Quote of the Day The key to being a good manager is keeping the people www.thedailyafghanistan.com who hate me away from those who Email: [email protected] Phone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019 are still undecided. Add: In front of Habibia High School, Casey Stengel (1890 - 1975) District 3,

Reg: No 352 Volume No. 3764 Saturday December 23, 2017 Jaddi 02, 1396 www.outlookafghanistan.net Price: 15/-Afs Pence Warns Pakistan over Terrorist ‘Safe Havens’ Pence Reassure US WASHINGTON - The United States has put Pakistan on no- tice, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday and told Ameri- Continued Support to can troops based in that days of having terrorist safe havens across the border are over. Afghanistan Issues Stern “For too long Pakistan has pro- Afghanistan vided safe haven to the Taliban Warning to Pakistan over and many terrorist organiza- US Vice President Mike Pence during a meeting with President Mohammad tions, but those days are over. Ashraf Ghani has reaffirmed Washington’s full support for peace, stability and economic Artillery Shelling President Trump has put Pa- development of Afghanistan, a statement from Presidential Palace said on Friday. WASHINGTON - Afghanistan’s patience on in- kistan on notice,” Pence said, discriminate shelling from across the border by addressing about 500 troops in Pakistan should not be tested, the Afghan Ambas- Bagaram hangar decorated with sador to the UN Mahmoud Saikal told Security Christmas decorations and mas- Council on Thursday. sive armored vehicles. “Under the pretext of receiving fire from our side, “As the President said, so I say Pakistan’s violations across the Durand Line, in- now: Pakistan has much to cluding indiscriminate artillery shelling, has con- gain from partnering with the tinued unabated throughout 2017, resulting in the United States, and Pakistan has loss of innocent lives and destruction of villages,” much to lose by continuing to Saikal said participating in a Security Council de- harbor criminals and terrorists,” bate on Afghanistan. said Pence who on Thursday The proposal of Afghanistan for engagement and made an unannounced trip to operational coordination towards addressing Afghanistan. these concerns has not seen any response, he told Pence who spent some seven the UN Security Council. and half hours on the ground in “At the same time, Afghanistan has the will and Afghanistan also flew to the Pal- the capacity to defend its territory and our pa- ace to hold meetings with the tience should not be tested,” Saikal said. President Ghani and CEO Dr Afghanistan believes that confidence building late Thurs- measures can only be successful when violations day night. of this nature come to a complete halt, he said. “We’ve been on a long road “In a similar vein, we are also in communication together but President Trump on the imperative of addressing terrorists’ region- made it ...(More on P4)...(2) al safe havens and hope to see positive develop- ments on this ...(More on P4)...(3) Trade Links to Help Resolve Af-Pak JI Coordination Council Issues: Afghan Envoy Welcomes Approval of Noor’s Resignation

KABUL - On the head of a high level delegation, Pence on ment’s efforts in the areas of anti-corruption, peace process, Thursday evening arrived in Afghanistan and held a meeting regional cooperation and good governance. with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on here, the state- The US vice president said the purpose of US strategy for Af- ment said. ghanistan and South Asia was to bring peace and stability to The US vice president recalled his country supported Af- Afghanistan. The strategy was announced five-month earlier KABUL - The Coordination Council of Jamiat-i- ghanistan and it would continue supporting Afghanistan in by the US president. Islami (JI) party has welcomed the approval of different areas in the future unabated. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani welcomed the US vice former Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor’s He hailed the bravery of Afghan security forces and govern- president and hailed US assistance, ...(More on P4)...(1) resignation and demanded self-proclaimed pow- er centres within and outside the government to Tadamichi Calls for Timely, Credible Poll in Afghanistan be dismantled. President Ashraf Ghani approved the resignation of Noor, ...(More on P4)...(4) KABUL - UN Secretary General Special Representative for Af- PESHAWAR - Afghanistan ghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto has said holding of timely, and Pakistan should focus on credible, and accepted elections was indispensable to maintain MoFA Calls on MPs to boosting cooperation in areas the constitutional order and trust in the representative system Approve Foreign Policy of trade, education, culture and of government. transport, instead of staying Addressing the UNSC, he said there has been insufficient pro- Draft Guideline hostage to political issues, says gress on electoral preparations. The lack of progress, and in- KABUL - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) a senior Afghan . tense criticism from electoral stakeholders, led the independ- on Thursday called on lawmakers in the Wolesi Consul General in Peshawar ent electoral commission to vote to remove its chairman. Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) to decide on Professor Muhammad Moen “The commission needs to demonstrably advance on electoral the draft guideline outlining Afghanistan’s for- Marastial told reporters. preparations to regain its credibility,” he said. eign policy track before leaving for their winter “Economic, trade and cultural The UN technical support team had been working closely with credible and inclusive elections. The Afghan Government recess. ties can pave the way for re- the IEC on the operational concept of voter registration and needed to have a thorough security plan for this democratic The draft on Afghanistan’s foreign policy was solving political issues between would assist the commission in its implementation, though exercise, he said.. sent to parliament for approval four months ago, the two neighbours.” this is ultimately a process that must be owned and led by Af- The special representative called upon Afghans to come to- but no progress has been made so far, Ahmad The neighbours should ghan institutions. gether and find ways to build their own joint future. Shekib Mustaghni, a foreign ministry spokesman strengthen trade and cultural The envoy underlined security as a defining factor enabling “I also called upon each country ...(More on P4)...(5) said on Thursday. ...(More on P4)...(6) links, the envoy suggested, pledging efforts to improve World Bank Injects $46m relations with Pakistan in dif- RSM Troop Levels Being Increased: NATO Chief ferent sectors, including educa- for Reforms Process tion, transport and culture. NATO is increasing the number of troops serving in the Resolute In response to his request, the Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan, the alliance chief says. Islamia College University had raised the number of reserved KABUL - “In Afghanistan we have seats for Afghan students from transitioned from combat operations nine to 15, with the Khyber Pa- to the training and advising of local Af- khtunkhwa government sim- ghan forces,” the secretary-general was plifying the admission process quoted as saying by the Pentagon. for refugees. Jens Stoltenberg, speaking to students He dispelled the impression The World Bank has provided $46 million USD as encourage- at a Paris university, said NATO was that the Chabahar port would ment for reforms to be brought in the Ministry of Finance. raising the number of troops in the mis- affect Afghanistan’s transit The efforts include reforms in revenue collection, the amend- sion to 16,000. trade with Pakistan. The Ka- ment in finance affairs and implementing an e-system for “Since 9/11, NATO allies have stood rachi port would continue to trade balance affairs. together in solidarity against terror- meet commercial requirements “We have delivered the comments we made to the World ism,” Stoltenberg said. But Russia was of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Bank in reforming income therefore the ministry has received only one problem that must be dealt he said. $46 million USD from the bank as an inspiration. The money with, he added. The alliance is also a “Chabahar will have no effect will be spent through the national budget,” Ajmal Abdulra- full partner of the global coalition to defeat ISIS. NATO assets -- such as in 1991, NATO became more active in the on bilateral trade between Af- himzai told TOLOnews. Analysts said government needs fur- the AWACS capability -- and its skills are on display throughout Iraq, wake of Al-Qaeda attacks on 9/11 and took ghanistan ...(More on P4)...(7) ther assistance of the international ...(More on P4)...(8) the Middle East and North Africa. After the Soviet Union’s dissolution a lead role in Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)