Page 2 | NATIONAL Asad Durrani | The Three Ks: Some old ideas revisited Page 3 | ECONOMY Why Afghanistan-Taliban Khursheed Ali Khan was no run-of-the-mill general. Behind a laissez- Aqina-Andkhoy Railway peace talks have not fair demeanor, he was a serious practitioner of military art, ... to be Inaugurated Soon reached breakthrough Page 2 | NATIONAL

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Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Issue No. 903 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs Pentagon continues with troops drawdown despite new law Karim Khalili, agreement, the Taliban wants a Pakistani FM Discuss complete U.S. troop withdrawal Peace Process by May in return for the insurgents fulfilling security guarantees. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah In November, the Pentagon said it Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday held would reduce the number of U.S. talks with leader of Afghanistan’s Hezb- forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to e-Wahdat-e Islami party Karim Khalili in Islamabad on the peace process in 2,500 by mid-January. Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry of But this month Congress enacted Pakistan said. a defense policy bill – overriding a Khalili, the former Afghan vice president, veto by President Donald Trump – arrived in Pakistan on a three-day visit that bars using funds appropriated on Monday. for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to Qureshi described as “good omen” the pay for a drawdown below 4,000 progress in intra-Afghan negotiations U.S. troops until acting Secretary of currently underway in Qatar to decide Defense Christopher Miller submits a future political roadmap, according to to Congress a “comprehensive, the statement. interagency assessment of the risks A comprehensive negotiated political and impacts,” Reuters reported. settlement is the only solution It is unclear how many troops have acceptable to the Afghan leadership,” been moved out of Afghanistan since the statement quoted Qureshi as saying. the law passed. He said Pakistan will welcome decisions The U.S. military has continued expected to reach 2,500 (troops) drawdown, that would be a violation One defense official, speaking on at the negotiations among Afghans and said intra-Afghan dialogue is a unique with its troop withdrawal from by January 15, 2021,” it said in a of the law,” said a congressional condition of anonymity, said the U.S. opportunity for the Afghan ... P2 Afghanistan, the Department of statement. aide, speaking on condition of troop level is already close to 3,000. Defense told Reuters on Monday, Reuters reported that the Pentagon’s anonymity. The legislation also requires a risk despite a new law prohibiting action will likely anger Republican The White House declined to assessment before the number of further reductions without the and Democratic lawmakers comment. U.S. troops can be reduced below Pentagon sending Congress an opposed to further troop cuts and Reuters stated that halting the 2,000. assessment of the risks. renew concerns about the outgoing drawdown could jeopardize the U.S.- The Pentagon said it was “Currently, no new orders have been Trump administration’s disdain for backed Afghanistan peace process “evaluating” the impact the issued which impact the progression Congress, even in its waning days. which came after the February legislation would have on U.S. troop of the conditions-based drawdown “If they are continuing the agreement last year. As part of the strength in Afghanistan. Afghanistan calls for Iran pivotal role in Taliban: U.S. U.S. Envoy Discussed Interim Govt Afghan peace talks Airstrikes Violate Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Doha Agreement with Afghan Politicians: Sources Mohammad Hanif Atmar on Tuesday The United States should work to called for Iranian effective role in the ensure that airstrikes conducted in The US Special Representative Afghan peace talks. Afghanistan are done so in a controlled for Afghanistan Reconciliation Atmar made the remarks in a meeting manner to avoid violating the Doha Zalmay Khalilzad discussed with the Iranian Ambassador to peace deal reached with the Taliban, the prospect of an interim Afghanistan Bahador Aminian. the group’s spokesman Zabihullah government in Afghanistan as The Afghan foreign minister thanked Mujahid told Sputnik in an interview. a result of the peace process, Iran for its cooperation in bringing “We have made it clear to them said sources close to the Afghan peace to Afghanistan. and we are still saying that if the politicians who recently met The two officials expressed readiness operation continues in violation and Khalilzad. to hold the Sixth Meeting of the Joint in an intentional manner, of course, According to the sources familiar Commission on Economic Cooperation we will be forced to react, and this is a with the process, Khalilzad in and finalize the comprehensive provocative act,” Mujahid said. his meetings with the Afghan cooperation document between Iran the Afghan political leaders Hamid Karzai, former mujahideen The Taliban group stands ready to politicians apparently talked and Afghanistan. reportedly told Khalilzad that leader Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf, hold consultations with Washington They also emphasized strengthening about three options: First, the the establishment of an interim Foreign Minister Mohammad to discuss the U.S. military operation and expanding political, economic, continuation of the present government was the appropriate Hanif Atmar and National Security in Afghanistan, Mujahid added. ... P2 and trade relations between the two government and the inclusion of option to end the war in Adviser Hamdullah Mohib. countries. the Taliban in the govt. Second, Afghanistan. “Three options were discussed. Afghan foreign minister, for his part, the inclusion of the government Khalilzad arrived in Kabul last The first one is to include thanked Iran’s positive and constructive in the structure of a Taliban-led week and met with senior the Taliban into the present role in the Afghan peace process. government. Third, the option to Afghan political leaders including government, the second option He said that Iran has encouraged the establish an interim and inclusive Abdullah Abdullah, the head is to merge this government with Taliban, as an important group in the government. of the High Council of National the Taliban, but both of these country’s security, to join the ... P2 According to the sources, Reconciliation, former President options aren’t acceptable ... P3 January 13, 2021 Heart of Asia NATIONAL WEDNESDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost ‘Turkey is... By Osama Bin Javaid Despite its EU candidate status, Turkey’s progress towards accession has been stalled for years. Why Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks After a year of ups and downs, including a push by some EU member states to have not reached breakthrough impose sanctions on Turkey over bilateral issues, Turkish It has been almost a week since negotiators arrived leaders have said they hope back in Doha to resume a second round of peace talks for progress in ties with the between the Afghan government and the Taliban, with bloc this year, and expect the a United States team talking separately to both sides. EU to take steps towards this But top Afghan government officials and Taliban end. leaders have been conspicuous by their absence from this round of meetings. On the Taliban side, chief negotiator Mullah Abdul Taliban: U.S.... Hakim and the head of the Taliban office in Qatar, This comes as the Taliban has Mullah Baradar, have not yet returned from their trip repeatedly accused the U.S. to Pakistan. of violating the Doha peace In recent weeks, US diplomats and military leaders accord. have also visited Pakistan. In a meeting between Pakistan’s military and acting Assistant Secretary of In December, the insurgent Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey, organisation claimed that the two sides discussed an urgent need for a reduction U.S. airstrikes in Kandahar in violence in Afghanistan. province caused the deaths of Islamabad insists it is “playing a positive role and its 12 civilians, and Mujahid said leadership is committed to helping Afghans find a that the Taliban have made solution” through talks. their demands clear to their Meanwhile, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and his terrorists to attack the US”. insistence of the US, but there has been no reduction U.S. counterparts. entourage have returned to Doha after brief stopovers The first round of talks, which kicked off in September, in violence. in Islamabad and Kabul. ended in December after the two sides agreed on But there has been a spike in violence during the past An Afghan official told Al Jazeera “the committee procedural rules. few months – including targeted killings of officials, Karim Khalili,... members are in Qatar and others are arriving as the A road map for post-war Afghanistan, a nationwide activists and journalists – blamed by the Afghan leadership to bring peace to the talks proceed”. ceasefire and disarmament of the Taliban and other government and the US on the Taliban. country. “We are ready and prepared for the talks, there is armed groups were part of the agenda of the latest Sources added that a further release of thousands of “We believe that peace in no delay from [us] and no new proposals have been round of talks which opened on Tuesday. more prisoners in exchange for a short-term ceasefire Afghanistan is linked to peace conveyed to us,” Taliban spokesman Mohammad During his trip to Kabul, US special envoy Khalilzad is an option on the table. and stability in the region,” he Naeem told Al Jazeera. met Afghanistan’s national security adviser Hamdullah A source close to the president told Al Jazeera that said. Those close to the talks said the sense of urgency from Mohib, foreign minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar and if releasing prisoners brings an end to violence and Qureshi told Khalili that Pakistan either side to find common ground, reduce violence other leaders, but President Ashraf Ghani did not meet paves the way for a permeant ceasefire, then Ghani is taking measures to promote and move forward seems to be missing in the current him. could avail such an opportunity. bilateral trade and has also round of negotiations. While scheduling issues and health concerns were An alternative deal that sees more Taliban introduced a liberal visa policy New US administration cited as reasons, people close to the presidency said prisoners freed alongside an extension of the Ghani for Afghan nationals. The reason for a lack of urgency in the continuing Khalilzad’s discussions on an interim government – a government’s tenure could possibly work, according Khalili appreciated Pakistan’s talks is being attributed to the change in the US longstanding Taliban demand – has not gone down to officials close to the talks. role in the Afghan peace process, administration led by President-elect Joe Biden and well with Ghani. But, despite the outgoing Trump administration according to the statement. their policy on Afghanistan. Khalilzad was praised for his shuttle diplomacy during pushing for a ceasefire agreement before it leaves Biden will inherit a situation where just 2,500 US the signing of the US-Taliban deal, which paved the office on January 20, there has been a lukewarm soldiers will be left in Afghanistan after the outgoing way for intra-Afghan dialogue. But the pace of progress response from the Taliban and the Afghan government. Afghanistan... Trump administration ordered an accelerated peace talks. has slowed, with record violence in the war-torn The Taliban said that – as per its agreement with the withdrawal of troops. The second round of peace talks country. US – the reduction of violence is incumbent on the Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor-designate between the government of the Members of the Afghan government delegation in release of prisoners, as well as the removal of their for Biden’s administration, recently said the US will Doha say the US diplomatic team led by Khalilzad has names from global financial blacklists. Islamic Republic of Afghanistan support diplomacy along the lines of the US-Taliban conceded too much to the Taliban. End to violence? and the Taliban group began in peace deal signed in February last year to ensure Sources in the Afghan presidency say the Ghani According to the US-Taliban deal, all American soldiers Doha, Qatar on Saturday. “Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for administration released 5,000 Taliban prisoners at the are supposed to leave Afghanistan by April. ... P3 By: Asad Durrani Asad Durrani | The Three Ks: 18.4 Million People Are Some old ideas revisited in Need of Assistance in Khursheed Ali Khan was no run-of-the-mill be thought through for the long haul. never aligned with ours. We still sucked Afghanistan: OCHA general. Behind a laissez-fair demeanor, Overtime, there would be developments up to them-- and even believed post- he was a serious practitioner of military needing adaptation or modification of 9/11 that our bilateral ties were again art, with a sterling soldierly character. In original assumptions, even of plans. “strategic”. a wargame, he tasked me with making In Afghanistan, for instance; after the Besides improving ties with Iran and a plan, but then I suggested modify it to Soviet pullout, infatuated with the Russia, and keeping China and Turkey on bring out a few lessons. Nothing unusual, resistance we realised at great cost that the board, we did well to retain leverage with except whenever a visitor would pick tribesmen may have pursued a common Taliban against great external pressure holes in my design, K always clarified why agenda against the occupiers, but were for two decades and could thus bring it was forced upon me. now rivals for Kabul’s throne. A historian them to the table whenever required. As NWFP governor, he asked me -- as I had in the decision-making echelons would But we now need some experts inAfghan recently left the service-- to outline a few have sounded the right alarm. Genuine psyche and those with credibility among ideas on how to address some intractable Afghan hands were strongly opposed the key factions to steer the intra-Afghan issues. The paper I wrote was titled “Three to using unconventional warriors in set- dialogue, or to disengage from this messy The UN Office for Coordination desperate, resorting to debt Ks that defy resolution”. These were piece battles like Jalalabad, and later affair. of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other more dangerous Kabul, Kashmir and Karachi. against the Northern Alliance. The Kashmir imbroglio was no less says across Afghanistan, about coping mechanisms to survive The K word was to acknowledge the When the Taliban emerged as an anti- complex. Surprised by the robustness 18.4 million people are in need including marrying off their proposal’s sponsor. A quarter century Mujahideen force, its momentum may of the popular surge for independence of assistance, a number that young daughters and sending may have elapsed, but in a discussion the have surprised us; but not the old in the early 1990s, we never really got rose sharply last year with the their children to work,” Parvathy other day when similar subjects came up, Communist cadres growing beards to a handle over the multiple challenges outbreak of the coronavirus Ramaswami, Humanitarian I had to revisit my old thesis. It was based drive militia tanks and fly the helicopters. such movements present --providing an pandemic. Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan, on some ideas that we from the military Later we may have factored in the role effective political umbrella; influencing OCHA in a press release said that said in the foreword to a used to pester the political governments of spoilers, but our counter-measures the militancy so that it didn’t lead to any the survival of the 15.7 million humanitarian response plan. with, and having headed the National were mostly transactional. India’s Afghan unintended consequences; and creating most vulnerable depends on the The press release added that the Defence College, one believed our core strategy was, of course, Kautilyan, but the necessary rapport with resistance humanitarian actors operating outlook for 2021 has worsened issues needed a structured approach. because of our neighbourhood advantage groups. Finding the right mix of military there receiving sufficient further due to significant unmet The concept was heavy on strategy and it could be contained. But our official and non-military prongs required a more financial resources to deliver needs last year due to funding avoided concrete steps unless they were sources exaggerated it to the extent subtle direction than swinging between a response, she noted, adding shortfalls and the acute focus required to illustrate an argument. that paranoid Afghans were convinced arming the resistance to abandoning it. that “the consequences of late or on COVID-19, as well as the It was really self-evident. Issues with a our involvement in Afghanistan was Engaging India in the Composite Dialogue inadequate funding are very real.” slow rollout of complementary long gestation period -- all three Ks were essentially to keep India out. After the framework was wise, and there may have “While enduringly resilient, development assistance, the brewing for decades -- would need to Soviets left, America’s interests were been even some collateral benefit ... P3 people are increasingly response plan noted. January 13, 2021 Heart of Asia ECONOMY WEDNESDAY 3 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost

Aqina-Andkhoy Railway to be Exchange Rates Inaugurated Soon 77 77.1 93.4 93.5 Aqina-Andkhoy Railway to be Andkhoy railway is 30 kilometers Inaugurated Soon Following the long as its construction costs about 102.9 103 operation of the Khaf-Herat railway $ 30 million. in the west of the country, the The Afghan Railway Authority has Independent Railway Authority of called the construction of the Aqina- 478 479 Afghanistan has announced that the Andkhoy railway an important step construction of the Aqina-Andkhoy towards establishing an internal 20.85 20.95 railway has been completed and is railway network that connects ready for inaguaration. Afghanistan to the Turkmen and 1035 1045 The Aqina-Andkhoy railway has been regional railway networks. completed and will be inaugurated According to the informations, the Contact Numbers by Afghan and Turkmen officials Aqina-Andkhoy railway is being in the near future, the Afghanistan constructed in a fundamental way Railway Authority said on Tuesday. and tens of tons of commercial goods Kabul Police -119 The agency added that the Aqina- will be loaded and unloaded daily. Kabul Ambulance - 112

Asad Durrani... democracy and that his peace of the graveyard. We in Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s four-point salvo; but if anyone U.S. Envoy... Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital main duty as president is to want a positive peace where believed Indians would voluntarily give up their position of for the international advantage, he should have his head examined. After August 5, community. The third option peacefully transfer the power all of us together overcome 0202301360 2019, the handling of developments in the Valley clearly showed was to establish an interim to his successor according to our past, embrace each other there were hardly any experienced hands in our Kashmir policy and inclusive government,” the law. and together rebuild an Ata Turk Hospital cells, and our responses were therefore limited to cartography said Gul Rahman Qazi, a Speaking a public gathering in Afghanistan that can be what and rewriting milestones. close aide to former president Nangarhar province in eastern I call a roundabout (regional 0202500312 I don’t think I ever understood the rise and fall of Karachi, but Hamid Karzai. Afghanistan, Ghani said that hub).” it was quite clear our once vibrant multi-ethnic megapolis was “Some issues were being the present political system Rumors about the interim Corona call center - 166 heading for an implosion – and all of us with our eyes wide shut. discussed between Mr. needs to be protected and the government were also Even a cursory look at this narrative suggests issues with roots Khalilzad and the Afghan power must be transferred debated in a session of the in history, or simply too complex, were beyond the depth of our peacefully and legally. Meshrano Jirga. state structures. On core issues, one needed a core group to political leaders about the “This seat is not mine, this “The Interim government is charter a course, steer its conduct, and adapt it to the evolving future government,” said environment. Mirwais Ghiyasi, a close aide seat (presidency) belongs to just an imagination, interim A bureaucratic or politically partisan system could not be to Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf. the nation of Afghanistan, government is recommended entrusted with this -- not only because its key members were “The interim government this system has dignity, you by those who have remained mostly on the move, but also as those at the helm often force issue has been raised at a all voted for me,” said Ghani. out of power,” said Akbar the pace to add a feather in their otherwise colourless cap. time as we transform from “If the objective of the Taliban Stanekzai, a member of the Shigal English Academy K took the paper to BB --then in her second incarnation as PM a system-less government is to dominate and give senate. --who didn’t seem terribly pleased as with the Taliban now to a state where there is a us the peace of the grave, “The interim government taking big strides in Afghanistan, she didn’t want to share system,” said Sarwar Danish, that will have very negative is something that will be the spoils of the “victory” with a hybrid group that had the the Afghan Second Vice consequences,” Ghani said. addressed by the Afghan Opposition on board. “My basic goal is to be able people and the decision of Easy Nevertheless, she appointed a pretty clued-up security adviser, President. to hand power, through the the Afghan people and their who all by himself had no sway with the hands-on the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani English wheel, which only moved in the military track. Before that refrained from meeting will of the people, to my views,” said Gulalai Akbari, a Nawaz Sharif had made it clear his Kabulpolicy would be Khalilzad during his recent elected successor. This is senator. Learning conducted by his kitchen cabinet, not the Afghan cell. Soon tour. crucial to enable us to honor The Taliban have so far thereafter he outsourced the Kashmir struggle to a private The Afghan President Ashraf the sacrifice of our civilians, not announced their contractor. However, both mainstream parties had a common Ghani on Wednesday, our activists, and others,” official position about the Western Street of approach on Karachi: break up the MQM and let the devil take Kabul University Close to referring to the recent rumors Ghani said. “One thing establishment of an interim Dehbori Park. the hindmost. about the establishment of needs to be clear; the Afghan government in Afghanistan. It is of course unfair to put all the blame for fly-by-night an interim government as an society is not willing to go However, the group in the +93 (0) 789 98 9696 policies on political leadership. Members of the Deep State outcome of a peace process back and we’re not a type of past has said that the talks were reluctant to permit any rank outsiders, regardless of society that the Taliban-type on the future government will [email protected] experience or expertise, in the decision-making corridors. Who with the Taliban, said that approach of the past can be be among their top priorities knows when a group, even if dominated by the civil and military the Afghan people do not Shigal English Academy hierarchy, working under the chief executive and essentially in support the dissolution of imposed on us. That was the during the talks. www.shigal.edu.af an advisory role, would get enough traction due to its sound judgment. That could blow the myth of the State’s claim to total wisdom. WHO hopes... sure that we have the necessary struggling to deploy the No surprise there. People in power are always protective of their we should be able to be data to ensure these vaccines vaccines that they have. turf. But the worst part is that they seldom pick up the courage vaccinating in February in these meet all the criteria necessary “So I think we really cannot to tell their political masters, civil or military, that most of our in terms of efficacy, safety and underestimate the task that it festering issues may not be fixed in an estimative timeframe countries, but we cannot do quality.” is for a country to be ready to -- and therefore their management should take priority over that on our own,” said Aylward. Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO director start to deploy any of these a wishful outcome. “We require the cooperation of vaccine manufacturers to of immunization and vaccines, vaccines,” she said. WAYGAL Printing Co. prioritize.” noted the need for readiness to She noted vaccines like that, There is also a need for financial put vaccines into arms. particularly from Pfizer, require If You Can Think It, cooperation and assistance. “We’ve been hearing about special cold chain processes We Can ink it. “And we require the cooperation high-income countries that keeping the vaccine at between of those key suppliers to make are working really hard but minus 60 and 90 C. Chief Editor : M. Hamid Hamdard Reporters: Safiullah Nasary, Shafiq Amirzay, Jawad Temori & Hameedullah Hamidi Why Afghanistan... US decides to alter its plans the Soviets and then the US But more recently, the to leave Afghanistan, with the occupation. If the occupiers fail Graphic & Design: Arman Pentagon has hinted that the likely result being yet more to see that they must leave, my Phone: +93-202502100 - +93-777989696 Taliban had not met pledges violence. children will fight them as well.” to reduce violence or taken Although almost all victims of Both Taliban and government Website: www.heartofasia.af concrete steps to sever links the recent increase in violence leaders have said that these Email: [email protected] with al-Qaeda. have been Afghans, the Taliban talks are a “unique, historic The US government’s plan to has insisted that it is fighting a opportunity” for Afghans to Address: Behind Rahman Baba High School fully withdraw its forces from foreign occupation and those solve their differences. - Opposite to 3rd District, Afghanistan has even faced who help it. Future generations will judge criticism from Republicans at Before the breakthrough them on whether they succeed Kabul - Afghanistan home and NATO’s secretary- talks, one Taliban leader told or fail. Al Jazeera, “My father was For now, both sides are biding Print: Waygal Printing .Co - +93 - 202512626 general. But the stakes are high if the a fighter, I fought against their time. January 13, 2021 WORLD WEDNESDAY Heart of Asia 4 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Yemen: NGOs fear the worst after Houthi ‘terrorist’ designation A decision to designate Yemen’s Houthi continue to be able to deal with a “terrorist movement as a “terrorist” organisation appears organisation”? And if not, will that mean a halt to be the Trump administration’s parting shot to to aid being sent to Yemen? the group’s regional ally, Iran, but there are now “The designation threatens to further shrink real fears the decision may have a devastating the space and access we need to deliver effect on millions of Yemenis in desperate need humanitarian assistance,” said Abeer Etefa, of humanitarian aid. the World Food Programme’s Middle East The Houthi rebels took control of Yemen’s spokeswoman. capital Sanaa in September 2014 and about “The humanitarian response does not operate 70 percent of Yemenis live in areas under their in a vacuum: we work with banks, commercial control. traders and transporters, who in turn have links The group runs a de facto state in that territory, to global insurers and so on … Right now, this which includes control of financial institutions looks like a worst-case scenario for Yemen. Life and coordination with international non- has just got harder for millions who are already impose difficult bureaucratic and legal barriers Pompeo said the US would be issuing licences governmental organisations (NGOs) that supply struggling to survive.” to working in Yemen. The country imports 90 to NGOs working in Houthi-controlled territory, food and other aid to Yemenis. Famine fears percent of its food, and aid organisations are the fear is the situation is already so dire that The imminent United States designation of the The argument being made by opponents of the already struggling to help Yemenis in need. any further impediments will only exacerbate Houthis has worried those NGOs – will they now Houthi terrorist designation is the move will While the outgoing US Secretary of State Mike the slide to a potential famine in Yemen.

A look at the world Twitter loses $5B, ‘Turkey is determined WHO hopes to roll shares down 12% since to press ahead on EU out vaccines for all in Trump ban reforms’ February Twitter’s stock price was down as much The head of the World Health Organization as 12.3% on Monday after outgoing US (WHO) called Monday for a collective President Donald Trump was permanently commitment so that within the next 100 days, banned from the platform. coronavirus vaccination for health workers After closing at $51.48 per share on Friday, and those at higher risk in all countries can the US-based social networking service saw begin, with one official saying the hope is for a rollout during February. its stock price open down at $47.16 a share At a bi-weekly press webinar, WHO Director- on Monday, then fell to as low as $45.15 per General Tedros Ghebreyesus said that a share shortly after opening bell at 9.30 a.m. year ago, the first death from COVID-19 was on the US East Coast (1430GMT). Turkey is determined to press ahead on reported. The decline erased $5 billion from Twitter’s EU accession reforms, Turkey’s foreign The world health body issued technical market capitalization before the stock price minister told a group of European Union guidance on such issues as surveillance, lab later recovered to $49 per share around diplomats on Tuesday. testing, infection prevention and control, a 12.20 p.m. (1720GMT) for a market value of “We are determined [to apply the] reform readiness checklist, risk communication and community engagement. approximately $39 billion. agenda,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told the EU “A year on, there have been almost 2 million The sudden decline came the first trading member state ambassadors, meeting at deaths from the COVID-19 virus, and while the official Cankaya Palace in the capital Ankara. “The EU should not hinder but give support to us,” he added. Saying that the bloc and Turkey are tied closely, he explained: “Turkey is in Europe, and Europe is part of our destiny. The same thing applies to Europe.” Turkey, an EU candidate country since 2005, plays a large role in the security of Syria and Libya plus the Caucasus, Balkans, Middle East, and Black Sea regions, and also has a day after Twitter on Friday permanently we are hopeful about the safe and effective key part in migration, energy, trade, supply banned Trump’s account, which had around vaccines that are being rolled out, we want chains, transportation, communication, 89 million followers. to see this sped up and vaccines allocated The ban could spark fury from Trump security, counter-terrorism, NATO, and equitably in the coming weeks,” he said. supporters on Twitter, risking a loss in the defense, he stressed. “I call for a collective commitment so that within the next 100 days, vaccinations for number of users for the company, and raising “All these issues are vital for both the health workers and those at high risk in all English Academy questions about regulation, according to security and prosperity of Europe. If we act countries are underway.” some analysts. together, we can make significant changes in all areas. As Turkey, we are ready for this He said governments, manufacturers, Explaining the move, Twitter had said: civil society and religious and community partnership,” he said. “After close review of recent Tweets from leaders must unite to create the “greatest Unfortunately, he said, the desired the @realDonaldTrump account and the mass mobilization in history for equitable Easy context around them we have permanently cooperation between Turkey and the EU vaccination.” suspended the account due to the risk of had failed to materialize over the years WHO senior adviser Dr. Bruce Aylward English further incitement of violence.” due to some bilateral issues that remained said: “Over 40 countries have now begun Learning The decision came after two months of unsolved, and this was also a loss for vaccinating against COVID-19. However, all of Trump’s claims of voter fraud and election Europe. the vaccinations, or virtually all, were in high- Cavusoglu said they have repeatedly urged income or middle-income countries so far. theft in the Nov. 3 US presidential election, Western Street of “We have got to see vaccines going into arms and his supporters storming the Capitol the use of dialogue to solve these bilateral Kabul University Close to building, forcing lawmakers to evacuate issues, and in this process, they expect in lower and lower-middle income countries.” Dehbori Park. “Over 40 countries have now begun their session confirming President-elect Joe progress in concrete areas in relations with vaccinating against COVID-19 using five Biden’s win, and causing multiple deaths. the EU. +93 (0) 789 98 9696 different vaccines. Social networking giant Facebook also “Turkey is dependent on the EU accession He said the WHO is working to accelerate the suspended Trump’s account for at least process. If we find a positive response from vaccines’ rollout through the COVAX facility, [email protected] the rest of his presidency, until Jan. 20, as the EU, we also show the necessary will,” which seeks to get them to lower and middle- CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued the outgoing he said. income Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Shigal English Academy president risked more violence and he Later Monday Turkish President Recep countries, 92 nations in Africa, the Americas intended to use his account to undermine Tayyip Erdogan is due to also meet with and Asia. www.shigal.edu.af a peaceful transition of power. the EU ambassadors. ... P2 “We expect in strong confidence that ... P3