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AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: Industrialists called the KABUL: Afghanistan has finally commencement of the TAPI gas joined the World Trade Organiza- pipeline project “a big achieve- tion (WTO) as a full member af- ment” and asked the government ter 11 years of negotiations. AT News Report government should convene Con- to extend the gas to residential The WTO has approved the stitutional Loya Jirga to amend homes and industrial parks. Lead- membership of Afghanistan on KABUL: A Number of Jihadi lead- the constitution and create the ers from Afghanistan, India and Thursday at its 10th ministerial ers, former officials and civil soci- post of executive prime minister. Pakistan converged in the remote conference in Nairobi, the capital ety activists gathered on Friday He said that people will opt for Karakum desert about 300km of Kenya. to establish the Council of Pro- an alternative, if the government northeast of the Turkmenistan After 11 years of negotiations tection and Stability of Afghani- failed to call up Loya Jirga. “If capital Ashgabat and launched the Afghanistan has become the 164th stan to find solution to the ongo- the Constitutional Loya Jirga 1,814km Turkmenistan-Afghani- WTO member and the 36th least ing challenges. Speakers of the could not be held, then the gov- stan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipe- developed country (LDC) to join event called on the government to ernment should convene the Tra- line, named after the countries it the global trade body, Xinhua re- convene Loya Jirga, bring reforms ditional Loya Jirga,” he added. is designed to cross. A 750km por- ported. Afghanistan said the mem- in electoral commissions, protect He said that the government tion of the pipeline will pass bership would boost its national the achievements made over the should adopt a clear peace policy. through Afghanistan’s Herat, economy and build peace. During past 14 years and adopt a clear “It should be made clear that with Farah, Helmand and Kandahar the ceremony for the accession, policy for peace talks with the whom we talk peace: Pakistan, al- provinces reaching Pakistan. Af- the first deputy chief executive Taliban militants. Abdul Rab Ra- Qaeda or Pakistan,” Sayyaf asked. ghanistan would earn $400 mil- Mohammad Khan confirmed the soul Sayyaf, a prominent Jihadi He said that Taliban militants with lion annually in transit fee and the commitment and said the country leader, said that deepening crises their brutality were smearing the er added. Former Vice President, Afghanistan, but stressed the peace previous government should not project would create jobs for thou- will benefit from the membership, compelled them to establish the sacred name of Islam. He said that Muhammad Yunus Qanuni, ex- process should be Afghan-owned have trusted Pakistan to bring peace sands of people in the country. adding the membership will reduce council. He stressed that establish- the council was not against peace pressed his deep concerns over and Afghan-led. Former Minister to Afghanistan. “To overcome the The project would be completed poverty and would ensure lasting ment of the council was aimed at talks. However, he stressed that fate of Afghanistan and said that of Interior, Muhammad Omar current challenges, the NUG need a in the next four years (by 2019). peace and stability in the war-hit supporting the government and they want peace with dignity. He some foreign hands want to change Daudzai, said that a large of num- good leadership,” he added. Speak- Mines Ministry officials say country. they have no intention to collapse said that the council put its weight the country to a terrorist hub. He ber of people were interested to join er of the Wolesi Jirga, Abdul Rauf Afghanistan would purchase 500 He further said that for the it. He added that based on the behind reforms in the election sys- said that council is not a tempo- the council. He emphasized on larg- Ebrahimi, said that people expect million cubic metre of gas in the past one decade Afghanistan has agreement signed between the two tem. “Repetition of the poll rig- rary body, but would at least ex- er participation of youth in the the NUG leaders to fulfill their first decade, 1 billion in the sec- been struggling to rebuild sate, leaders of the National Unity ging of the 2014 presidential elec- ist for another four years. He body. He said that people wanted promises. He said that insecurity ond and 1.5 billion in the third private sectors and education sys- Government—President Ashraf tions is not acceptable. Thus, there hoped that the council would find peace, but it should not be at the has mounted and unemployment decade. Members of Afghanistan tem. He called on the internation- Ghani and Chief Executive Offic- is urgent need for reforms in the a solution to current challenges. price of the achievements made over has increased since formation of the Industrialists Association (AIA) al community to grant technical er (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah— the electoral bodies,” the Jihadi lead- He said that peace was a need of the past 14 years. He said that the NUG. told a press conference in Kabul assistance to enable Afghanistan they wished timely completion of to handle the post WTO acces- the TAPI project because Afghan- sion process. istan lacked enough liquefied gas He said that Kabul had in- Afghanistan-Central Asia USAID projects boost support for Taliban: Report to facilitate industrialists. “The creased domestic reforms in a bid Afghan government should extent to woo investment in vital sec- Dialogue-III: Speakers stress AT Monitoring Desk projects had contrary results. The cy contractor. The study mentioned the facility to industrial parks in tors of the economy, including projects also increased support for that support for Taliban insurgents Kabul and provinces and residen- transport, infrastructure and en- KABUL: An internal study report Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, had increased in 13 villages where tial areas,” AIA chairman Sakhi ergy. on regional integration of the United States Agency for it added. Afghans believed that the the projects were started. Nonethe- Ahmad Paiman said. He said be- He said that the country International Development (US- projects were initiated after the less, Jason Foley, a USAID Senior coming member of the World would improve the economical AT News Report but cultures as well. Participants AID) revealed that some US- USAID received approval from the official, denied the study and said Trade Organisation (WTO) was discipline and will create a suit- of the conferences have expressed backed projects had increased insurgents group. “Worryingly, sta- that they had worked in around another achievement for Afghani- able environment for trade and MAZAR-E-SHARIF: Afghani- serious concerns over growing vio- support for the Taliban insur- bilization programming actually had 5,000 villages and provided in- stan. “As our industries are new- investments. Roberto Azevedo, stan Institute for Strategic Stud- lence in the war-hit country, par- gents. The United States has been the perverse effect of increasing creased support for the government ly established, we are struggling WTO director general, said that ies (AISS) has organized two-day ticularly over growing insurgency busy in rebuilding Afghanistan and support for the Taliban in Taliban- in those areas. He said the 13 villag- with some problems. Regional Afghanistan’s membership was Afghanistan-Central Asia Dia- in northern parts of Afghanistan. had invested millions of dollars controlled villages,” said the study es mentioned in the study represent- countries give subsidies to trad- “an endorsement of the extensive logue-III in northern Balkh prov- Muradian said the maleficent events on different projects. However, carried out for USAID by Manage- ed a small proportion of those that ers and provide them modern tech- program of domestic reforms the ince to explore ways to combat had split Afghans from their neigh- the study says that some of the ment Systems International, an agen- have received American assistance. nology.” (Pajhwok) country has undertake to acceler- terrorism and promote regional bors in different sectors like “re- ate economic growth”. integration. The acting Governor mote and unwitting islands”. Ko- Zou Jiayi, China’s assistant of Balkh province, Atta Muham- simsha Iskandarov, a conflict stud- minister for finance also attended mad Noor, while addressing the ies expert at Tajikistan’s Institute Afghan Terrorist turf war the conference and said the admis- conference stressed on regional of Oriental Studies, said that Af- Carter arrives in Afghani- sion was “a triumph of multilat- cooperation in fight against mili- ghanistan and Tajikistan have al- will result if Daesh eralism” that inspired developing tancy. He called on regional coun- ways been beside each other espe- forces retake takes on Taliban in stan on unannounced visit nations. tries to join hands to restrict cially in the turbulent times that Meanwhile, Indian Commerce spread of Islamic State (IS), the they faced during independence Khanshin, Afghanistan Secretary Rita Teaotia said that Taliban, Islamic Movement of when Afghans came to Tajikistan. her country is delightful to wel- Uzbekistan and other terrorist Afghans also supported their Tajik Fears have been raised about the come Afghanistan as a new mem- groups in the region. The chair- brothers and sisters when there was under attack presence of Daesh in Afghanistan, ber of the WTO. She added that man of the Afghanistan Institute but the strength of the Taliban conflict in Tajikistan. The speakers prevents the group from gaining her country stands ready to ex- for Strategic Studies (AISS), believed that ignoring the Taliban in Washir Daoud Muradian, said that con- ground there, noted Pakistani jour- tend all assistance and support to threats has resulted into emergence nalist Rahimullah Yusufzai told Afghanistan. flicts did not only affect countries, of Daesh in Afghanistan. KABUL: Afghan security forces Sputnik. Despite reports that recaptured the Khanshin district Daesh has expanded into Afghan- centre of southern Helmand prov- istan, the strength of the Taliban ince from Taliban insurgents after there and a lack of popular sup- Public reps, overnight clashes that left 32 mil- port mean the group will prove itants dead, a military official unable to gain a grip in the coun- activists decry claimed on Friday. Capt. Abdul try, Peshawar-based expert on Ali Kaliwal, the 406 zone border Afghan affairs Rahimullah Paktia govt’s police 5th brigade commander, Yusufzai told Sputnik. Although said security forces launched an several hundred people in Afghan- performance operation on Thursday night and istan have joined Daesh, Yusufzai GARDEZ: Provincial Council killed 32 militants and regained said there is not much support (PC) members and civil society control of the district centre early there for the terrorist group, or its The U.S. Secretary of Defense fective insurgent attacks and high- activists in southeastern Paktia on Friday. The morning clashes idea of a caliphate. “People may Ashton Carter arrived in Afghani- er ANDSF and Taliban casualties,” province on Friday criticised the left another 10 insurgents dead, want Sharia Islamic law, some peo- stan on an unannounced visit to stated the 96-page report released KABUL/FEROZKOH: The fe- performance of the provincial he added. The Taliban overran ple may support the Taliban, but meet with the military command- on Tuesday. The report further male governor of western Ghor government, calling the adminis- Khanshin district centre on I think public support for Daesh ers, U.S. troops and Afghan offi- added that the casualties of the province has been appointed as tration’s 100-day action plans as Wednesday after fierce clashes is still not there … I don’t think cials. His visit to Afghanistan Afghan national security forces deputy governor of Kabul, but she “symbolic.” PC secretary Mo- with security forces, a public rep- there will be a caliphate in Afghan- comes amid deteriorating security have dramatically increased by 27 said the government did so under hammad Rahman Qadari told re- resentative had said. Karim Atal, istan.” Though the Afghan gov- situation in the country with Pen- percent since the start of the year pressure from powerful individu- the provincial council chief, had ernment claims its security forces tagon reporting an overall security and shortly after taking full secu- porters in Gardez, the provincial told Pajhwok Aghan News the als. Independent Directorate of capital, that the new leadership have as many as 400,000 mem- deteriorating during the second half rity lead from the coalition securi- Local Governance (IDLG) district centre fell to insurgents at bers, they are already engaged in a of the provincial administration about 3pm after security forces of the current year. Afghanistan is ty forces. The deteriorating secu- spokesperson Munira Yousufza- had pledged reforms and eliminat- battle with the Taliban and would facing threats from both the Af- rity situation also forced the Amer- da on Thursday said Ghor Gov- were forced into retreat. The se- have a limited ability to tackle ing corruption, but it was yet to curity forces moved to an army Daesh, said the expert. “They are ghan insurgency and extremist net- ican special forces to secretly start ernor Sima Joyinda had been ap- deliver on its pledges. He said the works, including the Taliban, the counter-terrorism operations in pointed as deputy governor of base three kilometers from the dis- fighting on many fronts, they can- Paktia government’s 100-day ac- trict centre, he had said. He said not really control the border areas Haqqani Network, and to a lesser southern Helmand province of Kabul in compliance with a pres- tion plan was symbolic as youth extent al Qaeda. “The overall se- Afghanistan in a bid to help the idential decree. Taliban during their siege had de- with Pakistan and Iran and central of the province remained jobless. stroyed state buildings, adding Asian countries.” Afghan securi- curity situation in Afghanistan de- Afghan forces save the crucial ar- But Joyinda said she was and was told that I am appointed He asked the central government that search operation was still ty forces were able to defeat the teriorated with an increase in ef- eas of Helmand. ousted as Ghor governor by the as a new deputy governor of Kabul to send a delegation to Paktia to underway in parts of the district. Taliban in Kunduz but lost many government under pressure from and another person has been ap- assess the overall situation of the Meanwhile Taliban militants other districts and suffer from a corrupt and powerful people and pointed in my place as part of the province and find solutions to launched attacks on Washir dis- high attrition rate of about 30 per- $35m worth projects launched land grabbers. administrative reform process. I problems here. Civil society ac- trict centre, targeting security cent, said Yusufzai. “They are fac- “Since assuming office as don’t accept the new position,” tivist Syed Jamal Asifkhel said no check-posts, the district police ing a big challenge, they are de- ON HELMAND RESEARCH FARM Ghor governor, I strongly fought she asserted. mega or small project had been chief said on Friday. 1st Lt. Sher pending so much on American against such people and my hon- Meanwhile, civil society ac- completed in the province this Yar said the Taliban launched their money and weapons.” LASHKARGAH: Renovation of here that fruit storage and process- esty led to my ousting,” she said. tivists gathered in front of the gov- year. Work on Machlgh dam, Gar- attacks on Thursday but faced Among the Daesh recruits in Af- an agricultural research farm was ing facilities and improving egeta- As part of her anti-corruption ernor’s house in Ferozkoh, the dez-Patan road and other projects with stiff resistance from securi- ghanistan are Pakistanis who de- launched in the southern province ble seeds and fruit seeds were part campaign, she had referred depu- capital of Ghor, to voice their sup- had been stopped, he added. He ty forces. There has been no word fected from the Taliban and are of Helmand, officials said. The of the project. Administrative af- ty governor, revenue department port for Joyinda. claimed large-scale corruption was from the Taliban about the inci- now trying to persuade more fight- Bolan Research Farm in Lashkar- fairs office, equipment for training head, and admin-finance manager Joyinda took over as the gov- taking place in contracts for de- dents, but the group had claimed ers to join them in the terrorist gah, the provincial capital, would workshops, five buildings for fruit of the governor’s house and pro- ernor of Ghor in June, 2015. Af- velopment schemes on the pro- attacking some security forces organization, explained Yusufzai, be renovated at a cost of $35 mil- storages and improving seeds, a curement head of police headquar- ter the governor of Dikundi, she vincial level because a handful of check-posts in Greshk district and a noted war correspondent who lion funded by the World Bank, storage facility for fruit processing ters to the prosecutor’s office. was the second female governor individuals had monopoly over inflicting causalities on security once conducted an interview with said Agriculture Director Hafizul- and a water reservoir would be built “I received a call from IDLG in Afghanistan. (Pajhwok) the process. (Pajhwok) personnel. (Pajhwok) Osama bin Laden. lah Shah Noori. He told reporters as part of the scheme, he said.

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First lady helps Night raids, airstrikes in Brishkay Ahmed: Unveiling the promote access to Kunduz to elimi- so chooses. When her face and hands techn o lo gy fo r w o m en nate Taliban History of the Burqa are covered and she’s wearing a dou- ble layer and can barely hear any- By Bureen Ruffin thing, she is rendered invisible. A true Across the globe the burqa is ubiq- understanding of the burqa and its uitous: in the markets of Kabul, on history is critical. A great number of the streets of New York City, on people in the world have accepted the runways of Givenchy, and in the fact that the hands and faces of pop music videos. It is increasing- their daughters, sisters, and moth- ly at the center of heated debates in ers should be covered. In some cas- the East and West, but little is es women are not allowed to leave known about the burqa’s origin and their homes. [Referring to the recent history, particularly in the West. controversy in Canada] I have no Canada was recently the latest in a problem with a woman taking her number of countries embroiled in a oath with her face covered, if it is battle to restrict or ban the contro- indeed her personal choice. When I versial garment. stayed in a women’s shelter in Af- In her documentary film “Sto- ghanistan, I never met a woman, there ry of Burqa: Case of a Confused or in Kabul, generally, who said they Afghan,” Brishkay Ahmed, an Af- do more than the one-minute sto- begin the film that way? A: Having liked the burqa. At any opportuni- Afghan security forces officials ghan-Canadian filmmaker, takes on ry. I wanted to go deeper. It’s im- been in Iran and seeing incidents like ty, they all took it off. In the gar- from Speen Zar 808 Zone in Kun- the enormous task of uncovering portant to make people think. the one with the young girl, I want- den, the moment the male gardener duz said on Thursday that the Tal- Books and news articles certainly ed to see how people would react if left, they all lifted their veils to en- iban is no longer safe in the prov- the story of how the burqa came to joy the sun. be associated with Afghanistan and make us think and that’s very im- they actually saw a burqa on the Q: As a Westerner, I appreci- ince as night raids and airstrikes its role in the lives of Afghan wom- portant, but if you want social street. Would they be curious? have been launched in order to elim- ate that the film makes clear the dis- en and girls. Ahmed and her cam- change, you have to make people Would they ignore it? In the West tinctions between the hijab and burqa inate the insurgents once and for era crew take the viewer on a jour- care. You have to make them feel. we are socialized to be politically all. According to Kunduz security and exposes the complicated histor- ney through the alleyways and And film does that for me. correct and in doing so we, at times, ical and political journey of the burqa officials, so far dozens of insur- past the stalls of the Kabul mar- As a woman from Afghani- confuse what we think is culture First Lady said access for women to technology was of particular im- gents have been killed during these in Afghanistan. Tell me about film- portance especially as it could change their lives for the better. kets, where burqas are made, sold, stan, having lived in both the East with oppression. I asked my friend ing in Kabul and the people you night raids and many tanks belong- and worn. By her own admission, and the West, and the mother of to walk across the street wearing chose to interview. ing to the Taliban have been de- Ahmed’s Dari (a dialect of Persian two girls, women’s issues are im- the burqa. Coincidentally, Afghan A: I chose to film in Kabul be- Afghanistan's First Lady Rula increase access for women to in- stroyed. Officials said foreign forc- spoken in Afghanistan) is poor; portant to me. But I did not con- men were having coffee at the Star- cause it was accessible — in terms Ghani addressed an information formation technology. "Women es were also playing an effective still, she unflinchingly interrogates sider making a film about the bucks nearby. The conversation with of going in with a camera crew — technology and telecommunication and girls even do not have com- role in the operation. "Let me tell her sources—shoppers, tailors, burqa until I was married and liv- them brought a kind of seriousness but also in terms of access to the for women conference in Kabul on puters while their fathers and you night raids were stopped and politicians, women, and intellectu- ing in Iran and had to veil myself. to the experiment. intellectuals, the powerful men I Thursday and said the utilization brothers have computers and ad- the enemy was sure that at night als—for answers. The result is a It triggered something. I guess I Q: The following scene is ani- wanted to interview. I couldn’t have of technology can play a promi- vanced cellphones but women and there was no one to go after them. film that gives voice to a more nu- thought there was a certain level mated and features a woman with a women telling men the burqa is not nent role in the rebuilding of the girls only have ordinary phones," But we have started night raids anced and complex narrative that, of what was acceptable. birdcage on her head, which, with- Islamic. That wouldn’t work. I need- country. Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, again in Kunduz and so far the at the very least, belies popular Sometimes we can be blind to out giving too much away, we re- ed men. I wanted Afghan people to She said access for women to Martyrs and Disabled Nasrin Ori- Taliban has suffered heavy casual- perceptions of the burqa. I recent- things. We say, ‘Oh that’s okay turn to at the end of the film. Why see men they respect. Men they see technology was of particular im- akhail said. In addition, the Minis- ties," said Sher Aziz Kamawal 808 ly spoke with Ahmed over Skype because they live in that part of did you use animation in the film? on TV. Men they discuss in the Jir- portance especially as it could try of Information and Technolo- Kunduz zone police chief. Mean- about her documentary film, which the world.’ In Iran, I saw a young A: The animation is important gas (assembly of elders). Afghan while provincial acting-governor premiered at the 2012 DOXA Doc- girl, maybe 18 or 19 years old, to me because I want young girls to men listen to men. They are influ- change their lives for the better. gy said that at the moment there enced by men. There is a saying in "This technology could change are almost 40 million internet us- Hamdullah Danishi also empha- umentary Film Festival in Vancou- dragged into a police car by two be interested. I want to reach be- sized the importance of the opera- ver. The film, she says, has sparked officers—one, a woman in full yond the intellectual audience who my country: You are a fool if you significantly not only the lives of ers in the country, of this 39 per- listen to a woman. Afghan women but it can also help cent of them are women. The min- tion in Kunduz province. "The im- honest dialogue about the burqa. chador (full body cloak common- knows documentary film or who portance of night raids is that at For the filmmaker, who recently ly worn by women in Iran)—be- understands the broader issues. Q: The film answered a lot of women play a role in the rebuild- istry did however commit to sup- night government forces suffer less questions but also raised many, ing of Afghanistan," she said. port programs for capacity build- took to social media to dispel inac- cause her scarf was not worn This is an important subject and which is good. I think art should casualties and the enemy suffers curacies about the burqa when the properly. It angered me. should reach a diverse audience; ed- Meanwhile officials from the ing for women to access informa- more and also bigger operations can make us question what we believe. Women's Access to Information tion and technology. "We have debates hit close to home in Cana- Suddenly, I realized: this is ucated and uneducated, young and Is there a question the film didn’t be conducted," said Danishi. Kun- da, the value of frank discussions what I care about. I’m going to old. But I do believe that the power answer for you? Would you do any- Technology and Telecommunica- strong reason to believe in any ini- duz residents have welcomed the use film, and I need to go to Af- to change that kind of oppression is tion Network said that women do tiative directed at promoting citi- on this issue has never been more thing differently if you were to do it move but appeal to government to vital. Ahmed is happy the docu- ghanistan. A lot of activism—even the responsibility of women. It’s up again? still lack of access to computers, zens' awareness in the field of in- rid their province of the Taliban. mentary continues to reach diverse art, in general, comes from a place to us to make sure we shut that cage software and English language soft- formation technology and its use A: I was a bit of a coward be- "Night raids are very good and the audiences in Canada and the U.S., of anger. For me, it’s certainly root- door and aren’t shoved back in. cause I didn’t try hard enough to ware, which prevents them from for the purpose of empowering the government must remove those but she hopes to show it to men ed there. Q: The subtitle of your film is talk to more women who wore the accessing information technology country, especially for women, and Taliban who are still active close and women inside Afghanistan and Q: The film opens with a “Case of a Confused Afghan.” What burqa. The men refused permission, in the country. we strongly support this motion," to the city and bring security back other Islamic nations. What follows scene on a busy Vancouver street. questions did you hope the film but my instinct was to keep the cam- "Women lack access to com- said Abdul Razaq Wahidi the Min- to the city," said Zamarai one of is our discussion about filmmak- You are dressing a woman in a would answer? era rolling and ask the women di- puters, because of the high net ister of Information Technology. the residents. "We ask the govern- ing, activism, and women. burqa. The scene ends with an in- A: Most importantly, I wanted rectly. I wanted them to lift their price and lack of access to English According to Information and ment to return security to the prov- Q: How did you come to be a teresting interaction with two Af- to show that the burqa isn’t Islam- veils and talk to me, but I was polit- software," said Omer Mansour Technology Ministry statistics 32 ince because the situation is not filmmaker and did you study film ghan men, who, after observing the ic, and secondly, that it’s a power- ically correct. I didn’t want to of- Ansari the head of the network. percent of phone users in the coun- good in the province and Taliban knowing you were interested in scene, share an anecdote about a ful political tool. When a woman fend. I didn’t want to get them in Meanwhile the ministry of try are women and of the 40 mil- are active in every part of Kun- pursuing this work? woman who was dragged by a bus wears a headscarf, she’s not limit- trouble with their husbands. I wish Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and lion internet users, 39 percent of duz," said Abdulhaq another resi- A: I was interested in journal- because her burqa was caught in ed. She can be a judge, a member of I had been braver. (World Policy Disabled spoke about efforts to them are women. dent. ism at first but realized I wanted to the door. Why did you choose to parliament, or a homemaker if she Blog)

Project Coordination Unit Irrigation Restoration and Development Project Grant No: H-681-AF NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING (NCB) No:IRDP/HQ/IFB/Goods/208/G-048 Date 19 - December - 2015 Invitation for Bids (IFB) 1. This Invitation for Bids follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared in Development Business, issue no. “WB-2029-616/03” of September 29, 2003 2. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Energy & Water has received a grant from theInternational Development Associationtoward the cost of Irrigation Restoration and Development Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this “grant” to payments under the Contracts forthe Procurement of 51 Laptops ,15 printers and 4 copiers for Hydrology (G-048) under 2 lots as given in para 3 below: 3. The Ministry of Energy & Water, Project Coordination Unit now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the Procurement of 50 Laptops ,15 printers and 4 copiers for Hydrology (G-048) in following 2 lots as under: Lot-1 Laptop Computer - Quantity: — 51 Nos. Lot-2 (i) Black-and-White All-in-One Printer -Specifications Quantity: 11 Nos. (ii) Color All-in-One Printer -Specifications Quantity: 4 Nos. (iii) CopiersQuantity: 4 Nos, The bidders, at their option, may bid for one or both lots. Each lot will be evaluated separately and the contracts will be awarded accordingly. Prices quoted for each lot shall correspond to all the items and 100 percent of the quantities of each item specified for each lot. 4. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits- January 2011, and is open to all bidders from Eligible Source Countries as defined in the Guidelines. 5. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from Eng. Nasir Ahmad Ahadi( Email Add: [email protected]), Procurement Officer, Project Coordination Unit, Ministry of Energy & Water Compound, DarulAman Road, Kabul Afghanistanand inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 to 16:00 Hrs from Saturday to Wednesdayand up to 13:00 hours on Thursday. 6. Qualifications requirements include: (a) Financial Capability The Bidder shall furnish documentary evidence that it meets the following financial requirement(s): · The Bidders shall furnish documentary evidence of their financial standing to demonstrate that they are financially capable of executing the order. Alternatively, Bidders shall include a letter from a reputed bank indicating their financial status which will indicate their ability to perform the contract of the magnitude equivalent to the quoted price (a) Experience and Technical Capacity i) The bidder shall be either manufacturer of the equipments or a duly authorized dealer/distributor/partner/channel partner/agent or bidder may produce valid Manufacture’s authorization as per ITB 19.1 (a). Manufacture’s authorization obtained from a dealer is not acceptable.However, if total number of qualified bidders is less than 3, Manufacturer’s Authorization obtained from a regional/country distributor may be considered on its merits. (ii)Bidders must provide evidence of having executed at least one contract of supply of similar Equipmentswith similar or larger magnitude within the period of last five years. (iii) Spares Part and after sales services must be available in Afghanistan or confirm that the bidder will establish the above services within 30 days of notification of award. 7.0 All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing as indicated below valid for at least 88 days after deadline date of bid submission.

Lot Item Description Bid Security in Number Afghani

Lot-1 Laptop Computer - Quantity: — 51 Nos. 90,000

Lot-2 (i) Black-and-White All-in-One Printer -Specifications Quantity: 11 Nos. 50,000 (ii) Color All-in-One Printer -Specifications Quantity: 4 Nos. (iii)CopiersQuantity: 4 Nos.

8. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be obtained by interested bidders on the submission of a written Application (or a request through email) on payment of Afs 2,500 to the address below. The Bidding Documents shall be collected by the bidders from the address below or if requested, will be sent to them through email. 9. The bids must be delivered to the address below at or before 10:00 AMAfghanistan time on 18 – January - 2016(if the submission date was announced an official holiday, then bids must be submitted next working day at the same time and venue). Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened physically in the presence of the bidders’ representatives, who choose to attend in person at the address below at 10:00 AMAfghanistan time on 18 –December - 2016. The address referred to above is:

Nasir Ahmad Ahadi, Procurement Officer Procurement Unit, 2nd Floor, Project Coordination Unit, Ministry of Energy and Water, DarulAman Road, Kabul, Afghanistan Mobile : 0093 (0) 700686110 Electronic mail address: [email protected] This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

Over 320 Afghan migrants based did not have enough funds. Ac- ticularly Germany. in Germany have applied for vol- cording to Sediq, majority of the The considerable growth in untary repatriation to Afghanistan, applicants applying for voluntary the number of asylum seekers it has been reported. repatriation are between 15 to 25 forced Germany to launch a cam- The applications for volun- years of age and majority of them paign in capital Kabul last month tary repatriation by Germany- are keen to return to Afghanistan in a bid to deter the flow refugees based Afghan migrants were re- since they find living in Germany from Afghanistan. portedly filed during the past two in contrast to their expectations Several posters appeared in the months. The Afghan Ambassador and what they had heard before populated parts of the city today, based in Berlin Hamid Sediqi quot- travelling to Germany. He said the delivering Germany’s message in ed in a report by state-run Deut- families of the migrants are based both Dari and Pashto languages. EMERGENCY sche Welle international broadcaster in Afghanistan and one of the oth- “You are leaving Afghanistan: said the number of Afghan migrants er reasons forcing them to return Are you certain?” reads the mes- CALLS applying for voluntary repatria- to Afghanistan is being away from sage posted on one of the bill- tion is on the rise. He said over their families. Sediq also added that boards, while a short statement Police 320 Afghan migrants have applied the applicants do not have any is- posted on the Facebook page of to Afghan consulates in Munich sue with the basis necessities for the campaign, reads “Do not be- and Bonn as well as in the Afghan living including arrangement of lieve the rumors and false infor- 100 - 119 Embassy in Berlin to obtain pass- German language courses by the mation deliberately spread by hu- ports so that they can travel back authorities despite the laws differ man traffickers about the alleged- to Afghanistan. Sediq further add- in different states of Germany. ly easy trip and the easy life in Hospitals ed that the Afghan Embassy and At least 146,000 Afghans have Germany. Do not risk your lives Consulates will charge Euro 120 reportedly left the country during by trying to flee to Europe. Hu- FMIC Hospital against each passport by ascertain- the current year, mainly due to man traffickers are criminals who ing their identity first; however he deteriorating security situation are only interested in money. They Behind Kabul Medical said they will issue the passports with majority of them departing don’t tell the truth and don’t care University: free of charge if they applicants towards European countries, par- about human lives.” (KP) 0202500200-+93793275595

Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital Pule Bagh-e- Umomi 070263672

Khairkhana Hospital Following months of delays, the to pursue honesty and profession- bringing about reforms in ernment officials in the work of the Selection Committee (SC) mem- alism in the process, suggesting the Afghanistan's election management selection committee, election moni- 0799-321007 bers for the election commissions distrust that currently exists bodies is critical to restoring trust toring bodies have called on the se- 2401352 on Thursday managed to convene around the process be removed. over elections, institutionalizing lection committee to not be influ- their first preliminary meeting The seven member committee said democracy and maintaining politi- enced by outside interference. "We aimed at discussing their working that the first step is to select a cal stability in the country. "They hope that the committee works Indira Gandhi Children program going forward. The selec- chairman for the commission and [selection committee] must make transparently and with neutrality so tion committee is assigned the task then decide on the working proce- sure the implementation of the re- that trust is restored on the election Hospital, Wazir Akbar to scrutinize at least 36 nominees dures so that proper foundations form package is recommended. We process. The commission must not for the election commissions on are laid for them to select mem- strongly value the start of their allow individuals to influence them, Khan, Kabul 2301372 the basis of their qualifications and bers for the election commissions. work, government must continue because this would once again harm experience and recommend their "We are determined to consider supporting the process to help the the process." The selection commit- names to government. While many knowledge, transparent back- selection committee complete its tee was due to start work at least a Ibn-e- Seena push for the immediate start of ground and experience while select- work within a month so that new month ago but was delayed after a work on the part of the selection ing members of the election com- commissioners can start their jobs number of civil society institutions Pul-e-Artan, Kabul committee, the reform commission missions," SC member Zarqa soon," ERC member Farooq Bashir opposed the introduction of three 2100359 along with election supervising Yaftali said. The Electoral Reform said. While concerns remain high members of civil society represen- bodies have asked the committee Commission (ERC) has said that over the possible meddling of gov- tatives in the selection committee. Wazir Akbar Khan Future of 50,000 schoolchildren at stake in Paktika “Above 100,000 Hospital women to be 2301741, 2301743 SHARANA: The education envi- Mudabbir Afghan, said that the cials to pay attention to the issue. ronment in some districts of provincial education department A religious scholar, Maulvi Ab- trained in IT field” southeastern Paktika province has did not provide learning items to dur Rahman said education was Ali Abad “It will be ready for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra been in a fix making uncertain the students in a timely manner. “Stu- mandatory for both males and fe- KABUL: The Minister of Labour Modi soon,” an official in India’s Urban Development Ministry future of about 50,000 students, dents rely on notes they take from males. “In the past, there had been and Social Affairs (MoLSA) on Shahrara, Kabul was quoted as saying in a report by Times of India (TOI). residents say. Amiluddin Gay- teachers because they have no rivalry between schools and ma- Thursday said it was being 2100439 ankhil, a resident of Gayan dis- books to study, they cannot learn daris, but now that opposition has planned to train more than The construction work of the new comprises of four sections, includ- trict, told Pajhwok Afghan News better in the absene of textbooks,” ended and all the people love edu- 100,000 women in IT profession Afghan parliament building is ex- ing A,B,C and D. Section-A is the officials from the education de- he said. Mohabbat, a resident of cation,” he said, asking the gov- over the next decade. Malalai Maternity pected to be fully completed by main parliament hall where the law- partment could not travel to the Khushamand district, said there ernment to improve the education Nasrin Oryakhil told this to a the end of this month, it has been makers in the Lower House of the town due to insecurity that had was not even a single school in his process in Paktika. A Taliban com- seminar “Information Technolo- Hospital gy for Women” in Kabul but said reported. Started in 2009 by In- Parliament – Wolesi Jirga will hold weakened the education process. district. “People in our area do mander from Gayan district, who 2201377/ 2301743 dia’s premier government-owned parliamentary sessions. He said a number of schools not know about school and their wished not to be named, told Pa- currently a small percentage of construction agency Central Pub- Section-B is comprised of a were operational in the province children do not attend any educa- jhwok Afghan News the move- women used IT facilities. Calling but they were under Taliban in- tional centre,” he said, adding that ment had no problem with schools, women an important part of the lic Works Department (CPWD), four storey building which will in- society, she said if women were Banks the project is in its final stage of clude two halls for general ses- fluence. “Some schools are mon- thousands of children had been students and teachers. “Taliban itored by militants who use to cut deprived of education in the dis- are observing schools here and no paid attention, it meant 50 per- completion. According to the In- sions, separate dining halls for the cent of the country’s population dian officials, the new parliament Lower and Upper House of the salaries of teachers who do not trict. Nawab Wazir, a dweller of solving problems students or Da Afghanistan Bank attend school and distribute the Barmal district, said most of chil- teachers face,” he said. However, was ignored. Oryakhil said wom- building will be ready along with Parliament. A library will also be money to students,” he said. dren attended Pakistani schools provincial council deputy head en had no freedom to work and 2100302, 2100303 its other facilities within the next included Section-B of the new par- Gayankhil complained most across the border. “If the govern- Niamatullah Babari said corrup- faced several obstacles and threats two weeks. “It will be ready for liament building which will include of the schools in his area lacked ment provides education facilities tion was rampant in the education in the society. “Families discrim- Kabul Bank inauguration by Prime Minister a computer room. The Section-C buildings and students were often to our children in Angoor Adda process of Paktika. He also said inate against female members. A Narendra Modi soon,” an official of the new parliament building is delivered textbooks and other area, we are ready to send them some people were receiving sala- male member of a family uses ex- 222666, 070285285 in India’s Urban Development known as the entrance hall which materials at the end of academic there,” he said. An analyst in Pak- ries but they did not teach in pensive Smartphone and has ac- Ministry was quoted as saying in will have a dome constructed of year. A resident of Janikhil dis- tika, Mohammad Omar, said the schools. But education depart- cess to the internet, while a girl Azizi Bank a report by Times of India (TOI). stainless steel and glass which will trict, Rahmatullah, also said the government had failed to provide ment director Kuchai Zazai said form the same family is deprived 0799 700900 The construction work of the have five halls for parliamentary education process had been slow essential education facilities in the the education process was going of such facilities,” she said. She project was originally scheduled to commissions in the second floor. going there. As an example, he said, province. “The education process well in most areas of the prov- hoped women would increase their Pashtany Bank complete in December 2011, how- The new parliament building is some teachers stopped attending has come to a complete halt in re- ince. Zazai confirmed education participation in using IT and oth- ever the officials have said the pace being built in 40.6 hectares of land classes after the education depart- mote areas of Paktika. Those who officials could not travel to some er facilities and warned economy 2102908, 2103868 construction increased significant- and is five times bigger than the ment withheld their salaries. can help in promoting education districts including Waza Khwa, of the country would affect if ly following years of delays. current parliament building. It also “Some people receive salaries as have cut deals with relevant offi- Warmami, Tirwa, Gomal, Gayan women remained undeveloped in Air Services With an intention not to ex- consists of 20 lifts, 15 stairs and teachers, but they physically not cials to keep mum over the issue,” and Naka to assess the education utilizing technology. tend the project deadline further, toilets for men and women in 35 attend classes,” he said, adding Omar added. Paktika Civil Soci- process due to insecurity. He ac- Oryakhil added her ministry the official in India’s Urban De- locations. Marbles from Chesht- education officials could not trav- ety Coordination head Yaqub knowledged new school buildings and the Ministry of Women Af- Safi Airways velopment Ministry, said “Since e-Sharif district have been used for el to the district to assess the sit- Khan Manzoor said some under could not be constructed some fairs were planning to train more the focus was to complete it the floor works of the new parlia- uation, then corruption went un- construction school buildings in districts over the past 14 years. than 100,000 women in IT pro- 020 22 22 222 quickly and in a time-bound man- ment building. A big administration checked. Gul Miran, a resident of Paktika remained incomplete. Cit- “We don’t pay salaries to in- fessions. Communications and In- ner, urban development minister building, a mosque that could Gomal district, said no students ing an example, he said, the con- dividuals who are not registered formation Technology Minister Ariana M Venkaiah Naidu reviewed the house 400 prayers, a modern li- could be enrolled in a school built struction of Ali Baba School in teachers. We distribute salaries to Abdur Razaq Wahidi on the oc- progress twice.” brary, VIP guesthouse and 350 many years ago in the district. Sharana, the provincial capital, registered teachers only through casion said he supported any kind 020-2100270 The government has invested apartments for the lawmakers have “But some individuals are receiv- could not be completed over the bank,” he said. Zazai added they of innovation improving aware- around $220 million the new Af- also been considered in the new ing salaries as so-called teachers.” past many years for unknown rea- had no registered teachers in un- ness among Afghans about IT. ghan parliament building which parliament building. (KP) An inhabitant of Sarobi district, sons. He asked government offi- stable areas. (Pajhwok) (Pajhwok) Kam Air 0799974422 Hotels Safi Landmark 020-2203131 By Farhad Naibkhel dogs sustain serious injuries. Even Autumn is called the season ground on the outskirts of the cap- come is dog fighting. The 28-year rival. Then Mir shouts “This dog SERENA some of them die due to critical of dog fighting because dog owner ital where hulking mastiffs wait- old said that it is a routine work is ready to fight. Come on bring Many people enjoy dog fighting injuries. Thus, we can say that it believes that cold weather is good ing for fighting. for him to bring his dog to the your dogs for fighting.” 0799654000 as a game. The bettors cash the is not game but serious type of for dog fighting. If a dog fights Dog fighting are not held in fighting pit and fix matches with When the people bring the game as there is no scarcity of violence against animals. during warm weather its injuries secret. Therefore, it is duty of the the other dog fighters and bet over two dogs for fighting a green ban- gamblers. They can be spotted Dog fighting was banned dur- will not heal quickly and can be- government to take steps to im- the match to earn money. “I have ner is taken to the front of two New Rumi Restaurant without much trouble in and ing the Taliban’s regime and was come sick. The sickness is some- pose strict ban on dog fighting and four dogs. I bring one of my dogs rival dogs and when the banner is 0776351347 around the arena. No one thinks seen un-Islamic and against ani- times so serious that it could take punish all those who are commit- each week here for fighting. My removed, fighting starts. The own- what the dogs feel and pass mal rights, but since ouster of the life of the dog. Company, Qasa- ted in the violence against dogs. If dogs sustain serious injuries dur- er of the dogs arrange different through. For the dog owners, the Taliban from power in 2001, this ba, Badam Bagh, Darul Aman ar- the leaders want to end violence ing fighting but did not die. It exercises for their dogs such as Internet Services fun is overwhelming and above violent sport has regained popu- eas are famous for dog fighting in the country then first it should doesn’t matter to me that how running and climbing on the moun- UA Telecom the pain of dogs. The injured dogs larity in Kabul and several other matches—every week on Friday. stop violence against animals. serious my dog sustains injuries tain to make it ready for fighting whimper. They cry out in pain to provinces. Dog fighting has be- The infamous games are set for Shafiq, the owner of a fighter during fighting. I only think about and provide them energetic food, 0796701701 / 0796702702 tell that they are hurt. However, come a favorite sport for many in Friday morning and continue till dog while waiting for a rival to set winning,” he explained. he mentioned. It takes over two no one cares because some find a short span of time, even in the noon. Early morning, over thou- fighting with his yellow big dog, When asked about the amount years to prepare a dog for fight- good source of income in them and capital city, Kabul. sand men huddle around a dirt said that the only way of his in- of the bet, he refused to provide ing. It is also an expensive pro- Exchange Rate most find pride. They more the any information. However, it is cess. Each dog costs Afs100,000- dog shed blood of the opponent, said that winner gets handsome 500,000. Mostly local command- Purchase: the more the owner feel proud. It amount. One can say that the ers and wealthy people keep dogs seems as these senseless people owners are very good at cashing as pets. Due to high cost and ex- still love to see bloodshed and they faithfulness and blood of the dogs. penditures the poor people can’t One US$ = are not tired of the violence that Dog fighting pits in Kabul are keep dogs for fighting. 66.83Afs had been unleashed upon this mostly dusty. Hundreds of peo- Mir said that during the fight- One Pound Sterling= country by foreigners over three ple gather around the circular ing dogs suffer serious injuries. decades ago. How insane we are ground and discuss qualities of The wounds can be fatal. 99.51Afs that the animal that is a symbol of dogs during fighting. They also He said that the dogs fiercely One Euro = faithfulness is unleashed just for predict who will be the winner. attack and bite each other and entertainment. Often one wonders The spectators also play main role whining when injured during fight- 70.31Afs to know who is safe in this coun- in this violence because they clap ing. Responding a question he said 1000 Pak Rs = try—neither animals nor women and shout so loudly that some- that this is a game and no one and nor children. Our society has times the loser dog’s owner takes thinks about breach of law against 618Afs become a jungle where people try it a serious matter. Some of them animal or violence against animal Sale: to find who is the fittest. It is beat or kill the dog. here. strange thing to see that a dog is There is an aged referee called No matter what these people One US$ = fighting another dog to prove the Mir. He is the person who set think but it is violence against an- 67.03 Afs notion while at the same time we matches and controlling the game. imals and had to be stopped. Do One Pound Sterling= are not different from the sitting Mir as the referee announces the fighting is also earning bad image ducks for the insurgents who come winner dog or the man. He has the for the country. We cannot devel- 100.31Afs and blow us to pieces. authority to take decision and stop op the country unless we change One Euro= People consider dog fighting the fighting. our mindset. It is high time to say 70.91 Afs as a game for entertainment and When an owner of dog plans ‘no’ to such evil practices. Dogs gambling, but for them it is not a to set match he brings the dog to are living things and need protec- 1000 Pak Rs= 626Afs serious business that whether the ground and asks Mir to find a tion. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Military still India building top-secret nuclear city: plays bloated Leading American foreign policy journal role in Pakistan's WASHINGTON: A leading Amer- ican foreign policy journal today alleged that India is building a top- secret nuclear city to produce ther- politics: Hina mos nuclear weapons which would upgrade the country as a nuclear power and unsettle its two major Rabbani Khar neighbours - Pakistan and China. Foreign Policy magazine al- leged that India started building this secret city in Challakere in Karna- taka, which when completed in 2017 would be "the subcontinent's largest military-run complex of nuclear centrifuges, atomic-re- search laboratories, and weapons- and aircraft-testing facilities". "But another, more controver- sial ambition, according to retired Indian government officials and independent experts in London and Washington, is to give India an extra stockpile of enriched urani- um fuel that could be used in new hydrogen bombs, also known as thermonuclear weapons, substan- tially increasing the explosive force of those in its existing nuclear ar- senal," the investigative report said. Former foreign minister Hina Rab- ism, and assisting people to attract "India's close neighbours, Chi- bani Khar has said the military still more people towards extremism. na and Pakistan, would see this plays a bloated role in Pakistan’s […] they were against Pakistan’s move as a provocation: Experts say politics, claiming the prime minis- territorial integrity.” they might respond by ratcheting ter has “much less freedom than When challenged on a US State up their own nuclear firepower," he ought to have.” Department cable revealing that the report said. Despite the first-ever success- former Prime Minister Yousaf The report does not contain ful transition of power from one Raza Gilani had given private sup- any official response from either civilian government to another af- port for the drone strikes, Rabbani the Indian or the US government, officials for the story. ter 2013 general elections, the ex- Khar argues that he never said this but has quoted several unnamed "Mysore is being constantly monitored, and we are constantly monitoring progress in Challakere," a former White House official has been foreign minister believed the pow- “when I was in the room” and that officials and retired government quoted as saying by the report. erful military establishment domi- she was “pretty much in every nates the office of the prime min- important meeting.” ister. The first female foreign min- “It is not possible for me to ister of Pakistan made the remarks believe that things change so much Sri Lanka revives stalled Chinese-funded projects on Al Jazeera English’s ‘Head to because of my presence in the COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has agreed bour. Senaratne said some of the Head’ segment. room or not (…) some of these to restart Chinese-funded projects provisions of that project were The current dynamic of US- things could have been misrepre- worth billions of dollars which were being renegotiated to ensure Chi- Pakistan relations sented or misreported,” Khar add- suspended following allegations of nese companies did not get any Khar also said Pakistan was ed. In response to a question re- corruption, the government's main free-hold land after creating some ‘guilty of being incompetent’ when garding Pakistan’s alleged support spokesman said on Thursday (Dec 233 hectares of new real estate. it came to the presence of Osama of military groups, the ex-minister 17). President Maithripala Sirisena's India was understood to be uneasy Bin Laden in Abbottabad, while said while there were “waves of government had ordered a review of over the level of Beijing's influence denying any role of the PPP-led truth” to the claims but they were all big-ticket construction projects on the island under the Rajapakse government in protecting the glo- “relics of the past” and were “su- signed by his predecessor Mahinda regime. Seeking to rebuild ties with bal terror kingpin. per-imposing on what the present Rajapakse who is under investiga- Delhi, Sirisena made India - rather Dismissing recent claims by was.” US exploring deal to limit tion for corruption during his de- than China - his first foreign trip former Defence Minister, Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal cade in power. "We tried to renego- after winning elections in January. Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, that She went on to argue: “Paki- tiate these contracts with the Chi- China had secured contracts to the government knew where Bin stan did not have the ability, to be nese, but it was not very success- build highways, railroads and Laden was, Khar said Mukhtar able to take on every terror net- ful," spokesman Rajitha Senaratne, ports during the Rajapakse regime “doesn’t know the first thing that work within the region all at the who is also the health minister, told and had also emerged the largest he’s talking about”, while suggest- same time. As far as sponsoring reporters. "We have now decided to single lender to Sri Lanka which ing the former defence minister did and funding them was concerned, go ahead with the projects. It is not had relied heavily on Beijing for not have any knowledge on the clearly I would like to believe that feasible to abandon them half-way both economic and political sup- defence or the foreign policy mat- under our watch, that was not the through." During his decade in pow- port. Sri Lanka has complained ters of the country. policy direction at all.” er, Rajapakse relied heavily on Chi- that it was paying too much inter- On the issue of US drone Regarding Kashmir, she said na to rebuild the country's infrastruc- est on Chinese loans funding much strikes in Pakistan, Khar remained she “would be very happy if the ture after the end of the decades- of the development. Beijing has adamant that the Zardari regime did Kashmiri people get the choice to long separatist conflict in 2009. The been accused of seeking to devel- not give backing to the drone choose between Pakistan, India or most contentious project is a op facilities around the Indian strikes. “Drone strikes are coun- even an independent state” — a US$1.4 billion port city, which Ocean in a "string of pearls" strat- terproductive, what does counter- third option, which is not includ- would include a marina and a For- egy to counter the rise of rival In- productive mean, it means that ed in the United Nations Security mula One track, built on reclaimed dia and secure its own economic they are actually fuelling extrem- Council Resolution on the dispute. land next to the main Colombo har- interests. Bangladesh to have no cohort of defeated forces: Hasina

Hinting that Khaleda Zia will one Krishibid Institution auditorium in derwent trials and even some of grenade attack, Ahsanullah Mas- day face trial for patronising war Dhaka. them have been hanged...Khaleda ter murder, Shah AMS Kibria mur- criminals, Prime Minister Sheikh Deputy Leader of the House Sye- will have to take the responsibili- der and many more. Hasina today said there will be no da Sajeda Chowdhury presided ty one day for making war crimi- "Killers are killers and their trials existence of the cohorts of the de- over the discussion organised by nals ministers," she said. will surely be held in Bangladesh, feated forces in Bangladesh. the ruling party. Referring to the allegations of the no one will be able to save them," "It hurts us that the cohorts of Alleging that BNP founder Ziaur many BNP men over their cases, Hasina added. anti-liberation forces still dream of Rahman had first patronised the Hasina said such cases were filed AL Advisory Council member Sur- Pakistan despite living in Bang- war criminals and rehabilitated against those who burned people anjit Sen Gupta and AL Presidium ladesh. They couldn’t yet forget them in state power, Hasina said to death, destroyed public prop- member and Agriculture Minister their 'Pyare Pakistan'. But, we've Khaleda followed the path of her erty alongside their order givers and Matia Chowdhury also spoke at to force them to forget it. There’ll husband after assuming power and patrons. the meeting. be no existence of the cohorts of handed over the national flag Lambasting the BNP chief and her Earlier, a one-minute silence was the defeated forces in Bangladesh," stained with the blood of millions son Tarique Rahman for embez- observed commemorating the four she said. of martyrs to those war criminals zling the fund of orphanage and martyred national leaders, martyrs Hasina, also the Awami League by making them ministers. siphoning off money, Hasina al- of the Liberation War and that of chief, was addressing a discussion "What will answer Khaleda to the leged that the BNP-Jamaat men all democratic movements and the marking the 45th Victory Day at nation? These war criminals un- were also involved in August 21 August 15 carnage. Canada supports Sri Lanka’s Indo-Nepal border blockade creating peace-building efforts huge economic crisis: Wagle The Canadian Government contin- had the honour of seeing today prevent farmers from being able to ues to support efforts to rid the underscored for me the critical im- use their land, restrict access to In a recently held conference, Former member of National Plan- are giving rise to a sort of under- which is making survival difficult. country of landmines in villages portance of demining work in Sri water sources, and hinder resettle- former member of National Plan- ning Commission of Nepal, ad- ground economy which should be "The earthquake is the biggest nat- ravaged by years of Sri Lankan civil Lanka. ment plans for thousands of inter- ning Commission of Nepal, dressing a conference titled 'Trade hard to tame later on and it already ural disaster in over 80 years in war. An effort with an end in sight. “Clearance of landmines is a nally displaced persons (IDPs) Swarnim Wagle, expressed concern and Employment challenges: in imposing its rule of law. It is a chal- Nepal, and the blockade is proba- The Government is providing necessary precursor to peace and who were forced to flee during over the grieving impact of the eco- South Asia'. Since the Madhesi lenge for a poor country like Ne- bly having an economic impact CAD850,000 in 2015-2016 to security for all Sri Lankans and is periods of prolonged fighting. nomic blockade due to Madheshi protest began in September this pal and when a monster is rising as that is greater than that the earth- non-governmental organization a key component of Sri Lanka’s With continued international agitation since the past four year, businesses are struggling to a result of this blockade, what is quake posed. All the industries are Mines Advisory Group (MAG) broader plans for reconciliation and support, MAG anticipates that months in the Himalayan nation. stay open, with only 30% of Ne- happening is deeply unfortunate," shut down now. There is severe to keep thousands of men, women resettlement. Canada’s support to the entire country can be free from "The direct hit was of course med- pal's industries operational. "Ev- Wagle said. Due to the ongoing cri- shortage of fuel, essential medi- and children safe from the mines MAG is playing an important role the impact of mines by 2020. icines, food, and fuel. People have erything is running under half ca- sis, thousands of cargo trucks cines and food," said Wagle. and unexploded bombs that con- in helping Sri Lanka meet its ob- MAG Sri Lanka Country Di- been suffering a lot. All the indus- pacity. Hospitals, restaurants, stalled at the Indian border, Ne- Nepal relies on India for majority tinue to litter the land six years jective of being mine-impact free rector Alistair Moir said: “Sri Lan- tries have been shut down, people and the public transportation have palese gas stations have received of its imports. Due to the recent after the end of the country’s long by 2020. Seeing MAG’s work to- ka remains a country where MAG have been laid off," said, Wagle, been facing difficulties and yet we only 15% of regular fuel supplies, crisis . conflict day and noting the level of strong removes a staggering amount of Speaking from a minefield in and constructive coordination landmines. Each one that is re- Mannar, the High Commissioner with government at all levels, I am moved brings greater safety and of Canada to Sri Lanka and confident that this objective will less fear for families whoíd been Maldives, Shelley Whiting said: be met.” living with the daily threat of death “The demining activities that we These deadly remnants of war and injury. Safe land means peo- ple can move around freely and use farmland, which has such a sus- tained and positive impact on their lives and livelihoods. “This is the tangible nature of our work, and we very much look forward to the Government of Sri Lanka declaring a status of ‘mine impact free’ before 2020. Canadi- an funds have been and remain vi- tal in achieving this.” During 2015, MAG removed 8,776 landmines and unexploded bombs in Sri Lanka. In addition, more than 25 million square me- tres of land has been released in 2015 – either cleared of danger or deemed to be safe following sur- vey – enabling thousands of peo- ple to rebuild their lives. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief US evangelicals plead for solidar- US ‘considers ity with refugees response’ to Iran Evangelical leaders in the United missile test States have called on fellow Chris- tians to welcome refugees from Barack Obama’s administration Syria and Iraq despite staunch is considering how to respond opposition among many politi- to an Iranian ballistic missile Western powers hoped the coun- sition. Foreign ministers from more cians and presidential candidates. launch that violated U.N. Se- cil would rubber-stamp a resolu- than a dozen countries - including In a joint statement - titled 'Car- curity Council resolutions, se- tion endorsing a two-year road map Russia, the United States, Turkey, ing for Refugees: A Declaration of nior U.S. officials said on for talks between Syria's govern- Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Euro- Evangelical Response' - leaders of Thursday, as senators pressed ment and opposition on a unity pean and Middle Eastern powers the Southern Baptist Convention, for a strong reaction. “We are government expected to begin in - were set for talks aimed at ending the Assemblies of God, World Re- now actively considering the January and eventual elections. Syria's old civil war at New York's lief, the Wesleyan Church and oth- appropriate consequences to Council diplomats said they hoped Palace Hotel on Friday. Diplomats er Christian groups pleaded for that launch in October,” agreement on a text could be said no breakthrough was expect- solidarity with refugees. Referring Stephen Mull, the State De- clinched. The road map, which also ed. Earlier this week diplomats to the displacement of an estimat- partment’s lead coordinator for calls for a nationwide ceasefire that said some progress had been made ed 60 million people across the implementing an international would not apply to Islamic State, on the most difficult sticking point globe, the statement said that "mo- nuclear deal with Iran, told a Nusra Front and some other mili- in the talks - the fate of Syrian Pres- ments like these are when Chris- Senate committee hearing. Al- tant groups, was worked out in ident Bashar al-Assad. They said tians cannot remain silent and still. most every Republican U.S. two rounds of ministerial talks in Russia had indicated it had no prob- Trump vows to expel Syrian lawmaker, as well as several of Vienna. Russian Ambassador Vit- lem with the eventual ouster of refugees already in US President Barack Obama’s fel- aly Churkin suggested there were Assad at the end of a transition "In light of this crisis, we com- low Democrats, opposed the significant disagreements among period, though it would not admit mit ourselves and our churches to nuclear agreement announced in the five powers. "I'm not sure it's that publicly. Despite the narrow- actively care for and minister to July, in which Iran agreed with going to happen because there are ing of differences, disagreements global refugees with mercy and major powers to curtail its nu- some unfortunately deliberate, or remain, as shown by the difficul- compassion, both here and clear program in exchange for not deliberate, attempts to under- ties the five permanent council abroad," the statement read. relief from economic sanctions. cut the Vienna documents and we members were having agreeing on Churches and their congrega- Concerns in the United don't want to see that," he told re- a resolution endorsing the Vienna tions should "embrace refugees" by States about the agreement porters without elaborating. road map. Issues to be discussed "providing for immediate and long- have intensified since Iran’s When asked what the problems at Friday's meeting include a mech- term needs, such as housing, food, rocket test on Oct. 10 and oth- were, he said: "There are a few." anism for monitoring of any fu- clothing, employment, English- er events seen as hostile, in- German Foreign Minister Frank- ture ceasefire and a lineup for an language classes, and schooling for cluding the conviction of Wash- Walter Steinmeier said there was opposition delegation to negotiate children". ington Post reporter Jason UNITED NATIONS: The five bid to end the five-year-old civil Power, told reporters that the five "some movement" in the talks on with Assad's government. Western The statement also made par- Rezaian, who has been held by permanent members of the United war in Syria ahead of ministerial veto-wielding council members did Syria, adding that one goal of the officials say a recent meeting in ticular reference to the plight of Tehran for more than 500 days. Nations Security Council were talks taking place in New York on not yet have an agreed draft to New York meetings was to clarify Saudi Arabia of opposition figures Syrians, some 4.3 million of whom Many lawmakers criticize struggling to agree on a draft reso- Friday. The U.S. ambassador to present to the 15-nation body for the timeline for peace talks be- made significant headway in com- have become refugees as fighting the Obama administration for lution endorsing an international the United Nations, Samantha approval on Friday. Originally, tween the government and oppo- ing up with an opposition bloc. between the government and armed what they see as an inadequate groups nears its fifth year, accord- response to Tehran. ing to the United Nations refugee “One area that we all agree agency. on is the need to be tough on The call comes at a time when any destabilizing or illegal ac- opposition to resettling refugees tion by Iran. With that view, I in the US is higher among white think the agreement is off to a evangelicals than any other reli- really terrible start,” said Re- gious group in the country, accord- publican Senator Bob Corker, ing to a recent poll by the Pew chairman of the Senate Foreign Research Centre. Relations Committee. Last month, governors of 31 As first reported by Reu- states - only one of whom is not ters, a team of sanctions moni- The U.N. General Assembly criti- from the Republican party - de- tors in a report on Tuesday cized Iran and condemned North clared that they intend to stop lo- found that Iran violated a U.N. Korea over human rights violations cal state refugee resettlement pro- Security Council resolution by in resolutions adopted by the 193- grammes from accepting Syrian test-firing a missile capable of nation body. refugees. Since the deadly attacks delivering a nuclear warhead. A total of 119 countries voted in Paris that killed 130 people in “We have a very permissive in favor of the resolution condemn- November, rights groups cite a environment,” said Democrat- ing “gross” violations in North growing trend of Islamophobic ic Senator Robert Menendez, Korea and encouraging the Securi- rhetoric and anti-Muslim violence who opposes the nuclear deal, ty Council to refer Pyongyang to across the US. That attack was as he closely questioned Mull the International Criminal Court. claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and other administration offi- The measure drafted by the and the Levant (ISIL). cials about the response to the European Union and Japan was According to the Council on missile test. Senator Chris opposed by 19 countries includ- American Islamic Relations, more Coons, another Democrat who ing Pyongyang ally China, Russia, mosque vandalism incidents have backed the Iran deal but with Sudan, Cuba, Iran, Egypt, Zimba- taken place in 2015 than any year reservations, said that starting bwe and Venezuela. Forty-eight recorded by rights organisations. next month members of Con- countries abstained. In November alone, at least 17 gress would push for renewal The vote showed stronger con- mosques were vandalised, with of a U.S. sanctions bill that is demnation of North Korea com- most of those incidents occurring in force until the end of 2016. pared to last year, when a similar after the Paris attacks. resolution was adopted by a vote Presidential candidate Donald of 116 to 20, with 53 abstentions. Trump recently proposed a ban UN to meet on The resolution demands that a on Muslims entering the country. Turkish troops vast network of prison camps in He also vowed to expel Syrian ref- North Korea thought to be hold- ugees who are already in the coun- in Iraq ing 100,000 inmates living in ap- try. But the joint evangelical state- palling conditions be shut down. ment decried the anti-refugee atti- The United Nations Security North Korea has reacted an- tudes gripping much of the US. Council is scheduled to meet grily to the measure, calling it a expressing “serious concern” over icism over its draconian use of the record to be adopted since the his- South Africa, India, Indonesia, Iraq "We distinguish that the refugees on Friday to discuss a com- “product of political confronta- the use of the death penalty in Iran death penalty with more than 800 toric nuclear accord reached with and Lebanon. The resolutions are fleeing this violence are not our plaint by Iraq over Turkish tion” by the United States and its was adopted by a vote of 81 to 37, people executed this year, the high- big powers. Among the countries non-binding, but are politically im- enemies; they are victims," it said, troops deployed to a camp allies. with 67 abstentions. est total in years. It was the first that voted against the resolution portant as an international judge- adding that they "cannot allow near the northern Iraqi city of A Canadian-drafted resolution Iran has come under sharp crit- resolution on Iran’s human rights were China, Cuba, Russia, Syria, ment of those regimes. voices of fear to dominate". Mosul. Turkey deployed around 150 troops in the Bash- iqa area this month with the stated aim of training an Iraqi Syria imposes militia to fight ISIS. The Iraqi government says they are not welcome and must withdraw. Turkey withdrew some troops visa regime on this week, moving them to an- other base inside Iraq’s Kurd- istan region, but Baghdad said they should pull out complete- Turks in ly. In a Dec. 11 letter to the 15-member Security Council, Traveled to Libya to “foster relationships” was Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibra- kicked out of the conflict-torn country soon after him al-Jaafari complained that retaliatory move they arrived, the Pentagon said . A Facebook page Turkey had violated his coun- belonging to the Libyan air force posted photo- try’s sovereignty and territo- graphs of the men, who were dressed in rugged rial unity and integrity. civilian clothing, including plaid shirts, and were carrying assault rifles. A U.S. defense official China issues confirmed that the men in the photo were indeed U.S. troops in Libya on Monday. Speaking on second smog condition of anonymity, the official said the red alert troops were in Libya “with the concurrence of Libyan officials.” “U.S. military personnel traveled China has again warned resi- dents in large parts of the north to Libya on 14 December to foster relationships of the country to prepare for and enhance communication with their counter- choking smog over the week- parts in the Libyan National Army,” the official end, the worst of which is ex- said. “While in Libya, members of a local militia pected over Beijing, prompt- demanded that the U.S. personnel depart. In an ing the capital to issue its sec- effort to avoid conflict, they did leave, without ond ever "red alert". incident.” Since the oil-rich North African nation China's Meteorological descended into chaos after the ouster and killing Administration said on Friday Syria said Thursday it would be- number of fake passport holders of long-time leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, that the smog would stretch gin requiring visas from Turks en- among travelers arriving in Turkey from Xian, across part of cen- tering the country, reversing a six- from Egypt and Lebanon. authorities have struggled to maintain order in a tral China, through Beijing and year agreement with Ankara that “The decision to introduce a country splintered by tribal loyalties and former up into Shenyang and in the allowed visa-free entry to citizens visa requirement for Syrian nation- militias vying for power. Taking advantage of the country's freezing northeast. of both countries, after a similar als reflects the necessity to ad- chaos, ISIS has gained a foothold in Libya, which "Beijing, central-western move by Turkey. The Syrian for- dress this security issue,” said the has also become a hub for trafficking of migrants Tianjin, central-southern He- eign ministry said the new mea- official. He stressed the visa re- towards Europe. bei, western Shandong and sure was in response to a decision quirement does not apply to refu- southern Shanxi will get heavy taken by Turkey on December 9. gees and asylum seekers. Turkey air pollution," the administra- A Turkish government official now houses at least 2.2 million tion said in a statement. confirmed the decision but empha- Syrian refugees who comprise al- Beijing issues highest alert sized it did not apply to refugees most all the Syrians in the country over air pollutio "The worst who make up almost all the Syri- after fleeing the civil war. weather condition will be seen ans in Turkey. “The Turkish government re- European Union leaders pledged country’s consent. Summing up indispensable to regain control whelmed by the arrivals and shift in some parts of southern “The Syrian government, in mains committed to the Open to fast-track the establishment of the three-hour discussion, the sum- over the external borders.” Greece the blame on other EU members Beijing and central-southern virtue of the principles of reciproc- Door Policy toward refugees, an EU border and coastguard force mit chairman, European Council and Italy are under pressure to do for encouraging the flows or not Hebei." The warning came as ity and national sovereignty, de- which has been in place since at a summit where they again urged President Donald Tusk, said lead- more to manage and identify those offering the right assistance. The the Chinese capital enjoyed cided to refuse entry to Syria for 2011,” added the official. each other to implement measures ers had agreed there was a “deliv- arriving - a million or more so far leaders urged more security checks clear blue skies on Friday. The Turkish citizens without visas,” a Syrian nationals who entered agreed this year to curb migration ery deficit” in making good on a this year - while governments in against databases and fingerprint- air pollution is expected to be- ministry statement said. Turkey on their passports had across the Mediterranean. By the series of measures agreed over re- general have yet to make good on ing - a procedure those who make gin rolling in from Saturday “The Turkish government is been allowed to remain in Turkey middle of next year, they decided cent months to stem chaotic move- promises to help take in asylum the perilous journey to Europe evening and will last until Tues- responsible for the consequences visa-free for stays up to 90 days at a summit on Friday, they would ments that have put Europe’s seekers and deport unwanted mi- often try to avoid as, under EU day. Visibility in the worst af- (of this decision) on the ties be- within a six-month period. agree the details of the new border Schengen open-borders area in grants. There are only two fully rules, it would require them to fected areas, such as Beijing, is tween the Syrian and Turkish peo- Once an ally of Damascus, force which was proposed by the jeopardy. “Over the past months, operational “hotspots” for screen- claim asylum in Greece or Italy, likely to fall to less than 1km, ples,” added the statement, pub- Ankara cut diplomatic ties with EU executive earlier this week. the European Council has devel- ing of migrants arriving to Italy and while many aim for Germany or and possibly even less than lished by state news agency President Bashar al-Assad after Some leaders, including Greek oped a strategy aimed at stemming Greece from 11 that are supposed other wealthier states to the north. 200m in some areas. The pol- SANA. the beginning of Syria’s uprising Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the unprecedented migratory flows to be set up. Only about 200 mi- The EU says it wants to help Syr- lution index will probably ex- A senior Turkish government in March 2011. made clear, however, that they Europe is facing,” the final agree- grants who have already arrived to ians and others fleeing wars and ceed 500 in Beijing and parts official, who asked not to be Turkey has become a leading wanted to strike out a controver- ment read. “However, implemen- the two states were relocated to therefore potentially eligible for of Hebei province, which sur- named, confirmed the restriction backer of the opposition to As- sial element of the proposal which tation is insufficient and has to be other EU countries under a deal asylum but wants to separate rounds the capital, the agency and said it was a security measure sad, and Syria accuses it of sup- would give Brussels power to send speeded up. “For the integrity of that is intended to cover 160,000. those coming from places where due to a significant increase in the porting “terrorist groups.” in EU border guards without a Schengen to be safeguarded it is Greece and Italy have been over- they are less at risk. 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We a r e a n a t ion a l in st it u t ion a n d n ot t h e voice of a gov t or a p r iva t e or ga n iza t ion AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir Phone No: +93-772364666 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.afghanistantimes.af Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi Advisory editorial board Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal By Divya Kumar Soti cluded that either it is not fea- stan in the backdrop of the instance, last month, 41 boys sible to enforce the Ufa frame- Heart of Asia summit to con- from Pakistani tribal areas were Graphic-Designers: The Ufa Joint Statement issued work or it is not in the larger template upon the future of Af- killed fighting for the JuD and by the prime ministers of India national interest, given the larg- ghanistan, it also started to Al Badr in Afghanistan. This Mansoor Faizy and Edriss Akbari and Pakistan had envisaged a er regional geopolitical scenar- make operational the bilateral month the Afghan government Marketing & Advertising: preliminary framework to ad- io to try to rigorously enforce security agreement with Af- officials in Nangarh province dress the issues of terrorism, that strict framework as that ghanistan, which in the com- alleged that local Islamic State Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 ceasefire violations and to find may inevitably mean no en- ing days will involve transfer militants are getting order from Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan out “ways and means” to ex- gagement with Pakistan. There of sophisticated lethal weapon Pakistan. This increased de- pedite the 26/11 trial underway are understandably many rea- systems to the Afghan military pendence of ISI on groups like Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 in Pakistan. At least some sons for this conclusion: First- which is now fighting not just JuD increases the terror threat Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press progress was to be made on ly, Prime Minister Modi has to Taliban but also the local to India in Afghanistan as well these issues before India got visit Pakistan next year for the Daesh (IS). The Unending End- as back home. At this point, ready to reopen the long-sus- SAARC (South Asian Associ- game The Murree process in India should encourage the pended composite dialogue. ation for Regional Coopera- which the Obama and Ashraf Ghani administration to open The constitution says And then there was a red line tion) summit. SAARC’s Ghani administrations invested channels with Taliban leaders repeatedly drawn by New Del- progress has always been dis- a lot of hope due to guarantees based in Gulf nations and Iran hi that when Pakistan’s repre- mal and India-Pakistan ten- from Beijing collapsed within who want an Afghan-owned sentatives visit New Delhi for sions have been a key reason days as news of Mullah Omar’s peace process. India may find Article 88 bilateral talks, they should not for that. And this time there are killing in 2013 by the Mansour support in these efforts from Each of the two houses of the National Assembly shall form meet the Hurriyat separatists. India-Nepal tensions too. It is faction broke, and three lead- Gulf countries who are not hap- commissions to study issues under discussion in accordance with the But when the two National Se- no coincidence that New Delhi ers at the helm of Taliban’s po- py with Pakistan over its refus- curity Advisors finally met in has also started some proac- litical office in Qatar staged a al to participate in the Yemen Regulations of Internal Duties. Bangkok on December 7, they tive efforts to cool down the revolt. The Inter Services Intel- conflict. While Gulf monarchies discussed much more than ter- Nepal situation. Secondly, Pa- ligence (ISI) tried to restore the and Iran are on opposite sides rorism, though their conclu- kistan has got at east two shots balance of power within the in the Yemen conflict, both sions or what Pakistan prom- in the arm during the latest US Taliban by introducing Sirajud- sides have allowed Taliban fac- ised to deliver on the issue of visits of Prime Minister Nawaz din Haqqani as second-in-com- tions to operate from their ter- terrorism was not made public. Sharif and Army Chief General mand, but now there are multi- ritories. Further, as Iran and There is still uncertainty over Raheel Sharif. The Barack ple reports of Mullah Mansour Russia are coming closer than whether Pakistan has finally Obama-Nawaz Sharif Joint being injured in internecine ever before, both have interest agreed to abide by the Hurriyat in checking the growth of Is- Statement bestowed upon Pa- fighting to take revenge for the lamist groups in north and west red line or Bangkok was cho- kistan the accolade of “region- killing of a key dissident com- Afghanistan. India should ex- sen as the meeting venue to al strategic stabilizer”. General mander by his men. This latest plore all these avenues to the avoid discomfiture to both Raheel Sharif during his self- internecine fighting erupted maximum. While the Mansur sides. At least Pakistan has not invited visit to the US was within days of Prime Minister faction is still the largest, in Recent internal study of the USAID sent a wave of concerns re- committed to the Hurriyat red pampered by the Obama admin- Sharif’s announcement to re- view of increasing infighting garding performance and activities of the agency in Afghanistan. line in public, and in the last istration, and it took care not launch efforts to broker peace even if a few key leaders can few months Pakistan’s Prime to nudge the Pakistan’s military between Kabul and Taliban. But be won over by Kabul that will The study, carried out for USAID by Management Systems Inter- Minister Nawaz Sharif has writ- boss on anything. Despite fig- the irony that haunts credibili- have a great symbolic effect. So national, has found that some of the projects were initiated after ten letters to Hurriyat leaders uring out Pakistan’s evident ty of Pakistan is that when Tal- far, Pakistan has failed to deliv- promising support. Clarity on double games in the past as well iban happens to be strong, ISI er peace in Afghanistan. It will approval from the Taliban. Certain projects of the USAID resulted this point would have been as its glaring inabilities and un- tries to have the whole cake in not do anything to strengthen in increasing support for the insurgent group. Support for the Tal- beneficial from the Indian view- willingness to stabilize the dem- Afghanistan through Talibani the elected Afghan govern- point given the fact that Paki- ocratic regime in Afghanistan, terror campaign and tries to de- ment which is now struggling iban militants increased in 13 villages where the US-backed uplift stan’s representatives are like- US policy makers have not liver it to the talks table when against the dual threat of Tali- schemes were launched. ly to reciprocate External Affairs been able to figure out any new there is internecine fighting. ban and Islamic State. This le- This war-weary nation was hoping that the whirligig of time will Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit approach to the Afghan conun- What is worse in all this is that gitimizes India increasing its to Islamabad in the coming drum except repeating the pan- Pakistan does not ensure even role in Afghanistan — from bring soothing compensations, but, it brought bitter experiences. days, as opening of the com- dering rituals before the real a lull in big attacks by the main being a reconstruction partner The internal study report of the USAID is worthy of investigation. posite dialogue has been an- rulers of Pakistan, who also faction led by Mansour and to a long-term nodal sustainer nounced by both sides. It is happen to be the real trouble Haqqanis, though it happens of democratic regime as the The Afghan government shall assign a team to probe the report also not clear how India has makers in Afghanistan. This to be in full control as it pro- West cannot perpetuate its mil- and bring all those to the books who paid money to the insurgents been able to capitalize upon exceptional but seemingly un- claims its peaceful intentions itary presence for all time to to kick off the developmental projects. The government is within Nawaz Sharif’s recent state- ending US perplexity gives el- about Afghanistan. During come. In immediate terms, this ment of “unconditional talks” bow room to Pakistan to do Heart of Asia summit, where is further justified by the fact its rights to ask for details of these projects. Afghans want to know with India given the fact that what it aims to do in the region Pakistan again promised to de- that India has opened compos- where the shoe pinches. The nation should not be kept in the dark the NSAs discussed many by keeping Kabul and Wash- liver this main Taliban faction ite dialogue with Pakistan de- things, including Jammu & ington on the tenterhooks to the talks table, it attacked spite no progress on terror re- because they are enduring the pain of growing insurgency. Indeed, Kashmir and not just terrorism, through its proxies and affect- Kandahar airport killing many lated issues to help promote ending financial support to militants, no matter of what hue, is and the composite dialogue has ing change in Indian policies civilians. So rattled was the se- larger regional stability. From a crucial to ease the pain and bring the insurgents to their knees. been reopened — which inad- towards it by capitalizing upon curity establishment in Kabul bilateral viewpoint, squander- vertently leads to the connota- the US “reliance” on it for wish- over this Pakistani double game ing away gains of Ufa is a big These projects are proving Achilles’ heel for the US in general tion that Nawaz Sharif was ba- ful stabilization of Afghanistan. that the Afghan Intelligence price for India. The sustainabil- and for the Afghan government in specific because the terrorists sically declining to agree to the In the coming days, the new Chief Rahmatullah Nabil went ity and final outcome of the new find new financial source in these. At the time when we are speak- Indian position of “Let’s talk fallout of all this may be that public criticizing President composite dialogue with Paki- terror first”. Ufa was a milestone Pakistan will find it more easy Ghani’s rapprochement with stan are as uncertain as those ing about illegal extraction of mines and opium production as ma- for the fact that for the first time to leverage its nuisance value Pakistan, before resigning from of previous ones. However, if jor financial sources of the militants, this new study report has Pakistan was made to agree in at SAARC. This leaves the his post. Given the churning India can capitalize upon op- writing to a framework which Modi government with no op- within Taliban, there are lots of portunities in the larger Af-Pak strengthened the fears that eliminating the insurgent groups will not required it to first address Indi- tion but to work on a hyphen- chances the ISI will try to do scenario, it will still be a gainer be a piece of cake because they found another bird to hunt and an concerns over terrorism em- ated Af-Pak policy, given the damage control within Taliban in the long term.—(Eurasia Re- continue growing. These projects have not only provided financial anating from Pakistani soil be- fact that Af-Pak is now setting by affecting closer synchroni- view) Divya Kumar Soti is a fore any meaningful compos- up the dynamics of China-US zation with the Haqqani net- national security and strate- support to the Taliban but also promoted corruption. The XYZ ite dialogue can happen. But equations more than ever be- work and introducing more dis- gic affairs analyst based in In- expenses in vouchers of the international humanitarian organiza- now the Narendra Modi gov- fore. Before India opened up ciplined groups like Jamaat ud dia. He can be contacted tions are fueling violence in the country. ernment seems to have con- composite dialogue with Paki- Dawah into Afghanistan. For at [email protected] The USAID and other international organizations should wind up their affairs with the insurgents, if they have any, because this illegal practice is challenging writ of the democratic government in Afghanistan in Afghanistan. In other words it means support for the insurgents to past 14 years continue their anti-state activities. If the financial support was not ended to the Taliban then Afghan government would get into the hot water. In a nutshell the government should not let developmental projects of the international donors to become the vantage ground for the Taliban. Afghan authorities should be more vigilant. They shall cal- culate pros and cons of the projects and provide security to the teams working on the uplift schemes so the Taliban will not be in the position to threaten the projects. The insurgents are in the quest to find new avenues to fund their subversive activities. They never allow the opportunities to slip by. Therefore, it is duty of the Af- ghan security officials to prevent the anti-state elements from tak- ing the time by forelock. Our policymakers should take the lead to tame the beast of insurgency and corruption. After a long period World Powers of maladministration, they shall turn over a new leaf and introduce reforms to prevent people from bribing insurgents or officials. 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SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Still in Turkish-Russian economic ties: Down but not out the pipeline By Dimitar Bechev trade between Russia and Tur- key cannot be simply swept By Vivek Katju aside. Turkey takes about one What is the damage to econom- fifth of Russian deliveries to Vice President Hamid Ansari joined ic relations of the ongoing spat Europe, and is Gazprom’s sec- Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz between Russia and Turkey? ond largest market after Germa- Sharif and Presidents Ashraf Ghani Not insignificant, one should ny. of Afghanistan and Gurbanguly think. Moscow implemented Unlike in the European Berdimuhamedow of Turkmeni- many measures to punish An- Union, demand in Turkey is stan in the ground-breaking cere- kara for the downing of its growing robustly thanks to mony of the Turkmenistan-Af- fighter jet earlier in November. factors such as demography, ghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) It has blacklisted certain ag- industrial growth and the ex- gas pipeline in Mary, Turkmeni- ricultural products, suspended panding gasification of house- stan. Ansari hailed the pipeline as visa-free travel, annulled char- holds. a major step towards regional in- ter flights bringing Russian Consumption might soar 1.5 tegration. It is to be completed by tourists to Turkey’s Mediterra- times early in the next 2018. Will the Afghan political and nean and Aegean resorts, decade. Between 1990 and security situation allow that to harassed lorry drivers at border 2012, power generation from happen? crossings, signalled that the natural gas rose tenfold and the The prevailing conditions in number of transport permits upward trend is projected to go Afghanistan were under focus at will be slashed, and imposed re- on at least until 2030. the Heart of Asia conference in Is- strictions on Turkish citizens For all the political med- lamabad last week. External Affairs employed or living in its terri- dling in Gazprom’s commercial Minister Sushma Swaraj lead the tory. decisions, the company will Indian delegation. While attention Dmitry Medvedev, the cling to the 60 percent share it was on the decision taken on the Russian prime minister, has in the Turkish market for sidelines to resume the India-Pa- even threatened to pull the as long as possible. A typical kistan dialogue, what took place plug on “major projects”. Soon example of how interdepen- between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Aleksandr Novak, the en- dence constrains not only buy- will have a major bearing on Indian ergy minister, announced that ers, but also exporters. security interests and the possi- negotiations on the Turkish Energy dependence bilities of enhancing connectivity Stream natural gas pipeline Can Turkey wean itself with and through Afghanistan. were halted. Rumours have from dependence on Russian Afghanistan’s government is spread that the pre-construc- natural gas? Perhaps it can. currently stable but Chief Execu- tion work for the Russian-con- There has been feisty talk trary to its rhetoric, Turkey nuclear energy will reduce de- crude account for a mere 3 per- Russian-Turkish economic ties tive Abdullah Abdullah is margin- tracted Akkuyu nuclear power about shifting away from Rus- might struggle to find another mand for electricity from pow- cent of the overall volume. are going through a rough alised. His supporters are growing plant in Turkey is off. sia and Iran (Turkey’s second company to take over the er stations burning (Russian) What’s more, Russian exports patch. Yet, the fundamentals disillusioned with this extra-con- Turkish construction compa- largest supplier) and towards project. In other words, It is too gas. Finally, when it comes to have largely been diverted from have not changed that much. stitutional arrangement. There is nies doing lucrative business the Kurdistan Regional Gov- early to write the deal off. There oil, Turkey is not dependent on the Black Sea and the Turkish Do not believe those who say also no indication that the agree- in Russia are at risk, too. ernment in Iraq, is an ironic twist, too, that the Russia. Imports of Russian Straits to the Baltic. Certainly, it is all over. It isn’t. ment for constitutional amend- Mutual loss Azerbaijan,Turkmenistan, and ments to create the post of an ex- Turkey has good reasons the Eastern Mediterranean. ecutive PM will actually be im- for concern. Having failed to Liquefied natural gas plemented. If Abdullah’s patience reap significant trade benefits from Qatar, Algeria and even 40 years on, the Vietnam war gives way, the entire edifice will from the Western sanctions on Nigeria is on offer too. In re- collapse. This will certainly and Russia, it is now taking a blow. cent days, Ahmet Davutoglu, adversely impact the coherence of Like hotel owners in Antalya the Turkish Prime Minister, vis- continues for victims of agent orange the security forces. or fruit and vegetable ited Azerbaijan while President Afghanistan’s security situa- growers in the next-door Adana Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in By MARJORIE COHN tion continues to be difficult. When province, Russian consumers D o h a The war in Vietnam resulted in Ghani was in Islamabad, the Kan- are sure to share the pain. tocontract additional liquefied the deaths of more than 58,000 dahar airport was under Taliban Shoppers in Yekaterinburg natural gas volumes. Americans and more than 3 mil- attack. A few days later, the Tali- or Pskov will soon be Thanks to its geographical lion Vietnamese. Twenty years ban targeted an area close to the paying more for the tomatoes location, Turkey aspires to be- ago, the United States and Viet- Spanish embassy in Kabul. The in the local supermarket as up come a transit country or even nam normalized diplomatic re- spread of the Taliban to northern to 20 percent come from Tur- a trading hub along the so- lations in an effort to put the Afghanistan is especially danger- key. But as losses will be spread called Southern Corridor link- terrible legacy of the war be- ous. Their capture of Kunduz for thinly across millions of con- ing Europe with the Caspian hind them. But for the survi- almost a week exposed the weak- sumers in Russia, Turkish ex- and Central Asia. vors—both Vietnamese and nesses of the security system. Af- porters are the more vulnera- In Baku, American—the war continues. ghan security forces are doing their ble party. Davutoglu announced that the About 5 million Vietnamese and best, but the Taliban challenge will There is a fair reason to ex- Transanatolian Pipeline many U.S. and allied soldiers be grave as long as Pakistan does pect that energy, the backbone (TANAP) will be completed in were exposed to the toxic chem- of Russian-Turkish trade links, not move against them, which is 2018, a year ahead of schedule. ical dioxin from the spraying unlikely to happen. will continue to go strongly. However, the inflow of 6bcm of Agent Orange. Many of Let’s start with Turkish The Islamic State (IS) is visi- of Caspian gas will hardly over- them and their progeny contin- ble in Afghanistan. But the extent Stream. The decision to call it haul the Turkish market and ue to suffer its poisonous ef- off is less significant than it of its inroads is unclear. Many feel squeeze Gazprom out, though fects. the IS in eastern Afghanistan is appears. The project was an- it could certainly drive prices Agent Orange was a chem- nounced by Russian President only a cover to enable Pakistan to down. ical, herbicidal weapon attack Tehreek-e-Taliban elements Vladimir Putin in an off-the-cuff Only if TANAP’s overall sprayed over 12 percent of Viet- remark during a visit to Turkey there. In any event, the Taliban will capacity goes from 16 to 31bcm nam by the U.S. military from remain a more potent threat. in December 2014, much to the - something that the Turkish 1961 to 1971. The dioxinpresent surprise of both Turkey and Ghani spent enormous politi- government insists - could it in Agent Orange is one of the cal capital wooing the Pakistan the Gazprom management. turn into a bona fide game- most toxic chemicals known to But the natural gas army to contain the Taliban and changer. humanity. bring them to the negotiating ta- pipeline has not been making Nuclear power Those exposed to Agent much progress. ble. He was embittered when Pa- What of the Akkuyu nucle- Orange during the war often kistan revealed that Mullah Omar Moscow and Ankara have ar plant? The $20bn project has have children and grandchil- been locked in a protracted dis- was dead, although it had kept up never had a smooth ridebe- dren with serious illnesses and the fiction that he was alive. The pute over the price of natural cause of the financial model it disabilities. The international gas. In late October, BOTAS, generals also gave a long rope to is based upon and its sheer scientific community has iden- Mansour, chosen by them to suc- the Turkish natural gas scale. tified an association between utility, announced it was taking ceed Omar, to continue attacks The Turkish government exposure to Agent Orange and through the spring and summer to Gazprom to international arbi- has been reluctant to provide some forms of cancers, repro- would go a long way toward Her mother was exposed to compensation to victims of re- consolidate his position. Ghani tration. financial guarantees or tax ductive abnormalities, immune Russia had already back- remedying the humanitarian Agent Orange from a barrel of cent and current wars who suf- poured vitriol on Pakistan, but he breaks to Rosatom, which and endocrine deficiencies and is committed to engaging the Tali- tracked on its commitment, scal- owns 100 percent of the com- crisis among both the Vietnam- the chemical buried in her land fer from exposure to chemicals nervous system damage. Sec- ese and U.S. victims of Agent during the war. Born without used by its military. HR 2114, ban and knows that the generals ing down the pipeline’s annual pany that will build and oper- ond- and third-generation vic- capacity from 63 to 32 billion Orange. legs and with a seriously atro- which has 14 co-sponsors, hold the keys for such a process. ate the facility. If the project is tims continue to be born in Viet- Last week, Ghani decided to cubic metres (bcm). Turkish cancelled, the party in breach Representatives of the Viet- phied hand, Hoàn grew up in would: *Provide health care nam as well as to U.S. veterans nam Association for the Vic- Peace Village II, the Agent Or- and social services for affect- again rely on the generals to deliv- decision-makers were taken would need to pay hefty com- and Vietnamese-Americans in aback when Novak signed a pensation of up to $15bn. tims of Agent Orange/Dioxin ange center at T? D? Hospital, ed Vietnamese, including med- er the Taliban for negotiations. This this country. (VAVA) have arrived in the U.S. Ho Chi Minh City. Hoàn is a ical and chronic care services, did not go down well with all sec- memorandum of understanding Turkey and Russia are There are 28 “hot spots” in with Panagiotis Lafazanis, therefore playing cat and to mark the official launch of college graduate and currently nursing services, vocational tions of the Afghan officialdom — Vietnam still contaminated by HR 2114 on Thursday. VAVA is works as a computer science employment training, medi- intelligence chief Rahmatullah Greece’s energy minister, in mouse; neither wants to be the dioxin. These hot spots still af- June to extend the Turkish spoiler and face indemnity. an organization of more than professional at the hospital. In cines and medical equipment, Nabil resigned. Ghani is likely to fect the people who live there 365,000 Agent Orange victims the U.S., VAVA’s sister organi- custodial and home care, day- pursue the course but will the gen- Stream pipeline Rosatom has made and eat the crops, land animals into Greece, leading to a substantial investment in and activists that works to zation, the Vietnam Agent Or- care programs, training pro- erals deliver? That will require a and fish. achieve justice for the victims ange Relief & Responsibility grams for caregivers, physical complete change in their outlook a trading terminal on the Greek Akkuyu, having already On April 29, U.S. Rep. Bar- side of the border. spent $1bn - or considerably throughout the world. Campaign (VAORRC), is edu- and vocational rehabilitation towards Afghanistan. There is no bara Lee introduced HR 2114, One member of the VAVA cating the public about the on- and counseling and recon- evidence yet of such a transforma- Dating back to the 1980s, more, according to Turkish of- the Victims of Agent Orange the extensive natural gas ficials. At the same time, con- delegation is Tr?n Th? Hoàn. going problems caused by structive surgery. *Provide tion and it is most unlikely. Relief Act of 2015. This bill spraying Agent Orange in Viet- medical assistance and disabil- Swaraj did well to raise the is- nam and working to pass legis- ity benefits to affected children sue of the transportation of Indian lation to remedy these prob- of U.S. veterans of the Vietnam goods to Afghanistan via the Pun- lems. VAORRC believes that War. The veterans fought for jab border at the conference. Ghani, LETTER TO THE EDITOR the U.S. and chemical manufac- and won benefits for their too, asked for such access. How- turers such as Dow and Mon- Agent-Orange-related health ever, it is almost certain that the santo must take responsibility conditions, but only the chil- generals will not allow such over- for the use of these chemicals dren of female veterans were land transit, consistent with their to redress the harm they have covered for most conditions. desire to reduce Indian interaction caused and to heal the wounds This bill will equalize benefits with Afghanistan to a minimum. of war. VAVA advocates for and to the children of both male and Why have they then agreed to the provides assistance to victims female American veterans. Tapi pipeline? Because it will, in Vietnam, but Agent Orange *Provide health assessment, when completed, be a strategic le- victims need even more help. counseling and treatment for af- ver to offset the Indian advantage Insecurity in different parts of the country compelled thousands of families to leave their homes. Most of the internally displaced people Through the work of activists fected Vietnamese-Americans on the waters flowing from India (IDPs) are living under tent with meager resources in some relatively peaceful areas. Now, that the weather is getting cold, they are afraid that in the U.S., Vietnam and inter- and their offspring through the they will lose their children to cold weather. to Pakistan. Therefore, I call on the government as well as welfare organizations to join hands and provide humanitarian aid to the displace families. nationally, the U.S. government establishment of health and Indian policymakers have done This is also the duty of people and national traders to support the IDPs. The government should also devise plans to pave the ground for return has allocated some money for treatment centers in Vietnam- well to agree to supply attack he- of the families to their areas. the cleanup of one hot spot, ese-American communities. licopters to the Afghan forces. Nasratullah Samim, Macroryan, Kabul but has done little to alleviate *Clean up the lands and re- This marks a welcome departure the suffering of Agent Orange store ecosystems contaminat- from the old diffident policy on victims in Vietnam or to clean ed by Agent Orange/dioxin in defence supplies. It also shows Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and up the remaining 27 hot spots. Vietnam. *Conduct research that Ghani is no longer willing to address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] The use of Agent Orange in into the health effects of Agent keep Indian assistance out to ap- Vietnam constituted prohibited Orange/dioxin in the U.S. and pease the generals. However, chemical warfare, amounting to Vietnam. HR 2114 should be Ghani is inconstant, and his prior- a war crime. Yet the U.S. is still enacted into law. The refusal of ity is Pakistan. It will, therefore, using chemical weapons, the U.S. government to com- be appropriate to enhance India’s Disclaimer: including white phosphorus pensate the Vietnamese and engagement with all sections of the gas, in its wars abroad. In addi- U.S. victims of its chemical war- political class, especially with old tion to taking responsibility for fare would set a negative pre- friends. But do not expect any time- The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) and rendering assistance to cedent for Iraq and Afghanistan ly movement on the Tapi pipeline, and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. Agent Orange victims, the U.S. veterans who need similar help. for the imponderables are too government must also provide (Counterpunch) many.—(Indian Express) This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Karachi shortly.” no hassle for the ceremony. She On Feb 17, 1987, a huge mar- asked her mother not to arrange riage ceremony was organised in dowry. When the probable date for Karachi that bound the two influ- marriage was fixed, Benazir asked ential families of the country into to postpone it because of violence a relationship. Benazir Bhutto had in Karachi. The date was then fixed married Asif Ali Zardari, son of to Dec 17, 1987. Hakim Ali Zradari, a businessman Before the main occasion, and landowner. It was an arranged Benazir published a brochure ex- marriage, something stunning for plaining the cultural customs and Oxford and Harvard graduate Bena- traditions like Mehendi, Mayoon zir but she had her reasons for that. and finally Rukhsati. Some West- According to her, she was intro- ern journalists, who had become duced to Asif Ali Zardari only five Benazir’s friends, came to Karachi days before agreeing to the pro- to witness the marriage ceremony. posal. Benazir wanted to make it a Whether Zardari’s family knew historic event. That is why she or not, there were many propos- refused to make it an occasion of a als for Benazir Bhutto while she few people gathered in a five-star was still a student at Oxford in hotel. Kikri Ground in the heart of 1986. And yet, Hakim Ali Zardari, Karachi’s PPP stronghold of Lyari an old companion of Z.A. Bhutto was selected. There were no for- and a cinema owner in Karachi, mal invitations while members proceeded with the proposal. from both families as well as par- “His (Asif’s) only apparent ty supporters attended the occa- vice, if it could be called that, was sion in their numbers. a passion for polo,” Benazir told Benazir was clad in a white silk Shyam Bhatia, an Indian journal- tunic with gold embroidery and ist and long-time friend in her bio- Asif wore a traditional Baloch tur- graphical work Goodbye Shahza- ban and cream-colour traditional di. trousers. The Nikah ceremony It all began in London almost a took place amidst a huge crowd; it year before the marriage. On July could easily be mistaken for a huge 29, 1987, Begum Nusrat Bhutto public meeting. Asif’s gift for Bena- received a formal proposal by Zar- zir was a heart-shaped ring, stud- dari for Benazir Bhutto led by ded with diamonds and sapphires. Zardari’s stepmother, Begum Beyond public scenes, both Zarin. Asif Ali was studying at the families held a number of private London School of Economics and celebrations, but the change in the intended to take up a housing busi- political life of the couple was im- ness after completing his studies. mense. Asif quickly developed a While in London, he occasion- taste for politics. After the 1988 ally visited Begum Nusrat Bhutto elections, he played a crucial role during Benazir’s exile days; during in defeating Nawaz Sharif when he these visits, Asif earned Begum wanted to force a vote of no-con- Bhutto’s confidence. fidence against Benazir. Reconciling herself with choos- Shyam Bhatia recalls his frank ing an arranged marriage, especial- conversation with Benazir Bhutto ly in a society where she had stud- before her wedding about an inter- ied and developed her sense of life, ested paramour. was a difficult task. Talking to “There was, of course, no American newspaper the Los An- dearth of other Pakistani men who n July 29, 1987, a few pher was in attendance too. retire from politics altogether af- ly, I am pleased to proceed with its terrible heritage. The people of geles Times before her wedding, saw her as a great prize and would members of the Bhutto After some time, Benazir Bhut- ter the wedding. the marriage proposal accepted by Pakistan deserve a better, more she said: “I don’t really expect queue up for her hand. One was family and some of their to broke the silence. “This is Asif Much to the surprise of many, my mother, Nusrat Bhutto. The secure future and I shall be with people in the West to understand. the son of a senior party function- friends assembled at the Zardari, my fiancé.” Benazir accepts an arranged mar- impending marriage will not in any them in seeking it. ... In view of Every mother wants her daughter ary, but he was believed to have a London apartment of Sanam Bhut- The next day, a picture of the riage proposal. While some expect- way affect my political commit- the carnage caused by the car married and I felt obligations to my drinking problem. Another party to, Benazir Bhutto’s sister. De- ceremony and an accompanying ed her to be sidelined thereafter, ment to my country, my people bombs and the sectarian killings family and my religion.” loyalist was also turned down by spite the unfortunate events the news item appeared in the media. the marriage strengthened her hand or the trail blazed by Shaheed Zu- the ceremonies are being post- Begum Bhutto clearly told the her because he came across as an family had braved, Begun Nusrat Since she grew up in a liberal envi- in politics lfikar Ali Bhutto for a free, federal poned. We cannot celebrate when Zardari family that since Benazir opportunist, although he did win Bhutto appeared calm and com- ronment, her friends wondered As per the press release issued democratic and egalitarian Paki- our people suffer. Your suffering was in politics, she would contin- favour in a different way some posed. Among the guests were why her marriage had been ar- from London by the PPP, Benazir stan. is our suffering. Our bond is be- ue doing so and no hurdles should years later when he was brought Hakim Ali Zardari, father of Asif ranged. Many columnists conjec- said: “Conscious of my religious “I stand as one with my coun- yond the vindictive grips of the ever be created for her. Once the into the cabinet.” Zardari, and his wife. A photogra- tured that perhaps Benazir would obligations and duty to my fami- trymen in repudiating tyranny and tyrants. I shall be returning to proposal was accepted, there was [email protected] Palest in ian fam ilies h op e for ju st ice at ICC

As w in t er s et s in , t he p lig ht o f t he hu n d r ed s o f child r efu g ees w ho a r r iv e d a ily is g et t in g ev er m o r e p er ilo u s . Two-year-old Seraj from Syria is basic care." Tears well in her eyes as crying in the cold. Yesterday he ar- she watches the mothers and chil- rived in Vinojug, a transit centre for dren trying to make themselves com- refugees on the Macedonian border fortable on blankets on the floor. "We with Greece. He came with his par- had children arriving in summer ents, his cousin, his four-year-old clothes, in sandals and T-shirts. brother and his baby sister. The fam- Mothers were wrapping their chil- ily spent the night in a plastic shed dren in garbage bags. We didn't have with nothing to keep them warm but enough clothes to give to them, so a few blankets as temperatures we gave them our own socks.""We dropped below zero. are simply not prepared for winter," Now they are waiting, with hun- says Goran Stojanovski, the manag- dreds of other refugees, for a train to er of the Tabanovce transit centre. take them through Macedonia to the He makes no secret of his frustra- Serbian border. But nobody knows tion. "These cabins are designed for when the train will depart. Or if it warm countries," he says, tapping will depart at all. on the thin plastic walls of the sheds. Meanwhile Seraj clings to the donia: refugees encounter similar recommendations for the Europe- "It's too dangerous to put heaters in legs of his father, 36-year-old Has- conditions in all the European coun- an Commission. these cabins. And there are no beds. san. "He is afraid," Hassan says. tries they pass through. "There's a "Nowadays, all the talk is We had a budget of 10 million euros His mother, 30-year-old Zey- total lack of coordination to offer about the numbers of refugees Eu- (almost $11m), but it's already neb, holds his baby sister, wrapped child refugees a safe passage rope wants to allow and about clos- spent. Macedonia is a small coun- Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip - Down slabs of concrete, still on his bed. PCHR, there are "hundreds of in a blanket. She is a tiny woman, through Europe," he explains. ing borders," says Dullaert. try. We don't have money for these an unpaved road near the mosque Mohammed, who had just gradu- cases" similar to that of the Louh and her dark eyes reflect the hard- "These children are extremely vul- "Whereas the biggest issue should kinds of emergency projects." Peo- of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza ated from the local technical insti- family. "All of them consist of war ships of the journey. "I am worried nerable. They often go through be the situation of these children." ple are disorientated and dazed as Strip, Mustafa al-Louh stepped tute with a degree in accounting crimes and crimes against human- about Seraj," she says. "When he traumatic experiences." Families "The cold is the worst thing now," they disembark from the train out of his home into the chilly night and business administration, sur- ity," Sourani told Al Jazeera. was born, he suffered from a lack of wait for a train to transport them, says 16-year-old Murhat, Nouha's [Mona van den Berg/Al Jazeera] Not air. "There was no reason for them vived the initial blast, but died "There is no justice in the Israeli oxygen. His health has always been but they have no guarantees of nephew. His round face is white far from the children's room, 11- to bomb us," he told Al Jazeera. shortly thereafter. "He hadn't even legal system. There are no conse- fragile. And yesterday night we were when it will come or if it will even and he looks exhausted. His arriv- year-old Mohammed, from the Syr- "We never threatened the Israeli picked up his diploma yet," his quences for these war crimes. This freezing." It has been a week since come at all [Mona van den Berg/ al yesterday in Vinojug was a ian city of Dera'a, is waiting while state in any way." During Israel's father recalled. There is no justice is why we had to go to the ICC, they left their hometown of Qunei- Al Jazeera] A state of panic' The frightening experience for him. "We his family decide what they are go- 2014 war on Gaza, the Louh fam- in the Israeli legal system. There for redress, justice and dignity." tra in Syria. They managed to reach gruelling boat trip from Turkey to were waiting here, hoping a train ing to do. There is a dirt road that ily, of which 60-year-old Mustafa are no consequences for these war The process for the ICC to open Greece by boat, but on the way they Greece is one such experience. "We would come, but it never arrived. leads to the next transit centre in is the patriarch, lost nine family crimes. This is why we had to go an investigation, let alone bring lost all their extra clothing, Zeyneb were with 70 people on the boat. Then the police came. They told Serbia. It's a 4km walk through the members in a single night, includ- to the ICC, for redress, justice and charges against any individual, is a explains. In Quneitra she used to Twenty of them were children," us to go into the tents and they dark. Will they try to seach Serbia in ing every member of his eldest dignity. Raji Sourani, Palestinian long one, and the court has many work as a primary school teacher. says 40-year-old Nouha, who is pushed and hit us. "We shouted: the freezing cold or spend the night son's household. They were killed lawyer and founder of PCHR As ongoing commitments. According Her husband taught maths. "We lost from Syria. "They were in a state don't hit the children, but they in a plastic cabin in Tabanovce? It's by an Israeli air strike while sleep- the sun began to rise, the devasta- to the ICC's website, it has nine our jobs during the war. Our house of panic." She fled from Aleppo didn't listen to us," Nouha says a difficult decision to make. "We ing. Late last month, their case and tion became even clearer. Two of "situations under investigation", was destroyed," Hassan says. "It with her brother, her sister-in-law, angrily. Parents try to keep their have been 24 days under way now. I many others were submitted to the Raafat's children were flung on top along with another eight "prelimi- was terrible." They hope to make it her nephew and her five-year-old children warm, but those who run am very tired," says Mohammed. He office of the prosecutor at the In- of a nearby roof, and his wife Nabila nary investigations", including in to Germany. "In Germany there is daughter, Rouha. Rouha was so the transit camps say they simply looks confused. "I really hope to be ternational Criminal Court (ICC) was found 100m away. "This is Palestine. An ICC delegation is good healthcare for Seraj," Zeyneb scared. She was crying and shout- aren't prepared for winter [Mona in Germany soon. I want to go to by four Palestinian rights groups: what affected me the most, the way expected to visit the occupied ter- says. "I want a future for my baby," ing all the way." The journey took van den Berg/Al Jazeera] 'We are school. I want to live in peace." Mo- al-Haq, al-Mezan, the Palestinian the explosion threw them," ritories in February. Hassan adds. Sleeping on the ground four hours. "But there's more than not prepared' It is about 5pm and hammed stands a reasonable chance Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), Mustafa said with a distant look Last month, ICC judges re- There are many children among the just traumatic experiences," says completely dark when the train of one day reaching Germany. But and al-Dameer. The family hopes on his face. Compounding the jected prosecutor Fatou 3,000 refugees that arrive in Vinojug Dullaert. "Many child refugees packed with refugees finally ar- things are very different for 14-year- their loss will help to bring charges family's tragedy, Nabila was nine Bensouda's closure of investiga- each day. Half of the Syrian refu- have become victims of physical rives in the Tabanovce transit cen- old Mahmoud. His thin face looks against the Israeli politicians and months pregnant when she died, tions into Israel's 2010 raid on the gees that now come to Europe are and sexual violence or of human tre, close to the Serbian border in sad and disillusioned as he hangs military commanders responsible. and due to give birth any day. Mavi Marmara, a Turkish-owned underage, according to figures from trafficking. And in the chaos of the northern Macedonia. There's no around an improvised woodstove. "I The pain of that night has been "They took Nabila's body to the ship that formed part of a flotilla the European Ombudspersons for am from Iraq. From Baghdad. I am seared into his memory, Mustafa hospital and tried to save the baby. sailing through international waters transit centres they run a serious lighting in the train and the smell said. "It was about 4:30 in the He lived for a few minutes after to end the nearly decade-long siege Children. But the refugee centre is risk of being separated from their in the carriages is unbearable. escaping Daesh," he says, using the morning, August 20. I was prepar- the doctors took him out of his of Gaza. Ten activists were killed simply not equipped to accommo- parents." He is particularly con- When the doors open, people Arabic term for the Islamic State of ing to go to the mosque, speaking mother." READ MORE: Palestine in the raid. Sourani understands the date them. cerned about child refugees travel- stumble out, disorientated and Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). But, judg- to my wife in our home, which was ICC entry to shake up peace pro- lengthy procedures, and says that Pregnant women and those with ling alone. "The countries they dazed. One child has wet his pants ing from his dialect, it seems more next to the house of my son, cess Amid the destruction, there the Palestinian rights groups in- babies and toddlers are sleeping on pass through have all signed the and his father calls out for help. likely that he belongs to the group Raafat. The Israelis dropped a was a ray of hope: Wafaa, volved in bringing cases to the ICC the ground in tents or plastic cabins. UN children's rights treaty. Which Families with very young children of Moroccan boys and men who bomb on his house, entirely with- Mustafa's 20-year-old daughter, are prepared. The recent submis- There is no heating and it isn't even means they should be offering them simply sit down on the platform have been stuck at the centre. The out warning," Mustafa said. was found alive under rubble. "I sions were only the first, and they possible to heat milk for a baby's protection. But the opposite is to eat the bread that is offered to Serbian government allows only ref- READ MORE: Report reveals had been sleeping, and when I concentrated on incidents related bottle. The situation in the centre is happening. I know of cases in them. In Tabanovce, there is only ugees from war zones such as Syria, scale of Israel's home demolitions awoke, I was sure I was dreaming. to the 2014 Gaza war. "We will chaotic. The train that people have Greece, Italy and Hungary where one heated space. It's the child- Iraq and Afghanistan to enter the Raafat, a 32-year-old former secu- I couldn't move," Wafaa told Al make three more submissions, fo- been waiting for since yesterday has unaccompanied minors have been friendly area set up by SOS Chil- country. Those who are considered rity officer for the Palestinian Au- Jazeera. Her father managed to pull cusing on the annexation of land finally arrived. Hundreds of refugees put in jail, among criminals." Now dren's Villages, an NGO that economic migrants are refused en- thority (PA) who took to selling her out from under the wreckage, by the Israeli wall, settlements, and throng along the railway. Children that winter has set in, the situa- works to protect the rights of chil- try. READ MORE: 'Afghan refu- vegetables, was in bed next to his and she was taken to her uncle's the siege on Gaza," he said. are crying, men are shouting, police- tion is becoming more urgent. Ear- dren. It's a simple prefab cabin with gees aren't fleeing by choice' Wrapped wife, Nabila, 28. Raafat's brothers home to be with her mother. "We Israel and the United States are men are angrily ordering the crowd lier this month, reports came from a few toys and plastic children's in blankets, the group of Moroccans - Mohammed, 21, and Ahmad, 20 embraced immediately, and when expected to exert political force on to form lines. In the middle of this Greece of several babies dying of chairs scattered around the room. try to keep warm around the wood- - as well as his two sons and daugh- we let go, her hands were covered the PA and other bodies involved chaos, Marc Dullaert, the chairman hypothermia after arriving from On the walls there are drawings - stove, singing melancholy songs to ter - Mustafa, 11, Maisara, 9, and in my blood." Wafaa suffered a in these proceedings. In January, of the European Ombudspersons for Turkey. "The EU is not doing any- simple pictures of houses, trees pass the time. They are waiting for a Farah, 6 - were all sleeping in other wound to the head that required Israel froze $127m in Palestinian Children, is talking to mothers, fa- thing about it," says Dullaert. and cars - made by the children. chance to cross the border, but it will parts of the home. Once the bomb immediate medical attention. While tax revenues after PA President thers and children. His organisation "They are literally leaving these Women with babies and small chil- probably never come. Mahmoud ex- hit, "we rushed outside, trying to in the ambulance, she was next to Mahmoud Abbas went forward recently established a task force to children standing in the cold." By dren hurry inside. "I feel so guilty plains that his plan is to travel to scream the names of our children. her wounded 17-year-old sister, with a request to join the ICC. The protect the rights of child refugees the time people get off the train, about not being able to do more," Germany or Sweden, together with It was hard, because the air and Iman, who had just finished sec- Israeli government did not respond and he has come here to see the sit- after a long and uncomfortable jour- says director Julijana Nakova a man who says he is his father. "I our faces were filled with debris ondary school with top marks. She to Al Jazeera's request for com- uation with his own eyes. "I am ney, it is dark and many feel dis- Gapo. "A lot of babies are under- want to study. My dream is to be- and concrete from the destruction. died from her injuries the follow- ment. "I don't care what they think, deeply shocked by the conditions orientated [Mona van den Berg/Al nourished. Children are exhausted, come an engineer," Mahmoud says. There was only a hole where ing day. "It was the worst day [of or what they'll do," Sourani said. here," he says. "Why do these chil- Jazeera] 'The cold is the worst' In they are coughing, they have tem- "I miss my mother," he adds. "She [Raafat's] home once stood," my life]," Wafaa said. According "No criminal has ever loved a dren have to sleep on the ground in January, the Ombudspersons for peratures. There are many women cried when I left. She said she would Mustafa said. The scene was cata- to Raji Sourani, an experienced court." Follow Creede Newton on the freezing cold?" He says this sit- Children will present a report on who are pregnant. We had several pray for me." strophic, he said. They found Palestinian lawyer and the founder Twitter: @creedenewton uation is not restricted to Mace- the plight of child refugees with births here. But we can offer only Al Jazeera Raafat dead, covered in heavy and director of the Gaza-based Source: Al Jazeer This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Italy to reo pen Coal d em an d slow ly b u r n in g trade o ffice ou t , excep t in In d ia, SE Asia: IEA in Karachi SINGAPORE: Global growth in coal demand ground to a halt last ISLAMABAD: Italy has assured that Italy is a leading exporter of year for the first time in two de- to support Pakistan’s case for con- textile machinery and intends to cades, but India and Southeast tinuation of GSP-plus scheme dur- ramp up exports to Pakistan. Asian countries are keeping the ing the first review expected next He further said that Italy is a dirty power burning despite calls month. world leader in building of dams, to switch to cleaner energy, the In- Answering a question, Italian roads and energy projects. ternational Energy Agency (IEA) Trade Commissioner and Chair- He said Italian businessmen are said on Friday. The share of coal is man of the Italian Trade Promo- closely following Pakistani market. seen dropping in the energy mix of tion Agency Riccardo Monti said “We cannot afford to ignore the China, as demand levels off amid his government will press for con- market of 200 million people,” he slower economic growth there, the tinuation of the Generalised Sys- said. IEA said in a report. Renewable tem of Preferences Scheme for Pa- Italy remains a major trading energy sources hydro, wind and kistan. partner of Pakistan and it is Paki- solar power may be playing an in- Speaking at a press conference, stan’s third largest export destina- creasing role in sating global de- he said that his government intends tion within the European Union mand while coal capacity ages and to deepen business relations with after UK and Germany. The Paki- shrinks, but India and the Asso- Pakistan. Italy has also decided to stan-Italy bilateral trade volume is ciation of Southeast Asian Nations reopen its trade commission in currently around $1.5 billion. (ASEAN) are "remaining centres Pakistan, he added. Answering a question on trade of significant coal growth," the re- The commission is scheduled potential, the trade commissioner port said. Those centres saw de- to start work in early January said trade volume will be doubled mand increasing by 112 million 2016, it was announced. in the next few years. tonnes in 2014 — which compares It will be reopened in Karachi, Pakistan exports cotton fab- with a falloff in coal demand in the while the Italian government will rics, woven made-up articles of highly-developed OECD area of reinforce its trade office in the textile material, articles of appar- 47 million tonnes. Oil rarely com- embassy at Islamabad. el, chemicals, leather products and petes with coal, but gas, whose The Italian trade commission- cotton yarn to Italy and imports price is linked to oil, has emerged er is visiting Islamabad for meet- machinery and its parts, cereals and as an alternative to coal amid fall- ings with Pakistani top officials cereal preparations, medical and ing crude prices, and gaining mar- and businessmen to explore busi- pharmaceutical products and ket share in some countries, includ- ness avenues. wheat. ing the United Kingdom (UK), the Flanked by Italian Ambassa- Asked about Itlay’s position report noted. Coal was the bed- dor Stefano Pontecorvo, the Ital- on executions, Italian ambassador rock on which Britain's Industrial ian trade commissioner said the Stefano Pontecorvo said his gov- Revolution was built — but the need for the revival of the com- ernment’s position is clear on the country's last mine, at Kellingley mission was felt because of under- issue and wanted an end to the in Yorkshire, will close on Friday producing carbon emissions. Po- slide from 29pc to 27pc by 2020, tors such as steel and cement. The is inevitable to below 35pc of en- representation of Italian companies death sentences. ending an era for power generation. land had earlier refused to endorse India alone would account for half report added that Beijing had little ergy production by 2020 as in Pakistan. Later in a meeting with Finance Coal's share of power generation an amendment to a United Nations of global demand growth — scope to slash coal's share "given renewables and shale gas move to- Riccardo said his government Minister Ishaq Dar, he said that in Britain remains at 20.5 per cent (UN) carbon-cutting pact requir- ASEAN states accounting for half that gas and oil power generation wards centre stage. will facilitate businessmen of the Italy could contribute to growth — imports will fill the gap — al- ing it to cut greenhouse gas emis- the remainder. But there is scant is very limited in China," which But despite reports of its pending two countries for joint ventures. by providing technical and finan- beit down from 28.2pc in 2014, sions. Coal's 'golden age' ends in evidence the relative Chinese uses half of global coal. It did, how- demise in a world looking to be- He said Pakistan is an impor- cial assistance for projects. according to the latest UK govern- China Lwering its world demand falloff in coal usage will result from ever, highlight China's attempts come progressively greener, coal tant country for Italy in terms of He particularly mentioned It- ment data. The new government forecast by over 500 million any commitment to cleaner energy "to diversify away from coal to in 2013 still accounted for approxi- investment, and to create aware- aly’s expertise in the marble indus- in Poland, where 90pc of electric- tonnes of coal-equivalent (Mtce), use in the wake of the Paris con- achieve a more energy-efficient mately two fifths of global elec- ness it will hold seminars. try and said his country could con- ity is coal-generated, said last the IEA said that "the golden age ference on climate change. Rather, economy and to address local pol- tricity needs. The trade commissioner men- sider undertaking training pro- month it will remain attached to of coal in China seems to be over." the coal slide looks largely a con- lution." Noting increasing US gas Its 29 percent share of total tioned agriculture machinery, agro- gramme for Pakistani experts in coal even as EU partners try to It added that while China's share sequence of weaker output pro- production, the report forecast world energy supply made it sec- processing, livestock and dairy, this field. He further said that Ita- phase it out owing to its role in of coal in its energy output would jections for energy intensive sec- that the decline in US coal demand ond only to oil's 31 percent. processed food industry, trans- ly would invite Pakistani delega- port, furniture making, marble in- tions from different spheres for in- dustry, textile, leather and energy teraction with Italian profession- sectors as areas of interest for pro- als. He also showed interest in spective Italian investors. hydropower generation projects Wom en in Lon d on exp ect low er b on u ses t h an m en Italian car manufacturer Fiat is and building large dams. keen to invest in Pakistan since Finance Minister said Dasu LONDON: Women working in fi- of their salary, while men antici- being largely a male environment their representation in different London is one of the main finan- Pakistan with lower labour cost had already achieved financial close nancial services in London have pated bonuses of 33,000 pounds, and many women can be put off types of jobs were both factors. cial centres in the world and evi- can emerge as a manufacturing hub though Pakistan would welcome much lower expectations for their or 34pc. “The reality is that the from applying to these types of The survey comes at a time when dence suggests that the picture is for the region. Italian cooperation and assistance annual bonuses than their male sectors where there is a high re- roles,” he said. The survey also the British government is trying similar elsewhere, with women The trade commissioner said for the Diamer Basha Dam. colleagues, reflecting the fact that ward culture are still male-domi- found that the gap in expectations to improve productivity, one of the under-represented and paid less they are less well represented in nated with women often making was present at senior levels, with problem areas in the economy, than men in financial services glo- more lucrative jobs, a survey has up a larger proportion of the non- female directors and executive di- through various means inclu•ding bally. Only 13pc of executive com- found. Women surveyed by re- commission earning side of busi- rectors expecting bonuses half the by raising female participation in mittee members and 4pc of CEOs cruitment firm Astbury Marsden nesses such as HR or marketing,” size of those anticipated by their the workforce. According to an at 150 of the world’s major finan- expected on average to receive a said Adam Jackson, managing di- male counterparts. The finding OECD estimate, gender equality cial institutions are women, accord- Bank of Japan bonus this year of just over 16,000 rector at Astbury Marsden. “Trad- suggested that women’s percep- in the labour market could increase ing to a 2014 report by consultan- takes fresh action pounds ($24,340), or 21 per cent ing floors ... have a reputation for tions of their own value as well as British GDP by 10pc by 2030. cy Oliver Wyman. Cen t r a l b a n k un v eils m o d est st ep s in sig n o f co m m it m en t t o in fla t io n t a r g et . Egypt signs $500m loan with African Development Bank Egypt’s state-run MENA news tranche of a $1.5 billion loan over ward the country’s economic de- $3 billion loan with the World Bank country’s gross domestic product agency says Egypt has signed a three years. velopment and supporting the to finance its budget deficit. The in the current fiscal year ending $500 million loan with the African MENA says the loan signed budget. Facing a dollar shortage, Egyptian government targets a June 2016, according to the bud- Development Bank, the first on Thursday will be directed to- Egypt has also been negotiating a budget deficit of 8.9 percent of the get. Saudi Arabia to suppo rt Egypt despite o il slum p

The drop in global oil prices will after day.” He said Saudi aid would vestments in Egypt should exceed turmoil that has undermined the pect that the implementation pe- not deter Saudi Arabia from sup- help Egypt push ahead with an $8 billion (30 billion Saudi riyals) economy since the 2011 uprising riod would be three years and be porting Egypt’s economy, its am- energy subsidies reform program and that the oil-exporting Gulf that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. directed towards infrastructure as bassador said on Thursday, add- that seeks to reduce spending on kingdom would help meet Egypt’s About $6 billion was quickly de- well as some of the logistical, in- ing Riyadh’s support would help petroleum products from its cur- petroleum needs for the next five posited in Egypt’s central bank to dustrial and commercial projects ease an acute dollar shortage and rent level of about $600 million a years. He did not give details and help replenish its dwindling for- that were announced at Sharm al- reduce pressure on the government month. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Egyptian officials have said that eign currency reserves. The rest Sheikh.” budget. planned $8 billion of investments specific projects were largely still was to come as investments, much Gulf countries have showered “The confidence of the Arab in Egypt are likely to arrive over under discussion. Egypt received of which are still being negotiated. Egypt with billions of dollars in and Saudi investor will increase the next three years and focus on pledges of $12 billion from Gulf “The investments that the Saudi grants, investments and petroleum TOKYO: The Bank of Japan took tion in the future, if necessary, he after the announcement of the in- infrastructure projects, the deputy Arab allies at an investment con- (king) ordered are all new govern- aid since mid-2013, when then- steps Friday to bolster its nearly said. crease in investments,” Ahmed al- head of the Saudi-Egyptian Busi- ference in Sharm al-Sheikh in ment investments,” Abdallah bin military chief Sisi removed the three-year-old quantitative easing “I’d like you to understand Qattan told a news conference in ness Council said on Thursday. March, where President Abdel Mahfouz, the deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood from power program, trying to reassure a na- that we have taken those measures Cairo. “These Saudi-Egyptian re- Saudi Arabia’s King Salman said Fattah al-Sisi urged foreign inves- Saudi-Egyptian Business Council, following mass protests. Sisi went tion struggling with sluggish so we will be able to quickly ad- lations will gain in strength day on Tuesday that his country’s in- tors to help Egypt recover from told Reuters by telephone. “I ex- on to win a presidential poll. growth that it was committed to just policy if we ever reach a con- stoking inflation. clusion that [further] action is Markets reacted without en- needed to achieve the price-stabil- thusiasm. The benchmark Nikkei ity target at an early time,” Mr. Chin a’s eco n o m y is ‘a sto ry o f UK economy Stock Average closed 1.9% lower. Kuroda said during a news confer- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ence. The BOJ is planning to buy b o o st ed b y Bla ck economic growth program, of all new JGBs issued next year, and pervasive w eakn ess’: Repo rt which the BOJ’s easing is a key owns about 30% of the outstand- element, has failed to gain traction, ing supply, raising questions about Chin a ’s eco n o m ic co n d it io n s w ea k en ed in t he fin a l q u a r t er o f 20 15, r ev ea lin g "a Fr id a y sho p p in g sp r ee raising doubts about whether it will how long it can continue buying at s t o r y o f p er v a s iv e w ea k n es s ", t he la t es t Chin a Beig e Bo o k (CBB) r ep o r t s a id . succeed. Growth remains uneven, the current pace. The steps an- and the inflation targeted by the nounced Friday were probably BLACK Friday discounting and low fuel prices triggered a No- central bank hasn’t taken hold, meant to show that there is no need vem ber shopper spending spree, lifting hopes that Britain’s prompting many economists to to worry about reaching the easing econom y w ill ring out 2015 on a stronger footing. predict additional action by the program’s limit, said Naomi central bank. Muguruma, senior market econo- months. He added: “Retailers may The BOJ’s moves followed mist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan see some pay-back after the Black the U.S. Federal Reserve’s deci- Stanley Securities. The central Friday promotions led shoppers sion Wednesday to raise interest bank’s extraordinary asset pur- to pull forward spending that rates for the first time since the chases are aimed at igniting sus- would otherwise have taken place global financial crisis, underscor- tainable inflation and economic in December, but the underlying ing a divergence between the U.S. growth, and ultimately achieving a sales trend looks set to remain and other wealthy economies decisive victory in Japan’s long strong as we head into 2016. which still face a risk of deflation. battle with deflation. Mark Carney could be pres- The BOJ said it would main- The BOJ this year has twice sured to raise interest rates if con- tain its target for annual asset pur- pushed back its time frame for sumer spending continues Retail- chases at around ¥80 trillion ($650 achieving its 2% inflation target, ers may see some pay-back after billion), but would lengthen the to as late as early 2017. The initial the Black Friday promotions led average maturity of the Japanese target, set in early 2013, was April shoppers to pull forward spend- government bonds it purchases to of this year. Investors offered dif- ing that would otherwise have seven to 12 years, from seven to ferent interpretations of the ac- Official figures showed sales vol- taken place in December, but the 10 years. tions announced Friday. Yasunari umes jumped by 1.7 per cent from underlying sales trend looks set to It also said it would start buy- Ueno, chief market economist at the previous month, well ahead of remain strong as we head into 2016 ing ¥300 billion annually of ex- Mizuho Securities, described them SINGAPORE: China’s economic porting profit gains hitting a record board. For the first time, it looked forecasts for 0.5 per cent growth Markit chief economist Chris change-traded funds that track the as a “life extension” of a monetary conditions weakened across the low, CBB’s president Mr Leland like firms were encountering genu- and contrasting with gloomier re- Williamson "As well as discounts, JPX-Nikkei Index 400, whose experiment targeting an board in the final quarter of 2015, Miller wrote in the firm's press inely harmful deflation.” Mean- ports from business groups such consumer spending is being driven members must meet corporate- “unachievable” price target. the latest China Beige Book (CBB) release. Across the sectors, retail while, China’s labour market saw as the British Retail Consortium. by a host of other tailwinds. governance criteria. That is in ad- By announcing the measures report released on Thursday (Dec and real estate held up reasonably deteriorating conditions in the fourth Sales on the year were 5 per "Households are benefiting from dition to the Y3 trillion in ETFs it soon after the Fed’s rate increase, 17) said. National sales revenue, well in the fourth quarter, but quarter, with job growth taking a cent higher, also well ahead of ex- improved job security, low infla- has purchased annually since late the BOJ may have tried to demon- volumes, output, prices, profits, manufacturing and services put up significant hit amid shrinking labour pectations. tion and falling energy prices, the 2014. The BOJ’s new measures are strate to markets that it is moving hiring, borrowing and capital ex- a dismal performance, with weaker supply. With employment being a Shoppers splashed the cash latter helping free up more income uncharacteristically modest, given in an opposite direction from its penditure all deteriorated from the revenues, employment, capital ex- key economic metric in China, the across clothing, department stores to boost retail sales, as well of the size of its asset-purchase pro- U.S. counterpart, to reduce the risk previous quarter, according to the penditure and profits. "The popu- government will likely face “increas- and online as spending increased course from ultra-low interest gram. And they were unexpected. of the yen strengthening, he said. private-sector survey published lar rush to find a successful manu- ing pressure to ramp up its policy by 1.4 per cent on the year to rates. "All of these tailwinds show Mr. Kuroda has maintained in re- Mr. Kuroda denied any connection by US-based research group CBB facturing-to-services transition will response” if weakness in the labour £32.2billion, while average store no signs of fading.” cent weeks that the BOJ’s poli- between the Fed’s decision and the International. The quarterly sur- have to be put on hold for a bit. market persists, the report said. In prices were down 3.3 per cent – Williamson said continued cies are having their desired effect, BOJ’s. The BOJ’s latest steps also vey, first launched in 2011 and Only the part about struggling October, the People’s Bank of the 17th consecutive month of strong consumer spending could and that underlying inflation re- may stoke concern about the modelled after the US Federal manufacturing held true,” Mr China (PBOC) cut interest rates for year-on-year declines. increase the pressure on the Bank mains on an upward trajectory. Mr. health of Japan’s economy, said Reserve's Beige Book, surveyed Miller said. “The results tell a story the sixth time in less than a year Markit chief economist Chris of England’s monetary policy Kuroda said Friday that the steps Bart Wakabayashi, vice president over 2,100 companies across China of pervasive weakness.” The re- while lowering the amount of cash Williamson said the data “adds to committee under Governor Mark were an adjustment rather than an at State Street. “Here we had Mr. in a variety of sectors such as re- port also highlighted the impact of that banks must hold as reserves signs that the economy has enjoyed Carney to raise interest rates, es- expansion of the easing program, Kuroda making extremely bullish tail and real estate. Among the slowing inflation: “Growth in in- for the fourth time this year, in a a strong end to the year” with GDP pecially now that the US Federal and meant to insure its smooth comments at press conferences various components, profit num- put prices and sales prices slipped bid to counter a persistent slow- set to grow by 0.6 per cent in the Reserve has led the way with its operation. They would also help with prices strengthening, and now bers were “particularly disturb- to record-lows, and firm perfor- down in the world’s second-largest final quarter compared with 0.5 per decision earlier this week to raise enable the bank to take bolder ac- this,” he said. ing”, with the share of firms re- mance metrics fell across the economy. cent over the previous three rates. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Review: ‘Dilwale’ fails to re-create DDLJ magic

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, es his lady love, but one has seen Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon and him do all this so many times be- Varun Sharma fore. The fault lies with the writ- Director: Rohit Shetty ing and his characterisation. He Rating: **1/2 delivers sincerely, what is expect- "Dilwale", with Shah Rukh Khan ed of him. and Kajol in the lead, after a long Kajol too is competent as al- gap, seems reason enough to go and ways, but as Meera - Khan's love watch this film. With the two leg- interest, she seems to be stuck endary Dilwalas, one expects the somewhere in the 1990s as her same magic from this duo on screen. character lacks lustre. She looks And they don't disappoint, albeit radiant, performs competently and in a smaller segment. matches Shah Rukh in histrionics. This weekend, I attended Telenor appointment was the lack of qual- made up for the absence of their hid, Fahad Hussayn, Zaheer Ab- pushing the proverbial sartorial Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) aka Varun as Vir, exudes energy, Bridal Couture Week with high ity on the catwalk – outfits showed peers on the red carpet. I soon dis- bas and Saira Rizwan, most design- envelope, it was definitely a live- Kali lives a peaceful life with his but overacts in several scenes. He hopes, expecting some quality their cancans under lehngas and covered that the lacklustre red car- ers devoted their attention to put- action performance of a bride's younger brother Vir (Varun Dha- is the stereotypical younger broth- fashion, a sizzling red carpet fea- shararas, pearls and other embel- pet only foreshadowed the futili- ting on a show, and forgot all about guide to winter weddings. wan) on whom he dotes. Togeth- er in Hindi films and makes no at- turing the who’s who of the fash- lishments fell off outfits. hile the ty of the fashion week itself. A great maintaining quality. What to wear? er, they run a garage where they tempt to move away from that and ion industry and a star-studded event itself was glitzy enough, no disappointment was the lack of Just like every year, TBCW If there's one thing that Bridal modify and repair cars, giving them offer some new dimension to his catwalk. Not all those expectations socialites or A-list celebrities were quality on the catwalk – outfits turned out to be a completely en- Couture Week is good for, it's giv- a makeover. His two friends, An- character. were met. The bi-annual fashion spotted on the red carpet. How- showed their cancans under leh- tertainment-driven platform and ing brides-to-be (and their posse) war (Pankaj Tripathi) and Shakti Kriti Sanon as Ishita, Vir's love week TBCW is meant to present ever, this is not to say that I didn’t ngas and shararas, pearls and oth- consequently received a lot of pub- a decent selection of wedding wear. (Mukesh Tiwari) are an intrinsic interest, has a strong screen pres- designer bridal collections – and big spot any celebrities at all... on the er embellishments fell off outfits, lic attention. This makes it a valu- Here's what caught my eye: part of his life and are privy to his ence and is natural even if she is names like HSY, Fahad Hussayn, runway, showstoppers like Mira unfinished dupattas were all able forum for designers who are 1) Mehndi dubious past of 15 years ago, meant to be just a bit more than Nilofer Shahid, Zaheer Abbas, Sethi, Adnan Siddique, Humaima around, and torn and dirty shoes able to get traction as the shows' There were plenty of options which he has buried and about eye candy. Zainab Chottani and Nickie Nina Mallick, QB, Maya Ali, Osman were just the tip of this unsightly audience translates into actual buy- for the traditional mehndi bride, which no one else knows. Varun Sharma as Siddhu, Vir's showed on December 11-13, along Khalid Butt, Wahab Riaz, Armee- iceberg. Apart from a few design- ers. So while there is little I found and also for those who wanted With King Khan and director buddy is a disappointment, com- with a host of others. A great dis- na Rana Khan and Resham partly ers like HSY, Maria B, Nilofer Sha- relevant in TBCW in terms of something different... Rohit Shetty, one expects mega pared to his performance in his entertainment. "Dilwale" is a for- debut film. Johnny Lever as Mani, mulaic film, replete with all the entertains a fair amount in his usu- Why was ingredients of a typical Rohit Sh- al inimitable style. Sanjay Mishra etty film - Goa, cars overturning, as Oscar, makes a mark as always, Sonam stressed fast-paced action and bright can- as he offers something new each dy coloured sets. But the film lacks time on screen. Boman Irani as while shooting soul and freshness. King, takes on a comic avatar, but The story and setting trans- seems a wee bit stereotyped. Vin- for 'Neerja'? port you back to the 1990s and od Khanna as a Bulgaria-based the lack of novelty and newness in Don Randhir Bakshi, is wasted, as the script and treatment, is what he has limited screen time. lets you down. The dialogues The music, apart from abounding in pun, which are sup- "Gerua", which is beautifully pic- posed to be funny, are really not turised, is disappointing. The mind- so. A few situational comedy less action scenes are expectedly scenes evoke laughter, but don't flawlessly executed, but oft seen. really entertain or amuse you for The cinematographer elevates too long. the viewing experience, as he cap- Shah Rukh lights up the screen tures Bulgaria and all other locales with this presence undoubtedly beautifully, transporting you and is the rasion d'etre to watch there. the film, but the script does not "Dilwale" is strictly for Shah back him enough. He fights, falls Rukh Khan's fans. They are bound in love, indulges in action, romanc- to overlook everything else. Review: ‘Bajirao Mastani’ - A masterpiece which will leave you mesmerized Singer Taylor Swift says her night- cheers her up, reports mares include an empty auditori- femalefirst.co.uk. ums. "I have nightmares where no- "My friends and I talk about body shows up and nobody wants this all the time; just being in our Actress Sonam Kapoor says she to see me perform at all. I would twenties, you don't know what it's was under stress working in up- just cry. I would just sit on the going to be like when you wake coming biopic "Neerja", which is a stage and cry," she said. up. Not every day is perfect. It's story of a slain air hostess. The The "Love story" crooner also not always sunshine in my brain Ram Madhvani helmed biopic is said that despite her success, she and sometimes I just wake up with on senior flight attendant Neerja is prone to days of self-doubt. But a bad attitude. But I hear people Bhanot, who saved 360 lives on a she has insisted that the roar of screaming and a switch flips and Pan Am flight that was hijacked in the crowds at her gigs always I'm excited," she said. Karachi in 1986. Bhanot became the youngest and first woman re- cipient of the prestigious Ashok Chakra Award, posthumously. "It Selen a Go m ez was not emotionally draining. It is important that this story is told. It is about this girl, the youngest co sies up to Zedd civilian who got Ashoka Chakra. She was a normal girl...She did bit of modelling. She had the courage to save the world," Sonam told PTI. The "Khoobsurat" actress said she was stressed throughout the shooting in anticipation that Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika you riveted to the screen for over whether she is doing justice with Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, and 2 hours. His dialogues are collo- her role. "I hope I have done jus- Mahesh Manjrekar quial, yet, power-packed. There is tice to it. I was stressed through- Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali no iota of excess, and embellished out the film hoping I have done Rating: ***1/2 with the right amount of Marathi best job possible. I feel the reason LAHORE: After making a mark in name for them, making it easier for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Bajirao words, these sharp and taut dia- why this film was made is to rec- the fashion realm of Lahore, Hon- clients to select the outfits. Hon- Mastani", based on the novel logues are full of wit, messages and ognise everyone that it doesn't ey Waqar has gone on to earn her ey (C) with showstoppers Mira "Rau" authored by N.S. Inamdar, equally hard-hitting. The perfor- matter who you are, where you spurs across the border. The deis- Sethi and Adnan Siddiqui at TBCW is a fictionalised romance drama mances by the characters are cap- come from. You have to be ordi- gner, who recently put forth her Honey shared she may do thor- that encapsulates the 20 year reign tivating. Bajirao Mastani is Ran- nary to do extra ordinary things ‘Chand Begum’ collection at Tele- ough research ahead of devising her of the Maratha warrior Bajirao and veer Singh's canvas. With his well- and everybody has that in them. his relationship with his second chiselled physique, bald pate with You need to have courage to do nor Bridal Couture Week, doesn’t collections but ‘Chand Begum’ seem to have shied away from was “brought to life via [her] imag- wife Mastani. The film begins with a single lock of hair, he slips into things." The 30-year-old actress re- Bajirao's appointment as Peshwa Bajirao's hide perfectly. His ener- vealed that there are quite a few reaching for the moon. Following ination.” She further said, “This a display that received a warm re- collection is for both my daugh- in the court of Chhattrapati Shahu gy and intensity on screen is pal- similarities between her and Neer- in Satara. The narration thereafter pable. You empathise with him ja. "My values with family, rela- sponse, Honey divulges the ters, who have truly been a great thought process behind her line, source of inspiration for me.” On leads you into his expeditions, his when he is honest with both his tionships, sensitivity, strong sense encounter with Mastani and their wives and you root for him when of ethics...I think the sense of right how she established ground in In- the kind of woman she designs for, After setting the record straight on at the camera as he circled his arms and wrong, young people need to dia and her upcoming ventures. she stated, “She has the courage to rumours saying that she's dating around Gomez's body. Both of subsequent, intense romance. he rebels against his widowed see these values and have courage “Inspiration can come from believe in it and has the will to prove singer Niall Horan, pop star Sele- them looked matching in black out- Mounted on a magnificent scale mother Radhabai and the high to do right things. This ordinary anything beautiful when you start she can fight against all odds. I na Gomez was spotted cosying up fits. with well-etched characters, re- priest. And most of all, your heart girl did extraordinary," she said. thinking. From a flower to a vase, want to portray the strength and to her ex-boyfriend Zedd here. As previously reported, they splendent sets and period cos- beats for him when he pines for With her last release "Prem Ratan anything can inspire me,” she said. beauty of a woman.” Keeping her The "Hands to myself" hit- remain on good terms following tumes, the director, intricately and Mastani. The last scene of the film Dhan Payo" being a superhit, “Through this collection, I want- designs as real as possible, Honey maker was pictured kissing Zedd their split. flawlessly, transports you to the is powerful and Ranveer's presence Sonam says the Rajshri Produc- ed to portray the strength and the stated, “I don’t design clothes that after they performed the Russian- While it's unclear whether or era of the Peshwas, circa 1720- and competence, takes it a rung tion film has given her a wider reach beauty of a woman,” she added. are not wearable. Even my mens- German DJ's "I want you to not Gomez and Zedd are getting 1740. What makes the film stand higher. as an actor. "'Prem Ratan Dhan Honey experimented with pit- wear line is subtle and is some- know" together at the Z-100 Jin- back together, the 26-year-old DJ out is Bhansali's direction. He as- Deepika Padukone as the de- Payo' has given me wider reach as ta, marodi and kantha in her col- thing a groom would enjoy wear- gle Ball concert here on Friday, re- posted on Instagram an image of tutely manages to guide his team fiant and confident warrior Mas- it has gone into the heartland of lection alongside dabka work and ing on his big day.” She added, “The ports aceshowbiz.com. them getting cosy at the same ven- to deliver the best. Be it in perfor- tani, madly in love with Bajirao, is India and people are loving the Mukesh motifs. The range boast- fashion world is not a circus. You The 23-year-old singer was ue. "Reunion with my favourite mances, music, visuals or action, effortlessly convincing. Her per- film. For me it is important as my ed embellished shawls with pearls need to believe in a philosophy. photographed planting a kiss on lil Mexican taco to his inimitable stamp is written formance resonates with the right next film ('Neerja'). It is not about on opulent fabrics, such as French My emphasis is on the ramp-to- Zedd's cheek and circling her arms perform#IWantYouToKnow to- over every frame of the film. attitude, both as a warrior and as me, director and producer but net, silk and tissue. She shared that rack transition as far as my collec- around his neck. night at Madison Square Garden," Prakash Kapadia's screenplay is Bajirao's love interest, making her about Neerja," she said. each of the ramp offerings has a tions are concerned.” Zedd, meanwhile, was smiling he wrote alongside the image. water-tight and engaging, keeping stand out. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Manoj Prabhakar hopes pairing with Inzamam will boost Afghanistan’s chances at World Twenty20

Former India seamer Manoj Prabhakar, who has been appointed bowl- ing coach of the Afghanistan national side for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20, is hopeful of forming a fruitful coaching partnership with chief coach Inzamam-ul-Haq. “For the last five days, I have been working with Afghanistan’s U-19 side at the Greater Noida stadium. I am amazed at the level of talent and that’s exactly what a coach wants. Some of these guys are at par with players of Ranji teams. With In- zamam (chief coach) alongside me, we will strike a fruitful coaching partnership and help these youngsters,” Prabhakar said. Prabhakar also informed that the proposed four-match limited overs series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will now take place in Dubai instead of Greater Noida. “I don’t know the reasons but the series will now hap- pen in Dubai instead of Greater Noida. I have applied for my visa and as soon as I get it, I will join Inzy and the senior team in Dubai. I am very hopeful that ‘our team’ will do well in the upcoming World T20. Af- ghanistan will surely produce some future stars,” said Prabhakar. (Get Full Schedule of 2016 ICC World Twenty20 Here) The former all- rounder also thanked senior The Board of Control for Cricket in India official and Indian Premier League chairman Rajeev Shukla for helping him get a coaching job four years after he was unceremoniously dumped by the Delhi and District Cricket Association after the 2010-11 ranji season. “Today, I formally signed the deal with Afghanistan Cricket Board. While my home state DDCA never thought of using my services, I am happy that I am able to again come back to coaching. I would forever be grateful to Rajeev Shukla for his role in getting me the job,” The Men's World Team Squash sem Khalifa requested the post- tion on Friday confirmed the can- attend the tournament. Mexico, the ensuing blaze. While there was Prabhakar said. The 52-year-old Prabhakar, known as one of the finest Championship, which was due to ponement because "some teams cellation of a championship that Australia, New Zealand, South Af- no indication of any link to politi- exponents of swing bowling, however, is sad that his knowledge and take place in Cairo from Decem- did not wish to attend the champi- was supposed to see the partici- rica, and Colombia have also can- cal groups, the arson comes at a time expertise was never used by men who mattered. “Let’s not talk about ber 12-18, has been called off for onship". "We request this post- pation of teams from 23 countries. celled their attendance, the federa- when the country's security forces DDCA. The lesser said the better it is. We all know and can see what security reasons, the sport's inter- ponement with a heavy heart as England, France, Germany, the tion said. On Friday, assailants at- are on heightened alert after a series exactly is happening. But I also felt that BCCI never thought of using national federation said. Egyptian Cairo is a safe city," said Khalifa. United States and Canada took the tacked a Cairo nightclub with petrol of attacks, including in Cairo. my knowledge on swing bowling at any level. Yes, I am a businessman Squash Federation president As- The sport's international federa- decision earlier this week not to bombs, killing at least 16 people in Source: Al Jazeera and agencies now and that’s how I earn a living. But I have always been a coach at heart,” said Prabhakar, who was once banned by BCCI for allegations of match-fixing. He also took the opportunity to thank former teammate McIlroy Navjot Singh Sidhu, for giving him hope that all will be well. “Among McGregor wins UFC belt with record 13-second KO my former teammates, it was Sidhu, whom I will be indebted to for giving me encouragement and strength. When I used to get disappointed w in s Asso - that I was not getting any coaching offers, Sidhu told me that ‘Don’t cia t io n o f worry, your time will come’,” said Prabhakar.—(PTI) Go lf W r it - Po o ley plo ts ers' trophy for third Rio co m eback time

Conor McGregor stopped Jose gor. The loquacious Irish brawler ing glares during the build-up to this and providing more fodder for his Aldo with one spectacular punch goaded Aldo throughout the pro- injury-delayed showdown. "I get challenger. McGregor took on the Emma Pooley is set to make a re- that I have the capacity to get a medal just 13 seconds into the first round, motion of their delayed bout, only in there, and I put on a show," highly regarded Chad Mendes in- turn to road racing in 2016 to take then I would put my name in the backing up his bravado and claim- to back up every word he said. "He McGregor said. "I come to fight, and stead, scoring a second-round stop- part in the Olympic Games in Rio. hat," Pooley said in The Times. "I ing the undisputed featherweight is already beaten," McGregor said this fight will be a performance. I'm page and earning an interim belt. Pooley retired after winning don't want to just go to the Olym- title at UFC 194. McGregor (19- prior to the fight. "I look in his eyes, not just going to beat Jose. I'm going That honour didn't satisfy McGre- two silver medals at the 2014 Com- pics. I didn't find them as much fun Rory McIlroy has become 2) finished the fight in Las Vegas and I see someone who knows his to embarrass Jose in there. I don't gor, whose plans for world domina- monwealth Games in Glasgow and as some people. I go for the race only the third person to win the with an electrifying exchange short- era is over. It's a new era. It's my need to gather any more intel, any tion aren't confined to one weight has since been competing in tri- and not for an Olympic Village ex- Association of Golf Writers' tro- ly after the opening bell, slipping era. I almost want to comfort him. more research. It's done. He has al- class or even one endeavour ("Hol- athlon, with a great deal of suc- perience. Lizzie Armitstead (L) and phy on three occasions. Aldo's lead right and cracking Aldo I want to say, 'Don't worry. It will ready lost." "I feel the Brazilians will lywood is screaming for me," he cess. But the hilly nature of the Emma Pooley (R) celebrate their The 26-year-old joins Seve on the jaw with a huge left hand. all be over soon.'" Aldo was the come out to support. They're going said). McGregor has attracted glo- Olympic time-trial course is per- gold and silver medal rides in the Ballesteros and Lee Westwood as Aldo (25-2) actually finished his only featherweight champion in to be swallowed by the Irish, bal attention to the grateful UFC, suading the 33-year-old to make a women's road race at the 2014 Com- a three-time winner after receiving punch and hit McGregor with a UFC's short history. The Brazilian though. It's going to be a green which has heavily showcased his comeback, where she would bid to monwealth Games Lizzie Armit- the accolade in 2012 and 2014. left, but the champ fell senseless was widely considered the pound- Christmas in Las Vegas, that's for magnetism and verbosity. He has improve on the silver medal she stead (L) and Emma Pooley (R) cel- "When you think of the con- to the ground and McGregor for-pound best mixed martial artist sure." Aldo could say little when he become a fan favourite - particular- won at the 2008 Games in Beijing. ebrate their gold and silver medal tributions that Seve and Lee made pounced, only to be pulled off in in the world. He had not lost a fight was injured in training shortly be- ly among his countrymen, who filled Bet now£10 completely free "I rides in the women's road race at to European golf over the years, I victory. Aldo had won 18 consec- in 10 years. 'Green Christmas in fore he was originally scheduled to Vegas' casinos with songs and revel- love triathlon but hilly courses the 2014 Commonwealth Games "I am delighted to be linked with them utive fights over the last 10 years, Las Vegas' Aldo and McGregor trad- meet McGregor in July, scrapping ry before and after his victory over don't come around that often. If I don't want to put myself through it at such an early age, and clearly but nothing seems to slow McGre- ed innumerable insults and menac- an elaborate promotional campaign Mendes. Source: AP thought I could prove to myself again, especially sacrificing some I'm hoping to do enough to win triathlon races that I enjoy, without the AGW trophy in future years being completely committed to go- as well," McIlroy said. Hat-trick hero Suarez fires ing for gold." Pooley could also take BirminghamvCardiff Reve prim ed fo r an o ther Lo n g Walk part in the road race in Rio, with the James Vaughan to Score and Barca into Club World Cup final course just as demanding, and Brit- Birmingham to Win in 90 Mins9/2 ish Cycling technical director Shane Bet now£10 completely free Sutton said she would be a huge as- The four-time major champi- set to the team as support for world on was a narrow victor this year, road race champion Lizzie Armit- edging out Britain and Ireland's stead. She played a key role in Nicole Walker Cup team, who pulled off Cooke's gold medal-winning ride in a record 16.5-9.5 triumph over the Beijing and was also a vital lieuten- United States' leading amateurs at ant when Armitstead took silver at Royal Lytham and St Annes in London 2012, while finishing sec- September. ond behind her team-mate in Glas- Rory McIlroy won the Race gow. Shane Sutton would love to to Dubai crown again this year have Pooley on the British team Rory McIlroy won the Race Shane Sutton would love to have to Dubai crown again this year Pooley on the British team "I'm re- Third place went to English- ally pleased that Emma is back with man Andy Sullivan following his us as that enhances our medal op- breakthrough campaign on the Eu- portunities in the time trial, and it ropean Tour when, alongside McIl- will also enhance Lizzie's opportu- roy, he was the only three-time YOKOHAMA: Barcelona's Luis of possession as they claimed a nity to win if we can have a pure winner. Suarez got a hat-trick, including an place in the final against South mountain climber like Emma with McIlroy, who was also named exquisite second goal, as they American champions River Plate. her in the road race," Sutton said in European Tour Golfer of the Year strolled into the Club World Cup Barca needed 39 minutes to break The Guardian. "The field will fall earlier this week, triumphed at the final with a 3-0 win over Asian down the Guangzhou defence, away from behind but I don't see DP World Tour Championship in champions Guangzhou Evergrande Suarez pouncing to tuck in the re- Emma falling behind, so I would like Dubai last month to successfully on Thursday. The Chinese side bound after goalkeeper Li Shaui to see her in the road race support- defend his Race to Dubai crown - gave the European champions a failed to hold Ivan Rakitic's long- Owner Paul Duffy expects Reve Duffy is keeping his fingers soft, the course suits him so we're ing Lizzie. an honour he also claimed for a couple of scares in the first half range drive. The game was settled De Sivola to put up a bold show in crossed his pride and joy can emu- just hoping for a good run. "I think "The wheels are well in motion third time since 2012. but they were utterly outclassed as a contest after 49 minutes when his bid for a fourth successive vic- late the great Baracouda, who won the competition is hotter this year, to get Emma on track for the Games; "Winning in Dubai again meant by the end of a match that often Andres Iniesta sent a beautifully- tory in Saturday's JLT Long Walk the Long Walk four times between but he's well and hopefully he'll she was sixth in the Vendee after a huge amount to me and enabled resembled an attack-versus-de- weighted pass into the area and Hurdle at Ascot. The Nick Will- 2000 and 2004. "It would be a fan- run his normal decent race. not riding a UCI race for a while and me to look at the year as a whole fence training session. Zou Zheng Suarez caught it on his chest be- iams-trained 10-year-old has made tastic achievement if he could win "He's the horse they will have that meant she had the points need- in a different light. It has also giv- also suffered a horrific injury in fore volleying past Li in one move- the Grade One feature his own in it four times. He'd get the credit he to catch." ed to qualify. en me that bit of momentum going the first half, appearing to break ment. The Uruguay forward com- recent years, completing his hat- deserves," said the owner. "He ac- Despite his formidable record "We were looking around and into next season," McIlroy added. his leg as he fell awkwardly to the pleted his hat-trick by converting trick with a particularly thrilling quitted himself well in his last race at the Berkshire circuit, Reve De on that hilly course there isn't a rid- "I'd also like to congratulate our clear distress of his Guangzhou a penalty in the 67th minute as victory over Zarkandar 12 months in Auteuil and the ground wasn't Sivola is only third in the betting, er on the national front capable of Walker Cup team on their stun- team mates. Even without Lionel Barca fired an ominous warning to ago. He made a pleasing reappear- wet enough for him. We're hoping with the Paul Nicholls-trained making the top 15. We looked at the ning success. It must have been a Messi, who was taken ill just hours the 15,000 Argentines who have ance when sixth in the Grand Prix it's going to be soft to heavy at Saphir Du Rheu and Colin Tiz- course and we couldn't let the chance very difficult decision for the golf before the game, and the injured made the trip to support River d'Automne at Auteuil last month Ascot. The more it rains, the bet- zard's Thistlecrack disputing slip by if Emma was interested so writers." Neymar, Barca enjoyed 75 percent Plate. and with conditions in his favour, ter for us. "It tends to come up favouritism. we approached her." This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. SATURDAY . DECEMBER 19 . 2015-Qaus 28, 1394 H.S Vol:X Issue No:141 Price: Afs.15 This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF.