4 February 09, 2019 UK, Norway, Iceland Agrees on Citizens’ Pakistan Will ‘Always be Country of Importance Rights If No-Deal Brexit to US’: Centcom Chief OSLO - Britain and the so-called dence rights have been secured ISLAMABAD - Commander of US stan’s ‘equities’. and Pakistan,” he said. EEA EFTA countries, Iceland, regardless of the outcome of the Central Command General Joseph In light of the recent efforts be- General Joseph further said that Liechtenstein and Norway, have negotiations between the EU and Votel has said that Pakistan will al- tween Pakistan, the US, and Af- Afghanistan’s uncertain political reached an agreement on citizens’ the UK,” Iceland, an EU outsider, ways be a “country of importance” ghanistan to hold talks with the situation is the greatest risk to the rights should Britain leave the EU said. for the United States. Taliban, the top US military offi- stability in the region and the US without a withdrawal agreement, Norway’s government said earli- General Joseph made the comment cial lauded Pakistan’s cooperation hopes that Pakistan among other Iceland’s government said on Fri- er on Friday that it had proposed while testifying before the Senate with the State Department’s Spe- countries will play a constructive day. legislation to secure the rights of Armed Services Committee and cial Representative for Afghani- role in achieving peace. “The agreement protects the rights Norwegians living in Britain and said, “As a state possessing nucle- stan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalil- “Our posture with Pakistan in- of EEA EFTA citizens living in the of Britons living in Norway in the ar weapons that sits at the nexus of zad. volves supporting our colleagues UK and British citizens living in case of a no-deal Brexit. Russian, Chinese, Indian, Iranian, “If Pakistan plays a positive role at the Department of State as they the EEA EFTA states, providing Britain and Norway agreed last and US geopolitical interests, Paki- in achieving a settlement to the pursue a diplomatic solution with certainty that they can continue year to apply the principles of a stan will always retain its impor- conflict in Afghanistan, the US Islamabad to end the conflict in to do so in the event of a no-deal Brexit agreement in their bilateral tance to the US.” will have opportunity and motive Afghanistan while ensuring that Brexit,” the Icelandic government relationship, but the new legisla- He further said that any agreement to help Pakistan fulfil that role, as Pakistan’s equities are acknowl- said in a statement. tion will also cover a no-deal sce- to resolve the 17-year-old conflict peace in the region is the most im- edged and addressed in any future “This means that citizens’ resi- nario. in Afghanistan would ensure Paki- portant mutual priority for the US agreement,” he added. (Agencies)

(1) Election Law... of foreign forces from the coun- conferences, knowingly or un- Both sides said last month they testers belonging to the peaceful try, asking all countries to avoid knowingly, reinforce the narra- have built a framework for a pos- Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement”. On February 2, the office of the interfering in Afghanistan’s inter- tive of the enemy next door that sible agreement. (Monitoring “It is shocking that the Pakistani Second Vice President said gov- nal affairs, providing assurance we are a web of tribes & not a Desk) authorities have resorted to such ernment leaders are working on to the international community state. Don’t be “Useful Idiots”,” heavy-handed methods,” Am- amending the law and that Presi- (7) Govt Lodges... that Afghanistan will not be used Saleh said in a tweet. nesty South Asia researcher Rabia dent Ghani will issue a legisla- of this meeting was the summary against any other nation, protec- But, Ershad Ahmadi, who attend- Mehmood said. tive decree in the near future to of this meeting and will not have tion of social, economic, political ed the Moscow talks responded PTM blames the military and approve the outline for amending any practical or executive out- and educational rights of the Af- to Saleh and said: “Those loafing other state agencies for what it the law. comes on the peace process,” said ghan women in line with Islamic around in the lobbies of Abu Dha- says are forced disappearances Government has said that the Chakhansuri. (Tolo news) principles, protection of political bi hotels in the hope of catching a resulting in thousands of miss- amending will include changes (8) 18 Militant Killed... and social rights of the entire peo- selfie with Taliban, and as such, ing persons’ cases, mainly from in the leadership of the election ple of Afghanistan and protection destroyed the gravitas of our The ministry said five prisoners the Pashtun region bordering Af- commission as well as procedures of freedom of speech in line with state, are now insulting those who were released as a result of secu- ghanistan. of the electoral bodies. Islamic principles, undertaking r proudly defending the state and rity forces’ raid on a Taliban pris- The group is viewed with deep “Reforms include all these sec- efforts for attracting international its achievements in Moscow. This on in the Charhar Dara district suspicion by the military which tions. Changes will happen in assistance for the reconstruction is no time 4 electoral rhetoric.” of Kunduz province. Four rebels says it undermines Pakistan. The employees of the commissions, of Afghanistan’s infrastructure,” But the High Peace Council were killed. (Pajhwok) army has said it does not detain structure of the commissions an excerpt from the declaration (HPC) has said that it welcomes (9) Karzai Calls... individuals without evidence. and the elections rules and pro- reads. any move which will led to the The arrest last month of senior cedures,” said Mohammad He- jirga, “proper” measures should “Until the time there is no solid promotion of peace and stability PTM leader Alamzeb Mehsud in dayat, an advisor to Second Vice be taken in this regard to fix its guarantee for it, we can not trust in Afghanistan. Karachi drew an outcry on so- President. date and that thereafter, the deci- these words under any situation HPC said that it will thoroughly cial media. He was charged un- The election commission has sions should be accepted. and we can not describe it as prog- assess the Moscow declaration der anti-terrorism and public or- said that the commissioners of The two-day Moscow meeting ress, because, just a day before, and will include the items in its der laws, but his supporters say the commissions have been ap- between the Taliban and Af- they (Taliban) torched a school in work agenda if it believes the he was arrested for protesting pointed based on the law and that ghan oppositions was ended on Farah,” said MP Raihana Azad. points are in Afghanistan’s inter- against abuses by the military. the law should be respected in re- Wednesday. The delegates issued Taliban and other delegates also ests. (Tolo news) Following a series of nationwide moving them as well. a joint declaration in which they agreed to undertake reforms in protests last year, hundreds of The electoral complaint commis- (4) Kabul-Tehran... outlined a nine-point approach to Afghanistan’s security and mili- PTM activists were arrested and sion also has said that the amend- process in Afghanistan and said: promote intra-Afghan dialogue to tary institutions once a peace deal detained across the country in a ing the elections law in the cur- “We demand a peace process with reach into a political settlement in is reached. large-scale crackdown. rent situation is not logical. (Tolo the centrality and the sovereignty Afghanistan. “All parties have agreed that sys- Dawar and Wazir, founding PTM news) of the Afghan people and there is In reaction, the Afghan govern- tematic reforms be put in place in members, were elected to parlia- (2) Afghan Youths... no priority beyond the end of the ment said that the Moscow meet- all national institutions including 40-year war,” the chief executive ing was not about peace talks but ment in July from the Pashtun ma- should be discussed with the the security sector after a peace said. a political and academic debate jority Waziristan region border- youths,” said Kanishka Nasiri, a deal is signed,” reads the declara- Abdullah hoped for acceptable on peace. ing Afghanistan, highlighting the civil society activist. tion. peace in the country, saying “A statement issued at the end group’s growing appeal among “The Afghan youths are seeking This comes after former head of peaceful conditions would enable of this meeting is the summary Pakistan’s 35 million Pashtuns. peace through any possible way,” Taliban’s Qatar office, Moham- countries of the region to better of the two-day talks and has not (Reuters) said Mohammad Fardin, an activ- mad Abbas Stanikzai who also avail shared opportunities and executive outcome on peace [pro- (11) Afghan Products... ist. serves as the group’s chief nego- ensure a better future. (Pajhwok) cess],” President Ghani’s spokes- corridor, and from there, they Women at the gathering said their tiator had said that the Afghan (5) Ghani Orders... man said in a tweet. (ATN) are sent to Italy and Germany. rights should be reserved in the National Army (ANA) would be (10) Pakistan Activists’... The Lapis Lazuli Corridor peace process. dissolved after a peace deal. acquired by your (special units) The Lapis Lazuli Coeditor’s “A peace should be established But Stanikzai, on Wednesday strengths. In your presence, the “The Afghan government has agreement was signed on No- which will help women to work night rejected reports of hav- government will never beg for serious concerns about the vio- vember 15, 2017, and it was inau- in all sectors; not a peace which ing said the Afghan army would peace and we are not in a weak lence perpetrated against peace- gurated in Afghanistan by Presi- sidelines women,” said Husna, a be dissolved once US forces had position. We want an honorable ful protesters and civil activists in dent Ghani in December 2018. women’s rights activist. withdrawn. peace,” Ghani added. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balo- The route is aimed at enhancing “Women’s place will be at home In a written message to TOLOne- Ghani’s remarks come amid ac- chistan,” Ghani, himself a Pash- regional economic integration again and their rights will be ws, Stanikzai said “some parts of celerated efforts for peace. tun, wrote in a tweet. and trade-based connectivity be- violated if deals are made (on my interview with the Nunn Taki On Wednesday the Moscow talks Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah tween Afghanistan, Turkmeni- peace),” said Mastoora Arzo, an Asia wrongly rationalized”. wrapped up after a two day sum- Mahmood Qureshi rejected stan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and activist. (Tolo news) He said he did not mean the army mit between Afghan politicians Ghani’s comment. “Such irre- Turkey. (3) Moscow Talks... would be dissolved but he “meant and Taliban members. sponsible statements are only The Lapis Lazuli Corridor be- that this army was created when Delegates attending the talks also gross interference,” he said in a the first time that Taliban held di- gins from Aqina Port in northern the foreigners came”. issued a declaration that high- tweet, adding that Ghani should rect talks with Afghanistan’s in- Faryab province and Torghundi “At that time, they mandated to lights the agreements between focus on the “longstanding griev- fluential politicians. in western Herat province of Af- fight the Taliban instead of de- Taliban and Afghan politicians on ances of the Afghan people”. “It was a political and academic ghanistan. fending the honor of the nation a number of issues. (Tolo news) Tuesday’s protests followed the debate about peace. The declara- It continues to Turkmenbashi and the borders. (6) U.N. Report... death of PTM regional leader Ar- tion which was released at the man Loni in southwestern Balo- port in Turkmenistan. After “You better know, we mentioned “Due to the inhumane impact of end of this meeting was the sum- chistan province which the group passing the Caspian Sea, the repeatedly that while withdraw- recently surging conflicts, land- mary of this meeting and will not blamed on police. route continues on to Baku, capi- ing your troops, you’ve to leave have any practical and executive mines and other deadly explosive Mohsin Dawar, a member of par- tal of Azerbaijan, and then con- all military equipments/tools as outcomes on the peace process,” remnants of war are causing ca- liament and founding member of nects onward to Tbilisi, capital we’re looking forward to have said Haroon Chakhansuri, Presi- sualties in numbers that we had PTM, said police had singled Loni of Georgia, as well as the Geor- a well-equipped army in the fu- dent Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman. not seen for many years,” Loren out and beat him to death. gian ports of Poti and Batumi. ture,” he stated. “The executive power of this Persi, casualties and victim assis- A police spokesman said Loni Finally, the corridor connects to meeting is not huge. But the ex- Among critics of Moscow talks is tance editor of Landmine Moni- died of a heart attack after clashes the cities of Kars and Istanbul, traordinary thing is that some Amrullah Saleh, former head of tor, said. between protesters and police. Turkey, at the entrance of Eu- hardline opponents sit and Afghanistan’s intelligence service “Civilians are by far the majority PTM leader and member of par- rope. shared their views,” said Sayed – National Directorate of Security of casualties, and victims contin- liament Ali Wazir told Reuters The name “Lapis Lazuli” is de- Eshaq Gailani, head of Nahzat-e- (NDS) - who is now running as ue to require support long after that 18 activists were still in cus- rived from the historic route that Hambastagi-e-Milli Afghanistan first vice president to Ghani in the conflicts pass and the last mines tody after one of those detained Afghanistan’s lapis lazuli and party. next elections. are cleared,” she added. was released this week. other semiprecious stones were “All parties agreed that to deter- “It is a MUST that an Afghan na- The Taliban is in peace negotia- Rights group Amnesty Interna- exported along, over 2,000 years mine lasting peace in Afghani- tion state represent the country tions with the United States and tional issued a statement saying ago, to the Caucasus, Russia, the stan, the following points are im- within & abroad. Afghans who Afghan politicians, the first since authorities “must immediately Balkans, Europe, and North Af- portant : the complete withdrawal agree to attend chaotic foreign the U.S. invasion 18 years ago. and unconditionally release pro- rica. (Tolo news)