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LeJ chief NSC seeks Malik Ishaq international Page 4 killed in Muzaffargarh COOPERATION police IN FIGHT AGAINST ISIS AT Monitoring Desk Turkey KABUL: The National Security inks deal Mullah Omar s death in a hospital in Karachi city of Pakistan is still in mystery, Siddiqui Council (NSC) stressed on region- al and international cooperation in to open fight against ISIS. Najib Manalai, Page 5 bases to Abdul Zuhoor Qayomi the cultural advisor to the NSC, told Azadi Radio that ISIS has never US-led been strong in Afghanistan, but its KABUL: The National Director- presence is a threat to the country. coalition ate of Security (NDS) confirmed He stressed that the entire world that Taliban s leader Mullah Omar should take part in fight against died around two years and four ISIS, also known as Daesh. Qatar Airways, months ago in a hospital in Kara- Some senior commanders of chi city of Pakistan. Daesh have been killed in Afghan- Flydubai Abdul Haseeb Siddiqui, istan over the past few months. reject reports spokesman for the NDS, said that The National Directorate of Secu- Mullah Omar mysteriously died rity (NDS) said that killing of the Page 9 of interest in in a hospital in Karachi around two ISIS commanders has weakened the India s years and four months ago. He terrorist group in Afghanistan. The said that Mullah Omar s death is secretary of Meshrano Jirga, Naji- SpiceJet still a mystery. Siddiqui added that ba Husaini, believes that ISIS fight- they have told media several times ers of old Taliban groups who have in the past that Mullah Omar is no switched their flag from white to more. The Presidential Palace had black. Unfortunately, some Tali- S-Sudan ban in Afghanistan switched their previously said that they are look- flag from white to black in order to war: 'We ing into the reports that the Tali- prolong war in Afghanistan, he ban leader Mullah Omar had died. added. In the meantime, Shekiba Page 8 need In the meantime, the former chief Hashemi a member of the Wolesi healing to of spy agency of Afghanistan, Jirga said that the government has Amrullah Saleh in a brief interview failed to curb militancy. Hinting at happen at with Afghanistan Times said that public uprisings, she said that peo- Islamabad has told Kabul to an- ple should lend their support to all levels' nounce death of Mullah Omar. Taliban recently released a message the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, where rect peace talks between the gov- the Afghan government in fight This comes at a time that the of their leader, Mullah Omar, on he had lent his support to the di- ernment and the Taliban. against Daesh. Govt urged to use Ghor governor Constitution Page 12 as a redline donates golden in peace necklace for talks building mosque FEROZKOH: The governor for western Ghor province has donat- When ed her golden necklace for comple- Anushka got tion of Khatam-un-Nabiyen mosque in her province. The con- trolled on struction of the mosque that is lo- Page 10 twitter for her cated in Ferozkoh, the provincial capital, has stopped since last two 'Alia Bhatt' years due to lack of funds. The moment necklace, worth 60,000 afghanis and its money would be spent in construction of the mosque. Sima Joyenda, the governor for Ghor province, said she had bought the necklace 20 years back and it was WHY AFGHANISTAN IS A very dear to her. While submitting BIG WINNER IN THE her necklace to the hajj and reli- Page 6 gious affairs department, she said US IRAN DEAL it was imperative for Muslims to donate their valuable belongings for the holy causes. She said she had also donated another 100,000 from the province s budget to the con- struction of the mosque. We will continue our efforts for the com- pletion of the mosque. Its con- struction has been stopped in the Mullah Omar s death puzzle past two years due to lack of funds, she added. (Pajhwok) Editorial P6 and peace process Baghlan hostages released School in Pakistan reiterates 5 construction constructive company workers Triple Crown by Taliban after 48 hours Ghazni set kidnapped in Ghor winner Ameri- engagement with Eleven hostages were released on to have been brokered by local trib- ablaze FIROZKOH: Five workers of a Page 11 can Pharoah Afghanistan school construction project have Monday after being held for 48 al elders, which was also the case AT Monitoring Desk works half hours by Taliban kidnappers in for 19 of the 31 bus passangers KABUL: Highlighting Islamabad s been kidnapped by Taliban in west- northern Baghlan province. kidnapped by militants in Zabul KABUL: Unknown armed men efforts to fight terrorism and ex- ern Ghor province, an official said mile The Taliban insurgents ab- province earlier this year, who have torched a school in the out- tremism, a top Pakistani diplomat Wednesday. ducted the civilians on Saturday were freed following negotiations skirt of Ghazni city, the provin- has reiterated his government s Ghor governor s spokesman when they stopped a passenger between tribal leaders and the ab- cial capital of Ghazni province, commitment to taking forward the Abdul Hai Khatibi told Pajhwok Rural Afghan vehicle in the Dandi Ghore area of ductors. "The Taliban kept us in a local official said on Wednesday. process of constructive engage- Afghan News five workers who Pol-e-Khomre, the capital of mosque and they did not say any- The director of Ghazni education ment with Afghanistan. were working on the construction girls continue Baghlan province. The freed hos- thing to us about who would re- department, Mohammad Abid Advisor to Prime Minister on of Noorak Middle School in Pasa- Page 2 to fall victim tages reported that they were re- lease us, and after that, with the Abid, said the incident took place National Security and Foreign Af- band district were abducted by leased in exchange for the Tali- help of tribal elders, we were re- in Khosk area around 10pm Tues- fairs Sartaj Aziz held out the as- militants late on Wednesday. He to 'baad' ban's commander in Baghlan prov- leased," another one of the men day night. He said unidentified surance at a meeting with a seven- said that the motive behind the in- marriages ince who had been in the custody freed on Monday told TOLOne- armed men set fire to Imam Hudad member delegation of the British cident was unclear. of authorities, claims that have ws. The Baghlan Provincial Coun- High School and run away taking Parliament at the Ministry of For- The abductees included four been corroborated by Baghlan Pro- cil has confirmed the release and the advantage of the darkness. He eign Affairs on Tuesday. workers and an architect, he said vincial Council members. "Two said the swap involved the free- added that three classrooms suf- A statement from the Paki- without identifying the construc- cars stopped us and took us to a ing of a Taliban commander named fered damages due to the fire but stan s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tion company. Noorak area is cur- Govt urged mosque and they [the kidnapers] Moman. "These men were re- further damages were prevented quoted Aziz as saying Pakistan rently under Taliban control. to recruit told us 'one of our men was ar- leased in exchange for a Taliban after villagers reached to the school enjoyed friendly and warm rela- About a year ago, four workers of rested by your men so we kid- local commander and this raises and extinguished the fire.Abid also tions with the United Kingdom, a construction company in Cha- Page 3 more napped you,'" one of the freed concerns among Baghlan resi- said that hundreds of boys are stu- which had been further strength- harsada district of the province policewomen hostages named Haji Mullah Juma dents," Provincial Council mem- dents of this high school in the ened during the last two years. were also kidnapped and then said. The exchange deal was said ber Bismillah Attash said. morning and girls in the afternoon. (Pajhwok) killed by militants. (Pajhwok)

61.90 60.50 68.15 66.75 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. THURSDAY . JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

ernmental organization Civil and Liberal Initiative for Peace (CLIP) sought to map the practice of baad and its social impact in Afghani- stan. Focusing on nine districts in Kabul, Parwan, and Panjshir prov- inces, the survey showed a signif- icant decline in baad cases. "The Baad tradition is still practiced in some of the areas where literacy rates are low," said CLIP member Khadija Amiri. She attributed the decrease of baad practice to improved education and literacy programs and an increase in public awareness. Amiri con- firmed that the victims of baad are mostly under-aged girls who are Bamiyan, Afghanistan: Carved the houses of the Hazaras, forc- sacrificed to settle an inter-family into dun-coloured cliffs, hundreds ing them to take shelter in caves dispute. Girls who run away from of man-made caves situated next right next to the Buddha statues. home with a boy or are accused of to empty niches that once shel- But two years after the Taliban having premarital sex are also tar- tered giant Buddha statues de- regime was toppled in the 2001 geted, according to CLIP's find- stroyed by the Taliban are home US-led invasion of Afghanistan, ings. Khatira Asadi, another CLIP to Bamiyan s poverty-stricken the area was declared a World member, highlighted a baad case in who have nowhere else to go. Heritage Site by Unesco. The gov- which the murderer's family mar- The ancient caves lining the ernment came down heavily on the ried their daughter to a man who Bamiyan valley in central Afghan- cave dwellers, evicting many and already has a wife and children, istan were originally used by Bud- moving them into temporary shel- works abroad, and was not even dhist monks for meditation and ters elsewhere in the city. present at the wedding. "He is in retreat but now shelter landless Local authorities argue that Iran, but the girl has to serve the Afghan families who cannot af- the longer the structures are occu- family of her new husband like a ford conventional housing. With pied, the more damage is wrought servant," Asadi said. Human rights no electricity or running water, the on the site as some families install The ancient practice of baad, the from the victim's clan. In theory, and soon enough the farmers are chief have little regard for the bride's activists say religious leaders can cave dwellers are forced to adapt doors, windows and build make- forced marriage of a girl to an an- the resulting bond between the two bludgeoning each other with shov- fate: Their objective is simply to play a vital role in rooting out the to an arduous existence in these shift extensions. tagonized family to settle a feud, families is meant to stop further els, with fatal consequences. The prevent further bloodshed. The practice, since it is they who han- dark, dank, and musty structures. If the people live here, they is still prevalent in rural Afghani- turmoil. But in practice, it is the male members of both farmers' bride is often in her early teens or dle baad cases outside of the offi- It s not a good place, it s damage the caves and ancient mu- stan. young woman who pays a heavy families are then dragged into the even younger, wedded to a 50- or cial justice system. Asadi said her never been a good place to live, rals, and we should save these When a villager kills a member price. fight. By the time the elders and 60-year-old man from the victim's organization has launched a cam- said Haji Hussain, who has been structures, said Kabir Dadras, of a rival clan in a fight, the elders Bloody skirmishes remain the village council step in, the war- family. The community forgoes paign to educate and create aware- living in a cave atop a cliff with head of Bamiyan s information of the community forms a jirga, or alarmingly common in rural Afghan ring parties have already caused typical wedding ceremonies in ness in rural villages about this is- his wife and three children for thir- and culture department. Some 250 council, to mediate the conflict and communities, where issues like the irreparable damage. baad marriages. The bride is quiet- sue. "We tell them that based on ty years. It s very difficult to families have been evicted from prevent further bloodshed. The jir- sharing of irrigation water -- a scarce To placate the victim family's ly escorted to her new home, where the religious teachings and the laws climb up here and then come back the caves in recent years but ga typically chooses a young resource -- cause conflicts among thirst for revenge, the village el- she is often abused by her ven- of Afghanistan, they are free not down. And as far as water is con- many still remain. woman from the perpetrator's fam- poor subsistence farmers. A ver- ders usually resort to baad. But geance-seeking in-laws. to practice this tradition," she add- cerned, it s a big problem. We have Once a caravan stop along the ily and orders her to marry a man bal spat escalates into a fistfight, the presiding mullah and village Earlier this year, the nongov- ed. to carry it on our back to bring it fabled Silk Road, the central Af- up here, the labourer said in his ghan city was recently named this cave, just a few hundred metres year s cultural capital of South from the vacant niches. Asia, igniting hopes of restoring Like Hussain, hundreds of its place on the global tourism Coalition advisers, Afghans families dwell in the caves of Bam- map. But the government is strug- iyan, a rare oasis of tranquillity gling to revive the heyday of tour- that has largely been spared the ism after decades of war, includ- wrenching conflict that afflicts the ing the Taliban s 1996-2001 reign assess potential of Kandahar Airfield rest of Afghanistan. when they destroyed the Buddha When the Taliban captured statues, labelling them an affront Bamiyan in the late 1990s, some to Islam an act globally con- of these people lost their homes demned as cultural terrorism . KANDAHAR CITY: As the coa- pacity is available here and the as the hardline regime burnt down Gulf News lition draws down, so does the type of equipment, said Moham- need for bases and facilities med Nasim Sohail, who is part of throughout the country, meaning the faculty of Agriculture at Kan- a number of these assets will be dahar University. We can look at Knife wielding robber made available for the government how we can integrate them into of Afghanistan, as well as private different organizations, and how escapes jail due to war companies and investors. we can prepare a very good de- A statement from the NATO velopment plan to run this Resolute Support mission said base, so I m grateful we are here service in Afghanistan that to ensure these facilities are today. These scholars, who are used to boost the economic ca- part of the transition commission, A former Australian soldier who "I wasn't able to continue what I pacity of Afghanistan; a group of plan to put together a plan for the fought in a battle in Afghanistan needed with the upkeep of pain- advisers from Combined Security use of the various facilities on the that killed a friend and fellow Dig- killers and sleeping tablets that I Transition Command-Afghanistan base, and present the plan to the ger has been spared a prison sen- needed to function," he said, "and and the US Department of Com- provincial governor. There are a tence for an armed robbery com- it threw me into despair." merce are working collaborative- variety of commercial entity op- mitted while suffering the physi- Defence counsel Kellie Blair ly with provincial and national portunities, particularly in an ag- cal and mental injuries from his described her client as a regular leaders to assist in developing an The military or the government ricultural center such as Kanda- war service. Acting Chief Judge of soldier committed to army life effective transition plan. The does not need all of these assets, so har. The use of the cold storage the Victorian County Court whose service in East Timor in- military or the government does we, as the part of the Commerce De- facilities, for example, has the Michael McInerney regarded An- cluded body identification that di- not need all of these assets, so we, partment, in conjunction with CSTC- potential to even out year-round thony Provenza's personal circum- agnosis and analysis of his mental as the part of the Commerce De- A, have been asked to do commercial market prices for fresh produce, stances as "exceptional" in taking state found had contributed to his partment, in conjunction with assessments of key bases in Afghani- and further stabilize the economy. the rare step not to jail him for the PTSD. Treated with OxyContin CSTC-A, have been asked to do stan to determine their commercial This has to be an Afghan led knife-wielding offence. Acting after the explosion and later diag- commercial assessments of key viability to attract both local and in- effort, we re here to facilitate, to Chief Judge McInerney told nosed with a prolapsed disc and bases in Afghanistan to determine ternational investors. help and to promote, but this has Provenza, 31, he had no doubt the fractured coccyx, Provenza was their commercial viability to at- got to be and will be ultimately injuries he sustained "while on war discharged from the army in 2011 tract both local and international Afghan led, Afghan managed and service on behalf of this country" and failed the medical in an ap- investors, said Walter Koenig, partment representatives to make as the military is to re-shape and pleted at Kandahar Airfield in Afghan implemented, said and the consequences of his later plication to re-enlist in 2013 was the Commercial Service Officer for this undertaking successful for the re-size Kandahar Airfield in its May, and in June the Resolute Koenig. A generic office building treatment was the "precipitating unfit for work and spent time in a the Afghanistan Investment and country. I view it as a team ef- entirety to meet the needs so the Support and Department of Com- will support a number of business- factor" behind his offending. psychiatric ward for veterans. An Reconstruction Task Force. The fort in order to make this happen, lads can actually sell it as a going merce advisors hosted a tour of es, but each base a set of positive Provenza had told Fairfax psychiatrist reported that Proven- assets on each base vary from lo- obviously we re involved very asset, said Australian Maj. Dami- various facilities on KAF for pro- commercial attributes and they re Media in 2012 of his struggle with za was now in appropriate reha- cation to location, and can be used much in the commercial leg and an Maher, the Kandahar Airfield vincial scholars to make assess- not all the same. Kandahar is very damaged hearing, post-traumatic bilitation and receiving proper by a variety of different entities, CSTC-A s involved with the mil- De-Scope Engineer. We re flat- ments of the base. In addition to interesting because it is an agri- stress disorder (PTSD) and a treatment. In his recent sentencing from agriculture to mechanical itary side, and we re both assist- tening unstable buildings; we re the coalition advisers, the group cultural zone, it is a potential lo- chronic back condition following a remarks, Acting Chief Judge McIn- companies to military specific ing with the political, so it s a very re-designing the camp so we can consisted of approximately 10 gistics hub, it is a potential food nine month tour of duty that in- erney said the offending was seri- training facilities. The benefits collaborative and team oriented hand it off to the government of local scholars, who will make up processing hub, a potential light cluded the "Battle of Derapat" and ous but its objective gravity low are the private sector gets the process, said Koenig. From the Afghanistan as a better product. the Kandahar Airfield Commis- manufacturing hub, there s a lot much needed infrastructure at a Department of Commerce stand- We re going to hand over more sion. The commission, which is of different businesses that could very low initial cost, all of these point, we re willing to invest per- than 1,000 buildings to GIRoA, still in its startup stage, will over- find themselves in here very com- assets are able to be retained and sonnel time and resources to fa- that have air conditioning, are cli- see the development within the fortably. used to enable further invest- cilitate, to advise and to promote mate controlled, positive pressure base and manage which companies If done correctly, and with the ment, said Koenig. The transi- the opportunities, particularly in buildings that they can use for will be able to use the facilities. necessary foresight and overhead tion of such large facilities has the international environment. economic development. Initial During the tour, they visited two management, these facilities could three pillars: military, commercial On the military side, CSTC-A en- assessments The advisers, in con- cold storage warehouses, a waste provide the foundation Afghani- and political, both on the coali- gineers are working with their Af- junction with provincial govern- water treatment facility, and large stan needs to meet Afghan Presi- tion and Afghan side. Represen- ghan partners to determine what ment leaders are looking at Kan- storage warehouses, among other dent Ashraf Ghani s vision of be- tatives from each pillar in Afghan- assets are available and might be dahar, Masar-e-Sharif and Herat locations that could be of use to coming a major economic hub for istan are collaborating with coali- of use to the military or potential to assess their commercial viabil- the local government. This is central Asia in the next 20 years. tion military and commerce de- commercial companies. Our role ity. The initial survey was com- good because we can see what ca- (Pajhwok) ACB announces Govt urged to use . . ...P12 Constitution as redline in the political position is worth criticiz- pre-T-20 World Cup plans peace talks. The groups said that ing because it given privileges to the achievements made in the past 14 militant group. He said that cease- years should not be compromised fire is one of the key demands of AT Monitoring Desk in the peace talks with the Tali- Afghans, but still it is not clear that later being blown into the air by an while Provenza, now drug-free, KABUL: Afghan national cricket ban. Abdullah Ahmadi, represent- whether the group representing the improvised explosive device. was supported by his parents and ing the civil society groups, said government in peace talks has the In the battle, Lance-Corporal partner. From his experience, it team will meet word class teams, the government should establish a capability to bring security and sta- said the Afghanistan Cricket Board transparent mechanism with bility to the country, because there Jared MacKinney was killed and was the first case the court had (ACB) on Wednesday, while an- concrete and watchful support to are also other terrorists groups like Corporal Daniel Keighran was addressed with "offences with nouncing its pre-Twenty-20 protect the past decade s achieve- Daesh, Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan awarded the Victoria Cross for such a background". He continued: World Cup plans. ments particularly the Constitu- (HIA) in different part of Afghani- Australia. "I'd rather have my "From what I understand, in re- The T-20 World Cup 2016 tion, human rights, democracy, free- stan. The government shall adopt health than any amount of money gard to the psychological impact will be held in India. dom of speech and women s rights. clear approach when talking to the or any amount of pension," he told of our military incursions, on be- The ACB executive director, Speaking at a press conference Taliban. The insurgents shall be Fairfax Media. His descent into half of the Australian people in Shafiqullah Stanekzai, told a press here, he said the government should forced to apologize for killing inno- serious, desperate and unplanned both Timor and Afghanistan, it conference in Kabul that in the run listen to public especially those cent people, he said. Hodod Pe- criminal offending and his post- probably will not be the last. "It is up to event, the Afghan team will who lost their loved ones in the dram said that there is no consen- war issues with drug addiction and obvious that the injury, the addic- play T-20 and ODI matches ongoing conflict. He said that red- sus among high ranking officials of PTSD were aired when he earlier tion and the medical consequences against several world class teams line should be drawn to secure the the National Unity Government pleaded guilty to armed robbery, thereof, suffered while in military including teams that have per- gains made since fall of the Tali- (NUG) about peace process, which attempted robbery and two other service, were well in place prior to manent membership at the Inter- ban s regime. He added that there is worrying public. He said that offences. Prosecutor Michael these criminal offences occurring." national Cricket Council (ICC). should be no compromise over Pakistan is not honest as there is no Roper described how Provenza In releasing Provenza on a four- es. According to ACB officials, ghan cricketers returned home af- some articles of the Constitution. end in sight to the ongoing militan- robbed a pharmacy staff member year community corrections order, He said the national team will Yunus Akhtar, another activist, cy. Pedram said that if Islamabad face Zimbabwe for the first time Alokozai Group, which is spon- ter participating in the T-20 qual- of drugs on November 8, 2014, and with conditions he be assessed and/ soring the matches, has signed the ifying rounds in Ireland and Scot- said that weak standpoint of the was sincere then it would have put in October, where they will play High Peace Council (HPC) is trou- an end to the cross-Durand Line at- said "thank you" on leaving, be- or treated for drugs or mental is- two T-20 matches. In addition, contract with Zimbabwe. This land. The Afghan cricketers qual- bling the nation as it never suc- tacks. At the end the rights groups fore his inevitable arrest two days sues, Acting Chief Judge McIner- Afghanistan will meet Pakistan contract will result in the devel- ified for the 2016 ICC T-20 World ceeded in ending the violence and issued a resolution asking the gov- later. A week earlier, Provenza had ney had no doubt that "your de- and Sri Lanka in ODI matches opment of our cricket board on an Cup. The national squad received bringing the insurgent groups to ernment to stress on ceasefire, con- tried to rob another store and then scent" into committing two of the prior to the T-20 World Cup, international level, said Mirwais red-carpet welcome by cricket negotiations table. He said the sider demands of the victims during surrendered to police who heard most serious crimes was a "sec- Stanekzai added. Our national Siyal, marketing director of lovers when they arrived at the HPC should have condemned the talks, dissolve the HPC and estab- he had no memory of the offence ondary consequence of your des- team will leave for Zimbabwe in Alokozai Group. These state- Hamid Karzai International Air- Taliban in the first round of talks lish another but effective body for and was suffering PTSD and drug peration produced by human weak- October to play two T-20 match- ments came a day after the Af- port earlier on Tuesday. for violence, adding that HPC s negotiations with insurgents. addiction from his army service. ness rather than primary choice". 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. THURSDAY . JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

Presidential palace employees Govt urged to recruit more policewomen HAVE GONE By Akhtar M. Nikzad UNPAID FOR KABUL: A number of civil soci- ety activists on Wednesday criti- MONTHS cized the National Unity Govern- ment (NUG) for its failure to ful- Sources inside the Presidential Pal- fill its promise about recruitment ace's Administrative Affairs Office of more women in police force. have reported that a large number The activists in a joint press of employees in the executive conference with relevant official branch have not been paid their of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) salaries for several months. said that NUG is not moving The sources spoke to TOLO- ahead to translate its pledges re- news on condition of anonymity garding women s empowerment because of the sensitive nature of into actions. They said that both the subject. political leaders, President Ashraf Meanwhile, Kabul University Ghani and Chief Executive Offic- Lecturer Qais Mohammadi has er Abdullah Abdullah, in their elec- substantiated the claims, claiming tion campaigns vowed to empow- the number of national unity gov- er women and protect their rights According to the Constitution, the government is bound to observe the United Nations Security Council s Resolution 1325 about role of women in EMERGENCY ernment employees who have if they came into power. security forces. The Government is also obliged to pave the ground for women to take part at all levels in security forces. worked unpaid for months could The activists said that the CALLS be in the thousands. "The infor- leaders were now at loggerhead since 2003 till 2014, around 2,438 The Government is also obliged en, she pointed out. It has been pose. However, negative propa- mation that we have from the Pres- over power structure and forgot policewomen were recruited, but to pave the ground for women to 14 years but still we do not have ganda discouraged women and idential Palace is that around 2,000 to increase participation of wom- after inauguration of the NUG, no take part at all levels in security female deputy interior minister. they are not ready to join police Police employees of the Palace and its en in the government depart- woman was recruited by the inte- forces, she said. Hamida Ward- This tells us that there is no polit- force and serve the society. If the Administrative Affairs Office have ments. They further said that the rior ministry. She claimed that ak, member of the provincial coun- ical determination on part of the international community contin- 100 - 119 been not paid salaries for the past international community donated majority of women in police force cil, said that despite all efforts government, she lamented. Ah- ued support, the interior minis- six months, which is more due to millions of dollar to Afghan gov- are working at low ranks. Ac- policewomen still face many chal- mad Hakimi, General Manager of try will increase the number of po- political reasons than financial ernment for empowerment of cording to the Constitution, the lenges. Lack of transportation fa- Gender Right in MoI, said the in- licewomen to 10,000 by 2024, Hospitals ones," Mohammadi told TOLO- women; however, women s rights government is bound to observe cility, harassment, discrimination, terior ministry is committed to he claimed. The activists termed news. Political analysts have sug- protection has become a long ig- the United Nations Security absence of welfare schemes and recruit 2,500 more policewomen role of policewomen vital in elim- FMIC Hospital gested the payments could be get- nored issue . Zahra Sepahr, a Council s Resolution 1325 about provisional courses are major by 2016. He said that several ef- ination of crimes such as domes- ting withheld because elements women s rights activist, said that role of women in security forces. problems in front of policewom- forts have been made for this pur- tic violence and forced marriages. Behind Kabul Medical within the government hope to pressure older employees, many University: of who transitioned over from the 0202500200-+93793275595 Hamid Karzai administration, to leave their jobs and make room for AISA chides govt new staff. According to the Min- Police officers to Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital istry of Finance (MoF), the sala- Pule Bagh-e- Umomi ries for all employees of the na- for poor economic tional unity government are cov- 070263672 ered in the national budget, and if be trained in Nangarhar there are any payment issues they development strategy should be raised with the minis- Khairkhana Hospital try. "Each administration is includ- meeting of officials from the AISA ed in the national budget and if and the Federation of Afghan 0799-321007 their employees' salaries are not Craftsmen and Traders (FACT), 2401352 paid then they can apply to the it was decided that steps should ministry and the ministry will be taken to felicitate businessmen solve their problem," MoF and resolve their problems. Ab- Indira Gandhi Children spokesman Abdul Rahim Alizai dul Jabbar Safi, deputy director said on Monday. According to the of the FACT, said traders had fre- Hospital, Wazir Akbar sources who spoke to TOLOne- quently presented their demands ws on condition of anonymity, a and suggestions to the government Khan, Kabul 2301372 number of employees of the pres- in the past 14 years but no step ident's office have left their jobs could be taken to ameliorate the after not receiving their salaries for situation. Mohammad Qurban Ibn-e- Seena several months. Some of the dis- Haqjo, director of the AISA, ex- Pul-e-Artan, Kabul gruntled former employees have re- pressed his concern over the cur- portedly gone to work for former rent economic situation of the 2100359 president Hamid Karzai. Official- country and said that government JALALABAD: For the first time, some of the selected individuals then will be distributed officer had paid no any attention to de- ly, the Administrative Affairs Of- training police officers would be would be sent to other provinces certificates. He said so far 60,000 fice and spokesmen for the presi- veloping the industrial sector in Wazir Akbar Khan the past decade. He said statistics started at the Police Training Cen- for the same training. Meanwhile, police constables and corporals dent have declined to comment on tre in eastern Nangarhar province, Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi had graduated from the police Hospital the subject. showed that foreign investment had declined by 30 percent in the officials said on Wednesday. said appointing educated persons training centre and it would for 2301741, 2301743 first six months of the ongoing To the effect, 600 high school in police would help the force be- the first time that officers would year, compared with the corre- graduates on Wednesday ap- come professional and would lead graduate from the facility. Po- KANDAHAR sponding period of last year. In peared in a test exam to become to a reduced unemployment rate. lice officers are trained only in Ali Abad addition, he said 70 percent of reg- police officers. Of the partici- About 600 people from Kabul where the training takes two GARDENS, istered factories had stopped pants, 108 would be selected for eastern provinces today sat the years, but the high school gradu- Shahrara, Kabul FARMLANDS working while 30 percent were a six-month training course. exam. It shows our educated ates will become officers in six KABUL: The Afghanistan Invest- active. The official alleged the Nangarhar police chief Brig. youth are enthusiastic to join the months in Nangarhar, Gula Jan 2100439 parched by ment Support Agency (AISA) on former administration issued li- Gen. Fazl Ahmad Sherzad told police force and defend the coun- said. One of the test participants, Thursday announced foreign in- cences to factories without any Pajhwok Afghan News that suc- try, Kunduzi remarked. Training Maroof, told Pajhwok Afghan water shortage vestment declined by 30 percent planning. Haqjo noted that most cessful individuals would under- officer at the Police Training Cen- News he was optimistic to be se- Malalai Maternity and accused government for hav- of youth were looking for job op- go the six-month training before tre, Col. Gula Jan, told Pajhwok lected for the training. He said he Hospital KANDAHAR CITY: Farmers ing no proper strategy for eco- portunities. Despite existing eco- nomic development. During a joint nomic challenges, the government being appointed as second lieuten- Afghan News that they had for wanted to join the police force 2201377/ 2301743 and gardeners from several dis- ants. He said the training was ben- the first time initiated the process because he could not afford to tricts of southern Kandahar prov- still did not have a proper strate- ince are worried water shortages Girl dies in Laghman gy for strengthening the economy, eficial for the police to become to train police officers. They will pursue higher studies due to eco- could leave their crops parched. he said. (Pajhwok) professional and it was likely that undergo a six-month training and nomic constrains. (Pajhwok) Banks While some of the towns are go- FLASHFLOODS ing without water, others are Da Afghanistan Bank faced with an acute scarcity of the AT Monitoring Desk resource. But authorities say they 2100302, 2100303 are working on a plan to ensure KABUL: A young girl was killed the equitable supply of water to in flashfloods that destroyed large Kabul Bank all growers so as to deal with the parts of agriculture lands and gar- problem effectively. The water dens in eastern Laghman province, 222666, 070285285 level of Delhi dam, which irrigates local officials said Wednesday. Azizi Bank most of farmlands in Shah Walikot, Spokesman for Laghman gov- Arghandab, Zherai, Panjwai, Mai- ernor, Sarhadi Zwak, said the 0799 700900 wand, Dand and Daman districts, floods occurred in Alingar, Alish- has considerably fallen due to on- ing and Dawlat Shah districts due Pashtany Bank going repairs. As a result, farmers to heavy rains. He said that 35 2102908, 2103868 from Arghandab, Zherai, Panjwai, houses, dams and agriculture lands Maiwand, Dand and Daman com- have been destroyed due to rains. plain they are receiving very little He believed that the death toll Air Services or no water at all. The shortage is may rise.The residents of the dis- taking a heavy toll on their crops, trict have meanwhile pleased with Safi Airways causing them severe losses, the authorities for help. In response, local officials said that a delega- growers say, calling for immedi- tion has been sent to the area to 020 22 22 222 ate action to address the issue. An investigate the damage and to pro- orchard owner from the Pashmol vide help for the people. Every Ariana are of Zherai district, Abdul year, flash floods occur in the Qayyum, told Pajhwok Afghan northern, eastern and western 020-2100270 News irrigation water supply parts of the country and cause from the dam had been reduced widespread destruction at this drastically for the past few time of year. The National Disas- Kam Air months. The water paucity has ter Management Authority (AND- 0799974422 been damaging their farmland, he MA) the other day said that over grumbles. Some time back, he re- the past three days 12 provinces calls, growers from different dis- suffered heavy flooding, leaving Hotels tricts visited the governor s office in the wake a number of villages to a lodge a complaint there and facing destruction and loss. Safi Landmark seek an early resolution to the Kapisa, Parwan, Badakhshan, problem. He claims there are sev- Takhar, Baghlan, Jawzjan, Pan- 020-2203131 eral areas where irrigation water jshir, Nuristan, Maidan Wardak, has completely dried up, pester- Bamiyan and Paktika provinces SERENA ing the growers who are about to have all seen heavy rain and flash harvest grapes and other fruits. floods over the past week. The Haji Niamatullah, another gardener death toll has now risen to three, 0799654000 from Arghandab, is irritated by the following today s death. erratic water supply that has ad- New Rumi Restaurant versely affected him. The district is dotted with pomegranate or- 0776351347 chards, which need ample water at this point in the season. Lack Second round of Balkh education sector Internet Services of water inexorably translates into a reduced yield, he argues. His UA Telecom counterpart from Daman district, peace talks on Friday: on road to improvement: PC 0796701701 / 0796702702 Haji Nasrullah, says they are go- ing through a double whammy: Water paucity and an encroach- Pakistani officials MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Provincial that most of the patients complain lem they faced to the provincial Exchange Rate ment on their right by certain Council members in northern they were not treated on time or council, Khairandish added, say- strongmen, who are employing Balkh province on Wednesday they were not diagnosed proper- ing the move had caused big im- Purchase: sheer force to irrigate their gardens ...P12 The official said that the level tained. The High Peace Council claimed that in the wake of their ly in the provincial civil hospital provements to the education pro- out of turn. He wants the govern- of delegation was expected to re- (HPC) also confirmed that the sec- efforts, the education sector was therefore they prefer to be treat- cess. ment to solve both problems on a main the same, though efforts were ond round of peace talks between showing considerably improve- ed in private hospitals. However, But he called the appointment One US$ = priority basis. The dam s walls be being made to persuade Taliban to the government and Taliban will be ment. Mohammad Ibrahim Khair- he said that improvement in the of uneducated people based on 60.42Afs heightened as soon as possible. send more senior representatives held on Friday. Hajji Din Muham- andish, head of the provincial education sector which was made nepotism in Mazar-i-Sharif and One Pound Sterling= Arghandab irrigation chief to the talks. If this happens, the mad, a senior member of the HPC, council, told Pajhwok Afghan as a result of the provincial coun- districts schools big challenges to Eng. Sher Mohammad Attayee Afghan government would also who was leading Afghan delegation News around 300 people daily cil was a big achievement for his the education sector. 92.90Afs links the water shortage to recon- raise the level of their delegation in the first round of peace talks with referred their problems to the office. He added that his office He also hailed developments One Euro = struction work on the dam and to the second round. We are the Taliban, told Azadi Radio that council s office for solution. Most evaluated problems of 40 schools in Mazar-i-Sharif City in the re- other technical issues. As a con- hoping for more senior level Tali- the second round of peace talks will of the problems pertained to the to find solution to them in the past cent years but expressed concerns 66.62Afs sequence, farmers are being affect- ban participation, the official be held in Pakistan of Friday. Both education sector and imbalanced few months. Local people were on imbalanced constructions. 1000 Pak Rs = ed this season, he acknowledges, said. Asked about reports of rift sides will discuss ceasefire, confi- development projects in the Maz- directed to create local councils for Most of the areas where the pop- 581Afs warning continued supplies would within the Taliban ranks over peace dence-building measures and turn- ar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, evaluating educational process in ulation of people is more than other mean an end to the dam s water talks, he said there could be some ing peace talks to a process in the the public representative added. their areas and report any prob- areas ignored, he said. (Pajhwok) Sale: within a month. groups who would be opposed to second round of peace talks, he Most of the problems, he said had One US$ = If the dam dries up, crops will the peace process. There are peo- said. He added that the Taliban will been resolved as a result of pro- suffer even greater damage, he ar- ple who want to talk and there possibly raise the issues of foreign vincial council s efforts. He said 60.62 Afs gues, urging the growers to use the could be people who would want forces presence in Afghanistan and that hectic efforts were still need- One Pound Sterling= available irrigation water discreet- to fight. But the group that has the removal of their name from the black- ed to bring improvements to the 93.70Afs ly. At a recent meeting, the offi- largest number of fighters on the list. According to reports, peace council s efficiency. He said that cial told tribal elders and farmers ground and is able to make an im- talks will be held in four rounds despite their struggles, they had One Euro= the problem could be resolved if pact will have the sway. And that the third round will be held in China failed to bring changes to the 67.22 Afs growers took turns irrigating their is the mainstream group that is and the fourth round will be held in health sector of the province. Cit- 1000 Pak Rs= 589Afs lands. (Pajhwok) holding the talks, the official main- Saudi Arabia. ing an example, Khairandish said 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.

THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

Bangladesh upholds opposition leader's death sentence The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Wednesday upheld the death MUZAFFARGARH: Chief of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) Maliq sentence for an influential opposi- Ishaq along with 13 militants were killed in Muzaffargarh on Wednes- tion leader and an aide to a former day during a shootout after gunmen attacked a police convoy and freed prime minister for his role in mass him as he was being moved, police said. killings during the country's inde- According to initial information, LeJ chief Malik Ishaq along with pendence war against Pakistan in his two sons were being taken by counter terrorism department (CTD) 1971. Chief Justice S.K. Sinha de- officials to a town of Muzaffargarh where they had seized an arms cache livered the verdict against Bang- to identify men they had detained on suspicion of being members of ladesh Nationalist Party leader Ishaq s group. Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a As the police convoy returned in the early hours of Wednesday, a former aide to ex-Prime Minister group of men on motorcycles ambushed them near Shahwala Jungle in a Khaleda Zia. bid to release Ishaq. Fourteen suspected militants, including the LeJ The ruling clears the way for chief, were killed in the ensuing gun battle. the man's execution unless he gets Ishaq s two sons, Usman and Haq Nawaz, Ghulam Rasool of the presidential clemency. Chowdhury LeJ and his two sons were also killed. Further, CTD Punjab said six was convicted in 2013 on nine of members of the anti-terrorism force (ATF) were also injured in the 23 charges, including four counts encounter. of genocide. He was found guilty Twelve to 15 terrorists attacked the police party freed the ac- of aiding and ordering the killings cused and fled away on motorcycles, a police spokesperson, Nabila of at least 200 people, mostly mi- Ghazanfar, quoted a policemen in the area as saying in a message. Police nority Hindus, in the southeast- further along the road attacked the gunmen as they were fleeing, killing ern Chittagong region. He was lat- Ishaq, his two sons, and 11 others, Ghazanfar cited the policemen as er elected as the region's represen- tative to parliament six times. saying in his message. Ishaq s postmortem is currently underway at Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, District Headquarters Hospital, Muzaffargarh. The bodies of the dead aided by local collaborators, killed and the injured officials were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) 3 million people and raped Hospital in Muzaffargarh. All gates of the hospital were sealed soon 200,000 women during the nine- after. Ten of the 14 militants killed in the encounter belonged to al month war that ended in Decem- Qaeda, a CTD spokesperson told Express News. Further, he said they ber 1971. Prime Minister Sheikh are seeking NADRA s help in identifying the deceased. Hasina set up the tribunal in 2010 Ishaq was on a US list of global terrorists and the group he founded to punish the collaborators. More has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians. He than 15 people have been convict- has faced several murder trials but always been acquitted after witness- ed to death or life in prison and es refused to testify against him. He was arrested again on Saturday, two senior leaders from the main under a Maintenance of Public Order act, along with his two sons. Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami Ishaq s supporters protest in Rahim Yar Khan Soon after news of have been executed. Jamaat-e-Isl- the LeJ chief s death broke, his followers took to the streets of Rahim ami is allied to Zia's Bangladesh Yar Khan and attacked police vans. A demonstration is also reportedly Nationalist Party and boycotted taking place outside Ishaq s Rahim Yar Khan residence. Further, reports the 2014 general elections while suggest demonstrations are also gathering momentum in Dera Ghazi criticizing the war crimes trials. Khan and Bahwalpur. In the wake of this, Punjab police has increased The party had openly campaigned security across the province. Further, all processions and gatherings of against Bangladesh's independence the Shia community have been requested to be minimised or temporari- and formed militias to prevent it ly suspended for security reasons. from breaking away from Pakistan. Pak NA At least 26 dead in flash Sharif discusses PTI de-seating passes ICT FLOODS IN WESTERN INDIA issue with parliamentary leaders local govt ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister the PTI outside Parliament instead form a parliamentary commission Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday of on the floor of the house. to probe the perpetrators, finan- chaired a meeting of parliamenta- The agenda of the meeting was ciers and motivators of the dhar- bill ry parties at his chamber in Parlia- to decide whether to form a parlia- na. The PML-N was largely not in ISLAMABAD: The National As- ment to seek consultation from mentary commission on the report favour of the proposal, sources sembly passed on Wednesday the political parties on the on-going of a judicial commission, which said, adding that a majority of the Local Government Body Bill, pav- issue of the de-seating of Pakistan was formed to probe alleged poll political parties in the National ing way for local elections in Is- Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers. rigging; how the PTI should be Assembly, including the Pakistan lamabad Capital Territory (ICT). During the meeting, the Mut- treated in the lower house and do Peoples Party (PPP), were not in The Bill was moved by Min- tahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) decide the fate of PTI MNAs. favour of this proposal. ister of State for Interior Muham- and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl The prime minister s meet- As for how to deal with the mad Balighur Rehman and has (JUI-F) sought some time for tak- ing with parliamentary leaders is pending resolution seeking to de- been passed by the Senate with ing the resolution back on de-seat- in continuation of the deliberation seat PTI MNAs over their absence amendments. ing of the PTI, sources said. process with political parties since from the NA, the PML-N and the Interior Minister Chaudhry Both the parties which PTI s dharna, a Pakistan Muslim PPP were against the resolution Nisar confirmed that the govern- moved the resolution against the League-Nawaz (PML-N) official but participants of the meeting are ment accepted all recommendations PTI were adamant to de-seat told The Express Tribune. said to have discussed the issue given by the opposition on this the PTI lawmakers, however, par- The prime minister and par- comprehensively. piece of legislation in the Senate. liamentary leaders of other parties liamentary leaders also discussed PTI parliamentarians, mean- A ruling to amend clause 25-b tried their best to persuade the two a proposal forwarded by Punjab while, were not invited to attend was also passed by Deputy parties to settle their issues with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to the meeting. Speaker Javed Abbasi, whereby a AHMEDABAD, INDIA: Flash youth candidate must be over the floods triggered by torrential mon- age of 25 to hold a seat. soon rain have killed at least 26 Indian fishermen Earlier, the National Assembly people in a west Indian state in was informed the ruling Pakistan the past 48 hours, authorities said intrude into Bangladesh Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Wednesday. government spent Rs4 billion on The rain and high winds have FishingIndian trawlers are alleged- were using long nets, including the various publicity campaigns. also cut power and communica- ly making intrusion into Bang- so-called current nets, to catch a Although complete details tions across the north of Gujarat ladesh s territorial sea and fishing variety of fish including Hilsha, have not been released, Informa- state, raising concerns that villag- there. he pointed out. tion Minister Pervez Rashid con- ers may be stranded. In protest against such infil- About 1,000 fishermen are en- Over 2,000 villages of north tration, local stakeholders formed gaged in fishing in Bangladesh ter- firmed in the Assembly that the a human chain at Sheikh Russel ritorial sea, the Bangladesh fish- large amount was spent by the Gujarat have been affected due to the floods, the duty officer in the Square in Patharghata on Monday. erman said referring to Indian fish- PML-N government between June The protesters brought out a pro- ermen. 2013 and June 2015. state s emergency control room told AFP. cession and submitted a memoran- Secretary of Bargina fishing The government spent Rs2.5 dum to be forwarded to the prime trawlers owners association Md billion on print media and Rs1.3 We have lost contact with most of these villages and there is minister. Masum Akon alleged that the In- billion on electronic media, he The upazila nirbahi officer dian fishermen threatened them if added. no information coming in from those areas. Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain they protest their entry into Bang- MNA Sajid Nawaz has sought said the memorandum in protest ladesh territory. The Indian fish- details of the amount spent on ad- Rescue teams have been de- ployed to several hard-hit areas, against the intrusion of the Indian ermen also looted the fishes caught vertisement and publicity cam- fishing boats was already sent to by our fishermen, he said and re- paigns by the PML-N government including the district of Banaskan- tha where eight people have been the prime minister s office. called that a fisherman named Md in its tenure. Manager of fisheries develop- Isa died in the sea when the Indian Further, the ministry clarified killed in rain-related incidents in- cluding drownings, local official ment corporation, Patharghata, M fisherman attacked their boat, Secularism to India building that its department does not have Solaiman Sheikh said Indian fish- which sank. the mechanism to ascertain the Dilip Rana said. Efforts are on to first rescue ermen earlier caught fishes includ- However, Patharghata police usefulness of advertisements. ing Hilsha in areas close to and officer GM Shahnowaz told Pro- go from Nepal Earlier this year, it was re- those stranded in floodwaters, collapse kills seven district collector Rana told AFP. sometimes entering into Bang- thom Alo that they were not in- vealed that the Punjab government ladesh territory. They are often formed about the death of any constitution MUMBAI: Seven people died The weather is being adverse spent Rs113.4 million on a pub- Another four people died in Kutch district after several houses doing so these days, he added. Bangladeshi fisherman. In a major change, Nepal's politi- when a three-storey building col- and we are still to go through near- licity campaign during Pakistan Local fisherman Alam Hawlad- Patharghata Coast Guard com- lapsed in heavy rains in western ly one fourth of the site so we can t Tehreek-i-Insaf s long-march and collapsed, while more than 1,000 cal parties have agreed to remove people there have been relocated er told the human chain that three mander Shamsur Rahman said, India, an official said Wednesday, say how much more time will be sit-in. the word "secularism" from the to higher ground, reported local Indian trawlers namey FV N Gan- We are trying to stop Indian fish- new constitution. Nepal was de- the latest deadly accident to high- needed. The Punjab government had official M S Patel. ga, Ma Kali and Ma Durga were ermen s intrusion maintaining co- clared a secular country in 2007 light shoddy construction stan- Only once we are sure all who run a publicity campaign to high- Six fatalities have also been seen fishing inside Bangladesh ter- ordination with the Bangladesh after Nepal's hardcore Unified dards in the country. can be saved are out then will we light its development projects. recorded in the main city of ritory on 21 and 22 July. They Navy. Communist Party of Nepal-Mao- Rescuers were frantically take a call on ending the opera- Further, the National Assem- Ahmedabad and eight in other dis- ist joined mainstream politics af- searching for another three people tions, he said. bly was told that the national car- tricts, the control room officer said. ter a decade-long insurgency that believed trapped under the rubble Millions in India live in dilap- rier, Pakistan International Airlines The Indian weather bureau killed over 13,000 people. of the dilapidated building, which idated old buildings, many of (PIA), has recently signed an agree- forecast that heavy rain will con- The decision ended Nepal's crumbled on the outskirts of Indi- which cave in during rain. ment with ABRIC Leasing Com- century-old identity as the world's an s financial capital Mumbai late The accident is the latest in a tinue to inundate Gujarat for an- only Hindu kingdom. Over 80 per- pany in Ireland to acquire ATR- other 48 hours. Tuesday night. long line of deadly building collaps- 72-500 Turboprop on dry lease cent of Nepal's population is Hin- So far we have rescued 10 es recently, some of which have Last month, more than 50 peo- du. The political parties were for a period of eighty years. ple were killed in the coastal state injured and removed seven bodies highlighted poor construction stan- Two aircraft have already forced to take a U-turn after mil- as the annual monsoon swept lions of people, in their suggestions while three more are still missing, dards. been delivered to PIA, while the across the country. and feedback on the new constitu- National Disaster Response Force This month, five people died remaining three are expected to be The monsoon is vital for South tion, called for the removal of the official Alok Avasthy told AFP. when an old four-storey block fell delivered soon, Minister of State Asia especially for crop produc- word "secularism". The building was situated in in the capital New Delhi. for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh tion. India receives nearly 80 per- A majority of people wanted the Mumbai suburb of Thakurli, In February, a newly-built Aftab Ahmad told the session. The cent of its annual rainfall from June "secularism" to be replaced by in the Thane district of Maharash- house in the northern state of Ut- three aircraft are set to operate on to September. "Hindu" or "religious freedom", tra state. tar Pradesh collapsed and killed 13 different domestic routes. according to Nepal's Constituent It was an old structure that people as they slept. Aftab confirmed that 82 per Assembly that is now busy study- had been declared unsafe, yet four And an 11-storey apartment cent of work on Islamabad s air- Sri Lankan President condoles the death ing people's views vis-a-vis the or five families continued to reside tower being built in Tamil Nadu port has been completed and that new constitution. there, Avasthy said, adding that came crashing down last July fol- work on the airport is progressing Nepal is in the verge of pro- monsoon rains were hampering the lowing heavy rain, killing 61 peo- rapidly. of former Indian President mulgating the new constitution. relief effort. ple, mostly labourers. "The word secularism does not fit. A committee has been formed, Sri Lankan President Maithripala ple of India. I am deeply saddened bound audience of our youths at So we are replacing it by another to be headed by the finance secre- Sirisena said he is deeply saddened by the demise of former President the Bandaranaike Memorial Con- word," UCPN-Maoist chairman tary, to finalise a package to pro- by the demise of former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, an ference Hall in Colombo. Dr. Kalam of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam outstanding visionary, a great teach- will always remain immortal in our Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachan- vide added social security protec- da told the media on Monday. tion to the families of civil servants describing him as an "an outstand- er and an unparalleled human be- hearts and memories for genera- ing visionary, a great teacher and ing. During his visit to Sri Lanka tions to come. "The word has irked people. who die during service. an unparalleled human being." last month, I had the privilege of Dr Kalam will not only be re- It has hurt the sentiments of mil- The committee is actively de- In a statement President Sirise- discussing many issues with this membered for the immeasurably lions," he said. "We must respect liberating the package which will na on behalf of the government and great personality and telling him remarkable achievements and the verdict of the people." The be implemented shortly, he told the Sri Lankan people and on his that he had inspired me to a great marks he left behind, but surely as Nepali Congress, the Communist the session. Prime Minister personal behalf, offered his "deep- extent. The people of Sri Lanka a great human being, for his deter- Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Nawaz Sharif aims to provide max- est condolences" to Dr. Kalam's will never forget Dr Kalam and his mined character, for his simplicity Leninist and the Madeshi-based imum facilities through this pack- brother and other close relations vision for South Asia 2020, which and love and the way he could ig- political parties also wanted "sec- ularism" to go. age. and to the government and the peo- he elaborated at length to a spell- nite our minds. 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. THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief Turkey inks deal Gunmen kill police officer to open bases to guarding Niger embassy in Cairo US-led coalition A police officer guarding the Turkey has formally signed a deal Additionally, Turkish air embassy of Niger in the Egyp- with the United States opening its strikes hit six Kurdish militant tar- tian capital, Cairo, has been Incirlik air base to the U.S.-led co- gets in Turkey and northern Iraq shot dead by two unknown alition against Islamic State of Iraq overnight, the prime minister's of- gunmen. and Syria (ISIS) militants, the fice said. Two more officers sus- Turkish foreign ministry said on Turkish authorities have also tained injuries after the armed Wednesday. detained a total of 1,302 people in men in a vehicle opened fire The agreement only concerns 39 provinces as part of a crack- outside Niger s embassy late the fight against ISIS and does not down targeting members of Islam- on Tuesday night, a police of- include air support to Kurdish ic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), ficial said, adding that the gun- fighters in northern Syria, spokes- the Kurdistan Workers Party men then fled the scene. man Tanju Bilgic told reporters in (PKK) and illegal leftist groups, No group or individual has a briefing. the statement added. claimed responsibility for the shooting, and it was not clear whether the embassy was the primary target. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a government offi- cial said the raid intended to target security officials and not the diplomatic mission, which was closed at the time. According to a security official, early investigations showed that the Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) militant group was behind the attack, which probably came in re- venge for the recent killing of two members of the group by Egyptian security forces. Yemen to merge TEHRAN: France sought to revive 'resistance' its relations with Iran on Wednes- day, extending an invitation to Pres- One dead as 1,500 migrants attempt to enter Eurotunnel fighters with ident Hassan Rouhani to visit Par- is in November, a gesture that fol- At least one person has been found spokesman for Eurotunnel, which gapore, adding that "we are work- ter Theresa May will chair a meet- Cameron said Britain was "do- army lows this month s historic nuclear dead as about 1,500 migrants des- is battling often deadly efforts by ing very closely" with French au- ing of the government's Cobra ing everything we can" to prevent deal. perate to reach England made a re- migrants to smuggle into Britain. thorities to address the situation. emergency committee to discuss such incidents, including investing The offer came in a letter de- newed attempts to enter the Euro- The migrants were trying to He added that Interior Minis- the matter. in fencing around the area, adding ADEN: The exiled Yemeni livered to Rouhani by French For- tunnel terminal overnight in the enter the site "between midnight he did not want to "point fingers government has issued an or- French port town of Calais, a po- and 6:00am", the Eurotunnel at people to blame". der for militiamen fighting eign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is in Tehran on a short trip aimed lice source has told the AFP news spokesman said. French Interior Minister Ber- alongside loyalist troops agency. "All our security personnel, against Shiite rebels be merged at kickstarting ties between the nard Cazeneuve was in London on countries after years of strain. "Our team found a corpse this that is nearly 200 people, as well Tuesday to hold talks with his into the armed forces, as clash- morning and the firefighters have as police were called in," he added. es raged Wednesday in the Fabius said the nuclear accord counterpart on how to tackle the between Iran and six world pow- confirmed the death of this per- migrant issue, which has been a country's south. son," added a spokesman for Eu- French Interior Minister Ber- The supreme defense ers including France offers the thorn in the side of Franco-British chance for rapprochement, during rotunnel on Wednesday. nard Cazeneuve, on a trip to Lon- council, which met in Riyadh According to the France Info don to discuss the migration issue, relations for years. Tuesday, decided to "assimi- a visit to the capital that has at- Security at the Calais port was tracted a mixture of optimism and website, the man who died on confirmed Monday's figures, tell- late members of the Popular Tuesday night was identified as ing AFP on Tuesday: "There were stepped up in mid-June, driving Resistance into the units of the criticism. being Sudanese and aged between some arrests and it all passed off migrants who previously tried to armed forces and security forc- We are two great, indepen- 25 and 30. The website reported without a fuss." stow away on trucks that take fer- es," the government-run news dent countries. It is true that in that he had been hit by a lorry. Cameron 'concerned' ries across the Channel to try their agency said. recent years, for reasons that ev- On Monday, about 2,000 mi- British Prime Minister David luck smuggling through the under- The meeting, headed by eryone knows, the ties have cooled grants had also tried to enter the Cameron on Wednesday expressed sea tunnel. President Abed Rabbou Man- but now thanks the nuclear deal, terminal, causing serious delays to concern over Monday's incident. The Eurotunnel company it- sour Hadi, took the decision things will be able to change, Fa- Eurotunnel train services. Migrant crisis: Has Europe s self is seeking $10.67m from the to reward them for their "brave bius told reporters. "It [Monday's attempt] was migration policy capsized? British and French governments in contribution to defending the Around the time of his arrival the biggest incursion effort in the This is very concerning," he compensation for disruption homeland." Popular Resis- at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran a past month and a half," said a told reporters during a visit to Sin- caused by the migrants. tance units were formed when small group of protesters carried the Iran-backed rebels and placards criticising Fabius for his their allies advanced on south- role in a tainted blood scandal that ern regions after they had over- killed hundreds of Iranians in the ran the capital in September. 1980s. Meanwhile, clashes raged in Fabius was prime minister at the south, where pro-govern- that time when the French National that has killed tens of thousands ment forces expanded their Blood Transfusion Centre export- area of control after recaptur- of people. Demirtas call came at ed blood products contaminated the same time that a prosecutor ing the port of Aden, Yemen's with the AIDS virus. second city, after four months demanded that the politician s par- of fighting. The loyalists AIDS, France s gift to Te- liamentary immunity be lifted so pushed back rebels in Lahoum, hran, one of the billboards said, that he can be prosecuted for in- on Aden's northern outskirts, while another stated: We will nei- sulting the ruling party. On Tues- following heavy fighting in ther forgive nor forget. Turkish jets hit Kurdish rebel tar- man Bakhtyar Dogan said the air- Syrian Kurds have been among the armed fighters from Turkey s ter- day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider which 12 rebels were killed, Iran s Tasnim news agency gets in northern Iraq overnight and strikes lasted for three hours and most effective ground forces in the ritory. We ll respond to their call al-Abadi said his council of minis- military sources said. Three said some protesters who had been the government said strikes would caused a lot of damage. He had fight against ISIS and have been the day they can condemn PKK ters views the airstrikes in his coun- pro-Hadi fighters were killed asked to end their demonstration continue until the rebels lay down no casualty figures. Turkish war- backed by U.S.-led airstrikes, but terrorism the way they condemn try as a dangerous escalation and and dozens wounded, medical were briefly arrested. their arms, despite calls Wednes- planes last week began striking tar- Turkey fears a revival of the Kurd- DAESH terrorism, Davutoglu a violation of Iraq s sovereignty. sources said. The area lies on Fabius was acquitted in 1999 day by the pro-Kurdish opposi- gets in Syria of the extremist Is- ish insurgency in pursuit of an in- said, using the Arabic acronym for Turkey s NATO allies meeting in the road to Lahej, where loy- by the French courts over the scan- tion for an immediate end to the lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) dependent state. Selahattin Demir- the ISIS group. Until they do that a rare emergency meeting at Tur- alists have been tightening the dal, in which people in France also violence and the resumption of group, in response to an ISIS sui- tas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdi- they are guilty in our eyes and in key s request proclaimed support noose on rebels, with the aim died. peace efforts. The warplanes cide bombing in southern Turkey sh People s Democratic Party, the eyes of the people. Turkey for the country s fight against ISIS. of recapturing the strategic Al- Speaking at the French embas- pounded about half a dozen posi- that left 32 people dead, and an- called for the peace process to re- and its western allies consider the But a NATO official said mem- Anad airbase. sy he described his visit as impor- tions belonging to the Kurdistan other ISIS attack on Turkish forc- sume. Prime Minister Ahmet Da- PKK a terrorist organization. bers also used the closed-door tant in many areas especially in Workers Party, or PKK, a gov- es, which killed a soldier. But Tur- vutoglu, however, rejected the call, Since 2012, however, Turkey had meeting to call on Turkey not to Ukraine struggles the economic domain because there ernment statement said. Locations key has also targeted Kurdish saying that would not happen until been negotiating with the group s use excessive force in reaction to is a lot we can do together. included the group s mountainous fighters affiliated with forces bat- the party distances itself from the imprisoned leader for a peaceful terror attacks, while urging it to to control Fabius then held a short press stronghold in Qandil. PKK spokes- tling ISIS in Syria and Iraq. The rebels and the PKK withdraws its settlement of the 30-year conflict continue with peace efforts. conference with his Iranian coun- maverick terpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, ISIS supporter in Florida charged with bomb plot battalions where the invitation to Rouhani Saudi policeman killed in from French President Francois A self-professed Islamic State of na do the backpack," Suarez alleg- our Warfare." Hollande was announced. Iraq and Syria group supporter in edly told the cooperator in appar- Suarez had also placed an on- From a basement billiard club If taken up, the trip would be eastern province attack the U.S. state of Florida was ent reference to a backpack bomb line order for an AK-47 rifle, the in central Kiev, Dmytro Ko- the Iranian president s first to charged with attempting to set off that had been discussed earlier. FBI said. rchynsky commands a volun- France since he won an election in a backpack bomb, the FBI said. Suarez later allegedly paid a The Syria and Iraq based radi- teer battalion helping Ukraine's 2013 that heralded the push to Harlem Suarez, 23, from Key cooperator to construct a tele- cal group ISIS has inspired a num- government fight rebels in the clinch a nuclear deal to resolve a West, Florida drew authorities' at- phone-controlled bomb. ber of supporters across the world east. A burly man with a long, more than decade-long crisis. tention because of his extremist The complaint said Suarez in- Cossack-style moustache, and raised the threat of lone-wolf From now we hope to deep- Facebook posts, the FBI said tended bury the bomb on the beach attacks. Korchynsky has several hun- en our relations in all areas, said Tuesday. and detonate it. Suarez allegedly said he at- dred armed men at his dispos- Zarif. A user of the social site con- "I just call and the thing is gon- al. The exact number, he said, We want to start a new chap- tacted the police after Suarez al- na, is gonna make... a real hard tempted to contact ISIS in Syria is "classified." ter in a sense of common interest. legedly tried to recruit them to noise from nowhere," he allegedly but never got a response, accord- In the eyes of many Ukrai- Fabius said the nuclear deal, support the Islamic State group, said by phone. ing to the complaint. nians, he and other volunteer agreed on July 14 between Iran and according to the government's The FBI said Suarez listed his Also Tuesday, the FBI said fighters are heroes for helping the five permanent members of the criminal complaint. Facebook "likes" as "Jihadist," another Islamic State supporter the weak regular army resist UN Security Council Britain, "I'm gonna do the "Extraordinary Prayer for ISIS," was sentenced to 10 years in jail pro-Russian separatists. In the China, France, Russia and the US backpack...that's for sure I'm gon- and "Prayers for ISIS: Weapons of for illegally possessing a firearm. view of the government, how- plus Germany, made such a ever, some of the volunteers have become a problem, even change possible. a law unto themselves. As France s chief diplomat in Dressed in a colourful those negotiations, Fabius gained peasant-style shirt, Korchyn- a reputation for taking a hawkish sky told Reuters that he fol- public stance on what Iran must do under any such accord. lows orders from the Interior A Saudi policeman was killed and On successive Fridays in May Ministry, and that his battal- He has also come under criti- cism from Iranian media, earning two others were wounded in an suicide bombings at Shiite ion would stop fighting if attack in a Shiite-dominated area mosques in Eastern Province, one commanded to do so. Yet he the nickname the obstacle in the ultimately successful talks. of Eastern Province, the interior of them in Qatif, killed a total of added: "We would proceed ministry said Wednesday. 25 people. with our own methods of ac- Acknowledging much had to be done to improve the relation- "One policeman was killed and An ISIS-affiliated group call- tion independently from state two injured," an interior ministry ing itself Najd Province -- which structures." ship between Tehran and Paris spokesman said. takes its name from the region Korchynsky, a former however, Fabius said both nations In a statement, police said two around Riyadh -- claimed those leader of an ultra-nationalist stood to benefit from the recent suspects were arrested after the attacks as well as another suicide party and a devout Orthodox diplomacy. patrol came under fire in al-Jesh bombing that killed 26 people at a Christian, wants to create a But he did not dodge key dis- village in Qatif district late Tues- Shiite mosque in Kuwait last Christian "Taliban" to reclaim agreements. day. month. eastern Ukraine as well as There are a number of points It was not immediately clear Saudi security forces have also Crimea, which was annexed by on which we have differences, whether the incident was linked to been targets of attacks linked to Russia in 2014. He isn't going Fabius said, alluding to regional unrest among the minority Shiite ISOS, which has committed atroc- to give up his quest lightly. conflicts in Syria and Yemen and community or to ISIS militants. ities in Iraq and Syria and inspired "I would like Ukraine to also on Iran s refusal to acknowl- Since late last year, the region attacks elsewhere around the lead the crusades," said Ko- edge Israel. has been targeted by the ISIS, an world. rchynsky, whose battalion's Ten of Iran s 290 members of extremist group which consider On July 18 the interior minis- name is Saint Mary. "Our mis- parliament wrote Tuesday to Zarif Shiites to be heretics. try announced it had disrupted a sion is not only to kick out the asking him to withdraw Fabius s Authorities, and analysts, say network linked to ISIS and made occupiers, but also revenge. invitation, but the government has the militants have tried to ignite more than 430 arrests, foiling new Moscow must burn." defended the visit. sectarian tensions in the kingdom attacks on Shiite mosques and a but have failed. diplomatic mission. 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. THURSDAY .JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES 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 WHY AFGHANISTAN IS A BIG AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir WINNER IN THE US IRAN DEAL Phone No: +93-772364666 By Michael Kugelman In the coming months, New the last few decades, and caution expect such an outcome anytime E-mail: [email protected] Delhi will likely begin is certainly in order. And yet the soon. Still, it is possible that the In the days since the United States developing the Iranian port in Cha- potential rewards are high. Better two countries will now find ways and Iran concluded their landmark bahar, located on Iran s southern bilateral relations overall could sig- to cooperate, or at least coordinate, Email: [email protected] nuclear accord, much has been said coast. India wants to develop this nificantly reduce the likelihood that in Afghanistan in areas that are about the deal s geopolitical impli- strategic warm-water port to es- Tehran will once again try to un- mutually beneficial. www.afghanistantimes.af cations. tablish access to markets in Af- dercut the United States in Afghan- One possible area of coopera- Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi Most U.S. media coverage has ghanistan and Central Asia ac- istan, as it has done in the past tion is Afghanistan s reconciliation focused on ramifications for the cess that it does not have via Paki- by providing arms to the process. Iran could join the Unit- Advisory editorial board Middle East: How will Iran s stan, which refuses to grant tran- Taliban on several occasions. Al- ed States in playing a behind-the- n e m e s e s I s r a e l a n d S a u d i sit rights to India. More broadly, ready, with the nuclear accord now scenes role to encourage a fledg- Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, Arabia respond? WillMideast sec- Chabahar would provide an impor- in place, Iran has less reason ling peace process between the tarian tensions increase? Will the tant trade link for products from to fear that the United States may Afghan government and the Tali- Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal accord embolden Iran and cause it the Middle East and Europe des- one day use Afghanistan as a stag- ban. Another is some form of qui- to intensify its dealings with the tined for Afghanistan and Central ing ground for attacks on Iranian et coordination to address the Is- Graphic-Designers: likes of Hezbollah, or will it lead Asia. And it would serve as a gate- nuclear facilities, and therefore less lamic State s rising influence in Mansoor Faizy and Edriss Akbari Iran to moderate its destabilizing way to the Middle East and Eu- reason to provide tactical support Afghanistan. Two other possibili- activities in the Middle East? Will rope for exports coming from Af- to the Taliban. This all bodes well ties, because they would involve Marketing & Advertising: the deal serve as a springboard for ghanistan and Central Asia. for Afghanistan s stability. working together more overtly, are Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 greater U.S. Iran cooperation New Delhi has envisioned this U.S. and Iranian interests in admittedly less likely. Yet they in combating the Islamic State ter- project for years, but sanctions on Afghanistan, which include com- shouldn t be ruled out, given how Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan ror group? And, above all, will the Iran had put plans on hold. After bating the Taliban and promoting consequential they could be for Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 accord actually halt Iran s Washington and Tehran signed a greater stability, are largely con- Afghanistan. One is counter-nar- march toward becoming a nuclear provisional nuclear accord in April, vergent. And it s easy to under- cotics. In an era when opium har- Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press power? New Delhi and Tehran concluded stand why. Shia Iran has no desire vests in Afghanistan have reached Far less attention has been an MOU laying out preliminary for the Sunni Taliban to return to record-high levels, Iran and the paid to South Asia a neighbor- steps for the port including an power and it won t soon forget United States could consider a new The constitution says ing region where the deal s impli- Indian pledge to commit about $85 the Taliban s 1998 attack on Te- joint effort to slow down the drug cations are similarly complex, al- million to construct container and hran s consulate in Mazar-e- trade. The other is coordinated beit with stakes that are not as multi-purpose terminals. Now that Sharif, which killed nine Iranian development assistance projects. high. Energy-starved Pakistan will a formal U.S. Iran deal is in place diplomatsand prompted Iran to While Washington s great largesse Article 23: have a golden opportunity to con- and the relevant sanctions will pre- mobilize 200,000 troops on its toward Kabul is well known, Te- clude a long-discussed natural gas sumably be removed, India is border with Afghanistan. hran has quietly contributed as Life is the gift of God as well as the natural right of human beings. No pipeline deal with Iran. Islamabad poised to initiate Chabahar s full- Tehran wants a more stable well from $540 million pledged one shall be deprived of this except by legal provision will need to weigh the energy se- fledged development. Afghanistan because instability at a donor conference in 2002 to curity benefits of a gas accord with The benefits for Kabul are intensifies narcotics production, more recent funding of schools and the geopolitical risks of angering clear. The port in addition to which fuels Iran s drug problems. media institutions. Saudi Arabia a key Pakistani facilitating more commerce with Iran has one of the world s highest Greater U.S. Iran cooperation ally and staunch opponent of the key trade partner India will help drug use rates and is afflicted by in Afghanistan will undoubtedly deal. Earlier this year, Pakistan s open up new markets for Afghan- a major heroin epidemic. Addition- face obstacles that go beyond the p a r l i a m e n t istan in the Middle East and Eu- ally, destabilization could increase troubled bilateral relationship. boldly rejected Riyadh s request rope, and present opportunities to already-heavy refugee inflows. Some Afghansresent Iran s pres- for the Pakistani military to help diversify its list of trade partners. Only Pakistan hosts more Afghan ence in the country, regarding it as the Saudis fight the Houthi rebels Presently, Kabul s import and ex- refugees than Iran. Furthermore, a excessive meddling. Even some in Yemen, whom the Saudis believe port partners are largely restrict- deteriorating security environ- members of the Shia minority are to be supported by Iran. This was ed to countries in South and Cen- ment, coupled with an increasing- wary of Iran, accusing Tehran of Mullah Omar s death puzzle a rare case of Pakistan snubbing tral Asia. In effect, the Chabahar ly fractured Afghan Taliban, could radicalizing their communities. its Saudi ally, and such refusals are project represents a potential eco- increase the influence of the Islamic Additionally, it is unclear if Tehran not a new precedent that Islama- nomic bonanza for an economical- State in Afghanistan. Even now, can establish the highly cordial re- and peace process bad wishes to set. At any rate, giv- ly troubled nation. According to pro-Islamic State militants lations with the present govern- en that the nuclear deal may sharp- Afghan officials, a fully operational are battling and defeating ment that it enjoyed with the pre- Media reports that say the Taliban s supreme leader, Mullah Omar is dead, doesn t en tensions between Tehran and port could generate trade volumes Taliban fighters in Nangarhar prov- vious Hamid Karzai-led adminis- auger well for the direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the insur- Riyadh, Pakistan may find it in- for Afghanistan totaling billions of ince. tration. Furthermore, the scaled- gents. The second round of direct peace negotiations between the Afghan govern- creasingly difficult to resist getting dollars. That is no small sum, giv- It s important to recall that in down U.S. presence in Afghanistan dragged into a widening Saudi-Ira- en that Afghanistan s total trade the wake of 9/11, Tehran and Wash- could constrain coordinated U.S. ment and the Taliban are set to take place on Friday in Murree, a tourist resort in nian proxy war. volume has been barely $9 ington cooperated closely on Af- Iran efforts in the country. None- Pakistan not far away from its capital Islamabad. Since the first direct round of India, meanwhile, will be in a billion annually in recent years. ghanistan. At the Bonn conference theless, the U.S. Iran deal opens position to increase its oil imports The timing could not be in 2001, it was Iran that broke a up several potential new avenues peace talks took place in Murree, there have been a hurricane of controversy and from Iran. Iran was a top oil sup- better. According to the World stalemate over the composition of for cooperation that could work in murkiness as the Taliban s Doha office objected at the peace round. Doha office plier for New Delhi before the In- Bank, economic growth in Afghan- Afghanistan s first post-Taliban Afghanistan s favor. dians scaled back in deference to istan was just 2 percent in 2014 government. Several years Even if the United States and objected that all the Taliban representatives who attended the Murree peace talks the U.S. sanctions regime. Also in down from an average of 9 per- later, according to journalist Bar- Iran do increase their cooperation were ISI s agents and didn t have approval of Mullah Omar. Though Pakistan s the cards is an undersea gas pipe- cent between 2003 and 2012. This bara Slavin, Iran gave maps to in Afghanistan, this won t be a sil- national security advisor, Sartaj Aziz spurned Doha office s allegations and said the line that could deliver more than is no surprise. The withdrawal of Washington that revealed Taliban ver bullet for the conflict-ridden 30 million cubic meters of gas per international combat forces has led positions in Afghanistan and of- country. Many of Afghanistan s Taliban representatives in the Murree talks had full support of Mullah Omar. Now day an achievement that would to a contraction of the war econo- fered to train 20,000 Afghan troops core challenges from corruption that Omar s death reports are doing rounds in media, it has raised concerns as how bring energy but also some envi- my in Afghanistan. as part of an American project to to insurgency can only be solved ronmental relief, given India s Additionally, donor fatigue fu- rebuild Afghanistan s army. Of with strong leadership and effec- his death will affect the peace talks? heavy reliance on dirty coal. At the eled by Afghanistan s deep corrup- course, the two have competed in tive policies that must emanate A Taliban official at Doha office on the condition of keeping his name in anonym- same time, however, as the Brook- tion and troubled aid delivery sys- Afghanistan as well and this from within. Additionally, some of ings Institution s Tanvi Madan tems, among other things por- goes beyond Iran s past efforts to the U.S. Iran accord s potentially ity told this paper that Doha office has more influence than those who are holding recently noted, India could suffer tends cuts in foreign aid. As of sev- provide arms to the Taliban. In deleterious consequences par- talks on Pakistani soil under the thumb of Islamabad. He alleged those Taliban who if the deal destabilizes the Middle eral weeks ago, the UN had receiv- 2010, for example, ticularly intensified Sunni Shia held talks with Afghan government delegation were pressurized by Islamabad to East: More than 7 million Indian edless than a third of the $405 mil- Tehranreportedly sent bags of tensions could play out direct- nationals are based in the Middle lion it requested from the interna- cash to President Hamid Karzai s ly in Afghanistan, and to its detri- attend the Murree talks. He also said that Afghan Taliban in Pakistan have been also East (mainly in the Arab Gulf), tional community to address hu- chief of staff as part of an effort to ment. pressed to announce ceasefire. However he added that if the Taliban announces sending back billions of dollars in manitarian challenges in Afghani- drive a wedge between Afghans Overall, however, the deal remittances. Pakistanis also have stan. Making matters even worse and Americans. This should all be could bring very tangible econom- cease fire, it will complicate the nature of peace talks as those Taliban who are a sizable presence there, is that Afghanistan has seen in the context of broader U.S. ic and diplomatic benefits to Af- members of the Doha office will not declare ceasefire. His stress was if the Afghan with nearly three quarters of their recently suffered a significant Iran competition worldwide, ghanistan. This is refreshingly good remittancescoming from the region. decline in the value of its curren- which according to the Wall Street news for a country going through government wants substantial peace and successful talks then it must talk to Doha And then there is Afghanistan. cy. Journal has included Iran hiring some particularly difficult times of office too. This version of narrative clearly indicates that the Taliban leadership is Here, the U.S. Iran deal s impli- The second reason why the Afghan Shias to fight in Syria on late. divided over peace talks and a likely truce with Kabul. Fidaye Mahaz, a breakaway cations are less complicated and nuclear deal could be a boon for the side of President Bashar al- Michael Kugelman is the se- largely positive. Afghanistan could Kabul is the possibility of Assad. nior associate for South Asia at the Taliban group, had claimed the death of Mullah Omar in a statement last week. It be one of the deal s biggest benefi- stepped-up U.S. Iran cooperation We should not assume that the Woodrow Wilson International claimed the reclusive Taliban head honcho had died two years back and buried in ciaries, and for two major reasons. in Afghanistan. U.S. Iran deal will magically lead Center for Scholars in Washing- First and foremost, Afghani- Such an outcome is far from to broader reconciliation; the rela- ton, DC. He can be reached southern Zabul province. The group alleged internal bickering within the Taliban stan s economy stands to benefit assured, given the poisoned rela- tionship is burdened by too much at [email protected] and movement and accused some commanders including Mullah Akhtar Mansoor of in a big way. tions between the two nations over lingering hostility and mistrust to on Twitter @michaelkugelman. assassinating Mullah Omar. However Pakistan media quoted unnamed Afghan Tal- iban official and ex-minister during Taliban regime as saying that Mullah Omar was dead because of tuberculosis. Whereas the spokesman of the National Directorate of Security, Haseeb Saddiqi, told this paper that Mullah Omar had died in Karachi two years and four months back. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spurned reports about Mullah Omar s death. All the statements and counter statements clearly indicate that the game is all about the peace talks and every party is trying their best to gain more and more. Since Pakistan is a key player in the peace talks and the Taliban movement; therefore, its views on his death are a must and very much im- portant as how it is possible that a country like Pakistan must remain incognizant to such a matter. Whether he is alive or dead, the Afghan government and the Taliban must keep continue the peace talks as the third round of talks is expected in China and the fourth round is likely in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, when Kabul was making efforts that Pakistan must take the Taliban to the table of negotiations and Islamabad is doing the same so why another Taliban group must create troubles. The govern- ment must try who is supporting those Taliban who doesn t oppose peace talks and ceasefire? The government must know if the Taliban has found a new friend in Iran as the Taliban s representatives from Doha office had visited Iran a few months back? Subscription Rates Categories Fee Afghanistan Times Annual Afg: 3600 at your door step For fast delivery service Six Months Afg: 1800 Afghanistan Times seeks the names, addresses of your International Organization $200 per year organizations and the number of copies you want. 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.

THURSDAY .JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES

ple entente. As he knows, geo-stra- tegically Iran is all about location, location, location. That country The Eurasian big bang offers the best access to open seas in the region apart from Russia and is the only obvious east-west/ north-south crossroads for trade from the Central Asian stans. How China and Russia Little wonder then that Iran will soon be an SCO member, even as its partnership with Russia is Afghan forces are fighting Central Asian extremists. certain to evolve. Its energy re- sources are already crucial to and Time for the region to get more involved. are running rings considered a matter of national se- curity for China and, in the think- By Tamim Asey now off to Central Asia, espe- na, India and Russia out of the ing of that country s leadership, cially Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, big countries will be in harms Iran also fulfills a key role as a hub The spillover effects of the Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmeni- way, but also all our other around Washington in those Silk Roads they are plan- ning. That growing web of literal NATO forces withdrawal from stan, with some even going to neighbors near and far. It was By Pepe Escobar you: the austerity-ridden Europe- rely ever more on the Chinese-driv- roads, rail lines, and energy pipe- Afghanistan already has the China. That they have been a stark warning of the security an Union (EU) is barely men- en Asia Infrastructure Investment lines, as TomDispatch has previ- Let s start with the geopolitical Big ously reported, represents Central Asian States of Tajiki- able to do this is because Af- threat that confronts the re- Bang you know nothing about, the tioned. And that s not an oversight. Bank (AIIB) and the NDB. At Ufa, From the point of view of the lead- India and Pakistan finalized an Beijing s response to the Obama stan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan ghan forces with their NATO gion. one that occurred just two weeks administration s announced piv- ago. Here are its results: from now ers of key BRICS nations, they upgrading process in which they and Kyrgyzstan worried. To- allies failed to secure Afghani- In fact, Russia has been are offering a new approach to have moved from observers to ot to Asia and the U.S. Navy s on, any possible future attack on urge to meddle in the South China day, Afghan National Security stan s borders in the wake of beefing up its security by re- Iran threatened by the Pentagon Eurasia, the very opposite of the members of the SCO. This makes language of sanctions. Here are just it an alternative G8. In the mean- Sea. Beijing is choosing to project Forces are fighting Chechen, Zarb-e-Azb. newing agreements for its (in conjunction with NATO) power via a vast set of infrastruc- would essentially be an assault on a few examples of the dizzying time, when it comes to embattled Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz ex- As a result, there are today bases along the Afghan border activity that took place at Ufa, all Afghanistan, the BRICS nations ture projects, especially high-speed the planning of an interlocking set rail lines that will reach from its tremists in its northern provinc- active battlefields in the north- and investing in the border se- of organizations the BRICS na- of it ignored by the American main- and the SCO have now called upon stream media. In their meetings, the armed opposition to disarm, eastern seaboard deep into Eurasia. es, paying a heavy price in ern provinces of Konduz, Bada- curity forces of Central Asian tions (Brazil, Russia, India, Chi- In this fashion, the Chinese-built na, and South Africa), the SCO President Putin, China s President accept the Constitution blood and treasure with very khshan, Baghlan, Faryab and states that neighbor Afghani- Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Min- of Afghanistan, and cut ties railway from Urumqi in Xinjiang (Shanghai Cooperation Organiza- Province to Almaty in Kazakhstan little acknowledgement from its Takhar, most of which happen stan. For instance, Russia re- tion), the EEU (Eurasian Econom- ister Narendra Modi worked in a with Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other ter- practical way to advance what is rorist organizations. Translation: will undoubtedly someday be ex- Central Asian neighbors. Poor to be either transit routes or newed the arrangement for its ic Union), the AIIB (the new Chi- tended to Iran and traverse that nese-founded Asian Infrastructure essentially a Chinese vision of a within the framework of Afghan cross border security coordina- provinces sharing a border with military base in Tajikistan and future Eurasia knit together by a national unity, the organization country on its way to the Persian Investment Bank), and the NDB Gulf. A New World for Pentagon tion and intelligence sharing one or several Central Asian pledged to invest $5 billion (the BRICS New Development series of interlocking new Silk would accept the Taliban as part Roads. Modi approved more of a future government. Their Planners At the St. Petersburg In- mechanisms, a regional trust states or China. The key ques- dollars into Tajik security forc- Bank) whose acronyms you re ternational Economic Forum last unlikely to recognize either. Still, Chinese investment in his coun- hopes, with the integration of the deficit, coupled with organized tions here are how did the ge- es. Similar arrangements have try, while Xi and Modi together region in mind, would be for a fu- month, Vladimir Putin told PBS s they represent an emerging new Charlie Rose that Moscow and crime and drug trafficking have ography of war all of sudden been reached with other states. order in Eurasia. Tehran, Beijing, pledged to work to solve the joint ture stable Afghanistan able to ab- border issues that have dogged sorb more Chinese, Russian, Indi- Beijing had always wanted a genu- only exacerbated this problem. change from the southern prov- China has also been work- Moscow, Islamabad, and New ine partnership with the United Delhi have been actively establish- their countries and, in at least one an, and Iranian investment, and the Ties between Afghanistan inces of Afghanistan Kanda- ing with Afghan, Tajik and Pa- case, led to war. The NDB, the construction finally! of a States, but were spurned by Wash- ing interlocking security guaran- ington. Hats off, then, to the lead- and Central Asia are driven har, Nangahar, Oruzgan, Hel- kistani intelligence agencies to tees. They have been simulta- BRICS response to the World long-planned, $10 billion, 1,420- Bank, was officially launched with kilometer-long Turkmenistan-Af- ership of the Obama administra- more by security imperatives mand, and Nimroz, among oth- address the security concerns neously calling the Atlanticist bluff tion. Somehow, it has managed to when it comes to the endless drum- $50 billion in start-up capital. Fo- ghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) than by trade and energy. Af- ers to the Northern provinc- created by the East Turkestan cused on funding major infrastruc- gas pipeline that would benefit bring together two former geopo- beat of attention given to the flim- litical rivals, while solidifying their ghanistan and Central Asia es, what is the ultimate goal of Islamic Movement in Xinjiang sy meme of Iran s nuclear weap- ture projects in the BRICS nations, those energy-hungry new SCO it is capable of accumulating as members, Pakistan and India. pan-Eurasian grand strategy. Even share geographic, demograph- these terrorists, and what does province. ons program. And a few days the recent deal with Iran in Vienna before the Vienna nuclear negotia- much as $400 billion in capital, ac- (They would each receive 42% of ic, security and economic ties it mean for the national securi- Meanwhile, the rise of ISIS cording to its president, Kundapur the gas, the remaining 16% going is unlikely especially given the tions finally culminated in an agree- war hawks in Congress to truly that go back to the ancient Silk ty of Central Asia, Russia and and its declaration of the cre- ment, all of this came together at a Vaman Kamath. Later, it plans to to Afghanistan.) Central Asia is, at focus on funding such ventures in the moment, geographic ground end Washington s 36-year-long Road days. With the disintegra- China? ation of the province of Kho- twin BRICS/SCO summit in Ufa, Great Wall of Mistrust with Iran. Russia a place you ve undoubt- other developing nations across the zero for the convergence of the tion of the former Soviet Union Pressure Cooker rasan ostensibly covering Global South all in their own economic urges of China, Russia, Instead, the odds are that Iran, freed edly never heard of and a meeting from sanctions, will indeed be ab- and the emergence of newly Central Asia is a pressure Afghanistan, Central Asia, and that got next to no attention in the currencies, which means bypass- and India. It was no happenstance ing the U.S. dollar. Given its mem- that, on his way to Ufa, Prime sorbed into the Sino-Russian independent Central Asian cooker, with poverty, authori- parts of Iran and Pakistan has U.S. And yet sooner or later, these project to integrate Eurasia, which developments will ensure that the bership, the NDB s money will Minister Modi stopped off in states, Afghanistan began an tarian regimes, gross violations further complicated the securi- clearly be closely linked to the new Central Asia. Like the Chinese leads us to the spectacle of Wash- War Party in Washington and as- ington s warriors, unable to act ef- era of tumultuous relations with of human rights, and an in- ty dynamics and calculations sorted neocons (as well as neolib- Silk Roads. As Brazilian Develop- leadership in Beijing, Moscow ment Bank President Luciano looks forward (as a recent docu- fectively, yet screaming like ban- Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and creasingly radicalized youth in the region. Numerous radi- eralcons) already breathing hard shees. NATO s supreme com- over the Iran deal will sweat bul- Coutinho stressed, in the near fu- ment puts it) to the interpenetra- Turkmenistan. Following the due to a lack of religious free- calized youth and battle hard- ture it may also assist European tion and integration of the EEU and mander Dr. Strangelove, sorry, lets as their narratives about how American General Philip Breed- 2001 NATO/U.S. intervention in dom and opportunity. This has ened terrorists from Central the world works crumble. The non-EU member states like Serbia the Silk Road Economic Belt into and Macedonia. Think of this as a Greater Eurasia and a steady, love, insists that the West must Afghanistan, bilateral relations made many of the countries in Asia have now joined ISIS and Eurasian Silk Road With the Vi- create a rapid-reaction force on- enna deal, whose interminable the NDB s attempt to break a developing, safe common neigh- changed and a new dynamic the region fertile ground for re- are fighting Afghan National Brussels monopoly on Greater borhood for both Russia and Chi- line to counteract Russia s build-up I had the dubious plea- false narratives. Secretary of emerged. cruitment by extremist groups. Security Forces in Afghanistan. sure of following closely, Iranian Europe. Kamath even advanced the na. And don t forget Iran. In early possibility of someday aiding in 2016, once economic sanctions are Defense Ashton Carter claims to Many in Central Asia qui- Recently, a Tajikistan special History has shown that Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and be seriously considering unilater- his diplomatic team have pulled the the reconstruction of Syria. You fully lifted, it is expected to join etly welcomed the arrival of forces commander joined ISIS simply trying to contain this won t be surprised to learn that the SCO, turning it into a G9. As ally redeploying nuclear-capable near-impossible out of an extreme- missiles in Europe. The nominee NATO forces at their gates as and recorded a video threaten- threat and outsourcing securi- ly crumpled magician s hat: an both the new Asian Infrastructure its foreign minister, Javad Zarif, Investment Bank and the NDB are made clear recently to Russia s to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an alternative to Russia and ing attacks. The growing num- ty to Afghanistan will only agreement that might actually end Marine Commandant Joseph Dun- sanctions against their country headquartered in China and will Channel 1 television, Tehran con- China. They even benefited ber of Tajik, Uzbek, Chechen, backfire. The conflict in the work to complement each other s siders the two countries strategic ford, recently directly labeled Rus- from an asymmetric, largely man- sia America s true existential from billions of dollars in secu- and Kyrgyz fighters on the bat- northern provinces of Afghan- ufactured conflict. Think of that efforts. At the same time, Russia s partners. Russia, he said, has foreign investment arm, the Direct been the most important partici- threat ; Air Force General Paul rity, economic and trade deals tlefields of Afghanistan fight- istan is a shared responsibility. meeting in Ufa, the capital of Rus- Selva, nominated to be the new vice sia s Bashkortostan, as a pream- Investment Fund (RDIF), signed pant in Iran s nuclear program and to supply equipment and facil- ing for either ISIS or the Tali- It is a war that Afghans are a memorandum of understanding it will continue under the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, sec- ble to the long-delayed agreement onded that assessment, using the itate trade and supply routes ban underscores how danger- fighting on behalf of Tajiks, in Vienna. It caught the new dy- with funds from other BRICS coun- agreement to be Iran s major nu- tries and so launched an informal clear partner. The same will, he same phrase and putting Russia, to ISAF/NATO forces in the ous and fluid the situation can Uzbeks, Turkmens, Kazakhs, namics of the Eurasian continent China and Iran, in that order, as and signaled the future geopoliti- investment consortium in which added, be true when it comes to country. In the wake of the get once extremists find safe and Kyrgyz, at a huge financial China s Silk Road Fund and India s oil and gas cooperation, given the more threatening than the Islamic cal Big Bangness of it all. At Ufa, State (ISIS). In the meantime, Re- withdrawal of NATO forces havens and training grounds in and human cost. from July 8th to 10th, the 7th Infrastructure Development Fi- shared interest of those two ener- nance Company will be key part- gy-rich nations in maintaining sta- publican presidential candidates from Afghanistan security ties Afghanistan s northern prov- Unless they want another BRICS summit and the 15th and a bevy of congressional war Shanghai Cooperation Organiza- ners. Full Spectrum Transpor- bility in global market prices. Got weakened, trade and supply inces. FATA or Waziristan on their tation Dominance On the ground Corridor, Will Travel Across hawks simply shout and fume tion summit overlapped just as a when it comes to both the Iranian deals dried up, and extremism The Chinese and Russian borders, Central Asian states possible Vienna deal was devour- level, this should be thought of as Eurasia, BRICS nations are mov- part of the New Great Game in ing on integration projects. A de- deal and the Russians. In response began to rise. Today more than national security establish- must overcome the trust defi- ing one deadline after another. to the Ukrainian situation and the Consider it a diplomatic master- Eurasia. Its flip side is the Trans- veloping Bangladesh-China-India- ever Central Asian is in danger ments recognize the threat and cit that plagues the region and Pacific Partnership in the Pacific Myanmar economic corridor is a threat of a resurgent Russia (be- stroke of Vladmir Putin s Russia hind which stands a resurgent Chi- of outbreaks of extremism. Dra- are already in close contact use bilateral and regional plat- to have merged those two summits and the Atlantic version of the typical example. It is now being same, the Transatlantic Trade and reconfigured as a multilane high- na), a Washington-centric militari- conian policies adopted to with Afghan security and intel- forms to tackle the growing with an informal meeting of the zation of Europe is proceeding Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Investment Partnership, both of way between India and China. suppress it have had the op- ligence institutions. China and challenge of extremism. Fail to which Washington is trying to ad- Meanwhile, Iran and Russia are apace. NATO is now reportedly Call it a soft power declaration of obsessed with what s being called posite effect. Russia are also working to ad- do so and the security, politi- war against Washington s imperial vance to maintain U.S. global eco- developing a transportation corri- nomic dominance. The question dor from the Persian Gulf and the strategy rethink as in draw- With the start of operation dress the challenge through cal and economic repercus- logic, one that would highlight the ing up detailed futuristic war sce- breadth and depth of an evolving these conflicting plans raise is how Gulf of Oman to the Caspian Sea Zarb-e-Azb in North and South the Shanghai Cooperation Or- sions for the entire region to integrate trade and commerce and the Volga River. Azerbaijan will narios on European soil. As econ- Sino-Russian strategic partner- omist Michael Hudson has point- Waziristan, many of the foreign ganization (SCO). Afghan Pres- could be severe. (Courtesy: ship. Putting all those heads of across that vast region. From the be connected to the Caspian part Chinese and Russian perspectives, of this corridor, while India is plan- ed out, even financial politics are fighters and terrorists who ident Ashraf Ghani, addressing The Diplomat) state attending each of the meet- becoming militarized and linked to ings under one roof, Moscow of- Eurasia is to be integrated via a ning to use Iran s southern ports have been based for years with the SCO summit in Ufa Tamim Asey is an Advisor complex network of superhigh- to improve its access to Russia and NATO s new Cold War 2.0. In its fered a vision of an emerging, co- latest National Military Strategy, their families along the porous recently, put it this way: we and Research Fellow at the ordinated geopolitical structure ways, high-speed rail lines, ports, Central Asia. Now, add in a mari- airports, pipelines, and fiber optic time corridor that will stretch from the Pentagon suggests that the risk Afghanistan-Pakistan border are fighting on behalf of the Afghan Institute of Strategic anchored in Eurasian integration. of an American war with another Thus, the importance of Iran: no cables. By land, sea, and air, the the Indian city of Mumbai to the left to find safe houses and region in the world and in this Studies (AISS). He regularly resulting New Silk Roads are meant Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and nation (as opposed to terror out- matter what happens post-Vien- fits), while low, is growing and training camps elsewhere. fight we need to be joined by advises the Afghan Govern- na, Iran will be a vital hub/node/ to create an economic version of then on to the southern Russian the Pentagon s doctrine of Full city of Astrakhan. And this just identifies four nations as threats : Some negotiated their way to forceful and coherent action. ment and writes in major na- crossroads in Eurasia for this new North Korea, a case apart, and pre- structure. If you read the declara- Spectrum Dominance a vision scratches the surface of the plan- northern Afghanistan. Many of He further warned of the con- tional and international jour- that already has Chinese corporate ning underway. Years ago, Vladimir dictably the three nations that form tion that came out of the BRICS the new Eurasian core: Russia, these displaced fighters are sequences of inaction Chi- nals. summit, one detail should strike executives crisscrossing Eurasia Putin suggested that there could sealing infrastructure deals. For be a Greater Europe stretching China, and Iran. They are depict- Beijing back to a 7% growth from Lisbon, Portugal, on the At- ed in the document as revisionist rate in the second quarter of 2015 lantic to the Russian city of Vladi- states, openly defying what the despite a recent near-panic on the vostok on the Pacific. The EU, Pentagon identifies as interna- country s stock markets it under Washington s thumb, ig- tional security and stability ; that ETTER TO THE EDITOR is, the distinctly un-level playing makes perfect economic sense: as nored him. Then the Chinese start- labor costs rise, production will be ed dreaming about and planning field created by globalized, exclu- relocated from the country s East- new Silk Roads that would, in re- sionary, turbo-charged casino cap- ern seaboard to its cheaper West- verse Marco Polo fashion, extend italism and Washington s brand of ern reaches, while the natural out- from Shanghai to Venice (and then militarism. The Pentagon, of lets for the production of just about on to Berlin). Thanks to a set of course, does not do diplomacy. Reading culture everything will be those parallel cross-pollinating political institu- Seemingly unaware of the Vienna and interlocking belts of the new tions, investment funds, develop- negotiations, it continued to accuse Silk Roads. Meanwhile, Russia is ment banks, financial systems, and Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons. pushing to modernize and diversi- infrastructure projects that, to And that military option against The ministry of information and culture held a book exhibition this week aimed at promoting reading culture in the country. fy its energy-exploitation-depen- date, remain largely under Wash- Iran is never off the table. So con- Three decades of conflicts have affected everything in the country. However, Afghans have witnessed a decade of change and hope after the dent economy. Among other things, ington s radar, a free-trade Eurasian sider it the Mother of All Block- Taliban regime was toppled. In years 2002-2005, Afghan youth had an increasingly interest in reading books, magazines and newspapers. But its leaders hope that the mix of heartland is being born. It will busters to watch how the Penta- this good habit changed into bad slowly after tens of TV and radio channels were established in the country. And later in 2010, this culture was those developing Silk Roads and someday link China and Russia to gon and the war hawks in Con- severely damaged as internet services were provided countrywide and our youth find their way to social media. This made them more distanced the tying together of the Eurasian Europe, Southwest Asia, and even gress will react to the post-Vienna from reading culture. Economic Union Russia, Arme- Africa. It promises to be an as- and though it was barely no- Holding book exhibitions is a good attempt. But the ministry of information and culture should put ban on some local TV channels and social nia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyr- tounding development. Keep your ticed in Washington the post- media in Afghanistan. This trend will ruin the development of Afghan young generation if the situation prevailed. gyzstan will translate into myr- eyes, if you can, on the accumu- Ufa environment, especially under My suggestion to families is to prevent their children from using social media and improper use of mobile phones. Instead, they should iad transportation and construc- lating facts on the ground, even if a new White House tenant in 2017. encourage them to boost up their reading culture. They should be allowed to use social media and internet services after tion projects for which the coun- they are rarely covered in the Amer- It will be a spectacle. Count on graduation from university, or else they are not allowed to use this facility except of the time they need it for researching it. Will the next version of Wash- try s industrial and engineering ican media. They represent the ington try to make it up to lost purpose. know-how will prove crucial. As New Great emphasis on that Hamid Nawabi, Khairkhana, Kabul Russia or send in the troops? Will the EEU has begun establishing free word Game in Eurasia. Loca- it contain China or the caliphate trade zones with India, Iran, Viet- tion, Location, Location Tehran Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer s of ISIS? Will it work with Iran to nam, Egypt, and Latin America s is now deeply invested in strength- fight ISIS or spurn it? Will it truly name and address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, ening its connections to this new pivot to Asia for good and ditch Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezue- Eurasia and the man to watch on the Middle East or vice-versa? Or la), the initial stages of this inte- this score is Ali Akbar Velayati. might it try to contain Russia, gration process already reach be- He is the head of Iran s Center for China, and Iran simultaneously or yond Eurasia. Meanwhile, the Strategic Research and senior for- find some way to play them Disclaimer: SCO, which began as little more eign policy adviser to Supreme against each other? In the end, than a security forum, is expand- Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Ve- whatever Washington may do, it ing and moving into the field of layati stresses that security in Asia, will certainly reflect a fear of the The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) economic cooperation. Its coun- the Middle East, North Africa, increasing strategic depth Russia tries, especially four Central Asian Central Asia, and the Caucasus and China are developing econom- and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. stans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, hinges on the further enhancement ically, a reality now becoming vis- Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) will of a Beijing-Moscow-Tehran tri- ible across Eurasia. 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. THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES S-Sudan war: 'We need healing to happen at all levels'

Despite the bloody conflict that claimed Taban: "To be sustainable ership of the Sudan People's Lib- has engulfed his country for much you can't make peace only be- eration Movement (SPLM). The Businesses are closing and employees are losing their jobs in Sousse, of his life, Bishop Emeritus Paride tween the political people. You party was at the heart of South Taban exudes an air of calm - have to go to the grassroots. We Sudan's independence struggle, and the seaside city where 38 were killed last month. which, he said, comes from the need healing to happen at all lev- remains overwhelmingly dominant simplicity of his life in rural South els." today, making leadership of the Nejeh Amara, 45, stares into the perfectly safe here. "We're used to "I want to leave this place. The er of Le Soleil restaurant Sudan. Grassroots peace and recon- party synonymous with leader- distance from his white plastic attacks at home," one of them doors here have all been closed," "I'm not going to risk my life "If you go to my bank account ciliation efforts were instrumental ship of the country. chair in the shade of a palm tree. shrugs. said Zaidi, who spoke to Al Jazeera for a salary of 500 dinars [$252] a I have nothing," Taban said in July to the Comprehensive Peace Some steps have been taken He sells ceramics and other souve- But these tourists do not buy under a pseudonym. Today he and month," one of them responded. during a trip to London, to pro- Agreement in 2005, which brought to bring the divided party back nirs in Port El Kantaoui, a small anything, the shopkeepers com- his two colleagues have sold one He had been in Sousse when the mote peace-building efforts in his an end to five decades of civil war together through a process of ne- harbour four kilometres from the plain. refrigerator magnet and a T-shirt attack began, but was reluctant to war-torn country. in Sudan and ushered in the pro- gotiations between loyalists of hotel in Sousse where 38 Europe- Almost all of the few Europe- for a total of about $8. go to the scene of the shooting. "At home, I eat traditional cess through which South Sudan Kiir, Machar, and a group of other an tourists were shot dead one ans who can be found in Sousse Zaidi has already tried twice Another policeman said they food given to me by my relatives - gained its independence. senior SPLM members, including month ago. have family ties here. Michele Ber- to travel to Italy, but was stopped had to wait for permission from millet and green vegetables. I don't "The peace was not made in Secretary-General Pagan Amum, Tunisia's tourism industry was teaux, 60, who is French, rents an during his first attempt by the their superior before they could eat meat. My mother told me not Naivasha [the Kenyan town where who were ousted from the party already struggling after the March apartment just around the corner Tunisian coastguard. He tried once act. Besides, they did not have the to eat stolen food - and I don't know the Comprehensive Peace Agree- at the beginning of the crisis. attack on the Bardo Museum in from the Riu Merhaba Imperial more and managed to reach the Ital- right equipment, like bulletproof whether this cow was stolen or ment was signed]," noted Taban. An agreement on the reunifi- the capital, Tunis, which left 22 Hotel where the attack took place. ian coast. After two short days, vests and machine guns. not," told Taban. "It was made by women and chil- cation of the SPLM was signed in people dead. Her daughter is married to a however, he was sent home. That has changed now. Cattle raiding has been a fea- dren in the grassroots." Arusha last January. It mandated But since the Sousse massa- Tunisian, she explained as her Now, Zaidi is determined to Since the attack, bulletproof ture of life in South Sudan, the A national reconciliation pro- that the SPLM leadership make a cre, the country's tourism indus- grandson dozed in his buggy. try again as soon as he has saved vests, machine guns, boats, and world's youngest country and one cess led by Machar during his ten- "public apology" to the people of try has ground to a standstill. "Look, this is where the terrorist enough money to pay smugglers - other vehicles have become more of its poorest, long before it be- ure as vice president was cancelled South Sudan for the devastating Although Amara receives a 25 was shot dead," she said, pointing which could be around $1,115. He readily available to police forces. came independent in July 2011. by Kiir in 2013 on suspicions that impact that the split in the party percent commission on every item to bullet holes in the wall lining used to be paid $165 a month, but Patrols are more numerous on the But in the past 18 months, the it was being used for Machar's has had on the country. he sells, he has not sold anything the street to where the beach at- his boss can now only afford $71. streets as well. country has faced more devastat- political ends. Amum was reinstated as sec- yet today - and he did not sell any- tack took place. As a result, Zaidi said he will prob- "We had no experience with thing yesterday, either. She admitted that she had hes- ably start selling drugs. terrorism in Tunisia," said Minis- "I worry all day long," he said, itated before deciding to visit Tu- Zaidi alleged that several boys try of Tourism press attaché wiping the sweat from his fore- nisia this time. "But we have at- from his neighbourhood have Zoubayer Jbali at his office in head. "I'm afraid I'll soon run out tacks in France, too," she noted. joined the Islamic State of Iraq and downtown Tunis. "But it's true of money for groceries." Algerian friends Haoulhat Ab- the Levant (ISIL) group, like the that security should have been Amara does not have any sav- derazak, 19, and Mohamed Maa- Sousse killer had. improved more after the Bardo ings, because he usually earns meche, 21, have been to Sousse "I don't disapprove of fighting Museum attack." enough during the summer months before and feel perfectly safe here in Syria," he explained while According to him, Tunisia's to support his wife and two chil- [Al Jazeera] straightening his red cap, "but it tourist locations are safe now, af- dren for the rest of the year. He At least 23 hotels in Tunisia doesn't appeal to me. I personally ter implementing measures like has been doing this work since he have closed their doors since the hope for a better life in Europe. having armed policemen guard ho- was 16 years old. Bardo attack, according to Radh- But what that terrorist did here is tels and beaches. "I can't do anything else, and ouane Ben Salah, head of the Tu- idiotic, because there is no war The Tunisian government has there are no other jobs around," he nisian Federation of Hotels. here. May he burn in hell." been busy since the attack promot- added. The closures have led to lay- Meanwhile, Nawdel Dhifallah, ing the country to "new markets" About 400,000 of Tunisia's 10 offs of around 2,400 hotel employ- 38, the manager of Le Soleil res- in India, China and other countries million people work in the tour- ees so far, according to Ministry taurant, was sitting on his empty in the region, Jbali explained. ism industry, according to the Tu- of Tourism figures. terrace nearby. "If it continues like The tourism minister has also nisian Ministry of Tourism. In- A small percentage of hotel this, we'll have to close in a few been lobbying European govern- cluding their families, about two employees who have permanent months," he said. "We won't be able ments, with a particular focus on million Tunisians are directly de- contracts receive a temporary al- to cover our costs." the UK, to revoke travel warnings. pendent on this sector. lowance from the government, a Employees and owners at oth- In the absence of foreign visi- Many others earn their living measure that was enacted after the er restaurants, hotels and shops tors, Tunisians are being encour- from tourism indirectly, like farm- attacks. already have outstanding pay- aged to holiday in their own coun- ers who sell produce to hotels. The tourism sector is expect- ments in rent and utility bills, ac- try. ing problems. The government has launched retary-general in June, and imme- Last year, more than 14 per- ed to suffer a loss of income that cording to Dhifallah. Accountant Mohamed, 30, In December 2013, a political another reconciliation process, but diately echoed the need for such dispute between President Salva since the country has been riven an apology. Kiir and former Vice President Riek anew by bloody conflict, it, too, "We are very happy that he Machar sparked a conflict that has lacks universal support. has said it," said Taban. "But peo- claimed the lives of tens of thou- South Sudan: Political or per- ple are waiting for the practical sands of people and displaced two sonal? part. It is easy to say. We need the million others. The church has a long history practical part. It is very impor- More than 4.6 million people of being involved in reconciliation tant." face severe food insecurity and a in South Sudan. Taban was chief The Arusha agreement also quarter of a million children are mediator of a process that yielded states that no one found guilty of severely malnourished, according a peace deal in South Sudan's Jon- war crimes should be eligible for a to the latest UN humanitarian re- glei state in May 2014. position in government. port, published on July 15. There have been attempts to But Taban suggested a differ- South Sudan's President Salva incorporate the church and civil ent approach. "I believe more in Kiir accompanied by army chief society into peace talks over the change of heart rather than just of staff Paul Malong Awan, cele- past 18 months, but there have change in human bodies," he said. brated independence day in July been divisions over who should be "If everybody in South Sudan amid concerns about ongoing vio- present. says I love you, I miss you, I for- lence and the threat of famine [Ja- "The churches, women, and give you, I am wrong, I am sorry, son Patinkin/AP] civil society organisations are free- we can forget the past. I am sure The conflict that was sparked ly saying what they want, and this everyone is waiting for that," Ta- by political rivalry quickly esca- is something that we never saw ban said. lated into one with tribal dimen- when we were fighting Sudan," said He stressed that foreign coun- sions. A key component is the trib- Taban. tries must also accept responsibil- al affiliation of the leaders. Kiir is "But the dilemma is how far ity for their role in the conflict. from the largest tribe in the coun- can civil society go in [the peace "I want to ask the internation- try, the Dinka, while Machar is talks in] Addis [Ababa] and offer al community: Where are the from the second largest tribal con- something. It takes time." weapons coming from? Is it true stituency, the Nuer. Taban believes the church has that the international community But, the situation is more com- a role to play in guiding the peace doesn't know? I am asking this for plex. The fighting has not been process. the lives of my people. Why don't neatly divided along ethnic lines. "Up to now, the church has we stop it? I am very serious about Other groups of fighters have fol- not been involved as a guide," he this. My people are dying." lowed local commanders pursuing observed. There is light at the end of the their own self-interest or regional "It has only come to sit and tunnel, but it will require a con- loyalties. listen. It is only IGAD and the certed effort to reach it, said Ta- cent of Tunisian gross domestic amounts to around $384m this The Tunisian government is and bank employee Maryam, 28, An ongoing cycle of tribal ven- political people there. [But] we ban. product (GDP) came from tour- year, and the country's GDP is giving hotels an extension on their sat on a lounger in front of the Club- geance killings was started by the are training people from different "Whatever has been started by ism. likely to grow by only one per- gas, water, and electricity costs, Hotel Riu Bellevue Park, next door murder of hundreds of Nuer by states - youths and so on - to car- human beings can be brought to an The streets of Sousse and oth- cent, the lowest since the 2011 but not to restaurants or shops. "I to the Riu Merhaba Imperial Ho- government-aligned soldiers in ry on healing and reconciliation end," he said. er popular Tunisian tourist loca- toppling of long-time Tunisian don't want to think about the fu- tel where the attack took place. December 2013. work. People don't see it, but it is "The world is now one. We are tions are quiet now. So far in July, leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. ture yet," said Dhifallah. Like the Riu Merhaba, their Taban, now 79 years old, has already happening," Taban said. all brothers and sisters. We must 70 percent fewer Europeans took Tunisians were already suffer- He had asked the policemen hotel currently has around 50 long been a key figure in promot- Accepting responsibility all join hands. Help up to stop the holidays in Tunisia compared to ing from rising costs of living and to whom he serves free coffee ev- guests, compared to the many ing reconciliation in South Sudan. For Taban, it is paramount that violence in South Sudan, so our July 2014, according to Tunisia's low salaries in recent years. ery morning why it took them 40 In 1999, he set up a farm in a those responsible for the conflict young people can grow old." Ministry of Tourism. These economic woes have led minutes to kill the "terrorist". hundreds they are accustomed to village called Kuron in a diocese in accept responsibility for what they Bishop Taban was speaking at Only a few Algerians, Liby- young Tunisians like 24-year-old If it continues like this, we'll hosting in July. "At first I was the southeastern part of the coun- have done. a round-table event organised by ans, and Russians appear to be Kais Zaidi, a Sousse resident, to have to close in a few months. We afraid to come," conceded try, where he was the Catholic bish- At the heart of the clash be- the Royal African Society in Lon- undeterred. A group of young Al- dream of trying their luck else- won't be able to cover our costs. Maryam. "Then I decided I should op from 1983 to 2004. tween Kiir and Machar was lead- don on July 21, 2015. Aljazeera gerians on the beach say they feel where. Nawdel Dhifallah, 38, manag- help my compatriots." Aljazeera The idea was to demonstrate how communities blighted by Colombia's civil violence began in the grave, families are hoping for years of conflict could move on 1948, with the ensuing decades both final closure and an end to from a destructive cycle of cattle pitting government paramilitary impunity. raiding. They were trained to im- forces against leftist rebels. "I don't expect to find his prove farming methods and culti- Rural areas like the Comuna entire body," said Luz Elena vate new crops to show them a 13 slum here in Medellin often saw Galeano, wife of a "disap- new way of life. the worst of the fighting, with peared" Colombian. In 2004, Taban renamed Ku- both sides scrambling for land con- "But hopefully we'll be able ron the Holy Trinity Peace Village, trol during the decades-long civil to find something to punish a model settlement promoting conflict. those responsible for this." peace and development across the In 2002, the government car- Wearing matching shirts country. ried out military operations that and holding hands, family mem- "They now have agricultural ended in as many as 300 people bers gather by the La Escom- farming. They have maize, which being buried in the La Escombrera brera landfill to mark the begin- they never knew. They have ba- landfill, killed by paramilitary ning of the exhumation. nanas and they had never seen a groups and state security forces. A team of forensic experts banana," explained Taban. These days, long lines of fam- will start unearthing the site, but "They were naked, and now ily members trudge towards La the waste that has been dumped they are dressing in clothes. They Escombrera, which doubled as a here over the years will not make feel very grateful. They feel like present-day facade for one of Co- it an easy task. human beings," Taban said. lombia's mass graves - the largest Carlos Villamil, a prosecu- In 2013, Taban's work in Ku- in the country, some believe. tor for transitional justice, be- ron earned him the United Nations The marchers are accompanied lieves it was difficult for the Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize, an by black cut-outs shaped like hu- Colombian government to act award granted every year to draw man silhouettes. sooner. attention to efforts made by an On these, families have writ- "Today we have new legis- individual, group or an organisa- ten the names of relatives who dis- lation, also the reduction of vio- tion to do something "special and appeared during the conflict. lence means we can reach these unique" to reconcile people and Both an open secret and a areas," he said. "So I would say parties in conflict. wound of history, La Escombrera our response is in accordance to was never addressed until now. the evolution of the conflict." Peace in the grassroots As authorities begin exhuming Aljazeera But for Taban, the church, and the wider community of South Sudan, the current challenge is of a much greater scale. The violence that erupted in December 2013 has proved imper- vious to repeated peace efforts mediated by the Intergovernmen- tal Authority on Development (IGAD), a trading block of eight East African countries. High-level talks alone cannot bring peace to South Sudan, 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. THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Qatar Airways, Flydubai Fed expected to push ahead with rate hike plan reject reports of interest The Federal Reserve is expected on Wednesday to point to a grow- ing U.S. economy and stronger job in India s SpiceJet market as it sets the stage for a possible interest rate hike in Sep- tember. The U.S. central bank is sched- uled to issue its latest policy state- ment at 2 p.m. EDT following a two-day meeting, spelling out how policymakers feel the economy has progressed since they last met in June. Earlier this year the Fed em- braced a meeting-by-meeting ap- proach on the timing of what will be its first rate hike since June 2006, making such a decision sole- ly dependent on incoming econom- ic data. With a slew of employment, Qatar Airways, which owns a 10 tential investors who have shown inflation and GDP reports to come percent stake in British Airways an interest in putting money into before its September meeting, the owner IAG, and Dubai s flydubai the airline. Fed is unlikely to hint too strong- on Tuesday separately rejected It did not say who the poten- ly about its plans, Barclays econ- reports of interest to buy a stake tial investors were. omists Michael Gapen and Rob in Indian budget carrier SpiceJet. Qatar Airways is catching up Martin wrote in a preview of this Qatar Airways is not in talks with rivals Emirates and Etihad in week's meeting. to pursue a commercial stake in terms of frequency of service to But simply hewing to the lan- SpiceJet, Qatar Airways said in a the Indian market. It remains in- guage of the June policy statement, statement on its website, follow- terested in India s biggest airline when the Fed said the economy saying she felt a rate hike would Instead, it has focused on the An economic contraction in A "real-time" gross domestic ing a report in India s Economic IndiGo for a stake purchase, the was expanding moderately, or even be appropriate sometime this year steady growth in the U.S. job mar- the first quarter also has been set product forecast by the Atlanta Times that the Indian carrier was only airline it is in talks with, Qa- strengthening the outlook a bit, absent a negative shock to the econ- ket and on policymakers' expecta- aside as an aberration, the result of Fed as of the middle of May pro- in talks to sell a stake to Qatar Air- tar Airways said in the statement. "leaves the door wide open for omy. Although another collapse in tions that inflation will eventually a harsh winter and statistical jected 0.5 percent annualized ways. India s InterGlobe Aviation September," they wrote. energy prices and growing econom- rise to the central bank's medium- "noise" that federal number growth in the second quarter. These stake sale comments Ltd, which operates IndiGo, on Despite a dovish reputation, ic uncertainty in China is clouding term objective of 2 percent. crunchers are now trying to fix. When the final estimate was issued are unfounded and are believed to Tuesday filed a draft prospectus Fed Chair Janet Yellen has been the global economic outlook, the The U.S. unemployment rate Early projections that the sec- this week, the forecast had jumped be deliberately spread to influence for an initial public offering to list among those pulling on the door Fed has largely looked beyond re- is 5.3 percent, near what many ond quarter was also going to be to nearly 2.5 percent annualized share valuations, the Doha-based on the domestic stock market. handle in recent public statements, cent turmoil overseas. officials consider full employment. weak have since turned around. growth. carrier added. SpiceJet shares have surged for four sessions, hitting a two-year closing high on Tuesday at 26.60 Alibaba plans rupees ($0.4163). Dubai s budget carrier flydubai $1b cloud- also denied media reports, in an emailed statement on Tuesday, computing push saying it is not in talks with Spice- Jet. Alibaba Group Ltd. plans to in- The Indian carrier on Friday vest $1 billion in cloud computing said it was in exploratory and globally as it seeks to compete preliminary stage talks with po- with Amazon.com in web servic- es. The e-commerce giant said German part of the money will go to set up data centers in the Middle East, consumer Japan and Europe. Alibaba s cloud- computing arm, Aliyun, opened its morale first overseas data center in Sili- con Valley earlier this year and plans to set up another in the east- steadies ern U.S. The funding will also be used going into to expand and support Alibaba s network of technology and tele- August communications partners, which currently includes Intel Corp. and BERLIN: Morale among German Singapore Telecommunications consumers steadied going into Au- Ltd., the company said. gust, with higher income expecta- This additional US$1 billion tions offset by concerns that a deal investment is just the beginning, to keep Greece in the euro zone said Daniel Zhang, Alibaba s chief will weigh on Germany's econo- executive officer, in a statement. my, market research group GfK Our hope is for Aliyun to contin- said on Wednesday. ually empower customers and The GfK consumer sentiment partners with new capabilities, and indicator, based on a survey of help companies upgrade their ba- 2,000 Germans, was unchanged at sic infrastructure. 10.1 points heading into August, Most of Aliyun s global cus- in line with the consensus forecast tomers are Chinese companies in a Reuters poll. A month earlier, operating outside the mainland, the indicator fell for the first time Aliyun President Simon Hu said since October. last week. "German consumers appar- Though it faces challenges at- ently assume that the hard-won tracting U.S. customers unfamiliar solution in the debt dispute with with the brand and its offerings, Mr. Hu said, Aliyun aims to be- Greece will have negative conse- come serious competition for quences on the German economy," Amazon.com Inc. s cloud-comput- said GfK analyst Rolf Buerkl. ing unit, Amazon Web Services. The consumer angst about We see that Amazon took 10 Greece contrasted with the senti- years to get to where it is today, ment in corporate Germany, with Mr. Hu said last week. Aliyun is business confidence rising in July The United Arab Emirates said it would raise domestic prices for gasoline and cut them for diesel in a politically sensitive reform designed to save the government money and just past its sixth year and we hope as an agreement between Greece encourage motorists to use fuel more efficiently. The price of a litre of octane 95 gasoline will climb 24 percent to 2.14 dirhams (58 U.S. cents) at the start of August, while diesel to match or outperform Amazon and its creditors for talks on a third will fall 29 percent to 2.05 dirhams, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday. within three or four years. bailout lifted the mood at German firms. The GfK indicator showed German households were more Twitter shares fall as growth of monthly users slows Egypt s tourism revenue upbeat about their income expec- tations than a month earlier, re- Twitter Inc's shares fell more than up from 302 million in the prior would be a long process, and were too difficult to use." up in first half of 2015 flecting stable domestic conditions. 11 per cent in extended trade on quarter. candid about problems with the Twitter recognises "there is an German economic growth Tuesday after the microblogging Twitter's struggles to increase service. issue that needs to be worked on," Egypt's tourism revenue rose 3.1 Mubarak in 2011. weakened to 0.3 percent at the company said its number of its audience worries investors, "We do not expect to see sus- Evercore ISI analyst Ken Sena said. percent in the first half of 2015 It suffered another blow when start of this year and the finance monthly average users grew at the who are focussed on the compa- tained meaningful growth (in "They were giving investors a compared with the same period a suicide bomber blew himself up ministry said last week that the slowest pace since it went public ny's growth potential, and the lat- monthly active users) until we start sense of the challenge and I think last year, the tourism minister said near the ancient Egyptian Karnak economy would probably expand in 2013. est figures did little to reassure to reach the mass market," Chief the stock sell-off that you saw just on Wednesday. Temple in the southern city of by around the same amount be- "This is unacceptable and them. Financial Officer Anthony Noto reflected that." Tourism revenue rose to $3.3 Luxor in June. tween April and June, with domes- we're not happy about it," Jack The data on users overshad- said on the call. After the bell, Twitter shares billion in the first half from $3.2 In May, Ramy said advance tic demand propelling growth Dorsey, who stepped in as inter- owed the company's second-quar- "We have not clearly commu- extended losses to more than 11 billion in the same period last year, bookings indicated the full-year while foreign trade resurged. im chief executive on July 1, said ter earnings and revenue, which nicated Twitter's unique value. And per cent at around $32, after clos- while the total number of tourists total would be around 12 million rose 8.2 percent in the first half, The GfK survey showed Ger- on a call with analysts. exceeded expectations, and its bull- as a result non-users continue to ing at $36.54 on the New York tourists, below 2010's peak of 14.7 Khaled Ramy told Al-Borsa, a lo- mans felt more optimistic about Twitter said it had 304 million ish projections for future revenue. ask, 'Why should I use Twitter?' Stock Exchange. million but above 2014's 9.9 mil- core users in the second quarter, Executives also made clear it "Simply said, the product remains Total revenue rose 61 per cent cal financial newspaper. He con- their future income than at any firmed the figures to Reuters in a lion. point since Germany reunified in to $502.4 million. Excluding the Revenue last year was $7.3 impact of a strong dollar, revenue text. 1990, thanks to high employment The tourism sector has been billion, Ramy said in May, adding and strong pay hikes. "In real rose 68 percent. Advertising reve- that he wanted to reach $26 billion nue rose 63 per cent to $452 mil- hammered since the popular up- terms, the healthy growth in in- rising that toppled autocrat Hosni by 2020. come ultimately means that peo- lion. Excluding the impact of the ple also have more money in their dollar, advertising revenue was up pockets since the inflation rate 71 per cent. continues to be low," Buerkl said. The company's net loss nar- Shoppers nonetheless felt less will- rowed to $136.7 million, or 21 ing to make purchases, cents per share, in the second quar- which GfK said could be due ter ended June 30 from $144.6 to waning optimism about the million, or 24 cents per share, a overall economic outlook. An year earlier. indicator reading above zero sig- Excluding items, Twitter nals year-on-year growth in pri- earned 7 cents per share. vate consumption. A value below Analysts on average had ex- zero indicates a drop in compari- pected Twitter to earn 4 cents per son with the same period a year share on revenue of $481.3 mil- ago. According to GfK, a one- lion, according to Thomson Reu- point change in the indicator cor- ters I/B/E/S. responds to a year-on-year change Twitter estimated full-year of 0.1 percent in private consump- revenue of $2.20 billion-$2.27 bil- tion. lion, up from its previous forecast The "willingness to buy" indi- of $2.17 billion-$2.27 billion. cator represents the balance be- Twitter is also in the midst of tween positive and negative re- a management change after Chief sponses to the question: "Do you Executive Dick Costolo abruptly think now is a good time to buy announced in June that he was major items?" The income ex- stepping down. pectations sub-index reflects ex- The company on Tuesday an- pectations about the development nounced two other executive de- of household finances in the com- partures. Todd Jackson, a product ing 12 months. The additional manager, will move to Dropbox, business cycle expectations index and Christian Oestlien, vice presi- reflects the assessment of those dent of product management, will questioned of the general econom- join Google Inc unit YouTube. ic situation in the next 12 months. 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. THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES or the dandy Working with the three Khans is like being in a boxing ring: and the KAREENA KAPOOR Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Kareena has worked with Shah is one of those rare B-town ac- Rukh in films like Ashoka, Ra.One, tresses who have had the oppor- Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, with tunity to work with all the three Aamir she has shared screen space reigning Khans of Hindi cinema, in blockbusters like 3 Idiots and If you want to know just how Is- in fashion in 2005 with an outlet Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. Talaash whereas with Salman she mail Farid ended up as a menswear on Zamzama. Since then, he has During an interview with Film- has acted in Kyon Kii, Mein aur designer, brace yourselves for a carved a niche for himself, having fare, when Bebo was asked about Mrs Khanna, Bodyguard and the gripping stroll down memory lane. become the one-stop solution for how different it is to work with latest hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Around 10 years ago, whenever men s sartorial demands. In fact, the three Khans, she revealed, Sal- The actress added, Though Farid would want to shop for him- he s so engrossed in the business man is relaxed. Aamir is relaxed too they are different from each other, self, it d be from abroad. There that he refuses to expand into wom- but he s always prepared. Shah one thing is common between all just wasn t any shop that offered en s-wear. I really enjoy design- Rukh is always trying to better three. Working with them is like interesting menswear in Pakistan. ing men s collections, he states. himself. He s constantly improvis- being in a boxing ring. You ve got So, I ultimately began designing for I know there are large monetary ing the shot. He s such a bundle of to be alert all the time. myself, he says. benefits to reap from women s- energy that it s difficult for him to Well Bebo got that right, didn t Friends and family began to wear, but for me, that s a different relax. she? notice Farid s wardrobe, enquiring ball-game. One needs to develop where he shops from. When I d expertise for it and I m simply not tell them I had made my clothes inclined towards it. myself, they d say, Humare liye But a successful clothing line bhi bana do . This is how I devel- is just one of the many facets of oped an interest in tailoring. Farid s career. This year, the de- And so Farid began his career signer is celebrating his sixth Lux Style Awards (LSA) nomination, having won the award for Best Menswear Designer twice already. I m not sure if I ll win again, but let s hope for the best. It s still great to be nominated, but to be the win- ner would be a cherry on top of the cake. Most recently, Farid partici- pated in the Runway Collection by PIA, held in Karachi earlier this year, and has nothing but fond memories of the experience. It was an honour [to show for] PIA, the national carrier. It was an ho- nour to be able to design a uniform for our national airline s crew members, he stated. His impres- sive roster of celebrity clients in- cludes heavyweights of the Paki- stani entertainment industry. Ac- tors, such as Shaan Shahid and Ali Zafar, have sought his styling ex- pertise for years, and he was se- lected as the main wardrobe con- sultant for the upcoming feature film Ho Mann Jahaan.

Collage of fashion models wearing different outfits isolated on white. When Anushka got trolled on Muzaffar Ali kindles a love saga twitter for her 'Alia Bhatt' moment MUMBAI: Director Muzaffar are actors who don t compromise a mistake by agreeing to act in the Actress Anushka Sharma mixes up Ali, who is gearing up for the re- and then there are those who do. film. the names of the first Minister of lease of his comeback film, the The more the number of mouths, Terming his character in the Education of free India, Abul Imran Abass-starrer Jaanisaar, said the more there will be talk, he film extremely exciting, Ali actors these days are unsure about noted. The way you want to shared, He s a person, who has Kalam Azad, and APJ Abdul working with independent film- move forward, how you want to experienced the 1857 [revolt] and Kalam, while paying tribute to the makers, as they re more inclined live and what you want to say are has noticed how there was a corpse former president on his demise towards big-budgeted films and things that ll ultimately define hanging on every tree. He realised Bollywood stars are human mainstream cinema. what your journey is. that not only aggression but also and as such prone to make mis- At a media interaction for Ali is also set to exhibit his consciousness were required for takes. Unfortunately, being public Jaanisaar, Ali spoke about the pre- acting chops in the film. He re- this revolt. He further said, He s figures and celebrities, they have vailing mindset of actors. There vealed that he was earlier planning trying to keep alive the fire, while are several actors in India, who, on casting Amitabh Bachchan and also becoming an inspiration for to pay a heavy price for their 'pub- whenever they feel something pos- Naseeruddin Shah for the role, the girl (Pernia Qureshi), and he s lic goof ups'. Actress Anushka itive is going to happen in their which he ended up depicting him- aware of all the secrets associated Sharma is the latest entrant to this lives, get inclined towards multi- self. According to the demand of with this boy (Imran Abbas), not-so-exclusive Bollywood club starrer, big-banner and studio the script, there was a need for a which get revealed in the end. after mixing up the names of the films, he said. And they think a person who somewhat resembled As for Abbas, who plays the first Minister of Education of free Watch Akshay Kumar, hundred times before working with me. We were thinking about Na- male lead in Jaanisaar, Ali lauded India, Abul Kalam Azad, and independent filmmakers, eventu- seer and Amitabh, but both of them him for not having any apprehen- Angelina Jolie ally getting into the dilemma of didn t have time, he shared. sions about taking up a role in the former president APJ Abdul Sidharth Malhotra in the which one to go for, he added. He said his son Shaad, who has movie. The script demanded a Kalam. film paying The filmmaker, who has gar- helmed films, such as Saathiya and boy like Imran. He had the guts to Kalam died on Monday after gritty 'Brothers Anthem' nered a host of jaanisaars for his Ali Zafar s Kill Dil, prompted him say yes to me. It s a big thing suffering cardiac arrest while de- tribute to land of magnum opus Umrao Jaan, feels to do the film. My son told me I that he came forward during such livering a lecture at IIM-Shillong. Makers of 'Brothers' have released started trending on Twitter. her son Maddox cinema is a tricky road to traverse. should take up the role. I told him a period, said the filmmaker. Indians across all strata immedi- the video of a new song titled Before releasing the video, a Both good and bad things always that if you ll be around, then I ll Jaanisaar, which marks the debut 'Brothers Anthem' featuring Ak- few stills of Akshay and Sidharth ately took to the various social happen in the industry. Artists are do it and eventually, I did it, he of stylist Pernia Qureshi, is slated shay Kumar and Sidharth Mal- from the song were unveiled. Check born and finished regularly. There said. He joked that he committed to release on August 7. media platforms to express their hotra. The song showcases the them out below: Directed by Ka- grief and respects for Kalam, pop- training the lead characters under- ran Malhotra, the film is an offi- ularly known as India's Missile go to test their strength and pre- cial Hindi adaptation of the Hol- Man and 'People's President'. pare for the final fight. lywood film 'Warriors' and tells the Anushka also was one those, The number is crooned by story of two estranged brothers. but her goof-ups ensured she start- Vishal Dadlani and composed by The film, which also stars Jac- Atul-Ajay. queline Fernandez, Jackie Shroff Cambodia helped Angelina Jolie ed trending on Twitter for all the As soon as the song was re- and Shefali Shah, is slated to re- become a film superstar and start wrong reasons. While paying trib- leased online, #BrothersAnthem lease on August 14. a family. To tell the stories of peo- ute to former president Dr A.P.J. ple in the country that touched her, Abdul Kalam on his demise, the she is directing a Netflix film on actress got his name wrong, not location based on a memoir of the once, but twice and needed a third country s 1970s holocaust under attempt to get it absolutely right. the communist Khmer Rouge, The actress first spelt Kalam's blamed for the deaths of 1.7 mil- name as ABJ Kalam Azad on the lion people. And her Cambodian- born son Maddox will help with micro-blogging site Twitter. Her research and preparation for the tweet read: `Very sad to hear about film, Jolie said Tuesday in an email the passing of ABJ Kalam Azad. interview with The Associated Loss of an inspiring visionary and Press. a wonderful soul. May his soul Jolie s 2001 hit, Lara Croft: RIP." Tomb Raider, was filmed partly She soon realised her mistake at Cambodia s famous Angkor Wat and tried to rectify it, but still temple complex, and in 2002 she adopted 7-month-old Maddox didn't spot the glaring error. She from an orphanage in western Cam- tweeted, `Very sad to hear about bodia. Determined to give some- the passing of APJ Kalam Azad. thing back, she launched a founda- Loss of an inspiring visionary and tion in Cambodia 12 years ago to a wonderful soul. May his soul promote community development RIP.` alongside conservation. 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. THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Nadal makes winning start at Hamburg Open, beats Verdasco Top-seeded Rafael Nadal overcame a sluggish start to beat Fernando Verdasco 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the Hamburg Open. Nadal was playing his first match since losing to Dustin Brown in the second round of Wimbledon. The former No. 1 in the world has fallen to No. 10. In the all-Spanish match, Nadal appeared to have trouble adjust- ing to clay and finding his timing. But his game picked up noticeably in the last two sets. Verdasco saved one match point but then hit the net with a backhand to hand Nadal the win. Nadal's last match on clay was the quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the French Open. ''For my mentality, it is impor- tant to finish the match better than how I started. To be able to make that change during the match was a very positive thing to me,'' Nad- al said. The match was played under the court's canvas cover because of rain. Second-seeded Tommy Robre- do also needed three sets to ad- vance, rallying for a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win over wild card entry Alex- ander Zverev. Third-seeded Roberto Bautis- ta Agut, fourth-seeded Andreas Seppi and sixth-seeded Juan Mo- naco all advanced into the second round.

When UFC women s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey called out Floyd Mayweather in her ESPY acceptance speech, Rowdy unquestionably added a few more fans to her corner. Four-time NBA league MVP LeBron James was not one of them that s because he was already an admirer of the 28-year-old fighting phenom long before she took home the night s award for Best Fighter. An admirer from a distance, apparently. Rousey finished her last two opponents in a combined 30 seconds, so it s not surprising that someone might be intimidated approaching the World s Most Dominant Athlete. However, when that person is a two-time NBA champ and four-time MVP, well, it kind of puts into perspective the aura Rousey emits. A new theory explains why Floyd Mayweather is fighting such a weak opponent in his 'last fight' In recent weeks, the boxing world makes a lot of sense on a number has heavily criticized Floyd May- of levels. Triple Crown winner American weather for reportedly picking For one, the timing makes Pharoah completed a half-mile Andre Berto, a low-level fighter sense. A few days after the fight workout at Del Mar in his last for- who has lost three of his last six Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, it mal exercise before the Haskell In- fights, as his September opponent was revealed Pacquiao had to un- vitational this weekend. in what Mayweather has claimed dergo surgery on a torn rotator The colt was timed in 48.80 will be his final fight before retir- cuff. His 9-12 month recovery seconds Tuesday under jockey ing. time would make him unavailable Martin Garcia, who rides him in However, a new, and popular, to fight in September the date the mornings. Victor Espinoza theory has emerged explaining of Mayweather's presumed last rides him in races. Mayweather's rationale this fight but available for a fight American Pharoah will ship to won't actually be his last fight. later the next year. New Jersey on Wednesday in According to ESPN's Stephen This theory would also explain preparation for Sunday's $1 mil- A. Smith who originally report- why Mayweather, who's made lion race at Monmouth Park. ed that Mayweather texted him millions of dollars as a result of Trainer Bob Baffert was saying he'd be willing to give Man- pay-per-view sales, is attempting pleased with the workout, which ny Pacquiao a rematch May- to air his September fight for free Garcia says was "smooth and weather is planning to use Berto on CBS. Many have speculated easy." as a "tuneup" for a possible re- boxing fans would refuse to pay The colt will return to Del Mar match against Pacquiao or a more large amounts of money to buy either Monday or Tuesday. formidable opponent. Mayweather's next fight on pay- "I've never believed [May- per-view since a fight would Ber- weather was going to retire in Sep- to would be so dramatically one- tember]. I don't believe that. I think sided, and many were disappoint- Barring a win, Tiger Woods in home Mayweather knows that," Smith ed with Mayweather's last pay- said. "I think Mayweather is us- per-view fight against Pacquiao. ing this [fight with Berto] as a tu- Airing the Berto fight for free neup, and then he's going to give would please fans. And, with his stretch of season to forget Manny Pacquiao a rematch. six-fight contract with Showtime/ "It's almost one of those things CBS complete, Mayweather could Tiger Woods is still mired in the Frys.com Open in California, a better inside the ropes. Every great athlete goes where it's a tuneup, it's going to be then air his last fight, a presumed process of installing a baseline start promised to the PGA Tour It has to be difficult for Woods through this phase of decline be- perceived as a cake-walk in a lot of rematch against Pacquiao, on pay- shift, trying to figure out spin rates as a favor being given the green light to maintain his I've-done-this-be- fore their superstar fades to nay a people's eyes. And he's like, 'I'm per-view with whichever network and feels and traj. He's done it be- to play the European Tour's Turk- fore mantra when it's so evident burning ember. For golfers, it's es- Money Mayweather, I'm giving offers him the largest possible pay- fore and he feels close to doing it ish Airlines Open in 2013. that he is struggling to take what pecially painful since careers are you me on free TV. You don't have out. The first Mayweather-Pacqui- again. Woods doesn't seem all that he does so well when it doesn't so long and the money connected to pay for it at all. It's a tuneup ao fight shattered records, with Michelle Wie limps into her concerned about the lack of golf count into the arena where he used to the game remains good despite similar to what Manny Pacquiao Mayweather alone taking home a next major The Associated Press on his calendar. He's been spend- to dominate. He knows he's just a bad turn of form. However, Froome ponders did to Chris Algieri. And then I'm reported $200 million in total earn- Frustrated Tiger never imag- ing time with his children in the not getting the job done right now. Woods, the first billionaire athlete, going to come out of retirement and ings. Lastly, while many believe ined so long to recover AFP Caribbean, fishing and snorkeling. So why not spend some time with is unique. Woods doesn't need the rare Tour-Vuelta I'll fight a Manny Pacquiao, or a Mayweather's primary, and only, The problem for Woods is that He caught some of the highlights the kids? It's more fun. 50-plus circuit. Hell, he doesn't Miguel Cotto if Cotto is lucky concern is money, Mayweather has he's seemingly running out of time of the British Open's Monday fin- His kids also represent the few need golf anymore. But he still has double enough to beat Canelo Alvarez.'" still shown he cares about his leg- in this 2014-15 PGA Tour season ish, but he wasn't glued into Jor- people who Woods knows will be things he wants to accomplish, in- Chris Froome celebrated his sec- After initially saying he would acy and wants to be known, not to make much more progress in- dan Spieth's chase of the single- at his side for the rest of his life. In cluding a burgeoning course-design ond Tour de France triumph with give Pacquiao a rematch, May- just as the greatest boxer of this side the ropes. season Grand Slam. The 39-year- 10 years, he'll still have an agent business that could be the link to a bacon sandwich on Monday be- Barring an unlikely win at this old 14-time major winner looks like and a press representative, but the the game that keeps him engaged fore chewing over the appetizing week's Quicken Loans National, a guy tired of answering the same calls won't be as constant. long after the chases of Nicklaus prospect of a rare grand tour dou- Woods, who enters the week at No. questions with the same answers. Woods' friends he made when and Snead are finished. ble in Spain next month. The 30- 266 in the Official World Golf He mostly spared the media of the he came out on Tour 20 years ago Perhaps Woods is checking year-old Briton, enjoying the re- Ranking, will not qualify for next buzzword bingo that has recently are all either on the Champions out of the game temporarily and lease of being able to eat what he week's WGC-Bridgestone Invita- accompanied his poor results. He Tour, on TV or on TV while moon- all it would take is one truly good fancies after three weeks of rigor- tional. A win at Robert Trent didn't have excuses nor newfangled lighting on the Champions Tour. tournament to awaken his inter- ous discipline, revealed that a bid Jones Golf Club, which would be ways of explaining fairly innocu- The rotating door of new faces est. However, at the moment, to win back-to-back grand tours his 80th career PGA Tour title, is ous golf concepts. That could only leaves Woods, who is a part-time Woods looks in a funk and tired of "could be on the cards" as he leans the only way Woods can crack the mean one of two things: either player, looking for familiarity the sport's repetitive practice -- toward a crack at the Vuelta. Back world top 50 and land a tee time at Woods is finally ready to seek out when he looks up and down the that is, of trying to convince ev- in Britain following his second vic- Firestone Country Club, a place answers instead of explanations or range. None of the new guys are eryone, including himself, that the tory in the last three editions of he has won eight times in his ca- he's tired of trying to convince us scared of him. He has earned their best, or at least some good, is still the world's greatest cycle race in reer. and himself that things are getting respect, but not their fear. ahead. Paris on Sunday, Froome said the "Kind of funny I won there a "massive challenge" of the Tour- couple years ago," Woods said Vuelta double was at the back of Tuesday. He added, "Unfortunate- his mind. Runner-up last year and ly, I can't get an invite there unless in 2011 and fourth in 2012, I win." Froome's record in the Vuelta is If that's the case, then Woods impressive but only two cyclists likely has just one more tourna- in the history of the sport, great ment remaining on his schedule this Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil season: the PGA Championship at (1963) and Bernard Hinault (1978), Whistling Straits in two weeks. As have achieved this monumental a four-time Wanamaker trophy feat. Talking of the Vuelta chal- winner, Woods is set for life in the lenge, Froome told Sky Sports year's final major. Without a sud- News: "I would say it's a bit early den return to form, Woods will to say 100 percent but I think that miss out on qualifying for the Fe- could potentially be on the cards, dEx Cup playoffs for the third time certainly. "I know it would be a in five seasons. That'll leave him massive challenge to back it up without a place to play for the with another grand tour now, es- four-event, five-week stretch. pecially to go there with the aim Woods won't humble himself of going for the general classifica- weather reconsidered and bashed generation, but, as the greatest to play in Reno opposite the WGC tion again. "But yeah, that's at the Pacquiao for attempting to use his boxer of all-time. event, and he's not going to show back of the mind and maybe that shoulder injury as an excuse for This is a man who markets up in the Web.com Tour Finals, could be on the cards." Yet Froome his poor performance. Mayweath- himself, and his brand, embodied which runs alongside the FedEx appreciates the incredible effort er called Pacquiao a "coward," and with the acronym "TBE," The Cup playoffs. He talks about needed to win just one grand tour, said he had no desire to grant the Best Ever. If Mayweather does needing and wanting reps, but he never mind two. Alberto Conta- former eight-division title-holder a fight two more times, and wins doesn't need them that badly. dor, winner of the year's first Grand rematch. Despite this, the belief both, he could then retire with a In other words, we're proba- Tour, the Giro d'Italia, saw his that Mayweather would actually perfect 50-0 record, surpassing the bly not going to see Woods for a double attempt blunted by fatigue reconsider, and end his career with legendary Rocky Marciano and his while -- at least until October, as he finished fifth in the Tour. one last rematch against Pacquiao, undefeated record of 49-0. when Woods is set to play in the 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. THURSDAY . JULY 30 . 2015-Asad 08, 1394 H.S Vol:X Issue No:09 Price: Afs.15

Blast in Kunduz KILLS TWO CIVILIANS

AT Monitoring Desk Kunduz province early Wednes- Ayubi, said the blast took place According to officials, the police day, local officials said. In addi- about 10am local time after explo- have started investigations into the KABUL: Nearly two ci- tion, 11 other civilians were injured sive devices placed near Kunduz incident. No group including the vilians were killed in an in the blast. Head of Kunduz Pro- hospital was detonated. Taliban has claimed responsibility explosion in northern vincial Council, Mohammad Yusuf He did not provide further details. for the blast yet.

AT Monitoring Desk Afghan-led and Afghan-owned meet half way, he said. We expect both peace initiative. We are here to fa- sides to discuss confidence-building mea- KABUL: The second round of di- cilitate. With direct knowledge of sures, including steps to bring down the rect peace talks between the Af- the meeting, he said the second level of violence before they move on to ghan government and Taliban are round would be more substantive discuss the more complex issues to end the set to take place on Friday, senior and detailed. The fact that the conflict in Afghanistan. He said that Kabul Pakistan government officials said. two sides are re-convening in less seemed ready to listen to and discuss what The meeting to be held in the than a month is encouraging. It is a the Taliban have to say. The first round hill resort of Murree just outside big success, the official said. direct peace talks were between the Afghan Pakistan s federal capital of Islam- But let s not be over ambi- government and the Taliban were held in abad would be more substantive, tious. Let s not raise the expecta- the same hill resort during the holy month raising hopes of a viable peace pro- tions bar too high, cautioned an- of Ramadan, where the two sides agreed to cess to end the conflict in Afghan- other official, who also requested meet after Eid-ul-Fitr. There was some con- istan, a well-known Pakistani anonymity because he was not fusion over the venue of the second round newspaper, Dawn, quoted the of- authorized to speak to the media. of talks with Afghan government officials ficials as saying. An official told This is just the beginning of a long saying the meeting could take place in the the newspaper on condition of an- process. Both sides will have to north-western Chinese city of Urumqi, onymity, out of deference to our understand each other s positions while some within the Taliban wanted the friends from Kabul , said: It is an and make a determined effort to meeting to take place in Doha. ...P3 Govt urged to use Constitution as a redline in peace talks 13 rebels eliminated Peace shall not mean compromise but it must be a process IN HELMAND RAID to end violence in the country, Civil societies AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: Nearly 13 militants were killed in a military operation in southern Hel- mand province, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement said the operation was launched by 215th Maiwand Corps in Musa Qala district of the province to clear the anti-government insurgents. There were no civilian or military casualties during the By Farhad Naibkhel tion Group (TJCG), rights groups, operation, read the statement. The forces KABUL: The Responsible Citi- on Wednesday urged the govern- also recovered two mines during the oper- zen Civic Movement (RCCM) ment to respect aspirations of the ation, it added. However, the Taliban rebels and Transition Justice Coordina- Afghan nation and use the ..P2 are yet to comment on the operation. 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.