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WASHINGTON: The US needs to stay in Afghanistan because its immediate neighbor Pakistan has nuclear weapons which have to be KANPUR: Religion should not al technical festival ‘Techkriti’ last protected, Republican presidential be used as a political tool as it caus- evening. frontrunner Donald Trump has es immense harm, former Afghan Mr Karzai, who recalled his said. president Hamid Karzai has said, student days in India, said when “I think you have to stay in asking Pakistan to turn a new leaf he returned to Afghanistan, the Afghanistan for a while, because so that there is peace in the region environment had considerably de- of the fact that you are right next and the countries can progress. teriorated as “on one hand there to Pakistan, which has nuclear The people of Afghanistan was Soviet Union which wanted weapons and we have to protect were “misled” in the name of reli- to impose communist ideology and that. Nuclear weapons change the gion, he said while interacting with on the other hand there was Paki- game,” he said. Indian Institute of Kanpur (IIT)- stan indulging in religious extrem- Trump was responding to a Kanpur students during the annu- ism. Afghanistan was caught in the question on Afghanistan during the middle and completely destroyed Republican presidential debate on Mazari wanted as a result”. Thursday. “There were no universities or Last year, Trump had called Wednesday. democratic schools. Only violence in the name Pakistan the most dangerous coun- “Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile See P2 try in the world. In an interview, continues to grow. We are con- system in the he had indicated that Pakistan Afghanistan asks cerned that this growth, as well as country: Ghani needs to be denuclearize. the evolving doctrine associated Pakistan for “You have to get India in- with tactical nuclear weapons, in- KABUL: President Mohammad volved. India’s the check to Paki- creases the risk of an incident or Ashraf Ghani said on Friday Ab- change in stan,” he said in a radio address in accident,” Lt Gen Vincent Stew- dul Ali Mazari was martyred in September last year when asked art, director of Defense Intelligence path of struggles for democracy and ‘destructive’ policy what he would do if Pakistan “the Agency had told lawmakers on did not want the repetition of his- AT Monitoring Desk most dangerous country in the Wednesday during a Congression- tory. world other than Iran” became un- KABUL: Deputy Foreign Min- al hearing. In his video message at a gath- stable. “Islamabad continues to take ering that marking the ister, Hekmat Khalil Karzai “They (India) have their own st asked Islamabad to bring chang- steps to improve its nuclear secu- 21 anniversary of Wahdat-i-Isla- nukes and have a very powerful rity, and is aware of the threat pre- mi leader, a Hazar community es in its policy which had caused army. They seem to be the real destruction in Afghanistan. sented by extremists to its pro- dominated party, the president check... I think we have to deal very gram,” Stewart said during his tes- said Mazari believed on social jus- Talking to a delegation on the closely with India to deal with it sidelines of a Pak-Afghan Track timony before the house armed tice and democratic government. (Pakistan),” Trump had said, set- services committee on worldwide Mazari was captured and 11/1.5 here the other day, the ting off intense chatter among Pa- killed by the Taliban in the south- deputy minister said that Kabul threats. kistani experts whose approach to Pakistan will face internal se- ern part of Kabul back in March, was not eager for road and Islamabad’s recklessness so far has 1994. Chief Executive Officer healthcare projects but was seek- curity threats from militant, sec- been one of caution and discretion. tarian and separatist groups this (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah his dep- ing positive changes in Paki- The US is concerned over Pa- Afghanistan is preparing a wish list list of military needs. Mr. Fenghui pledged more than stan’s policy regarding Afghani- year, he said, adding that ISIS in uties, ministers, public represen- of military equipment for China During a meeting with Fang $70 million in fresh military aid to kistan’s fast-expanding stockpile tatives, heads of political parties stan. Khorasan and al-Qaida in the Indi- to assist the Afghan national secu- Fenghui, chief of China’s People’s Afghanistan, saying the latest aid of nuclear weapons which com- an subcontinent will also remain and the followers of Mazari at- According to a press release, bined with its evolving doctrine tended the gathering held in Kab- rity forces, the defense officials Liberation Army, the National Se- will follow besides Beijing’s ongo- Beyond Boundaries, an initiative significant security concerns for have said. curity Adviser, Hanif Atmar, re- ing cooperation in development increases the risk of an “accident”, Islamabad. ul. See P2 Pentagon’s top spy master said on The president said Mazari had Deputy spokesman for the quested Beijing’s support to Af- and economic sector. (Times of India) special respect for the women role Ministry of Defense Mohammad ghan National Security Forces in society and believed the wom- Radmanish told RFE that a com- (ANSF). en could play a vital role in politi- mittee has been established to iden- The Office of the National Se- cal spectrum of the country. tify the needs of the Afghan forc- curity Adviser said earlier this 1,500 cases stalled within the AGO's: Official He said: “Afghanistan was the es. week that Mr. Atmar requested President Ashraf Ghani's top ad- at the request of lawbreakers. dockets relating to corruption cas- no case has been pushed to the country of every Afghan and ev- He said the work of the com- Mr. Fenghui to provide the Afghan visor on transparency in develop- "Government shouldn't handle es have gone missing from the sidelines and all cases are being ery citizen and stressed the need mittee is expected to conclude by forces with military aids, includ- ment programs Sardar Mohammad these cases superficially, all cases AGO's office.? processed. for an active political role of every the end of this week and a wish ing transport and logistics planes, Roshan said Friday that more than must be reviewed. There are some "The main issue is that the We strongly reject the allega- countryman.” list of the military equipment will mobile radards, military uniform, 1,500 cases have not been pro- cases which have been prepared AGO has failed to conduct a good tions," Basir Azizi, a spokesman Ghani said the constitutional be prepared. etc. Meanwhile, China pledged cessed by the Attorney General's after a lawbreaker got angry at job over the last several years, even for the AGO said. clause that no Afghan is privileged According to reports, the Af- more than $70 million to support Office (AGO), with the majority someone and then made a tele- we heard that some dockets have This comes at a time that the over another helped us to reduce ghan security authorities have start- the military sector of Afghanistan, of them having been sent by the phone call to AGO to bring charg- gone missing from the AGO's of- AGO is run by an acting chief. difference and work of the bright ed work on the wish list after se- the Office of the President – ARG Afghan spy agency - National Di- es but only four pages of papers fice," IWA Researcher Nasir However, NUG this past week future of the country. nior Chinese defense officials vis- Palace said. rectorate of Security (NDS). are lying inside these documents," Taimoori said. announced the appointment of ited Kabul this week and asked the During a meeting with Presi- "There are more than 1,500 Roshan said. The Attorney General's Office Mohammad Farid Hamidi as new Taliban prisoner Afghan authorities to prepared a dent Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, cases pending with the majority Amid deep concerns over the slammed the claims as baseless, chief of AGO. of them referred by the National huge number of pending cases, the urging that no case had been pre- Hamidi is expected to appear disguised in Directorate of Security," Roshan Integrity Watch Afghanistan pared on order of lawbreakers and before the Wolesi Jirga (Lower 10 militants affiliated with ISIS said.? (IWA) blasted the AGO officials that no case has been sidelined. House of Parliament) for a vote of women’s dress According to Roshan, there are for failing to fulfill their legal re- "All tasks are being carried out confidence from the Afghan law- in failed bid to terror group killed in Nangarhar some cases which were prepared sponsibilities, arguing that several by the AGO in line with the laws, makers. At least ten militants affiliated with Afghan border and public order break jail the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria police, and Afghan intelligence A Taliban prisoner disguised in (ISIS) terrorist group were killed operatives. The Afghan forces have women’s dress and burqa in a bid during the ongoing operations in stepped up counter-terrorism op- to break jail in northern Jawzjan eastern Nangarhar province of Af- erations against the loyalists of the province of Afghanistan was ar- ghanistan. terror group amid concerns that the rested by the security forces be- The provincial government group is attempting to establish a fore he manage to pass through media office said the operations are regional base in Nangarhar. KABUL: One bank with 114 mitted to fighting corruption. them. it doesn’t have to pay any interest the final exit gate of the jail. being conducted in Achin district The US Forces in Afghanistan branches in war-torn country; The remains of a looted bank New Kabul Bank, as it’s now on them because that’s prohibited According to the local secu- and at least five militants were also have increased air campaign against defrauded out of almost all its in a country devastated by decades called, isn’t exactly thriving. The by Sharia. Just 10 per cent of Af- rity officials, the failed attempt injured. the terror group in this province, money; occasional target of ter- of war would hardly seem a tempt- bank has been barred from making ghanistan’s 30 million citizens have by the prisoner was made in Sher- According to an official state- carrying at least 20 airstrikes be- rorists. ing takeover target. Afghanistan’s loans since the scandal. US inves- a bank account, so there’s plenty barghan city, the provincial cap- ment, the operations are being con- tween late January and early Feb- Ready to bid? That’s what finance industry is tiny — its 15 tigators say it has lost $65 million of room to expand. And the bank ital of Jawzjan province. ducted jointly by the Afghan army, ruary. Ashraf Ghani, president of Af- banks have just $632 million in over the past six years, though Aqa has profitable contracts to trans- The prisoner was identified ghanistan, is hoping. He’s seek- outstanding loans. The US has halt- says the annual losses have been fer pay to government workers as Mohammad Nader who was ing a buyer for Kabul Bank, once ed its troop withdrawal because reduced to $500,000. A suicide electronically. “While it was total- serving in the jail for having links the country’s largest. The gov- of escalating Taliban attacks, and bomber targeting customers out- ly a criminal operation, as far as with the Taliban group, Gen. Dil ernment took it over in 2010 af- economic growth has stalled. But side a branch in Jalalabad killed 35 the owners were concerned, it Agha Adil, head of Sar-e-Pul jail ter its owners were accused of Mohammad Aqa Kohistani, direc- last year, and five militants raided nonetheless had the best banking told RFE/Radio Liberty. embezzling $825 million tor general of Afghanistan’s Trea- another location in Kandahar in infrastructure of any bank in Af- He said the prisoner was (Dh3.02 billion) using fake sury Department, said he has re- 2014, killing at least 10. ghanistan,” said Warren Coats, a looking to use the opportunity loans. The privatization is a test ceived four expressions of interest On the bright side, Kabul Bank now-retired economist sent by the on Thursday morning which is for Ghani, who wants to show since starting the sales process in will be delivered free from any International Monetary Fund to normally the visiting day for the the foreign donors who provide October, including three from for- fraudulent loans or other debts. It advise the central bank on the cri- relatives of the prisones. most of his budget that he’s com- eign firms. He wouldn’t identify has $330 million in deposits, and sis in 2010. See P2

India provides assistance to Jalalabad bombing victims’ families WASHINGTON: Pakistani offi- However, Mr Aziz did not KABUL: Indian has decided to tack. cials publicly highlighted their in- actually say that Pakistan had provide assistance to the families Kunduzi said fluence on the Afghan Taliban lead- provided “a safe haven” to Af- of recent suicide bombing victims considered Indian ership in the US capital this week, ghan Taliban leaders, as reported that took place near the Indian dip- one of their close underlining the importance of their in a section of the media. lomatic mission in Jalalabad, the friend and there country’s role in promoting the At Tuesday’s event, it was capital of eastern Nangrahar prov- was close rela- Afghan reconciliation process. Bob Hathaway, a Pakistan schol- ince. tions between the Yet, Adviser on Foreign Affairs ar at the Woodrow Wilson Cen- The view was expressed by people of both Sartaj Aziz, who led a Pakistani tre, who raised this issue, asking the Indian Envoy Manpreet Vohra countries. delegation at the US-Pakistan stra- Mr Aziz: “Can you give us a during a meeting with Nangrahar During the tegic dialogue in Washington this sense of the extent to which your Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi, a meeting the gov- week, surprised many by this government is able to encourage statement from the governor house ernor offered public acknowledgment of a pres- or even pressure various Taliban said on Friday. more secure place ence that Islamabad has been de- groups to negotiate in good faith, Vohra convoyed his condo- for the Indian nying for years. and to abide by their promises?” lences to the victims’ families and diplomatic mis- A transcript of his talk at the Mr Hathaway also asked Mr pledged to provide assistance to sion in Jalalabad US Council on Foreign Relations, Aziz to explain the tools or the them. which the Indian Washington, which was made avail- sources of Pakistan’s influence The Indian envoy thanked the envoy welcome able to Dawn on Thursday, con- on the Taliban. Mr Aziz began governor and top security officials and said they firms media reports of this ac- by pointing out that the Taliban, for the quick action to rescue the would consider knowledgement. See P2 diplomatic mission during the at- the offer. 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. SATURDAY. MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

By Taran N. Khan Part III Yet these are also the objects buried. to assess the damage, he ended up that remind the forgetful world, and The site was being excavated being thrown in jail by the Tali- Afghans themselves, of what they and preparing for burial at the same ban. Besides trying to take pic- used to be, of the confluence of time, a place that could easily van- tures, he told me, his crime was ideas and civilizations that formed ish under a city that circled it hun- that he had worn white socks, their khak, their ancestry. When I grily. which was deemed an insult to the asked Zafar why he works so hard This sense of resignation has white Taliban flag. to excavate and preserve the mate- certainly rubbed off on Zafar. Even We reached the highest room rial remains of Afghanistan’s his- as he talked of his plans and hopes in the monastery. This chamber tory, he replied flippantly, “Be- for the site of Tepe Naranj, there was circular, with a ledge running cause I am in love with Buddhism, was a constant undercurrent of re- around one wall. In the center was and archaeology.” If so, it is a ality, persistent caveats and nods a furnace that may have been used fraught romance, as the country’s to the fact that it may all come to for rites. As Zafar conducted an past has been erased over years of nothing, once again. Listening to argument in absentia with various war, and now, over an uncertain, him, I wondered how he’s achieved western archaeologists about the uneven peace. Zafar has learned to this kind of calm detachment in his function of the room, (“And so I be like the patient lover of a vola- work. Perhaps it is the outcome of will tell them, whether they like it tile partner. He cherishes what he hanging out with the serene faces or don’t like it”), I sat on the ledge, has, without asking how long it will and delicately curved hands that taking in the sunlit airiness, and stay. populate his sites. Or merely years the faint etchings of leaves on the It is often assumed that the of dealing with government bureau- walls. This could have been where Taliban years represented the cracies and red tape across Europe, the elite and the powerful met to worst period of Afghanistan’s his- Afghanistan, and South Asia. We make important decisions related tory, socially and culturally. But talked about a site he had worked to war, or the economy, or reli- for Zafar, the darkest period of on years ago, and a colleague re- gious matters, or for prayers. And Afghan archaeology was during the marked that the entire area had perhaps, added Zafar, the furnace long years of war, when different been destroyed and closed down. set here also served as a sign, a factions of Afghan mujahideen bat- Zafar barely skipped a beat. “It’s beacon. I thought of dark nights tled first the government and So- gone?” he asked. “Very good, my during long Afghan winters, with viet forces, and then each other. troubles are over.” monks lost in prayers and farmers From the late 1970s through the Outside in the bright sunshine, readying their families for bed, and ’90s, the country’s material heri- the wind threw up the sounds of the sight of a blaze on the Orange tage was pounded to dust. A tank prayers, and announcements made Hill. battle between the Soviets and on loudspeakers spread across the Around us, workmen rushed Afghan forces destroyed a large valley. “Funerals,” said Zafar la- against a ticking clock to finish part of Hadda’s Buddhist sites, and conically. “There are 15 a day. Who completing the protective walls different factions of Afghan mili- has the time?” As we spoke I saw around this room. They used pails tias reportedly fired at Kushan people pass by, schoolgirls going made of discarded rubber tires, and minarets for target practice. Even home, a neighbor calling out cheery daubed the walls with mud. We the antiquities that had been salaams on his way down the hill. walked back down the hill to the brought to the National Museum The archaeological site was prac- tent where there were bolanis and were not safe. As the once-distant tically the only empty spot on the a fiery green chutney ready for us. war moved closer to Kabul, the hill, a tiny oasis amid booming con- Some of Zafar’s friends passed museum building, located on the struction. Years earlier, Zafar’s through to say hello, friends he had outskirts of the city, became vul- team had installed a wire fence stayed in touch with through the nerable. In late 1989, the most im- around the perimeter of the site, war and during the Taliban years. portant objects in the collection— along with the walls and roofs over One of them shared stories about including the Bactrian Hoard, of the statues, in part to protect the a prominent archaeologist who has more than 20,000 pieces of gold, relics from the elements. They a reputation for getting drunk and silver, and ivory—were moved on were also intended to keep out sentimental with recovered arti- the orders of President Najibullah people looking to salvage construc- facts. “Thank you o Buddha,” he The 6th round of ski competi- was also attended by cultural ac- for the residents of Bamyan. built. to secret locations in the city. Re- tion materials, neighbors tempted said in Dari, mimicking the man’s tion, Afghan Ski Challenge, was in- tivists and high level government He admitted that the ongoing The organizers of the event markably, those entrusted with to build their new homes using the inebriated slurring. “Without you, augurated in central Bamyan prov- officials. violence in the country is a major include Kabir Dadras, head of the this information managed to main- ancient stones of buried structures, how would I feed my family?” ince of Afghanistan on Thursday Provincial governor Moham- obstacle to organize big sporting provincial information and culture tain a discreet silence over the years as so many in the Shuhada ceme- Over the laughter, I asked Za- evening. mad Tahir Zahir said Bamyan events but said he remains hope- directorate, Hina Dankan, repre- of war, until the collection emerged tery had done. far once again why he had chosen Athletes from Afghanistan and province is an appropriate place ful that the situation remains sta- sentative of the Aga Khan Foun- from a vault in the Presidential But as the air hummed with to become an archeologist. He abroad will participate in the con- to organize ski competitions, con- ble in Bamyan so that such events dation, and Mr. Christophe. test with local officials saying the sidering the geography and climate can be organized in the future. Palace in 2003, untouched. the sound of mixers and the slap- muttered under his breath, his sporting events will help Bamyan of the province. The provincial governor also Theatre shows, musical The National Museum itself slap of mud on bricks, even as the words nearly lost in the babble of to attract more tourists that could Zahir hailed the civil and cul- called on technical and expert ski shows, and exhibition of Bamyan was left with the pieces that were dig wound down to its last few talk around us. “Because this,” he play a key role in expanding the tural activists for encouraging and teams participating in the event to four seasons film were also part of too heavy to move. Over the years hours, the slender wire fences eventually told me, gesturing en- economy. supporting the ski competitions identify a specific place where the the inauguration of the 6th Ski of factional violence that followed around the site seemed at best a ergetically at the earth, the sky, the The inauguration ceremony and called it a major achievement ski resort could be permanently Challenge in Bamyan. from 1991 until the Taliban’s cap- tenuous promise. The site was stupas and temples on the hill. “All ture of Kabul in 1996, the site of being excavated and preparing for this was Afghanistan also.” He the building was shelled and rock- burial at the same time, a place that paused and continued more calm- Religion shouldn’t eted repeatedly. This was a time could easily vanish under a city ly. “Because the Buddha was ours be used as a Afghanistan asks Pakistan for when each hill, each street of the that circled it hungrily. also.” city, was virtually a sovereign ter- It does not always take zeal- * * * political tool: Karzai ritory, held by groups who fought ots with ammunition and rocket I was reminded of Tepe Naranj change in ‘destructive’ . . . over the inches brutally and indis- launchers to erase these spaces. At as I watched the news of the de- From P1 From P1 criminately. The building was loot- Tepe Naranj, I saw that it is possi- struction of the ancient city of of religion. And post 9/11 attacks launched by Islamabad-based Cen- efforts. “Pakistan has the leverage of the Doha office. ed several times, emptied of its ble to do so simply by looking Nimrud in Iraq, vandalized by the in the US, the situation worsened,” ter for Research and Security Stud- and influence with Taliban leaders, Karzai agreed that Pakistan’s world famous collections, its in- away. forces of the Islamic State, and he said. Highlighting the need for ies (CRSS) - in partnership with which we expect it to use,” he said, image in Afghanistan is negative ventories and documents burnt. Zafar’s problems are not again when they captured Palmyra India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to its Afghan counterpart organiza- adding, “We also expect that the but argued it had a history and “we Photographs from the time show unique. Unauthorized excavations in Syria. I thought of it also when come together for mutual progress, tion, DURAN Research and Anal- leverage needs to be used against should all try to address the caus- the corridors buried under a mass and theft, often by a collaboration IS claimed to have made inroads Mr Karzai said, “I proudly say ysis (DRA), Khalil Karzai said: all those elements who the QCG es for this”. “Changing these per- that I am a Muslim, but religion of rubble, sunlight pouring in from of thieves and warlords, mean that into Afghanistan, and when the “No amount of funding, dams or members feel are not amenable to ceptions is therefore going to be a the ruined ceiling. many priceless pieces of Afghani- Taliban wrested control over the should be treated just as a religion hospitals will help the bilateral re- peace in Afghanistan.” difficult and complicated process, and not as a political tool as that The museum was reopened stan’s history have ended up on northern city of Kunduz. In pho- lationship as much a perceptible Remarks of Khalil Karzai came which we will need to tackle slow- with great fanfare and pomp by the international black market for tographs of the city before it fell would cause immense damage. change in the policies that have a few hours after Pakistan’s Ad- ly and gradually,” Karzai said when “People of Pakistan also want the Taliban government in August antiques. Along with narcotics and to the insurgents, its streets ap- peace and that is why Pakistan harmed Pakistan as much as Af- viser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz asked as to whether the govern- ghanistan and we need to collec- publicly admitted that the Afghan ment was undertaking any efforts 2000. This followed Taliban lead- weapons, it is reportedly one of pear as empty as ruins. must take this initiative to come er Mullah Omar’s decree that his the most lucrative illegal markets Over this time, I learned closer to India and Afghanistan. tively fight the consequences of Taliban’s leadership enjoys a safe to help improve the narrative on This will not only bring peace and those policies.” haven inside his country. Pakistan in the Afghan media. It government would protect all his- in the country. But on the day I through a mutual friend that Zafar progress to all the three nations While pointing out to Paki- In his recent visit to Washing- will also depend on how and torical relics and stop their smug- met Zafar, that final day of work had returned to the monastery at but also strengthen economic ties stan’s role in the Quadrilateral ton, Sartaj Aziz said: “We have whether Pakistan delivers on the gling out of the country. Speeches at Tepe Naranj, the reason behind Tepe Naranj to protect it as best with rest of the central Asia,” he Coordination Group (QCG), the some influence on them because commitments it has made to peace were made, and the museum was the site’s closing was more prosa- he could against the winter. And said. Praising India’s support to deputy minister said, their leadership is in Pakistan and and counter-terrorism in Afghani- opened for four days. But in early ic. Zafar’s grants had been exhaust- he had come back again after that, Afghanistan’s reconstruction and “For us state-to-state rela- they get some medical facilities, stan in the weeks and months to 2001, Mullah Omar reversed his ed, and despite his efforts at fund- with a small grant to excavate an- rehabilitation, Mr Karzai said, “In- tions are the most important as their families are here…So we can come, the minister said. decision. The Taliban destroyed raising, he had been unable to find other site nearby. This work, dia is our greatest ally. India has long as they are based on respect use those levers to pressurize “We need action against all provided scholarship to around major pieces in the National Mu- willing donors. He simply didn’t though brief, had revealed promis- for our sovereignty and commit- them to say: ‘Come to the table’.” non-state actors who help each seum, and unleashed tanks and ar- have the money to continue. es of even richer finds, an even 60,000 of our students in last 14 ment to fight all those elements that Dawn adds: Karzai, who is other. Only then will we be able to years. They have also helped us in tillery at the Bamiyan Buddhas. There was an edge of absurdi- wider sweep of potential discov- opening various universities, col- are killing our innocent people.” Afghanistan’s chief negotiator in convince our people and neutral- There are several versions of the ty to this, given the mega-budgets eries. But that money had also run leges in our country. The bond be- As the QCG’s fifth meeting is the peace talks that had first be- ize those opposed to the peace reason behind this sudden shift. In that have marked the international out, and Zafar was now trying to tween us has strengthened with expected soon, the minister fur- gun in July 2015, also declared the efforts,” Karzai said, adding it is thered that the meeting was offer- Taliban Doha office as the legiti- therefore important to deal with an interview in 2004, Omar told a community’s engagement with raise funds to turn the entire place time.” Mr Karzai said both India journalist that this reversal was Afghanistan. For all the attention into his dream open-air museum. and Afghanistan have suffered due ing an opportunity to tell the new mate interlocutor and said the gov- the cause and not symptoms. “Fix to terrorism and have only emerged Afghan generation that Islamabad ernment was comfortable with all the sanctuaries wherever they are,” prompted by “foreigners” who to similar archaeological sites, and He was still hopeful, our friend stronger.—(PTI) is playing vital role in the peace those Taliban groups that were part he emphasized. wanted to repair the damaged stat- for all his experience and relevance, wrote. He was still trying. ues, rather than provide for the the constellation of agendas and On our way down from the thousands of Afghans who were donor goals that shaped his coun- summit at Tepe Naranj on that Pakistan underlines its influence on Afghan Taliban Govt seeks buyer for Kabul Bank dying of hunger. “That is why I try after 2001 have reduced Zafar spring day in 2013, Zafar had From P1 ordered its destruction,” he had to a lonely, isolated figure, fighting stopped me at a small covered en- even “in the best of times,” did threatened them that if you do not From P1 said. “Had they come for humani- against the odds to preserve his closure. Our companions were a not listen to Pakistan always, come forward and talk,” he said. That may not be saying much. On a recent morning, a branch in Kabul’s tarian work, I would have never finds. Now, I think of him when I little behind us, and their laughter whether it was the Bamiyan stat- “(We) then obviously (said) we Baharistan neighborhood was guarded by five men in military uniforms ordered the Buddhas’ destruction.” see pictures of the empty hollows and voices floated down to us in ues or many other things. will at least expel you, or give you armed with AK-47 assault rifles. Some of the dust-covered computers That same winter, as the coun- in Bamiyan, or when I see images snatches. Zafar had leaned into the “They would listen to us when the chance to go wherever you weren’t working. A customer trying to make a withdrawal waited for an it suited them, otherwise they did want to, because we have hosted hour and then was turned away. try reeled from the impact of a se- of flattened earth elsewhere, where enclosure, lifted the plastic sheets not,” he said while explaining that you enough for 35 years. We can’t “I keep hearing about their system failures,” said the customer, vere drought, the Taliban had un- there were once pillars and tem- and gestured at me to look inside. the government in Kabul was do any more. Now the whole Atiqullah Wali. “It’s better to keep our cash inside our pillows like dertaken a massacre of the Shia ples. Embedded in their barrenness, Underneath the protective cover- equally powerless in this matter. world is blaming us just for your before.” When the Taliban was driven out of Kabul in 2001, they left the Hazara minority in Yakawlang dis- I realize, is the fact that it does not ing were a pair of massive feet, the “And now, we have some in- presence here.” Mr Aziz added: financial system in disarray, fleeing with all but $30,000 of the central trict, Bamiyan province. A brutal always take zealots with ammuni- remnants of a standing Buddha, fluence on them because their lead- “So that is the kind of leverage we bank’s cash. Into the void stepped Sherkhan Farnood, who was wanted ership is in Pakistan, and they get have to bring them to the table. by Russian authorities for allegedly running an illegal money-transfer purge of the past and the present, tion and rocket launchers to erase facing east. From the size of the some medical facilities, their fami- But to pressurize them, to negoti- business. He founded Kabul Bank in 2004 and hired Khalil Ferozi as justified by the notion of purity. these spaces. At Tepe Naranj, I pedestal and the feet, it was clear lies are here,” he said, marking the ate, will depend on the parties, chief executive officer. The banking industry boomed as foreign aid By late 2001, the US-led coa- saw that it is possible to do so that the figure would have been first time that Pakistan publicly which are actually negotiating.” poured into Afghanistan, with assets expanding by more than 50 per lition had routed the Taliban out simply by looking away. huge, visible from a great distance. acknowledged the presence of Af- Pakistan, he said, had a limited role. cent a year. Kabul Bank’s deposits soared to $1 billion by 2009 after it of Kabul. Aid poured in to help At the same time, this particular ghan Taliban leaders on its soil. “We can advise the Afghan gov- introduced a new kind of account that gave customers a chance to win a “So we can use those levers to ernment, if they want our advice, weekly lottery, according to the bank’s annual reports. Farnood amassed reconstruct the country, elections As we walked up to the last statue seemed oddly positioned, pressurize them to say: Come to on what might be acceptable and property and competed in high-stakes poker tournaments in Europe. were held and a new government stage of the complex, close to the set aside from the others, almost the table,” he added. so on and so forth, but in this task The scheme unraveled in 2010, when the central bank learnt of the took charge. The museum building summit of the hill, Zafar spoke of aloof. Zafar remained looking at But Mr Aziz warned that Pa- I think, and according to the road- fraud, ordered Farnood and Ferozi to resign and guaranteed the bank’s was repaired and reopened some- his dreams for the site if he ever the statue after I moved away. kistan could not negotiate on be- map, all three of us have to share deposits to stop a run. An investigation by an independent anticorrup- what hastily in 2004. Over the fol- got the money to return to Tepe They stood side by side for a bit, half of the Afghan government be- that advice — US, Pakistan, and tion committee commissioned by the Afghan government found that the cause “we can’t offer them what China — so that we collectively executives had stolen an amount equivalent to about one-twelfth of the lowing years its remaining collec- Naranj. “I would convert this en- the Buddha and his unlikely disci- Afghan government can offer decide what is best.” Mr Aziz ex- country’s GDP, mainly by giving loans to themselves and their friends tions were inventoried, repaired tire area into an open-air museum, ple, marooned on their scrubby them”. He explained that it was plained that the reconciliation pro- that didn’t have to be repaid. One of the alleged beneficiaries was Mah- and exhibited, even as the city with the monastery complex re- Kabul hillside. In that moment, not just Pakistan which was try- cess was still at an early stage. “I mood Karzai, brother of then-President Hamid Karzai, who wasn’t moved from the early buoyancy stored so Afghans can come and they both appeared to me as relics ing to persuade the Taliban to join don’t think we in the stage where charged and said he did nothing wrong. Farnood and Ferozi were sen- of optimism to the reality of esca- see this side of their heritage.” As of a vanished past, remains of a the reconciliation process. actual negotiation strategy, et cet- tenced to 15 years in prison, though they were later spotted at restau- “Actually, Pakistan, the US, era. Right now the idea is to bring rants around Kabul. Drago Kos, a member of the anticorruption com- lating conflict. And now, as the a clever touch, he proposed to build certain way of being. Like the land and China are committed on the them to the table,” he said. Mr mittee, said he resigned in protest in November, after Ferozi was intro- capital faces frequent attacks from restaurants at the top and bottom they’re tied to, caught in a cycle of roadmap to persuade them to come Aziz noted that Pakistan’s posi- duced as an investor at the official unveiling of a $900 million “Smart a resurgent Taliban, shrinking for- of the hill. “This way, we take their birth and brittle rebirth, hope and together. But then it is for the Af- tive role in the reconciliation pro- City Township” project. “There were expectations that the new gov- eign funds as well as a rise in crime, money at both places, when they uncertainty, a wheel that keeps on ghan Taliban and the Afghan gov- cess has been appreciated by the ernment would do something against corruption, but after one year the museum workers and the rich- are thirsty from climbing up, and turning, without the luxury of an ernment to negotiate whatever out- United States and other countries, almost nothing has happened,” Kos said in a telephone interview. come they aim at,” he said. who acknowledged that “(we) are Basic Azizi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s attorney general, said es of Afghanistan’s history once then again when they are parched end. Mr Aziz then turned to the being very sincere and very posi- the culprits are in jail now and the government is making progress again face a hazardous future. In from walking down,” he said, smil- Taran N. Khan is a journalist second part of the question, ex- tive”. He said the reconciliation collecting the missing money. Ferozi didn’t respond to a Facebook this recurring story of hope and ing. The museum is an idea drawn based in Mumbai. She has been plaining the tools Pakistan had to process would only work if all message and lawyers for the two men couldn’t be reached for comment. disappointment lies the key to from Tepe Shotor at Hadda, which traveling to Afghanistan since influence the Taliban. parties were serious. “If you are The Karzai government said from the start that it wanted to sell the understanding the wry feeling, bare- was preserved for a time as an in- 2006. She is working on her first “Before the 7th July (recon- not serious about reconciliation, bank. The government took out an ad in the Economist in 2012 and ciliation) meeting (in Murree) last then Taliban won’t come,” he add- organized an event in the United Arab Emirates, according to Aqa at the ly articulated but often present situ museum for tourists. The site book, a collection of nonfiction year, we had to use some of these ed, noting that last week Afghan Treasury Department. Among those who expressed interest were Eh- among those who work with Af- was looted over the years of the essays on Kabul, from which this levers and restricted their move- President Ashraf Ghani issued an san Bayat, who owns Afghanistan’s first mobile-phone network, and ghanistan’s past. That the safest civil war, its pieces destroyed or piece is excerpted. ments, restricted their access to open invitation to the Taliban to Canadian banker Stan Bharti. Neither wants to buy it now, their spokes- way to preserve the country’s ar- smuggled. When Zafar himself hospital and other facilities, and come to the table.—(Dawn) men said. (Bloombert) chaeological heritage is to leave it went to Tepe Shotor in early 2001 Concluded 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. SATURDAY. MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

‘A real prince would help us’: Afghan interpreters seeking asylum in UK appeal to Prince Harry While parts of the notorious ‘Jungle’ camp in France’s Calais are being bulldozed, some asylum seekers are not giving up hopes of getting to the UK. Some have even appealed to the British royals, saying they’ve risked their lives for the country. close to the British border, told RT. Two former Afghan interpret- They've sent him a message, they ers for the British army who have said: “If he’s a real prince, he now settled in a legal container should help us.” park in the French port have told The men told RT how they and RT they still deserve a better life their families were getting death and an official asylum in the UK, threats because of their work for The good news in Afghanistan is having served the monarchy well. foreign forces, which prompted that for the first time since 2009, The men, whose identities RT them to apply to come to the UK. They used an official visa scheme the area estimated by the United can’t reveal, have assisted British troops in Afghanistan for years, for former interpreters, hoping EMERGENCY Nations Office on Drugs and Crime their case is rock solid: years of (UNODC) to be used in illicit opi- not only helping with the language CALLS barrier, but also providing intelli- service and proof to back up their um poppy cultivation has de- claims. creased. gence services, having risked their lives. But neither of them received a Police But of course, it’s not that reply. simple. “I worked from 2009 to 2013, for more than three years we were “They don't care about us,” 100 - 119 As noted in a report released the men told RT, showing the re- Wednesday by the UN Interna- translating... Before an enemy was doing an action we were informing porter a British certificate of com- tional Narcotics Control Board mendation that stated that the men (INCB), despite the fact that the them [the British army] what they Hospitals [Taliban fighters] were up to, what worked as specialist interpreters area estimated to be used for opi- they were going to do next. We within regional command. um poppy has decreased from FMIC Hospital helped [the army] a lot, we should The two also happen to know Behind Kabul Medical 224,000 hectares in 2014 to be on priority, because we saved another former Afghan interpreter 183,000 hectares in 2015, “the lev- many lives for British forces,” one – Khushal, also known as “Hap- University: el of illicit opium cultivation in of the men told RT's Polly Boiko. py.” He spent almost a year try- 0202500200-+93793275595 Afghanistan continues to be high “I put my life at risk for them,” ing to reach the UK through the in absolute terms.” Even though another man added, saying that al- Middle East, the Mediterranean estimated potential opium produc- though he was an interpreter, he and Europe, and also met with RT Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital tion fell 48 percent in comparison was also involved in “many oper- at the Calais camp. Pule Bagh-e- Umomi to last year’s estimates, it still rests ations.” While Khushal might finally at 3,330 metric tons (or 7.3 mil- The two men claim they even have found a happy refuge in the 070263672 lion pounds). have a “friend” in the royal family. UK, there are hundreds of others Both the INCB report released They are counting on help from like him and the two Afghan men this week and the UNODC annual Prince Harry, third in line to the now stuck in Calais. About 600 Khairkhana Hospital report on Afghanistan’s poppy British throne, who has served in civilian workers, who cooperated 0799-321007 with the British military in Afghan- problem released in December are the Middle Eastern country – to- 2401352 sober in assessing what these de- gether with them, they say. istan, could seek protection and creases do and don’t say about the “Prince Harry was living with apply for a special immigration overall issue in Afghanistan. From us, he was in the same camp, sit- scheme to get asylum in Britain, the INCB report: ting at a table next to us,” the men because the Taliban has threatened Indira Gandhi Children Although this development is from Afghanistan now stuck so their lives. Hospital, Wazir Akbar potentially significant for the drug control situation in the region, the Khan, Kabul 2301372 reasons behind it are complex: a water shortage during the report- Ibn-e- Seena ing period affected the opium yield; Government-led eradication Pul-e-Artan, Kabul efforts increased in the past years; and the estimation methodology 2100359 has been improved, which makes comparison less straightforward. Wazir Akbar Khan In the UNODC’s annual Af- ghanistan Opium Survey 2015, the Hospital authors stress that “Caution is 2301741, 2301743 needed when interpreting these results: between 2014 and 2015, the availability of improved tech- Ali Abad nology led to a major improvement Shahrara, Kabul in the methodology used to esti- mate area under poppy cultiva- 2100439 tion.” The note of caution contin- ues on to highlight that further re- search confirms the directionality Malalai Maternity (the decrease), but the extent of Hospital the change may still appear great- er than it actually was. 2201377/ 2301743 While eradication measures Shamsia Hassani, a painter who ‘Birds of No Nation,’ ” Hassani for art — at home, in indoor spac- seem to remain a core strategy, teaches at Kabul University, is also said over afternoon tea in West- es and in the streets. Banks they are clearly not a sustainable a graffiti artist who ventures into wood. “People in my country are How dangerous is it for a and they are not complete. Then, ing graffiti because I felt some one. The number of poppy-free the streets of Afghanistan to cre- all the time traveling somewhere woman to paint outdoors, in pub- usually people take it off the walls kind of responsibility to share it Da Afghanistan Bank provinces fell in 2015, with the ate murals. Using the walls of aban- to stay safe and find a peaceful lic, in Kabul? or paint over it. If I paint indoors, with everybody. reappearance of the crop in Balkh. doned buildings damaged from life. And we are missing a lot of Now, the situation is not good. I can take my time and paint more. I conceived and organized 2100302, 2100303 The INCB recommended that the bombs as her canvases, Hassani our friends and family who have It’s very dangerous. There are How have you incorporated this, and [the Netherlands- Afghan government pursue not just paints murals that often depict left the country. Usually, birds are bombings all the time; everywhere graffiti elements into your studio based] Prince Claus Fund helped Bakhtar Bank eradication, but “strengthen its ef- women in traditional clothing joy- traveling all the time; they have no something might happen. Another works? with the budget. Mostly, the forts to address widespread drug fully posing with musical instru- nation. And I thought maybe also thing is closed-minded people who Well, I make my paintings young generation came. It went 0776777000 abuse,” and also noted “the funda- ments. Part of her mission, she we have no nation because every- don’t like art and think it’s not a very, very fast because that’s what on for 10 days. Azizi Bank mental role played by alternative says, is to beautify the city with body has moved to different coun- good thing — specifically if girls I’m used to in the street. My work We did workshops, and at development initiatives in curbing color amid the darkness of war. tries. It doesn’t matter what coun- do art — and they are very sensi- is more mural art with elements of the end, we had an exhibition of 0799 700900 opium poppy cultivation and pro- Hassani, 28, met Hammer try that is; the thing that’s impor- tive. graffiti. I use spray. And I use an the work. We did some [murals] Pashtany Bank viding farmers with legitimate Museum curator Ali Subotnick tant is just feeling safe, staying In Afghanistan, when I do acrylic brush and some stenciling. outdoors as well, but not a lot means for supporting themselves during a visit to Los Angeles in alive. Art — I can tell that story.” street art, all the time I’m scared There’s lots of text in my own al- because the situation was not 2102908, 2103868 2014, and shortly after, Subotnick Here is our conversation with because of the bad situation, be- and their families.” phabet, Dari language. I write things very good and I was scared some- traveled to Afghanistan for the the artist: cause of facing closed-minded peo- Crop substitution is one solu- like: “The birds of no nation have thing would happen to the art- museum’s Afghan Carpet Project. As a young woman in Kabul, ple who might harass me. If I was no voice for singing,” different ists. But we did one big wall Air Services tion that achieved some degree of Impressed by Hassani’s work and how did you ever get into graffiti a boy, maybe I’d be more OK with success–though only when sup- phrases. They are all captive. They outside and some on the roof [of courage, Subotnick invited the art- and street art in the first place? painting in the street. Because no have no voice for singing; they are Berangs building] and then a lot Safi Airways ported by funding. Opium culti- ist to a two-month residency at I started doing street art in a one would tell me anything if I was with no nation. of works on canvases inside as vation previously fell between the Hammer, which Hassani is cur- workshop in Kabul in December a boy. But because I’m a girl, even Were you always an artist well. 020 22 22 222 2007 and 2010 before rising again. rently completing. 2010. Combat Communications if I don’t do art, if I just walk in growing up — and was that en- Whats it like for you to paint In the 2015 UNODC survey, the “She’s incredibly inspiring,” [an arts advocacy group] organized the street, I will hear a lot of couraged? here in Los Angeles? Ariana authors point out that an “alterna- Subotnick said. “The fact that the workshop to introduce graffiti words. And if I do art, then they I was born in Iran with my I feel good; I feel safe. When tive livelihood program” in Hel- she’s a woman going into the art to Afghan artists. will come to harass me. Afghan nationality. As I remem- I travel somewhere, people think 020-2100270 mand seems to be having a lasting streets to paint, where it’s danger- Before that, I had no idea. Af- Where, then — and under what ber, all the time I tried to do art. I Im so happy that Im in a coun- effect of sorts. In the area of the ous just to walk alone outdoors in ter the workshop, I got the idea conditions — do you paint your always had my sketchbook. My try that looks beautiful and it Kam Air “Food Zone” program, which Kabul — she’s so fierce and inde- that street art would be very good murals and graffiti art? family supports my art. But when is, but mostly Im thinking about 0799974422 stretched across ten districts in pendent and strong. She’s giving for our society because in Afghan- I have a small studio. It’s a bal- I was a kid, in Iran, I wanted to the fact that Im safe. I dont care Helmand where farmers were giv- women in Afghanistan a voice.” istan, it’s much better to introduce cony off my living room. I paint study art in school, but because of about the beauty of the city. Im en fertilizer, wheat, and other seeds During the past five weeks, art to people by putting it in the canvases and paper there. When I my nationality, they didn’t let me. just feeling safe, and thats the Hotels during the 2009-2012 poppy sea- Hassani has been painting in new- street, because we don’t have a lot find everything OK, I will go out- There were limitations for every- only thing that I want. To feel Safi Landmark sons, poppy cultivation between found freedom, in a quiet West- of good galleries and people are not side and paint. Mostly not very thing for Afghan people. safe, to be happy, and that you 2014 and 2015 fell at a greater rate wood apartment where she feels going to exhibitions. And at the public spaces, like small roads or We went back to Afghanistan can do your art and be free with than than it did outside the zone. safe. The experience has been lib- same time, I can change the view the roads of the university — when I was 16. I studied painting everything. In Afghanistan, its 020-2203131 “Opium poppy cultivation inside erating, she said. She finished a of the city by putting colors up some place I feel is more safe. The at university, and after that, I start- difficult just to walk in the street the former Food Zone decreased large mural in the West Adams and maybe covering bad memories university will sometimes give me ed teaching and I did my M.A. at night. You will not see wom- SERENA by 32 percent in 2015… and to a neighborhood in January, and her of war. Everyone else in the class permission and support me. Now I’m on the faculty of fine arts en in the street alone at night. lesser extent outside of the former new paintings on canvases are on [didn’t pursue that kind of art] af- Maybe once every six months, at Kabul University. But here, everybody can go out- 0799654000 Food Zone by 13 percent.” view at Seyhoun Gallery on Mel- ter the workshop because they I paint a very public space. Usual- Through Berang Arts, the con- side alone. For me, freedom is to Just as the ICNB’s report pref- rose Avenue. thought it was not a good thing to ly I paint on destroyed walls with temporary arts organization you be OK with the thing that you New Rumi Restaurant aces noting declines with the dis- The gallery works, like her do. I was the only person who no owner. I have to work fast. And co-founded in 2009 with other are, who you are. Here, I can claimer that the reasons behind the murals, are colorful, seemingly kept doing graffiti art at that time. those murals are not very large Afghan artists, you helped to cre- paint with a free mind. I can 0776351347 reductions are complex, a disclaim- lighthearted depictions of women Then, after maybe two years, some because it’s difficult to paint that ate the first national graffiti festi- paint any time I want and I can er is needed on proposed solutions: in Afghan clothing, with a guitar or of them came back after they saw fast. Sometimes the situation is not val in Afghanistan. Can you tell us finish it, if I want. Im just so Internet Services keyboard, surrounded by text in my work. They were inspired to very good. I can only stay about these too will be complex. Afghan- about that? thankful to the Hammer Muse- UA Telecom istan’s poppy problem isn’t just her native Dari language. They all do graffiti again. 15 or 20 minutes, and in 20 min- When I started doing graffiti, um and Ali Subotnick. The resi- economic or environmental; it’s share a childlike, if melancholic, I felt it was my main work to utes, I’m not sure I can paint some- people had no idea about it. And I dency is a very good opportuni- 0796701701 / 0796702702 tinged with politics and corruption, edge. do art for people, teaching and thing of very good quality. So usu- wanted to introduce it to people ty for me to experience a new and influenced by security. And “I call my latest body of work painting and all the time working ally, I leave my works in the street, somehow, and to just develop do- artistic life. LATIMES Exchange Rate although Afghanistan is the world’s predominant producer of Purchase: illegal opium, drugs don’t buy themselves. At the ICNB’s report Russia to turn debts payable by Afghanistan into non-refundable aid launch in Mexico City, Alejandro One US$ = The Russian government has According to Afghan Ministry 68.78Afs Mohar, a member of the board, agreed to turn a long-standing debt of Finance officials, Afghanistan commented that “In different parts owed by Afghanistan into an non- owes USD 2.5bn in loans from One Pound Sterling= of the United States there has been refundable aid. foreign countries and financial firms a resurgence in the consumption 98.50Afs The announcement was made during the past 14 years. The loans One Euro = of heroin and Afghan heroin has an by Afghan Finance Minister Eklil were taken from Iran, the Czech enormous production. They have Hakimi on Thursday following the Republic, the World Bank, the 76.78Afs more than 200 thousand hectares conclusion of the 3rd joint session Asian Development Bank and the 1000 Pak Rs = dedicated to the production of her- between Kabul and Moscow which Russian Federation and are not due 638Afs oin in Afghanistan. The northern focused on economic cooperation in 40 years. Head of the treasury area of North America, Canada, is between the two nations. department Mohammad Aqa Ko- Sale: turning into one of the areas of Minister Hakimi also wel- histani said Afghanistan obtained One US$ = greatest reception.” The report comed Russia’s commitment to USD 970mn in loans from the 68.98 Afs notes that better controls on pre- strengthening bilateral economic Russian Federation. He added that scription opioids in North Ameri- and social ties. negotiations were underway with One Pound Sterling= ca has contributed to the resurgence At the session, the two par- the Russian government and other 99.30Afs of demand for heroin, which is ties conferred on resuming activi- loan providers to forgive the loans. One Euro= available in ample supply from ties by Russian companies in var- The loans were needed to com- 77.38 Afs Afghanistan and Mexico. ious sectors in Afghanistan, main- plete some of the infrastructure thediplomat ly the housing industry. projects in the country. 1000 Pak Rs= 646Afs 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. SATURDAY. MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Bin Laden wanted to exploit Pathankot attack: Pakistan dismisses Indian threat to take over Indian allegations as unhelpful Pakistan, documents reveal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan termed on Thursday India’s latest allega- tions against Pakistan over the Pathankot airbase attack as ‘un- fortunate and unhelpful’. “Pakistan strongly con- demned the Pathankot terrorist attack and Prime Minister Nawaz called and assured his Indian coun- terpart of all-out cooperation soon after the incident,” Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria told reporters at his weekly news briefing. “Pakistan took all necessary measures on the basis of prelimi- nary information provided by In- dia regarding the attack,” he said, adding that a joint investigation team (JIT) had been formed and modalities were being worked out for its visit to India. The late al Qaeda chief Osama bin Siachen were indicative of the plan. “Cooperation and understand- Laden wanted militants to wage a Other steps India had taken ing is the need of the hour. Blame ‘holy war’ in Pakistan, destabilise included nuclear cooperation with games are unfortunate and unhelp- its military and take control of the US, launch of an Israeli satellite to ful,” the spokesman stressed. region, a new booklet has revealed. spy on Islamabad, increasing its Zakaria’s reaction came in re- The alleged 42-page booklet force size by a million and alloca- sponse to a statement by India’s “Jihad in Pakistan” was declassi- tion of $40 billion to purchase new defence minister earlier this week fied by US intelligence agencies on weaponry, Bin Laden claimed. in which he accused Pakistan’s March 1. “These giant steps predict an authorities of being complicit in the According to the booklet, Bin incoming storm. India has focused Pathankot attack. Laden predicted India was plan- its attention on Pakistan’s internal New Delhi had previously ac- ning to carryout a decisive attack situation,” the booklet said. cused Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mo- on Pakistan [after the 2008 Mum- Unfolding his strategy of tak- hammad (JeM) of masterminding bai attacks], suggesting his follow- ing over Islamabad, the ex-al Qae- the attack which left seven Indian ers to seize the opportunity. da chief told his followers to de- security officials and one civilian The former global terror king- vise a strategy to control parts of dead and avoided pointing fingers pin said dividing the nuclear-armed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and at Pakistan or its institutions. But nation into five to six regions was Balochistan provinces to weaken India’s defence minister told the a larger part of the United States’ the government. country’s parliament on Tuesday plan and Indian forces would in- “We have to launch raids that the deadly assault could not dependently or with assistance against Pakistani Army deployed have been carried out without from the US carryout the attack. on the Indian border. The border ‘state support’. of talks between Islamabad and Pathankot attack would take pri- er, the talks will take place after ter the Himachal Pradesh chief While he pointed out India was armies will not come to the rescue Asked to comment on New New Delhi was linked to progress ority over talks with Pakistan. “In the visit of Pakistani investigators minister refused to provide secu- purchasing 134 fighter aircraft, of armies in K-P and Balochistan, Delhi’s move to link the planned in the investigation. “I would not the aftermath of a terror attack, if to India, which is expected some- rity to its cricket squad, Zakria said which “will be largest military deal and will focus their efforts on foreign secretaries’ meeting with say that,” was Gautam Bam- you ask me what we give priority time later this month. Press Trust the team will visit India. “Pakistan in the history of the world,” he strengthening their positions in action against the perpetrators of bawale’s reply when asked if the to, a terrorist attack or a diplomat- of India on Thursday reported that strongly believes in people-to-peo- claimed New Delhi’s participation their areas, as they are sensitive the airbase attack, Zakaria brought foreign secretary-level talks were ic dialogue, I think the answer New Delhi has asked Islamabad to ple contact. Sports afford an op- in joint naval exercises in the Ara- areas from the point of view of up the Indian high commissioner’s conditional to the outcome of the should be obvious,” he had said. inform it of the investigator’s visit portunity to that end. Pakistan’s bian sea with America, Australia, Pakistan’s war with India,” the statement that the talks were not probe being carried out by Paki- “The two sides are working on at least five days in advance. cricket team will participate in the Japan and other countries and its former al Qaeda chief is quoted in linked to the Pathankot investiga- stani authorities. the dates of the foreign secretary- Pakistan’s participation in T20 World Cup and it is the re- military training with Britain in the booklet as saying. tion. But on Wednesday, India’s level talks,” Zakria said at his week- World T20 Despite uncertainty sponsibility of the Indian govern- The high commissioner last Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said ly briefing. surrounding Pakistan’s participa- ment to provide them security,” month denied that the resumption action against the perpetrators of According to sources, howev- tion in the World T20 in India af- he told reporters. MQM to stage protests Nepal, Bangladesh reach Sri Lanka torture allegations continue as war across Karachi to mark agreement to solidarity with Altaf exchange news crimes inquiry remains distant prospect Amid a tense political situation and tion had been referred eight sepa- said. been brought before a court and among both govt ongoing allegations of torture, a rate allegations of torture since the Mr Hussein said otherwise the perpetrators of torture freely re- promised inquiry into Sri Lanka's National Unity Government of country would run the risk of a mained in the security forces. media bloody civil war appears no clos- Maithripala Sirisena took office "charismatic bigot" again whipping "There are people in the mili- er. last year. up ethnic division. tary and intelligence services who Nepal and Bangladesh have struck Sri Lanka's new government "These referrals come to us In light of the ongoing allega- know nothing but torture as a an agreement for the exchange of had vowed to convene an interna- from the NHS here in Britain, GPs, tions of torture in Sri Lanka, Mr means of getting information that news and information and mutual tionally supervised probe into psychological staff and lawyers Hussein also renewed his criticism they believe that they need," she cooperation between government atrocities, allegedly committed by who act for asylum seekers," she of Australia's policy of turning back said. media of both countries. both government forces and Tamil said. asylum seeker boats. The ABC spoke to two Tamil The decision to this effect was Tiger rebels during the decades- Other human rights groups "We've expressed our opinion refugees now living in London, who taken during the meeting between long conflict, which ended in 2009. have reported similar concerns of time and again, I've done so pub- each bore the scars of torture. Minister for Information and Com- However, with a worsening ongoing abuses. licly and privately, in meetings Neither wanted to be identi- munications Sherdhan Rai and his deficit and vocal opposition from We've expressed our opinion with senior Australian officials, fied, but both men agreed that peo- Bangladeshi counterpart Hasanul nationalists to prosecutions, the time and again, I've done so pub- we've expressed our deep regret at ple in predominantly Tamil north- Haq Inu in the Capital on Friday. coalition government indicated it licly and privately, in meetings this policy," he said. ern and eastern Sri Lanka remained During the meeting, both Rai will not be rushing to set up any with senior Australian officials, Sri Lanka's legacy of war fearful of authorities. and Inu agreed in principle to sign Calls to investigate abuse alle- "I have saved my life and come an agreement paper in the near fu- gations levelled at both sides were here but my wife and kids are back ture to exchange news and infor- always rejected by former presi- home," said one man from north- mation among Nepal’s government dent Mahinda Rajapaksa. ern Sri Lanka medias--Rastriya Samachar Sami- Widely regarded as a hero for "I'm worried that something ti (RSS), Radio Nepal and Nepal KARACHI: A day after former (RAW). ending the long civil war, he and might happen to them." Television and Bangladesh’s gov- Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal Following Kamal’s tirade supporters have been particularly Another torture victim, origi- ernment medias --Bangladesh Sang- launched a blistering attack on against the MQM supremo, the scathing of calls for foreign involve- nally from a village in Sri Lanka's bad Samiti (BSS), Bangladesh Be- Muttahida Qaumi Movement MQM leadership came out with a ment, arguing it was aimed at pun- east, said he had signed a false con- tar and Bangladesh Television. (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, the calm response to Mustafa Kamal’s ishing the country's military. fession to being a Tamil Tiger fight- As per the agreement, infor- party on Friday announced to explosive news conference on Accusations of persecution er after members of the security mation ministers of Nepal and stage protests across the metrop- Thursday, claiming the party had and torture of Tamils in the years forces burned him repeatedly. Bangladesh will direct bodies con- olis to express solidarity with its been bearing the same accusations following the war are also exten- "I don't think there has been cerned to cooperate between RSS leader. for decades. “These allegations are sive, but Sri Lanka's military, po- change, I don't think there has been and BSS in the first phase. “Protests will be staged at 18 not new. Since 1992, we have been lice and intelligence authorities have any change under the new govern- Likewise, the process to ex- different places in the city and will facing them. In every election, we always denied allegations of mis- ment," he said. change news and information begin at 4:00pm today,” party have been getting the mandate and treatment. When the UN released a re- among government media of both leaders told The Express Tribune. votes despite all these allegations. The human rights situation port last September accusing both the countries like radio and televi- “Protests will be held in Clift- The mandate alone is the defence was widely believed to be improv- sides of atrocities, and passed a sion would be initiated in the sec- on, Landhi, Korangi, Malir and of Altaf,” said MQM convenor ing under new President Maithri- fresh resolution calling for an in- ond phase. Shah Faisal areas,” the leaders add- Nadeem Nusrat while addressing inquiry. we've expressed our deep regret at pala Sirisena. ternationally supervised inquiry, During the meeting, the minis- ed. a press conference from London Meanwhile, rights groups al- this policy. Since coming to office last President Sirisena agreed. ters of both the countries pledged Kamal had on Thursday chal- at the MQM headquarters Nine- lege the abuses are continuing. United Nations High Commis- year, he has taken steps to include But since then, under increas- to direct bodies concerned to ini- lenged the ‘iron grip’ of the MQM Zero, where all the lawmakers and Freedom from Torture's direc- sioner for Human Rights Zeid more minority Tamils in the coun- ing domestic pressure, the leader tiate due process in relation to the on the city by forming a new po- office-bearers had gathered. tor of policy Sonya Sceats said a Ra'ad al Hussein try's administration and improve of the National Unity Government agreement immediately. litical party. Kamal — who won Thursday’s press conference culture of torture was "deeply en- United Nations High Commis- freedom of expression. has backed away from the com- On the occasion, Minister Rai wide support as mayor of Karachi was the first time since the depar- trenched" in Sri Lanka's security sioner for Human Rights Zeid On Sri Lanka's independence mitment to international involve- said that the government was in- from 2005 to 2010 for his efforts ture of Kamal and Anees forces. Ra'ad al Hussein told the ABC an day this February, he took the ment. terested in working in collabora- to ease traffic and improve public Qaimkhani in 2013 that the two "It has been for decades and inquiry was imperative, during a symbolic step of having the coun- Sri Lanka's budget deficit is tion with the Press Institute of services — levelled blistering crit- publicly announced their departure any assumption that a change of visit to Sri Lanka. try's national anthem sung in both worsening and the country is now Bangladesh and various universi- icism at Altaf’s ‘strong-arm tac- from the party. Later on, the government has led to a rollback in "Unless you look at your past Sinhalese and Tamil. seeking a bailout from the IMF, ties offering the course of mass tics’ and accused him of working MQM also announced cancelling torture is frankly naive," she said. and distil the right lessons from it, Ms Sceats said problems con- bringing with it the need for un- communications and journalism in for India’s premier spy agency, the the basic party membership of the Ms Sceats said her organisa- it's never going to be enough," he tinued because no-one had yet popular reforms. Bangladesh to strengthen the In- Research and Analysis Wing two men. stitute of Mass Communications to be operated in the near future and make it professional. Saying that there was the need RED CROSS HAILS INDIAN HOUSING PROGRAM IN SRI LANKA for cooperation between informa- tion commission of both Nepal and The owner-driven model, adopted any beneficiary complaining to him about falling into Bangladesh for effective implemen- in a housing programme funded by debt trap, the Secretary General, who went to the tation of rights to information, Rai the Indian government in Sri Lan- North on Wednesday as part of his three-day-long also said that the government was ka, can serve as a “source of inspi- visit to Sri Lanka, replied in the negative. “I am not ready for reaching understanding ration,” and as a case study of saying it is not possible. But, what I have come across between both the countries to this “good practices,” Elhadj As Sy, is only extremely positive message.” There were per- effect. He also said that it was also Secretary General and CEO of the sons who had stuck to what they were provided with. an important step to exchange International Federation of Red Some others had mobilised some more resources to news between both the countries Cross and Red Crescent Societies, improve their houses with “fancy tiles and nice doors.” to further strengthen political, eco- said on Thursday. On the overall, he found “proud people, dignified peo- nomic and social ties between both Answering a question wheth- ple, who show resilience and appreciation” of the pro- the countries. Likewise, he said er the model could be replicated in gramme. He added that “without the active involve- that the agreement made between other post-conflict regions, Mr. Sy ment of the people, success would not have been pos- Nepal and India during Prime Min- told The Hindu that “replication sible. Success is theirs.” ister KP Sharma Oli’s state visit is always difficult. Contexts are Take the IRC example to India recently to allow transit very different. You may not be able Asked what would be his organisation’s sugges- facility into Nepal from Bangladesh to replicate things 100 per cent. tion to the Sri Lanka government which planned the through Indian routes has also But, you can always use it [the construction of 65,000 houses, Mr. Sy replied that the paved the way for investment and owner-driven model] as a source experience of the Red Cross in building houses “speaks the expansion of business between of inspiration, as a good practice.” for itself. It has produced results. Lessons can be learnt. Nepal and Bangladesh. Similarly, (The model was used in the That body of knowledge is at the disposal of everyone stating that more than 27,000 Bang- second phase of the housing pro- including the Sri Lanka government.” ladeshi tourists visit Nepal every gramme, covering 45,000 houses Later, the Secretary General met President Maithri- year and more than 2,000 Nepali in the Northern and Eastern prov- pala Sirisena. During the meeting, the President told students go to Bangladesh to pur- inces. The International Federation him that people in the southern parts of Sri Lanka, sue medical studies on a yearly- of Red Cross in partnership with especially older persons, should cultivate the spirit of basis, Minister Inu said that Bang- Sri Lanka Red Cross is one of the reconciliation and their “mindset” had to change. The ladeshi government was interest- four implementing agencies). realisation should come from within and not out of ed in further consolidating relations ‘Extremely positive message’ any “inducement from outside,” according to a release between both the countries at pub- Asked whether he came across issued by the President’s Media Division. lic level. 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. SATURDAY. MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief Turkey ‘needs exec presidency for stability’ An executive presidential sys- tem would be more suitable for stability and reforms in Turkey, EU Council President Donald Tusk Deputy Prime Minister Meh- told “illegal economic migrants” on met Simsek said on Friday, as it Thursday not to risk their lives or would override coalition govern- money to make a perilous trip to ments. Europe “for nothing” but said uni- “An executive presidential lateral actions by European Union system is definitely more suit- states to deal with the crisis must able to avoid leaving Turkey in stop. the hands of coalitions and fall- The ultimate aim was to elim- ing behind in the race for eco- inate the sea transit of migrants nomic development,” Simsek from Turkey to Greece, Tusk said told the state-run Anadolu Agen- after meeting Turkish Prime Min- cy in an interview that was ister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara broadcast live. and Greek Prime Minister Alexis The ruling AK Party clawed Tsipras in Athens, although he said back a majority in a general elec- no specific numbers had been tion last November, a triumph agreed with the Turks. for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “It’s not about numbers, it’s whose ambition for stronger about the ongoing and permanent presidential powers rests on the process ... which means for me, AKP controlling parliament. the total reduction and the total Erdogan cast the outcome elimination of this sad phenome- as a vote for stability after non,” he told a joint news confer- months of uncertainty, but op- ence with Davutoglu in Ankara. ponents fear it will only fuel Tusk was on a trip through the hunger for power of a leader Balkan states and Turkey to try they say has grown increasing- to drum up support for cohesion ly authoritarian. on how to deal with hundreds of thousands of migrants - a crisis that threatens to tear the bloc apart Deadly gun - before an EU summit on Mon- day. Speaking earlier in Greece, attack hits which has been a primary gateway of migrants flooding into Europe Yemen care for more than a year, Tusk said anyone who was not a refugee home should stay away. “I want to appeal to all poten- At least 16 people, including Denmark to expand anti-ISIS military mission tial illegal economic migrants wher- four Indian nurses, were killed ever you are from: Do not come to when gunmen opened fire Fri- Denmark’s government will draw Europe. Do not believe the smug- up proposals to expand its mis- day at an elderly care home in glers. Do not risk your lives and Yemen’s main southern city of sion against ISIS to Syria and Iraq, your money. It is all for nothing,” including air strikes, the prime Aden, security officials said. Tusk said. Four gunmen stormed the minister’s office said on Friday. Up to 30,000 refugees and As many as 400 military per- care home in Aden’s Sheikh migrants have been stranded in Othman district, killing a guard sonal may take part in the cam- Greece from progressive border paign, it said. and shooting randomly at resi- closures further up the “Balkan dents, the officials told AFP. The statement came after pol- corridor”, the route taken to get iticians from the main political Dozens of stricken family into wealthier central and north- members arrived at the site fol- parties voiced support for the pro- ern Europe. posal in a cross-party committee lowing the attack, witnesses “At Monday’s summit, said. meeting that included the defence Greece will demand that burden and foreign ministers. Parliament One official said the attack- sharing be equitable among all coun- ers were “extremists” and is expected to vote on the propos- tries in the bloc, and sanctions for als soon. blamed the ISIS, which has been those that do not,” Prime Minis- gaining ground in Aden in re- The 400 military personnel ter Alexis Tsipras said after meet- will include pilots, soldiers on the cent months. ing Tusk. But no group claimed re- ground and support staff. “We ask that unilateral actions Denmark contributed seven F- sponsibility for the attack, the stop in Europe,” Tsipras said in a first of its kind in Yemen, where 16 in 2014 to the U.S.-led coali- view echoed by Tusk. tion’s air strikes against ISIS in Iraq the internationally-recognized Austria and countries along the government is grappling with but pulled them back for mainte- Balkans migration route have im- nance last year. The jets are ex- an Iran-backed rebellion on one posed restrictions on their borders, side and a growing jihadist pres- pected to be back in service in the limiting the numbers able to cross. coming months. ence on the other. Many of the migrants hope to President Abedrabbo Foreign Minister Kristian reach Germany. Macedonian po- Jensen called for Danish air strikes Mansour Hadi has declared lice fired tear gas to disperse hun- Aden Yemen’s temporary cap- in Syria following the multiple at- dreds of migrants who stormed the tacks in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed ital as Sanaa remains in the border from Greece on Monday. hands of the Houthi rebels and 130 people. their allies since they seized it in September 2014. Al-Qaeda and IS have Romney urges voters Jets strike east Damascus for first time since truce stepped up attacks in Aden War planes struck twice on Friday despite the efforts of the gov- to shun ‘phony’ Trump on the outskirts of Syria’s Dou- ernment and its backers in a ma, northeast of Damascus, the Saudi-led coalition battling the Former U.S. presidential candidate Trump is a phony, a fraud,” said first raids there since a cessation Houthis and their allies to se- Mitt Romney attacked 2016 Re- Romney, 68, who did not endorse of hostilities agreement went into cure it. publican front-runner Donald any candidate. effect, a monitoring group said. However, most of the ex- Trump as “a fraud” on Thursday “I would vote for Marco Ru- “Two air strikes hit the edge tremists attacks have targeted and urged primary voters to keep bio in Florida, for John Kasich in of the town of Douma in Eastern coalition forces and pro-gov- the outspoken New York billion- Ohio, and for Ted Cruz or which- Ghouta and one person was killed,” ernment Yemeni troops. aire from getting the nomination, ever one of the other two contend- said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of paving the way for possible horse ers has the best chance of beating the Syrian Observatory for Human trading at a party convention in Mr. Trump in a given state,” he Rights. North Korea July. said. Rubio is a U.S. senator from He said the strikes were con- In an unusually harsh speech, Florida and Kasich is the Ohio gov- ducted by either Syrian or Rus- ‘puts nukes party elder Romney warned that ernor. sian planes, and could not identify former reality TV star Trump By calling for targeted voting, whether the individual killed was on standby would likely lose to possible Dem- Romney was setting up the possi- a civilian or a fighter. ocratic candidate Hillary Clinton bility of a contested convention In the same day, the Syrian for firing’ in the Nov. 8 election if he becomes when Republicans gather in Cleve- Kurdish YPG group said armed the Republican nominee. land in mid-July to select their opposition groups in the Aleppo Trump’s rise has split the Re- nominee for the November elec- area had not respected a cessation North Korea’s leader Kim publican Party between main- tion to succeed Democratic Presi- Jong-un orders the country’s of hostilities agreement, accusing stream figures like Romney, and dent Barack Obama. That could them of attacking the mainly Kur- nuclear arsenal prepared for Trump supporters who complain create a pathway to deny Trump use at any time and the mili- dish Sheikh Maksoud district of the party does not reflect their the 1,237 delegates needed for Aleppo and other areas near the tary to be in "pre-emptive at- concerns about illegal immigration, nomination. tack" mode, citing growing city. the slow economic recovery and The last Republican conven- A YPG report said the factions China increases military spending to be smallest in 6 years threats from enemies. what they see as America’s dimin- tion to go beyond one ballot was The order announced on had "not abided by the ceasefire China is set to increase its defense volve a US warship coming within cept test, in this undated handout ishing role in the world. in 1948 when Thomas Dewey was and halt to hostile operations". spending by 7 to 8 percent this 12 nautical miles of islets claimed photo provided by the US Depart- Friday came a day after the That split widened when Rom- nominated. UN approved its harshest “On the contrary they re- year, the lowest rise in the coun- by China. ment of Defense. ney, the party nominee in 2012, “I think the governor is just sumed fierce attacks and random try’s military budget over the past Since October, the US Navy On February 25, Chinese For- sanctions crafted by the US urged Republican primary voters being realistic about where things against the impoverished na- bombardment, specifically of six years. has carried out two such opera- eign Minister Wang Yi said the US to vote tactically in different states stand and advocating a potential Sheikh Maksoud,” it said. Fu Ying, the spokeswoman for tions in the South China Sea. needed to address the concerns tion, marking a further escala- to back Trump’s opponents and strategy that could stop the Trump tion of tension on the Korean Opposition groups have mean- the Chinese National People’s Tensions have escalated in re- raised by China about THAAD’s block his path to the nomination. nomination,” said former Romney while accused the YPG of break- Congress, told reporters in Beijing cent months between Washington capabilities, which is designed to peninsula. “Here’s what I know. Donald spokesman Ryan Williams. The official KNCA news ing the ceasefire and launching at- on Friday that the country needs and Beijing over the disputed wa- intercept ballistic missiles inside agency said under Kim's or- tacks since it came into effect on to consider its defense needs, eco- ters. or just outside the atmosphere der, nuclear warheads must be Saturday. The opposition accuses nomic development as well as fis- The US has accused China of during their final phase of flight. “on standby so as to be fired the YPG of coordinating with cal position in drafting the 2016 militarizing the area. This is while The US says the deployment at any moment.” Damascus, a charge the YPG de- defense budget. Chinese government blames the of the missile system to the Kore- He issued the order while nies. An increase of 7 to 8 percent US military presence, its deploy- an Peninsula acts as a deterrent supervising military exercises The YPG also accused oppo- would take China’s defense spend- ment of an advanced missile sys- against North Korea’s ballistic mis- involving newly developed sition groups of breaching the ing for this year to between $154 tem, and its military drills for the sile program, but Russia and Chi- rocket launchers, the news agreement in areas north of Alep- and $155 billion compared to $144 tensions in the region. na say such a move would under- agency added. po city. “They did not abide by billion last year. Beijing has also expressed con- mine stability on the restive pen- Kim said the situation had the announced truce and contin- Ni Lexiong, a military expert cern over the possible deployment insula. China and Russia also view become very dangerous fol- ued their attacks on the city of at Shanghai's University of Politi- of an American missile system in the planned move as an attempt to lowing the adoption of the Afrin and nearby villages and all cal Science and Law told the Asso- South Korea, saying it could jeop- put their military facilities within sanctions, which came just positions that are under the con- ciated Press that the modest size ardize China’s national security. the range of US radars. days ahead of joint military trol of the People’s Protection of the increase appeared to sur- A Terminal High Altitude Area Thousands of US soldiers are drills by the US and South Units (YPG),” it said. prise many observers who had been Defense (THAAD) interceptor is stationed in South Korea and Ja- Korea. Pyongyang views the French Foreign Minister Jean- expecting another double-digit rise launched during a successful inter- pan. drills as provocative rehears- Marc Ayrault on Friday hailed in line with the military’s higher als for an invasion. “real progress” in Syria but said profile. North Korea launched Geneva peace talks cannot resume The budget is still about one- several projectiles into the sea unless the ceasefire is fully re- quarter that of the United States. about 150 kilometers (90 spected and until all Syrians have China has the world’s largest miles) off the South Korean access to aid. standing military with over two coast on Thursday in an ap- “We want a speedy resump- million troops. parent response to the new tion of the negotiations in Geneva, The developments come as the sanctions. Following the adop- but two conditions must be ful- US has increased its military pres- tion late Wednesday of the US- filled: access for all Syrians to hu- ence in the South China Sea amid engineered sanctions, South manitarian aid, and full respect of territorial disputes between China Korean President Park Geun- the ceasefire,” Ayrault said after and its neighbors. hye warned of a "fiercer" meeting with his British, German The US Navy has recently North Korean backlash than and EU counterparts. announced plans to increase its normal. On Friday, however, The leaders of Russia, France, operations in the disputed waters Park promised a harsh re- Germany, Britain and Italy also of the South China Sea. sponse to any military provo- held a conference call on Friday to Admiral Harry Harris, the head cation by North Korea. discuss Syria, an Italian govern- of the US Pacific Command, has ment source said. recently said that the sailings in- 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. SATURDAY. MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES We a r e a n a t ion a l in st it u t ion a n d n ot t h e voice of a gov t or a p r iva t e or ga n iza t ion Afghans pin their hopes of peace AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir on flexibility at four-nation talks Phone No: +93-772364666 E-mail: [email protected] By M. Nadeem Alizai Peace has been a wild goose chase his first trip as president to Beijing to-face talks between the two war- group created an environment of for Afghans since 1979 because the in late October 2014. He sought ring parties in July 2015 failed be- trust. Email: [email protected] international community has pro- China’s help to use its influence cause of this factor. In the first phase, the road map vided no clear road map. The ef- over Pakistan and facilitate the Some analysts link it to con- focuses on direct contacts between www.afghanistantimes.af forts initiated in the past were di- peace talks between the Afghan firmation of the death of Mullah the warring parties. In the second rectionless. Lack of commitment government and the Taliban. In an Omar, longtime leader of the in- phase, it will work on an uncondi- Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi from the stakeholders and facilita- unprecedented move, he also vis- surgent group, but this is not true. tional cease-fire. tors overshadowed the peace pros- ited Islamabad and the Pakistani Dialogues in such complicated The Taliban and Afghan gov- Advisory editorial board pects. military headquarters. matters do not stall after death of ernment representatives will soon The UN called for a political Ghani knows that Beijing and a leader but the process continues hold direct talks. All four nations Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, settlement to the Afghan conflict Islamabad are time-tested allies if a consensus exists. Taliban rep- agreed to use military power in January 1980. However, this and both could play an important resentatives have repeatedly point- against those militants who do not Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal global assembly failed to material- role in persuading the Taliban to ed out to the lack of a road map in want to join peace process. Af- ize the dream of durable peace and renounce violence and become part the past, such as at the Pugwash ghanistan’s National Security Ad- Graphic-Designers: stability in the war-ravaged land. of the government. Afghanistan Conference in May 2015 in Qatar. viser Hanif Atmar said on Wednes- After the withdrawal of Soviet hopes that the Chinese leadership Moreover, in 2013 the group day that the insurgent groups have Edriss Akbari and Bilal Yusufi troops in 1989, Afghanistan can help the stalled Afghan peace was given an office in Doha, Qa- to choose between peace talks and Marketing & Advertising: plunged into a deadly civil war. process. tar. However, its activities were the military option. The QCG will Similarly, the US invasion in 2001 Taking into consideration the restricted and time-bounded. The ensure that no party to the con- Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 toppled and dispersed the Taliban woes of Afghans, the Chinese gov- lack of trust and guarantors to en- flict is violating the principles. But but did not usher in a new era of ernment suggested the creation of sure a win-win situation for the this process will take time. It will Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan prosperity. a reconciliation forum, comprising parties involved in the conflict was yield positive results if the Afghan Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 Unnecessary stress on the use of representatives of Afghanistan, clearly visible. Therefore, the government and the Taliban show of force against the Taliban and China, Pakistan and the US. Quadrilateral Coordination Group flexibility in their stance. The sta- Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press other Afghan militant groups com- President Ghani put his (QCG) is a good solution to these bility of Afghanistan depends on plicated the reconciliation process. weight behind the recommendation problems. The QCG crafted a road the success of the direct talks. The Bush administration had an to restore peace in the troubled map to resume talks between the Since the road map is there, the opportunity from 2002 to 2004 country. Beijing and Kabul are well Taliban and the Afghan govern- Taliban and the Afghan government The constitution says to settle the conflict, as the former aware that the success of the peace ment. need to work on principles to set- Afghan spymaster Amrullah Saleh process hinges upon engaging key Building consensus on a single tle the dispute. Mutual respect pointed out in his media interviews. players to map out a clear recon- mechanism is imperative for the and flexibility toward each other Article 146 This inflexible stance helped the ciliation strategy. continuation and success of any will guide the peace process to a Article One Hundred Forty-Six: The Constitution shall not be amended during the Taliban remain a powerful militant Earlier, talks between the Tal- peace process. The QCG has happy ending.—(Global Times) group. iban and the Afghan government worked to understand the nature The author writes on security, state of emergency. To find a home-made solution failed because there was no clear of the conflict and has now moved terrorism and defense. to the conflict, Ashraf Ghani made road map. The first round of face- to the second phase because the [email protected]

Marwan Bishara How does the leading Republican and other imperial or regional pow- candidate for the US presidency, ers. In Moscow, the Syrian regime Donald Trump, square off with is portrayed as moderate despite Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi at the helm the government's brutal policies. of the so-called Islamic State The opposition movement, on group? the other hand, according to Rus- Every problem has a solution For many, shoving the two sia, falls on the "extremist" end of names in the same headline is the spectrum simply for not being Every problem has a solution. Afghanistan is no exclusion. Prob- anathema. Drawing any associa- in line with the Kremlin's foreign tion between them is an abomina- policy. This is as false as it is mis- lems are many. But, solutions are there. See as a nation to these tion. leading. After all, how could anyone in Lumping together different problems. As a nation, we must act collectively. It is imperative to their right mind dare to compare peoples and groups as "extremists" the clean-shaven, white business- out of distaste for their ideas or address existing challenges. The country desperately needs this. man and leading candidate to the religion is as wrong as it is coun- Afghanistan has been in war for more than three decades. Infra- highest public office in the oldest terproductive. liberal democracy, with the beard- For the sake of brevity, let me structure was reduced to rubbles. We shall not turn blind to this ed fundamentalist preacher, former just say that, beyond the realm of inmate, and head of the world's imperial constructs and "language fact. We have to learn from it. It will keep our spirits high. The most notorious terrorist group, control", extremism as moderation ruined buildings shall guide us to the right direction. We can see ISIL? can only be defined in terms of What's behind the rise of how the moral imperative is found our identity in these bombed shops and homes. Afghans laid their Donald Trump? or lost in the use of means and at- Defining extremism tainment of ends. Or more precise- lives for this identity. Yet, we are far from reality. We are not ready Extremism is a loaded word. ly, how far the "ends justify the Its use in geopolitical newspeak means", regardless of their immo- And yet, Trump's rhetoric Confronting extremism to rolled up sleeves and fight the challenges. has never been objective. rality or wickedness. does not measure up to Baghda- There is no doubt that griev- What we need in this regard is to have courage to find a solution Conferring labels such as "ex- Back to Trump and Baghdadi di's actions. The latter has estab- ances matter, especially to those tremist" or "moderate" on indi- Trump, in the words of The lished a totalitarian "rule" that con- most affected. But these should not to the outstanding problems. To do so, we have to put aside all our viduals, movements, leaders and New York Times, is a "shady, stantly represses non-Muslims be used as a ploy to inflame the regimes has generally been ideo- bombastic liar", who is hardening and enslaves the likes of Yazidis in souls, and drive further extremism. differences at any and every level. The power of citizens is formi- logical and therefore unproductive. the image of the Republican party the name of a Caliphate. Extremism could have differ- dable, if used appropriately, this power makes us invincible. Al- It has, however, been a useful im- "as a symbol of intolerance and The Bush-Bin Laden prece- ent roots and ideologies, and it perial construct. division". dence could harden in self-defence or for though, efforts had never been slowed down as Afghan govern- Allies of global powers are Trump's call for banning Mus- But when I think of these pro- self-preservation, and it can result described as "moderates", where- lims from entering the US presum- vocative men dominating global in minor or devastating damage, ment and people are making their last-ditch efforts to rebuild their as political opponents are classi- ably to maintain security, or his news and of what they may be- but in general, the record shows fied as "extremists" or "terrorists". disdain for Latinos under the pre- come, I remember George W Bush that extremism on one side is no country. But most important, what is the need of the hour is that we In this regard, extremism is re- text of protecting the "American" and Osama bin Laden. remedy for extremism on the oth- as a united nation must build a mindset that every problem has a liant - mainly if not exclusively - workers are all a case in point. He I remember how they drove the er. on the actors and not on their ac- has even accused Mexico of send- world to the brink through terror On the contrary, it provokes solution. And our problem also has a solution, if we see it through tions. For example, if you are a US ing rapists and drug runners to the and by labelling each other "evil", more of the same violence and war. ally, you are by definition a mod- US. each claiming to be holier than thou. And even if it results in short-term open eyes. erate, because it is assumed that Two former Mexican presi- They gained no greater legiti- gains, the long-term consequences the US epitomises moderation. dents, not known for their haste, macy and support than from feed- of extremism on the very cause When it comes to the destruction of Afghanistan, none can deny Lumping together different have compared Trump to Hitler. ing into each other's hatred and in- they claim to be fighting for, are the role of some countries in disguise of friends. They did not let peoples and groups as 'extremists' Trump's racist and extremist citement. generally catastrophic. out of distaste for their ideas or rhetoric, for the time being, has al- Each side seemed to sanction That is why it is high time for us to develop. They are still fueling insecurity in our land. They religion is as wrong as it is coun- lowed him to succeed in rallying the other, and bringing down the the true moderates on all sides; terproductive. the support of angry white Amer- evil empire justified all means, in- those who believe the means are want to see us broken, but it would not be fair to blame them for It is irrelevant in this context icans in order to win the presiden- cluding the horrific attacks of 9/ no less important than the ends; our failures. There might be some weakness among us that failed to whether a group or a regime wages cy. 11, just as defeating al-Qaeda jus- those driven by moral imperatives wars, commits acts of terror, and On the face of it, such extrem- tified all means, including war and - not religious bigotry and politi- stop their interferences. But still there is room to sort out prob- occupies other people, or, if they ism could be seen as no more than occupation, in addition to torture cal and geopolitical greed - to stand are religiously intolerant and to- a campaign tactic to eclipse his for good measure. together against the immoral ex- lems. Every nation makes mistakes but wiser of them are those talitarian. On the contrary, they are opponents, who have been repeat- Trump is yet to be nominat- tremism that has fuelled the cycle defined as being moderate accord- ing the same old tired slogans and ed, let alone elected. Yet his incite- of hatred and violence. who are on the mend. Opportunity would not knock doors twice. ing to their political orientation. cliches. ment is already feeding into ISIL's Marwan Bishara is the senior At several fronts we have proved as a nation with towering patrio- Even after the US invaded and oc- Or, as I wrote previously, conspiratorial propaganda, just as political analyst at Al Jazeera. Fol- cupied Iraq on false pretenses, it Trump's danger lies not in his po- the latter's actions are pushing low him on Facebook. tism. But, we had some difference at some points. For instance, continued to label Iraqis as moder- litical or ideological extremism but more Americans into Trump's lap. The views expressed in this ates and extremists, depending on rather his vulgar populism. In the It remains to be seen if or when article are the author's own and do when Kunduz City was collapsed to the Taliban, a young boy was their support of its endeavour. process, however, he is further rad- a "President Trump" will indeed not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's showed by TV channels supporting militants. Why such thing should The same applies to Russia icalising the American Right. be as reckless as Bush. editorial policy. happen to a nation? The young boy is also one of us. We know better that Taliban are hell-bent on killing Afghans, and their brutal- ity is like open book to us all. We must stand beside our security forces against the savages. Our brothers and sisters in uniform are rendering great scarifies for us to live safely. The insurgents have killed large number of Afghan civilians and those in uniforms. Mafia The time is ripe to give a wakeup call to the heads of all political parties to make indefatigable efforts for strengthening the national unity. The National Unity Government (NUG) and the Afghan masses must stand beside each other with a great passion of patriotism, aimed at making our country a safer and more dignified place to Government live for us and our offspring. Subscription Rates Categories Fee Afghanistan Times Annual Afg: 3600 at your door step For fast delivery service Six Months Afg: 1800 Afghanistan Times seeks the names, addresses of your International Organization $200 per year organizations and the number of copies you want. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. 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SATURDAY. MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Citizens are also responsible for Bangladesh violence Abdur Razzaq

Neve Gordon

US President Barack Obama re- Bangladesh they are distinct and wept in a press conference, say- cently wrote an article in The New startling. ing: "I want to go to school with York Times on the issue of gun The tendency is to blame the Dad. Mum has no money, she can't control in the United States. It's a government and this is not wholly buy me chocolate." passionate article, but it also shows correct. While the government Ridi was too young to realise the helplessness of the most pow- bears the greater part of responsi- that her father would never return. erful man on earth. bility, citizens must accept their It is heartbreaking to hear the fam- Obama does not expect things share. ily members of those disappeared to change during his presidency or On October 31, the publisher pleading to those responsible to at during this Congress, but he seeks Faisal Arefin Dipan was killed, like least return the bodies. It is only to send this message to the Amer- others in the past, in broad day- the "lucky" ones who are afforded ican people: "I will not campaign light in Aziz Supermarket. It was this courtesy. for, vote for, or support any can- a shocking incident, but more There needs to be a social didate, even in my own party, who shocking was Dipan's father's re- movement supporting the families does not support common-sense action: "I don't want the trial of of victims, a movement devoid of gun reform. And if the 90 percent my son's killers as I know I won't political agendas, and all Bang- of Americans who do support get justice." ladeshis should pledge their sup- common-sense gun reform joins Such a reaction from a bereaved port. me, we will elect the leadership we father was the first of its kind in Duty to act A spate of draconic new laws, moved only to be replaced with This move against artists is, The message is clear: if once deserve." Bangladesh, and it is a sad indict- At the outset, we may not be policies and regulations rein- material that highlights Jewish however, "parveh" - or almost formal (as opposed to real) Finally, he reminds the Amer- ment on society and our govern- successful, but even if one life is forced by incitement cam- identity and history. benign - when compared with equality was sanctioned and ican people that "we all have a re- mental institutions. In the face of saved, or the members of one fam- paigns against the Palestinian Just the beginning the hatred being directed to- presented as desirable within sponsibility". such dreadful violence and per- ily are spared the agony of a lost Bangladesh is very different ceived and actual impunity, many father, a brother, a sister, or a close citizens of Israel and, increas- As it turns out, however, wards Palestinian citizens of pre-1967 Israel, today even for- from the US, but it faces similar in our society see themselves as relation, our efforts would be jus- ingly, Jewish liberals is leading this was only the "siftah". The Israel, and particularly their rep- mal equality is passe. The goal, challenges. Every year, thousands helpless. We are not helpless, we tified. very quickly to an inversion of proposed "Loyalty in Culture" resentatives. as Israeli newspaper Haaretz's of Americans lose their lives be- can and must act. As a nation we all share re- Israel's colonial project. bill, which declares that the It is quite rare for a day to editorial claims, is "a Knesset cause of gun violence. Every problem has its solu- sponsibility in our failure. As a Inside Story - Bangladesh exe- tion; every crisis has an appropri- nation - whether one is in the gov- If, in the past, one could say state will only fund art that is pass without one inciting re- without Arabs." cutions: Justice or political rival- ate response. We - all Bangladeshis ernment, the opposition, or a pri- that Israel was colonising the uncritical of the Zionist project, mark or another by politicians And what about the Pales- ry? - should be courageous enough to vate citizen - whatever one's sta- West Bank, Gaza Strip, East could have been lifted directly and political commentators tinian citizens inside Israel? In the past year in Bangladesh, find a solution. Ours was, and still tion in life, we have a duty to act. Jerusalem and the Golan from Stalin's Soviet Union. against Israel's minority, which I recently drove to the Be- according to Odhikar, a Bang- is, a resilient nation. We fought We must find the courage to stand ladeshi human rights organisation, against colonial powers, and we up and address the crisis that fac- Heights, today the governing Drafted by Miri Regev, the constitutes 20 percent of the douin village Umm al-Hiran, 64 people disappeared, 185 died fought for democracy. The vast es us all. strategies developed and de- minister of culture, the bill de- population. which is destined to be de- in extrajudicial killings, and a fur- majority of Bangladeshis are still Let us make an appeal to the ployed by Israel in these occu- fines disloyal art as: "Denying Hanin Zoabi, a member of stroyed and replaced by a Jew- ther 197 died in political violence. fighting against poverty and fight- heads of all political parties not to pied areas have infiltrated and the existence of the State of Is- Knesset, is presented in Israeli ish settlement called Hiran. Trivial deaths ing for survival. It is this attitude give shelter to criminals. Let us colonised the pre-1967 Jewish rael as a Jewish and democrat- media outlets as nothing less Residents of Umm al-Hiran are, Most of the deaths and disap- that must be nurtured. appeal to all members of parlia- pearances are politically motivat- Culture of disappearances ment, to all government function- State as well. Indeed, the colo- ic state … support for an armed than Satan, while her colleagues of course citizens of Israel. A ed. However, deaths are also oc- The power of citizens is for- aries, and holders of all public of- nial leviathan is recoiling in- struggle or terror act by a hos- in the Joint List are routinely few kilometres from Umm al- curring for non-political and trivi- midable; if used appropriately, this fice, and to all those who have ward. tile country or terror organisa- characterised as terrorists, a Hiran, in the middle of a Jewish al reasons. The perpetrators are power becomes invincible. What some influence in society. This is The initial assault against tion against the State of Israel; fifth column, or traitors. National Fund forest, about 30 mostly unaccountable, and the can be nobler than trying to save a national crisis, and as such it re- bodies are often untraceable. This the lives of innocent people, to quires a national response that runs the veneer of liberal democra- marking Independence Day as Racism is so overt, fright- religious families have been ought to shame us as a nation. put an end to the culture of disap- across party lines and unites our cy included the current govern- a day of mourning; an act of ening, and without shame that living in a makeshift gated com- The degeneration of our soci- pearances and deaths? society. ment's proposal of a new bill vandalism or physical degrada- my Palestinian friends in Beer- munity waiting patiently for the ety is a root cause. Ours was a There needs to be a social Let us resolve to fight and obligating human rights prac- tion that dishonours the coun- sheba have stopped turning on government to expel the Be- healthy society; ours was a caring movement supporting the families make our country a safer and more society. In the not-too-distant of victims, a movement devoid of dignified place to live for our titioners whose organisations try's flag or state emblem." the television. douin families from their homes. past, our people used to follow political agendas, and all Bang- present and future generations. receive foreign funding to wear Expressing any kind of sup- Destined to be destroyed During a recent visit to this certain norms in all matters - be ladeshis should pledge their sup- Abdur Razzaq is currently a tags when they participate in port for Palestinian resistance Indeed, on February 29, the makeshift Jewish community, I they social or political. port. practising barrister in the English meetings at the Knesset or in in the West Bank and Gaza will Knesset Constitution Commit- saw houses scattered around There used to be checks and We have all seen the children Bar. The views expressed in this balances in our society, and al- of victims weeping in the press. article are the author's own and do other public venues. serve as sufficient grounds for tee gave preliminary approval a playground and a nice kin- though change has taken place in On December 5, Ridi Hossain, not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's The Listening Post - Spin- expulsion from the Knesset. for the "Suspension Law", dergarten with joyful paintings all countries, and in all societies, in daughter of victim Parvez Hossain, editorial policy. ning the occupation: Israel and According to film director which bestows upon (Jewish) on the exterior wall. the media Uri Rosenwaks, who until re- Knesset Members the authori- Needless to say, this bucol- Then came the incitement cently served as the chairman ty to judge whether the ideolo- ic setting was both unnerving campaign against the combat of the Israeli Documentary Film- gy of their (Palestinian) col- and surrealistic. Egypt: With Turkey or Iran? soldier group Breaking the Si- makers Forum, "The lawmakers leagues is "kosher". On the internet I found this Abdulrahman al-Rashed lence and other human rights have managed to portray au- And while the bill's title picture of the people who are organisations, which have thors and artists who deal with uses the word suspension, it destined to dispossess the res- We’ve been hearing about alleged main streets in Iran. Isolated Pres- the pressure on the Iraqi govern- since become routine in the issues such as human rights, actually authorises the Knes- idents of Umm Al-Hiran. They reconciliation efforts between the ident Husni Mubarak and Sadat ment that was secluded after the political landscape. occupation, and democracy as set to oust representatives Muslim Brotherhood and the adopted Nasser’s policy. The only departure of the Americans; Iraq are all smiling, happy; they are Egyptian government as recently one who opened a window of dia- is currently trying to undertake This was followed by the traitors. whose behaviour is "inappro- West Bank settlers who have reported by different sources. logue with Tehran was the second internal and external domination barring of a novel about a love The twisted irony is that priate"; namely, "negating the returned to Israel to colonise In this same context, we’ve isolated President Mohamed Mur- alone. affair between a Jewish woman Regev and other ministers are existence of the State of Israel been hearing about similar efforts si, who broke the ice when he vis- Bedouin land. The rooster has and a Palestinian man from Is- hoping that these very artists as a Jewish and democratic between Turkey and Egypt, which ited the Iranian capital, and then The second miracle, which is come back home to roost. rael's highschool curriculum, will criticise the new laws and state; inciting to racism; and were jumbled by some Hamas lead- received president Ahmadinejad, the end of the Egyptian-Iranian Neve Gordon is the author ers’ comments in Gaza, who were which was the first visit of an Ira- dispute as Hamas is trying to sug- reportedly over concerns that regulations, because clamping supporting armed struggle by positively praising the Egyptian nian president to Cairo. gest, will bring the Egyptian gov- it could encourage intermar- down on anyone who is criti- a hostile state or a terrorist or- of Israel's Occupation, as well leadership, namely by hardliner What does the future hold? ernment to one achievement: weak- riage between Jews and non- cal of Israeli policies gives ganisation against the State of as The Human Right to Domi- Mahmoud al-Zahar and moderate Despite the frequent rumors, en the Turkish front and thus mar- Jews. these ministers credit among Israel." nate (co-authored with Nicola Osama Hamdan. I believe that Cairo cannot come ginalize the Brotherhood. In con- Perugini). The cause behind these com- to terms with Tehran, especially trast, Egypt will lose its strategic Finally, the civics curricu- their constituency. The most Expressing any kind of sup- ments can be two things that are in such serious circumstances front with the Gulf. Despite the lum in highschools is currently dangerous thing that is cur- port for Palestinian resistance The views expressed in this incompatible: Hamas is with the where the Iranian regime is waging conflict inside the Gulf Coopera- being revamped, and some of rently happening is that criti- in the West Bank and Gaza will article are the author's own and Muslim Brotherhood on the one the broadest expansive war since tion Council (GCC) regarding the the basic concepts dealing cism itself is increasingly be- serve as sufficient grounds for do not necessarily reflect Al hand and a permanent ally of Iran the revolution, about 40 years ago. Egyptian affairs and other issues, on the other hand. In the past, it Ending the conflict between the the GCC countries agreed on the with democracy are being re- ing perceived as illegitimate." expulsion from the Knesset. Jazeera's editorial policy. was possible to support the Turks two regional countries, Egypt and rejection of any bias for Iran, and and the Iranians together, but to- Turkey, will strengthen the Arab this is a very important reason day supporting both is impossi- side in the conflict in Syria, espe- behind their position in Syria. LETTER TO THE EDITOR ble; one should either be with Tur- cially in its confrontation against However, Egypt's shift toward key or supporting Iran exclusive- Iran. Iran is far from being imagined, al- ly as both countries are currently Abdulrahman al-Rashed though some Egyptian observers engaged in wars. Iranian militias are It would be a miracle if the talk about the need for rapproche- fighting the pro-Turkish opposi- Egyptian leadership reconciled ment with Iran. tion in Syria and the clashes are with its sole adversary, the Mus- Sisi’s government has charted Peace talks raging today on the borders of lim Brotherhood. Will the group’s for itself an internal strategy and Finally the four-way nation talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China is bearing results as recently Afghan Turkey. cessation of activities against the focused on the legitimacy of de- ambassador to Pakistan, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal in an interview with TOLONews said that Afghan government and the Taliban Since Mohamed Mursi time in Egyptian government, mean open- velopment and solving the accu- would hold face-to-face talks within the next 11 days. “I am pretty sure that the peace talks with Taliban will begin. I will remind you office, Cairo has chosen not to sup- ing the doors of Cairo’s airport to mulated problems faced by the if you were there in the day of talks,” he said. port any party in the Syrian war; the repentant persons wishing to country and on the needs of its The Afghan government and masses are desperately looking for peace and security to be restored in the war-hit country. Whenever the same position persisted since return? The miracle would happen citizens. It distanced itself from Afghanistan is approaching Taliban to convince them to join the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, the second Egyptian revolution, if Cairo got closer with Tehran, but going into the external conflicts. Pakistan creates obstacles and dash to the ground all efforts. But this time the Afghan government should act smartly in order to avoid which pushed the government of two miracles can’t happen at the This article was first published such circumstance in the future. The government should take steps very carefully while dealing with the Taliban and Pakistan Abdel-Fattah ell-Sisi to be all-out same time, and of course, this does in Asharq al-Awsat on Mar. 04, government as well, because at many fronts Taliban and the government of Pakistan have similar mindsets. The Afghan people have against the Turkish intervention in not include the improvement of 2016. pinned high hope to this four-nation talks and looking for a result-ordinated meeting. Bringing the Taliban to the table of talks and its affairs and thus, resorted to protocol relations because they do ______eventually to put a full stop to this prolong war is all what the Afghans expecting from this meeting. supporting the Muslim Brother- not mean much. Abdulrahman al-Rashed is the Mohammad Mudasir, Kabul, Afghanistan hood opposition. If the reconciliation with the former General Manager of Al Ar- Historical relationships Muslim Brotherhood takes place abiya News Channel. A veteran and At the same time, the Egyp- according to Cairo’s terms, it internationally acclaimed journal- tian government has moved away would have extinguished one of the ist, he is a former editor-in-chief Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and from Iran, on the grounds that at greatest fires and tensions in the of the London-based leading Arab address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] the heart of Cairo’s historical strat- region. The Muslim Brotherhood daily Asharq al-Awsat, where he egy, and since the days of the late is an interface to a regional camp still regularly writes a political col- President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and it fought on his behalf on sev- umn. He has also served as the Egypt played the role of a balanc- eral fronts. The reconciliation with editor of Asharq al-Awsat’s sister er against Tehran. Abdel Nasser the Muslim Brotherhood will in- publication, al-Majalla. Through- stood against the Shah's quest to evitably lead to the Egyptian- out his career, Rashed has inter- Disclaimer: dominate the Gulf in the sixties, Turkish reconciliation. Ending the viewed several world leaders, with and Anwar Sadat was against conflict between the two regional his articles garnering worldwide The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) Khomeini’s regime and received the countries, Egypt and Turkey, will recognition, and he has successful- deposed shah. On the other hand, strengthen the Arab side in the con- ly led Al Arabiya to the highly re- and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. the Iranians glorified Sadat's assas- flict in Syria, especially in its con- garded, thriving and influential sin and put his name on one of the frontation against Iran, and will ease position it is in today. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. 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Imphal, India - On January 21, the Supreme Court alleging that 2009, Edina Yaikhom bid goodbye 1,528 civilians had been killed ex- to her husband, Anand Ningthou- tra-judicially in India between jam, for the last time. 1979 and May 2012. After he left in the morning to A commission appointed in go to work, Yaikhom busied her- 2013 to investigate six of these self with household chores. cases issued a report concluding "In the evening, neighbours that none were cases of genuine started gathering at my house af- encounters between security forc- ter a local news channel flashed es and alleged members of armed reports of an encounter" between groups. The report pointed out police and members of an armed that none of the security forces had group, she recalled. "I was wor- suffered injuries, while one of those ried sick all night, but kept assur- killed was found with as many as ing myself that he was fine." 16 bullet wounds. The next day, the local papers During court proceedings of carried a statement by the state the case last December, the gov- police announcing that it had en- ernment defended the killings by countered and killed Ningthoujam stating that they were part of ef- and another civilian, both of whom forts to combat insurgency, and they claimed were members of could not be treated as a law-and- Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL), order problem. a rebel group. The men were ac- However, a chilling confession cused of carrying an AK-47 rifle made in January by a police offic- and a hand grenade. er, Thounaojam Herojit Singh, has Just one day later, the papers brought the issue to light again. carried a statement by KYKL, clar- In a public statement, Singh - ifying that neither Ningthoujam who had won a gallantry award for nor the other man belonged to their exemplary courage in the line of group. But by then it was too late. duty - confessed to shooting an Sterilisation deaths scare off unarmed man, allegedly a surren- Indian women dered militant, in broad daylight in Four days later, Yaikhom vis- Imphal on orders from his superi- ited the spot where her husband's ors. body was found, in a village about Meihoubam Rakesh, a lawyer 40 kilometres away from the state and the director of Human Rights capital, Imphal. She found his scarf Law Network in Manipur, be- hanging from a tree and blood on lieves that these killings have par- the ground where his body might adoxically bolstered the reputation have been dragged. of the security forces. An elderly woman told "The army has been conduct- Yaikhom that she had seen every- ing joint operations with police 15, in which 1,205 "extremists" convicted. "Gun widows" such as widows who lost their husbands coordinator at MWGSN, the net- Edina Yaikhom with her thing. commandos, which included many and 486 civilians were killed. Yaikhom often face difficult cir- to gun violence [Sarita Santoshini/ work includes more than 5,000 daughter, Angelina, who was four "She told me that the police fake encounters and death of civil- Yet Nepram insists that offi- cumstances after their husbands' Al Jazeera] Empowerment in the women, including gun widows and when her father was killed in an got him there in a Jeep. They tied ians. The police received gallantry cial figures underestimate the num- death. Some social schemes for face of adversity other vulnerable women affected alleged fake encounter in 2009 [Sar- him to a tree and tortured him. awards for these without any ber of people affected by gun vio- widows exist, but the benefits are Mumtaz Begum was devastat- by conflict. In Pictures: Manipur's ita Santoshini/Al Jazeera] Later, they let him loose … chal- probe, and it only encouraged them lence in Manipur. paltry - and most widows fail to ed when her husband, renowned 'custodial killings' Yaikhom, whose traumatic ex- lenged him to run to save himself further," he claimed. "The state government says receive even these small sums. professor Azad Khan Shekhar, "In a state that has been facing perience had left her partially pa- before firing bullets at his body. Binalakshmi Nepram, the there are 20,000 registered widows "A large number of these wom- was killed in an encounter in 2009 ethnic conflicts for decades, we ralysed for a year, said she found How's this an encounter, and what founder of Manipur Women Gun in Manipur who lost their hus- en are young, so they cannot avail and alleged to be a member of an have women from all tribes and support and courage as a part of had my husband done to deserve Survivors Network (MWGSN), bands in conflict," she said. "But the widow pension scheme. In Islamist militant group. She was communities coming together and EEVFM. The organisation has this?" she said, weeping. said that many women have been we've been working closely with other cases, after the deceased is left alone to provide for her five supporting each other. I see this as about 100 active members who Awash in guns widowed by non-state forces in these women for more than a de- killed by state forces and branded children, the youngest of whom a great step towards peace build- meet once every two weeks and Manipur, a state in northeast- Manipur, in large part due to easy cade, and I know that there are as a militant, all schemes are de- was only two years old. ing," Mutum said. donate small amounts of money, ern India, has been the site of armed access to weapons in the state. thousands of killings that have nied to their relatives unless prov- "I found out that my husband Mutum and Nepram started used to provide interest-free loans insurgencies since India's indepen- "Weapons of more than 13 gone unreported." en otherwise in the court, which had been threatened to give the by opening bank accounts for wid- to widows or mothers of men dence in 1948. According to the countries have found their way to Killers seldom convicted takes years or mostly never hap- militant group about $1,500 a few ows and provided them with a few killed by either state forces or mil- Indian federal government, 34 ter- the state. The United States might According to Meihoubam, lo- pens," Meihoubam explained. months ago. I reached out to ask thousand Indian rupees to buy itants. rorist groups operate in Manipur. have never heard of Manipur, but cals are scared of providing infor- Farida Bibi, 33, is a staff mem- them to return the money so I could yarn for weaving or seeds for a "I've travelled across the coun- Given the situation, the entire its weapons have reached us," she mation to media or testifying as a ber in MWGSN whose husband feed my kids, but they blackmailed vegetable farm, so they could sup- try to attend sessions on counsel- state except for Imphal has been said. witness in court. "Even in the case was killed in 2008 in an armed rob- me. They asked me to carry out port themselves. Over the years ling, trauma-training and human declared to be a disturbed area, and Manipur Women Gun Survi- of Yaikhom's husband, his friend bery. Bibi said she worked as a day illegal activities for them if I want- their projects have increased, and rights awareness along with a few the army has the right to arrest or vors Network has used weaving had witnessed the police torture labourer soon after her husband's ed my money back, failing which the government recently provided other members. We come back and kill without fear of prosecution as a form of psycho-social thera- and so had an elderly woman, but death to provide for her three they threatened to instigate the them with 50 looms, helping more teach the others what we learned," under the Armed Forces Special py to help a number of conflict they denied it in front of the inqui- daughters. She did not receive any community against me and have women to engage in commercial said Yaikhom. Powers Act of 1958. widows deal with loss and trauma ry officer and I couldn't prove any- support from the government. Fi- me killed," she recalled, breaking weaving through their organisation. Today, Begum, Yaikhom and Critics say Indian security as well as support themselves fi- thing," he said. In many cases filed nally, in 2013, an NGO she was into tears. Begum did not give into "We simply wanted them to Bibi are empowered women who forces have committed numerous nancially [Sarita Santoshini/Al by EEVFM, circumstantial evi- working for directed her to a school their demands, and today she know that they aren't alone, and are not reluctant to share what they human rights violations under the Jazeera] dence has been enough to prove a in Delhi that accepted her children works as a community mobiliser also remain involved so it keeps have been through, crying freely act. According to a report issued killing was staged. However, free of tuition. for MWGSN, helping other wid- their mind off trauma. We realised when memories pain them. In 2012, the Extra-Judicial Ex- in January by the Indian Ministry Meihoubam recalls only one case Farida Bibi and Mumtaz Be- ows deal with trauma, encourag- much later that what we were do- "We're doing everything for ecution Victim Families Associa- of Home Affairs about northeast- in which the court ordered the pros- gum work as community mobilis- ing them to work, and informing ing was actually a form of psy- our children," Begum said. "We tion (EEVFM) - of which Yaikhom ern India, there were 3,867 violent ecution of army members. The ers for Manipur Women Gun Sur- them about their rights. cho-social therapy," Mutum ex- hope at least they grow up to see a is the secretary - filed a lawsuit in incidents in Manipur from 2007- defendants, he said, were never vivors Network, helping other According to Reena Mutum, a plained. better, less militarised Manipur." Welcome to Syrian Berlin: A refugee tour of the city BERLIN: Berlin is a kaleidoscope "Something inside me told me "I wish to find a Syrian cultur- of identities, a colourful blend of that I might end up here," he says. al centre where all the Syrians can cultures and styles. It is an eclec- "My plan was to keep the apart- express themselves through their New York City, US - On the underscoring both how climate teams of architects and urban plan- residents," Ingels says. tic mix to which the latest wave of ment [in Berlin] for two weeks art," he says. evening of October 29, 2012, Hur- change is causing increasingly dev- ners to create projects that would "These communities were at Syrian refugees have added their more so if something went wrong, "I also wish to find Syrians in ricane Sandy reached the inlet be- astating storms and the failure of improve the resiliency of water- the core to the planning of the own customs and hopes for the I had a place to go." the high-ranking and well-paid tween Long Island and New Jer- even New York, with all its wealth, front communities in New York project," says Chester, explaining future. Berlin's dimmed colours and positions here, presenting a good sey and funnelled the Atlantic to mitigate the risks. through responsive, innovative the BIG team's approach, which But the city to which they wide spaces appeal to Monis' aes- face of the Syrian community. storm surge into the heart of New "Climate change impacts are design. combines physical resiliency have arrived - escaping their tu- thetic tastes. But it's the city's vi- "This is the Syrian Berlin of York City, inundating lower Man- not going to be received by every- "We took Sandy, which was a (flood protection) with social re- multuous present - has been brant art scene, bohemian nature my wishes." hattan with water and wreaking one in the same way," says Juan horrible and devastating event for siliency through addressing com- shaped by its own tumultuous and mixed multicultural boroughs Hiba and Khaled Albassir, Ze- havoc on the surrounding bor- Camilo Osorio, a director of re- our region, and turned it into an munity needs by enhancing and past. that make it unique in his eyes. hlendorf, Berlin - 'We fight to show oughs. search at the New York City Envi- opportunity to change the conver- protecting the public housing stock In the 20th century, the Ger- "I like everything about Ber- the Berliners we are successful "It was like an atomic explo- ronmental Justice Alliance. "The sation about how we want our cit- and increasing economic and so- man capital barely survived two lin. There are no rules. You can be people' sion," recalls Dennis Diaz of the reality is that in neighbourhoods ies to look in the future," says cial opportunities for LES resi- World Wars - at the end of the sec- whoever you want to be here," he Known as one of Berlin's moment the rising waters reached where you have existing high lev- Amy Chester, the managing direc- dents. "[The community stake- ond it lay mostly in ruins. says. "Berlin changed my life a lot. greener boroughs, Zehlendorf is a the Con-Edison substation near the els of vulnerabilities due to socio- tor of Rebuild by Design. "And holders] were at every single meet- The victorious American, So- My personality didn't change, but quiet residential area that boasts Lower East Side (LES) housing economic, demographic, or exist- that wasn't just about building a ing and were part of the team. The viet, British and French forces I had to hide myself or fake my traditional timber-framed homes projects in south Manhattan. ing health conditions, then these wall around our waterfront com- project completely reflect[s] the carved the city into four sectors, thoughts [in Damascus]. and former royal residences. At a "There was a beautiful blue communities will be far more af- munities. It was really about cre- plans and concerns they had for each rebuilding their zone to their "I used to see myself as a workshop for refugee entrepre- colour, then an orange light," says fected." ating a space that is enhanced by the community even before the own tastes. stranger and weird there. Many neurs, Hiba Albassir tells the audi- Diaz, who was outdoors with oth- According to NASA, climate coastal protection." storm." Berlin was then further divid- people used to also see me like this ence about her decision to transfer er community members when the change is causing ocean tempera- One of the six winning The design, if fully imple- ed into East and West, straddling because I didn't follow the majori- Khashabna, her family's wood- explosion occurred. "Everyone tures to rise, which in turn is in- projects, called the Dryline [for- mented, will consist of a series of two countries for more than 40 ty." Monis says he likes every- work business, to Berlin in 2015. thought the electric current was creasing the intensity of tropical merly known as the Big U]," has flood compartments stretching years. thing about Berlin and used to feel Her husband, Khaled Albassir, is a going to run through the water. Cars storms and hurricanes. Rising received much of the attention and from west 57th Street to the south- So, given Berlin's diversity and like a stranger in Damascus [Adrien garden furniture designer and man- were floating in the street from the ocean levels and increased precip- funding. For some, it represents a ern tip of Manhattan, and around complexity, how does a recently Le Coarer/Al Jazeera ] ufacturer who, for 19 years, ran flooding … it was insane." itation are exacerbating the effect resilient and adaptive re-design in- and up to East 42nd Street. established community make its Monis believes the increasing two factories in Damascus. "We Sandy, as the hurricane became of flooding on coastal cities such formed by the projected effects of The flood compartments will mark on the city? number of Syrians has affected had a lot of products left in stor- known, caused around $71bn in as New York City. climate change on Manhattan. "work like those in the hull of We follow the stories of eight Berlin by raising the profile of their age because we would produce in damages and killed 117 people For many New Yorkers, IN YOUR BACKYARD: The ship", says Ingels, "so they can be Syrians creating their own version homeland and the ongoing conflict the winter and sell in the summer," along the eastern seaboard. One Sandy was a wake-up call and the psychology behind dealing with built to protect individual neigh- of Berlin. among Germans. When he arrived, explains 48-year-old Hiba. "Then third of those casualties were from response from political leaders climate change bourhoods independently, and Monis Bukhari, Kreuzberg, most Berliners couldn't find Syria came the summer of 2011," she New York City alone. The effect was unambiguous. The New York even if one compartment is Berlin - 'You can be whoever you on a map, he says. says, referring to the start of the of the hurricane was dispropor- City mayor, the governor, even Headed up by the internation- breached, the whole ship won't want to be here' "I still remember when one of conflict in her country. "We tionately felt - the city's most vul- President Obama himself, connect- ally renowned architecture firm sink". Ingels adds that, in addition Since the fall of the Berlin Wall the Berliners asked me where I was brought the products that should nerable residents, people of low ed the severity of the storm to the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the to the protection element, "we then in 1989, gentrification has changed from," he laughs. "I told him, 'Dam- have been sold that summer to income and the elderly, were hard- processes of global warming and Dryline foresees an arching U- layer on social and urban ameni- the face of the city. ascus' and he said, 'Israel!' Then, I Berlin." The couple believes they est hit. acknowledged the need for the city shaped barrier running for 10 miles ties that improve open space, ecol- Kreuzberg typifies this trans- had to explain that we are next to made the right decision. They now Marilyn Santiago, 59, was on to be re-designed to cope with fu- along the coastline of southern ogy, and access along the water- formation. The former working- Israel, but not inside it." own a furniture shop in Zehlen- the fourth floor of the Jacob Riis ture storms. Manhattan, protecting this centre front". class neighbourhood has become a Since founding the Syrian dorf, on the southern tip of the public housing project in the LES, "Hurricane Sandy was a tip- of economic wealth and one of the One portion, dubbed the East bastion of bourgeois hipster cul- Home in Germany Facebook city. But their life in Berlin has along with her sick and immobile ping point for policies and pro- city's largest concentrations of Side Coastal Resiliency Project ture with fashionable burger joints group, Monis plays a prominent been challenging and both say they husband, when the hurricane hit. grammes related to climate public housing from future storms. (ESCR) by the city, has already and alternative nightclubs appeal- role in the local Syrian communi- fled Syria out of necessity, not We took Sandy, which was a change," says Cynthia E Rosenz- Complete with elevated berms been funded and is set to break ing to the young urbanites able to ty. choice. Hiba Albassir was relocat- horrible and devastating event for weig, an American climatologist at that double up as parks, retract- ground in 2017. The project will afford the rising rents here. He describes the Syrian pres- ed to Berlin with her family in 2013 our region, and turned it into an NASA Goddard Institute for Space able flood walls that turn down into stretch from East 23rd Street to Monis Bukhari navigates the ence as omnipresent, especially [Monis Bukhari/Al Jazeera ] "We opportunity to change the conver- Studies. storefront and art space, incorpo- Montgomery Street in southeast- streets of Berlin like a native. He culturally. Much of the country's really fight for our existence here, sation about how we want our cit- "Political leaders explicitly rated urban wetlands, bio swales ern Manhattan, spanning more has his favourite spots, such as artistic elite moved to Berlin, bring- to show the Berliners that we are ies to look in the future. linked increasing risks due to cli- and rain-gardens, the Dryline inte- than four kilometres along the East Prachtwerk, an artistic cafe that ing Syria's music and art to a broad- successful people, not just refu- Amy Chester, managing direc- mate change into the necessities of grates coastal defences with ideals River. The city has already com- doubles as a workspace for Ber- er audience. gees," Hiba explains. "'Refugee' is tor of Rebuild by Design rebuilding and design," she says, of resiliency, social and environ- mitted additional funding beyond lin's army of freelancers. "Everywhere you go now in a big word and refugees have a lot "It was a panic out there. We referring to a series of ambitious mental justice and responsible the $355m originally allocated by The 38-year-old journalist and Berlin you will find Syrians. They of life experience that is very valu- were stuck upstairs, we couldn't coastal resiliency projects pro- community building. the federal government towards entrepreneur has been in the city aren't representing themselves as able." Hiba, her husband and their get food, all the stores were posed by New York City after the "We think of the Dryline as planning and implementing the since September 2013, but never refugees. They are part of the two children were relocated to closed," Santiago recalls. It was an storm. the lovechild between Robert next areas south of ESCR, accord- imagined that he would end up liv- scene." Berlin via a government pro- experience shared by many resi- Dennis Diaz stands on the ex- Moses and Jane Jacobs," says ing to Ingels. ing here permanently. Along with the Facebook gramme in 2013. Hiba speaks flu- dents of public housing in the days act spot on Avenue D and 10th BIG founder Bjarke Ingels, refer- "As Sandy made clear, climate The Syrian had spent two group and several other projects, ent German and English, after and weeks after the storm. Street where he was when the Con ring to the dichotomous approach- change is not some risk 100 years years in Jordan's capital, Amman, Monis has also founded the Inte- studying archaeological conserva- "We had babies and elderly Edison plant, pictured behind him, es of New York City's most fa- down the road," says Mary Spi- after fleeing Damascus. When he gration Hub, a social initiative- tion for six years in Mainz, Ger- people in here. It was bad, bad. exploded during Hurricane Sandy mous urban planners to describe talnick from New York City May- was offered a temporary position turned-springboard for newcomers many. "I am proud of being Syri- We started going crazy," she says. [Joey Prince/Al Jazeera] the project, which, while aggres- or Bill de Blasio's office. "New in Berlin, he took it with the inten- on the German labour market that an. I went back [to Syria] because Bolstering New York's coast sive and monumental in scope York City is vulnerable now and tion of returning to Jordan in six provides classes, support and a I knew that Syria needs the expe- The unexpected tenacity of through design (Moses), is also in tune with the the risks are only growing - and months. workspace for refugees from all rience that I gained here. Now, Sandy and its devastating after- In June 2014, New York City needs of its residents (Jacobs). "It that is why we are moving quickly But when he tried to re-enter backgrounds. Syria needs us even more, which math brought the precarious posi- was awarded $355m through the requires a holistic big-picture ap- now to reduce those risks," says the country, the Jordanian author- For Monis, this initiative is is why I want to gain more experi- tion of coastal cities - and their most federally funded Rebuild by De- proach [but] needs to happen Spitalnick, commenting on the ities refused to let him in. Monis key to establishing the new Syrian ence here and go back with this vulnerable residents - to the fore, sign competition, which tasked through close dialogue with local mayor's ambitious $20bn resilien was put on a plane back to Berlin. Berlin he dreams of. knowledge." 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.

SATURDAY . MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

weight Saudi Arabia in pricing its oil against the Brent Weighted Av- erage (BWAVE). BWAVE is also used by Iran while Iraq is using LONDON : The best week for both the 2- and 10- year space, dated Brent. Over the past year, Asian shares in five months and German Bund yields bobbed up because of the way they are calcu- the second six percent weekly marginally and Portugal's yields lated, barrels priced off dated Brent jump in a row in oil prices put glo- were not far from one-month lows have on average been cheaper than bal markets in a bouyant mood on ahead of the first of a number of those priced against BWAVE. “All Friday, ahead of closely-followed back-to-back credit rating reviews. you have to do is just to look at monthly U.S. jobs data. The return of risk appetite was who the customers like from the European shares opened 0.2 closely tracking the recovery in oil point of view of pricing. It is pret- percent higher, on course for their and other commodity prices. ty obvious that over the past year, third straight week of gains as sol- Benchmark Brent futures they gravitated towards Iraqi and id results for the world's largest (LCOc1) were testing two-month very cheap Kurdish oil,” a second advertiser WPP (WPP.L) dove- highs of $37.40 per barrel as they trading source said. While chang- tailed with the latest tick up in headed for a gain of 6.6 percent ing its pricing policy, KPC also commodities markets and hopes this week and industrial metals iron started trading more barrels on a for another shot of European Cen- ore and copper (CMCU3) both hit spot basis in Europe, following the tral Bank stimulus next week. 4-month highs, with the latter on sale of its Rotterdam refinery to Investors seem to have put re- course for its best week in roughly trading house Gunvor. Last month, cent worries about a potential glo- six months. a senior KPC official said Kuwait planned to boost output this year and sign new export deals with Eu- ropean customers despite “fierce competition”. The company is now estimated to be selling around 500,000 barrels per day in Europe on a term and spot basis, trading sources say, covering some 5 per- cent of the continent’s demand. The move comes as Iran, OPEC’s Gulf OPEC member Kuwait has producers due to poor growth as Sweden. Large sales from Iraq’s doing ... we have a legitimate market third-largest oil producer, is also changed the way it prices oil for they focused on expanding Asian Kurdistan into Europe have added share that we try to protect and de- preparing to sell more crude to Eu- Europe, trading sources said, in a markets. But as Russia moved ag- to the competition over the past velop,” a senior trading source fa- rope after the lifting of international rare tactical move aimed at making gressively into Asian markets and six months and now Kuwait - a miliar with the development said. sanctions in January. Iran said this its crude more competitive as the with the growing global oil glut usually little-noticed seller in Eu- Trading sources said that from late week it could consider a pricing battle for customers between heating up the fight for customers, rope - is both increasing sales and last year the state-run Kuwait Pe- improvement for its crude sales to OPEC and non-OPEC rivals inten- OPEC members such as Saudi Ara- making its crude more attractive. troleum Corporation (KPC) began Europe by selling some spot car- sifies. The European market, long bia and Iraq ramped up sales to “If we want to have a share in any pricing its European exports against goes at the dated Brent benchmark, dominated by Russian oil supplies, Europe, taking on former Russian market, we have to have competi- the dated Brent benchmark after though it was sticking with has been neglected by major OPEC customers such as Poland and tive marketing. That’s what we are years of following OPEC’s heavy- BWAVE for its term contracts. US tech companies unite behind Apple ahead of iPhone encryption ruling Tech industry leaders including Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Goo- Airbus is seeking airline support bal recession firmly behind them "Now you have had some sta- gle, Facebook Inc (FB.O), Mi- for a new 400-seat jetliner provi- for the moment and the U.S. 'non- bility in the oil price and some pro- crosoft Corp (MSFT.O), AT&T sionally dubbed the A350-8000 as farm' payrolls numbers at 1330 ducer currencies, you're starting to (T.N) and more than two dozen competition escalates with Boeing GMT (06:30 a.m. EST) are expect- get more robust cost bases form- other Internet and technology over the world’s largest two-en- ed to show the labor market in the ing for commodities, which sug- companies filed legal briefs on gined jets, airline and aviation in- world's largest economy ticking gests that the vulnerability of met- Thursday asking a judge to sup- dustry sources said. along nicely. als to more downside is slowing," port Apple Inc (AAPL.O) in its After talking up the possibili- A Reuters poll of economists said Mark Keenan at Societe Gen- encryption battle with the U.S. ty of a new member of its A350 forecasts them to show 190,000 erale in Singapore. government. family, the European planemaker jobs were added last month and Emerging markets stocks were The rare display of unity and has swung into an active pre-mar- that the overall unemployment roaring too. MSCI's 23-country support from Apple's sometime- keting phase as it responds to a level staying at an eight-year low EM index rose 0.4 percent for a rivals showed the breadth of Sili- recent upgrade in the competing of 4.9 percent. sixth day of gains, its longest win- con Valley's opposition to the gov- Boeing 777. "We didn't believe the 'world ning streak and best week since ernment's anti-encryption effort, While Boeing has scored suc- is going to end' story, but the way October. a position endorsed by the United cesses in the Gulf with its biggest the mood has changed in the last Brazil's Bovespa index Nations human rights chief. ever twin-engined jet, the 406-seat couple of weeks is just crazy," said (.BVSP) had surged more than 5 Apple's battle became public 777-9, Airbus is expected to aim Janus Capital portfolio manager percent on Thursday, its biggest last month when the Federal Bu- its design at airlines that do not and global research analyst Ryan gain in six years, on news that Pres- reau of Investigation obtained a always require the performance Myerberg. ident Dilma Rousseff could be im- court order requiring the company needed for extreme Gulf condi- "Since the beginning of the year plicated in a sweeping corruption to write new software to disable tions. it has been like driving down the scandal. passcode protection and allow ac- “It would have similar capaci- motorway where every couple of That encouraged investors cess to an iPhone used by one of ty and range (as the 777-9) and miles a tractor has overturned, who blame her administration's the shooters in the December kill- substantially lower seat-mile whether that be China, oil, the policies for driving Brazil into deep ings in San Bernardino, California. costs,” Airbus sales chief John banks, that you have to swerve recession. Apple pushed back, arguing Leahy said in an interview. “We around." MSCI's broadest index of Asia- that such a move would set a dan- are showing it to airlines right The dollar was grinding higher Pacific shares outside Japan end- gerous precedent and threaten cus- now.” again on cautious bets that a good ed the week at its highest in al- tomer security, and asked that the The project is the latest move payrolls number later will, as most two months. Another 0.6 order be vacated. The clash has in a game of leapfrog played by Myerberg at Janus expects, sup- percent rise saw it chalk up a 5.5 intensified a long-running debate Airbus and Boeing over the past port the Federal Reserve's case to percent gain for the week, its stron- over how much law enforcement decade in the market for big twin- increase U.S. rates again later in gest since October. and intelligence officials should be jets, valued at about $1.9 trillion the year. Japan's Nikkei was up 5 per- able to monitor digital communi- over 20 years. The greenback was up 0.1 per- cent on the week too, while the cations. It marks a shift in priorities cent against a basket of major cur- two main Chinese share markets Apple's industry allies, along after the oil price collapse eased rencies as the euro nudged back to (.SSEC) took their gains since with several privacy advocates, pressure on Airbus to upgrade its $1.0936 (EUR=) to roughly where Monday to 4.7 and 3.5 percent. filed amicus briefs - a form of com- larger four-engined A380, output it started the week and the yen Investors are awaiting the start ment from outside groups common of which is declining because of (JPY=) steadied at 113.74. of the annual meeting of China's in complex cases - to U.S. District slow sales. Traders also locked in some parliament on Saturday, which will Judge Sheri Pym, in Riverside, Two airlines whose feedback profits on sterling (GBP=D4) hav- map out economic goals for the California, who had set a Thurs- could be decisive in whether Air- Both airlines declined to com- Dreamliner and the larger 777. while Airbus has sold 181 of its ing seen it bounce back almost 2 next five years, with markets hop- day deadline. bus launches the new jet are Sin- ment. Airbus planemaking presi- Boeing responded to the all- A350-1000s. percent this week from last ing for enough stimulus to fend off Six relatives of San Bernardi- gapore Airlines and British Air- dent Fabrice Bregier was visiting new jet by upgrading its existing “It is clearly an airplane that month's 5 percent 'Brexit' batter- any major slowdown worries. no attack victims on Thursday ways. Singapore on Thursday, where a 777 series to include the 777-9, is on its own in the marketplace ing. The People's Bank of China weighed in with their own amicus Singapore took delivery of its spokesman declined to comment. which has outsold the A350-1000 and the airplane is selling very In the bond markets, investors set the midpoint rate brief opposing Apple. Three Cali- first smaller A350-900 model this The A350 XWB (Extra Wide by about 40 percent but has en- well,” Boeing marketing chief Ran- were beginning to head to the side- (CNY=SAEC) at 6.5284 per dol- fornia law enforcement groups, week and has long been weighing Body) family was launched after a tered a lean period. dy Tinseth told the Istat Americas lines ahead of the payrolls data lat- lar prior to Friday's market open, three federal law enforcement up the 777-9, while putting pres- string of setbacks in 2006 to com- Boeing has disclosed 306 sales air finance conference, referring to er. 0.20 percent firmer than the pre- groups and the San Bernardino dis- sure on Airbus to offer it a choice. pete with Boeing’s mid-sized 787 of 777-9s and a similar variant, the latest 777 model. U.S. Treasuries were flat in vious fix. trict attorney also filed in favor of the government. The companies backing Apple largely echo the iPhone maker's main argument, that the 1789 All Employment gains seen accelerating in February in US Writs Act at the heart of the gov- ernment's case cannot be used to WASHINGTON : U.S. employ- of poor economic reports in De- Thursday showed employment in as the labor market settles into full New York. A further moderation ployment after the hefty weather- force companies to create new ers likely stepped up hiring in Feb- cember and slowing growth in Chi- the services sector fell in February employment. is expected in construction em- driven gains in the fourth quarter. technology. ruary, in a sign of labor market na sparked a global stock market for the first time in two years. Average hourly earnings are One amicus filing, from a strength that could further ease rout at the start of the year, caus- Still, economists say any be- forecast increasing 0.2 percent af- group of 17 Internet companies fears the economy is heading into ing financial market conditions to low-forecast number should not be ter surging 0.5 percent in January. including Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) recession and allow the Federal tighten. interpreted as a sign of labor mar- In February, employment and LinkedIn Corp (LNKD.N), Reserve to gradually raise interest Financial markets have priced ket weakness as companies are gains were likely concentrated in asserted that Congress has already rates this year. out bets of an interest rate rise at struggling to find qualified work- the services sector, with mining passed laws that establish what Nonfarm payrolls probably the Fed's March 15-16 policy ers to fill open positions. probably losing more jobs and companies could be obliged to do increased by 190,000 jobs last meeting and the probabilities for "Despite the weaker services manufacturing reversing some of for the government, and that the month in the U.S. Labor Depart- rate increases for the rest of the survey, we still expect solid pay- January's surprise increase. court case amounted to an "end ment's report due on Friday, with year remain rather small. roll gains in February. However, Mining payrolls have declined run" around those laws. Apple, and the unemployment rate holding at Significant data such as con- we should not be too surprised by 146,000 jobs since peaking in some of the other briefs, did not an eight-year low of 4.9 percent, sumer and business spending im- about a slowdown as the labor September 2014, with three-quar- go quite that far, but also asserted according to a Reuters survey of proved strongly in January though, market approaches full employ- ters of the losses in support activ- that Congress, not the courts, need- economists. leading to predictions that econom- ment," said chief U.S. economist ities. More losses are likely after ed to address the issue. Congress The labor market gained ic growth in the first quarter could at UniCredit Research in New oilfield services provider Hallibur- has struggled without success for 151,000 jobs in January, after the rise by at least a 2.5 percent at an York. ton Co (HAL.N) said last month years to address law-enforcement warmest temperatures in years annualized rate. The economy Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said it would cut a further 5,000 jobs concerns about encryption. The boosted hiring in weather-sensitive grew at a 1.0 percent pace in the the economy needs to create just because of a prolonged slump in victims' families argued that Ap- sectors like construction, helping fourth quarter of 2105. under 100,000 jobs a month to oil prices. ple's arguments were misplaced payrolls to rise by an average Economists say the improved keep up with growth in the work- A rebound is expected in pri- because the government had a val- 279,000 jobs per month in the growth outlook, together with ing age population. The labor force vate education jobs after a record id warrant, and "one does not en- fourth quarter last year. signs of inflation creeping up, could participation rate, or the share of 39,000 plunge in January. joy the privacy to commit a "The employment data should prompt the U.S. central bank to working-age Americans who are "There are large seasonal crime." The families also asserted reinforce that the recession debate lift borrowing costs in June. The employed or at least looking for a swings in that component caused that Apple "routinely modifies its is premature and overdone, and Fed raised its key overnight inter- job, is near four-decade lows. by winter holidays at private uni- systems" to comply with Chinese could strengthen the case for the est rate in December for the first While wage growth is expect- versities that probably weren't government directives. Apple has Fed not waiting too long," said time in nearly a decade. ed to have moderated in February, adjusted for properly in January. also advanced a free speech argu- Ryan Sweet, senior economist at SLOWER WAGE GROWTH economist say it would be largely There weren't actually mass firings ment, on the grounds that comput- Moody's Analytics in Westches- There is a risk, however, that payback for January's jump, which of college professors that we're er code is a form of expression and ter, Pennsylvania. payroll gains could come in below was driven by a calendar quirk. aware of," said Ted Wieseman, an cannot be coerced. Fears of a recession in the wake expectations after a survey on Wage growth is seen accelerating economist at Morgan Stanley in 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. SATURDAY . MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Lakhany Silk Mills’ (LSM) latest offering, the Komal Spring/ Summer Collection Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh 2016, will launch nationwide on March 4 (today). Featuring over 90 styles, the Khan made quite a few candid con- cotton-based line comprises both innovative and trendy designs. From the finesse fessions at the trailer launch of his SHRUTI IS upcoming film 'Fan'. While many of floral patterns to chic kurtis and intricate, elegant embroidery, this is a collection were amusing, one of them came BACK TO that speaks the unique and rich language of design; giving the Eastern woman the as a shocker! While replying to a fan's question on whether he came ROCKSTAR right mix of both tradition and style. by flight or train the first time he The prints constitute vibrant travelled to Mumbai, the actor re- MODE FOR colours, all imbued with vealed that he came to Mumbai by intricate embroidery. They train and was even slapped by a WOMEN'S will be available at all leading woman on that journey! Narrat- ing the ordeal, SRK said, "I came stories across the country by train for the first time when I DAY and also online, at came to Mumbai. The train would Shruti Haasan is all set to give www.lsmfabrics.com. turn into a local after entering her musical spirit a very special Who will make it big during Mumbai which I was not aware outlet this year. She's getting the 2016 lawn season? of. So I did not let a few people sit ready to release a very special Since 1952, LSM has been on my berth saying that it is mine, single in collaboration with mu- both a market leader and 'I paid for it.' I did offer it to a lady, sic directors Ehsaan and Loy on innovator in the Pakistani though, saying, 'you can sit but I the occasion of women's day this textile industry. won't let the men with you sit on year. The song is dedicated to a Its fabrics have not only my berth'. And that lady slapped woman's power to dream and her me real hard saying that 'it isn't never say die attitude to achieve remained in tune with the yours, it is everybody's." Not it. In addition to writing the lyr- latest trends and styles but quite the welcome one would ex- ics herself, Shruti has also have also been the driving pect into a new city In 'Fan', Khan worked with Ehsaan and Loy on force behind many of today’s will be seen playing two roles, one composing the music for the fashion standards. A diverse of a superstar Aryan Khanna and track. The idea is to release the brand with a versatile team, the other of his fan Gaurav, who audio track first on March 8 and LSM has something to offer comes across as his lookalike. Af- then release the video after a cou- to the fashion-oriented ter the teaser of the film and the ple of months. Pakistani woman, for all anthem track 'Jabra Fan' gave the Says an insider source, impression that it was a 'sweet and "Shruti's had a tremendously occasions. simple' kind of film, the trailer busy and fulfilling last year with Published in The Express might have surprised his fans, con- her films doing so well in Bolly- Tribune, March 4th, 2016. sidering that this 'fan' gets agitated wood and the South. With the after an unpleasant experience with Rukh Khan denied that the 'fan' character he plays bears resemblance to crazy film schedules, she's not his favourite star and wants to get his 'psycho' characters in films 'Darr' and 'Baazigar'. Directed by Maneesh had the time to work on her first even with him. However, Shah Sharma and produced by Aditya Chopra, 'Fan' releases on April 15. love : her music. This year, she's HERE'S WHAT KEEPING DEEPIKA BUSY IN TORONTO! Deepika Padukone may be away from the country shooting for her Hollywood debut, xxx in Toronto. But post pack up, the actress is back in the Bollywood zone. The actress has a lot of Bollywood film scripts that she has to read and decide. Deepika, who has given her 9th back to back hit (Bajirao Mastani) some months back is not in a hurry to sign her next Bollywood film. She has been reading a lot of different kind of Hindi film scripts back in Toronto. We have seen the actress pick her scripts carefully and that is exactly what her fans expect out of her. Her fans surely are eagerly waiting to watch her on committed to ensuring she sets screen. That has also created a aside time for her music, begin- lot of anticipation around her ing with is this special women's Hollywood debut in India. day song titled My Day in The Sun. She's always believed in causes dedicated to the empow- erment of women and in ensur- ing that there is a consistent en- deavour to inspire them to dream big - be it through her music or films." Talking about her special W Day track and her collaboration with Ehsaan and Loy, Shruti says, "I'm very excited about this collaboration with Ehsaan and Loy as I've grown up listening to them and to finally collabo- rate with them was wonderful. While writing this song, my main focus was giving a voice to all women. Its about our time, as women, to shine, to be strong and to epitomise the kind of woman we each want to be for Each one's journey is different and each battle is different. I was really glad to be able to write and sing this song. Musically, it real- Oscar-winning singer Adele nicer. ly goes back to the roots of what stopped to say "hello" to a 12- "Adele sat beside her and she I've always loved - very rock n year-old ailing fan here in the midst was talking to me and my other roll and something you can sing of her preparations for a gig. kid, she was so nice for wee Rebec- from the heart". The superstar was here on ca. I cannot put it into words what Speaking about their associ- Tuesday for a gig when she decid- it means,` the girl's mother told ation with Shruti and this song, ed to drop in on Rebecca Gibney Belfast Live. Ehsaan & Loy say, "Shruti is a after her mother Tracy launched a "Adele was in my house, sit- fantastic songwriter. Collaborat- campaign last year, reports ting on my hospital bed, Adele was ing on the song has been a cre- mirror.co.uk. in the Short Strand. It is unbeliev- atively fulfilling experience. Tracy, from Short Strand, had able her dream has come true. We've come up with a song which started a campaign last year in a Adele was just so nice,` she add- is very contemporary and hard- bid to help her daughter meet her ed. Rebecca is too ill to go to the hitting both musically and lyri- idol Adele. concert, but Adele had offered Tra- cally." "I am in shock, I got my ba- cy and family tickets for the gig at Does this mean that the rock- by's dream to come true. She was the SSE Arena which was held on star is set to return to her roots, so nice, she could not have been Tuesday. so to speak? we think so!

Singer Beyonce Knowles and her Jay Z kept it sporty in a den- husband Jay Z were spotted en- im jacket atop a white shirt, com- joying each other's company along plete with a black hat and a pair of with their daughter Blue Ivy fol- high-top Nike Air Command Force lowing rumours of a fight. trainers. At one point, he was seen It was reported recently that carrying his daughter who seem- Beyonce and Jay Z had a huge fight ingly fell asleep. Actress Nicole Kidman has been tress has won a London Evening in their Bel Air rental home. But it According to an eyewitness, nominated for an Olivier Award for Standard Theatre Award for the seems all's well between them as Beyonce and Jay Z were "engaged, her performance in `Photograph role, as well as a Best Actress the couple was spotted stepping clapping and having fun" at a birth- 51`. award at the WhatsOnStage out with their daughter on Febru- day party that they were attend- The 48-year-old spent two Awards. ary 27, reports aceshowbiz.com. ing, and Blue Ivy was "having a months in London's West End The Olivier Awards are recog- The "Formation" singer opted blast doing all the activities". playing the part of DNA research- nised as Britain's top theatre acco- for a vintage look, wearing a black The source added: "Everyone er Rosalind Franklin in the ac- lades, with other nominated per- printed sweatshirt and a ripped had a blast. The kids and adults claimed play, `Photograph 51`, formers including Oscar winner denim shirt. She accessorised her alike had so much fun that they written by Anna Ziegler, reports Mark Rylance and Benedict Cum- style with a pair of chunky heel stayed an extra 20 to 30 minutes femalefirst.co.uk. berbatch. The ceremony will take boots, a small cross body bag and after the party ended to enjoy ev- The `Grace of Monaco` ac- place on April 3 here. pink-framed glasses. erything." 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. SATURDAY . MARCH 05, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES KEI NISHIKORI A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO BRITAIN'S DAVIS CUP HOPES, SAYS MARK PETCHEY Mark Petchey says Japan's world No 6 Kei Nishikori offers Great Britain a different test to anything Barcelona claimed a 5-1 victory at er Claudio Bravo. they faced in their Davis Cup tri- Rayo Vallecano on Thursday night However, the home side failed umph last year. to become the first Spanish team to build on their bright start and Britain begin the defence of the in history to go 35 matches un- gifted Barca the opener with Car- trophy they won in November beaten in all competitions. los dropping a routine cross at the when they take on Japan in Bir- Ivan Rakitic (22) set Barca on feet of Rakitic, who made no mis- mingham this weekend and hopes their way to victory, capitalising take by sweeping the ball into an are high of a potential repeat tri- on an error from Rayo goalkeeper empty net. umph. Juan Carlos, before Lionel Messi Barca increased their advan- With world No 2 Andy Mur- (23) doubled their advantage. tage just two minutes later, Messi ray in the team, Leon Smith's Rayo were reduced to 10-men firing past Carlos after exchanging squad were always strong favou- shortly before the break after Di- passes with Neymar. rites last year and Murray dropped ego Llorente was a shown a It got worse for Rayo shortly just two sets in his eight singles straight red card for his challenge before the break after Llorente re- rubbers along the way to glory. on Rakitic and Barca made their ceived his marching orders, despite But world No 6 Nishikori is a extra man count with Messi (53, appearing to win the ball first in a more than capable performer and 72) completing his hat-trick with challenge with Rakitic. already has a title under his belt strikes either side of a Manucho After the interval, Messi piled this year having won in Memphis (57) consolation. further punishment on Rayo, fol- in February. Manuel Iturra also saw red for lowing up to score after Suarez had Murray has a 5-1 winning Rayo and Luis Suarez missed a seen his effort cannon back off the record over the Japanese No 1, his penalty before Arda Turan (86) post. only defeat coming at the 2014 wrapped up the scoring with his Rayo grabbed a goal back World Tour Finals, but Petchey first goal for Barca. through former Manchester Unit- believes another top ten ranked Victory ensured Barca ed forward Manucho, but any player gives the tie a different look. stretched their lead at the top of hope of an unlikely comeback was "Obviously last year you al- La Liga to eight points, while Rayo extinguished when Iturra was ways felt Andy had the edge in the drop a place to 17th after suffer- shown a straight red card for haul- singles, it always felt like he was ing their first league defeat in sev- ing back Sergio Busquets in front the better player in the one v ones. en games. of goal. Though Suarez saw his If he tees it up against Kei his su- Luis Enrique's side have not penalty stopped superbly by Car- periority on the court is not going tasted defeat in the league since los, Messi completed his hat-trick to be quite as overwhelming," October 3, when they suffered a soon after when he slotted past Petchey told Sky Sports. Great 2-1 loss away at Sevilla. the advancing Rayo goalkeeper. Britain won the Davis Cup in 2015 Barca initially struggled to get Substitute Turan rounded off a Great Britain won the Davis into their stride at Campo de Fut- perfect evening for Barcelona and Cup in 2015 bol de Vallecas, with Rayo coming Enrique by scoring his first goal "That is something that gives closest during the opening exchang- for the club, heading Jeremy a different dynamic heading into es, but Ardi Embarba was denied Mathieu's cross into the top cor- this tie to anything they had to by a fine save from Barca goalkeep- ner. deal with last year. "Let's not underestimate the Japanese team, there is an awful Warriors defeat lot of class with Nishikori and with Thunder to tie [Taro] Daniel as well who is cer- tainly not to be underestimated." NBA record with Petchey concedes Britain go into the World Group first-round 44th consecutive tie as likely winners despite the home win prospect of a tough encounter that could go all the way to Sunday's Steph Curry turned an offensive final singles rubber - saying Mur- rebound into a three-point play to ray's return to action for the first Carl Frampton has been ordered tus. The governing body says un- time since his Australian Open fi- highlight a 10-point, fourth-quar- to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux by beaten Rigondeaux's "impressive ter spurt as the Golden State War- nal defeat to Novak Djokovic and July 27 to avoid being stripped of record and accomplishments" mean home advantage should give them riors outlasted the Oklahoma City his WBA super-bantamweight ti- that he must be Frampton's next Thunder 121-106 to tie the all-time the edge. tle. The Belfast fighter (22-0- opponent. Andy Murray's (right) lost just NBA record for consecutive home KO14) added the belt to his IBF "Frampton, Rigondeaux, and wins. two sets in eight singles rubbers strap with a split decision win over their respective teams have been last year The Warriors' second win over Scott Quigg, live on Sky Sports notified that they must fight on or the Thunder in six days was their "I think they are favourites giv- Box Office. before 27 July 2016," said the en what they achieved last year, 44th in a row at Oracle Arena, al- In the post-fight press confer- WBA on its website. lowing them to match the record confidence is high amongst the team ence, Frampton's manager Barry The statement added that the and Andy is playing," Petchey set by the Chicago Bulls from McGuigan appeared to rule out the WBA was "honoured" to have March 30, 1995, to April 4, 1996. added. Cuban as a possible opponent, Frampton as its champion. "Despite having a lay-off since The win also capped a three- saying: "He's amazing on the back "We congratulate him on a game, season-series sweep for the Australia I don't see any real prob- foot but he's negative. What do we performance that was as intelligent lems with him coming back in and Warriors (55-5) over the Thunder gain by fighting him?" as it was effective." (42-20). Those games included a hitting the ground running. He But the WBA has made Rigo- The Cuban - who was also knows how to hit a tennis ball, 121-118 Warriors win in overtime ndeaux (16-0-KO10) its mandato- stripped of his WBO world title - at Oklahoma City on Saturday. that's not going to have been for- ry challenger, despite stripping fights in Britain later this month gotten amongst the nappy duty! As was the case last week, the him of the title last year due to when he takes on British champi- Thunder held a fourth-quarter lead "It's at home, having won it inactivity and promoting Quigg on Jazza Dickens in Liverpool on last year the atmosphere will be before the Warriors, who have re- from interim to full champion sta- March 12. corded the best record in NBA his- phenomenal when they walk out tory through 59 games, rallied. on Friday. From that perspective The Warriors, who trailed by there is not going to be any lack of as many as nine in the third quar- desire from that team to put in a ter and were down 83-82 entering performance." the final period, took the lead for Having ended a 79-year wait good on back-up guard Shaun Liv- for Davis Cup glory, Petchey be- ingston's two free throws in the lieves Great Britain could play first minute of the final quarter. with greater freedom having final- The advantage was just 99-97 ly won the trophy - but admits before Draymond Green scored things could go the other way with from the interior with 5:47 left, a degree of expectancy now on the triggering the game-breaking, 10-0 Laura Trott produced a magnifi- gave me that buzz back and that champion, was delighted to return in the semis was not what I ex- to take those opportunities, and it team. "Expectations are high and run. cent late surge to win gold in the nice feeling that I strive to achieve." to the podium after being dogged pected, and then to get a bronze paid off. you can argue things either way," Curry's key play came after women’s scratch race at the UCI Trott insisted she had not been by a long-term knee injury and a medal, I can't get my head around "The last four weeks, I have the Sky Sports expert said. backcourt mate Klay Thompson Track Cycling World Champion- motivated by the disappointment cancer scare in the past two years. it. seen really rapid improvement. "The pressure to defend, want- had misfired on a three-point at- ships in London as Becky James of Britain's poor performance in She said: "It's just absolutely "I got struck on the inside. I This is the best I've been since be- ing to go deep, have another deep tempt. added a silver in the keirin. team pursuit qualifying earlier in amazing. I can't believe it. For me, could have gone around on the out- fore my injury, which is amazing run this year and the feeling it gave The NBA's reigning Most Just hours after being part of a the day. to be back at my first worlds, ev- side, but it is a long way round and to be back racing at a half-decent British tennis after the team did so Valuable Player grabbed the re- calamitous performance by Great She said: "I'm a racer. I would erything was a bonus. Top three a gap opened up, and you have got level." well. But on the other hand they bound, circled back to the top of Britain's women in the team pur- have gone into that race wanting have won it, so the pressure is off the key before changing directions suit, Trott bounced back in sensa- to win, regardless what happened to a large degree as they've shown and using an Andrew Bogut screen tional fashion by claiming the sixth in the team pursuit. I just love rac- that as a team they are able to go to get to the rim for a lay-up on world title of her career. ing in front of a home crowd. on and win it. You could argue that which he was fouled. His success- The 23-year-old powered to "I just had to put it to the back it is now a slightly easier tie for ful free throw completed the three- the front of the field going into the of my mind. I didn't know I was Britain. point play, pushing the Golden last lap and then held off late doing the scratch. I hadn't 100 per "The feeling is good within State lead to 106-97 and setting counter-attacks to beat the Neth- cent said yes until yesterday. I British tennis and the Davis Cup the stage for a runaway finish. erlands' Kirsten Wild into second guess I just took it one event at a camp is strong. Curry finished with a game- place and Canada's Stephanie Ro- time. I did the team pursuit, put "Whenever you have got some high 33 points for the Warriors, orda into third. that to the back of my mind and like Andy committed to a cause in who have won seven in a row. Al- Trott claimed the sixth world reset and started again." the manner he was last year and most half his points came on five title of her career As Trott celebrated, James clearly is going to be in the open- three-pointers, although it took Trott claimed the sixth world handed Britain their second medal ing tie, you have got a great shot of him 15 attempts to get them. title of her career of the World Championships in the repeating - a lot will depend on Thompson added 21 points on Trott said: "It's incredible. I'm keirin. Andy's season in terms of what he 10-for-19 shooting, and Green celebrating on my own a little bit The 24-year-old had looked plays with the Olympics being contributed 14 points, eight re- here. It's much nicer to be with the boxed in on the inside of the track this year. bounds and seven assists to Gold- [team pursuit] girls alongside me. but forced an opening and surged "That is one of those unknown en State's fifth consecutive home It's my second individual [world through it to finish behind winner variables this year in terms of how win over the Thunder. title]. I've kind of forgot what the Kristina Vogel, of Germany, and far this team can go. If he is able to Kevin Durant had 32 points omnium individual [in 2012] felt runner-up Anna Meares, of Aus- come out for every tie than the and Russell Westbrook 22 for the like. tralia. odds of defending the cup go up Thunder. "To go out there and win, it James, the 2013 keirin world significantly." Michael van Gerwen produces masterful win over Peter Wright to take top spot in Premier League Michael van Gerwen produced a Mins2/1 his first loss of the campaign. snall Gary Anderson also took his tally to four points, but was forced to grind out a 7-4 win over the rock-bottom Robert Thornton. masterful win against Peter Wright Van Gerwen set the highest Taylor had earlier started the And in the closing encounter, Smith exchanged a string of breaks with Van Barneveld, before finally sealing a 7-5 victory. to take top spot on night five of ever televised average when he re- night with a ruthless 7-1 win over the Premier League in Exeter. corded 123.4 in the night four win Lewis, who struggled from the The world No 1 blasted his over Smith and served up another opening leg. way to a 7-2 victory over Wright blistering display of scoring. 'The Power' continued to pun- and recorded the sixth-highest av- A shell-shocked 'Snakebite' ish slack finishing by his fellow erage of 116.67 in the history of Wright did not miss a single dart at Stoke man and ended with a 54 televised darts, just a week after a finish, hitting both his doubles per cent success rate on his dou- his record-breaking performance in first time, but Van Gerwen sent bles. Aberdeen. out an early warning with back- James Wade is back on track Phi Taylor sits just behind Van to-back double 20s for a 100 fin- after he completed a 7-5 win over Gerwen in second place after he ish. Dave Chisnall, which included a racked up his fourth win of the Wright responded with a 121 wonderful 161 checkout from 'The competition against Adrian Lewis, on the bull to close the deficit to 3- Machine.' while Michael Smith moved off the 2, sparking another red-hot spell James Wade completed a siz- bottom with a maiden victory in from Van Gerwen, who reeled off zling 161 checkout on the bulls- the competition against Raymond the next four legs. eye in his match against Dave Chi- van Barneveld. Completing victory on double snall James Wade completed a siz- Jordan Rhodes to Score and 11, Van Gerwen sealed his fourth zling 161 checkout on the bulls- Middlesbrough to Win in 90 straight win, while Wright suffered eye in his match against Dave Chi- 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. SATURDAY. MARCH 05. 2016-Hoot 15, 1394 H.S Vol:X Issue No:216 Price: Afs.15

Belarus to forge stronger ties with Afghanistan AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has direct- ed the concerned ambassador to ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Af- be sent to focal points of the APT- turning to Pakistan. ized Afghan exports transit through enhance cooperation with Afghan- ghanistan have agreed on a facilita- TCA for consideration. The first For providing legal cover to railways. istan. tion package to boost bilateral trade meeting of the committee would trucks movement, both sides Afghanistan’s request for There will be no secret deal According to BeITA, the pres- to $5 billion in the next few years. be held in the second week of agreed to finalize bilateral trans- change in destination of transit car- ident has set such a task when ap- An official of the commerce March 2016 in Karachi, the offi- port agreement. The draft agree- go from Torkham to Chaman and in peace talks: Abdullah pointing Oleg Ivanov Ambassador ministry told Dawn that in the first cial added. ment would be shared within one vice versa, filed by the Afghan trad- to Tajikistan and concurrently to step the two countries would ex- It was also agreed that both month, the official added. ers, was agreed to by Pakistan cus- Afghanistan. change revised draft transit trade sides will organize a pilot run of For transit through railways, toms. “Afghanistan is a country with agreement, by March 15 at the lat- Afghan trucks from Torkham and Pakistan Railways said that work Pakistan has also agreed to great potential. Our country can est. “We are expecting to receive Chaman up to Wagah carrying Af- was in progress to operationalize consider Afghan government pro- get lucrative offers and dividends the draft from Kabul within the ghan exports to India, and Paki- Azakhel Dry Port in Peshawar by posal to waive guarantee require- there. This is a rich developing deadline,” the official added. stani trucks from Torkham and December 2016. ments for items not prone to di- country, the population is not Draft amendments would then Chaman carrying Pakistani exports It was agreed that in the mean- version and abolish the current small. The region is very advanta- be deliberated at the 7th meeting to Sher Khan Bandar in Afghani- time, the Federal Board of Reve- negative list for transit trade. geous strategically. It will not be of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit stan (near Tajikistan border). nue (FBR) will consider the re- The Afghan side also agreed to neglected. Therefore it is necessary Trade Coordination Authority The Afghan trucks will be al- quest of Pakistan Railways to al- issue web-based one customs (We- to pay very serious consideration (APTTCA) to be held in last week lowed to carry Pakistani exports low pilot run at Peshawar Canton- BOC) user IDs for the country’s to this country, of course, not for- of this month, the official added. to Afghanistan on their return jour- ment stations for transshipment of non-commercial importers through getting Tajikistan,” President “Kabul will host the crucial meet- ney. Similarly, Pakistani trucks will Afghan transit goods. The Paki- its commerce ministry, the official Lukashenko said. ing to finalize the revised treaty.” be allowed to carry Tajik and Cen- stani side shall examine the Afghan added. Pointing to the relations be- According to the Article 50 of tral Asian export cargo while re- proposal for allowing container- (Dawn) tween Belarus and Tajikistan, the the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit president said that both countries Trade Agreement (APTTA), the The Chief Executive Officer country. were enjoying friendly relations. provisions of the present agree- US deputy special envoy hopes (CEO), Abdullah Abdullah, as- He stressed that Afghan secu- Belarus has strong positions in that ment shall be revised and amended sured Afghans that there will be rity forces should be equipped with country. The relationship with the appropriately to facilitate transit peace talks to yield positive outcome no secret deal made in the peace modern weapons. "Afghan air leadership of Tajikistan is very trade. talks with the Taliban. force should be equipped. Gaps good, WAM reported.”Through “Both sides have agreed in KABUL: The US deputy special tion Group (QCG) in its fourt attend the talks with the Afghan Talking on the occasion of the that our army has should be filled Tajikistan we can cooperate with principle that the provisions of representative for Afghanistan meeting in Kabul had agreed on a representatives in Pakistan in ear- 21st death anniversary of Abdul and national police and local po- the neighboring states. The coop- TIR Convention, to which both and Pakistan on Thursday said she roadmap and a date for direct talks ly March.However, the Taliban Ali Mazari, a leader of the Islamic lice should be equipped, otherwise eration with Tajikistan should be Pakistan and Afghanistan are sig- believed the Afghan peace talks between the Afghan government have so far said nothing about their Unity Party of Afghanistan on a disaster will be on the way to further promoted,” Lukashenko natories, will be adopted in APT- would produce a positive outcome. and the Taliban. The four-nation participation in the talks. Friday, Abdullah praised Mazari's come," he said. said. TA to the extent possible,” the of- She expressed these views group had invited the Taliban to (Pajhwok) efforts in the way of security and He also criticized the share of ficial said. during a meeting with Afghanistan justice in Afghanistan. political power in the National 24 militants killed, The TIR convention, effective National Security Advisor Hanif He hoped that peace efforts Unity Government. from January 2016, provides that Atmar in Kabul, a statement from of the Afghan government will "We have five ministers in the 20 wounded during goods travel in customs secure ve- the National Security Council’s bring lasting peace to Afghanistan. National Unity Government hicles or containers, and through- office said. "I want to assure people that (NUG), but authority of these counter-terrorism out the journey duties and taxes at The deputy special envoy also there will be no secret deal in peace ministers is with others. We want operations: MoD risk would be covered by an inter- reassured Afghanistan of her coun- talks and freedom of people and a real partnership and management nationally valid guarantee. try’s continued support in differ- their achievements will be main- in all areas including police and At least 24 anti-government armed The official said that this ent fields. tained," he said. national army," said Mohaqiq. militants were killed 24 others amendment would help Pakistan Atmar said Afghanistan was Abdullah commended bravery The Council of Protection and were wounded in the latest export goods to Central Asian optimistic about the outcome of and sacrifices of Afghan troops. Stability in Afghanistan also counter-terrorism operations con- States without payment of duty the peace process and the pres- "We applaud bravery of our stressed on equipping of Afghan ducted by the Afghan National and taxes via Afghanistan. ence of the US and China in the security forces. When peace and security forces and an end to war Security Forces (ANSF), the Min- Both sides have agreed to con- process had strengthened Afghan security comes to Afghanistan, in the country. istry of Defense (MoD) said. The stitute a high-level committee to people and government’s opti- they will be heroes of peace," he "We support the peace efforts operations were conducted in var- discuss the issues relating to vi- mism in this regard. However, At- added. that are transparent. However, the ious provinces of the country to sas, road permits and guarantees mar said the Afghan government Meanwhile, the second depu- government should fight against clear the areas where the anti-gov- for the implementation of TIR would not talk with elements who ty of the CEO, Mohammad Mo- corruption and should do some- ernment armed militants are active. Convention in both countries, the continued to unleash violence haqiq, stressed on peace talks with thing to bring security and resolve A statement by MoD said at least official said. against the people of Afghanistan. the Taliban. He, however, threat- the challenges faced by people," 10 militants were killed and 5 oth- The recommendations of the The Quadrilateral Coordina- ened that if peace talks failed, then said Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, a ers were wounded in Achin dis- committee, the official said, would people are ready to defend their member of the council. trict of Nangarhar 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.