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Home , Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

Page 2 | NATIONAL ‘Regional consensus can drive peace in ’ Page 3 | ECONOMY As violence flares in Consensus among regional countries can drive peace in Afghanistan Team to Investigate south Afghanistan, key with people of the war-torn country in the driver’s seat, speakers ... Alleged Cronyism questions answered at MoF, Customs Page 2 | NATIONAL

Kabul Herat Nangarhar Balkh 17 / 3 23 / 5 30 / 15 24 / 11

Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Monday, October 26, 2020 Issue No. 857 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs Hekmatyar: Formation of Interim Government Only Solution for Peace Senate asks U.S. to was that “the U.S. should withdraw review Doha pact its troops and a non-aligned, independent and sovereign with government should be formed by Afghans in light of their beliefs and The Meshrano Jirga or Senate on Sunday traditions without any interference.” stressed tangible outcome from the “Otherwise, the country would slip ongoing peace talks and asked the US into another civil war,” warned the to review its agreement with the Taliban former prime minister. who have increased violence in violation Despite, As parties to the Afghan of the Doha agreement. peace talks process in Doha stall over Senate chairman FazalHadiMuslimyar preliminary issues, Atta Mohammad accused the Taliban of breaking Noor, CEO of Jamiat Party and former promises and asked the government governor of Balkh province has called negotiating team to work with patience on New Delhi to help by playing a and take the ongoing talks to a fruitful more proactive role in the dialogue conclusion. and hold talks with the Taliban. He asked the US and international Noor, who is currently in India, is the community to reconsider their pledges fourth prominent Afghan leader to with the Taliban because the group visit India in the past few weeks to acted against Doha Agreement and discuss the peace talks process – after continued violence. visits by Abdullah Abdullah, chairman “It was based on the US promise that the of the High Council for National Afghan government showed flexibility Reconciliation; former Afghan Vice- and released Taliban’s prisoners and Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin , he said the leaders there Palace and the Taliban and are not president Marshal Abdul Rashid now the US should remain committed Hekmatyar said on Sunday that as had assured him of their cooperation “intra-Afghan” talks. Dostum and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to the Afghan government under the the Taliban did not want the current in the . “These talks are not intra-Afghan an Afghan politician and former security pact the two countries ... P3 government, an interim government Last week, Hekmatyar had given a talks, because there is no presence Leader. remains the only solution to peace in press conference in Islamabad on Oct. of many Afghan political parties in In an interview with ThePrint in Delhi Afghanistan. 20 where he said that the U.S. had these talks, we are not there. There this past week, Noor, who picked up He emphasised that the current been “defeated in Afghanistan” and is a need for consensus first so that a weapon in 2016 to save the lives of Afghan government wanted the war Washington had “no choice except to we can go towards talks with a unified Indian diplomats during an attack on to continue and was not in favour of leave the country.” idea,” he said. their consulate in Balkh province, said peace which could only be achieved Criticizing the ongoing peace talks During a talk at a think tank on Oct. he was there to try to garner India’s if “all foreigners leave” the country. in Doha, Hekmatyar said they were 23, he warned that the only durable support. Khalilzad: 12 Children Sharing details of his recent visit to between the team of the Presidential solution for peace in Afghanistan “The situation in Afghanistan ... P3 Killed in ‘Tragic’ Qureshi: Afghans Putin says U.S. presence in Takhar Airstrike by Have ‘Historic Afghan Government Opportunity’ To Work Afghanistan good for security U.S. Special Representative for Together for Peace Russian President Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah has said the continued presence of Khalilzad called the Takhar airstrike a Mehmood Qureshi said that the American troops in Afghanistan is “terrible tragedy” that claimed the lives way towards reduction in violence beneficial for overall security. of civilians. in Afghanistan lay in progress in the “Initially, we backed US forces’ Citing the report by the Afghanistan ongoing intra-Afghan dialogue with presence in Afghanistan and earlier Independent Human Rights Commission Afghans working together to secure a voted in favor of a respective (AIHRC), Khalilzad said that 12 children political settlement. UN Security Council resolution. I were killed and 18 others, including Qureshi, who was talking to Speaker of still believe that US presence in the mosques’ mullah, were injured in Afghanistan’s House of Representatives Afghanistan does not run counter to an airstrike by the Afghan government Mir Rahman Rahmani, on Saturday, our external interests,” Putin said in forces in Takhar. said that Afghans have a “historic an interview with “Moscow. Kremlin. Offering condolences to the families, the opportunity” to work together and Putin” program on Rossiya-1 TV envoy said: “This is a terrible tragedy. secure an inclusive, broad-based and channel. Unfortunately, tragedy is not limited to comprehensive political settlement. “On the contrary, when it was no matter what, still US presence in cooperation at the level of special Takhar. Civilians are victims of car bombs, “Progress in the intra-Afghan announced that the Americans are Afghanistan contributes to stability services is underway,” he said. In IEDs [improvised explosive devices], negotiations would help in ... preparing to withdraw their military in the country and their exit creates particular, this is cooperation on de- and targeted killings perpetrated by the P3 contingent - yes, our official position risks,” the Russian leader explained. conflicting in Syria and a very good Taliban. Civilians have been forced to is that maybe this creates additional “We don’t have to fight against the working contact was established at flee fighting in Lashkar Gah and other conditions for a kind of Afghan Americans’ presence there.” the operational level and at the level areas.” reconciliation - but I personally Putin noted that the two countries’ of military units’ chiefs. Calling for an immediate reduction of think that this creates many risks,” special services continued working War on terror violence leading to a ceasefire, Khalilzad Putin said. in this direction. “We are cooperating According to Putin, the Americans pushed for an accelerated political “First, we will have to spend more with the US despite numerous share data on anti-terror with their settlement in Doha. ... P2 to maintain stability and second, contradictions on a lot of areas, still Russian colleagues. ... P2 October 26, 2020 Heart of Asia NATIONAL MONDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Putin says U.S. ... By Shereena Qazi “We view the Americans’ effort in Afghanistan as an anti-terrorist effort,” Putin stressed. As violence flares in south Afghanistan, “They hand over and repeatedly handed over [data] to us. I thanked key questions answered incumbent President [Donald Trump] because Afghanistan has seen an uptick in told that the group’s fighters information that we received violence over the past week, with the were recapturing districts that were from America helped us Taliban launching attacks in several previously under their control but were prevent several terrorist provinces even as negotiators from retaken by Afghan security forces a few acts in ,” Putin noted. the armed group and the Afghan months ago. “In our turn, we are trying government are still in Qatar’s capital The Taliban controls most of Helmand to do the same and we have for talks aimed at bringing peace to the province and in recent years has such an agreement with the country. conducted several attacks to capture incumbent US president that A major Taliban assault last week on Lashkar Gah – but its fighters have been if this information emerges, Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern pushed back by Afghan security forces we will share it and help each Helmand province, sparked days of each time. other.”. intense fighting and prompted the How have civilians been affected? to launch air attacks in As the fighting intensified and the support of its allied government forces. security situation around Lashkar Gah Tens of thousands of people are deteriorated, tens of thousands of Khalilzad: 12.. estimated to have since fled their people fled to the provincial capital. “The United States is homes to escape the violence, which Afghan authorities estimate that 35,000 the wounded, but also for those in need to find a peaceful settlement to decades singularly focused on this has stretched hospitals in Lashkar Gah people (some 5,000 families) have of access to their regular services”. of war. goal and is pressing both to capacity. been displaced by the fighting. The MSF Afghanistan said that between Soon after the air raids, Colonel Sonny parties to reduce violence Fighting continued on Monday in some OCHA office in Afghanistan, however, October 11 and 16, it received 56 Leggett, a spokesperson for the US and find a path to peace as areas of Helmand’s Nad Ali and Nawa told Al Jazeera that assessment teams people – including pregnant women military in Afghanistan, said on Twitter soon as possible,” the envoy districts. Besides Helmand, the Taliban from a number of organisations were and children. Some of the patients that the recent Taliban attacks in said. in recent days has also carried out still verifying these figures, with 5,000 were wounded by shelling, blasts and Helmand were “not consistent” with the He also added that it was attacks in Badakhshan, Kunduz, Farah people confirmed so far. gunshots, while others had suffered US-Taliban agreement and undermined “vital” for Afghanistan’s and provinces. “Yesterday, around 300 families or fractures. the ongoing peace talks in Doha. independent media and Faced with a surge in violence and delays approximately 2,100 people from Nawa- “Additionally, in our ER, we admitted He insisted the air raids did not violate civil society to be allowed in the start of the historic negotiations e-Barakzaiy have been newly displaced 33 people who have been displaced the February agreement – a position to document current events, in Doha, many Afghans say peace is far within Nawa district,” it said on Monday. by the fighting, but these people were rejected by the Taliban. referring to comments by the from guaranteed. OCHA also said the deployed teams admitted for medical conditions that “All contents of the US-Islamic Emirate First Vice President Amrullah Here is what we know so far: were catering to the needs of those were not related to direct injuries agreement are unambiguous, but Saleh last week. How did it start? sheltering in different parts of Lashkar sustained from the fighting,” said MSF the opposite side has violated its The Ministry of Defence On October 11, the Taliban launched Gah who may require immediate food, Afghanistan. commitments on numerous occasions, and First Vice President a major offensive from different water and temporary spaces for living. Overall, at least 200 people, including are engaging in provocative actions,” had said directions in a bid to capture Lashkar Health facilities have also been affected women, have been killed and wounded, the Taliban said in a statement on the Oct. 21 airstrike killed Gah, Omer Zwak, spokesman for the due to the clashes, with some operating according to OCHA. Sunday, warning that “all responsibility Taliban fighters who were provincial governor in Helmand, told in a reduced capacity and others being US-Taliban blame each other; why? and consequences from continuation of responsible for attacking Al Jazeera. The group’s fighters overran completely shut. Following the Taliban’s push on such actions shall fall squarely on the Afghan security forces. security checkpoints, while a number OCHA said seven health facilities in Lashkar Gah and the seizure of security shoulders of the American side”. Saleh’s office said they of districts – Babaji, Cha-e-anjir, Nad-e- Nad-e-Ali/Marja, Nahr-e-Saraj, Lashkar checkpoints, the US launched air The US military swiftly dismissed the arrested the person Ali/Marja and Nawa-e-Barakzaiy – also Gah and Nawa districts closed down attacks against the group’s fighters in Taliban’s accusation. responsible for spreading came under attack. on 14 October after healthcare workers support of the Afghan security forces. “U.S. airstrikes in Helmand and Farah “venomous and fake news” Two days later, the Office received threats. This was a rare military intervention by have been and continue to be solely in against the security forces. for the Coordination of Humanitarian Medical charity Doctors Without Borders the US since the signing of an agreement defense of the ANDSF as they are being Clashes between the Afghan Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan said (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) told in February with the Taliban on troop attacked by the Taliban,” Leggett said on forces and the Taliban the highway between Kandahar and Al Jazeera that with the main trauma withdrawal in exchange for security Twitter, referring to the Afghan National militants continue despite Lashkar Gah was inaccessible due to hospital in Lashkar Gah remaining guarantees from the armed group. Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). the ongoing peace talks the presence of improvised explosive “under pressure”, its focus has been “on The document inked in Doha also “The entire world has witnessed in Qatar which began in devices. ensuring continuity of services in MSF- included a pledge from the Taliban to the Taliban’s offensive operations in September. Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem supported Boost Provincial Hospital, for sit down with the administration Helmand – attacks which ... P3 By Riyaz ul Khaliq New clashes... the “right path forward” could ‘Regional consensus can drive World powers want to prevent be found. peace in Afghanistan’ a wider war that draws in But Armenian Prime Minister , which has voiced strong said he saw Consensus among regional countries to be reduced soon. Doha process. Through the regional support for , and no diplomatic resolution of the can drive peace in Afghanistan with But, Ertugrul said: “It is not easy to process, regional consensus will be Russia, which has a defense conflict at this stage, and Aliyev people of the war-torn country in generate regional consensus for peace generated,” he added. pact with . has described the prospects of the driver’s seat, speakers said at an in the country […] There are competing Istanbul Process praised Differences over the conflict a peace settlement as “very international virtual conference said. interests of the regional players.” The speakers acknowledged that have further strained relations remote.” “The Afghan peace process seems ‘Lack of political unity in Kabul Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process had between Ankara and its NATO About 30,000 people were long, [and] complex with the bumpy challenging’ brought all stakeholders together on allies, with Pompeo accusing killed in a 1991-94 war over road,” said Oguzhan Ertugrul, Turkey’s The Turkish ambassador said he is Afghanistan. Turkey of fueling the conflict by Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenians ambassador in Kabul, at the conference “cautiously optimistic about the future Turkey-led Istanbul Process was arming the Azeri side. Ankara regard the enclave as part of hosted by Ankara-based Foundation as the peace process is long.” initiated in 2011 and its last summit denies it has inflamed the their historic homeland; Azeris for Political, Economic and Social “It needs all-inclusive peace to was held in Istanbul last year. conflict. consider it an illegally occupied Research (SETA) on Friday. sustain – to meet the demands and Khan Wali Khan Basharmal, Pompeo had said ahead of land that must be returned to In February, the US reached a deal expectations of the Afghan society. Afghanistan’s ambassador to Friday’s talks that he hoped their control. with Taliban to end the war. The US [But] lack of political unity is the big Turkmenistan, while detailing the promised to withdraw all troops challenge in Kabul,” he pointed out. country’s “nature of tolerance” in past, within 14 months if the Taliban uphold Afghanistan held general elections said that times have changed for the the deal. The deal followed the intra- in September 2019 but results were country. UN: Nuclear... devices.” It also bans any Afghan dialogue in Doha last month. declared in February 2020 and the “There is too much difference between as UN Day. transfer or use of nuclear Afghanistan needs peace and stability, Cabinet was announced just three 1999 and 2020,” said Basharmal, “The United Nations was weapons or nuclear explosive asserted Murat Aslan, the moderator days back. referring to the time before the US-led formed to promote peace devices — and the threat to use of the conference -- titled Wise Talks: “Government is yet to take a vote of international forces’ invasion. with a goal of the abolition of such weapons -- and requires Security and Societal Compromise for confidence and Afghan High Council “Region is changing […] outdated nuclear weapons,” Fihn said. parties to promote the treaty Prosperous Afghanistan. for Peace is yet not fully operational,” infrastructure of Asia needs to be “This treaty is the U.N. at its to other countries. “Turkey is ready to lend its support to the envoy said. changed with modern infrastructure best — working closely with Once it enters into force all facilitate the two sides – Republican “It is really difficult for Kabul team in and the regional players see towards civil society to bring democracy countries that have ratified [Kabul administration] and Taliban,” Doha to defend its achievements of the US behavior in Afghanistan and we do to disarmament.” it will be bound by those the Turkish envoy said. last 20 years,” he said. believe the US is playing a positive role The treaty requires that all requirements. “However, no third country should Ertugrul, however, added that in the peace process,” he said. ratifying countries “never under The United States had written impose themselves on the negotiating consensus among the “regional “International partners [must be] any circumstances ... develop, to treaty signatories saying the teams,” the ambassador said countries was important which will committed to values achieved in the test, produce, manufacture, Trump administration believes emphasizing the level of violence help peace to sustain.” last 19 years; if that does not happen, otherwise acquire, possess they made “a strategic error” and urging them to rescind spiked in recent months which needs “Regional process is missing to back the region does not have a ... P3 or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive their ratification. October 26, 2020 Heart of Asia ECONOMY MONDAY 3 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost

Team to Investigate Alleged Exchange Rates Cronyism at MoF, Customs 76.7 76.8 President has appointed The Afghan president should prioritize 90 90.1 a probe team to investigate bringing reforms to the Ministry of appointments at the Ministry of Finance instead of talking about a 99.4 99.5 Finance, according to a classified caretaker for the ministry,” said Sayed document seen by TOLOnews. Ekram Afzali, the head of Integrity 474 475 According to the document, the Watch Afghanistan (IWA). president has threatened to take “It is clear they have been assigned charge of the Ministry of Finance to the jobs through the private 20.75 20.85 himself if answers are not provided relationships they have. There is a about the allegations of irregular need for an investigation regarding 1030 1040 appointments at money-generating this issue,” said Karim Atal, a member entities including the Ministry of of the Afghan parliament. Finance. Based on the document, a five- According to anti-corruption member team comprised of members organizations, the high posts at of the Independent Administration Contact Numbers Customs and the Ministry of Finance Reform and Civil Services Commission “The chiefs who were appointed by Previous reports indicate that weren’t advertised through a proper and the Presidential Palace have been the reforms commission through a customs revenues dropped 10 billion Kabul Police -119 vacancy announcement process tasked with investigating the case. free competition, they (MoF) officials Afs. for the candidates, and all those “We have not made any appointments have replaced them with others, However, the Ministry of Finance Kabul Ambulance - 112 individuals who have been appointed at the Ministry of Finance contrary they don’t have permission from at the time said that the revenues came on the direct order of President to the law, therefore the Ministry of the president, advisers have been dropped because of a decrease in the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital Ghani and Finance Minister Abdul Finance is fully prepared to cooperate appointed over the chiefs, it means level of imports. Hadi Arghandiwal. in the investigation with any entity the chiefs are required to report to There is a perception that the 0202301360 “The Afghan government has so far and organization,” said Shamroz Khan the advisers,” said Maiwand Rouhani, corruption dominating the institution not shared any clear program with Masjidi, a spokesman for the Ministry Independent Joint Anti-Corruption is the main cause of the decline in the the people for reform in these areas. of Finance. Monitoring Committee (MEC). national revenues. Ata Turk Hospital 0202500312 Hekmatyar: Formation... As violence... Afghan government delegates doing the opposite by attacking is currently quite complicated. That’s the reason I am here injured and displaced arrived in Doha for the intra- houses, properties, roads and Corona call center - 166 in India. I really hope that India will be more proactive thousands of innocent Afghan Afghan talks. spreading fear among people. because India has got power, it has got leverage, and it civilians,” Leggett added. A “contact group” comprised Afghan people – especially has got influence in the region,” Noor said. Under the agreement, the of six members from each people of Helmand – don’t want “If India does not do that, then this will give more ground to Taliban said it would not attack side was established to set the the Taliban presence here any the Pakistanis. As the Americans are leaving, the Pakistanis cities while the US said it would “terms and conditions”, paving more,” he said. are finding more space in Afghanistan,” Noor said. refrain from assaults on the the way for the start of formal “We doubt their sincerity Until now, however, India’s policy has been that it will fighters except to defend the negotiations between the two towards peace talks.” not engage with the Taliban, as it continues to see the Afghan forces. sides. The Taliban has been fighting fundamentalist group as being aided by Pakistan. Afghan officials accused the But the discussions appear the Afghan government since Taliban of breaching the to have stalled due to it was toppled from power agreement with the assault on disagreements to establish in a US-led invasion in 2001. Senate asks... Lashkar Gah. a basic framework for Washington blamed the then- have reached and refrain from deals behind the curtains,” Naeem, the Taliban spokesman, negotiations. Taliban rulers for harbouring he said. told Al Jazeera that the US has On Monday, Naeem said that al-Qaeda leaders, including He said the killing of security forces in Takhar province was “bombed places where there the contact group met to . Al-Qaeda questionable, asking the Ministry of Interior to probe the wasn’t any conflict going on. discuss “disagreements and was accused of plotting the incident and shared details with people. Also they are bombing the it was emphasised that a final 9/11 attacks. WAYGAL Printing Co. Muslimyar also condemned a suicide blast that claimed places where the fighting is understanding on the peace US President Donald Trump, the lives of students in Dasht-i-Barchi locality of Kabul and already stopped”. process should be reached as who is seeking re-election on offered his condolences to families of the victims. On Friday, the Taliban said it soon as possible”. November 3, said earlier this He termed the incident as un-Islamic and added the would stop its operations if However, Bashir Ahmad month that all US troops in If You Can Think It, enemies of Islam again shamed history by committing such the US halted its air raids in Shakir, a former member of the Afghanistan should be “home We Can ink it. an inhuman crime. Helmand. provincial council in Helmand, by Christmas”. What is happening at intra- told Al Jazeera that Afghans His statement came hours after Qureshi: Afghans... Afghan peace talks? have doubts about the Taliban’s his national security adviser reduction in violence leading to a ceasefire,” he said. The escalation in violence seriousness towards peace. said Washington would reduce He also stressed the importance of the Afghanistan-Pakistan comes more than a month after “They [Taliban] are talking its forces in Afghanistan to 2,500 Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), noting that Taliban representatives and about peace in Doha but are by early next year. the mechanism provided the best platform to address all relevant issues. The foreign minister also said there were enormous ‘Regional... ideas and not only criticize respect the national will of opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between bright future in terms of regional government policies but also Afghanistan.” the two countries which should be optimally utilised. connectivity,” Basharmal added. come up with solutions to their In her comments, Tanya Rahmani also met Sadiq Sanjrani, chairman of the Senate Despite Afghanistan’s “rich problems.” Goudsouzian, a journalist, said of Pakistan. The parliamentary delegates exchanged views history of social toleration”, “Connecting Afghanistan to both great and small powers on topics of mutual interests including regional peace and the Afghan envoy said paving Central Asia is a remarkable have “meddled in Afghan economic cooperation. the way for sustainable peace initiative and Afghanistan affairs” for long. in Afghanistan is “not easy as President Ashraf Ghani offered “Peace will continue to elude public mindset, political and civil regional connectivity to until regional rivals continue society were badly devastated, Pakistan. We are for promoting to use Afghan soil for their demolished through foisting peaceful ties while getting interests,” she asserted referring proxy policies on Afghan people together to meet the modern to diverging roles of regional

Chief Editor : M. Hamid Hamdard which furthered extremism.” challenges,” he said referring to countries. Referring to visits by After World War II, he said, the seven-point “peace plan” Afghan peace leader Abdullah Reporters: Safiullah Nasary, Shafiq Amirzay, Afghanistan would host 0.25 mooted by Ghani “for long time Abdullah to Pakistan and India, Jawad Temori & Hameedullah Hamidi million tourists. He said Afghan stability in Afghanistan”. she said: “it is to underscore women got voting right in He, however, regretted that and safeguard the sovereignty Graphic & Design: Arman 1921 and that Afghanistan was “left alone of Afghanistan.” Phone: +93-202502100 - +93-777989696 had established “Asia’s first after 2014” by the international However, she said Kabul needs computer laboratory.” community. to ensure that peace talks with Website: www.heartofasia.af “But it was badly ignored “We are fighting 95% of the war Taliban “will not jeopardize its Email: [email protected] during the era when ourselves […] by the Afghan relations with neighbors”. the country had maintained a government and are now “It is important to ensure that Address: Behind Rahman Baba High School neutral position,” he added. recruiting the youth in national Afghanistan is not home to army ranks,” he said. radicals […] It is in the interests - Opposite to 3rd District, Regional connectivity He said there are more On generating regional not only of the country but the Kabul - Afghanistan than 4 million social media consensus on Afghanistan, whole international community the Afghan diplomat asserted: which needs a collective Print: Waygal Printing .Co - +93 - 202512626 users in Afghanistan who “independently express their “regional consensus should approach,” she said. October 26, 2020 WORLD MONDAY Heart of Asia 4 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost New clashes break out in Nagorno- Karabakh after Washington talks New clashes broke out between Azerbaijan and killed 5,000 people. ethnic Armenian forces over Nagorno-Karabakh a The collapse of two Russia-brokered ceasefires day after talks in Washington, D.C., U.S. in efforts had already dimmed the prospect of a quick end to end the deadliest fighting in the enclave in to the fighting that broke out on September 27 more than a quarter of a century. over Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan’s defense ministry reported fighting in The defense ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh said and around Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous the total number of Armenians killed in the weeks part of Azerbaijan populated and controlled by of fighting had risen by 36 to 963, the Russian ethnic Armenians. It said the areas of Lachin and news agency Interfax reported. Gubadli had come under rocket and artillery fire Azerbaijan said a 13-year-old Russian boy died on from inside Armenian territory. Saturday after being wounded in a rocket attack In Nagorno-Karabakh, local officials accused on the city of Ganja on October 17. Azerbaijan Azerbaijan’s forces of firing Smerch missiles into says 65 Azeri civilians have been killed and 298 residential buildings in , the largest wounded, but has not disclosed its military city in the region, which Baku denied. casualties. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had Azeri forces say they have made territorial gains, separately met with the foreign ministers of including full control over the border with , Azerbaijan and Armenia on Friday in a new which Armenia denies. Nagorno-Karabakh’s attempt to end nearly a month of bloodshed that ethnic Armenian administration says its forces Russian President Vladimir Putin said may have have repulsed attacks. ... P2 A look at the world Normalization deal UN: Nuclear weapons France reacts after with Oman ‘soon’: ban treaty to enter Erdogan questions Israeli media into force Macron’s mental health Oman will be the next Arab country to France recalled its ambassador to Turkey for normalize relations with Israel, according consultations after Turkish President Recep to Israeli media on Sunday. Tayyip Erdogan said President Emmanuel Israeli officials believe that Oman will Macron needed mental health treatment soon sign a normalization deal with Israel and made other comments that the French under US sponsorship, Israeli Channel 12 government described as unacceptably rude. Erdogan questioned his French counterpart’s reported. mental condition while criticizing Macron’s The channel, however, said that the attitude toward Islam and Muslims. His remarks normalization of the Israeli-Omani relations The United Nations announced Saturday at a local party congress were an apparent 6KLJDO would likely take place after the US election. that 50 countries have ratified a U.N. response to statements Macron made this Muscat so far has not commented on the treaty to ban nuclear weapons triggering month about problems created by radical (QJOLVK$FDGHP\ Israeli media report. its entry into force in 90 days, a move Muslims in France who practice what the French Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed by anti-nuclear activists but leader termed “Islamist separatism.” confirmed recently that “other countries strongly opposed by the United States “What is the problem of this person called will follow”, in reference to Israel’s and the other major nuclear powers. Macron with Islam and Muslims?” Erdogan asked normalization deals with the United Arab As of Friday, the treaty had 49 signatories, and the United Nations said the 50th (DV\(QJOLVK/HDUQLQJ ratification from Honduras had been received. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the 50 states and saluted “the instrumental work” of civil society in facilitating negotiations and pushing for ratification, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The U.N. chief said the treaty’s entry into force on Jan. 22 culminates a rhetorically during his Justice and Development Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Sudan. worldwide movement “to draw attention party meeting in the central Anatolian city of Oman welcomed the Emirati and Bahraini to the catastrophic humanitarian Kayseri. moves to normalize relations with Israel. consequences of any use of nuclear “What else can be said to a head of state who In 2018, Netanyahu made a surprise visit weapons” and “is a tribute to the does not understand freedom of belief and who to Oman and met with late Sultan Qaboos survivors of nuclear explosions and tests, behaves in this way to millions of people living bin Saeed. many of whom advocated for this treaty,” in his country who are members of a different On Friday, US President Donald Trump he said, faith?” the Turkish leader continued. The French Guterres said the treaty “represents a presidency reacted hours later with a statement announced that Sudan and Israel agreed meaningful commitment towards the that said, “Excess and rudeness are not a to normalize their relations. 'HKERULQG6WUHHW%HKLQG total elimination of nuclear weapons, method” and “We are not accepting insults.” Sudan became the fifth Arab country to which remains the highest disarmament Using unusually strong language, the French 3DUNUG'LVWULFW.DEXO establish official ties with Israel following priority of the United Nations,” Dujarric presidency said, “We demand Erdogan to change Egypt in 1979, Jordan in 1994 and both UAE said. his policy, which is dangerous in all aspects.” and Bahrain in September 2020. Beatrice Fihn, executive director of The presidency point out that Erdogan, a devout However, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) the International Campaign to Abolish Muslim, did not offer condolences following the    and Bahrain welcomed on Saturday the Nuclear Weapons, the 2017 Nobel Peace beheading near Paris last week of a teacher who announcement of normalizing relations Prize-winning coalition whose work had shown in class some caricatures of Islam’s between Sudan and Israel. helped spearhead the nuclear ban Prophet Muhammad. French judicial authorities In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry treaty, said: “This moment has been 75 are investigating the killing as an Islamist terror VKLJDOHGX#JPDLOFRP described the announcement as “an years coming since the horrific attacks attack. important step toward enhancing security on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Tensions between NATO allies France and Turkey and prosperity in the region”. founding of the U.N. which made nuclear have intensified in recent months over issues disarmament a cornerstone.” that include the fighting in Syria, Libya and It said the move to normalize the Sudanese- 6KLJDO(QJOLVK$FDGHP\ “The 50 countries that ratify this Treaty Nagorno-Karabakh, a region within Azerbaijan Israeli relations “would expand the scope are showing true leadership in setting that is controlled by ethnic Armenian separatists. of economic, commercial, scientific and a new international norm that nuclear Macron has notably accused Turkey of flouting diplomatic cooperation”. weapons are not just immoral but its commitments by ramping up its military ZZZVKLJDOHGXDI The Bahraini Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, illegal,” she said. presence in Libya and bringing in jihadi fighters described the announcement as “an The 50th ratification came on the 75th from Syria. France also has sided with Greece additional historical step on the path for anniversary of the ratification of the U.N. and Cyprus in tensions with Turkey over offshore achieving peace, stability and prosperity Charter which officially established the oil and gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, in the Middle East region”. United Nations and is celebrated ... P2 prompting criticism from Ankara.