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Only Afghanistan's Constitution to Decide on the Future Administration

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Only Afghanistan's Constitution to Decide on the Future Administration Page 2 | NATIONAL Two Decades in Afghanistan: Was it Worth it? Page 3 | ECONOMY The Last Special It was 6am on September 12, 2001, when my phone rang and Gerry APTTA Trade Pact Forces Fighting the Brownlee said “turn on the TV, the U.S. is under attack”... Extended for Three Forever War Months Page 2 | NATIONAL Kabul Herat Nangarhar Balkh 14 / 3 17/ 4 23 / 12 16 / 9 Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Sunday, March 7, 2021 Issue No. 931 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs Ghani: Only Afghanistan’s Constitution to Decide on the Future Administration decades’ achievements. Afghan-Iran Online He added: “By sacrificing, I mean Conference on Trade that all personal and group interests should be put aside, and people’s to be Held on Monday interests should be prioritized and An online conference is planned to be peace should be seen as a sacred held on opportunities and strategies goal.” for trade between Afghanistan and Iran Ghani reiterated that no one could on Monday, the portal of Iran Chamber decide on dissolving Afghanistan’s of Commerce, Industries, Mines and institutions that are approved in the Agriculture (ICCIMA) published. constitution. As per Tehran Times report, the online Calling the current opportunity for event will be attended by Hossein Salimi, peace unprecedented and unique, the chairman of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Ghani said Afghans want an end to the Chamber of Commerce. war that has continued for 42 years In this conference, the security and and that they want peace, but not the political situation of Afghanistan and peace of the graveyard. the perspective of economic and He reiterated that he will not allow political relations between the two the people’s efforts for democracy, countries, trade opportunities and freedom and preservation of the goods and services needs of Afghanistan, system to be wasted. investment opportunities in Afghanistan, Ghani called on Pakistan to choose how to participate in the Afghan market, Amidst reports on Afghan politicians’ “The transfer of power through He emphasized the importance a “right path” and said, “let’s accept Afghanistan and Iran credit lines and access to a draft on a new format elections is an uncompromisable of expedition in peace efforts but each other as two independent financial transfer will be reviewed. for the country’s political future, principle for us. We are ready to said the process requires proper countries.” Back in January, the director general President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday talk about a free, transparent and management and planning. Referring to targeted attacks on of the Asia-Pacific Office of Iran’s Trade said the transfer of power will happen countrywide election under the “Our experience from the past has religious scholars, government Promotion Organization (TPO) had said through an election as an unchanging management of the international shown that achieving peace is not employees, activists and journalists, that a preferential trade agreement with principle for his government. community. We can discuss and agree a mere dream. Achieving durable President Ghani said the attacks Afghanistan was going to be signed in Addressing a ceremony on the about its date,” said Ghani. peace is possible but a peace in in fact are attack on Afghanistan’s the near future. inauguration of the third year of the Ghani assured that no decision will which violence ends and political, future, on Afghan children, and on 17th legislative term of the National be made in absence of continued economic and social stability is any attempt for a brighter future in Assembly, Ghani said Afghanistan’s consultation with the people as ensured, requires commitment and the country. Constitution will decide on the future well as without the direct role and sacrifice,” he said, adding that he is He added that these attacks are administration, not plans made by approval of all layers of Afghan ready for sacrifice for peace, but it aimed at creating fear among the “others.” society. will not lead to the loss of the last people for their future. India Committed FM Atmar, Debora Lyons Discussed to Connectivity Massive Fire with Afghanistan: UN Role in Afghan Peace Process Breaks out at Jaishankar Farah Border Port India has reaffirmed its strong Local officials in Farah province say commitment to work together with a fire broke out at Abu Nasr Farahi all regional stakeholders to enhance customs in the province on the connectivity in the region and to border with Iran and has not yet been provide unhindered access to the contained. Traders say one of the sea to Afghanistan and Central Asian traders ‘oil tankers caught fire and two countries through the Chabahar Port. of the traders’ oil tankers have been “The Chabahar Port has not only burnt so far, but the fire has not been emerged as a commercial transit hub contained yet. for the region but also facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance, Farah Governor Taj Mohammad Jahed especially during the pandemic. The described the blaze as “severe” and port is part of our shared commitment said there were no facilities to contain towards peace, stability and prosperity The Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar facilitating peace talks. In the meantime, the two sides it in the port of Abu Nasr Farahi. of the people of Afghanistan,” ... P3 has met with Deborah Lyons, the According to the statement, also called the implementation of According to Jahed, they are trying to Special Representative of UN Ms. Lyons stressed the role of UN Security Council Resolution ask Iran for help in controlling the fire. Secretary-General for Afghanistan. countries in the region and 2513 important for reducing He did not elaborate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs the international community violence, securing ceasefires, Pictures posted on social media show (MoFA) in a statement said that in ensuring a lasting peace in non-use of Afghan territory by that the fire is widespread in the port the two sides discussed the Afghan Afghanistan, and reaffirmed the terrorists, pursuing meaningful of Abu Nasr Farahi. peace process, emphasizing the United Nations’ continued efforts negotiations, achieving a peaceful This is the second fire in Farah customs constructive role of the United to expand regional and global solution and ensuring a lasting in the last two weeks. Nations in strengthening and consensus. peace in Afghanistan. March 7, 2021 Heart of Asia NATIONAL SUNDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Biden’s $1.9... By Joshua Huminski Senators rejected a proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders to more than double the $7.25-per-hour federal minimum wage to $15 across five years. Sanders called The Last Special Forces the current level a “starvation” wage that has been in place for more than a decade. Democrats hold a slim majority Fighting the Forever War in the Senate and House of Representatives. Congress on the 15th of January, five days before complexities of America’s longest war is scrambling to complete the inauguration of President-Elect Joe in sobering terms and through the work on the legislation so it Biden, the Trump administration drew eyes of some of America’s most elite can be signed into law before down American forces in Afghanistan warriors—Special Forces. These are March 14, when some existing to just 2,500. Given the chaos in the truly “quiet professionals”, waging pandemic-related benefits are Washington, DC after the election, the counterinsurgency on the frontlines, due to expire. seditious attack on the Capitol building, but largely away from the public eye, Senate Majority Leader Chuck and the ongoing conspiracy theories both by intent and by consequence. Schumer is walking a tightrope surrounding the election, one could be Unlike their Navy counterparts, Army as he tries to steer the bill forgiven (but only slightly) for forgetting Special Forces receive considerably less through the Senate, aiming the American presence in that country. notoriety and fewer book deals. Indeed, to keep Senate liberals and America’s longest war may not be over, Ms. Donati recounts the challenges of moderates happy while not but it is certainly not on the minds of getting access to these units early on in alienating House Democrats. many in the United States. the book. Their mission, foreign internal Grander designs of transforming defense, was largely subsumed into With no votes to spare, Senate Afghanistan have given to achieving direct action, but as Ms. Donati explains, Democrats must keep all 50 a modicum of stability by standing up this core mission became the central of their members on board, the Afghan Security Forces, supporting focus in Afghanistan. The ODAs fought allowing Vice President Kamala the central government, and finding a alongside their Afghan counterparts, or success. At no point in Eagle Down does the Harris to cast the deciding vote negotiated settlement with Taliban at least, were intended to do so. More THE TRAGEDY OF AFGHANISTAN political leadership (American or if no Republicans support the representatives in Doha, Qatar. Yet, often than not their “commando” The tragedy of this book is not just Afghan), or anyone for that matter, bill. behind the scenes and away from partners were doing anything but direct the losses, the injuries and the articulate a political end state to Senate approval of the the public’s eye, American forces action, often manning checkpoints, deaths, painful and horrifying though Washington’s involvement and legislation would send it back are still engaged in the frontlines in serving Afghan political VIPs, or other they are. It is that that these Special commitment to Kabul. War is, as is so to the House of Representatives Afghanistan, waging a war against the non-kinetic tasks.
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