TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015 INTERNATIONAL , US condemn beheadings of women, child

KANDAHAR: Afghan President Ashraf have control of the area and the claim demning “yesterday’s beheading of sev- spokesman, said the fighting in who have pledged allegiance to Islamic Ghani yesterday condemned the could not be independently verified. en civilians, including women and a Arghandab, Khak-Afghan and Daichopan State may also have been involved. beheading of a group of Shiite Hazaras, Groups associated with IS have made child” through its embassy in . Also districts continued yesterday, and had Seven members of the mainly Shia including a child, in the southern growing inroads in Afghanistan this year, yesterday Afghan officials said heavy left dozens of militants from both sides Hazara ethnic group, including three province of Zabul, the scene of deadly attracting fighters and support away fighting continued between militants killed and injured. The extent of the fight- women and a child, were found with clashes between rival Taleban groups. from disenchanted members of the from the two groups of in at least ing and more precise figures could not their throats cut on Sunday in an incident Local officials in said Taleban. three districts of Zabul province. be verified. police blamed on Islamic State militants. the headless bodies of four men, two “The heartless killing of innocent indi- The skirmishes, which first erupted on Meanwhile, rival groups of Taleban The fighting, in one of the Taleban’s tra- women and one child, who were kid- viduals, especially women and children, Saturday, involved fighters loyal to the militants have clashed in the southern ditional southern strongholds, underlined napped by armed men in October from has no justification in any religion or widely-recognised Taleban leader Mullah Afghan province of Zabul, killing as many the risk of fragmentation facing the neighboring Ghazni province, were creed,” Ghani said in a statement. Ghani, and fighters led by as 80 people in recent days, officials said Islamist movement since it announced ear- found in Khak-i-Afghan district of trou- who was “profoundly saddened” by the Mansoor . yesterday, as brewing hostility between lier this year that its founder, Mullah Omar, bled Zabul on Sunday. killing, said he would convene “an Dadullah is a deputy in the splinter factions in the insurgency turned violent. had died two years ago. A prolonged split The circumstances surrounding the extraordinary security meeting to seek group announced last week by Government officials and spokesmen for in the movement could further complicate beheadings are unclear. Some local offi- ways for tracking down and punishing Mohamed Rasool, in the first formal split the two main Taleban groups said fierce the resumption of peace talks with the cials pointed the finger at fighters from the perpetrators of this atrocious crime” within the Taleban since the death of fighting had been underway since the government, which broke down in July fol- the Islamic State group (IS) in the later yesterday. long-term leader Mullah Omar. Islam Gul weekend, with each side blaming the lowing the announcement of Mullah province, but the government does not The US also issued a statement con- Seyal, the provincial governor’s other for starting the violence. Insurgents Omar’s death. —Agencies Soul searching for Modi after crushing Bihar rout Indian PM urged to change tack after election defeat

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister ing tax and labor reforms, and now was that Modi sidelined too many banned poster showed a young Narendra Modi met leaders of his faces an opposition with political people. “Modi thinks he can do it Hindu woman embracing a gar- party yesterday to discuss momentum. all at once. He wants economic landed cow, an animal sacred to whether to overhaul policies and The election came against a growth, social and cultural revolu- Hindus. priorities in the wake of a humili- backdrop of concerns in India over tion, to win political battles and The BJP president was also criti- ating defeat in elections in the incidents in which Muslims have project himself as a statesman,” he cised for comments suggesting eastern state of Bihar. Modi and a been targeted by Hindu zealots. said. that if his party lost, the result dozen senior colleagues of his There have been protests by “If he wins then every voice of would be celebrated in arch-rival Hindu nationalist party, including prominent intellectuals at what dissent can be silenced, but if he Pakistan. its president Amit Shah, Finance they call a climate of rising intoler- fails then every voice of dissent is In contrast, Chief Minister Nitish Minister Arun Jaitley and Home ance. Some BJP lawmakers called going to build.” Kumar, who led the anti-Modi CHENNAI: Indians make their way on a flooded street in Chennai yesterday Minister Rajnath Singh, gathered for the party to promote a more alliance in Bihar, was able to trade following heavy rain from an approaching cyclonic system off the coast. at the party’s offices to analyse the unifying agenda focusing on eco- AGGRESSIVE TACTICS on his record of turning around a Indian meteorological authorities have issued a cyclone alert for the Bay of reasons for the defeat. nomic development, after a cam- The election was one of the state that was once widely consid- Bengal coast in Tamil Nadu. —AFP “There are lessons to be learnt,” paign in Bihar that sought to most vicious in recent years. At ered to be among India’s most cor- Jaitley told reporters after the meeting, without outlining NATO ponders future specifics. “In elections you win some and lose some.” Sunday’s loss in Bihar, India’s third most popu- of Afghan mission lous and poorest state, is the most significant setback for Modi since he won a crushing victory in a KABUL/ZARAGOZA: NATO partners are additional troops back to Afghanistan or general election last year. For the considering ways of beefing up their train- return to combat. first time since he came to power, ing and assistance mission in Afghanistan as There are fewer than 14,000 coalition party leaders are openly starting concern grows over the ability of local forces troops in the country, compared to around to question the direction of the to fight an escalating insurgency by Taliban 140,000 a few years ago. Previous plans to government. militants, according to officials in Brussels reduce the numbers further appear to be on The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Kabul. hold, and several nations have signalled office in New Delhi was virtually The Taleban’s success in seizing the they will extend their troop levels along with deserted yesterday, with only a northern city of Kunduz in late September the United States. few workers compiling newspaper and holding it for several days caused shock National Security Council spokesman clippings on the election defeat. among Afghanistan’s international partners, Tawab Ghorzang said the Afghan govern- Indian shares, bonds and the who have invested billions of dollars trying ment was happy with Resolute Support, rupee opened at six-week lows as to create a security force capable of stand- which had proved “very successful”. “We investors who had backed Modi ing on its own. hope that our friendly nations, especially the worried he would struggle to push “The situation is sobering, it is not as sta- RS mission, continue their support till the economic reforms through parlia- ble as we hoped it would be,” said General elimination of terrorism threats in ment against an emboldened Hans-Lothar Domroese, a veteran of Afghanistan,” he said in a statement. But opposition. They later regained Afghanistan who is Germany’s second-most after 14 years of fighting, with more than their footing. senior general in the NATO alliance. 3,000 coalition dead, there is little appetite Speaking at the margins of a NATO exercise in Western countries for deeper military PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, center, is surrounded by media personnel as he greets PARLIAMENTARY SETBACK supporters after victory in Bihar state elections in Patna on Sunday. The alliance led by Kumar in Spain, he said weak government control involvement in Afghanistan. The Bihar loss may hamper in many areas and corruption were making “We will not go into a new combat oper- defeated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party in a crucial elec- Modi’s reform agenda because he tion in one of India’s most populous states. —AP the job of reinforcing security more difficult, ation,” NATO Secretary General Jens needs to win most state elections but added: “If we don’t stay, they will drift Stoltenberg told reporters recently. At the in the next three years to gain full polarise voters along caste and one of dozens of election rallies rupt and lawless. into a maelstrom, and there is a significant same time, the tens of thousands of control of parliament. India’s states religious lines. addressed by Modi, he accused Arun Shourie, a minister in the danger that they get torn away.” refugees heading to Europe has highlighted are represented in the upper “We have to be single mindedly rival parties of snatching econom- last BJP government, called for a Ministers from NATO countries are due to one of the results of letting the country slide house, where the BJP lacks a focused on development, develop- ic benefits from lower-caste change in course. meet in early December to decide on the into anarchy, leaving governments with little majority. ment, development,” said Chandan Hindus and handing them over to “We should be grateful to the future of Resolute Support, the non-combat choice but to try to make the mission work The government announced Mitra, a BJP member of parlia- a religious minority, a comment people of Bihar because the direc- NATO-led mission launched in January to better. yesterday that parliament will ment. “We can’t afford to be dis- interpreted as a veiled reference to tion has been halted,” he told NDTV train, advise and assist the Afghan govern- resume for the winter session on tracted by anything else.” Muslims. The election commission news. Asked what went wrong with ment and security forces. “ROBUST ADVICE” Nov. 26. Over the last year, Modi A senior BJP leader, who asked banned several party posters they the party’s Bihar campaign, he said: Formally the NATO-Afghan agreement is “Robust advice is what we need,” has struggled to pass laws, includ- not to be named, said the problem said could incite hatred. One “Everything”. —Reuters open-ended, but in practice its future Domroese said, adding that as well as depends on member countries’ willingness improved close air support, thought should to commit troops and resources. be given to giving Afghan forces more access to intelligence and surveillance data Suu Kyi party chalks up wins “CAN’T HELP FOREVER” held back under existing rules. “If I can see Officials describe a sense of fatigue and there is somebody coming around the cor- doubt about the strategy of the coalition of ner and I can’t tell the Afghans, can’t enable NATO partners and allies following them, then you may have to tackle this issue in first Myanmar poll results Washington’s announcement it would again politically and rethink Resolute extend troop levels through most of 2016 Support,” Domroese said. Afghan officials YANGON: Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro- “on track to win more than 70 percent of seats al of its heavyweights-including its chairman-lost due to worsening security. have repeatedly pleaded for help in areas democracy party yesterday cheered in growing around the country”. He did not specify if the per- their seats. But the NLD shied away from an out- “Nobody is pleased with the progress,” like close air support when forces come excitement as early results from Myanmar’s his- centage would translate into power under right declaration of victory, with election authori- said one NATO diplomat in Brussels, who under attack by the Taliban, but a lack of toric election boosted hopes of sweeping gains Myanmar’s complex political system. ties expected to release results in several waves spoke on condition of anonymity. “The equipment and trained personnel has made to carry it to power after decades of military Sunday’s elections saw millions line up to cast deep into Monday night. alliance’s forces can’t keep helping forever ... strengthening the tiny air force difficult. dominance. their ballots in what many hope will mark a dra- Suu Kyi, who is still barred from the presidency Right now we are helping them more than However, some Western officials express Election authorities have so far released only a matic leap towards democracy in the Southeast under the army-drafted constitution, remained we’d like.” scepticism about the value of extending a small fraction of the results, but of the 36 Asian nation, which withered under the iron grip cautious, but hinted at victory. However, no one Reuters spoke to mission to support an ill-paid, sometimes announced the National League for Democracy of junta rule for decades.The NLD, which holds a “It is not the time to congratulate our candi- expected a major overhaul of the mission, or demoralised security force riddled with cor- has scooped 35, in a psychological boost to tiny proportion of seats clinched in 2012 by-elec- dates who we think have won the election,” she suggested NATO members would send ruption. —Reuters crowds of Suu Kyi supporters gathered in front of tions, is shooting for 67 percent of elected seats in told supporters and journalists from the balcony her party headquarters in Yangon Monday the national legislature to be able to select a presi- of her party’s Yangon headquarters. evening. dent and form a government. But “people have an idea of the result even if I “We’ll win tonight, we’ll stay until we win any- That would be enough to overwhelm the don’t say it,” she added. Election authorities have GE wins $2.6bn contract way,” said 24-year-old Wanna Htay, sporting a USDP and their military allies-who are gifted 25 said that preliminary figures would be released Scarlett bandana with the party’s iconic fighting percent of seats by a constitution scripted to within 48 hours of Sunday’s vote, and a full nation- to make trains in India peacock motif as the crowd sung and cheered ensure they still have a major stake in the future. wide count could take 10 days or more. around him. The army-backed USDP, or Union Solidarity and NEW DELHI: The Indian government country to spur growth in domestic Earlier party spokesman Win Htein told AFP Development Party, said it was ready for a wipe- Change afoot? has awarded a $2.6 billion contract manufacturing. Modi, who won a that unofficial tallies showed the opposition was out in the commercial capital Yangon, while sever- In its Yangon stronghold, the NLD took 12 low- to General Electric to develop and landslide election last year with the er-house seats and 23 more for the regional parlia- supply Indian Railways with 1,000 promise of creating jobs by fostering ment. The USDP, appearing increasingly belea- diesel locomotives over a period of a business friendly environment, has guered, has taken just one Yangon regional parlia- 11 years, a company statement said touted India’s policy reforms and ment seat so far. yesterday. In accordance with the faster project clearances to seek Early NLD victories includes a win for Naing Ngan Linn, who was injured in a dramatic sword contract, GE is set to invest $200 mil- investment in the country. attack while out canvassing on October 29 in lion to build a factory and mainte- India’s vast but crumbling railway Tharketa township on the city’s fringes. nance sheds in the country, in what network has received special atten- The sitting MP was hospitalised with deep is being touted as the company’s tion under Modi’s government, with gashes to his arms and face after the attack, appar- largest deal in their 100-year history Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu ently by a drunken local gang, in what the party in India. pledging to spend around $137 bil- described as the worst incident of violence during “It is a major advancement and lion to modernise it over the next its campaign. But he was back on the campaign milestone for India and for GE, a five years. trail just a few days later. Even the state-backed symbol of our commitment and sup- As a part of this effort, the Indian Global New Light of Myanmar declared the “dawn port of the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” government last year also allowed of a new era”, while USDP heavyweight Shwe GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt 100 percent foreign direct invest- Mann conceded on his Facebook page that he said in a statement. ment (FDI) in the railway sector. had lost his seat to his NLD challenger. The “Make in India” initiative is “(The) diesel locomotive project The junta nominally gave up power in 2011, and one of Indian Prime Minister marks one of the first major initia- the country has since spun through rapid change, Narendra Modi’s flagship policies, tives of FDI in enhancing India’s rail with the quasi-civilian USDP government launching aimed at seeking larger amounts of locomotive capacity,” GE said in the YANGON: Supporters of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party cheer reforms that brought the end of most international foreign direct investment (FDI) in the statement. —AFP sanctions. But the USDP was braced for major loss- as they watch the official results on a giant screen outside the party headquarters in es and some local media called on President Thein Yangon yesterday. —AFP Sein to concede without delay. —AFP