Page 2 | NATIONAL ’s peace negotiations validate U.S. withdrawal Page 3 | ECONOMY — the rise, Representatives of the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban ADB Pledges $100mn to retreat and resurgence movement have begun formal direct peace negotiations. The two ... Afghanistan to Counter of jihadists COVID-19 Impacts Page 2 | NATIONAL

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Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Tuesday, September 22, 2020 Issue No. 838 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs McMaster warns Afghan peace talks will fail, leave U.S. vulnerable UNAMA Concern security forces continue to bear the about ‘Intensity’ of brunt of this fight.” Instead, McMaster called for a Civilian Casualties reinforcement in the partnership in Afghanistan between the US military and its The United Nations Assistance Mission allies around the world, saying in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on a statement that plans to withdraw US troops Sunday said they are concern over from places like Germany and increasing number of civilian casualties, Afghanistan are “mistakes.” urging parties to “take immediate” Instead, McMaster called for a actions to avoid innocent people dying. reinforcement in the partnership “As we celebrate International Peace between the US military and its Day, a reminder of the toll war is taking allies around the world, saying on Afghanistan’s civilians,” said UNAMA that plans to withdraw US troops in a tweet. “We’re concerned by high from places like Germany and numbers of civilian casualties & urge parties to take immediate measures Afghanistan are “mistakes.” to protect them, and create conducive “They’re consistent with, I think, atmosphere for Doha peace talks.” this sentiment that you see really According to UNMAN’s assessment, across both political parties for civilian casualties indicate the intensity retrenchment or withdrawal from of conflict in Afghanistan, saying at least complex problem sets overseas,” 20 killed and 39 wounded, including he said. women and children, on Saturday’s McMaster was hired as Trump’s attack. President Donald Trump’s former In an interview that aired Sunday month with the Afghan government second national security adviser “Civilian casualty numbers, a key national security adviser H.R. on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” McMaster and the Taliban. during the turbulent days that indicator of conflict’s intensity, ... P2 McMaster on Sunday said the discussed a need to avoid “He, in effect, is partnering with followed the resignation of his withdrawal of US troops from places abandoning allies through the hasty the Taliban against, in many predecessor, Michael Flynn, over his like Afghanistan and Germany withdrawal of US troops. McMaster, ways, the Afghan government,” contact with Moscow’s ambassador are “mistakes” from a long-term a retired Army lieutenant general he said. “I think that it’s an unwise to the US during the transition. national security perspective and who served in combat roles in Iraq policy. And I think what we require In the CBS Interview, McMaster said called for a sustained commitment and Afghanistan, said that Trump in Afghanistan is a sustained he has no desire to involve himself to assisting the Afghan government has made too many concessions commitment to help the Afghan in some of the palace intrigue that and its security forces. in his peace talks that began this government and help the Afghan has engulfed much of ... U.S. Embassy P3 Stresses on Tajikistan and targeting Indians working Permanent Ceasefire Afghanistan to in Afghanistan create a joint in Afghanistan: Delhi During a meeting with Afghan Foreign security commission Pakistan has been targeting Minister Hanif Atmar, United States Acting Foreign Minister Muhammad Indian professionals working in Ambassador to Ross Wilson Hanif Atmar met on Friday with the Afghanistan in a variety of ways, stressed the need for permanent Secretary of the Security Council of and several Indians working on ceasefire and violence reduction in the Tajikistan Nasrullo Mahmudzoda. development projects have been country. During the meeting, the foreign minister attacked and kidnapped over the The Foreign Ministry said in a press of the neighboring country praised past 12 years, the government release the meeting took place on Tajikistan’s support for Afghanistan’s informed Parliament on Monday. Monday morning. positions in the peace process and Since September last year, Pakistan According to the statement, the two negotiations with the Taliban, Acting has also attempted to designate four sides during the meeting discussed Foreign Ministry reports. Indian nationals, who had previously the start of peace talks, progress in In this regard, he called for cooperation worked in Afghanistan, as terrorists the peace process, the provision of between the two countries in the fight under the UN Security Council a comprehensive ceasefire, and the against terrorism, drug trafficking, and Resolution 1267, minister of state a variety of ways. Several Indians The last of seven Indian engineers establishment of a mechanism to border security. for external affairs V Muraleedharan working in Afghanistan on various who were kidnapped in Afghanistan monitor the reduction of violence. Secretary of the Security ... P3 said in a written reply to a question development projects have been in May 2018 were recently released They also discussed opportunities for in the Lok Sabha. attacked and kidnapped over the before the Afghan government and expanding tripartite relations between “However, the 1267 Sanctions past 12 years. the Taliban launched intra-Afghan Afghanistan, the United States, and Committee, based on its internal “With the assistance of [the] negotiations in Qatar this month. Central Asian countries as part of a procedures, has not approved the government of Afghanistan, India Muraleedharan said as a result of regional mobilization for the peace request,” the minister said. has been able to secure [the] release the Indian government’s efforts, process in Afghanistan, the statement In his response to the same question, of many Indians from captivity. there is “enhanced concern in added. Muraleedharan said: “Pakistan has In addition, [the] Indian embassy the international community at On the other hand, U.S. diplomat been targeting Indian professionals and its consulates have also been terrorism emanating from Pakistan, assured his country’s commitment ... P3 working in Afghanistan through attacked.” including the continuing ... P2 September 22, 2020 Heart of Asia NATIONAL TUESDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia /@heartofasiapost Pakistan targeting... By Stanly Johny activities of internationally designated terrorist entities and individuals such as Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Taliban — the rise, retreat Jaish-e-Mohammad [and] Hizbul ”. The world community strongly condemned the cross-border terror and resurgence of jihadists attack in Pulwama in February In the spring of 1996, the Taliban, who had taken 2019 and several countries have southern Afghanistan under their control, organised called on Pakistan to “not allow its a conference of their fighters, commanders and territory to be used for terrorism in in downtown , the movement’s any manner”, he said. political and spiritual base. The city hosts one of “Many terrorist entities and the holiest shrines in the country — The Shrine of individuals who find shelter in the Cloak of the Prophet Mohammed, which keeps a Pakistan and are also engaged in robe that Afghans believe was worn by the Prophet. terrorism against India have been Next to the shrine is the tomb of King Ahmad Shah proscribed by the United Nations Durrani, the founder of modern Afghanistan. The (UN), the European Union and legend is that King Durrani, who ruled the country other countries,” he said, adding from 1747 to 1772, brought the cloak to Kandahar that JeM founder Masood Azhar from a conquest. Very rarely has it been shown to was sanctioned by the UN 1267 the public. Those who had assembled before an old Sanctions Committee in May last mosque in central Kandahar were clueless what they year. The Financial Action Task were going to see. Then Force (FATF), at its plenary in appeared on its roof, with the cloak in his hands. June 2018, notified Pakistan in He held it aloft before the cheering crowd, who soil. As part of the broader peace process, Taliban was against this background a group of madrassa the “grey list” due to “continuing named him ‘Amir ul-Momineen’, the commander of representatives and the Afghan government opened students (Talibs), with roots in Deobandi seminaries terror financing-related concerns, the faithful. formal talks earlier this month in the Qatari capital and support from different Deobandi factions in including with respect to the UN Omar appeared with the relic at a critical juncture Doha where both sides would be seeking to build Pakistan, came together to launch a new “reform” proscribed terrorist entities like of the Taliban’s history. The militants had not a consensus on how a post-American Afghanistan movement. Predominantly Pashtun, their declared LeT, JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat reached Kabul yet. The rank and file were divided on should be. goals were: establish order, restore peace, disarm the Foundation”, he further said. whether the Taliban, consisting of mainly madrassa Civil war militias, enforce the code and unite people students, should take the war to the capitalwhere The roots of the Taliban go back to the Mujahideen under (their version of) Islam. They saw themselves the government of President Burhanuddin Rabbani movement against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan as God’s pure soldiers destined to fight against the UNAMA Concern... was already under attack by Hizb-e-Islami of in the 1980s. Many of the Taliban’s early leadership, corrupt war lords. They chose Omar, a young, locally are at a lower level than in recent Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, also known as the ‘Butcher including Omar, fought the Soviets with various influential preacher who lost one eye in the battle years,” the statement read. “But of Kabul’. But what happened in Kandahar, as Steve Mujahideen factions, which were supported by the against the Red Army, as their leader. UNAMA preliminary findings show Coll wrote in his profile of the Taliban leader in The Central Intelligence Agency, Pakistan’s Inter Service There are lots of stories about how Omar mobilised as many as 20 civilians killed and New Yorker, was Omar’s “coronation” as the leader Intelligence and Saudi Arabia. After the Soviets the Talibs under his command. “The most credible 39 injured –including women, boys of the most powerful insurgency in the country. The pulled back in 1989, the Mujahideen groups started story”, writes Ahmed Rashid in his book, Taliban, and girls– in four separate incidents Taliban would capture Kabul within a few months fighting each other, plunging the country into a civil “is that in the spring of 1994, Singesar neighbours Saturday.” and establish the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. war. The communist government of Mohammed came to tell him that a commander had abducted The remarks came at a time Omar would rule most of the country for the next Najibullah did not survive long after the collapse of two teenage girls.” They were taken to a military the country is biding to reach five years. Overthrown by the U.S. in 2001 following the Soviet Union in 1991. Najibulla took refuge at the camp and repeatedly raped. Omar attacked the base a comprehensive ceasefire, the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Taliban UN office in Kabul after his government fell in 1992 with some 30 Talibs, freed the girls and hanged the negotiating with Taliban in Doha. would retreat to the mountainous hinterlands of (He would stay there till 1996, when Taliban fighters commander from the barrel of a tank. From the base, Afghanistan, while their leadership crossed the stormed the compound, dragged him out, shot him they captured arms and ammunition, beginning a border to Pakistan. The war continued, killing and then hanged him in public). long journey of bloody militancy. Pakistan opposition... hundreds of thousands of people, and wounding and The post-communist Afghanistan was divided The Taliban swept up military victories with the handle Islamist militants. displacing many more. Almost 20 years after they along the ethnic lines. Tajik, Pashtun, Hazara and help of the ISI. Pakistan found the Taliban the Information Minister Shibli Faraz lost Kabul, the Taliban are now controlling almost Uzbek commanders created their own fiefdoms. most reassuring proxy in an otherwise fractured said the opposition was “ganging half of the country. Earlier this year, they reached an Kandahar was divided up by a group of Mujahideen Afghanistan, while Deobandi groups in Pakistan, up” to pressure the government to agreement with the U.S. as part of which American commanders among themselves. There was no including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), continued close corruption cases, that would and other international troops would withdraw from central authority. Life was chaotic. Crimes were to back their brethren. After capturing Kabul, the not happen. Afghanistan in return for the Taliban’s assurance rampant. Afghanistan, which the poet Mohammed Taliban enforced their version of strict Islamist code. that they won’t let foreign terrorists use Afghan Iqbal called “the heart of Asia”, was falling apart. It It destroyed movie theatres, banned ... P3 By Arthur Cyr U.S. Embassy... She said, ““As our ambassadors, you have Afghanistan’s peace negotiations and cooperation to Afghanistan. to take our message to people in villages However, Women Affairs Department officials and towns that only men cannot play role validate U.S. withdrawal and women’s rights activists held a gathering in peace, but women also must play a in southeastern Khost province on Monday constructive role.” Representatives of the development and political declared the winner, with just and urged the Afghan government and the Nasrin Ahsani, a women’s right activist, government of Afghanistan — along with military — over 50% of the vote. However, Taliban to declare a permanent ceasefire. told the gathering that women had been and the Taliban movement dimensions. challenger Abdullah Abdullah The gathering was organized by the Women ignored and the issue required decisions on have begun formal direct Last February, after nearly refused to accept the results Affairs Department in cooperation with the national level. She welcomed the ongoing peace negotiations. The two two decades of occupation, and vowed to establish a Afghan Development Association (ADA) on intra-Afghan peace negotiations in Qatar but sides held their first meeting the U.S. government and separate government. On May the occasion of International Day of Peace. said the two sides should not ignore their say in Doha, the capital of Qatar, the fundamentalist Taliban 17, both leaders agreed to a The participants of the gathering in Khost in the ongoing talks. on Sept. 12. movement signed a formal power-sharing agreement for City spoke against the ongoing war in the A number of other women’s rights activists The timing has symbolic agreement for the phased joint government — a major country. held similar views and urged the warring importance, in particular for withdrawal of international breakthrough. Shafie Noorzai, the Khost women affairs parties not to reject their part in the peace Americans. The horrific, bloody troops. The accord includes Context is important. department head, told the gathering that the talks. al-Qaida terrorist attacks in detailed stipulations to help Afghanistan has no ongoing war had hurt the women more than Abdul Saboor Hadi, ADA head in Khost, told New York City; Washington, protect the population and established history of formal anyone else, so it was important for every the gathering that women’s participation in D.C.; and the Pennsylvania discourage the return of representative elections, citizen to do their best to bring peace. peace talks would be more important as they countryside took place just terrorists. Western-style rule of law, or She also urged the warring parties to pay suffered the most. under two decades ago, on This struggle to find a reliable national government. attention to women rights in the ongoing He urged women in villages and towns to raise Sept. 11, 2001. An al-Qaida reasonably responsible, Local tribal leaders remain intra-Afghan talks. their voice against violence in Afghanistan. group based in Afghanistan acceptable diplomatic route influential, powerful, lethal in planned and carried out the for departure reflects subtle armed conflict. attacks. but sustained sentiment The 2014 election is a much rejects... steps to bring China into deals between President In response, the military among Americans that the more reassuring benchmark include China, he told these talks, something we Ronald Reagan and Soviet forces of an international involvement has surely of progress in Afghanistan. Kommersant. have told our American leader Mikhail Gorbachev coalition of nations, led by gone on long enough. That Turnout of approximately colleagues on multiple in the 1980s, and their the United States, occupied sentiment emphatically 60% of eligible voters Ryabkov called that a occasions,” TASS quoted successors George H.W. Afghanistan and overthrew includes the White House. was high, despite Taliban “deliberate distortion of our the ruling fundamentalist Afghanistan’s disputed intimidation and violence. The position.” He said China’s Ryabkov as saying. Bush and Russian President Taliban regime. Both the presidential election of national election commission decision on whether to New START is a successor to Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, United Nations and the NATO September 2019 complicated testified corruption was much take part in the talks was the original Strategic Arms underscored growing trust alliance support have helped matters. In February, reduced from the earlier 2009 exclusively Beijing’s to Reduction Treaty (START between the superpowers to implement this long-term incumbent President Ashraf presidential election. make. I) signed in 1991 between at that time and proved a effort, which has economic Ghani was formally, finally Then-President ... P3 “We have not taken and the then-Soviet Union and contributor towards ending do not intend to take any the United States. Arms the Cold War. September 22, 2020 Heart of Asia ECONOMY TUESDAY 3 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost ADB Pledges $100mn to Afghanistan Exchange Rates to Counter COVID-19 Impacts 76.7 76.8 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) 5.0% in 2020—a significant downward has pledged $100 million to support revision from the ADO 2020 forecast 89.9 90 small and medium enterprises released in April. However, GDP impacted by the pandemic. growth is expected to rebound to 98.4 98.5 “We understand that the economic 1.5% in 2021 subject to an improved impacts of COVID-19 pandemic will situation in the country. “The COVID-19 be widespread. To counter these pandemic has had significant impact 462 463 challenges, ADB is preparing a on Afghanistan’s economy in the first countercyclical support facility of half of 2020,” said Singru. “Based on 20.65 20.75 100 million dollars under its COVID-19 our projections, the economy could Active Response and Expenditures witness positive growth next year if 1030 1040 Support Program,” said Narendra the intra-Afghan peace negotiations Singru, ADB’s Country Director for succeed and bring a speedy political Afghanistan. “Given the extensive settlement, in addition to stronger development needs in Afghanistan, commitments from development ADB remains committed to supporting partners at the upcoming Afghanistan and remittance inflows decreased. suffered due to the pandemic. Contact Numbers Afghanistan’s agenda to eradicate Conference 2020.” These developments are estimated Meanwhile, Afghan Economy Minister poverty and to transform the country Based on the report, border closures to drive up unemployment, suppress informs of a $560 million support Kabul Police -119 into a self-reliant and productive and lockdowns in the major cities business activity and regional trade, from the government package to economy.” disrupted trade and transportation and impact government revenues. help investors counter the impacts Kabul Ambulance - 112 Earlier, ADB in its report called and undermined industry and services According to Tolo News, at least 30 of COVID-19. However, the support Asian Development Outlook (ADO) in the country. As a result of the crisis percent of small businesses with an package is awaiting approval from Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital 2020 forecasted Afghanistan’s gross household consumption declined, investment of Afs100,000 ($1,300) the High Economic Council led by domestic product (GDP) to contract by confidence waned, and investment to Afs300,000 ($3,900) have severely President Ghani. 0202301360 McMaster warns... Taliban — the,... years earlier in Pakistan. Mullah seem unable, for now, to seize Ata Turk Hospital Trump’s first term in office. Instead, he said there women from working in public Mansour, who succeeded the major population centres, needs to be a reinforced focus on the security offices, kept girls out of schools Omar, was killed in a U.S. air including Kabul. This, coupled 0202500312 strike in 2015. Since 2016, with the U.S.’s desire to get challenges facing the US today. That will be the focus and banned public music, the the less-known out of the war, prompted the of his forthcoming book, “Battlegrounds: The Fight to sale of CDs and even kite flying. Corona call center - 166 Kabul’s sports stadium was Hibatullah Akhundzada has peace talks. But hard questions Defend the Free World.” turned into a public execution been the group’s leader. Under remain. With the U.S. agreeing McMaster also addressed heightened efforts by China ground. In March 2001, the Akhundzada, the Taliban to pull back, the Taliban have to become a dominant force in the world. He said Taliban blew up the two giant have taken a ‘fight and talk’ met one of their key goals. But China is trying to “Co-opt us in with the lure of access stone statues of the Buddha approach. In 2018, U.S. officials they haven’t recognised the to their market and short-term profits” and “coerce us in Bamiyan. The regime was and Taliban representatives Afghan Constitution. There is to adhere to their worldview and to make concessions internationally isolated, held their first meeting in no truce yet. It’s not clear what that allow them to achieve competitive advantage barring support from Pakistan Doha, where the insurgents would their eventual goal be. against us.” and Saudi Arabia. Omar hardly had opened a political office. “There are some differences “I think Russia feels the same way,” he added. “I think stepped out of his Kandahar Throughout talks with the U.S., between the Taliban of the the Taliban refused to agree to 1990s and today’s Taliban. other adversaries could feel the same way.” residence, while the Taliban enforced their rule through fear a lasting ceasefire. We now have the second and suppression. Pakistan played a key role in the generation Taliban. Their links Taliban’s resurgence. Rattled with the military and religious Belarus: Tens of... After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., Omar faced a by India’s growing influence establishment in Pakistan after the election, Tsikhanouskaya praised the protesters. difficult choice. Osama bin in post-Taliban Afghanistan, are different. Their working “They have frightened and put pressure on women for the Laden, the al-Qaeda leader, Pakistan played a double game relationship with terrorist second month, but despite this, Belarusians are continuing WAYGAL Printing Co. planned and executed the — it joined the U.S.-led war on outfits like Al-Qaeda are limited their peaceful protest and showing their amazing fortitude,” attack from Afghanistan. The terror, while at the same time today,” said D. Suba Chandran, she said. U.S. asked the Taliban to hand secretly helping the Taliban. a Professor of strategic and Tsikhanouskaya is due to meet with European foreign over bin Laden. Omar refused, As Steve Coll writes in his book security studies at the National If You Can Think It, ministers in Brussels on Monday, where sanctions are which was followed by the U.S. Directorate S, the ISI set up a Institute of Advanced Studies, expected to be agreed on Belarusian figures believed to We Can ink it. invasion and the ouster of the secret unit called ‘Directorate S’ Bangalore. “But their core be responsible for electoral fraud and police violence. Taliban from power. Since then, to handle its Taliban operations ideology hasn’t changed. If they Lukashenko’s regime has imprisoned many opposition the Taliban have been fighting to and worked from an Army camp were not ready to share power leaders involved with the Coordination Council set up by recapture what they lost — ‘the in Ojhri, near Rawalpindi. then, they won’t do it now. Tsikhanouskaya in the aftermath of the election. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’. Now, the war has entered I don’t think their approach One of her closest allies, Maria Kolesnikova, who worked Fight and talk into a stalemate. The Afghan towards liberal institutions, on her election campaign, refused to be driven out of the In 2015, the Taliban announced government cannot defeat minorities, women and other country. She has been jailed accused of “actions aimed at that Mullah Omar died two the Taliban and the Taliban groups has changed either.” undermining Belarusian national security.” As well as chanting “Get out!” and “Game over” about Lukashenko, protesters on Sunday also directed their ire towards Russian president Vladimir Putin who has voiced Afghanistan’s... Partner of the U.S. These include South Asia struggle can mask his support for the embattled Belarusian president. Hamid Karzai could not run Argentina, Australia, Israel and such positive changes as At a summit between the two leaders in Sochi, Russia, on for reelection. World Bank Japan. Other partners are reasonably honest elections and September 15, Putin agreed to give a €1.2 billion loan to veteran Ashraf Ghani was notably stronger economically, growing participation of women. what he called Russia’s “closest ally.” victorious among a field of and more stable politically, than Despite lack of infrastructure, eight candidates. With the Afghanistan. technology spreads steadily. election, Afghanistan completed The bilateral partnership Cellphones and the internet, a peaceful democratic transition brings closer cooperation, as well as traditional television, in leadership. This is an historic encompassing regular delivery are now features of isolated first. of military equipment, supplies communities.

Chief Editor : M. Hamid Hamdard Despite policy disagreements and weapons. This in turn The U.S. and allies were right and insurgent attacks, becomes more important with to overthrow the Taliban in Reporters: Safiullah Nasary, Shafiq Amirzay, institutional ties between U.S. withdrawal. After signing of Afghanistan and are now right Jawad Temori & Hameedullah Hamidi Afghanistan and the U.S. are the agreement, a multinational to withdraw. In the future, strong. In July 2012, the two conference convened in Tokyo, disciplined regional strategy Graphic & Design: Arman nations became formal allies. where donor nations pledged should guide Washington policy. Phone: +93-202502100 - +93-777989696 As a result, Afghanistan joined 14 $16 billion in development The Afghan people are other nations in the distinctive, assistance. responsible for their nation. Website: www.heartofasia.af special category of Strategic The frustrating nature of the That also is right. Email: [email protected] Address: Behind Rahman Baba High School Tajikistan and... border security, and also the creation of the Tajik- - Opposite to 3rd District, Council of Tajikistan Nasrullo expressed the readiness of the Afghan Commission for Mahmudzoda stressed the Tajik side to cooperate with Security Cooperation and the Kabul - Afghanistan importance of expanding Afghanistan in these areas. development of an effective The parties also discussed regional approach to combating Print: Waygal Printing .Co - +93 - 202512626 bilateral efforts in the fight against terrorism and ensuring the extradition of prisoners, terrorism. September 22, 2020 WORLD TUESDAY Heart of Asia 4 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Belarus: Tens of thousands join weekly protest against Lukashenko regime, over 100 arrested Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to Others, including Lukashenko’s main opponent the streets of Minsk on Sunday despite police in the election, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, have pressure in the now weekly protests against the gone into exile. reelection of authoritarian president Alexander According to human rights group Viasna, over Lukashenko. a hundred people were arrested by security Dressed in red and white or draped in the red and forces throughout the day. At least 80 people white flags of the opposition, protesters chanted were detained in Minsk. At least another 47 were “Get out!” as they marched down Victors Avenue arrested at regional protests, it said, in Gomel, to Independence Palace, the president’s official Brest and Grodno where thousands more had residence in the centre of the Belarusian capital. taken to the streets. It mirrored similar peaceful protests taking place Police arrested over 400 at a women’s march in across Belarus on Sunday. Minsk and 15 other cities on Saturday, according Protests have swept the country since the to the Belarusian interior ministry. Nina contested results of the presidential election on Baginskaya, a 73-year-old who has become an August 9 handed Lukashenko a landslide victory icon of the anti-government protests, was also after 26 years in power. arrested but quickly released. In the wake of the election, which opposition Images showed police officers unceremoniously leaders have said was rigged, Lukashenko has carry some protesters to waiting prison vans. tried to suppress unrest with mass arrests, In a video statement released on Saturday from including opposition figures. Lithuania where she took refuge ... P3

A look at the world Russia rejects U.S. Lebanon PM urges Pakistan opposition terms, sees ‘minimal’ parties to help form urges end to military chance to extend New overdue cabinet ‘interference’ in politics START nuclear pact Half a dozen major Pakistani opposition parties have joined forces to denounce the Russia sees minimal chances of extending military which they accuse of meddling in the New START treaty with the United politics and rigging the 2018 elections to States - their last major nuclear arms pact bring Prime Minister Imran Khan to power. - as it does not accept conditions set out by The six parties and some smaller groups Washington, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei signed a statement late on Sunday Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Monday. announcing the creation of the Pakistan He spoke came after Marshall Billingslea, Democratic Movement to begin nationwide the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms agitation, possibly culminating in a January Control, told a Russian newspaper that march on the capital, Islamabad. Lebanon’s prime minister-designate Moscow must accept a joint agreement “The (military) establishment should Shigal Mustapha Adib on Monday urged with Washington on extending the treaty stop every kind of interference in politics competing political forces to step up English Academy before the U.S. presidential election in forthwith,” said the statement, which accuses November. and help him form a desperately needed Khan of failing on multiple counts, from the “I suspect that after President Trump independent government to save the economy to foreign policy. wins re-election, if Russia has not taken crisis-hit country. The armed forces, which have ruled Pakistan Adib is under pressure to form a fresh cabinet line-up as soon as possible so the new government can launch a raft of reforms required to unlock billions of dollars in foreign aid. Lebanon was mired in its worst economic Easy crisis in decades and battling the novel coronavirus pandemic, even before one of the world’s biggest non-nuclear explosions for half of its history since independence in up our offer, that the price of admission, at the Beirut port last month. English 1947, deny meddling in politics or electoral as we would say in the U.S., goes up,” “Any further delay will exacerbate and wrongdoing. Billingslea told Kommersant newspaper deepen the crisis,” Adib said in a statement. The alliance didn’t give a schedule for the in an interview. Adib’s remarks came after a French- street protests except for announcing the Ryabkov said that position constituted an imposed deadline to form the cabinet Learning march on the capital if the government ultimatum and lowered the chances of passed last week. didn’t stop victimising political opponents. The premier-designate appealed to reaching any kind of agreement to extend It demanded electoral reform to ensure “no the deal, which expires in February next all political forces to “work towards role for the armed forces and (intelligence) year. the success of the French initiative agencies”. “We cannot talk in this manner,” TASS immediately and without delay” to help The next general election is scheduled for news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. rescue the country. 2023. Dehbori, 2nd Street Behind Another news agency, RIA, quoted him as “The Lebanese people’s woes... require the Opposition parties and civil rights groups Park, 3rd District, Kabul saying the chances of a treaty extension cooperation of all sides to facilitate forming have long held that the military interferes in were “minimal”. a crisis government” of independents, he politics and runs governments from behind The New START accord, signed in 2010, said. the scene. limits the number of strategic nuclear Adib’s efforts to form a government have Khan’s minister for planning, Asad Umar, +93 (0) 789 98 9696 warheads that Russia and the United States been effectively blocked by the two said the military and civilian government can deploy. main Shiite groups in Lebanon’s usual work together. The government’s majority Failure to extend it would remove the main power-sharing arrangement -- Amal and hinges on a few votes in parliament, while the pillar maintaining the balance of nuclear Hezbollah. opposition has a majority in the upper house. [email protected] arms between the two countries, adding yet Observers have said their insistence to “Our struggle is against those who have another element of tension to their already keep the finance ministry is linked to brought Imran Khan (to power),” former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who fraught relationship. recent US sanctions against a former was removed on corruption allegations in DISAGREEMENT ON CHINA minister from Amal, as well as Hezbollah- Shigal English Academy 2017, said by video link to the gathering from Billingslea said the U.S. side was looking for linked businesses. London. a framework political accord on extending The August 4 explosion of hundreds Sharif’s third term as prime minister ran from New START. This framework, which would of tonnes of ammonium nitrate at the www.shigal.edu.af not have to be ratified by the U.S. Senate, 2013 to 2017, when he was removed by the Beirut port killed more than 190 people, Supreme Court amid revelations over his would stipulate that a successor to New wounded thousands, and ravaged large personal wealth. He fell out with the generals START must be multilateral and ... P3 parts of the capital. over differences how to ... P2