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MONDAY. MAY 04 . 2015 -Sawr 14, 1394 HS www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes

Ezedyar stresses on end to culture Will not compromise of impunity in national interests in fight against AT News Report corruption peace talks: Abdullah KABUL: Afghan journalists AT News Report AT Monitoring Desk awarded champion of freedom of speech title to the ex-President KABUL: The Deputy Speaker of KABUL: The Chief Executive promising with the lives of Af- Hamid Karzai in order to honor Meshrano Jirga, Muahmmad Alem Officer (CEO), Abdullah Abdullah, ghans while sitting in for peace his whole-hearted support for Ezedyar, urged the concerned or- during his trip to Kandahar on Sun- talks in Qatar, UAE and other media freedom during his tenure. ganizations to end the culture of day said that the past decade s countries, he said. Addressing a seminar orga- impunity in fight against corrup- achievements will not be compro- It comes as the Senate speak- nized by Journalists Council of tion. mised for peace talks. er, Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, said Sat- Afghanistan in connection with the Head of the Supreme Audit Abdullah introduced Huma- urday the he is not optimistic World Press Freedom Day, Hamid government, but it belongs to Af- racy, some people raised questions ex-president said. Karzai added Office, Muhammad Sharif Sharifi yun Azizi as the new governor of about the peace process brought Karzai said on Sunday that free- ghans. We regard press freedom as that whether the people of Afghan- that media should protect national received the title of honorary pro- dom of expression is one of the a great value of our society, he istan will accept it? Or understand interests and work to foster na- fessor from Nanjing University of greatest achievements of Afghani- added. Karzai pledged that he will its values? However, Afghans tional unity. He called on the Tal- China here on Sunday. Talking to stan over the past 13 years. spare no efforts to protect free- proved that they not only respect iban to renounce violence and use the ceremony, Ezedyar said that The freedom of expression is dom of expression. When we first their own freedom, but also re- their energies in reconstruction of unless the culture of impunity is neither my achievement nor of the talked about establishing democ- spect freedom of expression, the the country. ended, the fight against rampant corruption will not yield in any positive result. He called on the incumbent Pakistan backs Afghan dialogue in Qatar government deliver on its promis- es in fight against corruption. The KABUL: Pakistan on Sunday ex- ghanistan. strued as peace or negotiation conference was a positive step to- government of national unity, par- tended complete support and co- Qatar on Saturday confirmed talks . wards reviving the peace process ticularly President Ashraf Ghani operation to peace and reconcilia- it was hosting two days of rec- Insiders privy to the discus- in Afghanistan despite the event and the Chief Executive Officer tion process between Afghan gov- onciliation talks between the Af- sions in Qatar, requesting anonym- being unofficial. (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah, should ernment and Taliban in Qatar. ghan government and Taliban in- ity, told Pajhwok Afghan News Haqyar told Pajhwok Afghan have a strong will to counter cor- Foreign Secretary Aizaz surgents. besides Afghan officials and Tali- News the dialogue gives an op- ruption he said. Ezyedyar added Chaudhry told a press conference The dialogue will be through ban representatives, the partici- portunity for both the government the only way to curtail corruption in Islamabad that Pakistan would open discussions about the Afghan pants included United Nations, and the Taliban to speak out their is to put end to the culture of im- be ready for every support need- reconciliation between all parties Qatari, Turkish officials. positions on the need and demand punity. The European Union Spe- ed and said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan, the gulf country s Another source said the Tali- for peace and stability in Afghani- cial Envoy recently termed corrup- in Afghanistan and supports rec- official news agency, QNA, said ban were asked to present their stan . tion as Afghanistan s gravest chal- onciliation process between Tali- citing the foreign ministry official opinions in written form and not The conference, he said, had southern Kandahar province. Azizi to us by Pakistan. He insisted that ban and Afghan government. Yousif al-Sada. given a chance to speak. US and other Western countries was the minister of parliamentary he is personally not convinced He further said that peace in The Taliban identified eight The dialogue has been organ- support since the US had provid- affairs during former President with the reconciliation process Afghanistan was imperative for people who would take part in the ised in Doha by the Pugwash Coun- ed financial support to the Pug- Hamid Karzai s tenure. wash Council which had organised which comes through Pakistan and peace in the region and that Paki- talks. However, they said the dis- cil, which brings together scholars Abdullah stressed that national the main motive behind such ef- stan desired better ties with Af- cussions should not be miscon- such conferences in France and and public figures to work against interests will not be compromised forts are not ascertained. armed conflicts and seek solutions Turkey in the past. for peace. Haqyar said the most impor- The remarks come as a delega- to global security threats. On the same occasion, the tion of the High Peace Council Former president Hamid tant point was that that the Tali- Farkhunda s case trial: ban had openly announced, for the Kandahar police chief, Gen. Ab- (HPC) is expected to meet with Karzai, Chief Executive Officer dul Raziq, called on the govern- Abdullah Abdullah and a number first time, their participation in the representatives of the Taliban mil- Arabic-speaking man held dialogue process and had named ment not to compromise lives of itants in Qatar. of political parties leaders and the participants on their behalf. Afghans and political figures un- lawmakers had been invited to the der the pretext of the reconcilia- The HPC officials said the oth- AT Monitoring Desk Dr. Faiz Ahmed Zaland, an- er day that the Afghan delegation conference. Qazi Hakim would other political expert, said the Qa- tion process with anti-state rebel represent the Gulbadin Hekmat- groups. consists of 20 members who will KABUL: The primary court on police chief presented the Arabic- tar conference was in the interest attend the meeting and will have yar-led Hezb-i-Islami of Afghani- of both the government and the I have obtained documents Sunday ordered the arrest of an speaking man who was arrested stan (HIA), the second largest mil- open discussions with Taliban rep- Arabic-speaking man in the sec- and later released. The man identi- Taliban, but added the govern- and videos as evidence which re- itant group after the Taliban. The ment s weak stance had strength- veal that the government is com- resentatives. ond session of Farkhunda s case fied himself as Wahab. He said his HIA has also a political wing led trial, the 27-year-old girl who was deceased parents were from Zabul ened Taliban s position. by former economy minister Ab- He said the US and its allies lenge, and said the level of bribery, Unknown gunmen kill Logar official lynched by a mob in Kabul around province but he rose in Saudi Ara- dul Hadi Arghandiwal. obstruction and nepotism is ram- two months back. bia. The documents he was carry- had realised that the Taliban could Others invitees include Qut- pant. President Ghani s special PUL-I-ALAM: Unknown gunmen Shaima Zargar said Shah had The man was arrested at the ing were incomplete and seemed not be defeated militarily so they buddin Hilal, Syed Ishaq Gilani, representative on reforms and good shot dead a senior woman s affairs been working with the department day Farkhunda was being lynched suspicious to the judge. At the end started efforts for peace talks. Haji Roohullah, Farooq Azam, governance, Ahmad Zia Masoud, department official in central Log- since a decade. of the session Judge ordered the He said Al Qaeda had been re- Yunas Qanuni, Faizullah Zaki, said the government has a strong ar province on Sunday, an official Mohammad Rahim Amin, the arrest of the Arabic-speaking man placed by Daesh in the region, Karim Khalili, Qazi Amin Waqad, resolve to fight against corruption. said. Nazrab Shah, finance section Baraki Barak administrative head, and an investigation to find out full making the Taliban to agree for Masoom Stanikzai and several He said that the government of head at the Women s Affairs De- said police had opened their inves- information about him. peace negotiations, Zaland said. others. national unity is committed to sup- partment, came under attack in tigation into the incident. The second day of hearings He said the presence of Daesh Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, port anti-corruption organizations Qala-i-Saidan locality of Baraki Ezatullah, a local resident, said ended and was postponed to or Islamic State group could prove a political analyst, said the Doha to curtail the infamous phenome- Barak district, the department head Nazrab Shah was an elderly man Monday. dangerous for both Afghan forces and Taliban militants. (Pajhwok) non. told Pajhwok Afghan News. and it wasn t clear who killed him. but he was later released. Contracts for major All 49 suspects, including 19 police officers, were present in the projects approved court as were senior police offi- cials who were summoned to ap- KABUL: The procurement com- ul with eastern Nangarhar prov- pear before Mojaddedi, the attor- mittee has approved contracts for ince. ney. some major development projects, At the procurement commit- The judge first heard com- tasking the Public Works Minis- tee meeting, the officials concerned ments from the suspects, most of try to reconstruct the Salang-Gar- were directed to present biding whom denied accusations of com- dan Diwal and the Kabul-Nangar- documents of companies, who had plicity in Farkhunda s murder. har roads on a priority basis. won contracts after participating Majority of them said they have The committee met on Satur- in the process, with proof of their not been involved and said they day night at the Presidential Pal- efficiency to implement the failed to understand why they ace with President Ashraf Ghani projects. In addition companies were arrested. in the chair, a statement from the have to explain having more con- The suspects asked the judge Presidential Palace said on Sunday. tracts at one time. to release them. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) The Ministry of Public Works Officials showed video foot- Abdullah Abdullah and Second Vice was tasked to organise a meeting age provided by the Attorney President Sarwar Danish were of construction experts with the General s Office (AGO) to the present at the meeting, the state- president to discuss various issues court. The footage clearly identi- ment said. and problems facing construction fied the perpetrators. The meeting discussed several firms. In Saturday s session, new in- contracts related to the defence, Ministry of Defence officials formation popped up. A security agriculture, interior and finance were told to hold meetings with officer who was among the sus- ministries and approved some of Agriculture Ministry officials on pects arrested replied to a ques- them, but postponed the approv- accomplishing their needs, em- tion of the judge that he does not al of others until the committee s powerment of farmers and creation have authority. He said he arrest- next meeting. of agricultural industries. ed an Arabic-speaking person on Reconstruction of the 700-ki- The procurement committee the day of the incident but his of- lometre Gardan Diwal road would meets at a time when frustrations ficers released him. improve transport affairs of cen- among people have grown over the The judge then summoned tral and western parts with capital unity government s poor perfor- Kabul police chief and some other Kabul. mance. Lawmakers say the gov- fghans in Dijon, eastern city of France, condemn killing of Afghan security forces in Badakhshan and other high ranking security officers to Repair works on the 52-kilo- ernment leaders have failed to meet Aparts of the country. They also denounced violence cases and hoped that Afghans would see the heyday clarify the situation. metre Kabul-Sarobi road has been people s expectations due to their soon. Photo by France 3 Bourgogne In Sunday s session the Kabul launched. The road connects Kab- differences. (Pajhwok)

58.90 57.50 65.32 63.92 This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Afghan interpreters need US help

Aziz Sharifi, center, helps his children Khaybar Sharifi, 10, left, and Dewah Sharifi, 7, with their homework after school in their Corn Hill apartment. Photo: Annette Lein) When someone tried to kidnap his in a three-bedroom home in Greece ly 20 people in the SIV program in 6-year-old daughter on her way that was arranged for them by Cath- Rochester. They settle about 700 home from school in Kabul, Af- olic Family Center, the social ser- refugees total each year. ghanistan, Wazir knew his fami- vices agency under contract with The welcome money can go ly s time had come. the Department of State to reset- quickly, considering it is used to The native of Afghanistan had tle refugees in the Rochester area. pay for rent and security depos- When Mustafa Mohammadi told shot in his north Kabul neighbor- Mohammadi's original plan rain and snow." been threatened repeatedly by the Five of Wazir s children attend its, food and other items, Morris Taliban. A convoy he had been Greece schools. His oldest son, 20, said. his parents he wanted to spend hood this year. called for a 180-volt battery with After an unexpectedly brutal riding in near Pol-i-Charki prison is looking for a job and would like It s certainly not a windfall, tens of thousands of afghanis and But the 30-year-old self- plenty of storage capacity, but he winter that saw large avalanches had been targeted by a suicide to resume studies in dentistry that all refugees need all the help they several weeks building a solar- trained engineer pressed on. had to make do with the 60-volt and floods throughout several east- bomber who claimed several lives he began in Afghanistan. Wazir s can get. It s tight for them, and if powered motorbike, they thought "I knew I had to do it, to show Pakistani-made models available in ern and northern provinces, Mo- in the explosion. Another bomber 3-year-old daughter has not start- No One Left Behind can bring more he was delusional. the world and the Afghan people Kabul. hammadi made sure the design for had caused body parts to rain ed school. resources to that and provide for "There's no guarantee the thing that we are capable of our own tech- Despite the setback, Moham- the two-person vehicle would not down on the roof of his home. His goal is to quickly find that subset of SIV clients, that s will work," his father told him. nological advances," Mohammadi madi pressed on. require water for cooling be- It was becoming increasingly work that pays the bills so that he great, Morris said. It s tight liv- His mother worried that the said. During the month-and-a-half- cause it might freeze or a warm- clear that Wazir and his family were can stop collecting social services. ing until they can get a job and get being targeted and in immediate Despite their education and to work. endeavor would call unwanted at- However, relying on products long process, he kept adjusting his up for the engine before driving. danger peril that was brought ability, many interpreters have a Dangerous delays tention to their family. available in the Afghan market pre- designs to suit the situation on "It can take off right away." on when his role as an interpreter difficult job finding well-paying, Zeller, who has gained inter- "Someone could steal it, or sented several hurdles. Though he Kabul's crowded streets. With the Ministry of Public serving U.S. military forces was full-time jobs. national attention for his efforts worse yet, they could hurt you to was able to easily acquire the five "A traditional motorcycle is Health citing air pollution as a lead- discovered. Like many of the interpreters, and has been featured on CNN, get to it," she said. solar panels for the roof of the ve- unsafe and won't withstand the ing cause of illnesses being treated Wazir would apply to be re- Wazir was one of the educated CBS and other news programs, is Mohammadi knew his moth- hicle at a cost of 1,800 afghanis elements, especially in the win- in the capital's hospitals, Moham- settled in the U.S. through its Spe- in his home country. He has a bach- quick to criticize the Department er's concern wasn't without war- about $35 a suitable battery ter," he said. "So I decided to put madi built in two alternative pe- cial Immigrant Visa program elor s degree from the Afghan Mil- of State for lagging in its process- rant; at least six people have been proved more problematic. on a roof to shield the driver from troleum-free methods for power- reserved for Iraqi and Afghan in- itary Academy, trained at the Na- ing of the visas. terpreters targeted for death by tional Defense Academy of India, From 2009 through 2013, ing the vehicle. terrorist groups such as ISIS, the and speaks five languages. Zeller said, the State Department "The solar panels are capable Taliban and al-Qaeda, and today He would like to find a job here in Afghanistan was supposed to Book review: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana of fully charging the battery, but he and others like him are finding a as an interpreter and use his lin- hand out 1,500 visas per year. for days when there is no sun or fresh, safe start in places such as guistic ability, but so far, he has During that entire time, however, By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon electricity, I put in pedals," Mo- Rochester and elsewhere across not found one. fewer than 1,000 were processed. hammadi said. the country. Aziz Sharifi, 38, too, is look- One year, only three were pro- There is no doubt that war shat- hood of Khair Khana. The women gers could not be overestimated. When the prototype was com- But one group of volunteers ing forward to supporting himself cessed and it commonly took three ters people s lives and day-to-day were stuck between a rock and a The sewing took place in their pleted in mid-December, the bright with a vested interest in these in- and his wife and three children, 11, years or more to complete pro- terpreters says America has not 7 and 4. He and his family live in cessing. struggles become overwhelming as hard place, mandated by the new home, but Kamila had to brave the yellow vehicle quickly became an fulfilled its promise of security and Corn Hill in an undersized first- There are thousands of inter- violence forces the focus onto ba- rules to stay within their homes. walk to the market with her young attraction. "Whenever anyone a new life; these refugees have been floor apartment he and a friend preters waiting for visas to be ap- sic survival. Afghanistan has suf- But with no men to bring home brother along as protection, for no takes it out for a test drive you left to struggle with inadequate found on their own. Catholic Fam- proved, and each of them faces an fered through its share of turmoil food and supplies, they had no woman was allowed out without a will see dozens of people gathered housing, substandard or no jobs, a ily Center and NOLB helped them imminent threat of violence, Zeller and unrest and has long been seen choice but to venture out, envel- male member of her family. around." lack of money and the delays of furnish the apartment with appli- said. as one of the poorest countries in oped in the awkward, uncomfort- The sisters worked hard, and The vehicle has even caught bureaucracy; and officials are not ances and furniture. In late 2014, Congress ap- the world. Entire generations have able and dehumanizing chadri orders poured in, even in the col- the attention of First Lady Rula filing the visas at nearly a fast- An Afghan, he worked for 10 proved another 4,000 visas, for grown up knowing nothing but scarves. In the early days, the nov- lapsed economy. But Kamila s Ghani, who hung a picture of it in enough rate for the imperiled trans- years as an interpreter and cultur- which Zeller said there are 12,000 lators. al adviser, including for Brig. Gen. applicants on a waiting list. hostilities and fear, with only the elty and the fear of restrictions kept plans did not stop there. She saw her office in the presidential pal- These people are heroes, they Günter Katz, and for his efforts He believes that if the U.S. faces of the perpetrators changing. the girls indoors, as they told them- there was a need in her communi- ace as a symbol of the accomplish- are, in my opinion, veterans, and received letters from the Taliban doesn t follow up on its promises The strict edicts of the Tali- selves that the Taliban would sure- ty, as other isolated women were ments of young Afghans. they shouldn t be treated like this, telling him they were going to kill to help interpreters who become ban during its emergence at the end ly be gone within a month. struggling to survive without men But the unique design also said Matt Zeller, a Rochester-area him. targets, fewer Iraqi and Afghan of the 20th century forms the back- But as time stretched on, the to support them. Kamila was de- leaves many people wondering native who formed No One Left He was unable to return to his people will volunteer, endangering drop for journalist Gayle Tzem- vibrancy of the city and its culture termined to find work for all who how exactly to operate the vehi- Behind to help resettle interpret- home village, said Sharifi, who the U.S. forces there. ach Lemmon s fascinating book began to fade, and the women grew came asking, and she landed on the cle. When a crew from TOLO TV, ers who served U.S. troops after speaks four languages. We still have US forces serv- The Dressmaker of Khair Kha- restless with boredom and with solution of opening an in-home the nation's largest private televi- an interpreter saved his life in Af- When he arrived here, Catho- ing in both Iraq and Afghanistan, ghanistan. The Rochester chapter lic Family Center helped arrange a Zeller said. They are in harm s na. When Lemmon set out for worry about their long-term sur- sewing school. sion channel, came around, the re- of NOLB opened last year. job for him at the Wegmans store way. How we treat the Afghans Kabul in 2005, she was eager to vival, as their cupboards emptied As her plans expanded, so did porter insisted on driving it. They are patriots, that s why on Lyell Avenue, pushing carts in and Iraqis who resettle here will paint a picture of the war-torn and their savings dwindled. the dangers, for more women were "I told him to be careful; this they did the work they did. To help the Helping Hands program for help determine how our forces are country from the perspective of Kamila, though only a teenag- coming and going from the house, isn't a car or a traditional motorcy- their countries, to help the United about 30 hours a week, making treated over there. Moreover, the women who had struggled to er, became the head of the house- so it was decided that very strict cle, but he didn't listen. He just States. minimum wage for three months these will not be our last wars. keep their families alive in the hold, and she had the burden of rules had to be in place, and all the took off down the street." Targeted before receiving a raise. America will need friends and al- uniquely challenging situation dur- figuring out how to provide for her sewing students complied, well As the vehicle reached its top Zeller, an American soldier It is work Sharifi said he is lies going forward. If we fail to ing the restrictive rules violently family, all while risking her life by aware of the risk they were all tak- speed of nearly 25 mph, the re- who now lives near Washington, grateful to have, adding he d like honor our current promises, I fear D.C., formed his group after he to pursue a full-time career with that no one will stand with us in enforced by the Taliban fighters. simply stepping out her door. On ing. Even with the cloak of secre- porter lost control and hit the car saw firsthand the difficulty the the company that gave him his the future. Upon her arrival, she describes the streets were representatives of cy, word spread, and Kamila s of a neighboring family. interpreters had with the visa ap- first job here, possibly an office Through a spokesperson, U.S. Kabul as an urban Wild West, the Ministry for the Promotion brave activities came to the atten- Traffic officers too have been plication process and resettling. position. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., re- where traveling as a woman is an of Virtue and the Suppression of tion of some representatives of UN unsure of how to react to the vehi- His interpreter, Janis Shinwari, It s very sad, said Ellen plied briefly on the matter. unnerving experience. After feel- Vice, whose members were little Habitat, an organization promot- cle. When Mohammadi took it for spent years working through a Smith, organizer of NOLB s Roch- Senator Schumer is aware of ing the unease, firsthand, she knew more than zealots eager to find a ing the notion that Afghanistan s a test drive along the road leading process that should take only a few ester Chapter, which has resettled this issue and is concerned about that the brave women of Afghani- reason to be violent. Women, es- healing had to include women. to the Pol-e Charkhi prison out- months. about eight interpreters and their the length of time it takes for these stan who had struggled to adapt pecially, were targeted, brutally Lemmon paints a captivating side Kabul, he was stopped sever- Zeller and Shinwari fought to- families in the Rochester area. visas to be processed. He also feels gether in Afghanistan, and Shin- They could easily be office man- it is important to make sure prop- and adjust throughout the years of beaten and often jailed. picture of the journey of this re- al times along the way. wari saved his life when he shot agers, they have outstanding ré- er background checks are done to the Taliban, becoming entrepre- In spite of the risks, Kamila markable girl who was forced to "They would pull me over to and killed two insurgents sneaking sumés, but they don t quite fit the ensure national security, said Max neurs just to survive, were wor- knew she had to figure out a way grow up quickly in the face of a ask for the registration documents, up behind Zeller. model that people want. Dworin, a Schumer spokesperson thy of having their stories told. to help her siblings, all while not life-altering moment in her coun- but the city has yet to provide me He absolutely saved my life, Smith said refugees in the SIV who has since left that office for a We re far more accustomed to attracting the attention of the Tal- try s history. The book is a testa- with one. They don't know how I wouldn t be here without him, program often fall through the different job. and comfortable with seeing iban. She decided sewing would be ment to Kamila s silent courage to classify it. Others would tell me said Zeller, an alternative energy cracks because they don t find In her attempts to solicit do- women portrayed as victims of the safest, and her sisters could and her rich vein of selflessness to take it off the road." consultant who lost the race for sustainable employment in time to nations of money and other items war who deserve our sympathy, help, which would benefit them all, that helped so many other women Nasrin, Mohammadi's moth- New York s 29th congressional pay for suitable housing or pay for the interpreters, Smith said she seat to Tom Reed in 2010. their grocery bills. has met with some resistance and rather than as resilient survivors at the very least keeping idle fin- in the city survive the difficult er, said she is proud of her son for He vowed to force the U.S. to Falling through cracks apprehension about national secu- who deserve our respect. gers and minds active. First, months of the Taliban s domi- taking his lifelong passion and put- make good on its promise to Shin- Zeller credits groups such as rity. As Lemmon sought out the though, she had to learn how to nance. Written in a lyrical style, ting it to use to address the city's wari and other interpreters. Catholic Family Center with help- One woman told me, They one woman who would become sew, soliciting her married older The Dressmaker of Khair Kha- traffic and pollution problems. She But it wasn t easy. ing refugees when they arrive, but don t belong here. They should go the focus of her remarkable book, sister for some very hasty lessons. na reads like a novel at times, leav- is especially pleased that her son One of the requirements for said their heavy caseload and the back to their countries. People she realized that her account would Thus began the business that ing the reader with a richer under- has been able to advance his pur- the visa is that an interpreter must lack of money provided to them don t understand what these peo- be, at its heart, about a sisterhood grew one garment at a time. It was standing of what life was like for suits as an inventor without a for- have performed at least a year of leaves gaps in the settlement pro- ple have done for the United of many women, females of all ages vital to keep their endeavors un- the most vulnerable during a most mal engineering education. service to the U.S. military and, as cess. States, said Smith, who believes a result of that service, be targeted His goal is to provide every some of the resistance is based on who took care of one another, pro- der wraps and quiet, for the dan- trying time. (The Summit Times) However, the media attention for violence. Shinwari s name was settling interpreter with three fear the immigrants could be dan- tected one another and worked to- has done little to assuage her fear added to the Taliban kill list, Zeller months of housing, furnishings for gerous. gether, silently and in secret, to for her son's safety. said. He would apply for a visa, their home and a car, which he es- Zeller said the concern ex- make the lives of their families and Previously, Mohammadi mod- but it wasn t until 2013 and timates would cost about $10,000 pressed by Schumer and others is communities better in the face of ified a three-wheeled Honda mo- after Zeller lobbied members of per family. unfounded. the desperate conditions plaguing torcycle for a disabled driver who Congress that Shinwari arrived That would allow the inter- These people had their their country. Kamila Sadiqi, the had lost his right arm, a continua- in America. preters to use the welcome mon- phones monitored, their email dressmaker of Lemmon s book, tion, he said, of his efforts to pro- The U.S. Department of State ey they receive from the State monitored, they were polygraphed did not return emails and calls for Department about $925 per on a regular basis, he said. Ev- was a confident, educated young vide suitable transportation for the comment. family member for other ex- ery one of the three-letter agencies woman, having just received her city's disabled population, esti- Wazir, who asked that his full penses. did their own background security teaching certificate, though her di- mated at 400,000 to 656,000. name not be used for fear of re- Much of that money is used check on them. ploma came to her without pomp Though Mohammadi has been prisal against his family still in up quickly by paying for furni- They do it because they are and circumstance, for the war made heralded for his innovations, he is Afghanistan, also faced delays in ture, beds and other items. Sharifi patriots, they want to make their public events dangerous and a chal- not the only young Afghan to gain the visa application process. From is still paying $70 per month to countries better. Then they are lenge to hold with the crumbling attention for mathematical and sci- the time he was targeted for death cover the cost of his family s flight blacklisted at home and are in seri- infrastructure. Rumors were swirl- entific prowess. by the Taliban and applied for the here. ous danger. visa, it was two years before he Another problem the immi- In safe hands ing about the coming Taliban and In 2012, a high school student would be able to board a plane for grants face is getting past the cred- Wazir and Sharifi said they what it would mean for the very in the eastern province of Ghazni the U.S. In that time, he secretly it and background checks that land- worked with the international forc- Western-minded women of Kab- came up with a math formula that had to spend nearly $9,000 on lords, employers and others some- es because they believed they could ul. Kamila was one of nine sisters, was approved by the Kabul cen- medical examinations for himself, times require. help rebuild the devastation that living in a family with a father who ter for science. A robotic excavator his wife and their seven children, They don t have credit his- has been caused by decades of on- believed in education for his daugh- designed by another teenager in now aged 3 to 20. That s money tories, they can t pass background going infighting and wars. ters. But all his plans for their fu- Logar province recently caught the he won t get back. checks, Smith said. We have even I love my country, and I want- ture collapsed when Sharia law attention of former President Ha- It was $500 apiece, and I had told them (apartment complexes) ed to rebuild Afghanistan and I it done once, but those expired that we will pay for their security knew we couldn t do it by our- became the template of the Tali- mid Karzai. before the visa came through so I deposit and first month s rent if selves. We needed the internation- ban s ambitions for Afghanistan. Mohammadi said several peo- had to do it again, Wazir said. they will forgo those checks, to al community s help, Wazir said. Not only was it dangerous for the ple have approached him to sug- When he was finally told he give them time to get their benefits They have done a lot. Paved women of the country, but men gest that he hand his designs to would be leaving for America, he so they will have more money to roads, built schools, hospitals. like Kamila s father were not safe, Chinese or Pakistani firms that can could not tell his brother or other pay rent, but we can t get past Day by day, our country is for the Taliban blacklisted sup- mass produce the vehicle. family members. that. becoming good. Sharifi said he porters of the former regime, and "I could, but that would de- He was mad that I didn t tell Jim Morris, director of Refu- appreciates the opportunity his they were in real danger. feat the purpose," he said. "If the him, but I couldn t. They (terror gee, Immigration and Language Ser- family will have in the U.S. groups) don t care who you are. A vices for Catholic Family Center, My goal is for my children. I With the men of Afghanistan government can help me gather the brother, a mother, they kill every- said he welcomes community want to enjoy life, do my work either killed in the fighting or flee- proper documentation, why one, they kill even the small kids. I groups like NOLB because they and enjoy life, he said. I did not ing to neighboring Pakistan, the wouldn't I put Afghans to work was afraid for my kids, I had a shot- can provide a boost to the reset- plan on leaving my country, I want- women of Kabul were left vulner- rather than foreigners?" gun, I was in an alert state, mean- tlement process and relieve some ed to make it better. able and struggling to survive be- Mohammadi, who plans to ing I was ready to defend my fam- of the financial pressure that refu- Wazir agreed. hind the cloistered walls of their create a helicopter, said he seeks ily. gees face when they arrive. I m in safe hands, and I m homes. These were not unsophis- only the support of the govern- So two months later, with his We have a shared purpose and happy for my family and my ticated women, who found the ment of President Ashraf Ghani, brothers thinking Wazir and his a shared mission, he said of kids, he said, and repeatedly young family were going some- NOLB. We ve worked with com- thanked Catholic Family Center changes easy; they were forward- which has made youth employ- where temporarily, they were on munity partners for years it was and his new friends sitting at the thinking and educated and ment a top priority. that plane to Rochester and arrived the way this program was designed table, Smith and Theresa Riedman watched, with hearts breaking, as "If they can help me obtain a here with just a single bag each: A to run. The last thing you want is Eckert, who takes Wazir and his their worlds were dismantled, with scholarship to study somewhere set of clothes to wear, a set to for groups not to be working to- family to appointments and helps many families forced to be headed where I can properly learn engi- change into and the one request gether. We want to make sure we them with paperwork. up by widows and girls barely out neering, think of all the Afghans I from his wife: a set of cherished are communicating and avoiding They all help us a lot and we of puberty. can help put to work." dishes from home. redundancies. don t feel like we are alone over Such was the case in Kamila s Latifi is a special correspon- Living in America Morris estimated Catholic here. Wazir and his family now live Family Center has resettled rough- (The Democrat and Chronicle) household in the Kabul neighbor- dent. LATIMES This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES 28 bags of explosives sent from Pakistan seized in Nangarhar Abdul Zuhoor Qayomi Security forces have seized 28 bags of explosive materials loaded on KABUL: Senators on Sunday situation there, but the military found and targeted in Kunduz and regard. ernor Abdul Karim Matin. But mules in eastern Nangarhar prov- called on the government to resume operations against them have been it should be assessed that who is Another senator, Sayid Safi- Atmar sent his deputy to the ince. military operations in Kunduz and stopped. They still pose threat behind insecurity in north. ullah Hashimi, said the northern house, which made senators to Officials say that the explo- other northern provinces and re- to parts of the province, particu- He said there are a number of Samangan province is under threat postponed the summoning session sive materials were sent from Pa- view the bilateral security agree- larly Imam Sahib district. A secu- officials that have made Kunduz by insurgents therefore number of to Tuesday. kistan for terrorist activities but ment aka BSA, which was signed rity check point in 30 kilometers insecure and shifted the Taliban local and national police should be The BSA should have been between Kabul and Washington on from the district has been under signed when Daesh and the Tali- security forces seized them during September 30, 2014 a day after siege by militants and has not been ban were not in Afghanistan. The an ambush in Tabi Kandaw area of the new government came into be- supported logistically, he said. US wants to make Afghanistan the Dur Baba District on Friday night. ing. Praising bravery of the securi- center of terrorism and war in the Colonel Mohammad Ayoub Concerning over growing inse- ty forces in fight against the Tali- region, said Senator Rahmatullah Hussainkhil from the Afghan Bor- curity and reactivation of militants ban fighters, he said the govern- Achakzai. der Police Zone 301 militants in Kunduz and Baghlan, the sena- ment has not equipped them prop- He suggested that the security EMERGENCY planned to use these explosives in tors suggested the government to erly therefore they face lack of deal should be reviewed and should suicide attacks and explosions in bar the rebels from entering into weapons and other facilities in war be revoked if it did not prove vital CALLS Jalalabad but border police foiled the central cities of the two prov- against insurgents. for the country. He also suggested their plans. inces. They blamed the govern- He nudged the government to that the National Security Advi- Colonel Hussainkhil added ment for political deals and look- resume military operation in Kun- sor should be summoned in up- Police that beside 28 bags of explosive ing the other way to security situ- duz and other northern parts, and coming sessions of the house. materials, three radios for commu- ation in north, and said the Na- said terrorists safe havens should Another senator, Farida Ko- 100 - 119 nication and remote controls were tional Unity Government (NUG) be targeted and none of them chi, slammed the BSA and said also confiscated during the raid. should brief the Senate house in should remain north. Daesh and the Taliban militants According to Colonel Hus- this regard. Nisar Haris, a senator from improved after the security deal Hospitals sainkhil the militants who were Senator Afzal Shamil said the Kabul, said a number of govern- was signed between Kabul and bringing the explosive materials in, Taliban militants have been reacti- ment officials are behind insecuri- militants there to destabilize the mounted and more attention Washington. The security deals FMIC Hospital vated in several parts of the north ty in Kunduz. He suggested that province. However, he did not should be paid to ensure the lo- should be reviewed and then it escaped taking the advantage of the Behind Kabul Medical darkness of the night. and are trying to threaten security insurgents hideouts should be mention any specific name in this cals safety. should be canceled if it was not Haji Hamisha Gul, governor of In the meantime, senators crit- proved vital for the country, she University: Dur Baba District says that eight icized the US for not implement- suggested. Chairman of the Sen- Journalists blast tight-lipped Helmand officials ing the BSA and said the govern- ate, Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, called 0202500200-+93793275595 suicide vests were also recovered ment should review the security on senators to avoid baseless alle- from the bags. LASHKARGAH: Journalists He added security incidents and Nehr-i-Seraj districts but local agreement. gations on president and other gov- Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital This comes about two weeks marking Word Press Freedom Day happened now and then but secu- officials are tight-lipped about the Senator Sami Faisal alleged the ernment officials, and said securi- after a deadly suicide bombing left on Sunday said officials were least rity officials were reluctant to al- offensive. president for growing insecurity in ty forces lack coordination in their Pule Bagh-e- Umomi at least 35 people killed and 75 cooperative on sharing information low journalist access to informa- Sardar Mohammad Sarawari, north, and said the basic plan was activities. The National Security others wounded in a busy part of with them in southern Helmand tion in order to hide their weak- Aryana TV reporter, said access to handover Kunduz to the Tali- Advisor should be present on 070263672 the provincial capital of Jalalabad. province. nesses. to information was the constitu- ban, but the wise management of Tuesday to brief the senators over Soon after the explosion me- A group of journalists celebrat- Mohammad Ilyas, a reporter tional right of journalists. deputy interior minister Moham- insecurity in north and the BSA Khairkhana Hospital dia received a message in which a ed the day that falls on May 3. An with Azadi Radio, told Pajhwok He said President Ashraf Ghani mad Ayub Salangi and a prominent enforcement, he added. He said person claimed responsibility of Aryana television journalist in his Afghan News officials were busy had approved the law on access to general of the Defense Ministry the Senate will decide on the BSA 0799-321007 the bombing on behalf of Daesh. address to the gathering in Lash- with their own tasks and had no information but journalists re- Morad Ali Morad saved the prov- in upcoming sessions. In the mean- But later some international media kargah, the provincial capital, ac- concern about their official obliga- mained deprived of that right. ince and did not allow the Taliban time, Abdul Wadud Paiman, an MP 2401352 outlets published a report sighting cused civil and security officials tion to share information with the He warned that journalists to capture the province. Howev- from Kunduz, told Afghanistan a Daesh source in the region de- of not sharing information with media. would boycott government cover- er, he said that the fight restarted Times that the required military clining involvement in the blast on media about Operation Zulfiqar The freedom of speech re- age if they were not allowed ac- by the Taliban militants and the operations were not conducted in Indira Gandhi Children April 18. against militants in Helmand. mains a hollow slogan. Taliban cess to information. Pajhwok tried security forces morale was dam- the province as it was expected Hospital, Wazir Akbar aged after they were ordered to by the residents. It seems that a stop the military operation and large scale military operation will Khan, Kabul 2301372 recalling the two top security offi- be launched in the province as the 105 cases of violence cials to return to Kabul. Salangi said locals have been informed by se- in an interview with TOLONews curity forces to leave their hous- Ibn-e- Seena against journalists recorded that he was ordered by the Interi- es, he added. He said the military or Minister to return to Kabul. He operation would have been more Pul-e-Artan, Kabul By Farhad Naibkhel said he is a military officer and he successful if former Mujahideen 2100359 follows orders by his seniors. leaders were given role in battle KABUL: Nai Supporting Open ed organizations due to poor and Senator Zalmai Zabuli said the against militants in Kunduz. Re- Media in Afghanistan, a local complicated procedures. reason behind stopping military gional spy agencies have spread the Wazir Akbar Khan watchdog, has recorded 105 cases Regarding the recently ap- operation in Kunduz and recalling propaganda that a number of former of violence against journalists in proved law on access to informa- the two high ranking security offi- Mujahideen commanders are be- Hospital the country since May 2014. tion, he said the law has been ap- cials to return to Kabul should be hind insecurity in Kunduz. These 2301741, 2301743 Addressing a conference in proved but not implemented. The explained by the president. allegations are baseless. The prov- connection with the World Press government should fulfill its com- The Sunday session was ince will have collapsed to the Tal- Freedom Day, the chief executive mitments and enfore the law on scheduled for summoning the Na- iban militants if the Mujahideen Ali Abad of Nai, Sediqullah Tawhidi, said priority basis, he urged. tional Security Advisor Moham- commanders were not there, he that totally 105 violence cases in- Commending performance of mad Hanif Atmar and Paktika gov- said. Shahrara, Kabul cluding four murders were regis- the journalists despite presence of 2100439 tered since May 2014. severe and numerious challenges, He said the new report re- Chief of the Afghanistan National IMPROVEMENT IN leased by his organization show Journalists Union, Abdul Hamid Malalai Maternity drastic increase as compared to the Mubarez, asked Ministry of In- Hospital previous year. According to the formation and Culture to ensure education system sought data obtained from Nai, 78 cases safety of journalists and provide 2201377/ 2301743 of violence has been recorded health insurance to them. By Akhtar M. Nikzad against journalists from May 2013 Representative of the Commit- militants share information with to contact local officials for com- to May 2014. tee to Protect Journalists, Elias media but government officials ments on the journalists demand, KABUL: The Movement for Sup- children. Banks He expressed concern over in- Alami, said the World Press Free- avoid it. A military operation was but failed to reach any. port of Quality Education Afghan- He stressed that despite these crease in violence against journal- dom Day is celebrated aimed emer- launched a week back in Greshk (Pajhwok) istan (MSQEA), a cluster of civil efforts education is not compre- Da Afghanistan Bank rights organizations, on Sunday hensive and equitable for all chil- ists, and said that reporting has gence of reports about increase in 2100302, 2100303 become a terrible job for Afghan cases of violence against newsmen urged the government to provide dren. He asked the government to journalists. in the country. He expressed con- free education to citizens and bring overhaul the education system. At the same time, Nai released cerns over existance of impunity Bamyan preparing significant improvement in the The MSQEA also provided a Kabul Bank finding of a survey conducted in culture, and said that impunity cul- country s education system. 15-year package (guideline) to Pursuing the objectives Eq- Ministry of Education for provi- 222666, 070285285 to serve as SAARC Azizi Bank 0799 700900 cultural capital Pashtany Bank BAMYAN: Security preparations member countries, the UN and oth- 2102908, 2103868 are underway ahead of events er organisations. five major provinces including the ture is major factor responsible for marking Bamyan as the cultural Brig. Gen. Khudayar Qudsi, capital city. The survey revealed increase in violence cases. Alami Air Services that 74.8 percent of journalists urged the goverrnment to bring all capital of SAARC, officials said Bamyan police chief, told Pajhwok believe that violence increased those to the court of justice who on Sunday. Afghan News the security forces uitable, Inclusive and Free Educa- sion of equitable, inclusive and free Safi Airways against media-persons and 77.7 are involved in the violence cases. Bamyan was selected as the were fully prepared for the events tion the MSQEA expressed its education service to all children up percent were of the view that vio- Spokesman for the interior South Asian Association for Re- security. We want the ceremony concerns over current condition of to 2030. 020 22 22 222 lence decreased in the past 12 ministry Sediq Sediqi said that law gional Cooperation (SAARC) cul- to take place in a good atmosphere the education sector and stressed Second Deputy Chief Execu- that despite efforts of the govern- tive Officer, Mohammad Moha- months. At least 29 percent of re- enforcement agencies, particular- tural capital for the year 2015 dur- and we hope many people would Ariana porters complained of physical vi- ly police force, are committed to ment still Afghan children to ac- qiq, said that children were facing ing Culture Ministers Conference attend it. cess standard education. several problems and the current olence, 47.5 percent complained of cooperate with journalists and nev- in New Delhi last year. Mohammad Nader Qasemi, 020-2100270 mental violence and 18.5 percent er tried to force reporters to cen- Speaking at the press confer- education system was not meet- Being home to the twin Bud- Bamyan resident, said the event ence, Chief of MSQEA, Moham- ing the needs. were concerned about violation of sor information. He promised to dha statues that were destroyed would highlight the historical sig- Kam Air their rights throughout the coun- study the survey and plug the mad Rahim Jami, said that in the Emphasizing over standard- try. The respondents believed loopholes if there were any. by Taliban in 2001 and Band-i- nificance of the province to the past 15 years the government ini- ization of education in the coun- 0799974422 that 47.8 percent of violence cases Meanwhile, scores of Afghan jour- Amir, Bamyan is among the his- world and was a major cultural tiated many steps for improvement try, he pointed out that govern- have been committed by state ac- nalist termed insecurity, poor im- torical provinces in Afghanistan. event for Afghanistan. of education system and huge mass ment is determined to fill the con- Hotels tors, 12.8 percent by their respec- plementation of law and presence According to officials, a five- Officials of the information of children profited, but access to sidered gaps based on internation- tive media organizations,18.8 per- of powerful groups as key prob- day ceremony would be held in the and culture department said a quality education still remains a al standards. Safi Landmark dream. He termed lack of skilled in- cent by the Taliban and 20.8 per- lems that hamper their routine pro- ancient city starting next month. workshop was held in the city for cent by others. According to fessional activities and asked the He said 11 million children are structors, standard curriculum and More than 5,000 people expected 16 hotels and restaurant owners going to schools, 17,000 schools schools as major problems in front 020-2203131 Tawhidi still 50 percent of violence relevant authorities to take serious to participate in the event, includ- on how to provide better services cases are not reported to the relat- measures to resolve the problems. provide education and 217,000 of the education system and urged ERENA ing participants from SAARC and hospitality. (Pajhwok) teachers are busy in educated the the donors to cooperate. S Special persons protest 0799654000 New Rumi Restaurant in Kabul, seek plots 0776351347 AT Monitoring Desk Internet Services KABUL: Special people on Sun- according to the presidential de- UA Telecom day took out to the street to pro- cree, the government has to pro- 0796701701 / 0796702702 test against Ministry of Labour, vide plots to the special persons Social Affairs, Martyrs and Dis- in the Qasaba Township. abled (MoLASMD) for being re- We have rendered great scar- Exchange Rate luctant to distribute land plots ifies to protect our motherland. which had been allotted to them Despite that our issues remain Purchase: under a residential scheme in Kab- unresolved. We are homeless ul by ex-President Hamid Karzai. though we tried to protect homes One US$ = During demonstration the pro- of the high-ups. At least they shall testors closed the main gate of the give us what the former president 57.83Afs MoLASMD and prevented the promised of, said Mohammad One Pound Sterling= officials and public from entering Hassan Safi, union leader of the 85.35Afs into the ministry s premises. Two disabled people. Criticizing the protestors told media that former government, he said that they had One Euro = President Hamid Karzai had or- obtained legal documents that 62.04Afs dered the concerned ministry s of- prove their claim for the plots, but 1000 Pak Rs = ficials to distribute plots to them the joint commission comprised of in a newly-constructed township the Urban Ministry, the Afghani- 560Afs in Qasaba area of the capital city. stan Human Rights Commission Sale: They said that at the outset, and the Attorney General Office One US$ = 1,200 special people registered officials failed to do for what it their names for the plots, but only was assigned. However, MoL- 58.03 Afs 160 were shortlisted. However, the SAMD did not comment over the One Pound Sterling= shortlisted disabled applicants yet issue. According to the statistics 86.15Afs to get plots and build shelter of of the Wolesi Jirga s commission One Euro= their own. on disabled, there are around 62.64 Afs Right activist Mohammad Ya- 800,000 special persons including Afghan boys walk next to a water canal in Herat province. Photo by Xinhua sin Haqparast told local media that 41 percent women in the country. 1000 Pak Rs= 568Afs This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04 , 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Nepal earthquake death toll expected One should think to climb ‘much higher,’ official says twice before making statements on sensitive issues: Pak PM

KARACHI: A day after MQM chief Altaf Hussain tendered an apology for making defamatory statements against the armed forc- es, Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf indirectly cautioned the leader once again about his inflammatory speeches. “MQM chief Altaf Husain’s apology is a good gesture but is- sues related to national security and national interest are very sensi- ment’s advice, Pemra issued show tive,” Prime Nawaz Shairf said in cause notices to 14 television chan- a statement. One should think nels, Radio Pakistan reported. twice before making statements on Meanwhile, Information Min- such issues, he added. ister Senator Parvez Rashid said In a statement released on Sat- that the government was waiting urday, Nawaz said the MQM chief for media houses to reply to the had hurt the sentiments of millions show-cause notices served by with his anti-Army remarks. Pemra. Nawaz said it is the govern- “No one will be allowed to ment’s responsibility to uphold compromise national security,” the and guard the integrity of the minister said. armed forces, and defence and se- Having faced strong criticism curity institutions. over his comments regarding the The premier also urged the army, Hussain apologised for media to act responsibly and in line “hurting the sentiments of nation- with the Constitution. The federal al security institutions and patri- government on Friday advised the otic people.” Pakistan Electronic Media Regu- Earlier, the Pakistan Army had latory Authority (Pemra) to clamp censured Hussain for castigating The death toll from the devastat- magnitude quake, which sent country Nepal which now remains survivors buried in rubble are "ex- $415 million is needed, the United down on broadcast of hate speech- the military leadership and called ing earthquake that struck Nepal shock waves rippling through the devastated," he said, according to tremely slim." Nations said. es of political leaders live. his remarks ‘uncalled for and dis- last weekend is already above Himalayan nation on April 25, a transcript of his remarks posted "It will be a miracle if anyone Mahat said the quake had com- Govt asks Pemra not to allow gusting’. 7,000, and a Nepali government currently stands at 7,056, accord- on the bank's website. Mahat said is found alive," Home Ministry pletely or partially destroyed near- live broadcast of hateful speeches The chief military spokesper- minister warned Sunday that it's ing to Nepali authorities. More the quake had caused "incalculable spokesman Laxmi Dhakal said. ly 300,000 houses. According to a statement is- son, Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, expected to climb "much higher." than 15,000 people have been in- human loss and suffering, with "But we have not completely giv- He said Nepalis would rebuild sued by the Pemra, the government used his Twitter account not only "There are still villages where jured. Mahat portayed a desper- millions of people rendered home- en up yet and are continuing to their nation and come out of the expressed concerns over the live to rebut the allegations but also we know that all houses have been ately bleak situation in his com- less." "The aftershocks have not look." crisis stronger, but not without telecast of the hate speech of po- announced legal action against Al- destroyed, but have not yet been ments at an event on the sidelines receded and we expect the final ca- The United Nations estimates help from other countries. litical leaders by majority of the taf, who in a late Thursday night able to reach," Finance Minister of an Asian Development Bank sualty numbers to climb much that more than 3 million people "We need your technical ad- electronic channels and urged the address to his supporters had made Ram Sharan Mahat said at an event meeting in Baku. "It is with great higher," he said. are in need of food assistance -- vice, global knowhow and impor- regulatory body to invoke the sec- references to the surrender of Pa- in Baku, Azerbaijan. pain and sadness that I stand be- His government warned Sat- nearly half of those need it imme- tantly, substantial financial re- tion 27 of the Pemra Amendment kistani troops after the fall of Dha- The death toll from the 7.8- fore you to present the case of my urday that the chances of finding diately. Emergency funding of sources to propel us," he said. Act 2007. Acting on the govern- ka in 1971. UN assures India of taking up issue of Lakhvi's release in next meeting UNITED NATIONS: A UNSC cerns, McLay has responded to DADU: At least 11 people, includ- committee has assured India that India's letter and assured that the ing seven women and three chil- it will take up the issue of Mum- matter will be discussed at the next dren, were killed and 34 others bai terror attack mastermind Zaki- meeting of the committee, sources wounded as a bus carrying a wed- ur Rehman Lakhvi at its next meet- told PTI. ding party burst into flames at the ing, after India expressed concern The next meeting of the com- Khairpur Nathan Shah bypass that the LeT commander's release mittee is expected to take place in upon impact with a high-voltage from a Pakistani jail violates the the next few days. electric cable, police say. provisions of the global body. The committee had listed in Of the 11 who died, seven India's ambassador to the UN December 2008 Lakhvi as a ter- were women and three were chil- Asoke Mukerji had written a let- rorist associated with LeT and al- dren. The men who were on the ter to the chair of the UNSC al- Qaida for "participating in the fi- bus were able to escape before Qaida sanctions committee ambas- nancing, planning, facilitating, pre- Washington calling for him to be flames engulfed the vehicle. The sador Jim McLay expressing con- paring or perpetrating of acts of rearrested. bride and the groom remained un- cern over Lakhvi's release and said activities by, in conjunction with, Lakhvi and six others - Abdul harmed as they were travelling in a it violates the provisions of the under the name of, on behalf or in Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin separate vehicle. committee concerning al-Qaida support of" both entities. Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Thirty two are critically in- and associated individuals and en- As a listed terrorist, Lakhvi is Ahmed and Younis Anjum - have jured and being treated for burns tities. subject to assets freeze, travel ban been charged with planning and in various hospitals in the area. India asks Pakistan to appeal and an arms embargo. executing the Mumbai attack in Two who were less-critically against Lakhvi's release US con- The committee said that as November, 2008 that left 166 peo- injured are being treated at the veys 'grave concern' to Pakistan chief of operations and military ple dead. Khairpur Nathan Shah Hospital over Lakhvi release Lakhvi's release commander of LeT, Lakhvi has di- Lakhvi, 55, a close relative of (KNSH). According to hospital not good for world, France tells rected its operations, including in LeT founder and Jamaat-Ud Dawa sources, KNSH did not have doc- Modi 'Insult to victims of 26/11': Iraq and South-East Asia. (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, was ar- tors in emergency today, and has Lakhvi walks free from Pak jail, "In past years, Lakhvi has rested in December 2008 and was no burn ward. Those who were angering India India also pointed played an important role in LeT indicted along with the six others critically injured had to be shifted out that as a listed terrorist, Lakh- fundraising activities, receiving on November 25, 2009 in connec- to other hospitals as adequate ar- vi can neither receive or give mon- donations from al-Qaida affiliates tion with the 26/11 attack case. rangements were not available at ey since all his assets and financial on behalf of LeT. He has also man- The trial has been underway KNSH. resources have to be frozen. Any aged a training camp in Afghani- since 2009. A Pakistani court had Fifteen injured were shifted to where there is a burn ward. bail money posted for Lakhvi is stan," according to the committee on April 9 set free Lakhvi, a move Civil Hospital Dadu which does Two were shifted to People’s Medical University Hospital, Nawabshah. President Mamnoon Hussain also a violation of the provisions website. which India said "eroded" the val- not have a burn ward, but did have and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the casualties. Nawaz Sharif asked con- of the sanctions committee since The release of Lakhvi had also ue of assurances repeatedly con- doctors available. cerned authorities to ensure such incidents do not happen again. He also directed for provision of the best he is listed terrorist. raised concerns in the US, UK, veyed to it by Pakistan on cross- Fifteen were shifted to Larka- medical treatment to the injured. In January, a fatal bus accident claimed the lives of at least 62 people when Acknowledging India's con- Russia, France and Germany with border terrorism. na Medical University Hospital the bus caught fire after an oil tanker collided with it off the National Highway in Malir. Iran turns down Indian company’s Sri Lanka's former leader Ra- japaksa denies plotting to keep power offer to develop gas field "Kerry spoke frequently about the need for the citizens of Following years of dawdling over when the United States and Euro- this island country to not forget development of Iran's Farzad B gas pean Union imposed sanctions on their past, and to find a way to field by Indian companies, Iran has Iran, banning any investment in reconcile their past grievances," Al rejected the latest package pro- Iran's energy sector above USD 20 Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan, report- posed by an Indian delegation for million. The sanctions were im- ing from Colombo, said. the development of the field. posed at the beginning of 2012, "In Sri Lanka, that means According to Fars news agen- with the goal of preventing other squaring political, ethnic and reli- cy, the package was presented to countries from cooperating with gious differences. It also means Iranian officials during a recent visit Iranian banks and energy sector. trusting each other, something that to the country by an Indian dele- The restrictive measures were can't be legislated." gation, which was headed by Shri imposed over allegations about Kerry's visit comes after years Ashutosh Jindal, the director of possible diversion in Iran's nucle- of tensions between the US admin- Indian Ministry of Petroleum and ar program toward military objec- istration and Mahinda Rajapaksa, Natural Gas. tives. Iran categorically rejected the the former president, over allega- The Indian delegates sought to allegation. Iran and the P5+1 group tions of human rights abuses and convince Iranian Ministry of Pe- of countries – the US, the UK, war crimes at the end of a long con- troleum to give development of the France, Germany, Russia and Chi- flict with Tamil separatists, which field to the Indian company with- na – reached a mutual understand- ended in 2009. out a tender bid. ing on April 2 in the Swiss city of Rajapaksa was unseated by According to an informed Lausanne as a prelude to a com- Mathripala Sirisena in a surprise source speaking on condition of prehensive deal before a self-des- election win in January. anonymity, India has offered a ignated deadline at the end of June. Rajapaksa's government had complete package for the develop- A key point of Lausanne statement also clashed with the UN over its ment of Farzad B gas field, which was a promise to lift a series of investigation into war atrocities. includes swapping the field’s gas sanctions on Iranian economy. At Sirisena's request, the UN with natural gas produced by oth- Farzad B gas field is estimated to has agreed to delay its report until er Iranian fields in Chabahar port, hold 21.68 trillion cubic feet (tcf) September. 'Pivotal point' In a and construction of a pipeline to of gas in place, of which 12.8 tcf is speech to business leaders and ac- take the surplus gas of the field to recoverable. A number of interna- tivists in Colombo, Kerry said it India. tional oil giants have also voiced was important that the new gov- India’s ONGC Videsh offered interest in returning to Iran's oil ernment cooperate with the UN its revised development plan for and gas sector, including Italy's and mount an investigation seen the field in 2010 according to which Eni, France's Total and Royal The US secretary of state has said sure an investigation into war decade that a US secretary of state the US would immediately send as legitimate within Sri Lanka. He the company was expected to re- Dutch Shell. The companies’ ex- he wants to renew ties with Sri crimes met international standards. has visited Sri Lanka. experts to advise the new govern- said a process of reconciliation was cover 60 percent of the field’s es- ecutives have said they are already Lanka and urged its new govern- John Kerry arrived in Sri Lan- He announced the start of an ment on economic growth, trade needed to heal the wounds of more timated gas reserves. However, it looking into Iran's post-sanctions ment to work with the UN to en- ka on Saturday, the first time in a annual bilateral dialogue and said and investment. than two decades of war. failed to live up to its promises business potentials. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04 , 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

Former deputy's graft sentence casts shadow on Iran's Ahmadinejad BEIRUT: In late January, a former ROME: Nearly 3,700 migrants deputy of conservative ex-presi- were rescued from boats near the dent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who coast of Libya on Saturday and has been jailed for embezzlement early Sunday and more rescue op- raised explosive allegations which erations were expected during the have now spurred speculation day as people smugglers took ad- Ahmadinejad himself could face vantage of calm seas, Italy's coast charges. guard said. They were made in a private All of those rescued were be- letter that was published by the ing brought back to Italian shores, Iranian Labour News Agency, giv- a spokesman for the coast guard ing a rare insight into splits at the said, and some reached Lampe- top at a time when the former pres- dusa, Italy's southernmost island, ident, a fierce critic of the West, during the night. was showing signs of preparing a The mild spring weather and political comeback. the calm summer seas are expect- Ahmadinejad has denied the ed to push total arrivals in Italy allegations, which linked him to the for 2015 to 200,000, an increase case, and his supporters say they of 30,000 over last year, according are politically motivated. to an Interior Ministry projection. Senior officials have since ex- The nationalities of those res- pressed concern public splits with- cued had not yet been determined, in Iran's factionalized elite might he said. Italy coordinated the res- undermine negotiations with ma- cue efforts mounted by a total of jor world powers on its disputed 13 vessels. Italy's navy, coast guard nuclear program. and finance police were involved, In a speech in late March for as was a French ship acting on be- example, Iran's Supreme Leader half of the European border con- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged any trol agency. critics of the government leading Growing lawlessness and an- the negotiations, led by Ahmadine- archy in Libya is giving free hand jad's successor, centrist Hassan to people smugglers who make an Rouhani, not to use insults. average of 80,000 euros ($90,000) Against this background, pur- from each boatload of migrants, suing the allegations against Ah- according to an ongoing investiga- madinejad would be sensitive; tion by a southern Italian court. some analysts say too sensitive. Shocked by what was de- Others say statements by some scribed as the most deadly Medi- MPs, officials and media close to terranean shipwreck in memory the authorities suggest the judicia- last month, EU leaders agreed to ry is inching towards a case. triple funding for its Triton sea Ahmadinejad's former vice patrol mission after a migrant boat president Mohammed Reza Rahi- capsized and up to 900 drowned. mi became the most senior official to be convicted of graft since the 1979 Islamic Revolution when he was sentenced to five years in jail Saudi-led alliance hits and fined 38.5 billion rials (about $1.3 million). State media said he had taken bribes in connection airbase in Yemen's with corruption at the state Iran Insurance Company. Rahimi wrote to Ahmadinejad complaining he Sanaa: Residents should have supported him over ADEN/CAIRO: Warplanes from and Saleh's forces, said four of their the case and alleging that he, Rahi- a Saudi-led coalition struck San- number were killed in clashes on mi, had helped the government aa's al Dulaimi military airbase over- Saturday to the death of 15 mem- pay 12 billion rials ($400,000) in night, residents of the Houthi-con- bers of the Iran-allied militia. bribes to about 170 conservative trolled Yemeni capital said on Sun- However, Houthi reinforce- parliamentary candidates in 2008. day. ments had arrived from al-Dhalea "Were you not informed that The aircraft also targeted a and Abyan, the sources in the re- this is what the whole story was camp of forces loyal to former pres- sistance said. Hotels in the Man- about?" Rahimi wrote. He did not ident Ali Abdullah Saleh, an ally of soura district had received refugees spell out what the candidates were the Houthis, in Arhab district north from Mualla and Khor Maksar. supposed to have done for the al- of the city, the residents added. Fighting around Yemen has leged payments, but implied the There was no immediate word on killed more than 1,000 people, in- MPs would be expected to coop- casualties. cluding an estimated 551 civilians erate with Ahmadinejad's govern- The Saudi-led coalition has since the bombings started on ment. Rahimi became vice presi- been carrying out air strikes in Ye- March 26, the United Nations said dent from 2009-1013. men since late March against the on April 24. Its children's agency Before the letter was pub- Houthis and their allies, whose rap- UNICEF said at least 115 children lished, Ahmadinejad had denied in id advances forced Yemeni Presi- were among the dead. a statement that the corruption dent Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Saudi Arabia, the world's top charges against Rahimi were linked and his government into exile in oil exporter and arch Sunni Mus- to his government, noting they re- Riyadh. lim regional rival of Shi'ite Muslim lated to a time before Rahimi be- Iran, which backs the Houthis, Iran, says it was concerned for its came his deputy. does not recognize Hadi and has own security and Yemen's stabili- Days afterwards, he launched portrayed the air strikes as an in- ty after Shi'ite Houthi forces cap- a new website in a hint that he tervention in Yemen's internal af- tured the capital and began advanc- could mount a comeback in parlia- fairs. ing across the country, on its south- mentary elections next year. Last week, Saudi Arabia said ern border, in September. Last year, a billionaire tycoon At least 12 Iraqi soldiers and para- car bombs attack in Baghdad, May said the fighters managed to de- went off on Saturday evening near coalition jets destroyed the run- The air strikes have increased with alleged links to aides to Ah- military forces were killed on Sat- 2, 2015. (Reuters) stroy another six car bombs be- a restaurant and a gas station in way of Yemen's Sanaa airport to regional tension, with the com- madinejad was hanged for involve- urday by suicide car bombs tar- The forces were targeted in a fore they reached their targets. The the predominately-Shiite district prevent an Iranian cargo plane from mander of Iran's elite Revolution- ment in a $2.7 billion fraud and geting an outpost in western An- train station in Garma, on the road officer said the death toll was like- of Karrada Dakhil, killing 14 civil- landing there. ary Guards, General Mohammad money-laundering affair involving bar province, while attacks in the to the ISIS stronghold of Fallujah, ly higher than 12. Bodies were still ians and wounding more than 30 In the southern city of Aden, Ali Jafari, comparing Saudi Arabia 14 state-owned and private banks. capital killed at least 14 civilians, 15 km to the east. The ultra-radi- being pulled from the rubble and others, police and medics said. The fighting continued in the central to Tehran's arch-enemy, Israel. All four defendants denied wrong- security and medical sources said. cal group did not claim the attacks, the army had sent reinforcements attack was later claimed by ISIS districts of Mualla and Khor Mak- The Houthis allege Hadi fos- doing. It came to light as Iranians The fighters were part of a but the tactic is one they often that continued to clash with mili- militants. Such attacks are not un- sar, near the main commercial port, tered Islamist militants linked to were being hard hit by the sanc- campaign announced by the gov- employ. tants. Tribal sources from Garma common in the capital, where Shi- as well as in the city's north, around al Qaeda and corrupt officials. tions and severely damaged the ernment last month to recapture "Five of the armored car bombs confirmed the attack but were not ite areas are often targeted by the a military camp and the airport, Hadi, who fought al Qaeda before reputation of Ahmadinejad and his parts of the Sunni heartland from anaged to reach our forces in the able to provide details. Government Sunni Islamist insurgents the gov- where there have been fierce clash- fleeing the Houthi advance, says entourage at the end of his second the jihadist militants of ISIS, which train station and blew up. It re- officials could not be reached for ernment is struggling to dislodge es for three days, local sources said. the Islamist militant group is as term. Ahmadinejad's supporters has held the territory for the past duced the station to dirt," an army comment. from large sections of the coun- Sources in the southern resis- much a threat to Yemen as it had accused his political enemies of us- year. People gather at the site of officer told Reuters by phone. He In Baghdad, two car bombs try's north and west. tance, which is fighting the Houthis always been. ing that case to ensure the outgo- ing president's allies had no chance in the 2013 presidential election. Syria using chlorine gas to That vote was won by Rou- hani by a landslide on pledges to relieve the international isolation attack town, activists say and repair economic damage from A suspected chlorine-gas attack by blamed opposition fighters for such sanctions over the disputed nucle- Syrian government helicopters has attacks. ar program as well as what Rou- killed a child and injured about 40 The latest suspected attack hani said was financial mismanage- people in Saraqeb, activists say, in comes a day after the Organisa- ment under Ahmadinejad. Rahi- the second attack on the northwest- tion for the Prohibition of Chemi- Hundreds of immigrants at a dis- We can't go [to] Burundi, there is a in the camp were primarily from Natal's capital Durban, told Al mi’s letter prompted a group of ern town in days. cal Weapons, which has links to placement camp in South Africa's fight. So we can't go anywhere and Burundi and the Democratic Re- Jazeera the government was try- MPs to write to the heads of the Friday night's alleged attack in the UN and the support of 190 coastal province of Kwa-Zulu we can't stay here. We need anoth- public of Congo, with most of the ing what it could to reintergrate the judiciary and parliament urging Saraqeb, in Idlib province, which member states, said it was ready Natal are refusing to be transferred er peace country to go there." people from Malawi and other migrants. them to reveal which candidates is controlled by a coalition of op- to investigate multiple allegations weeks after xenophobic violence While the Isipingo Beach countries already having been re- "The reality is we are putting were alleged to have received position groups, follows reports of chlorine attacks in recent there. Camp was a lot less equipped than patriated. all our resources in getting them bribes. “This was not clean mon- of a similar helicopter barrage us- months. Almost 400 people were holed the camp the government wanted "Many people are claiming back into the community to the ey. We have to get this money back ing barrel bombs on Wednesday. The Syrian government would up at the Isipingo Beach Camp on to move migrants to, this was not refugee status, but there is the add- countries that they came from and by any means possible and put it It also comes a day after an need to approve the group's visit. Sunday and were refusing to leave, this first time the occupants had ed issue of how many people will to tell the communities to provide at the disposal of the people,” Ka- international chemical-weapons First-hand accounts after the South African government been moved and many feared that receive genuine assylum seeker or safety and security for them." maluddin Pirmoazen, one of the watchdog said it was ready to in- Last month, a closed-door arranged buses to transport them the next camp would also be closed refugee status," The South African Depart- letter's authors, told Reuters. A fi- vestigate a series of recent chemi- meeting of representatives from the on Saturday. or they would be deported, Al Stratford explained that as ment of Home Affairs said of the ery orator who denied the Holo- cal attacks. UN Security Council heard first- The government has embarked Jazeera's Stratford said. some of the Burundians and Con- reintegration programme on its caust and often condemned the Videos shared by the Syrian hand accounts from Syrian doctors on a plan to reintegrate and repa- "The two buses arranged by golese were from areas in their website: "The Department is cur- West, Ahmadinejad also clashed Civil Defence activist group of alleged chemical weapons at- triate the migrants, but many of the government remained empty," home countries that were not in- rently assisting displaced persons with parliament, where he was ac- showed medics and residents rush- tacks in March in the village of the migrants say they do not trust he said on Saturday. volved in conflict they did not to verify their status. In cases cused of mismanaging the econo- ing children to a local hospital as Sarmin, which is also in Idlib prov- the government and that they He said the migrants said they qualify for assylum or refugee sta- where documents have been lost my and snubbing Khamenei. Ah- they coughed, some gasping for air. ince. would not like to return to their were afraid to stay in South Africa tus and would have to be sent or stolen during the violence, the mad Tavakoli, a conservative MP A video from Nareb, another The US, along with Britain and home countries. but that they were also afraid to home. department checks the system and long critical of Ahmadinejad, said town in the province where fight- France, accuse Assad's government Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, return to their home countries. Eric Apelgren, head of inter- reissues the relevant documenta- charges should be brought against ers supported by Turkey, Qatar of using chlorine gas against civil- reporting from the Isipingo Beach He said the almost 400 people national relations in Kwa-Zulu tion. him. “Any person who breaks the and Saudi Arabia have made gains ians as his is the only force using Camp, on Sunday said there was law must be tried. And in my view in recent days against troops loyal helicopters, but Russia maintains no food and water at the camp. Ahmadinejad has been a law-break- to President Bashar al-Assad, there is no firm evidence that the "People are relying on the kind- er,” Tavakoli said in early Febru- showed a medic receiving oxygen government is responsible. ness of neighbours," he said. ary, according to the Islamic Re- himself after rescuing people from He said the Medecins Sans public News Agency (IRNA). A another attack. UN hears accounts of chemi- Frontieres (MSF) aid agency had Facebook and Instagram campaign The Britain-based Syrian Ob- cal attacks also been refused accessed to the were started shortly after the let- servatory for Human Rights, The 15 envoys attending the camp on Sunday, in an effort to ter was published called “Demand which relies on a network of activ- UN meeting heard a report by a encourage people to leave the for Trial of Mahmoud Ahmadine- ists on the ground, reported citing Syrian doctor who said that he camp. jad". The creators of the Facebook medical officials in Nareb that a treated the victims of the Sarmin Our correspondent said the page declined an interview request. child was killed, although the cause attack, which killed six people from occupants in the camp were ada- A spokesman for Iran's Guardian of death was not clear. the same family; three children, mant though that they did not Council, a powerful body which The Local Coordination Com- their parents and grandmother. want to go back. They say they can vet parliamentary candidates mittees, another activist group, Dr Zaher Sahloul, of the Syri- plan to stick it out. and has legislative and judicial au- also reported the alleged chemical an American Medical Society, told Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sat- thority, said it could step in to in- attack in Saraqeb. Al Jazeera that the scene was "very urday, one refugee at the camp, vestigate the allegations in Rahi- There was no mention of the traumatic". Amadi Kanakimana, said: "Our mi’s letter if the parliament began attacks in Syrian state media. "Doctors and nurses were countries, there is a fight so we investigating the matter or if the Forces loyal to Assad have struggling to treat them. can't go [to] Congo there is a fight. judiciary opened a new file. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY.MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES

We a r e a n a t ion a l in st it u t ion a n d n ot t h e voice of a gov t or a p r iva t e or ga n iza t ion AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir Phone No: +93-772364666 E-mail: [email protected] point to both Central and South Asia but because it is conducive to Email: [email protected] the group’s expansionist ambitions in this region. Security challeng- es Internally, Afghanistan, as in www.afghanistantimes.af Iraq, is witnessing the departure Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi of both US and NATO forces and, also as in Iraq, the new central gov- ernment seems unable to counter Advisory editorial board the numerous security challenges it is currently facing without the Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, fire power and air cover of its Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal former NATO allies. This is in- creasingly evident as the new fight- ing season begins with heavy at- Graphic-Designers: tacks on many district posts in Mansoor Faizy and Edriss Akbari different parts of Afghanistan by indigenous Taliban groups. The Marketing & Advertising: current economic downturn, due to the drying up of aid money and Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 little or no economic or job oppor- Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan tunities for the youth in the more volatile provinces, makes recruit- Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 ment to their cause easy and convenient. ISIL would not find it Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press Afghan women chant slogans during a protest demanding difficult to recruit local fighters justice for a woman who was beaten to death by a mob [Getty] because they have the budget to finance their war. Finally, unlike The constitution says By Nadir Naim Farkhunda being beaten to death, has started with regards to its sud- Iraq, the natural terrain of Afghan- then burnt by an angry mob of den appearance here in Afghani- istan makes it a good base for guer- As the trial of 49 suspects charged young men. The entire incident was stan. Most Afghans who know rilla groups to operate from, so Article 127: with the brutal mob killing of an broadcast on all the national TV their history would argue that the much so that it became the choice If more than one third of the members of the House of People demand the trial of the Chief Justice of the Afghan woman gets under way in stations and received extensive idea of a full-fledged radical ideol- of al-Qaeda almost two decades Supreme Court or any of its members accused of a crime related to job performance or committing a crime, Kabul, the nation is plunged into coverage on social media. From ogy would never succeed in our ago. I believe that a blanket denial and, the House of People approves this demand by two thirds majority of all members, the accused shall be collective soul searching. that first day of Spring, Afghans country. Even the Taliban who of this new threat, or limiting our- dismissed and the issue referred to a special court. The formation of the court and procedure of the trial shall Twenty-seven-year-old have seen several more bloody at- were to some extent “homegrown” selves to questioning the reason for be regulated by law. Farkhunda was lynched on March tacks across the country, with a never quite managed to rule the its presence in Afghanistan, would 19, two days before the Afghan sharp increase in incidents involv- entire country with their radical be short sightedness on the part of New Year (Nowruz). The tragic ing innocent travellers on the main approach. While this reality may the new Afghan government, our incident not only captured the at- highways being ordered off coach- be of some comfort - and some may NATO partners and regional play- tention of the international media, es at gunpoint by masked men and even go so far as to argue that ISIL ers. What matters is not whether Editorial the insurgency waves the black but it made a huge impact on Af- being taken as hostages or killed does not exist in our country - it is ghans both within and outside of on the spot. ISIL’s first attack largely the same Taliban fighters flags of ISIL or the white flags of Afghanistan. “Her attackers were Last month, the Taliban announced who have changed their white flags the Taliban, but the urgent neces- not common criminals, nor a bunch what it called its “Spring Offen- for the black flags of ISIL. The real sity for a winning strategy to com- of fanatic religious villagers. Most sive”, with a rocket attack on a US danger, however, is apparent when bat these growing threats. Afghan- of them seem to be urbanite, well- base outside Kabul. But the most looking at the broader picture. Af- istan must not be permitted to de- groomed men in their 20s. They significant attack so far this new ghanistan has always been at the scend back into chaos as it did af- were born and raised in war. Their year took place on April 18 in the crossroads of Asia. Our country’s ter the Soviet Union’s withdrawal Most of the villages and urban parts in the country are considered fathers had most probably lived city of Jalalabad. It was significant strategic geopolitical position in the late 1980s - or the crucible most of their lives in war. The cul- not only because of the extensive makes it a desirable location and of death that Iraq has become in no-go area by many people. Even high-ranking officials who often ture of violence, instilled over three number of people that it killed and sacrificial lamb for any ambitious the wake of the US troops’ depar- decades, continues to be passed on injured but because it was also political power in this region wish- ture. Nadir Naim is an claim of establishing writ of the government in restive provinces are to the young generation,” wrote claimed as ISIL’s first attack in ing to have a presence here. There- Afghan politician and a member found afraid to visit the areas without a convoy of troops or police. Helena Malikyar, an Afghan jour- Afghanistan. ISIL emerged in Iraq fore, if ISIL’s goal is to move be- of the former ruling Barakzai nalist. Indeed, Afghanistan woke and later spread to Syria with fur- yond its current sphere of domi- dynasty. He was a candidate in the Afghans are worried by the exponentially growing insecurity be- up on the first official day of Spring ther ambitions to expand across the nation, Afghanistan would be a 2014 Afghan presidential elec- cause foreign-backed militants are thriving vigorously with substan- to the horrific images and clips of Middle East. So a curious debate natural choice not just as an access tions. tial success in finding new financial sources and recruits. Once de- pendent on charity and alms, terrorist organizations now kidnap people for ransom and bargaining with the government to free de- tained fighters. From Afghan Taliban to the Islamic State or Daesh, the terror groups are exhibiting their might at different corners of the country By M. Nadeem Alizai ing point in SAARC’s history. starved industries, the natural re- the economy and defeat extrem- aimed to give the message that their backbone is still intact and they The increased interaction last year sources of Central Asia can prove ism. Similarly, the Central Asian At a time when other Asian among South Asian officials is an elixir. What these industries re- republics can take advantage of the are standing firmly despite presence of sophisticated and well- countries are going through tre- welcome and the political weather ally need is natural gas, electricity China-Pakistan Economic Corri- equipped foreign troops for over decade. No matter how the au- mendous transformation, South is changing. Acknowledging the and oil. Afghanistan, Pakistan and dor and other Pakistani routes to thorities interpret this message but what matters most is to ensure Asian states are swept into a reality that South Asian countries India can benefit from energy di- find markets in South Asia. whirlpool of mind-numbing prob- cannot afford more turbulence in versification in Central Asia. Turk- China could help other coun- safety of citizens and pluck whiskers of the insurgents. lems. They not only have to wor- their relations will give them the menistan and Uzbekistan have the tries speed up work on these Despite the fact that security forces are determined to fight till the ry about deteriorating security but opportunity to set a correct fu- largest natural gas deposits while projects. The Asian Infrastructure very end in order to defeat militancy and restore law and order in its implications for economic pol- ture course.After months of back Kazakhstan is an oil producer and Investment Bank can play a cru- icies as well. Disputes over fron- and forth, ties between Pakistan exports 90 percent of its supply. cial role to initiate such mega insecure parts, Afghan highways are in the crosshair of insurgents. tiers and constant interference had and Afghanistan have scaled new Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan need projects. China takes great inter- Vehicles are stopped at gunpoint and passengers are abducted in overshadowed economic growth heights. Likewise, Afghanistan is markets to supply surplus elec- est in the regional economic broad daylight. On Saturday around 3:00 pm the Taliban fighters opportunities for decades. Indus- a close ally of India. Pak-India ties tricity. projects and has launched its own wearing masks stopped and searched vehicles for government ser- tries are starving, unemployment are strained but they cannot con- It is this diversification that is Silk Route initiative to bridge the is high and millions of people live tinue poking each other. If they prodding South and Central Asian trust deficit in the region. Last vants in Markoh area of Nangarhar province. It was not the first below the poverty line. want to keep pace with the times, countries to take smart steps for year, China announced it would incident of such nature but several people were kidnapped earlier in The security paradigms they will have to go through trans- regional integration. The CASA- contribute $40 billion to kick off Ghazni, Zabul and other provinces of the country and later their adopted by the South Asian coun- formation. 1000 electricity transmission and work on the Silk Road. tries have been totally incompati- To bolster the economy and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Paki- These projects should not be dead bodies were found. ble with modern-day politics. curb poverty, the only option that stan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline sabotaged by politics and rivalries. Unfortunately, despite the haunting mishaps, seemingly the gov- When other regions on the world the two neighbors have is to re- projects are economically profit- Regional actors, especially India ernment has not engineered a comprehensive security mechanism map are drawing closer for shared solve their disputes in an amicable able and involve little risk. The and Pakistan, should not be stuck goals, political rivalries in South way and embrace regionalism. It is expansion of the Afghanistan-Pa- in obsolete policies because we are to ensure travelers are not bothered by the violent creatures on Asia have kept the South Asian the most viable option to find sal- kistan Transit Trade Agreement to living in a geoeconomic age. The highways. The mysterious silence of the authorities to address this Association for Regional Cooper- vation. Regionalism and multilat- include Tajikistan and trade incen- more these players collaborate, the serious challenge is proving the very point that they are trying to ation (SAARC) in lurch and away eralism provide the chance for In- tives to Afghan traders under the more South Asia will steer smooth- evade the issue. They ought to double security along the highly from becoming an effective plat- dia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other South Asian Free Trade Area are ly toward regionalism. –(Global form. The realization in the past SAARC members to strengthen moves toward a prosperous future. Times) travelled highways and encourage people to report suspicious ac- decade that the precarious securi- economy through increased trade These projects will not only pave The writer can be reached at tivities. However, it is not happening as people are worried for their ty situation in South Asia and pov- activities. the way for regionalism but also [email protected]. Follow lives and in some areas even provide shelter to insurgents. erty are interlinked has been a turn- For South Asia’s energy- create thousands of jobs, improve him at Twitter at @nadeemalizai. Likewise, awareness of drivers is also important to reduce traffic accidents, because road safety is not only linked with ramping up security but responsible driving as well. As many as 18 people lost their lives when a bus plunged into a ravine on Sunday in Badghis. Reckless driving is killing scores of people every month and has become an order of the day. If security along the roads improved, it would also help the shattered tourism industry of the country to regain the lost colors and prove as a handsome source of revenue generation. Moreover, success of the operations launched against anti-state elements depends on enhanced security of the highways because the terror groups ambush convoys and block roads to reduce ef- fects of the offensives. 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MONDAY.MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Cuba and the India’s crackdown on ‘anti-national’ activism difficult change ahead In India, dissent and pursuit of justice are anti-national activities. By Abdulrahman al-Rashed By Saurav Datta Before it opens up to the world The Ford Foundation has incurred and becomes like other countries, the Indian government’s wrath for I desired to see Cuba, the country which almost caused a third world funding “anti-national activities”. war. Cuba and North Korea are Last week, the home ministry put currently the last two communist the organisation under a financial closed countries. During my recent surveillance regime in order to en- visit there, Cuba has reminded me of two Arab experiences of isola- sure that only “bona fide welfare tion of which I witnessed: Egypt activities” are carried out. during the era of late president If the government is to be be- Anwar al-Sadat and Syria at the lieved, Ford Foundation is bank- beginning of President Bashar al- rolling the disturbance of commu- Assad’s seizure of power after his father passed away. Sadat was an nal harmony and thereby endan- experienced politician who lived gering India’s national security, all through the governance of the so- because it funds Teesta Setalvad. cialist union and its doctrine which And Setalvad, claims the govern- ruled Egypt since 1962 and which failed at running the state and de- ment, has been indulging in trea- stroyed many sectors of produc- son and fraud. tion in favor of state domination. Setalvad’s NGO, Citizens for Sadat’s awareness of the problem Justice and Peace, has been relent- and his honest enthusiasm to achieve political and economic lessly knocking on the doors of the change was not enough, as he courts to bring to book all the high- lacked the culture of development ranking government functionaries and the skill of civil management. for their culpability in the 2002 His experience at making Egypt open thus failed as a result of the communal carnage in Gujarat. domination of the state’s old struc- It took the Supreme Court’s ture and philosophy prevailed as intervention to prevent her arrest. a result of his own incapability to That many of India’s educational present a better alternative plan. institutions also benefit from the Promises of change Leftist and Baathist Syria also tried to open foundation’s munificence, or that up as Bashar al-Assad rose to a concerned US is repeatedly seek- power, as he made promises of ing clarification, remains purpose- change towards achieving politi- fully ignored. cal and economic openness. Dur- ing my recent visit there, Cuba has Right to dissent And the government and its go of such a potent tool. True, it issue in India. A hue and cry fol- reach and speed far superior to that ruption of public order, or acts of reminded me of two Arab experi- On March 12, the Delhi High agencies used this vagueness to was brought in by the previous lows every time there is an egre- of other means of communication, sedition. The state must prove a ences of isolation of which I wit- Court upheld non-profit advoca- their advantage. A list of arrests Congress government, but the gious use of censorious powers, it cannot be subjected to a regula- truly imminent threat, as opposed nessed Abdulrahman al-Rashed cy organisation Greenpeace’s right However, Assad tried to alter the over the years, and the very prof- present political dispensation - at but such scattered, politicised re- tion regime more restrictive than to reasonable apprehensions. system from a socialist and parti- to dissent and took the government itable use of this provision by pur- one time one of its staunchest crit- actions don’t amount to much. what the constitution permits. However, as reported, the cen- san regime into a familial one. to task for accusing Priya Pillai, veyors of communal violence bore ics - spared no effort to vigorous- The court recognised this, and re- Integrating the “clear and sure from the Supreme Court Changes were limited to formali- one of its activists, of seditious li- testimony to its illegal provenance. ly defend the provision in court. fused to buy the government’s present danger” test (propounded doesn’t seem to be a sufficient de- ties, as old Russian and American bel and preventing her from testi- cars disappeared from the streets It wouldn’t be a stretch to con- As recorded in the judgement, unctuous pleas of reassurance - by the US Supreme Court in- terrent, for the government is mull- of Damascus and were replaced fying before an international tri- tend that this verged on the border the government was even willing that it would not use 66A at ran- Schenck v US) for determining the ing a law, on the lines of 66A, this with new German and Japanese bunal. of state authoritarianism, some- to hedge this provision by insert- dom. “Governments may come and threshold for launching criminal time with more teeth for counter- ones. The old economy thus re- Pillai had organised demonstra- thing practised by Turkey, which ing a whole host of qualifiers, but go, but 66A stays forever,” the prosecution for speech acts, the ing “anti-national propaganda” and mained a monopoly of some un- der the sponsorship of security tions and protests against a mega forced social media giants (and reluctant to allow a single word to judges said. judges ruled that withering criti- securing convictions. power project commissioned by apparatuses. During our trip a few millions of their users) be changed. Advocacy is not instigation cism and zealous advocacy, even Saurav Datta teaches media days ago to Cuba with Sheikh the government in the central Indi- to grovel before it. It is unfortunate that state cen- The court held that merely if inflammatory, cannot be regard- law and jurisprudence in Mumbai Walid al-Ibrahim and other friends, an state of Madhya Pradesh. No government wanted to let sorship isn’t treated as a political because internet speech has a ed as incitement to violence, dis- and Pune. (Courtesy: Aljazeera) we’ve noticed that despite the It was widely believed and massive propaganda, there were no hoped that the rap from a consti- signs of change. Our suspicions were further confirmed by a Cu- tutional court would infuse some ban immigrant who was in the degree of tolerance in the govern- country to visit his wife, who’s ment. But on April 16, banned from travelling like most by suspending Greenpeace’s of the country’s 11 million citi- By Richard Javad Heydarian however, China is decisively win- zens. He said: “I won’t believe registration and freezing all its ning the scramble in the western [there will be] change until I see it, bank accounts, the government China's accelerated construction Pacific. and I don’t expect it will happen.” showed that it won’t brook even activities in the South China Sea To be fair, China is not the only Despite that, everyone is now the slightest interference or criti- have set off alarm bells across the claimant country that has engaged talking about an upcoming change in which Cuba will change from a cism of its policies. region and beyond, prompting vig- in construction activities in the orous criticism from neighbouring South China Sea. In recent decades, closed communist country to an Perhaps, one could have got- countries as well as the US. China the Philippines, Vietnam, Malay- open country, from a state which ten an inkling from Prime Minis- is constructing facts on the waters. sia, and Taiwan have also built var- is an enemy to its American neigh- ter Narendra Modi’s speech to US President Barack Obama ious forms of structures on fea- bor into a country that’s a favorite judges, which contained a thinly was blunt and direct in his criti- tures and islands under their con- destination for investors and tour- cism: "Where we get concerned trol. ists. On the ground, there’s noth- veiled threat - rule in favour of with China is where it is not nec- In the Spratly chain of islands, ing of the sort despite the rap- “five-star activists”, and face the essarily abiding by international China also trails other countries in prochement which President music. norms and rules and is using its number of features under its con- Barack Obama led with President To be fair, the paranoia about sheer size and muscle to force coun- trol. While China occupies seven Raul Castro who’s been governing for seven years now instead of his a malicious “foreign hand” isn’t tries into subordinate positions." features, mainly rocks, atolls and Intent on consolidating its reefs, Vietnam and the Philippines sick brother. A question of ability peculiar to this government - its sweeping claims over disputed fea- control 21 and eight features, re- We’ve noticed that Cuba is a predecessor tures in the area, particularly in the spectively. closed country that officially re- had similar apprehensions regard- Spratly chain of islands, China has Previously a reef, now it is larg- jects change. The remains of the Cold War rules continue to exist ing anti-nuclear protesters. ramped up its construction activi- er than all the islands in the South ties on the Fiery Cross, the Johnson China Sea and is expected to serve there as the American government This is why the Supreme South, and Mischief reefs, among as the command and control head- still bans its citizens from travel- Court’s March 24 ruling assumes others. quarters for China's paramilitary, ling to the Caribbean nation – ex- significance. In what has been Of particular concern is the im- naval and air patrols as well re- cept for certain investors, journal- pact of these construction activi- source extraction and rescue oper- ists and few commercial charter hailed as one of the most momen- jets. It’s also allowed its citizens tous of decisions protecting and ties on freedom of navigation and ations in the area. overflight in the South China Sea. If anything, China is a relative to buy up to $100 of Cuban ci- espousing the freedom of expres- South China Sea disputes as late-comer in the construction gars, the importing of which is still sion, the apex court struck down, viewed by China game. In fact, decades earlier, the banned. Even if the Americans are There is growing worry that Philippines and Taiwan construct- serious about ending this estrange- in totality, Section 66A of the In- ment which lasted for 45 years with formation Technology (IT) Act. soon China will deploy radar and ed airstrips on the Thitu and Itu missile defence systems to the area Aba islands, respectively. So, one their neighbor, the ability of the The judgement’s reach isn’t and push ahead with the establish- could argue that China is simply Cuban regime to rehabilitate itself confined to speech on the internet ment of an Air Defense Identifica- trying to catch up with the rest. and abandon its philosophy which - a close reading shows how it is a tion Zone (ADIZ), which will al- Upon closer inspection, however, is based on complete control is in low Beijing to dominate the skies China's actions stand out in terms doubt. The Cuban regime has suf- bulwark against a vindictive state’s fered on the economic level ever crackdown on dissenters. over the South China Sea. of scale, speed, and sophistication. Previously a reef, now it is larg- Bereft of any credible military China Sea. Growing pressure Latest satellite imagery show since the collapse of the Soviet er than all the islands in the South capability to deter Chinese adven- The Obama administration has Union at the beginning of the A veritable police state Soon, China may be able to how China is transforming rudi- China Sea and is expected to serve turism, the Philippines has relied vehemently criticised Beijing's A ready-reckoner to the pro- drive out other claimant countries mentary features (eg, sandbars, 1990’s. Cuba was one of the last as the command and control head- on legal warfare to push back posturing, while rallying its allies countries to allow cellular phones vision is available here. Simply from other disputed features by reefs, rocks, atolls, and other types quarters for China's paramilitary, against China. The second factor and partners against China. But it of low-tide elevations) into habit- and their spread is still limited. put, the police got untrammelled disrupting their supply lines and naval and air patrols as well re- is the transition towards a new isn't clear how far the Obama ad- Internet is only available in cafes intimidating them with sizable able islands and military garrisons. powers to make arrests and harass source extraction and rescue oper- president in the US, with Obama ministration is willing to go in or- run by the government who con- troops, expanding paramilitary The Fiery Cross, for instance, ations in the area. This marks a expected to be replaced by a po- der to slow down, if not stop, people merely because whatever trols everything and which spends patrols, and advanced weaponry. has been expanded by 11 times decisive militarisation of the terri- tentially more hawkish and con- China's accelerated construction a little as its annual budget is only they said online could be termed There is growing pressure on over its original size. It is nothing torial disputes in the South China frontational successor. China activities. $1 billion. It was a short visit to a as offensive, annoying, intimidat- the Obama administration to dem- short of geo-engineering on ste- Sea. Running out of options seems to be determined to hand If Washington resorts to using country where time has stopped ing, or inconvenient. Such vaguely onstrate leadership and rein in Chi- roids. The reef-turned-islands now Not to mention the fact that down a fait accompli in the South its military muscle to counter Chi- since 1959 and where - as you trav- nese maritime assertiveness, espe- hosts up to 200 troops, and its China is laying claim to features China Sea to the Philippines and nese adventurism in the South worded terms defy the canonical el in its old cars - you feel you’re cially since no country in the re- soon-to-be-completed airstrip can several hundred miles away from Obama's successor. China Sea, it will run the risk of part of a 1950s movie set. This rules of constitutional and reason- gion has the wherewithal to con- host large aircrafts, jet fighters, and its southern most province of In response, US allies such as armed confrontation as well as a article was first published in able interpretation. front China. By all indications, surveillance planes. Hainan, while other claimant coun- the Philippines have asked for diplomatic breakdown with its top Asharq al-Awsat on May 3, 2015 tries are occupying features well more advanced weaponry and na- creditor and second biggest trad- Abdulrahman al-Rashed is the within their 200-nautical-miles val vessels from Washington. To ing partner. former General Manager of Al Ar- LETTER TO THE EDITOR Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) assuage its ally, the US more than China's neighbours, mean- abiya News Channel. A veteran and continental shelf. doubled the number of US troops, while, are unwilling to risk con- and internationally acclaimed jour- Under its notorious "nine- which participated in the latest frontation with the Asian power- nalist, he is a former editor-in-chief dashed-line" doctrine, China has Philippine-US "Balikatan" house. China's neighbours are run- of the London-based leading Arab laid claim to almost the entirety of (should-to-shoulder) joint military ning out of options. daily Asharq al-Awsat, where he the South China Sea. China has exercises. Richard Javad Heydarian is a still regularly writes a political An investor has built an addicts’ treatment center in western Herat province. The center provides free most likely accelerated its con- Filipino-US solidarity specialist in Asian geopolitical/eco- column. He has also served as the treatment for at least 1,000 drug addicts. Recently, Afghanistan ranked first in drugs production and poppy struction activities to pre-empt This was meant to signal Fili- nomic affairs and author of "How editor of Asharq al-Awsat’s sister two major developments in 2016. pino-US solidarity in face of Chi- Capitalism Failed the Arab World: publication, al-Majalla. Through- cultivation in the world. Drug addiction is on the rise in a number of provinces. Drug addicts claim they can First, China aims to achieve de nese assertiveness. The US also The Economic Roots and Precari- out his career, Rashed has inter- find drugs easily and it is sold in each and every part of Kabul and other big cities of Afghanistan. The drug facto - rather than de jure - sover- proposed Japan, its other Asian ous Future of the Middle East viewed several world leaders, with addicts are those who have migrated once to Iran or their friends have migrated to Iran and have returned eignty over contested features ally, to conduct joint air patrols in Uprisings." his articles garnering worldwide ahead of the expected conclusion the South China Sea, while encour- The views expressed in this recognition, and he has success- with drug addiction. of the Philippines' ongoing arbi- aging the Association of Southeast article are the author's own and do fully led Al Arabiya to the highly This problem needs serious attention. The government should first overcome the increasing jobless- tration proceedings against China Asian Nations to create a joint not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's regarded, thriving and influential ness in the country as it is the main reason which protects and increases drug addiction in the country. at The Hague sometime in 2016. peacekeeping force in the South editorial policy. position it is in today. Establishment of the addicts’ treatment center is a good attempt and worth appreciation. The related organizations should establish more of such centers countrywide. Poppy cultivation should be prevented any cost. The government should review and bring changes in counternarcotics policy. Disclaimer: Faisal Amiri, Qala-i-Fathullah, Kabul The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and address. You may send your letters to: and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. [email protected] This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Scottish National Party woos Scots Asians On World Press Freedom Day, journalists critical of the government remain imprisoned without charge after 14 years. Glasgow, United Kingdom - SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is Scotland's Stockholm, Sweden - In the mid- 54. Two years ago Berhe, his niece, riving here each month. They, too, queen of selfies. Everywhere she dle of the Swedish capital's main decided to campaign for the release need to break their silence, fear, goes, she is met by crowds of ad- square, Sergels Torg, 12 chairs are of Tsehaye and the other journal- and selfishness," he said. mirers demanding photographs. lined up next to each other - four ists. Esayas campaigns tirelessly On Friday evening, more than occupied by people dressed in Tsehaye was a photojournal- for his brother's release, and for 320 people packed into the func- black T-shirts with duct tape cov- ist during the armed campaign this he has paid a high price. tion hall at Kabana, an Indian res- ering their mouths. The remaining against Ethiopia that lasted 30 "I was hoping my parents taurant on Glasgow's south side, eight are empty. years. would outlive the regime but they to hear her speak. The square, a frequent protest During the time of his arrest, didn't. Both died, I couldn't go back The event was organised by venue set against the backdrop of he had been planning to hold a to bury them and neither did my Scots Asians for Independence and a fountain, is a busy spot with photography exhibition in France, brother because he was in prison." Sturgeon was introduced by 22- shoppers and tourists strolling showcasing the armed struggle. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven year-old Glasgow University law along as commuters rush by. Seyoum Tsehaye has been in has championed the cause of jailed student Anum Qaiser. Her red tar- The chairs in the middle of the jail since 2001 [Vanessa Berhe] journalist Dawit Isaak [Kalle tan sari was a perfect metaphor square represent a dark story. "My uncle and his colleagues Alse'n] for the fusion of cultures repre- This symbolic installation has were imprisoned because they In addition to Tsehaye and sented in the room. Independence been set up for World Press Free- were considered a threat against the Isaak, the detained journalists in- referendum "Many of us are in awe dom Day on Sunday to express Eritrean government. Their criti- clude Said Abdulkadir, Yosuf Mo- of our first minister," she said. "She solidarity with journalists held in cal, democratic and progressive hamed Ali, Amanuel Asrat, Temes- has inspired young and old across Eritrean jails thousands of kilome- approach was weakening the gov- gen Gebreyesus, Mattewos Habte- all these islands, not just in Scot- tres away. ernment's position in the country," ab, Dawit Habtemichael, land." It might sound like political A large banner reads: "Our si- Berhe explained. Medhanie Haile, Fessahaye Yo- spin, but polls show that Sturgeon lence kills! Only four out of the 12 "If they had not been impris- hannes, Saleh al-Jezaeri, and Ha- is by far the most popular politi- journalists who were imprisoned oned, they could have pursuaded mid Mohamed Said. cian in the country. Scotland has in 2001 are still alive today. De- the Eritrean population about Exile and isolation about 75,000 Muslims. Most came mand their release at their democratic ideas." Aside from the media, there are Vanessa Berhe is campaigning in Sweden for the release of jour- from Pakistan in the 1960s and '70s onedayseyoum.com." Tsehaye went on a hunger also restrictions on modern com- nalists imprisoned in Eritrea since 2001 [Vanessa Berhe] and the community punches well "I started the campaign be- strike in 2002, and his family hasn't munications technology as well. above its weight politically and cause it was my responsibility," been able to contact him since. Eritrean journalists who chose economically. 18-year-old high school student An emailed request for com- to go into exile abroad rather than Scots Asians traditionally vot- Vanessa Berhe told Al Jazeera. ment to the president's office in risk arrest try to provide their coun- ed for the left-of-centre Labour Eritrea was not answered by pub- trymen with access to independent Party, which was seen as the cham- Vanessa Berhe is campaigning lication time. online news and radio broadcasts. pion of the underdog. In 1997, in Sweden for the release of jour- Eritrea is often referred to as But it remains difficult to ascer- Glasgow elected Mohammad Sar- nalists imprisoned in Eritrea since the "North Korea of Africa". tain how many people they are war as the first Muslim MP in the 2001 [Vanessa Berhe] According to a list of the 10 able to reach because of state con- whole of Britain. "My uncle was imprisoned most censored countries released trol and limitations on internet ac- Now, like the rest of Scotland, fighting for the right of the chil- by the Committee to Protect Jour- cess inside Eritrea. they appear to be swinging to the dren of his country to debate, nalists (CPJ) last week, Eritrea is All mobile communications are SNP. A strong leader speak, demonstrate, vote and be a the most censored in the world, channelled through EriTel, the only Nighat Hanif, who was one of part of a democratic society," said followed by North Korea. telecommunication company in the first to arrive at the rally, ad- Berhe, who was born in Sweden The list is based on research Eritrea. mires Sturgeon as a strong female to Eritrean parents. into the use of tactics ranging from Although internet service is leader. "I was saying to my hus- Following a 30-year armed repressive laws and imprisonment, available, it runs only through slow band she is another Iron Lady just struggle for independence from to restrictions on internet access dial-up connections, and fewer than like Margaret Thatcher." Ethiopian rule, Eritrean rebels de- and usage. one percent of the population are She added, "Margaret Thatch- feated the Ethiopian army in 1991 Berhe, who visited Eritrea in connected, according to UN Inter- er is number one, so Nicola is num- and the country gained its inde- 2008, recalled how it was unthink- national Telecommunication Union ber two." pendence. able for her to say anything criti- figures. This was meant as a compli- The new Eritrean government, cal about the government while in According to CPJ, Eritrea ment, but the SNP leader might headed by Isaias Afewerki, the the country. scrapped plans in 2011 to provide have some reservations about be- country's only president since in- "I have never felt so trapped," mobile internet for its citizens, fur- ing compared to one of the Con- dependence, began imposing re- she said. Prisoner of conscience ther limiting the possibility of ac- servative Party's greatest heroines. strictions on the media and politi- One of her uncle's colleagues, Daw- cess to independent information. Her pitch is firmly to the left. cal activity. it Isaak, an Eritrean-Swedish jour- Eritrea also has the lowest fig- Seyoum Tsehaye has been in jail since 2001 [Vanessa Berhe] Speaking in front of a large Independent ownership of ra- nalist, has been held in Eritrean ure globally of mobile phone us- Scottish flag, Sturgeon said: "La- dio or television media was prisons without trial since 2001. ers, with just 5.6 percent of the bour has lost its roots and lost its banned, and in 2001 all indepen- Journalists, human rights defend- population owning handsets. values. The SNP will vote to get dent newspapers and print media ers and politicians in Sweden have For people such as Berhe, on- the Tories out and keep the Tories were shut down. At that time, the campaigned for his release relent- line access is not a problem and out, but do you know what, once government locked up any jour- lessly for more than a decade. Isaak she uses this freedom to make her we've done that, if the numbers nalist or politician who called for is the only EU citizen to be held voice heard from Sweden to the allow us to do it, we will also use democracy and reform. for such a long period of time as a rest of the world, including Eritrea. our influence to make sure the To- The last accredited interna- prisoner of conscience. Every Fri- "Our belief is that when the ries are replaced with something tional correspondent was expelled day a Twitter campaign with the voices of democracy have been si- better." She got her biggest cheer from the country in 2007 and state- hashtag #FreeDawit takes place lenced, we need to use ours," she of the night when she asserted that run outlets remain the sole news where fellow journalists and hu- said of the campaign she is now people would be using their votes providers. man rights defenders tweet about running. to say loudly and clearly that they While the Eritrean constitution him. Swedish newspaper Expres- "I want to tell the global jour- did not want to spend 100 billion allows for multiple political par- sen keeps an online counter of the nalism community that the impris- pounds ($150bn) on weapons of ties, the ruling People's Front for number of hours, minutes and sec- oned journalists fought for the mass destruction. Democracy and Justice remains onds Dawit has been imprisoned very principles that your careers Her comments show how the only one. Elections scheduled in Eritrea without trial. depend on. With democratic rights Scotland's political culture has di- for 2001, the first since the coun- His brother Esayas, who also comes a responsibility to help verged from that of the rest of the try's independence from Ethiopia moved to Sweden in the 1980s, is those people who are still fighting UK. The Conservatives only mat- in 1991, have yet to take place. angry at the silence of the Eritrean for what we take for granted," said ter as target practise. Threat of journalism community. Berhe. "To the Eritrean govern- Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has championed the cause of jailed In Glasgow, at least, the elec- One of the jailed journalists is "There are almost 40,000 Eri- ment I say: When will it be tion is a contest between two par- award-winning Seyoum Tsehaye, treans here, more and more are ar- enough?" (AL JAZEERA) journalist Dawit Isaak [Kalle Alse'n] ties that both want to be seen as the authentic voice of the left. Switching to SNP What we want are enough Egyptians panic as country reels from Nile contamination MPs down there to say 'this is what we think, this is what we feel The capsizing of a ship carrying of one of the Sharqiyya patients, immune system.” Abdel Maksoud to that effect to the government. derivatives of the element phos- ter of life and death, the authori- and this is what affects Scotland'. 500 tons of phosphate in the Nile reports that the number of poison- said those mineral impurities can “The Nile, around which the phorus, negatively charged ions ties did not seem to be examining Rosa Zambonini, former Labour has sent shockwaves across ing cases has exceeded 700, and no be removed at water treatment sta- world’s most ancient civilization that link with positively charged the matter thoroughly, and official member Rosa Zambonini, a single Egypt. As a state of emergency has decisive explanation for the poi- tions before the water is available was founded, has for a long time ions such as sodium, potassium, statements about the insolubility mother who runs her own busi- been declared and an investigation sonings. for human consumption. “It’s im- been subject to a variety of viola- ammonium, lead, and barium, each of the material were not accurate ness, is a former Labour member committee established, concerns Magdi Allam, secretary gen- portant, in this case, to decrease tions. Fertilizers and chemical greatly changing how phosphate since they were not accompanied who voted "Yes" in the indepen- keep escalating about the impact eral of the Union for Arab Envi- the percentage of chloride acid, waste are thrown into the Nile. behaves,” she wrote. by a detailed account of the com- dence referendum and recently of the spill on crops, potable wa- ronmental Experts, said the phos- used for purifying water, because Donkeys and buffalos are bathed “Some phosphates (aluminum ponents of the shipment. Con- joined the SNP. "I think the SNP ter and marine life. phate the ship carried was in the it accelerates the dissolution of in the Nile. Sewage is dumped into phosphate as example) would spiracy Journalist and anchor A ani are almost a modern version of Views on the issue have been form of rocks, not powder, which cadmium,” he said. “It’s also nec- the Nile. This is only to cite a few present human health risks such al-Khayat blamed the Muslim what Labour started out being," strikingly different, with some re- explains the insolubility theory. essary to leave water for longer examples.” Uncertainty as skin irritation and – if ingested Brotherhood. “We need to know she said. "What we want are garding it as a prelude to a disas- “Pure phosphate is extracted from times in oxidation ponds.” Journalist and blogger Laurie – abdominal pain, nausea, and di- who was driving this ship, who enough MPs down there to say ter, and others downplaying it as these rocks at fertilizer factories, Yehia Gadou, secretary gener- Balbo seemed to dismiss the argu- arrhea. Others (such as highly tox- his assistants are and what their 'this is what we think, this is what an exaggerated reaction to an easi- and this is a complicated chemical al of the NGO Voice of the Nile, ments of both camps about the lev- ic lead phosphate) would leach into history looks like,” she said. “We we feel, and this is what affects ly manageable situation. process,” he said, adding that out said the spill is another example of el of threat posed by the spill. the water at a low concentration, also need to know the load allowed Scotland'," she added. Her friend Panic among Egyptians was of the 500 tons, the quantity of the abuse to which the Nile is sub- Balbo said there were several but stay present for a long time if for a ship of this size, and whether Amina Iqbal, a teacher, said she especially highlighted when three pure phosphate would not exceed jected. “Why is cargo containing types of “phosphates,” therefore the spill is not quickly cleaned up. the load of this ship conformed joined the SNP last year because days after the accident, some 500 20 percent. Allam said those rocks toxins or hazardous material trans- it was impossible to determine the Without having more specific in- with regulations.” Khayat said it of its achievements in government, people were hospitalized for show- would either not dissolve in water ferred through the Nile in the first impact of the spill without know- formation about the nature of the was suspicious that even though abolishing prescription charges and ing symptoms of poisoning in the at all, or dissolve at a very slow place? Why aren’t they transferred ing the exact components of the material, it is impossible to fore- the ship crashed into a concrete giving free meals to children in their Nile Delta governorate of Shar- rate. “Even if part of it dissolves, by train, which is in fact a much sunken load, which in turn deter- tell health risks.” bridge pillar, neither the driver nor first three years at school. At the qiyya. A link was immediately es- the Nile extends all the way from cheaper way?” he asked, adding mines how soluble it is. Balbo said while Egypt’s de- his two assistants sustained any end of the evening she was pushed tablished between the mass sick- the south to the north of Egypt. that the NGO has sent a request “Phosphates are natural salt pendence on Nile water was a mat- injuries. through the crowd by her uncle to ness and the contamination of Nile The concentration of phosphate get a selfie with Sturgeon. Tar- water. Denials will, therefore, be very low in all nished brands Polls show the SNP However, Irrigation Minister this amount of water,” he said. is on the brink of an extraordinary Hossam Moghazi dismissed such Toxicology Professor Mah- victory. The Nationalists have nev- a link, saying the Nile passes by moud Amr seconded Allam’s opin- er won a seat in Glasgow in a UK seven cities between Qena inthe ion: “The ship didn’t sink in a ca- general election. In fact, nobody south, where the ship capsized, nal or a lake, and Nile water isn’t has beaten Labour here since 1983. and Sharqiyya in the north. stagnant and the current is very Soryia Siddique is a Labour coun- “None of those seven cities strong at the place where the acci- cillor and one of the party's rising reported cases of poisoning,” he dent took place.” stars. She admitted it is a tough said. “Plus, it would take 12 days Amr scoffed at rumors about election, but said the party is still for the contamination to reach the the link between the accident and fighting for every vote. Siddique Nile Delta, while the poisoning poisoning cases in the north: “It rejected the idea that Labour has took place only three days after would’ve been more logical that lost its values. "Labour has some the ship capsized.” Moghazi add- people get poisoned in Qena or really good policies, 1,000 more ed that samples taken from Nile other Upper Egyptian governor- nurses in Scotland funded by a water in Sharqqiya showed no ates. How come it started in Shar- UK-wide mansion tax on proper- signs of contamination. qiyya?” ties worth over 2 million pounds Irrigation Ministry spokesman Professor of toxicology and [$3m]. That is redistribution of Khaled Wassef said the poisoning environmental diseases, Nabil Ab- wealth and prosperity, that is so- of Nile water was unlikely. “Phos- del Maksoud, underlined the dan- cialism, a value of the Labour Par- phate isn’t soluble in water so gers of mineral impurities con- ty," she said. A Labour government there’s little risk,” he said. Health tained in phosphate rocks. “Those would also guarantee every young Minister Adel Adawi said patients minerals are soluble, and can reach person a job or an apprenticeship showed no symptoms of phos- the human body through potable funded by a tax on bankers' bo- phate poisoning, adding that the water, fish and crops,” he said. nuses, she added. The problem, ministry was monitoring the situ- “If the water isn’t thorough- according to analysts, is that many ation. “Nile water is being tested ly purified, minerals like cadmium voters are no longer willing to lis- every 12 hours to detect any and silicon dioxide can reach the ten. The party's brand was tar- change,” he said. Concerns stomach, causing severe diarrhea nished by its decision to campaign Such statements did not, how- and vomiting as well as other long- alongside the Conservatives for a ever, dissipate fears of an impend- term problems like atrophy of the "No" vote in last year's referen- ing crisis, especially with the death central nervous system and the dum. (AL JAZEERA) This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Payrolls to Afghanistan’s telecoms, mobile, internet test second quarter and forecasts shared in new research report climate for

In what has certainly been a chal- idents. mobile telephone service. In 2003, etration remained generally low Market highlights: surge in internet users reported by Fed lenging task, Afghanistan has built Afghanistan operators rolling growing off a low subscriber base, throughout Afghanistan. With in- Afghanistan’s mobile market the International Telecommunica- LONDON (Reuters) - Always some positive momentum in its out 3G networks potentially de- the country’s mobile network op- ternet access relying heavily on continued on its positive expan- tion Union (ITU) in 2009, there top of the data pile, this week effort to put national telecom in- livering big boost for internet ac- erated exclusively at the time by dial-up services and only around sion path in 2013, although at a was finally a positive mood sur- will be no exception for the U.S. frastructure in place and to offer cess the Afghan Wireless Communica- 3,500 broadband subscribers in somewhat slower rate. The mobile rounding longer term internet jobs report with a first interest effective telecom service through- By 2003 recovery had com- tions Company (AWCC), started place, the online segment of the market continues to be resilient, growth; the arrival of 3G mobile rate rise likely this year despite out the country. The process in- menced. In an important strategic to attract customers at an extraor- market was looking for a boost. approaching 70% penetration in services was expected to be a ma- a dramatic slowdown in the first volved in achieving this, however, move, the government announced dinary rate. The launch of a sec- The boost had come in the what has been a most difficult en- jor boost to internet access with quarter. has not been a smooth one. By in 2005 that licences were to be ond mobile service, operated by form of 3G mobile licences. The vironment. the offering of mobile broadband After a harsh winter brought end-2001, as a result of the US-led issued to allow the private sector Roshan, boosted the market even newly launched 3G services being By end-2013 mobile coverage services; most importantly the U.S. growth almost to a halt in military action, the Taliban had to establish independent telephone further and strong subscriber offered by the various operators (population) had reached 90% ac- price of internet is dropping; the the first three months of 2015, been removed from power and a companies. growth continued through 2004 provided a special opportunity for cording to the MCIT; the telecom MCIT issued broadband WiMAX April's non-farm payrolls re- broad-based transitional govern- This initiative was called the and into 2005. Coming into 2014 delivering mobile broadband to regulator having begun issuing 3G licences to a number of service pro- port, due on Friday, will signal ment was established. The 2001 Local Fixed Services Plan (LFSP). there were four major mobile op- Afghanistan’s population. licences in 2012, the process con- viders in 2012; the country’s first whether the world's largest econ- war in Afghanistan destroyed tele- The main objectives of the LFSP erators (and one minor one) com- The political and civil stabili- tinued into 2014; by early 2014, satellite, Afghansat-1, was set to omy is faring any better in the communications infrastructure licences were to facilitate faster peting in Afghanistan’s telecom ty of the country remains a big five mobile operators had been as- go into service in early 2014 under second quarter. that had already been suffering se- rollout of services to small towns sector; between them they were question; it is of course a constant signed 3G concessions; in the a strategic partnership with Eutel- The Federal Reserve has put rious disrepair due to neglect by and rural areas and to provide an claiming a total of just over 20 mil- threat to effectiveness of the tele- meantime, four of the five had sat; On a broader front, the ongo- in place a meeting-by-meeting the pre-war Taliban government. investment opportunity for small- lion subscribers, representing an communications network and the launched 3G services; the first ing political and civil unrest con- approach on the timing of its The nation’s network of telephone medium local investors across the overall mobile penetration of 68%. viability of the telecommunica- moves were being made in adopt- tinued to be of concern to the coun- first rate hike since June 2006, lines was left barely functioning. country. The other major impact All four of the major opera- tions sector. The certainly does ing 4G technology; try and its people, with any dete- making such a decision solely There were only 12,000 telephones on telecommunications in Afghan- tors were carrying estimated mar- appear to be a will to secure the the country’s internet market rioration in the situation certainly dependent on incoming econom- in the capital city, Kabul, with its istan came with the introduction ket shares in excess of 20%. future of telecommunications in continues to struggle but steady having an impact on the telecom ic data. population of almost 2 million res- and subsequent expansion of the In the meantime, internet pen- Afghanistan. growth has been evident; a major sector.—(WhaTech) Last week it downgraded its view of the U.S. labor market and economy, suggesting it may wait until late in the year to be- Oil supply: Pak govt wants to keep PSO-PNSC contract intact gin raising rates. "They will need better data ISLAMABAD: The country’s mission to allow PSO to import to justify a rate hike, and that economic managers were hesitant oil through a bidding process and need is pushing the timing of a to revoke an oil supply contract ensure uninterrupted and smooth policy change ever-deeper into between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) supply of oil. Earlier, the ECC 2015," said Tim Duy, a profes- and the Pakistan National Ship- meeting held on November 22, sor at the University of Oregon ping Corporation (PNSC), which 2012 allowed PNSC to bring oil and a noted Fed watcher. has been accused of causing delay supplies for PSO with the condi- "There just isn't that much in bringing oil shipments, leading tion that whenever the shipping data between now and June to to its shortage in the country. The company had no carrier of its own, move the needle on policy. You Economic Coordination Commit- it would issue a no-objection cer- need the jobs and inflation data tee (ECC) of the cabinet, in a meet- tificate to the cargo importer. As a to turn sharply better to pull the ing held on April 23, discussed the result, a contract was signed be- Fed back to June." row between the two state-owned tween PSO and PNSC in 2012 fol- The Fed has kept rates near companies and constituted a com- lowed by an addendum dated Jan- zero since late 2008. A weak jobs mittee comprising secretaries of uary 8, 2013 for the transporta- report would cement expecta- petroleum, finance, law and ports tion of premier motor gasoline and tions that there will be no tight- and shipping to address the mat- furnace oil. However, the petro- ening until September and pos- ter, say officials aware of the de- leum ministry told the ECC last sibly later. velopment. Finance Minister Ishaq month that the oil marketing com- Whenever the first U.S. rate Dar asked the secretaries of ports pany had raised objections in rela- increase comes, investors need and shipping and law and justice tion to the business relations with only look back to the "taper tan- to resolve the issue between the PNSC. Because of an inadequate trum" of 2013 when the central two companies. “I don’t want to fleet and fewer vessels, PNSC char- bank declared it would slow its put PNSC in t e privatisation list tered vessels from other shipping bond-buying program to see the by letting PSO lose its business companies for the transportation following cancellation of the con- of oil products, which was a viola- potential for volatility in finan- tract between them,” Dar said. In tion of the guidelines given by the cial markets. the meeting, PNSC said it had the ECC, it said. “This practice leads "We think the Fed under- capacity to bring 23 million tons to frequent disturbances and op- stands the risks associated with of oil products from abroad annu- erational issues in the supply waiting too long to lift off, as an ally and was handling 5 million chain, due in part to the delay in abrupt tightening down the road tons for PSO. The Ministry of Pe- reporting of PNSC vessels at re- ... could be disruptive," said troleum told the ECC that PNSC spective ports,” the ministry said. Brian Smedley, rate strategist at delayed 40 oil ships, which “A major reason for the fuel crisis Bank of America Merrill Lynch, sparked problems for PSO in in the country was the late arrival which predicts a first move in smooth supply of oil in the coun- of two PNSC tankers despite time- September. try. In a summary sent to the ECC, ly establishment of letters of cred- EURO ZONE JOLT the ministry held PNSC responsi- it by PSO.” One vessel was load- The theme of the year so far ble for petrol shortage that hit ed with oil on January 12, though has been the calcified euro zone Punjab and other parts of the coun- its arrival in Karachi was due be- being jolted into life by Europe- try earlier this year. It said the ship- tween January 6 and 8. It arrived an Central Bank money print- ping company was utilising carri- on 15th of the month. Another ves- ing, cheap energy and food pric- ers of other companies to bring oil sel was supposed to reach the es and a weak euro to outper- consignments for PSO, which was loading port in Singapore between form, at least relatively, the a clear violation of the federal gov- January 3 and 5, which was also world's two biggest economies. ernment’s instructions, and asked delayed and reached there on Jan- Data last week showed bank the ECC to implement the actual uary 15. It subsequently arrived lending to euro zone households decisions taken by the government in Karachi on January 28 instead and firms rose for the first time in 2012. The ministry sought per- of January 16. in three years. Purchasing man- agers' surveys this week will give the latest snapshot of activity. "With its more aggressive China, Japan, South Korea stance, the European Central Bank is finally bringing the euro zone back to at least trend growth," said Holger Schmied- commit to economic ing, chief economist at Berenberg bank. China is struggling to meet policies supporting demand its growth targets. A recent Reu- ters poll of economists said it would have to cut interest rates again this year and reduce the amount of reserves that banks must hold if it wants to expand Elections always come bearing the down a steep path at the beginning any degree of certainty which way its economy by 7 percent. potential to cause volatility in the of March, and after a feeble attempt the charts will swing, the election Underlining the depth of the currency markets, because the po- at stabilisation towards the end of polls remaining close does point downturn, looser policy is not litical uncertainty that accompa- that month, the GBPUSD finally hit towards investor sentiment weigh- expected to power a recovery. nies such events often weighs on a five-year low on 13th April. These ing on the GBP. Due to the GB- Chinese trade data are due on investor sentiment. We have seen sudden downside movements were PUSD hitting a five-year low at Friday. the impact elections can have on basically due to the GBPUSD suf- 1.45 in April, there is a valid argu- The main potential tripwire the currency markets on a number fering from a complete lack of in- ment that the UK election has been for the euro zone is Greece. of occasions over the recent vestor attraction. While UK eco- priced into the Pound and it might Greek Prime Minister Alex- months. For example, the election nomic data remained largely robust be the FTSE that remains more is Tsipras hopes for a reform- outcome in Greece and increased throughout the opening months of vulnerable to downside risks. for-funds deal with the euro risk of a 'Grexit' contributed to- the year, it was a combination of Due to the possibility that the zone and International Mone- wards the Euro decline accelerat- unexpected UK inflation risks and UK election might have been priced tary Fund by May 9. ing, and the snap election in Japan an upcoming election that continu- into the GBPUSD, I will be keep- Euro zone finance ministers towards the end of last year re- ally pressured the currency. Any ing a closer eye on the technical meet on May 11 and Greece is sulted in further punishment for remaining optimism that investors levels as the election approaches. due to repay the IMF 750 mil- the Japanese Yen. The Naira also had that the Bank of England (BoE) The GBPUSD has previously seen lion euros ($840 million) a day encountered further volatility in the might raise interest rates in 2015 has the 1.50 level as psychological re- later, a bill it is not certain it can lead up to the Nigerian election now all but dissipated as the UK sistance and the sentiment towards meet. which took place in March, and faces unexpected downside inflation the pair will be more positive if it Reasons to expect a deal are more recently political uncertain- risks, with the BoE being renowned manages to extend above 1.50. In beginning to mount up. ty has been one of the major fac- for possessing extremely dovish the event that the GBPUSD man- Tsipras has sidelined his fi- tors behind Lira weakness as the views on inflation pressures. Al- ages to extend above 1.50 and then nance minister, who was deemed Turkish election approaches in though it was expected that the de- fall back below, it’s possible that too abrasive by his euro peers, June. For now though, the major- cline in the price of oil would result traders will target the pair and try and a top government official ity of attention is set to focus on in lower inflation, core inflation re- to push it back lower if the UK said Athens was willing to sell a the UK election taking place on 7 mains unexpectedly weak with this election outcome is as close as the BAKU: Central bankers and fi- to remain a high priority for a sus- global economic growth, Asian majority stake in its two biggest May 2015 and the upcoming elec- suggesting the UK inflation risks recent opinion polls suggest. In the nance ministers from China, Japan tainable and balanced growth." economies are struggling to main- ports and compromise on val- tion seems to be concluding a par- stretch further than the decline in meantime though, I am keeping a and South Korea said on Sunday The statement also urged a tain momentum. ue-added tax rates and some pen- ticularly erratic period for the Brit- the price of oil. There were even close eye on the technicals because they remained committed to poli- caution in monetary policy. Growth in China, the world's sion reforms, in the clearest sig- ish Pound (GBP). What does the times when BoE policymakers made it is only if the GBPUSD manages cies to support demand in the face "In an uncertain environment second largest economy, slipped nal yet that it is ready to back next month hold for traders inter- reference towards the possibility to drop back below 1.50 that I of moderate and uneven global of global economy, monetary pol- to a six-year low of 7.0 percent in down. ested in the GBP and what knock- that the central bank might need to think traders could look to target growth. Asia Investments Pay Off icy settings should be carefully the first quarter. Japan, the third In contrast to the Fed, Aus- on effects can other currencies ex- ease monetary policy further. To be the pair. Jameel Ahmad, is chief but Outlook Mixed Market Real- calibrated and clearly communicat- largest economy, rebounded from tralia's central bank is expected ist The policymakers for the three ed to minimize negative spill- recession in the final quarter of last pect from the swings of the ster- honest, this would be a huge sur- market analyst at FXTM, the in- to cut interest rates to a record ling? The case is an interesting one. prise and most still expect the next ternational forex broker Disclaim- North Asian economies held a tri- overs," it said. year, but the 2.2 percent growth alateral meeting, chaired by Japan's Many economists have was still regarded as subdued, and low 2.0 percent and Norway's The Global Stage and the Swings move from the BoE to be an interest er: The content in this article com- is forecast to cut by 25 basis of the GBP After a sudden slide at rate rise (although this has been de- prises personal opinions and ideas Deputy Prime Minister and Fi- warned that expected interest rate the economy has some way to go nance Minister Taro Aso, on the hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve before fully emerging from years points to a record low 1.0 per- the beginning of 2015 against the layed indefinitely). Elections Loom- and should not be construed as cent as the economy takes a hit appreciating US dollar, the GBP ing Large containing personal and/or other sidelines of an Asian Development at a time when many other central of debilitating deflation. Bank Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. banks continue to pursue loose South Korea's Finance Minis- from the oil sector's downturn. fared generally better than other In less than a week and amidst investment advice and/or an offer Thursday's British general major currencies, particularly the potential global instability, the UK of and/or solicitation for any trans- Their joint statement noted monetary policies could cause vol- ter Choi Kyung-hwan told jour- that global economy was passing atility in capital flows and exchange nalists in Baku that his country's election is not primarily an eco- Euro, as contrasting central bank public will go to the polls for gener- actions in financial instruments nomic event but any prolonged policy dominated market volatili- al elections. Adding to the suspense and/or a guarantee and/or predic- through an uncertain phase, and rates. growth rate this year was likely to growth remained moderate and was "When dealing with possible be similar to the 3.3 percent growth uncertainty about the make-up ty. By the end of February 2015, of the event, the latest opinion polls tion of future performance. Forex- of the next government, and the GBPUSD managed to recover showed the top parties running neck Time Ltd, its affiliates, agents, di- following divergent paths. macroeconomic and financial sta- posted in 2014. He said policy- "We are committed to contin- bility risks arising from volatile makers were likely to wait until whether it can last, could well its losses suffered at the beginning and neck, making this the closest rectors, officers or employees do depress activity. of the year and managed to perch and most unpredictable election in not guarantee the accuracy, validi- ue implementing timely and effec- capital flows, the necessary mac- the end of June before assessing itself at a level nearly as high as the UK in over a generation. What ty, timeliness or completeness of tive macroeconomic policies in or- roeconomic policy adjustments whether more stimulus measures Latest opinion polls show the one it held in December 2014. do the coming weeks hold for the any information or data made der to help boost demand," the could be supported by macro-pru- were needed. neither of the main parties will But the strong position of the Brit- GBP? Continued volatility seems to available and assume no liability statement said. dential policies," the statement The four-day annual meeting be able to govern alone, forcing ish pound wasn’t destined to last be the only certainty at the moment. as to any loss arising from any in- "Structural reforms to increase said. of the ADB's board of governors them to seek partners or sup- long. The sterling started tumbling Although it’s hard to predict with vestment based on the same. potential growth should continue For many years the engine of began on Saturday. port from elsewhere. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Sonakshi Sinha is super charged up, but why?

Sonakshi Sinha says the "excite- er guys! so kicked that u'll r SO the promo video. In the video, the ment level" for her small screen excited about it! Now im even actress can be seen matching steps debut as a judge of "Indian Idol MORE charged up," Sonakshi on her popular song with a small Junior" has shot up after the trail- tweeted. boy. er of the singing reality show turned Superstar Salman Khan has Set to go on air on Sony Enter- out to be positive. been replaced by an adorable boy tainment Television, the new sea- "Thanks 4 the amazing re- in the song "Tere mast mast do son will be hosted by Hussain ofia Vergara and Salma Hayek put on a sensational display at the sponse on the #IndianIdolJrTrail- nain" from movie "Dabangg" for Kuwajerwala and Asha Negi. premieres of their upcoming films; Hot Pursuit and The Prophet Srespectively. Donning the classic cap-sleeved style with finesse, the divas looked exquisite in their heavily embroidered gold and silver dresses.

Whoa! ‘Gabbar Is Back’ - the biggest opener of 2015 One of the most anticipated films this summer, Gabbar is Back has been creating waves ever since the launch of its first poster. From the launch of a teaser campaign that touched a mammoth 1 million grass root level touch-points to a ground-breaking promotional strategy tailor made to engage with the common man has amounted to scores of people cuing up at theatres this Friday. Setting the box office registers ringing, Gabbar is Back is the biggest Box Office opener of 2015 with a bumper opening of Rs. 13.05 cr. Solid, steady growth in the evening and night shows, confirms that the verdict is out and the masses have given a thumbs up to the film. Gabbar is Back marks the second collaboration of Viacom18 Mo- tion Pictures and Sanjay Leela Bhansali along with Co - Producer Shab- inaa Khan. With a powerful story line and ace actor Akshay Kumar whose name is synonymous with action, this film based on an aam aadmi waging war against corruption is being widely received by the masses. Along with Akshay Kumar, the ensemble cast of Shruti Hassan, Sunil Grover, Suman Talwar and a friendly appearance by Kareena Kapoor Khan have all given a power packed performance under the brilliant direction by Krish- who has made his Directorial debut in Bol- lywood with this film. Releasing on the day that celebrates the common man, this May 1st release has received a superlative word of mouth. Distributors estimate a good jump day on day through the long weekend for this action packed entertainer, leading to a strong outing at the BO!! Zoya to make Dil Dhadakne Royal baby DO EVENT MEMORABLE born: It’s a girl! Zoya personally has been looking party out of it.` Dil Dhadakne Do together. It a very well thought into the detailing of the event. The is one of the biggest films this sum- idea. No film promotion has ever food and drinks served, the decor mer and is being looked out for. done a brunch before but then again etc. When contacted, Zoya said, The trailer has been loved by audi- the idea fits best with Dil `We (the film's cast) haven't met in ences and everything about the film Dhadakne Do. Dil Dhadakne Do a long time. Since we were going to is creating buzz. The film is also is about a dysfunctional Punjabi meet for the music launch anyway, being marketed in a unique fashion family on a cruise trip across the I thought we may as well make a and all the elements are coming Mediterranean.

t’s a wish come true for Prince Charles: Prince William and Kate Sofia Vergara Hair and make-upThe star wore her chestnut-blonde om- Middleton have welcomed a baby girl, fulfilling his wish for a grand bre hair in soft curls with a teased crown. Flaunting her perfect sun- Idaughter that he expressed during an official engagement on Thurs- kissed complexion, Sophia rocked a matte mauve lipstick, smokey eyes, day. The baby, who weighs a healthy 8lbs 3oz, arrived at 8:34 BST, the a dash of subtle bronzing powder and flushed cheeks. We were floored. Kensington Palace said in a statement. The birth took place at the Lindo Outfit The Modern Family star stunned in a gold brocade cap-sleeved Wing at St Mary's Hospital where Prince George was born in July 2013. lace dress, comprising an intricate sequined under-layer, which glistened Both Catherine and her daughter are "doing well", the statement added. as she strutted down the red carpet. The curve-hugging number featured The princess is the first born into the Royal family for 25 years, the last a high neck and a below-the-knee hemline, showing off every inch of her being Princess Eugenie in 1990, reports The Telegraph. No name has enviable physique. Accessories Adding a sensual appeal to her ensem- been decided on yet for the baby princess, who is fourth in line to the ble, the star teamed the dress with six-inch platform gold peep toe heels. throne, taking her place behind her grandfather Prince Charles, father Sofia further accessorised the look with her colossal engagement ring. Prince William and brother Prince George. Adding a French manicure to her golden girl look, the star emitted ele- gance and style.

KARACHI: The fashion indus- try continues to boom and make us proud. Having been nominat- ed for the prestigious Internation- al Woolmark Prize (IWP) this year, designers Misha Lakhani, Sania Maskatiya and Omar Fa- rooq have proven that Pakistani designers are well worth of receiv- ing international applause. “Pakistan has been getting so much bad press lately that it has totally overshadowed the beauty and potential within. Being part of the IWP highlights the good stuff,” Misha tells The Express Tribune. “I feel privileged and am grateful to The Woolmark Com- pany for creating this incredibly fantastic platform to support emerging designers,” she adds. First held in 1953 as an initiative of the International Wool Secre- tariat, the award was won by Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent, last year. According to a press release, the IWP recognises and commends outstanding design talent from across the world. The prize claims to promote the fresh cropsof fashion stars. Now, more than 60 designers from over 20 countries are in the running for the award. Being part of the ceremony for the first time, Misha is in the process of brainstorming the de- signs she will showcase to the judges, and plans on representing her aesthetics through them. “It’s an exciting opportunity to apply the same curiosity to wool at the fashion industry’s most respect- ed platform,” says Misha, as she talks about working with the as- signed fabric. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Floyd Mayweather confirms status as boxing's best fighter with points win over Manny Pacquiao Top seed Roger Federer survived a stern test from world No 63 Di- Floyd Mayweather confirmed his ego Schwartzman of Argentina to status as the best fighter in boxing advance into the final of the Istan- with a masterful points win over bul Open after a tense three set Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. encounter. The 38-year-old American dic- Federer, 33, looking to win his tated the fight with his superior 85th career title ahead of the French ring skills to earn a unanimous ver- Open, looked rattled all afternoon dict with scores of 118-110, 116- as he failed to find rhythm on his 112 and 116-112, extending his un- first serve and even received a rare beaten record to 48 fights. code violation. Heralded by weeks of hype, Losing the first set, he eventu- the battle between the sport's two ally prevailed 2-6 6-2 7-5 after al- biggest stars had been billed as the most two hours on court. 'Fight of the Century', but May- Showing no sign of nerves in weather simply used the 12 rounds front of his illustrious opponent, to supply a masterclass to the Schwartzman, 22, came out fight- watching world. ing in the first set with his double- Manny Pacquiao insisted he handed backhand particularly po- had done enough to defeat Floyd tent. Mayweather, despite his lop-sid- In a sign of the pressure, the ed points loss. usually mild-mannered Federer re- Manny Pacquiao insisted he ceived a code violation warning had done enough to defeat Floyd from umpire Mohamed Lahyani Mayweather, despite his lop-sid- for whacking the ball away in an- ed points loss. ger when he failed to convert a Shedding the pre-fight nerves, break point. Mayweather slipped nimbly away Mixing his game beautifully, from Pacquiao’s tentative attacks Schwartzman more than rivalled in the opening round and started Federer's play with cute drop his assault with a lightning right shots and stunning whipped top- hand. The long-term rivals clinched spin winners. briefly before the bell, with May- After breaking the frail Feder- weather appearing to offer a few er serve twice, he took the first set words of bravado. with ease when the out-of-sorts The expected early onslaught Swiss world No 2 tamely netted a from Pacquiao, was more of an return into the net. took his second chance in what proved a turning point. Turning on the power and with Schwartzman starting to make unforced errors after his glorious first set, Federer raced ahead and uneasy march, and he was tagged Schwartzman came out in the took the second set with a service break to love. With a tough struggle shaping up in the third set, Federer saved two break points in the fifth game, yelling "come on!" and saving his with another razor sharp right while second set with similar aggression serve with an ace. But Schwartzman stepped up a gear once more, matching Federer shot for shot in a thrilling finale. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Schwartzman saved one match attempting to land frenzied punch- but after squandering one break point with another stunning backhand winner. But Federer then made no mistake as he attacked the Schwartzman serve at 5-6, taking his first break point chance to close out the game. es in the second. For the first time, point in the fourth game Federer In Sunday's final, Federer will face the winner of the other semi-final between second seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay. Mayweather backed to the ropes in the third, attempting to lure the Filipino into another reckless for- ay. But Pacquiao was edging clos- Rory McIlroy and Tour de Yorkshire: er to the Michigan man and finally found the range with his sharp left hand. Carl Froch was in awe of Paul Casey WGC Floyd Mayweather Jr after wit- Moreno Hofland sprints nessing up close his dominant vic- tory against Manny Pacquiao. Match Play QF level Carl Froch was in awe of Floyd Mayweather Jr after witnessing up to stage two win in York close his dominant victory against after 21 holes Manny Pacquiao. Here was a hint Chris Paul scores of what was to come as Pacquiao launched a trademark attack in the last-second winner fourth. A big left hand forced May- weather to seek refuge on the ropes as Clippers knock and he shielded a ferocious flurry. out Spurs Pumping out punches like a hu- man threshing machine, Pacquiao Chris Paul scored the winning bas- at last had gained a foothold. A stiff ket with a second left as the Los jab kept Mayweather on the back Angeles Clippers beat San Anto- foot as the fifth round started, but nio 111-109 in Game Seven to send he utilised all his years of experi- the Spurs crashing out of their ence, smothering his man at close Western Conference first-round quarters before punishing him with playoff series. the occasional stiff right hand. Pac- Paul, who strained his left quiao piled forward with more hamstring in the first quarter, menace in the sixth and landed a scored over Spurs forward Tim crunching combination that Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey will face an early return to Harding Park Duncan to seal the win and fin- prompted a defiant shake of the to complete their quarter-final in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play after ished with 27 points as the Clip- head from Mayweather, who darkness forced play to be suspended on Saturday. While Danny Wil- pers advanced to the conference mouthed 'No'. He had given this lett, Gary Woodland and Jim Furyk all enjoyed comfortable victories to semi-finals against the Houston same response on 47 other occa- advance to the semi-finals, McIlroy and Casey could not be separated Rockets. sions. The ring great from Grand after 21 holes in San Francisco. Casey was one up with two holes to Clippers forward Blake Grif- Rapids regained the centre of the play only to three-putt the 17th, while both players missed chances to fin added 24 points, 13 rebounds canvas in the seventh and sent spit- win in extra holes before deciding it was too dark to continue. "I dodged and 10 assists for his second tri- ting jabs through Pacquiao's de- a couple of bullets but felt I gave him one or two," Casey said after ple-double of the series. fences. Cuffing left hands then McIlroy missed from five feet to win the match on the third extra hole. Duncan finished with 27 rapped Pacquiao round the side of "I am glad we are teeing up tomorrow, simple as that. "I thought I was points and 11 rebounds to lead the his gloves in the eighth as May- done for the day and the week on this green. The beautiful thing is we hit Spurs. Point guard Tony Parker The Netherlands’ Moreno breakaway so we had to spend all Greg van Avermaet (BMC weather continued to dissect an in- the reset button, come back at 6:45am (2.45pm UK time) and start had 20 points. Hofland sprinted to victory on of our guys chasing it back. I was Racing) immediately attacked and creasingly frustrated foe. Glenn again. "We looked at each other on the 15th (the second extra hole) and Griffin's two free throws with stage two of the Tour de Yorkshire in the wheel of Pelucchi and I knew opened up a narrow lead, but he McCrory, Johnny Nelson and Ed said 'One more'. It really was dark, whatever the TV cameras are show- 3:35 remaining put Los Angeles up in York as Team Sky’s Lars Petter that was a good wheel. I waited was unable to hold off the charg- Robinson debate what Floyd ing and both of us agreed." McIlroy thrashed Japan's Hideki Matsuya- 102-101 but Duncan's putback and Nordhaugh retained the overall race for the sign of 200 [metres remain- ing sprinters and was passed in the Mayweather Jr will do next after ma 6&5 in the last 16 at Harding Park to set up a quarter-final Paul forward Kawhi Leonard's follow- lead. ing] or something like that and with final 100m as Hofland surged to his unanimous decision victory Casey, where another comprehensive win might have allowed him enough up from a miss by Patty Mills lift- Hofland handed LottoNL- speed I passed him and I won. his first win since last October. over Manny Pacquiao. Glenn time to get to his ringside seat for the contest between Floyd May- ed the Spurs to a 105-102 lead. Jumbo their first win of the sea- “The crowds are not normal. Sir Bradley Wiggins (WIG- McCrory, Johnny Nelson and Ed weather and Manny Pacquiao. However, it was Casey who held the A three-pointer from Barnes son by beating Matteo Pelucchi We were riding through villages and GINS) finished in a group six sec- Robinson debate what Floyd upper hand heading in to the back nine, with birdies on the fourth, fifth tied the score again before Parker's (IAM Cycling) into second place there were people three and four onds behind the peloton in 90th Mayweather Jr will do next after and seventh giving the former Ryder Cup player a two-hole lead at the putback made it 107-105 for the and Ramon Sinkeldam (Giant- rows thick. It was really cool to place. The three-day race ends on his unanimous decision victory turn after he had lost the opening hole to a McIlroy gain. McIlroy Spurs with 1:23 remaining. Alpecin) into third after the 174km ride.” Sir Bradley Wiggins and sev- Sunday with a hilly 167km third over Manny Pacquiao. Into the getting back on level terms thanks to a birdie on the 10th and a three- Clippers guard Jamal Craw- day came down to a bunch finish. eral of his team-mates ride past stage from Wakefield to Leeds con- closing rounds, the 'Pac Man' was putt bogey from Casey on the 13th, but the Englishman edged back in ford scored on a drive to tie the Nordhaug crossed the line in York Minster Sir Bradley Wiggins taining six categorised climbs. being controlled with ease, restrict- front after a wayward approach from the world No 1 at the next. Casey score and Paul's two free throws the peloton to preserve his four- and several of his team-mates ride Earlier on Saturday, Louise ed to just single punches as he ate was unfortunate that his tee shot on the 17th finished up against the with 13.3 seconds left gave the second lead at the top of the gen- past York Minster The stage start- Mahe won the inaugural Tour de a steady stream of right hands. collar of rough around the green and the resulting three-putt allowed Clippers a 109-107 lead. eral classicification over second- ed in Selby and only came down Yorkshire women's race in a photo Mayweather tried to finish with a McIlroy to get back to all square after he saved par from right of the Duncan converted two foul placed Thomas Voeckler (Europ- to a sprint after the last man from finish in York. The IKON-Mazda flourish, planting his feet in the green. The two players made a joint decision with the referee to sus- shots with 8.8 seconds remaining car), with Stephane Rossetto (Co- the day's eight-rider breakaway, rider edged out Eileen Roe (Wiggle 11th to unleash searing shots from pend play for the day The two players made a joint decision with the to knot the score at 109-109 be- fidis) remaining two seconds fur- Bert de Backer (Giant-Alpecin), Honda) and Katie Curtis (Pearl close range, and appeared to ap- referee to suspend play for the day Neither player was able to birdie the fore Paul's last-gasp winning bas- ther back in third. had been caught with around 950m Izumi) by a matter of inches after plaud his own handiwork as he par-five 18th and the match went into extra holes, starting on the 14th. ket. Hofland said: “It was a big remaining. four laps of the 20km circuit. clapped his gloves together. Susie Wolff to drive in Spanish GP practice for Williams Williams test driver Susie Wolff tice at next week’s Spanish GP. to run in a practice session before Pastor Maldonado confirmed to iams are yet to confirm who Wolff Austrian GPs this summer. Watch on Sunday May 10, with our build- will return to action in practice at "This time next week...Can't the end of the year. If the Spaniard Sky Sports that his contract in- will replace at Barcelona with the every twist and turn of the Span- up underway from 11.30am. No next week’s Spanish GP as the Scot wait to drive the #FW37 again. does appear, she will do so at the cludes a clause guaranteeing he will 32-year-old Scot also scheduled to ish GP weekend live only on Sky Sky Sports? No problem! Get a continues her quest to become the #FP1 #Barcelona #WeAreRacing," expense of Romain Grosjean after participate in every event. Will- run in practice at the British and Sports F1. The race begins at 1pm NOW TV pass from only £6.99 first female driver to start a F1 race she tweeted. for over forty years. Wolff, wife of Mercedes boss After running in Friday prac- Toto, drove the Williams at Barce- tice sessions at last year’s German lona earlier this year on Day One and British GPs, Wolff is the only of the first of two pre-season tests female to actively feature during a at the Circuit de Catalunya when grand prix weekend since 1992. her participation was restricted by However, Lella Lombardi still re- a high-speed collision with Saub- mains the last woman to start a er’s Felipe Nasr. Although track- grand prix after making 12 appear- side observers absolved Wolff of ances in 1976. any blame for the crash, she ended Wolff’s aspirations of emulat- the day bottom of the timesheets. ing Lombardi suffered a blow ear- The simmering issue of female lier this year when Williams con- participation in F1 became a hot firmed she wouldn’t have replaced topic of debate two months ago Valtteri Bottas if the Finn’s back when Bernie Ecclestone, the injury had ruled him out of the Ma- sport’s supremo, proposed the laysia GP. Wolff described Will- introduction of an all-women sup- iams’ subsequent appointment of port series. While Wolff herself Adrian Sutil as cover for Bottas rejected the suggestion, it has re- and Felipe Massa as “disappoint- ceived the endorsement of Carmen ing.” Jorda, the recently-appointed de- “It was a surprise for all of us velopment driver at Lotus. that we were not expecting," said "I think he is right, it could be Wolff. "I respect the decision of a good idea to have a women’s se- the team. I think they wanted to ries,” Jorda told Sky Sports F1. have someone with more racing "I’ve been racing since l was 12 experience and they chose Sutil." and for many years l have seen However, while Sutil has yet women try to make it to the top to drive the 2015 Williams, Wolff but nobody has done it. So why has confirmed she will be behind not give it a try?" Jorda has yet to the wheel of the FW37 in first prac- be seen in the Lotus E23 but hopes This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. MONDAY. MAY 04 . 2015 -Sawr 14, 1394 H.S Vol:IX Issue No:268 Price: Afs.15

Traffic accident in Kunduz residents asked to leave homes KUNDUZ CITY: Security officials on Sunday asked well as some troubled areas in the provincial capital, where insurgents Badghis leaves 18 residents in insecure areas to leave homes as they planned had physical presence. Husseini said the insurgents had taken refuge in to launch search raids this afternoon against insurgents residential areas, making it difficult to advance the ground and air offen- in and around the capital of northern Kunduz province. sive. He added the operations would start this afternoon and residents people dead Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Husseini were ordered to leave homes in order to prevent civilian casualties. told Pajhwok Afghan News the decision was announced Amruddin Wali, the provincial council s deputy head, said they AT News Report through local media channels to the residents of Imam were against the decision since most of the families had no place to stay Sahib, Ali Abad, Qala-i-Zal and Char Dara districts as in Kunduz City. KABUL: A tragic traffic accident left 18 people dead, while three others injured in the western Badghis province, said a local official. Ahmad Zia Akazai, the Bala Murghab district chief, said that a passenger vehicle run off the road and turned turtle in Mangan village of the district.

He added that the vehicle was on its way to Af- ghanistan s north from western Herat province, when the incident happened. Akazai said that most of the victims of the incident were residents of Herat and Farah provinces. Mirwais Mirzakwal, spokesman for the pro- vincial governor office, said that incident took lives of 18 passengers, including three children. He said that the injured people were rushed to Qala-e-Nawan central hospital. He added the care- less driving led to the incident. Traffic incidents kill hundreds of people across the country annually. The traffic accidents are mostly blamed on poor standard of roads, reckless driving and lack of traffic signs. 35 Taliban killed IN BAGHLAN KABUL: At least 35 Taliban militants have been killed in northern Baghlan province, said an offi- cial source on Sunday. The provincial police chief, Aminullah Amarkhel, said that clashes between Afghan security forces and the Taliban militants took place in Dhana-e-Ghori and Baghlan-e-Marka- zi districts of the province. Khalil Wardak, a com- mander of the Taliban militants is also among those killed in the offensive, he added. Amarkhel said that the fighting is still going on and reinforcement troops from Kabul will soon arrive. He didn t pro- vide information about the casualties inflected on Afghan forces in the clashes. It is worth mention- ing that Taliban militants have mounted their ter- ror attacks in Afghanistan s north recently. Af- ghan security forces killed more than 200 Taliban militants in a week-long fighting in northern Kun- duz province. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF.