Page 2 | NATIONAL Two Decades in : 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

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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 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 ’ 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 . 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 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. This is to say nothing Forces soldiers were almost set up often said, a continuation of politics which must approve the revised Taliban, and now, the Islamic State. of the “green-on-blue” incidents for failure from the beginning. Under by other means and necessitates a bill before sending it to Biden In Eagle Down, Jessica Donati, the which undermined trust between President Obama, the policies were political end. Yet, 20 years into the for his signature. former Kabul Bureau Chief for The the Americans and Afghanistan and so oriented towards the withdrawal conflict any viable political solution Wall Street Journal, shines a much- resulted in considerable casualties. that they became exceptionally that is achievable by kinetic means needed light onto the (potentially) The Special Forces ODA missions restrictive and prohibitive toward remains unarticulated. Tactical Pakistani Premier... last days of America’s involvement in provided the political leadership in kinetic action, even when under fire. progress can and is made, operational most difficult struggle in my Afghanistan. In this exceptional book, Washington a convenient fiction. As Ms. Donati recounts, Susan Rice, the progress is haltingly made, but strategic life as they [former rulers] she follows Special Forces’ Operational American troops were not “boots- president’s national security adviser, progress toward a political solution is destroyed the major institutions Detachment Alphas, or “ODAs,” on on-the-ground” and engaged in would not entertain any notion other nonexistent. in the country,” Khan said deployment to the country, the political combat, rather they were merely than withdrawal, regardless of the Successive administrations from conditions on the ground, until near the Bush to Obama to Trump, and as Clashes near parliament machinations in Washington, and advising, training, and assisting the uniquely, the home front for these tip- Afghan Security Forces. As Ms. Donati end of President Obama’s presidency. of writing, Biden, have singularly Ahead of the vote, a scuffle of-the-spear soldiers. illustrates, that was most certainly not Only then did the president change failed to articulate an achievable erupted outside the parliament THE TRULY QUIET PROFESSIONALS the truth for the soldiers of the ODAs. his course. Yet, even under President political end state for the conflict in between workers of the ruling Eagle Down is an uncomfortable The convenient fiction descended into Trump, with the greatly loosened rules Afghanistan and resource the mission party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf read at times, but it’s a book that is farce with overly complex chains of of engagement and increased troop accordingly. The administrations have (PTI), and the opposition. honest and fair to its protagonists, command, careerism on the part of presence, the likelihood of strategic either articulated vague goals akin to a Footage on Geo News, a local and one that demands to be read. Ms. senior officers, exceedingly restrictive success was extremely slim—tactical Jeffersonian democracy in Afghanistan, broadcaster, showed some Donati’s extraordinary exploration rules of engagement, and shifting and operational success, certainly, but or something attainable such as the PTI workers throwing shoes at of what for many is a forgotten war mission sets that hamstrung the ability achieving a stable long-term political defeat of al-Qa’ida and the denial of opposition leaders. brings home the challenges and of the ODAs to achieve sustainable goal was a bridge too far. the country as a base for ... P3

By At Least 90 Afghans in Two Decades in Afghanistan: Was it Worth it? Tajikistan Jails: Envoy It was 6am on September 12, had struck the United States. Many have asked, was it all 2001, when my phone rang and The SAS were the first soldiers worth it? Gerry Brownlee said “turn on to go to Afghanistan. They were As Minister of Defence between the TV, the U.S. is under attack”. deployed in December 2001, a 2008 and 2011, I visited The Twin Towers had fallen. few days prior to the formal Afghanistan twice. I also Later that morning we talked United Nations authorisation recommended to Cabinet that about what it meant. Was it of force. Over the next decade, the SAS should be deployed for like Pearl Harbour? We decided the SAS were deployed to their third deployment to help no, in these circumstances, Afghanistan three times. Two secure Kabul and to protect the international terrorists could of them lost their lives in 2011. PRT. The Operation Burnham not start a world war. But we Corporal Apiata was awarded Inquiry was held into how knew the world had changed. the Victoria Cross for rescuing the largest SAS operation, would have to a severely wounded comrade intended to protect the PRT, stand with its traditional allies and carrying him to safety was carried out, and how it was and partners. through intense machine gun reported back to New Zealand, At least 90 out of 6,500 Afghan refugees Some Afghans refugees expressed their Later that day, there was a and rocket fire. including the responsibility of in Tajikistan have been jailed on criminal satisfaction over their living condition in special debate in Parliament The Provincial Reconstruction myself as minister. led by the deputy prime Team (PRT) was deployed On my visits to Bamyan, I saw charges and drug trafficking, Afghanistan’s Tajikistan, but they hoped that peace will minister, Jim Anderton, to in an impressive level of progress. ambassador Zahir Aghbar said. be established in the country. standing in for prime minister September 2003 and left Schools and health clinics Talking to TOLOnews this week, Aghbar said Siros Majidi, 18, said he eight years old Helen Clark who was overseas. in 2013 after 21 rotations. had been built throughout Tajikistan has grave concerns about reports when he went to Tajikistan. He said When Jim Anderton said, Over 3000 New Zealanders the province. The provincial of security threats on the borders between security threats forced his family to leave “New Zealand will stand with served in the PRT during the capital, Bamian, had a new the two countries. Afghanistan. other democratic nations 10 years it was in Bamyan. In hospital and polytechnic. The He said there are no obstacles for Afghans “We came here because here we feel safe,” to do whatever is necessary one terrible 10-day period in major centres were linked by to get an education. said Siros. to prevent and remove … August 2012, five members new sealed highways and there “Fortunately, over the past few years, some Mohammad Rashid, an Afghan refugee, said the devastating scourge of of the PRT were killed. Over was a new solar electric system. of them were exchanged and handed over he is in Tajikistan for the last four years, terrorism,” I knew that New the 20 years, 10 New Zealand Elections were held. The lives to the government of the Islamic Republic adding that he wants to migrate to Canada Zealand would be going to war. service people lost their lives of the people of Bamyan were Afghanistan was the base of in Afghanistan and many more hugely improved. But material of Afghanistan,” Aghbar said. “There is despite his love for his own country. the Al Qaeda terrorists who were wounded. prosperity was not a ... P3 no restriction in way of our migrants in “Some people get depressed for being far Tajikistan to work,” said Aghbar. from their own country,” Rashid said. March 7, 2021 Heart of Asia ECONOMY SUNDAY 3 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost

APTTA Trade Pact Extended for Exchange Rates Three Months 77.4 77.5 The Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit “Work on technical issues of 92.2 92.3 Trade Agreement (APPTA) was the agreement is underway by extended for three months, allowing representatives of the two countries 106.1 106.2 the two neighboring countries and it will be signed in compliance to further discuss proposed with World Trade Organization’s amendments in the document and principles,” Ahmadi said. 485 486 sign its revised version, the Ministry Afghanistan’s free trade to India via of Industry and Commerce said. Pakistan and Pakistan’s cargo transit 20.9 21 The agreement that was signed in to Central Asia through Afghanistan 2010 was expired in February. is one of the five major issues that 1055 1065 The decision to extend the need to be revised in the APTTA. agreement is aimed at preventing But the countries have not come up Contact Numbers any disruption in trade and transit with an agreement on the amended effective for Afghanistan and instead The APTTA agreement was signed affairs between the two countries, issues after months of discussions. it has reduced Afghanistan’s exports. in 2010 between Afghanistan and said Fawad Ahmadi, spokesman Naqibullah Safi, the CEO of “Overwhelming challenges will Pakistan governments by the Kabul Police -119 for the Ministry of Industry and Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber remain if basic changes are not United States mediation. However, Commerce. of Commerce and Industry said the applied in the APTTA agreement and Afghanistan’s private sector Kabul Ambulance - 112 He said this will buy time for the agreement should be signed within if the last decade’s problems in the continues to raise its concerns about two countries to further discuss the next three months. trade affairs are not addressed,” said the closure of trade and transit routes Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital the proposed amendments in the Afghanistan Chambers Federation Khan Jan Alokozai, the deputy head by Pakistan more than a dozen times agreement. said the agreement has not proved of Afghanistan Chambers Federation. in the last 10 years. 0202301360

Two Decades in... The Last Special... teams were temporary band- and is unable to provide even Ata Turk Hospital sufficient inducement for everyone. The terrorist operations, but then aids to a strategic wound—they a modicum of public service to became worse and worse, resulting in the death of eight hamstrung the mission by could staunch the bleeding, but the people of Afghanistan. The 0202500312 members of the PRT between 2010 and 2012. competing mission-sets: i.e. could not heal the injury. progress and improvement in The 50 nations who committed forces to Afghanistan Iraq. Special Forces are, much the daily lives of many Afghans Corona call center - 166 essentially forgot why they went in the first place. Jim At one point in the book one like covert action, not a made at great cost in blood and Anderton had identified the key issue on the day of the of the Special Forces officers, solution to the absence of a treasure is far from solidified. attacks on the United States, which was to defeat terrorism. perhaps tongue-in-cheek, comprehensive strategy. The THE HOME FRONT & PAIN OF Instead, the goal became to build Afghanistan into a modern suggests that the United States ODAs and their counterparts RECOVERY state, on the basis this was the best way to defeat terrorism merely buy off the warlords are highly effective and efficient Ms. Donati also offers readers a in the long run, that the terrorists would find no safe haven and tribal leaders to ensure tools for narrow mission sets: much needed and exceptionally in Afghanistan. It was a laudable goal. However, the last their quiescence and support direct action, foreign internal compassionate look into the two decades have shown it is not possible to impose a new for the government in Kabul. defense, counterterrorism, home front and human toll of style of state upon a people without their virtually universal That is as close as one gets to a etc… They can do many things America’s longest war, treating consent. political end state throughout exceptionally well, but they the wounded and killed and Yes, the material lives of the people of Afghanistan have the book. At one point the cannot overcome the absence their families with honor and been substantially improved, with hundreds of billions author recounts a conversation of a strategy or clearly defined respect. Ms. Donati follows Caleb spent on infrastructure and improved social systems. Yes, in which President Trump’s political goals. Yet, out of through his severe injury in an there is a democracy of a sort. However, a substantial national security adviser, Lt. political expediency, these explosion while on operation minority of the Afghan people have always wanted us gone Gen. H.R. McMaster, questions units have become the tip of not through to his recovery at home, and have fought for many years to send the international another staff member asking, only the military spear, but the including the madness that is forces home. “What, you don’t like winning?” foreign policy spear as well, and the government’s medical and New Zealand forces are leaving Afghanistan, as will most Yet, what “winning” looks like this is a dangerous trend. health care bureaucracy. She of the other international forces over the next 18 months. remains unarticulated, even In the absence of a strategic follows Hutch, the ground force The original intention of ensuring Afghanistan is not a safe during his tenure. appreciation of the situation on commander in the MSF incident haven for international terrorists has largely been achieved The tragedy is not limited to the the ground and what is possible, through his command dismissal, for the time being. soldiers themselves, as through without the mobilization of all investigation, and eventual In the recent peace agreements, the Taliban has accepted the a series of catastrophic missteps elements of American power, return to Afghanistan after importance of keeping Afghanistan free from international and failures, a Médecins Sans and with an increasingly wary evidence supporting his account terrorists. However, the real proof will emerge over the next Frontières hospital in Kunduz public, the White House and of events was discovered. She decade. Only then will we know if Afghanistan has been able was struck by an AC-130 gunship Pentagon have shifted to also follows the families at home to resolve its internal differences, and whether the wider supporting an ODA attempting more clandestine capabilities as they attempt to navigate the world will be able to think about Afghanistan without a to recapture the city. Ms. Donati such as the Special Forces. absence of boyfriends, fathers, sense of anxiety. deftly explores the incident, its Smaller footprints with opaque and husbands on deployment impact on both the MSF doctors mission sets and little public and, tragically, when they are and their Afghan colleagues, oversight (by Congress or the lost in combat. Ms. Donati’s India Committed... and the ODA ground force media) are a half solution to conduct towards the families is external affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. commander who was relieved a full problem. Rather than warm and respectful, treating He was addressing the ‘Chabahar Day’ celebration of command for the incident, define an achievable end state, their pain neither as journalistic yesterday hosted by India on the margins of the ‘Maritime but later brought back to aid communicate it to the American convenience nor as a bridge to India Summit’ to showcase the business potential of the the campaign. people and Congress, resource some broader commentary. It strategic port located in Iran. ABSENT PARTNERS & HALF- it accordingly, and mobilize all is real and it is important that Senior ministers from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia MEASURES elements of national power, Americans read their stories. and Uzbekistan virtually participated in it. The complete and utter Special Forces ODAs were left Eagle Down is a gripping story WAYGAL Printing Co. absence of the government of fighting fires while Washington of a war most Americans failed to stop the arsonists or had thought was over or Afghanistan is readily apparent If You Can Think It, change the building codes. had wrongly forgotten about on every page. While the Special We Can ink it. Forces teams are embedded Ms. Donati follows the entirely. It is an exploration of with Afghan commandos, their diplomatic course of the what happens when political

Chief Editor : M. Hamid Hamdard utility is limited, the efficiency late stages of the conflict as and policy failures meet the and effectiveness wanting, Washington sat down with realities of modern conflict, Reporters: Safiullah Nasary, Shafiq Amirzay, and their value questionable. Taliban representatives in and when those on the ground Jawad Temori & Hameedullah Hamidi At best they were an obstacle Doha and Qatar and eventually are charged with attempting to to progress and at worst they signed an agreement to overcome these shortfalls. It Graphic & Design: Arman were treacherous green-on- withdraw U.S. forces from the is a story of the consequences Phone: +93-202502100 - +93-777989696 blue attackers. In the events country in exchange for Taliban of these failings both for those described by Ms. Donati, guarantees. The efficacy of the fighting the war and those at Website: www.heartofasia.af the civilian authorities of deal, which is in implementation home. Ms. Donati’s book is Email: [email protected] Afghanistan were nowhere to be stages now, remains to be seen. another reminder, after 20 years found. There was no follow-on It is unlikely that the Taliban will at war, Americans—civilians and Address: Behind Rahman Baba High School action in any of the cities retaken live up to their agreements to service members alike—should - Opposite to 3rd District, by the Special Forces teams, no recognize the government in expect and demand more of development in the provinces, Kabul, end their support of their leadership, anything less Kabul - Afghanistan and no commitment by Kabul to al-Qa’ida or reduce violence. is unworthy of the sacrifice of Kabul, for its part, remains those who took the oath and Print: Waygal Printing .Co - +93 - 202512626 the long-term stability of these regions. The Special Forces riven by politics and corruption serve their country. March 7, 2021 WORLD SUNDAY Heart of Asia 4 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Libya’s Premier-Designate Names 27-Member Unity Gov’t Libya’s Prime Minister- House of Representatives will designate Abdul Hamid convene on Monday in the Dbeibeh has proposed a unity coastal city of Sirte for a vote government of 27 members, of confidence on the Cabinet his office said on Saturday. lineup. The government lineup will be On Feb. 5, Libya’s rival political debated by the Tobruk-based groups agreed during UN- House of Representatives mediated talks to form an (parliament) on Monday. interim unity government to “The government’s priorities lead the country to elections will include improving services, this December in which unifying state institutions Dbeibeh was designated as and ending the transitional prime minister and to form a period by holding elections,” new government. Dbeibeh’s office said in a Libya has been torn by civil war statement. since the ouster of late ruler The statement added that the Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

A look at the world Biden’s $1.9 Trillion China, India Agree Pakistani Premier COVID Aid Bill Stalls in to Achieve Peace, Wins’ Vote of U.S. Senate Tranquility in Confidence in U.S. Senate Democrats’ effort to advance Border Region President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid Parliament bill stalled on Friday as senators jousted over Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on how long to extend enhanced unemployment Saturday won the vote of confidence in the benefits and how much to offer during the lower house of the parliament. pandemic. Khan won 178 votes in the 341-seat National After the Senate defeated a last-ditch attempt Assembly, well above the 172 votes he needed by some of Biden’s fellow Democrats to raise to survive. the federal minimum wage, work on his first Announcing the results, Speaker of the major legislative package ground to a halt for National Assembly Asad Qaiser said Khan has hours as senators met behind closed doors to secured 178 votes, more than those garnered English Academy find a way forward. in the 2018 general election. “We’re completely stalled out,” number-two “178 votes recorded in favor of resolution and American Senate Republican John Thune told reporters. Imran Khan, prime minister of the Islamic Unemployment compensation was the focus, Republic of Pakistan, has obtained vote of although it was just one of many battles ahead confidence,” Qaiser said. ENGLISH FILE on the sweeping bill, as the Senate braced On Wednesday, Khan announced to seek a to deal with dozens of amendments and a vote of confidence from the parliament after Officials from China and India on Friday debate likely to extend into the weekend. his party’s unexpected defeat on a key Senate, agreed to achieve peace and tranquility in the border region and bring bilateral relations back on the right track. In the meeting between Chinese vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui and Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri, the two sides also agreed to adhere to the important consensus reached by their leaders and grasp the general direction of China-India relation. “The two sides agree to maintain the The legislation calls for providing $400 per upper house, seat from the capital Islamabad. momentum of diplomatic and military week in federal jobless benefits through Yousaf Raza Gilani, a joint candidate of August to help Americans who have lost jobs consultations, achieve peace and the opposition alliance, won the seat in an amid the pandemic. tranquility in the border region and put embarrassing upset. Liberal and moderate senators agreed on a bilateral relations back on the right track,” The ruling party candidate, Hafeez Shaikh, compromise that would set the federal benefit Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement lost despite having majority in the National at $300 per week, on top of existing state on the officials’ meeting. Assembly -- which indicates the prime benefits, through September. China and India have finished a tenth round minister’s own aides voted for the opposition Republican Senator Rob Portman is of corps commander level meeting in late candidate. advocating a competing plan with the support February and had “candid and in-depth Members of the National Assembly choose senators from Islamabad for a period of six of business groups that would put the benefit exchange of views” on other issues along at $300, but only through mid-July. years in a secret ballot. the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, a The 11-party opposition alliance, Pakistan Western Sector. pivotal vote in the closely divided Senate, had Democratic Movement (PDM), boycotted the been pushing to lower the benefit from the Meanwhile, a “smooth completion” of vote. the disengagement of the two countries’ Western Street of bill’s present $400. Republicans said Manchin Later addressing the National Assembly, Kabul University Close to was being pressured by Democrats to stick frontline troops in the Bangong Lake Prime Minister Khan thanked his party with their compromise and not support area was completed in February, China’s members and allies for the vote and accused Dehbori Park. Portman’s plan. Defense Ministry said last month. the opposition of “buying” Senate seats. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the Days after the conclusion of the 10th round “The opposition tried to blackmail me to get delay in the Senate was “to break somebody’s of military talks, Chinese Foreign Minister concession in their corruption cases but I +93 (0) 789 98 9696 political arm” and that Biden’s promise of Wang Yi called for a “right path” of mutual will never come under any pressure,” Khan said. A number of leading opposition leaders bipartisanship was ringing hollow. trust and cooperation between China “To President Biden: Is this the new way of are jailed or embroiled in lengthy corruption and India in a phone call with his Indian doing business?” Graham said to reporters. cases as part of Khan’s election promise of [email protected] counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Senator Dick Durbin, the chamber’s number- “bringing back looted money to the country.” two Democrat, told reporters there were Wang said the two countries need to handle He urged the election commission to efforts under way to find “some common their border issues appropriately to prevent investigate the unlawful exchange of money Shigal English Academy ground” between the Democratic and bilateral ties from being trapped in a vicious in the recent Senate election. Republican proposals. ... P2 cycle. “The last two-and-a-half years were the ... P2