DOCSLIB.ORG

Karzai Turns Nostalgic on a Visit to Shimla T Was Literally Walking Years!” Karzai Exclaimed

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Karzai Turns Nostalgic on a Visit to Shimla T Was Literally Walking Years!” Karzai Exclaimed KARZAI IN INDIA Karzai turns nostalgic on a visit to Shimla t was literally walking years!” Karzai exclaimed. down memory lane “The bathroom is luxuri- for Afghan President ous now. I remember I used Hamid Karzai as he to fetch a bucket of warm took a long stroll on water from the ground floor NovemberI 16 and visited to have a bath as there was his old haunts in Shimla, no geyser then in my room,” where he spent seven years he told the dazed caretaker. as a student more than two Karzai then drove down to decades ago. On a sunny his hotel for lunch and met and slightly nippy autumn a waiting family and an old morning, he set out on foot friend, Shyam Khanna. to the vice-regal lodge, the Himachal Pradesh Chief residence of the British Minister Virbhadra Singh viceroys during the colonial called on the Afghan times. President in the afternoon. Karzai turned nostalgic “It is indeed a matter of as he recalled his student great pride for us that a stu- days in this picturesque hill dent of the Himachal resort. Addressing students Pradesh University is now a and teachers at the head of state. We hope Himachal Pradesh Mr. Karzai will visit the University from where he town again,” Singh said earned his MA in political President Karzai signing autographs of students of Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla. after the meeting. science in 1983, he candid- In the evening, Karzai ly spoke about struggling to learn the English The Afghan leader went to almost each drove downtown to the Mall, the heart of language as a student. and every nook and corner of the rambling Shimla, which was crowded as usual with “I did not know a word of English when I vice-regal lodge built in the 19th century locals as well as holidaymakers. “If you do arrived here but soon I picked up the lan- and walked its grassy lawns. He candidly not go to the Mall every evening, you don’t guage. In fact, my first attempts at learning confessed: “I fell in love with the magical deserve to be called a Shimlaite,” Karzai had the language were by studying botany and charms of this hill town the moment I told the university audience. Dressed impec- using a dictionary in my room located at the arrived here in 1977.” cably in his trademark cape, the tall Afghan edge of the university,” he recalled. The Afghan leader walked on briskly to President smiled and waved at surprised Karzai also recalled popular points and the university complex, even as his ministe- passers-by and owners of stores where he walks in downtown Shimla and the simple rial colleagues and security men had a dif- had shopped during his student days. life of the townsfolk in those days. “I still ficult time keeping pace with him. He He would stop and point out several places recall that lilting song from Hindi film stopped at a guesthouse room in a wooded along the Mall road to colleagues walking ‘Mausam’ –– ‘Dil dhoondhata hai phir wohi area at the edge of the campus and he was with him. After spending about an hour at fursat ke raat din’,” he said to cheers and led inside it by a caretaker. “Oh! This place the Mall, he drove back to his hotel in time applause from the audience. has really changed a lot in the last 23 to catch a view of a spectacular sunset. ! India-Afghanistan symposium on agricultural cooperation fghanistan President Hamid Karzai scientists to halt desertification in Desertification, the three-day event organ- said his country needed Indian agri- Afghanistan, he sought sharing of experi- ised by National Academy of Agricultural A scientists’ help in tackling environ- ence and expertise. Karzai said Afghanistan Sciences (NAAS) deliberated on the theme mental problems of water management and used to be the biggest exporter of raisins. “converting deserts into oases”. deforestation to check desertification. “In fact, in the late 1970s, it had achieved Among the speakers was World Food “We are eagerly waiting for your help to self-sufficiency in agricultural products, but Programme country director GianPietro protect our environment. Today there is no war, drought, mismanagement and destruc- Bordignon. water in Afghanistan... We need serious, tion took away that,” he said. “India must Earlier, M.S. Swaminathan, president of thoughtful application of science to man- do everything to keep away deforestation, NAAS, said a majority of the population in age water,” he said after inaugurating the wastage of water. Degradation of environ- India and Afghanistan depend on agricul- ‘Indo-Afghanistan Symposium on ment is a worldwide matter,” he said. With ture. The arid areas of both the countries Agriculture’ in New Delhi on November 19. 2006 being celebrated as the U.N. need technologies which can help to Looking for help from Indian agricultural International Year of Deserts and increase income and employment. ! I N D I A R E V I E W D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 6 5.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Afghanistan, 1989-1996: Between the Soviets and the Taliban
    Afghanistan, 1989-1996: Between the Soviets and the Taliban A thesis submitted to the Miami University Honors Program in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for University Honors with Distinction by, Brandon Smith May 2005 Oxford, OH ABSTRACT AFGHANISTAN, 1989-1996: BETWEEN THE SOVIETS AND THE TALIBAN by, BRANDON SMITH This paper examines why the Afghan resistance fighters from the war against the Soviets, the mujahideen, were unable to establish a government in the time period between the withdrawal of the Soviet army from Afghanistan in 1989 and the consolidation of power by the Taliban in 1996. A number of conflicting explanations exist regarding Afghanistan’s instability during this time period. This paper argues that the developments in Afghanistan from 1989 to 1996 can be linked to the influence of actors outside Afghanistan, but not to the extent that the choices and actions of individual actors can be overlooked or ignored. Further, the choices and actions of individual actors need not be explained in terms of ancient animosities or historic tendencies, but rather were calculated moves to secure power. In support of this argument, international, national, and individual level factors are examined. ii Afghanistan, 1989-1996: Between the Soviets and the Taliban by, Brandon Smith Approved by: _________________________, Advisor Karen L. Dawisha _________________________, Reader John M. Rothgeb, Jr. _________________________, Reader Homayun Sidky Accepted by: ________________________, Director, University Honors Program iii Thanks to Karen Dawisha for her guidance and willingness to help on her year off, and to John Rothgeb and Homayun Sidky for taking the time to read the final draft and offer their feedback.
    [Show full text]
  • Not for Publication for Members Only LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS OF
    Not for Publication For Members only LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______ Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Sravana 20, 1943 (Saka) ______ OBITUARY REFERENCES HON. SPEAKER: Hon'ble Members, with profound grief, I have to inform the House about the passing away of four of our former colleagues. Shri Virbhadra Singh was a member of the 3rd and 4thLok Sabha representing the Mahasu Parliamentary Constituency and 5th, 7th and 15th Lok Sabha representing the Mandi Parliamentary Constituency of Himachal Pradesh. Shri Virbhadra Singh had served as Union Cabinet Minister of Steel and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Minister of State of Industries in the Government of India. An active social and political worker, Shri Virbhadra Singh was the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for six terms. He had also served as Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Shri Virbhadra Singh passed away on 8 July, 2021 in Shimla at the age of 87 years. Shri Nityananda Misra was a member of the 7th and 8th Lok Sabha representing the Bolangir Parliamentary Constituency of Odisha. Shri Nityananda Misra passed away on 22 July, 2021 in Bhubaneswar at the age of 93 years. Prof. Gopalrao Mayekar was a member of the 9th Lok Sabha representing the Panaji Parliamentary Constituency of Goa. He was a Member of the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions. Earlier, Prof. Mayekar was a Member of the Goa, Daman & Diu Legislative Assembly and he also served as a Minister in the Government of Goa, Daman & Diu.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Insight
    Strategic Insight The Loya Jirga, Ethnic Rivalries and Future Afghan Stability by Thomas H. Johnson Strategic Insights are authored monthly by analysts with the Center for Contemporary Conflict (CCC). The CCC is the research arm of the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Naval Postgraduate School, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. August 6, 2002 On June 24 the Afghan transitional government and administration of Hamid Karzai was installed during formal ceremonies in Kabul. Karzai had easily won the June 13 election at a national political assembly, or loya jirga. The loya jirga consisted of 1500 representatives, elected or appointed from 32 provinces, and debated the political future of Afghanistan over a seven-day period. The Karzai government is supposed to rule Afghanistan through 2003. During the ceremony, Karzai and his new cabinet took an oath in both major Afghan languages (Pashtu and Dari), vowing to "follow the basic teachings of Islam" and the laws of the land, to renounce corruption, and to "safeguard the honor and integrity of Afghanistan."[1] How successful they are in achieving these vows will be critical to the near term future of Afghanistan, its reconstruction, and possibly the stability of the entire region of Central Asia. This transitional government was the result of an Emergency Loya Jirga and part of the Bonn Agreement (of November-December 2001). While not explicitly stating so in the Bonn Agreement, Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Representative of the U.N.
    [Show full text]
  • India and South Asia: November 2017 Dossier
    INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA: NOVEMBER 2017 DOSSIER An important state election in Himachal Pradesh and the electoral campaign in Gujarat – the votes take place in December and the results for both states will be declared on the 18th of December - will determine the course of Indian domestic politics for 2018/19. In the new chapter „Economic Developments“, the focus is on „buisiness sentiments“ and the impact of the General Service Tax. Modi's tour to the Phillippines and India's relations with Afghanistan are the main focus in the regional and wider international relations. Dr Klaus Julian Voll FEPS Advisor on Asia FEPS STUDIES With Dr. Joyce Lobo NOVEMBER 2017 Part I DomEstic dEvElopmEnts in India • Himachal Pradesh: Can the BJP defeat the Congress? • Gujarat: Is the BJP-citadel loosing strength? Part II India-Economic DEvelopmEnts • Economic situation in November 2017: „Business Sentiment“ • GST: Trials and tribulations Part III India - ForEign Policy DEvelopmEnts • Modi at the ASEAN-India Summit Part IV South Asia • Ghani’s Visit in the Context of Trumps’ South Asia Strategy 2 Part I Domestic developments in India Himachal PradEsh: Can thE BJP dEfEat thE CongrEss? Governments in Himachal Pradesh normally last only for one legislative period, particularly since there is no sizable third force in the state. The situation before the elections In 2012 the vote share Was divided as follows: Congress 43.21%, BJP 38.83, CPI/M 4.98%, CPI 2.18%, NCP 1.97% and BSP 1.22%. This led to a stable majority for the Congress. According to a survey before the recent elections, the BJP Would gain about 49% of the votes and betWeen 43 to 47 seats, the Congress With 38% is projected betWeen 21 to 23 seats, smaller parties and independent candidates With a vote share of 13% zero to tWo seats.
    [Show full text]
  • NATO-Afghanistan Relations
    North Atlantic Treaty Organization www.nato.int/factsheets Media Backgrounder June 2021 NATO-Afghanistan relations Opening of a new-chapter NATO and Afghanistan will now open a new chapter in their relations, as the process of withdrawing international troops contributed to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces and institutions is ongoing. NATO Allies are committed to continue to stand with Afghanistan, its people and its institutions in promoting security and upholding the hard-won gains of the last NATO Secretary General Jens 20 years. Stoltenberg and President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan NATO will continue to provide training, as well as financial support to the Afghan National Defence and Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Security Forces, including through the Afghan National Army Trust Fund. November 2018. It will retain a Senior Civilian Representative’s Office in Kabul to continue diplomatic engagement and enhance our partnership with Afghanistan. The Office of the Senior Civilian Representative will engage with a range of actors, including from Afghanistan, countries in the region, the International Community and NGOs representatives. Also, in light of the importance of an enduring diplomatic and international presence, NATO will provide funding to ensure continued functioning of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Furthermore, NATO will step up dialogue on Afghanistan with relevant international and regional partners; and all NATO Allies will continue to support the ongoing Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process towards a lasting, inclusive political settlement that puts and end to violence, safeguards the human rights of Afghans – particularly women, children and minorities – upholds the rule of law, and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists.
    [Show full text]
  • Democratization in Afghanistan by Chris Rowe
    H UMAN R IGHTS & H UMAN W ELFARE Democratization in Afghanistan by Chris Rowe What determines whether a specific country embarks on the road to democracy, if it completes that voyage successfully, and finally consolidates democratic values, practices, and institutions? Analysts have debated these issues for decades and have identified a number of historical, structural, and cultural variables that help account for the establishment of successful democracies in some countries and its absence in others. Frequently cited prerequisites for democracy include social and economic modernization; a large and vibrant middle class; and cultural norms and values relating to politics. Yet whatever its determinants, operational democracies normally include contested elections, a free press, and the separation of powers. Although these characteristics have been identified as vital features of a democracy, emerging democracies also need to address serious social and economic injustices that threaten democratic consolidation. Afghanistan is a case in point in this regard. As a burgeoning democracy directly influenced by U.S.-led nation-building efforts, Afghanistan presents a unique and challenging case for democratization. Afghanistan has been ruled by warlords since the era of Taliban rule, and to an extent still is. Informal rule combined with the heroin trade and severe gender inequalities have created a frail foundation on which to promote democratic reforms. Although international human rights, judicial and national assembly commissions have presented significant mandates for change, all have met with problematic results. In order for democracy to take hold in Afghanistan, the fruits of warlord economy–opium production, smuggling, and illicit taxation of trade–must be wrested away from regional power brokers and replaced with socially stable economic incentives.
    [Show full text]
  • Virbhadra Singh Inaugurates Building of PCB in Dharamshala by : INVC Team Published on : 21 Jun, 2015 12:48 PM IST
    Virbhadra Singh inaugurates building of PCB in Dharamshala By : INVC Team Published On : 21 Jun, 2015 12:48 PM IST INVC NEWS Shimla, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inaugurating the building of Pollution Control Board at Dharamshala in Kangra district on 21 June, 2015 Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh today inaugurated Rs. 1.80 crore office block –cum- residential building of Pollution Control Board (PCB) constructed by HIMUDA at Dari in Dharamshala of Kangra district today. Transport Minister Shri G.S. Bali, Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Shri Jagjeevan Pal, MLAs Shri Pawan Kajal, Shri Sanjay Rattan, Shri Yadvinder Goma, Chairman HP State Pollution Control Board Shri Kuldeep Pathania, Chairman State OBC Finance Development Corporation Shri Chander Kumar, Chairman HP Education Board Shri Balbir Tegta, Vice Chairman HP State Forest Corporation Shri Kewal Singh Pathania, CEO-cum-Secretary HIMUDA Shri Dinesh Kashyap, Deputy Commissioner Shri Ritesh Chauhan, SP Shri Abhishek Dullar were present on the occasion amongst others. Earlier, the Chief Minister was given a rousing reception by people on arrival at Dharamshala from Shimla. Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes, Transport Minister Shri G.S. Bali also accompanied the Chief Minister from Shimla including former MP Smt. Pratibha Singh, Chairman HP State Co-operative Bank Shri Harsh Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary Shri V.C.Pharka, Sr . Private Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subhash Ahluwalia, OSD to Chief Minister Shri T.C. Janartha and Secretary GAD-cum-Director Tourism Shri Mohan Chauhan. URL : https://www.internationalnewsandviews.com/virbhadra-singh-inaugurates-building-of-pcb-in-dharamshala/ 12th year of news and views excellency Committed to truth and impartiality www.internationalnewsandviews.comCopyright © 2009 - 2019 International News and Views Corporation.
    [Show full text]
  • The Loya Jirga, Ethnic Rivalry and Future Afghan Stability
    Strategic Insight The Loya Jirga, Ethnic Rivalries and Future Afghan Stability by Thomas H. Johnson Strategic Insights are authored monthly by analysts with the Center for Contemporary Conflict (CCC). The CCC is the research arm of the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Naval Postgraduate School, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. August 6, 2002 On June 24 the Afghan transitional government and administration of Hamid Karzai was installed during formal ceremonies in Kabul. Karzai had easily won the June 13 election at a national political assembly, or loya jirga. The loya jirga consisted of 1500 representatives, elected or appointed from 32 provinces, and debated the political future of Afghanistan over a seven-day period. The Karzai government is supposed to rule Afghanistan through 2003. During the ceremony, Karzai and his new cabinet took an oath in both major Afghan languages (Pashtu and Dari), vowing to "follow the basic teachings of Islam" and the laws of the land, to renounce corruption, and to "safeguard the honor and integrity of Afghanistan."[1] How successful they are in achieving these vows will be critical to the near term future of Afghanistan, its reconstruction, and possibly the stability of the entire region of Central Asia. This transitional government was the result of an Emergency Loya Jirga and part of the Bonn Agreement (of November-December 2001). While not explicitly stating so in the Bonn Agreement, Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Representative of the U.N.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan (1978- )
    MODERN CONFLICTS: CONFLICT PROFILE Afghanistan (1978- ) Afghanistan is culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse. Afghanistan’s history of conflict and hunger is intermingled with cold war politics, struggles in neighboring countries, and the country’s susceptibility to earthquakes and drought. In the past three decades, Afghanistan has experienced a series of civil wars and external interventions. There have been large-scale civilian casualties not just from the fighting itself, but also from the disruptions to agriculture, trade, nutrition, and health care. After a series of coups, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Soviet forces occupied Afghanistan until 1989, but despite having more than 100,000 troops in the >> MODERN CONFLICTS country, they never achieved control of the countryside. The rebel mujahideen, a loose HOME PAGE conglomeration of anti-Communist parties, were trained, armed, and financially supported by several governments. The United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan >> CONFLICTS MAP supported the main force of Sunni mujahideen. Iran supported pro-Khomeini elements >> CONFLICTS TABLE among the minority Shi’a communities. It is estimated that the US spent more than $3 >> PERI HOME PAGE billion dollars helping the rebels during the decade, and that other countries spent another billion dollars. The fighting produced an enormous humanitarian crisis, driving about 2 million refugees into Iran and 3 million into Pakistan. In the chaos brought by the war, the country became the largest producer of opium; by the late 1990s, increasing amounts of opium were refined into morphine and heroin inside the country. Local powerbrokers (‘warlords’) gained control over regions of the country, providing security for drug traffickers and addressing some humanitarian needs in order to win regional backing, often by concluding deals with UN agencies or NGOs.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement by Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan
    Check upon delivery Statement of H.E. Hamid Karzai President of the Islamic Transitional Administration of Afghanistan Bonn, Germany December, 2002 Bonn has entered our language as a synonym for international commitment to the peace and security of our people. A year ago, an agreement was signed here that provided a roadmap to the creation of a government that will have legitimacy, both at home and abroad. My election by the Emergency Loya Jirga, held in June, represents both the culmination of the first phase of the Bonn Agreement where power was to be endowed with consent and the beginning of the second phase of the Bonn Agreement where a transition to a government elected according to a new constitution is to take place. We are proud to have adhered to the major milestones of the Bonn Agreement so far. Our task now is to meet the key goal - that of creating the institutions of a state that would be bound by the rule of law, designed to meet the needs of the people and to create the enabling environment for prosperity. Legitimacy is a process. It gets enhanced through the fulfillment of our promises and diminished through our failures to live up to our commitments. The Afghan people are sophisticated observers and judges of our joint endeavor with the international community. We feel confident that we have laid the institutional foundations for trust. Building the edifice, however, will depend on our ability to carry out a series of reforms that together will constitute an irreversible transformation. Holding the peace and ensuring that the people could choose their leadership in an environment free of fear were the key goals of the Interim Administration.
    [Show full text]
  • 52 Meeting of the National Development Council
    52ND MEETING OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SPEECH OF SHRI VIRBHADRA SINGH CHIEF MINISTER HIMACHAL PRADESH Saturday, 9th December, 2006. NEW-DELHI Speech of Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister. Himachal Pradesh at the Meeting of the National Development Council "Held on 9th December, 2006. Respected Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and esteemed colleagues:- 2. It is my privilege to participate in this meeting of the National Development Council which has been convened to discuss and approve the Approach Paper for the 11th Five Year Plan. 3. At the outset, it is heartening to note that the country's average growth rate in the last four years of the 10th Plan is likely to be more than 8%. The overall growth rate of 7.2% in the 10th Plan is the highest growth rate achieved during any plan period. 4. This growth momentum provided by the 10th Plan needs to be sustained and accelerated in the 11th Plan. We wholeheartedly endorse the vision of our Prime Minister to target a GDP growth rate of 9% over the 11th Plan. 5. Himachal Pradesh has always tried to maintain a growth rate which is higher than the national average. This strategy has borne fruit through tremendous improvements in development indices related to education, health, drinking water, electrification, rural roads, agriculture, horticulture, among other sectors. 6. Based upon efficient utilization of plan investment, Himachal Pradesh has been able to lay a strong foundation for accelerating its economic growth. Acknowledging our sound performance, the Planning Commission envisages a 9.5% average annual growth rate for Himachal Pradesh during the 11th plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Politics of Sub-Regionalism and Pressure Groups in the State
    Reorganisation of State Politics of Sub-Regionalism and Pressure Groups Visit: www.civilstap.com For Any Query Mail us: [email protected] or call us at - (+91)-8146207241 0 POLITICS OF SUB-REGIONALISM AND PRESSURE GROUPS IN THE STATE Regionalism is the expression of a common sense of identity and purpose by people within a specific geographical region, united by its unique language, culture, language, etc. In a positive sense, it encourages people to develop a sense of brotherhood and oneness which seeks to protect the interests of a particular region and promotes the welfare and development of the state and its people. In the negative sense, it implies excessive attachment to one’s region which is a great threat to the unity and integrity of the country. Sub-regionalism is a question of identity rather than distinct identity within the border identity of the region or the state based on social, political and economic distinctiveness. REGIONAL DIVIDE IN THE STATE POLITICS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH • The present-day Himachal Pradesh consists of two types of hill areas i.e the Punjab hills and the Shimla hills. • Shimla Hills: Before independence, the Shimla hills were ruled by native Princes. In these areas the people’s struggle was influenced by the nationalist movement in British India, but its object was never to overthrow or eliminate their Princely States. • Punjab Hills: The Punjab hill areas which joined Himachal Pradesh in 1966 were under direct British administrative control before independence. The people in these areas participated in the struggle for freedom with the specific objective of overthrowing the British rule.
    [Show full text]