Today's PDF Version

www.facebook.com/thekabultimes twitter.com/thekabultimes E-mail:[email protected]

thekabultimes.gov.af Hoot 04, 1397 HS Saturday, February 23, 2019

Afghans USD 01 GBP 01 INR 1000 PKR 1000 EUR 01 IRR 1000 AED 01 fortunate, as productive new AFN 75.40 AFN 97.65 AFN 1055 AFN 539 AFN 85.18 AFN 6 AFN 20.28 year on the way President Ghani meets his Turkmen President Ghani chairs high economic council meeting counterpart in Ashgabat KABUL: Chaired by Presi- granting the contract to the re- were not clear, asking for clari- dent Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, spective company. After overall fication of modality of number- the meeting of high economic discussion in connection with ing for the bidding companies. council was held at Arg’s Cha- the company’s request, mem- President Ghani instructed na- har Chenar Palace. bers of the council asked for tional procurement authority to In the meeting, issues as further information in this re- cooperate with ministry of SODEVCO’s request for pro- gard. mines and petroleum in con- cessing and exporting chromite Meanwhile, the country’s nection with numbering and to outside, bidding process of President said that the amount evaluation of the companies. Nangarhar talc project, trans- of the company’s current invest- Afterwards, transferring ferring of possession of Wasel ment, management system and plan of Wasel Telecom’s license Telecom to Alkozay Group Com- its legal and economic aspects possession to Alkozay Group panies complex and getting should be clarified so that deci- Companies complex was deliv- fixed sum as non-metallic sion would be made in this re- ered by minister of telecommu- things’ issuance right were dis- gard. Afterwards, officials of the nication and Information Tech- cussed. ministry of mines delivered nology to the meeting. After First, officials for ministry their information in connection overall discussion, members of of mines and petroleum deliv- with bidding process of Nangar- the council said the issue need- ered information regarding har talc project (Shirzad Block) ed further technical discussions, SODEVCO’s request for pro- and four top companies for bid- adding that the issue should be cessing and exporting chromite ding the project. further discussed in a commit- to outside, condition of current Members of the meeting tee which had been previously chromite contracts and their said that guarantees of invest- formed for this purpose. President Mohammad trade and transit, implementa- ing the construction of a rail- ulari office of the Turkmen suggestions in connection with ment of the bidding companies The Kabul Times Ashraf Ghani held a one-on-one tion of regional projects and war way line and a gas pipeline. Ministry of Industries and Re- meeting with his Turkmen on terrorism, the office said. The signed documents was lations about Aqina-Andkhoy counterpart Gurbanguly Ber- During the meeting, sever- a Memorundom of Understand- railway construction, said the dimuhamedov Thursday last al agreements have been signed ing (MoU) between the Afghan agency. week, in Ashgabat, the capital in front of the two countries National Archive and the Na- Agreement on air-aviation of Turkmenistan, the Presiden- leaders, according to the state- tional Institute of Language, services between the two coun- tial Office said in a statement ment. Literature and Manuscript tries, agreement on the two referring to its website. The signed agreement in- named as Makhtom Quli from countries international border The two countries leaders cluded the Turkmen Academy of Sci- railway connection and an MoU spoke about expansion of mu- Turkmenistan is working ences, railway project that on the two countries mutual tual cooperation in terms of re- on implementation of projects inked between Afghanistan customhouse cooperation, gional connectivity, economy, involving Afghanistan, includ- Railway Authority and Demir- See P6 Esmatullah Alizada should be enlisted as entry-test winner, President Ghani Kabul School teachers KABUL: President Moham- ning eligible scores, and heard The President met Alizada country’s youth have for the na- call on VP Danesh mad Ashraf Ghani received Es- his complaints, said a statement at the Delkusha Palace and said tional army and that he should KABUL: A large number of ers enumerated lack of build- praising the participants for matullah Alizada who failed to from the presidential Palace the Alizada was an example of spe- be enlisted as the winner of the school teachers of Kabul’s west ings and classes for a number sharing their problems with win the entry-test, despite win- other day. cial commitment which the exam. called on second vice president of schools in the west of Kabul, him considered the move as He blamed the process of en- Sarwar Danesh on Thursday lack of drinking water and lack good and constructive for ad- try-test as non-transparent and and shared their demands as of teacher vacant posts as prin- dressing problems of the peo- said that their work method was lack of possibilities in their cipal problems in schools. ple in education system. a sabotage of the national spirit schools. In the meeting, teach- Second Vice President by The Kabul Times and that their measures should be clear to all and provide a con- victing response. The president instructed the National Security Council Of- fice for creation of a special committee with national perspective to review the regulations and the ways of Marshal Fahim’s entry test and that there should be a special reserve for those winning eligible scores. The Kabul Times ‘France is Afghanistan’s culture & art partner,” Minister Safi “Anybody taking arms against people & KABUL: Acting minister of information and culture Hasi- na Safi has met with French government should be suppressed,” NSA newly-appointed ambassador to KABUL: National Security Peace Consultative Loya Jirga further said that the ongoing put an end to the ongoing war Kabul David Martinon and dis- Advisor Dr. Hamdullah Mohib is a good opportunity for youth war in the country was not the that has changed to a culture. cussed the country’s coopera- in a meeting with youth of Kan- to share their visions in connec- war of Afghans, but it was a war National security advisor tion with Afghanistan in the dahar, Helmand, Zabul and tion with peace and the coun- that has been imposed by for- further said that Afghanistan field of art and culture. In the meeting, French am- Uruzgan by praising the people try’s future. eign intelligence networks, add- government was serious towards bassador to Kabul by briefing of Loy Kandahar for supporting National security advisor ing that Afghan youth should counter mafia and powerful fig- related the embassy’s programs the government’s programs, ures, stressing that anybody said that there had been French peace process and ANDSF said taking arms against the govern- archaeologists working under big Kandahar had been one of ment and people should be sup- the framework of the French stable and secure provinces of pressed. Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan (DAFA) in Afghan- the country for centuries, hop- “It is a time to cut down de- istan’s Badakhshan, Helmand, ing the Afghan-owned and Af- pendency to foreigners and Balkh, Panjshir and Kabul’s expansion of cultural relations introduction of the country’s ghan-led peace process would work to reach self-sufficiency,” Balahesar. between the two countries. real culture and art. succeed in this critical time. Dr. Mohib said, asking Afghan He also briefed regarding Afterwards, acting minister Acting minister of informa- “The initiative of peace is youth to seriously cooperate activities of France Culture of information and culture Ha- tion and culture called France in the hand of Afghanistan peo- with the government in fight- Center where cultural, academ- sina Safi considered the activi- as Afghanistan’s partner in art ic, literal and educational pro- ple and government and no deal- ing powerful armed figures and ty and work of DAFA in Afghan- and culture, recalling of the grams and exhibitions were istan as useful and significant country’s role in supporting the ing will be followed in this re- mafia. held, considering holding such and praised the France Cultur- rights of women, children and gard,” Dr. Mohib said, adding The Kabul Times programs as useful for further al Center for its activities in youth. The Kabul Times �� Twitter.com/thekabultimes Saturday, February 23, 2019 3rd Hoot uprising; unforgettable day in Afghanistan history THE KABUL TIMES Following the invasion of This collective move indicat- es. They were asked by security Jada-e-Maiwand where some Afghanistan by former Soviet ed that Afghans were against the forces’ loudspeakers to dis- other people joined them and Union troops, the 3rd Hoot up- foreign troops and their pres- perse, but they refused. Securi- chanted slogans against the rising took place in Kabul, ence in the country. According ty forces then started firing at government. where people stormed to streets to Fawad, a Kabul resident who the protesters, and subsequent- The protests continued si- of the city chanting slogans was one participants in the pro- ly Soviet tanks were sent to multaneously with uprising of against foreign troops.It was a test, most of the people in the quell the demonstrators. After Balahesar military garrison lo- historical moment as Kabul res- city got out their homes and pro- six days of unrest, a large num- cated in old city of Kabul on 3rd idents displayed their firm de- tested against Soviet troops. ber of civilians were killed or August of 1979. The main pur- termination, coordination, uni- This uprising was changed to a injured. There has been no re- pose of the military uprising ty and solidarity against the in- national movement against the port of death toll, but some re- was to capture Radio Television vasion. Red Army and the so-called reports have said that nearly 4,000 of Afghanistan, but failed to do Early morning of 3rd Hoot of gime of Kabul that started to protesters were shot to dead as so. Despite the fact that the peo- 1358, thousands of Kabul resi- suppress it mercilessly. a result of direct shots by Sovi- ple of Afghanistan by giving lots dents got out of their homes, Demonstrations were held et troops and Afghan security of sacrifices forced Soviet troops gathered in squares and raised across the whole city against forces. to leave the country, there is still flag of objection against invad- the Kabul government and Protests began on 23 June war and peace has not been ing troops. against the Soviet occupation. 1979 when a number of Kabul maintained across the country. The people were chanting Many residents chanted Allahu residents mostly Shiites from The 3rd Hoot uprising has shown slogans against presence of Red Akbar whilst the military fired Chandawol attacked on a police that the people of Afghanistan Army and even school girls par- rockets in the air to silent them. check post in the area. The pro- and their determination for in- ticipated in the protest, asking Protesters peacefully marched testors took arms and ammuni- dependence and freedom of the foreign troops to leave their through streets, chanting reli- tions from the check post and their country is undefeatable. Editorial country immediately. gious and anti-Soviet messag- stormed to the street towards Lailuma Noori Afghans fortunate, as UN welcomes changes in productive new year on the way electoral commissions Welcoming changes within missions’ commissioners and Afghan people to hold a sound so the people can confidently he latest heavy snowfall and showers of rains that cov electoral commissions, UN of- heads, a proper system is need- election, because, the last elec- take part in a process to select ficials in Afghanistan stressed ed to be created, an issue that tion has been facing with seri- their future president. Tered all provinces of the country, raised hopes among that parliamentary elections’ should be paid heed to hold ous problems and challenges, “The last experiences results should be soon finalized transparent elections, he fur- an expert on Afghanistan issues should not be repeated and the thousands of farmers who feared the ongoing draught would and declared. ther said. Sahib Nazar Muradi said. people’s trust should not get affect the whole areas of the country, as it seriously felt in They expected the govern- Expressing concern over Thus, the international harmed in elections transpar- ment, presidential elections’ frauds in recruiting electoral community should support the ency and the commissions some provinces, during the last summer. runners and civil entities to re- commissions’ members, a uni- government of Afghanistan to should not deceive them any- The consecutive snowfall and rain, this winter, brought cruit eligible persons in the versity lecturer Amidzoy said hold transparent and on-time more,” another political expert commissions. serious attention should be paid elections, he went on to say. Jamal Farahmand said. cheers to growers, who hoped they would get rid of the drought, Recently, the government of to assign eligible and patriotic The people of Afghanistan He added this is the Afghan Afghanistan have sacked all individuals in electoral commis- have experienced elections people right to use their vote in as they see the new year promising after years of water crisis heads and in-charges of the sions, because, if this issue is three times, they believe if the a transparent and fair elections that affected thousands of their livestock, and forced them electoral commissions and the followed by presidential candi- process is held transparently, in which has been stressed in judicial organs banned them dates, each of them would vote they can experience democra- electoral law, thus, the govern- leave their localities. from travel. for their relevant persons. cy, he added. ment should do its best to hold A political figures Fazel Ah- Afghanistan has spent more Calling elections the only transparent and timely elec- The still continuing rain and snowfall have covered nearly mad Menavi believes if the com- than one billion dollars to hold way that can lead Afghanistan tions. all provinces of the country, including the capital Kabul, where missions’ members to be divid- elections over the last years, but towards democracy, he stressed This comes as if the elector- ed among the presidential run- unfortunately, it has failed to the government of Afghanistan al entities can have a proper the officials of the Afghanistan Meteorology Authority (AMA) ners, the upcoming elections establish trustable electoral should practice changes in elec- management, there is no doubt believed it an end to the critical water crisis. would face with serious chal- entities, he added. toral commissions in coordina- the people of Afghanistan would lenges. Reforming electoral system tion with civil society entities take part in elections process. Thousands of livestock have been perished due to lack of Beside assigning the com- is among the basic needs of the and in a democratic atmosphere Suraya Raiszada feed accessibility, mostly in the northern Afghanistan draught affected regions, while tens of thousands of people left their regions seeking assistance in the major cities of the country. This year would be productive, and both the farmers and the related organs are optimistic for a bright future and good yield from their fruitful farmlands, as the latest snowfall brought them hopes. Nearly all the farmers wheat cultivated lands in most parts of the country were destroyed by the drought in 2018. There has been 15 to 20 percent decrease in rainfall last year that resulted in damages to crops in 14 provinces in the country’s northern, northeast and northwest. In some northern mountainous provinces of the country, up News in details.... to one meter of snow has so far been recorded, while in some Terror, explosion, other, it was estimated higher. suicide (End) Now people are happy with rains that began this winter, raising hopes for better yield next summer. The country’s meteorological office forecasted continued snow and rainfall in most parts of the country and hoped the ongoing drought sweeping northern and southern parts of the country would decrease. The AMA has reportedly said the country was expected to receive an average of 270 millimeters of rain this year against the average annual rainfall of 230mm. Anyway, the authorities shouldn’t forget that the level of drought affected provinces were much higher than the rains expected to meet the problem. So, both the government and the related organs should make effort to fill the blanks created from the past years’ drought affected regions and do their best to provide enough cooperation with the farmers, beside their hope to yield more this year, compared the past. �� Twitter.com/thekabultimes Saturday, February 23 , 2019 Practical steps needed to overcome drug addiction Drugs addiction is one of the py cultivation, drug production Evidents in Afghanistan The Independent Adminis- main and serious problems in and trafficking that created dev- show that large number of ad- tration Reforms and Civil Ser- Afghanistan that its vast side astating calamity of addiction dicts have been affected due to vices Commission (IARCSC) effects strongly damages physi- among people particularly migrations to neighboring coun- has recently announced that in cal and psychological life of in- youth and at present hundreds tries especially Iran. It no doubt order to prevent imaginary em- dividuals, family, as well as so- thousands Afghan men and requires serious regional and ployees and better planning of ciety, economy and culture of women have been addicted. global cooperations and no human resources, Biometric Afghans. Addiction impacts everybody country is able to settle it alone. system would be implemented Addiction to drugs is one of including poor and rich, liter- Drug traffickers even trap in government departments. the biggest threats in Afghani- ate and illiterate, male and fe- children and force and lead In their conversations with stan and its derivatives serious- male and damage them indis- them to addiction. In order to The Kabul Times reporter a ly affect brain activity and caus- criminately. As a result of in- prevent addiction of elders and number of government employ- es nervousness and depression. creasing addiction and its un- childrens, giving awareness is ees and civil society activists The threat and danger of drugs controllable penetration, indi- the only better and effective so- expressed different opinions. is not less than terrorism, and vidual, social, family and eco- lution. Because we can’t task a Touching on two main princi- chemical and biological weap- nomic damages are inflicted on police to everybody to prevent ples on biometric of employees, ons in the world. This potential society. addiction. But we can establish civil society activist Aziz Rafiy- threat destroys the mankind life Taking into account slight awareness giving centers in ee said, if ICARCS is excpted to secretly and slowly and acts and insufficient treatment fa- capital and provinces to explain launch biometric system in gov- more affective than every lethal cilities in the country, the gov- disadvantages of drugs to com- ernment departments, it should weapon and beside physical ernment must consider it as a munity. The government should focus on the principle of prefer- damages, it leaves behind dan- national challenge. Counter- prevent supply of drugs in local ence of regulation to relations gerous mental and psychologi- drugs campaign requires pre- markets and decisively fight and meritocracy. If biometric cal effects. cise and firm steps in order to drug traffickers, prosecute and takes place for preventing of Wars and insurgency have eliminate this nasty phenome- punish them. employment of one person in provided a suitable bed for pop- non from Afghanistan. Masouda Qarizada several positions it would be effective to an extent on the con- effective. man of IARCSC Nadir Naderi According to this program, dition of domination of the prin- This process could be use- said, for better planning of hu- specifications of civil services ciple of regulation to relations, ful in identification of govern- man resources in the country, employees following registra- otherwise, it would be another ment employees but those who it was necessary for us to speed tion in banking card is connect- corruption. are leading the government de- up socio-economic development ed to payment system of the Rafiyee went on to say, bio- partments, should try to employ- process using inclusive, effec- MoF. metric is a good step for statis- ee eligible individuals, other- tive system plus modern tech- After implementation in tics and other parts of planning. wise this system would fail. nology and pave the way for sus- IARCSC, this process will be But how this system would be The Independent Adminis- tainability of different informa- implemented in the Ministry of trative Reforms and Civil Ser- tion fields in Afghanistan. implemented. Education and then would be vices Commission (IARCSC) In opinion of IARCSC offi- From security point of view, generalized in other depart- plans to register all basic data cials precise registration of data Afghanistan is in a vulnerable ments. Based on available data, conditions and this issue has its of civil services, employees in on civil services employees in a at present there are about own problems. The government an inclusive, unified and mod- central data base helps proper 424000 civil services employees should be careful. ern system of Human Resourc- planning of human resources in Afghanistan. The officials of Abdul Qadir a government es Management (HRMIS) in and prevent existence of imagi- IARCSC expect with registra- employee said, implementation one year. Last week registration nary employees. of this system would be effec- of data in information system In data system of HRM, iden- tion of Civil Services data in tive partially. Some times be- of Human Resources Manage- tity, work background and qual- Human Resources Data Sys- fore reports were released on ment was officially started with ifications of civil services em- tem, the precise data of employ- existence of imaginary soldiers registration of chairman and ployees are registered. Biomet- ees would be fixed and imagi- in Armed forces specially ANP. commissioners of IARCSC. ric data of CSE includes finger- nary employees would be pre- We hope biometric would prove Talking on this issue, chair- print, photo, Iris. vented. Shukria Kohistani Ireland look to positives after Research reveals severe lack of water along Harirod River latest loss against the Afghans For the first time in an coming down (at 9pm) in the last and Chase, who had figures of banking on victory. They will be A research by Afghan Insti- Tedzhen. State for Disaster Management. eight-match losing run against seven overs, it is definitely 3-112 in 8.3 overs in the Oman disappointed not to take anoth- tute of Strategic Studies shows The river originates in the The research shows that Afghanistan in Twenty20 crick- something I will think about (if tournament, justified the selec- er wicket and, although Stirling that water level has dropped by Baba mountain range, part of with the expansion of the agri- et, the game went to the last over I win the toss in the next tors' faith with the wicket of used only one over of spin, he 50 percent in Harirod River wa- the Hindu Kush system, and culture sector in Iran, the utili- but, defending a below-par 133 games)," he said. captain Ashgar Afghan with his was banking on the pacemen ter zones, affecting many areas follows a relatively straight zation of water from the Har- - although Ireland took five "Afghanistan have such second ball and conceded only finishing the job they had start- around the river in Herat prov- course to the west. Still some irod basin has significantly in- wickets for 50 - they could not good spinners that they restrict one run off the bat in that open- ed. ince in the west of Afghanistan. 200 kilometers upstream from creased while Afghanistan fac- make another breakthrough. really well when you are chas- ing over. The Irish batting never got Experts who have worked on Herat the river meets the Jam es severe drought along the ba- The cool heads of Moham- ing but I will go into Saturday's Rankin then took two wick- going as mystery spinner the research said excessive use River at the site of the Minaret sin. mad Nabi and Najibullah game with an open mind." ets in just four balls, and when Mujeeb Zadran finished his of water by neighboring Iran is of Jam, the second tallest an- But, from the legal perspec- Zadran were content to take In the end, though, the re- Little followed five 'dot balls' first three-over spell with the a key element to drop in water cient minaret in the world at 65 tive, the Harirod River water four and five singles an over to sult could actually have gone with the wicket of the danger- wicket of O'Brien, caught at levels in the river. meters. zone is one of the fourth stress- get them out of the mess which either way which is a huge pos- ous Samiullah Shinwari to a long-on at a cost of just 13 runs, The research titled Review “The one who has the histo- ful rivers in the world, the study Boyd Rankin, Peter Chase, Josh itive for what has been a one- fine diving catch by Kevin and Stirling, dropped at slip on of Harirod Water Basin indi- ry of using the water has the shows. Little and Shane Getkate got sided T20 contest in the last two O'Brien, Ireland were on top of two, was the first of Nabi's two cates that Iran has established priority. Historical articles “This is an invisible crisis them into after 7.2 overs and years. things. economical wickets. 28 dams along the Harirod Riv- about Harirod River show that which we see today. It will de- then, when they needed to step Ireland, as expected, named But they had been here be- And it was Nabi who was to er, one dam is under construc- Herat deserts were the first ar- stroy the things in ten years up the pace - requiring 41 from an unchanged team after that fore and even when Shane Get- have the final say as he extend- tion, and studies are ongoing to eas where the Harirod water and several regions of the world the last five overs - they finished dramatic last-ball victory kate struck with his second ball, ed Ireland's agony. establish 11 other dams by us- was used and it continues until have already been eliminated in style with five fours and two against Netherlands on Sunday, no one in the Irish camp was Telegraph ing the Harirod water while Af- now,” said Sayed Ali Hussaini, because of lack of water,” said sixes, having hit only two bound- ghanistan has only one dam an AISS researcher. Ali Ahmad Osmani, former aries in the previous 10 overs. along the river. “If we do not build a nation- Minister of Energy and Water. Ireland also lost what could The river is flowing 1,100 al authority, neither we will be Based on statistics by Min- have been nine valuable deliv- kilometers from the mountains owning our water neither our istry of Energy and Water, Af- eries from Stuart Thompson, of central Afghanistan to Turk- country nor we will be able to ghanistan’s water resources who felt a recurrence of the menistan, where it forms the bargain about it in [internation- have declined to 49 billion cu- hamstring niggle which kept Tejend oasis and disappears in al] negotiations. This is one of bic meters from 57 billion cubic him out of the first game at last the Karakum Desert. In Turk- the problems we face practical- meters due to climate change week's quadrangular tourna- menistan, it is known as the ly while we don’t have a simple in the last 40 years, which shows ment in Oman. Tejen or Tedzhen river and solution to the problem,” said a 14 percent decline. Although he was willing to passes close to the city of Najib Aqa Fahim, Minister of Tolonews complete his third over, captain Paul Stirling took the decision to send him straight off with so many games left on the tour. The Ireland innings had followed an almost identical path, but just at a slower pace. They were six down for 66 - Rashid Khan taking two wickets with his first four balls - and it was Stuart Poynter and George Dockrell who saw off Rashid's remaining overs and doubled the score in the last eight overs. At the end, Stirling was ques- tioning his decision to bat first. "I feel batting first against Afghanistan is a great option but, in hindsight, with the dew �� Provincial News Saturday, February 23, 2019 45 drug smugglers sentenced to jail KABUL: Primary and ap- judicial center for counter-nar- Also, 1438 kg narcotic drug, peal courts of judicial center for cotic drug told BNA reporter, the over 78 kg chemical material TARINKOT CITY: Over 17 Urozgan district and Tarinkot south of the country reported According to another report, counter-narcotic drug have sen- smugglers were arrested by po- and 124 liters alcoholic bever- terrorists were killed following city the provincial capital of the BNA. Afghan security forces by dis- tenced 45 narcotic drug smug- lice personnel accused of 25 ages have been discovered from air attacks carried out by Af- province. It has been said, Taliban covering and confiscating eight glers from 13-18 years to jail. narcotic drug cases from Kabul the smugglers, Mohid added. ghan air forces in southern 17 armed oppositions were fighters were involved on orga- round of different types of mines Khalid Mohid spokesman of and provinces of the country. The Kabul Times Urozgan province within the killed and six centers of Tali- nizing a series of terrorist ac- succeeded to prevent several last 24 hours. ban have been destroyed during tivities that targeted and killed bloodiest incident in crowded The rebels have been target- the air attacks, top commander by Afghan air forces inside their areas of Urozgan province. ed in various parts of Khas of Afghan national army in the hideouts. The Kabul Times

Afghan security forces’ artillery attack leaves 10 rebels dead QALAT CITY: More than 10 Taliban fighters were killed following artillery attack carried out by Afghan security forces in western Zabul province last Afghanistan to get $157m night. The terrorists have been targeted and killed in different for out of school children parts of Ghorak district of the province. KABUL: Afghanistan will as shocking. are not small and the challenge Senior commander of Af- receive $ 157 million in aid un- He said the $157 million aid of teaching is still there and der an agreement signed on from the Swedish Committee added private schools should be ghan national army in the west Thursday for providing educa- would be used to provide educa- taken into account in education. of the country reported BNA, 10 tion to 3.7 million out of school tion to children away from Education Cannot Wait Di- armed oppositions were killed children. school. He said according to the rector Yasmine Sherif said and four more were injured fol- The agreement was signed Ministry of Education plan, no through this program would lowing the attack. between representatives of the child would remain out of school support 500,000 girls and boys According to report, Taliban Swedish Committee and the until 2030 end. Also present on for three years in resuming members were busy on organiz- United Nations Children's Fund the occasion was Chief Execu- their education. ing a series of terrorist and de- (UNICEF) in Kabul. tive Officer Dr Abdullah Abdul- "Our focus is vulnerable structive activities that target- Education Minister Mirwais lah said the program should be children from wars, migrations ed and killed by Afghan securi- Balkhi on the occasion said 3.7 implemented because Afghani- and natural and abnormal con- million children in Afghanistan stan was still in a state of war ditions, such as droughts and ty personnel. The Kabul Times were deprived of going to school, and affected by natural disas- floods, which have forced chil- with girls making 60 percent of ters. In his words, the achieve- dren to leave school," Sherif 1,300 most needy families get them and calling the statistics ments in the field of education said. Pajhwok winter aids in Bamyan BAMYAN CITY: The Af- yan province, an official said winter clothes. Rafat said 800 other fami- ghanistan Natural Disaster Thursday. He said the IRO provided the lies also received similar aid Management Authority (AND- Ahmad Reza Rafat, ANDMA relief items to 500 needy fami- from Natural Disaster Manage- MA) and the Islamic Relief Or- head for Bamyan, told Pajhwok lies, with each family receiving ment Authority and the pack- age included three bags of flour, ghee and three blankets. The number of needy families was high and only 10 percent of them, who were in des- perate need of help, received the assistance due to shortage of resources, he added. “We are ready to provide food assistance to 1,000 families in districts and 4,000 families in the provincial capital if a disaster strikes and other items will be provided by aid organi- Afghanistan’s dried Fig exports reach $47m zations in Bamyan,” he said. Mohammad Jawad, a resi- Figures by Afghanistan fresh fruits is processing and tors signed at the agricultural dent of Shebarto village of Bam- yan city, told Pajhwok the cur- Chamber of Commerce and In- packaging in line with interna- fair valued up to $35 million. rent winter was very snowy and dustries (ACCI) show that Af- tional standards,” said Nawid. “So far, Kandahar figs have would reduce drought but it was ghanistan has exported figs val- “We sell figs for AFs800 [al- had the most selling and figs also a challenging season for ued almost $47 million in the most $11] per kilogram,” said selling contracts have been poor families. last 10 months. Humayun Mohammadi, a dried signed that value up to $10 mil- He was happy over the as- The figures show that farm- fruit seller. lion,” said Rustami. sistance given to families in ers have harvested at least Meanwhile, spokesman for Fig is produced in most of need. “We have no money to buy 25,000 tons of figs in the past 10 the Ministry of Agriculture, Ir- Afghanistan big provinces such food or warm clothes for our months. rigation and Livestock, Akbar as Herat, Balkh, Farah, Zabul, children and this aid will some- The ACCI spokesman Jan Rustami, said that Afghan in- and Jawzjan. how help protect children and Agha Nawid said India, United vestors signed contracts on figs But southern Kandahar others from the biting winter,” Arab Emirates, Canada and a export with different countries province is known as the center he added. The aid distribution comes number of European countries valued $10 million during the of fig production as almost 6,000 after 50 to 80 centimeters of are the biggest buyers of Af- Gulfood exhibition held in tons of dried figs worth almost ganization (IRO) distributed Afghan News that the assis- a sack of flour, a sack of rice, snow was measured in some ghanistan’s figs. Dubai from February 17 to 21. $34 million was exported to In- food and warm clothes to 1,300 tance included flour, rice, ghee, ghee, a set of warm clothes, four parts of the country. “One of the biggest prob- Rustami said the total con- dia through the province. needy families in central Bam- blankets, tarpaulin and a set of blankets and two tarpaulins. (Pajhwok) lems for the Afghan dried and tracts which the Afghan inves- Tolonews �� Facebook.com/thekabultimes Saturday, February 23, 2019 Afghan asylum-seeker offers U.S. sent its most advanced to pay Elin Ersson's fine fighter jets to blow up cheap opium labs In July 2018, Swedish activ- her efforts," he said. Gothenburg airport with an Af- she had succeeded in removing ist Elin Ersson stopped a plane Talash, 29, is part of a Frank- ghan asylum-seeker on board. from the flight had been previ- After hundreds of airstrikes the country’s western, south- to the airstrikes impact on Tal- from taking off with an Afghan furt-based group of activists who "I'm not going to sit down ously charged with assault. He failed to curtail the Taliban’s western and northern regions, iban’s finances the effect would asylum-seeker on board. On support asylum-seekers while until this person is off the plane, was also deported from Sweden $200 million-a-year opium SIGAR said. appear to be negligible at best,” Monday, a Gothenburg court raising awareness about the because he will most likely get a few weeks later. trade, the U.S. military quietly For many years, opium syr- he wrote. “In fact, the 50 bar- fined Ersson 3,000 kronor (€285, dangers faced by deportees re- killed," she said in the video. Nevertheless, Ersson's ac- ended a yearlong campaign that up derived from Afghanistan’s rels of opium cooking at the time $325) for violating Swedish air turning to Afghanistan. They She succeeded in getting tions inspired many people. She targeted drug labs and networks vast poppy fields was smuggled of the strike that General safety regulations. Her case also advise refugees on their the man off the plane, and the was invited to international laced around the Afghan coun- into other countries to be pro- Nicholson referred to as being tryside. cessed into heroin or morphine. worth ‘millions of dollars’ The end of the operation, Now much of that refinement would have been worth at most code-named Iron Tempest, takes place in crude facilities $190,750 if converted to heroin comes as Trump Administration around Afghanistan. The Tali- and no more than $2,863 to the officials engage in direct peace ban, which once forbid poppy Taliban.” talks with Taliban leaders that cultivation before being toppled Meanwhile, senior Pentagon could end the 17-year-old war. from power by the U.S. in 2001, officials were asking why high- The U.S. military first be- seized upon the drug market. end F-22 fighters, which were gan targeting Taliban narcotics Opium trafficking is estimated designed to defeat the most ad- facilities with airstrikes and to make up 65% of the Taliban’s vanced jets in an aerial combat Special Operations raids in No- income, according to U.S. offi- and costs more than $35,000 per vember 2017 when opium pro- cials. flight hour, were being used to duction jumped to record highs Much of the expansion cen- blow up rudimentary opium in Afghanistan. At the time, U.S. ters in southern Helmand Prov- stills. “We should not be using commanders estimated the Tal- ince, where opium production an F-22 to destroy a narcotics iban operated up to 500 drug and the Taliban insurgency factory in Afghanistan,” Air labs, which helped fuel their thrives. The U.N. found the Tal- Force Secretary Heather Wil- nearly two-decade long insur- iban had thoroughly tapped son said last February. gency. “into the supply chain at each When Gen. Austin “Scott” Since then, U.S. and Afghan stage of the narcotics trade” by Miller took over as commander warplanes have launched more collecting a 10% tax on opium in Afghanistan in September, he than 200 strikes aimed at dis- cultivation from farmers and developed a strategy that hing- abling Taliban narcotics produc- acting as “the major guarantors es on increasing the tempo of tion, processing, trading and for the trafficking of raw opium airstrikes and raids on Taliban transportation networks. Yet the and heroin out of Afghanistan.” leadership in order to force drug trade thrived. So, over Gen. John W. Nicholson, them to make a deal at the ne- time, the U.S. halted the num- former top U.S. commander in gotiating table. U.S. Special ber of air raids. Only two strikes Afghanistan, was eager to choke Representative for Afghanistan took place over the last three off the flow of revenue when he Reconciliation Zalmay Kha- months of 2018, which marked rolled out the new counter-nar- lilzad has met with Taliban of- the end of the campaign, accord- cotics air campaign on Nov. 20, ficials on a potential peace deal highlighted controversy sur- legal rights and provide guid- protest video went viral. Ersson conferences and became an out- ing to the latest Defense Depart- 2017. He said it a represented that could ultimately lead to the rounding European asylum pol- ance in asylum cases. became a hero in activist circles spoken voice for the rights of ment Inspector General’s re- an element of President Donald conditional withdrawal of U.S. icy and deportation law. Talash said he encouraged – but she also faced heavy criti- asylum-seekers in Europe. port. Trump’s more aggressive strat- and allied troops. Arif Talash, an Afghan asy- Ersson to continue doing more cism. Talash said that Ersson in- The military’s strategy be- egy in Afghanistan, which in- “All of our efforts are aimed lum-seeker living in Germany, for asylum-seekers. "I am ready It turned out that the young spired his group of activists with came the latest high-priced fail- cluded loosened American forc- at setting conditions for a polit- told DW on Thursday that he to pay the fine imposed on Elin Afghan asylum-seeker Ersson her "brave and valuable support ure to slow endemic poppy cul- es’ rules of engagement. He ical settlement and safe guard- would be willing to pay Ersson's Ersson on her behalf," he add- was attempting to rescue, Ismail of human rights." Ersson avoid- tivation and drug trafficking in played aerial video footage that ing our national interests,” said fine. ed. K, wasn't on board the plane. ed a jail sentence for her pro- Afghanistan. The U.S. has spent showed F-22 stealth fighters and Col. Dave Butler, top spokes- "I heard about Elin Ersson's Ersson livestreamed her He was deported from Stock- test. It remains unclear if she $8.9 billion in U.S. counter-nar- B-52 strategic bombers dropping man for the U.S.-led mission in story on social media, and I protest preventing a Turkish holm a few days after her pro- will end up paying the fine, as cotics efforts since 2001, yet the multiple 250 and 500-pound Afghanistan. “The grand major- deeply admire and appreciate Airlines flight from leaving test. And the Afghan deportee her lawyer has issued an appeal. war-torn country has consis- bombs on non-descript build- ity of our strikes are lethal tently produced about 85% of ings. strikes against the Taliban or Uzbekistan ranks first in clothing the world’s illicit opium supply. “These are a demonstration ISIS.” imports in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan increased by 5.5 percent. tween Kazakhstan and Uzbeki- by 2020. The countries also in- can be attributed to the most im- The largest amount of cloth- stan were established on No- tend to increase the number of portant strategic partners in ing came from Uzbekistan vember 23, 1992. rail, bus and air communication Central Asia - a region where (10,100 tons for $ 18.4 million), Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan between two states. large reserves of natural re- whereas China was the leader currently experience a rise in Kazakhstan exports to sources are concentrated. in supply in 2017. mutual economic ties. In 2017, Uzbekistan petroleum and their Both states have significant At the same time, the clothes the trade turnover between the products, the milling industry, economic and human potential, of Uzbekistan are several times two Central Asian nations in- grains, ferrous and non-ferrous are linked by common histori- cheaper than Chinese, because creased by 8.6 percent and ex- metals, products of inorganic cal, geographical, cultural, re- China, although set clothes less ceeded $ 2 billion. In January- chemistry, food products. ligious and linguistic roots and in terms of volumes (8,500 tons), June 2018, the trade turnover Uzbekistan exports to Kaza- have a fairly long common bor- but in monetary terms, it was $ between the two countries in- khstan energy sources (gas), der. 83.5 million. creased by 52 percent, with cotton fiber, chemical products Uzbekistan has shifted Chi- Russia for the year delivered Uzbek exports growth of 48 per- and plastics, fertilizers, fruits na from first place on the im- 6,200 tons of this product ($ cent. Over 200 companies with and vegetables and other types port of clothes to Kazakhstan, 158.2 million), Turkey - 4,600 Kazakh capital currently oper- of goods. Uzbek investments in Kazakh media reports. tons ($ 98.5 million), Bang- ate in Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan for the past 10 Kazakhstan imported 34,500 ladesh - 1,900 tons ($ 42.9 mil- Earlier this year, Uzbekistan years amounted to $ 31.3 mil- tons of clothing for $ 512.3 million), Kyrgyzstan - 1,000 tons and Kazakhstan agreed to take lion, half of which falls for 2016. lion in 2018. In physical terms, ($ 3 million), Iran - 228.7 tons further measures to ensure the Kazakh investments in Uzbeki- imports decreased by 4.9 per- ($ 133,900). growth of trade turnover to $ 3 stan totalled $ 114.4 million in In total, the air campaign of our new authorities,” Nichol- The military said the cent, and in monetary terms Diplomatic relations be- billion in 2018 and $ 5 billion the past decade. Azernews barely dented the drug enter- son told reporters at the Penta- counter-drug air campaign cre- prise. The strikes denied the gon. “They’re also a demonstra- ated “insurgent confusion, con- Taliban an estimated $42 mil- tion of our will to take the fight cern, and changes to their tac- lion, while denying about $200 to the enemy in all of its dimen- tics, techniques, and proce- million to “those involved in the sions. And specifically, in strik- dures.” illegal drug trade in Afghani- ing northern Helmand and the Despite the end of Opera- stan,” according to a Special drug enterprises there, we’re tion Iron Tempest, the U.S. will Inspector General for Afghani- hitting the Taliban where it continue to pursue other stan Reconstruction (SIGAR) hurts, which is their finances.” counter-narcotic programs report published in January. The idea for the campaign along with the Afghan govern- However, the U.S. government was borrowed from the battle ment. However, the path for- watchdog said it’s difficult to against ISIS, in which daily air- ward is now unclear. Afghan determine financial impact strikes eviscerated the mili- President Ashraf Ghani has de- with any certainty because “no tants’ black market oil smug- cided to disband the country’s ground verification takes place gling operation. But the results Ministry of Counter Narcotics to weigh and assess the amounts in Afghanistan never got close as part of larger efforts to con- of the precursors or products to repeating such success. solidate several ministries. The actually destroyed by an air- Taliban “drug labs,” after U.S. State Department told SI- strike.” all, are often nothing more than GAR that consolidating the Meanwhile, opium produc- a stove, barrels and precursor ministry’s responsibilities into tion in Afghanistan hit record chemicals in a hut. They are the other ministries “should highs over the past two years. cheap and take three days to have minimal effect on pro- The U.N. reported 1,015 square rebuild, and represent a small grams.” But the watchdog had a miles of net poppy cultivation component of the sprawling note of caution: “The fight in 2018, resulting in 6,400 tons drug trade. against illicit narcotics does not of opium production. That’s David Mansfield, a senior appear to be a consistent prior- more than double than when fellow at the London School of ity either for the international the U.S. invaded in 2001. Nar- Economics who studied opium community or the Afghan gov- cotics trafficking is so pervasive production in Afghanistan for ernment.” that senior Afghan security lead- two decades, published a sear- “To put it bluntly,” SIGAR ers and provincial authorities ing 27-page examination of U.S. has said, “these numbers spell often control drug networks in military’s claims. “With regard failure.” TIME �� Pakistan should practice commitment for peace in Afghanistan, statement KABUL: The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked Pakistan to remain committed for practicing what it had made for peace in Afghanistan, a statement from the ministry said the other day. After the Kabul based Pakistani ambassador’s assertions on a possible reaction of India against his country, following a deadly incident, terrorist groups were blamed for plotting in Pakistan, that it may undermine peace efforts in Afghanistan, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs said this was an irrelevant and against Pakistan commitment regarding peace in Afghanistan. Founded in 1962 The statement said that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has forever been willing tensions to be settled through dialogue through the region and want all dispute to be addressed via peaceful negotiations. The ministry in the statement asked Pakistan to www.facebook.com/thekabultimes twitter.com/thekabultimes avoid such irrelevant assertions which doesn’t tackle any problem. The Kabul Times

Hoot 04, 1397 HS Saturday, February 23, 2019 thekabultimes.gov.af “Kabul people stood with unity against Soviet troops on 3rd Hoot,” Mostafavi Maduro shuts Venezuela's border KABUL: Deputy minister of nance, administrative and tour- Hashimi spoke and said that the finance, administrative and ism said the first peace move- 3rd Hoot uprising started 57 days with Brazil amid aid standoff tourism Sayeda Mojgan Mo- ment against injustice and in- after direct invasion of Soviet stafavi in a ceremony held yes- vasion was launched by the peo- troops, adding that the protest terday to remember the 3rd Hoot ple of Kabul in Chendawol as was first peaceful and later uprising said there was com- the people of Kabul were proud changed to violence as a result plete unity among all religions of their struggle. and nations. Meanwhile, head of Marshal of which nearly 2,000 people Delivering a speech on the Mohammad Qasim Fahim were killed and injured. occasion, deputy minister of fi- Foundation Sayed Abdullah The Kabul Times

China's shadow looms large over second Trump-Kim summit

Beijing, China - All eyes mac of the city-state's Changi North Korean airline - but a were on Singapore in June last airport, days before the North Chinese one. year as a jumbo jet carrying Korean leader's landmark sum- Beijing's loan of the Air Kim Jong Un landed on the tar- mit with US President Donald China 747 carrier made logisti- Trump. As Kim took his first cal sense. It provided Kim with President Nicolas Maduro Iran kicks off steps onto Singaporean soil, a far more reliable mode of has ordered the closure of Ven- large-scale naval having completed his longest transport for the 4,800km trip ezuela's border with Brazil Macron to receive Merkel on Feb. trip abroad as head of state, to Singapore than his own de- "until further notice" amid a drill in Persian those watching noted that he cades-old official aircraft. tense standoff with the US- hadn't disembarked from a Aljazeera backed opposition leader, Juan 27 for talks on Brexit, US, defense Gulf, Sea of Guaido, over allowing in hu- French President Emman- tries defense partnership, Ma- uled departure from the bloc manitarian aid. uel Macron will host Germa- cron’s office said on Friday. Oman The border with Brazil and a month after Paris and ny’s Angela Merkel in France The talks between the Eu- Berlin signed a new treaty to Iranian naval forces on President Ghani would be "completely and ab- on Feb. 27 for a working meet- ropean Union’s two most pow- solutely" closed from 8pm Friday started a massive ing to discuss Brexit, US rela- erful leaders will come about a reinvigorate the EU’s main axis. (00:00 GMT) onwards, Maduro three-day drill, codenamed tions as well as the two coun- month before Britain’s sched- Alarabiya "Velayat 97", in the Persian meets his Turkmen said in a televised address on Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Thursday. The drill is being held in The embattled leader said an area of two million square counterpart . . . he was also considering a "to- kilometers, from the Strait From P1 tal closure of the border with of Hormuz to the southeast- Colombia", where he has al- ern coasts of Makran, the Sea agreement on gas and petro- would benefit an annual in- ready ordered the military to of Oman and the northern leum and a document on the two come of up to one billion US barricade a major border bridge parts of the Indian Ocean, sides strategic partnership for dollar. to prevent aid from entering the down to the 10-degrees lati- expansion of cooperation in po- According to Turkmen pres- country from the Colombian tude. litical, economic and security ident, the first meeting of the border town of Cucuta where The war game is com- areas as well as a joint state- Lapis Lazuli Road member coun- supplies are being stockpiled, posed of four separate phas- ment, have also been signed tries’ ministers of transport most of it from the United States. es, including naval parades, between the two countries offi- would be held in May this year, Calling the aid a "provoca- simulation of a real naval war, cials at the presence of the two and that his country was ready tion" and a "child's game", maritime and land offense to countries leaders, said the to issue more scholarships for Maduro suggested it was a pre- practice recapturing the ter- statement. the Afghan students to join the cursor to a US military inter- ritories occupied by the ene- After signing the agree- Turkmen universities. vention in the oil-rich, but eco- my, and the display of the ments, the two countries lead- Meanwhile, the country’s nomically crippled the Latin Navy’s power by launching ers appeared on a news confer- president Mohammad Ashraf American country. various types of missiles and ence, with Turkmen President Ghani spoke on the related is- "[The US] aimed to gener- torpedoes, Navy Command- saying both countries support sues and said the signed strate- ate a huge national mess, but er Rear Admiral Hossein each other in the international gic accords have been a great they didn't succeed. The coun- Khanzadi said Thursday. arena of rights equity, justice step towards short-term, long- try wants peace," he said, sur- For the first time, the Ira- and noninterference in each term and mid-term and more rounded by members of the mil- nian navy is to fly patrol, re- other internal affairs in line than this with no scheduled Turkey orders arrest of 295 military connaissance and bomber itary. with the United Nations, Islam- time. Venezuela has already drones during the drill, he ic cooperation and economic co- He noted that the positive personnel over Gulen links added. Submarines will closed its maritime border with operation, according to the policy of Turkmen President the Dutch Caribbean islands of launch missiles in the drill Turkey ordered the arrest of killed in the failed putsch, in 150,000 civil servants and mili- statement. has helped them show a success- Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, for the first time, and anti- 295 serving military personnel which Gulen, a former ally of tary personnel. Turkmen leader also said in ful cooperation and neighbor- after Curacao's government submarine helicopters will on Friday, the prosecutor’s of- President Tayyip Erdogan, has Turkey’s Western allies his meeting with Afghan Presi- hood pattern to the world, said said it would help store aid. also land on and take off from fice said, accusing them of links denied involvement. Gulen has have criticized the crackdown, dent, both sides were in favor of the statement. In a decree, the Venezuelan the deck of Sahand destroy- to the network of US-based lived in self-imposed exile in with Erdogan’s critics accusing peace and security in the region “Afghanistan which has military also said it was banning er, Tasnim news agency re- Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Pennsylvania since 1999. him of using the putsch as a and persisted on sustainable long suffered from war has now vessels from sailing out of Ven- ported. who Ankara says orchestrated a More than 77,000 people pretext to quash dissent. Turk- expansion of regional coopera- turned to center of regional ezuela's ports until Sunday to Electronic warfare tactics 2016 attempted coup. have been jailed pending trial ish authorities say the mea- and electronic data transmis- tion, the statement added. positive cooperation and the avoid actions by "criminal" Those facing detention in- since the coup and widespread sures are necessary to combat sion from the coast are “We have joint opinion in Lapis Lazuli Road was a sample groups. cluded three colonels, eight arrests are still routine. Author- threats to national security. among other parts of the ex- war on terrorism and as an im- of good relation between the Despite Maduro's an- majors and 10 lieutenants, with ities have suspended or sacked AFP ercise, he said. partial country, we want a polit- participating countries and nouncement, the Brazilian gov- around half of the suspects be- The drill comes a couple ical dialogue for peace in Af- against the destructive rela- ernment said it will go ahead ing in the army and the remain- of months after IRGC forces, ghanistan and ready for any co- tions. with the airlifting of aid, and der in other military forces in- including a brigade from the operation in this regard,” said He said TAPI was not a stockpile nonperishable food cluding the navy and air force, IRGC Navy, held the coun- Berdimuhamadov as quoted by project, but a global initiative and medicine in the border town the statement said. try's first offensive war game, the statement. measure and a corridor includ- of Pacaraima. The prosecutor’s office said named Great Prophet 12, He said peace and security ing gas, oil, fiber optic, trans- Hamilton Mourao, Brazil's police launched simultaneous near the Qeshm Island in help practice joint plans and port, railway and power, accord- vice president, told Al Jazeera arrest operations at 1:00 a.m. Persian Gulf. that they could launch good ing to the statement. Brazilian officials will not (2200 GMT) under an investi- The Ground Force of plans in the fields of energy, Pointing to the terrorism "trespass the border". gation into pay phone calls be- Iran’s Islamic Revolution communication and transport threat, the president said it has "We can put supplies on the tween suspected Gulen opera- Guards Corps holds the final with Afghanistan. turned into a danger for the re- border and if the Venezuelans tives. It was not clear how many stage of drills in the Persian “With the implementation gion and the world and there want it, they can come and get suspects have been detained so Gulf, launching an “offen- of TAPI project, up to 12,000 job should be an alternative to ter- it," he said. far. sive” component in the coun- capacities would be provided in rorism for the region and world. Aljazeera try’s defensive strategy. AFP Afghanistan and the country The Kabul Times About 250 people were ��