban late last month. The four-country group into talks with Kabul. The admission by Pakistan’s secret in diplomatic circles, particularly since invited Taleban representatives to return to negotia- foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz comes after years Pakistan began brokering direct peace talks tions by the first week of March, though a of official denials by Islamabad that it offers shelter between Kabul and the Taleban last summer. The spokesman for the militants later said they had not or exerts any influence over the Taleban, and amid a negotiations faltered after Afghan intelligence yet received an invitation. Aziz said Islamabad had fresh push for direct peace talks. leaked the news the group’s founder Mullah Omar used the threat of expulsion to force the Taleban The Taleban’s 14-year-insurgency against Afghan had died in 2013. The Taleban later confirmed they into the first round of talks. “We already-before the and NATO forces has claimed tens of thousands of lied about Omar’s death for two years, sowing divi- 7th July meeting last year-we had to use some of civilian and military lives. Speaking at the Council on sions among the militants and anger at his successor these levers and restricted their movements, restrict- Foreign Affairs in Washington on Tuesday, Aziz said: Mullah Akhtar Mansour for leading the cover-up. ed their access to hospital and other facilities, and “We have some influence on them because their Most of the group’s leaders are believed to be resid- threatened them that if you do not come forward leadership is in Pakistan and they get some medical ing in the southwestern city of Quetta, with others in and talk, then obviously we will at least expel you,” facilities, their families are here. “So we can use those northwest Peshawar and southern Karachi. he said. — AFP Indian PM slams opposition over parliament disruption

NEW : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged opposition lawmakers yesterday to stop disrupting parliament, under growing pressure to pass the crucial reforms promised when he came to pow- er nearly two years ago. Parliament has managed to pass just one bill since the current session began on February 23 due to rowdy protests in the house over the controversial arrest of a student leader last month. That has prevented the government from passing long- delayed bills, including a proposed bankruptcy law and a national goods and services tax (GST) that would replace a myriad of local levies seen as deterring investment. “I seek support from parliamentarians to pass important bills,” Modi said in parliament, accusing protesting MPs of “making the country suffer.” “These bills are for people, for the country.” Modi’s government enjoys a majority in the lower house of parliament but KASHMIR: Kashmiri villagers carry the body of Asif Ahmad, a suspected rebel, during his funeral procession in the needs opposition support to push through laws in the upper house, village of Dadsar some 40kms south of Srinagar yesterday. Three Kashmiri rebels were killed in a gunbattle with where it doesn’t have the numbers. His right-wing nationalist government forces as they tried to break through a security cordon in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in 2014 promising to army officials said.— AFP revive the economy and create much-needed jobs, but has been unable to enact many of its promised reforms. Although is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India’s female scavengers enslaved experts say gross domestic product is still not increasing at a fast enough pace to provide employment for a burgeoning young popu- lation. Last month saw violent protests in one of the country’s most by and gender discrimination prosperous states by members of the Jat caste, traditional farmers who say they can no longer make a living from the land. They were demanding improved access to government jobs, still seen by many Dalit group - traditionally the lowest ranked in India as the surest route to financial security despite efforts to cre- ate employment by attracting private investment. : New legislation in India to the community, and their own families.” of about a fifth from the previous year, Modi placed the blame for that squarely on the opposition crack down on the practice of forcing India, which banned caste-based dis- according to official figures. The Congress party, which he said had “sown the seeds of poverty” dur- mainly the poorest women to clear other crimination in 1955, has passed several Copenhagen-based International Dalit ing its time in power. India’s parliament is notoriously rowdy, and people’s excreta will have little impact laws to end with Solidarity Network has called manual Modi’s BJP employed similar tactics to disrupt the former Congress- unless deeply entrenched sexism and government pledges to modernize sani- scavenging, a “caste-based and heredi- led government. Last year more than 20,000 Indians, including promi- caste bias are changed, activists said. tation and criminalize those who tary occupation form of ”. Paid nent business leaders, signed an online petition urging lawmakers to Manual scavenging, a euphemism for employ manual scavengers. Legislation less than a minimum wage, manual end weeks of rowdy protests that had paralyzed parliament. Just 24 disposing of faeces from dry toilets and passed in December further tightened scavengers are often forced to borrow bills have been passed since Modi took over in May 2014, according open drains by hand, has long been an penalties. Yet Dalit communities contin- money from their higher-caste employ- to PRS Legislative Research, a New Delhi-based think-tank. Another occupation thrust upon members of the ue to face threats of violence, eviction ers, leading to . 30 are stuck at the voting stage. — AFP Dalit group, traditionally the lowest and withholding of wages if they try to The government estimated in 2011 ranked in India’s caste system. give up the practice, human rights that more than 180,000 rural house- At least 90 percent of India’s estimat- groups say. In 2014, Prime Minister holds are engaged in manual scaveng- ed 1.3 million manual scavengers are Narendra Modi launched a “Clean India ing. Western state, which women, according to campaign group Mission” to improve sanitation in the topped the list, had set a deadline of the Jan Sahas. “It is not just a case of caste fast-growing economy and increase end of March to end the practice. “We discrimination, but also gender discrimi- funding for public toilets to end open have provided incentives in rural areas nation, as women are forced to do this defecation. to build toilets, and we have offered basest of jobs,” said Ashif Shaikh, The campaign has helped draw alternative employment to these people founder of Jan Sahas, which says it has attention to the plight of manual scav- in some districts,” said US Lonare, a sen- liberated more than 21,000 Dalit women engers and forced state governments to ior official in the state’s social justice from the practice. “It is not even a job, it’s act, Shaikh said. The government offers department. He did not say if the dead- slavery,” he told the Thomson Reuters 40,000 rupees ($590) to each rescued line will be met. Jan Sahas’ Shaikh said NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Foundation. “The women do not have a manual scavenger and training for alter- the new legislation must be implement- (third right) talks with Indian Finance Minister Arun choice, they are paid a pittance, and are nate jobs. Yet crimes against lower-caste ed in full. “Even one woman forced to do Jaitley during a meeting of ruling National Democratic threatened with violence if they quit. Indians are rising. There were more than this work is a shame,” he said. “It’s a Alliance lawmakers in New Delhi. — AP There’s a lot of pressure from the village, 47,000 such crimes in 2014, an increase crime.” — Reuters