Eye on the News [email protected] Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:XI Issue No:231 Price: Afs.20

www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes SATURDAY . MARCH 25. 2017 -Hamal 05, 1396 HS

77 insurgents killed in raids: MoD AT News Report KABUL: The Ministry of Defense has said that Seventy-seven insur- gents, including twenty-two Daesh militants have been killed and sixteen others sustained heavy injuries in military operations car- ried out by the Afghan security forces in different parts of the country during past 24 hours. In a statement, the MoD said that military operations had been conducted in Logar, Khost, Pak- tia, Kapisa, Faryab, Herat, Kan- dahar, Helmand and Kunduz prov- inces. Twenty-three militants, in- cluding seven foreign terrorists have been killed and three others wounded in the Pashtonkot dis- trict of Faryab, the statement said, adding that 15 motorcycles, a ma- chine gun and anti aircraft guns were also seized. Moreover, twenty-two more insurgents have been killed in Nesh district of Kandahar and some oth- er militants loyal to the Daesh loy- AT Monitoring Desk itary assistance. This comes after Reuters re- alists were killed in Nazyan dis- “We want India’s cooperation ported that India estimates it would trict of eastern Nangarhar prov- KABUL: The Ministry of De- fense (MoD) has welcomed India’s in any sector which is the inter- cost close to $50 million USD for ince. According to the statement, ests of the two countries. India is new parts and repairs to 11 three militants have been killed in decision to consider whether to pay for repairs to grounded heli- a friend of Afghanistan and we are grounded Soviet-made Mi-35 he- Kunduz and four in Laghman. The independent countries,” Waziri licopters and seven transport air- Afghan security forces are brave- copters and transport planes from the Afghan Air Force as part of told TOLONews. craft, after a team of Indian experts ly and successfully chasing insur- “India knows what Afghani- assessed the Afghan air force’s gency across the country by con- their willingness to step up mili- tary assistance to Kabul. stan needs militarily,” the sources needs last year. ducting air and ground operations quoted a military analyst, Muhs- “We have been looking at the against the insurgent outfits. The Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Defense Ministry said en Mukhtar as saying. scale of the challenge the ANSF recent military operations have “India has knowledge of the (Afghan National Security Forc- been resulted in heavy human los- “friendship between Afghanistan and India does not mean enmity military needs of Afghanistan, be- es) faces, particularly in one seg- es to the militant groups which is cause Afghanistan is of unique im- ment, close air support,” Ambas- a big development and encourag- with another nation.” According to him, New Delhi has positively portance to India and wants a sta- sador Manpreet Vohra said this ing start of the New Year. More- ble Afghanistan,” Mukhtar said. week as quoted by Reuters. over, the Afghan government has responded to Kabul’s call for mil- backed the US call to deploy more troops in Afghanistan to overcome any new threat, posing by mili- AT News Report tants and also help Afghan securi- Russia says ty forces to nip the evil in the bud. KABUL: Hamid Karzai, the Pakistan former president blamed the Unit- USrefused ed States and its allies for what he said “taking wrong policy” in Af- encourages to attend Sopko ghanistan, resulting terrorists more power. “One decade and half ago, highlights the US and its allies came to our Afghanistan country with full cooperation from Taliban to attend major the important regional countries conference with the aim of fight against ter- corruption rorism. Unfortunately, by the Moscow meeting The Russian Foreign Ministry said wrong US policies not only this on Friday that the United States cases among inauspicious phenomenon was not KABUL : Seven Afghan Taliban peaceful solution to Afghanistan’s had told Moscow it would not take removed, but terrorism and extre- leaders held talks with Pakistani protracted war with the Taliban as part in a conference on Afghani- Afghan forces mis became more powerful,” official in Islamabad last week in security across Afghanistan dete- stan in the Russian capital in April, Karzai addressed the people in his an attempt to press the group into riorated and the Islamic State group a decision the ministry said it re- New Year message. “Even the peace talks a head of international gretted, the Interfax news agency threatened to expand its foothold reported. Moscow is still unaware The Special Inspector General for Daesh also emerged.” He added conference on Afghanistan in Mos- in the region. that the expansion of terrorism and of the new U.S. administration's Afghanistan Reconstruction, John cow next month, a media report Islamabad has been under in- F. Sopko, at an event in Duke Uni- extremism caused Afghanistan to claimed on Friday. stance on Afghanistan, the minis- versity in the United States made turn to the ground for confronta- The Two Taliban officials who ternational pressure to try and try was cited as saying. shocking remarks on ‘corruption’ tion of different regional countries, talked to AP said the militant lead- bring Taliban leaders, who have (REUTERS) among Afghan forces as he said the instead of regional cooperation. a new agreement with the people of China, the Republic of India as ers used the Islamabad gathering, lived in Pakistan since their rule in combination of corruption and Karzai called on the government of Afghanistan for bringing peace, well as the Shanghai and SAARC which took place last week, to Afghanistan was overthrown in poor leadership in the security forc- and people to take a national step instead of increasing the number organizations vital in the Afghan press their own demands, includ- the 2001 US invasion, to some Suicide es in Afghanistan is the root cause and policy put an end to the ten- of its troops that will undoubted- peace. The former president again ing that Pakistan free Taliban fig- form of negotiations with Kabul. for their ‘ineffectiveness’. sions, paving the ground for peace. ly cause the war intensifying.” emphasized that neither Afghani- ures from its jails. However, successive attempts “Without question, the top The ex-president “once again” He asked the United States to stan, nor Pakistan and the region The two officials, who were have faltered and failed. attacks two challenges in Afghanistan are called the Taliban to take part in clarify to the regional and world would be safe unless Pakistani gov- familiar with the Islamabad meet- Last year Pakistan, Afghani- corruption and the lack of capaci- the national step and fulfill their countries why terrorism and ex- ernment and its military officials ing, spoke to AP on condition of stan, China and the United States ty of the Afghan security forces. religious responsibility in bringing tremis are expanding, attracting stop supporting and using extrem- anonymity, fearing reprisals by met to jumpstart the peace pro- planner held And in many cases, the two go peace. “Also, my advice to the US their cooperation to a real struggle ism. “My advice to Pakistan is to Pakistani authorities who have not cess but that effort faltered after a hand in hand,” he said. government is to seek its presence against terrorism in Afghanistan. urgently review its policies for confirmed the meeting. series of deadly Kabul attacks that "Commanders in the Afghan in Afghanistan in peace, not in the Karzai called the roles of the Afghanistan. It should adopt a The international community Afghanistan blamed on militants in overnight military steal the food that you continuation of war,” Karzai said. Islamic Republic or Iran, Russian friendly relationship with us, not has stepped up efforts to find a hiding in Pakistan. (Pajhwok) pay for and force their soldiers to “The US would be better to reach Federation, the People’s Republic a destructive one.” buy it back. We hear story after Kapisa raid story of commanders who steal the fuel, sell it to the Taliban, who take the weapons we-you-pay for and sell it to the Taliban," Sopko said. "The irony of it is, the terror- ists are at the end of our supply chain." He mentioned about ‘ghost soldiers’ among Afghan security forces and said their salaries are Moscow has dismissed US allega- NATO’s Supreme Allied Com- 1989,” Russian Defense Ministry iban insurgents in Afghanistan as even facilitating the creation of taken by higher ranking command- tions that it may be supplying mander in Europe, said that he had spokesman Major General Igor evidence-free and absurd. “The training camps for the militants on ers. “Ghost soldiers exist because Taliban insurgents as a “complete seen “Russian influence” on Af- Konashenkov said in a statement. Russian side is accused of supply- the Afghan territory. Needless to names are either added - or never fabrication,” saying the charge is ghan Taliban insurgents who are Earlier this month, the Russian ing the Taliban movement with say, all this is not supported by removed - from the Afghan pay- Washington’s attempt to cover up gaining momentum, raising the Foreign Ministry dismissed US weapons, financing the activities any evidence,” the ministry said MAHMOOD RAQI : Security roll, and their salaries are pocket- for its own failures in Afghanistan. possibility that none other than claims that Moscow supports Tal- of this extremist organization and in a statement. (.RT) forces have arrested organiser of ed by higher ranking commanders. “Those are utterly false asser- Moscow helped supply the mili- suicide attacks in central Kapisa When their commanders act in this tions, and we have reacted to such tants. “I’ve seen the influence of province, an official said on Fri- way, how can we be surprised [allegations] on several occasions. Russia of late,” the top US general day. Police spokesman Moham- when 75 percent of all personnel It is not even worth a reaction since in Europe told a senate hearing, as mad Ayub Yousufzai told Pajhwok losses to the Afghan security forc- those statements are fabrications cited by Reuters. Afghan News Abdul Matin, ac- es are due to soldiers simply walk- designed to justify the failure of While speaking of “increased cused of organising suicide attacks, ing away?” Sopko said. “The cur- the US military and politicians in influence in terms of association was captured in the Special Forc- rent Resolute Support command- the Afghan campaign,” Zamir Kab- and perhaps even supply to the es raid Thursday night in the Reg- er, General John Nicholson, is ac- ulov, the Russian Foreign Minis- Taliban,” the official offered no ev- i-Rawan locality of Mahmood tively trying to tackle this prob- try’s director of the Second Asian idence to back up the claims and Raqi, the provincial capital. “Mil- lem, but the number of ghost per- Department in Afghanistan, told provided no sources for the seri- itary uniforms, hand grenades, sonnel may go into the tens of thou- RIA Novosti on Friday. ous allegation. Kalashnikovs and some other sands,” he added. In his speech, “They are looking for some- The allegations do not require weapons have been recovered from he focused on corruption in secu- one to blame [for their failures] ev- any serious analysis, the Russian Matin who wanted the use them rity agencies and mentioned about erywhere other than in Washing- Defense Ministry said on Friday. in suicide attacks,” he said. Some the $117 billion USD spent by the ton,” Kabulov, who served as Rus- “The Pentagon’s inability to sta- years back Mahmood Raqi was United States in Afghanistan over sian envoy to Afghanistan in 2004- bilize the situation in Afghanistan rocked by a suicide car bombing. the past 15 years. “To date, over 2009 and is currently a special rep- during the 16 years of its presence According to the local officials the $117 billion dollars have been ap- resentative of the Russian presi- there has been explained by Gen- explosive-laden car entered the propriated for the Afghanistan re- dent, said. eral Scaparrotti by alleged machi- provincial capital from Reg-i-Raw- construction effort by the United On Thursday, US Army Gen- nations from Russia, even though an area where militants have strong States alone. (Tolo News) eral Curtis Scaparrotti, who is Russia has not been there since presence. (Pajhwok) SATURDAY . MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES SATURDAY . MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Pak-Afghan cooperation Debt bondage critical to has serious eliminate terrorism consequences for Pakistan Ambassador to Af- ghanistan, Syed Abrar Hussain, communities has underscored the need for KABUL : Some individuals lend Unwilling to speak much, Ibra- close cooperation between Pa- money to poor families that are him said: “We also have Allah.” kistan and Afghanistan to ad- forced into hard labour -- a prac- (Both Siddique and Ibrahim are dress the common challenges tice called human trafficking under assumed names.) of terrorism and extremism. He the law. In a number of provinces, I have not wronged the family, said both countries were fac- including Kabul, some impover- rather have helped: Orchard own- ing social, economic and secu- ished households have been lent er Haji Jalal is the owner of the EMERGENCY rity problems and it was es- money and given low-wage jobs orchard where Ghulam Siddique sential to forge closer cooper- on orchards, at homes, shops, and Ibrahim work all day long in a CALLS ation to overcome these diffi- bricks kilns, farmlands and other bid to pay back their debt. culties. He expressed these places. He said: “The family came to Police views while addressing the Indebted families and individ- me two years back and asked for uals work for lenders, but with the money and work. I lent them mon- participants at a flag hoisting passage of time, their debt burden ey and gave them work o my or- 100 - 119 ceremony held in the Embas- balloons. Ghulam Siddique, a resi- chard.” sy today. dent of the Qarabagh district of He lent them 50,000 afghanis The Ambassador high- Kabul, is one of such workers. and in return the family pledge Hospitals lighted, in his address, the his- A father of nine, he is com- working in the orchard. Jalal torical significance of Pakistan pelled to work along with his 14- claimed helping the family with- FMIC Hospital Resolution of 23rd March, 1940 year-old son on an orchard all day out doing them anything wrong. Behind Kabul Medical which successfully paved the long. Their job involves a lot of The family would have been in way for a separate homeland hard labour. deeper trouble if he had not come University: for the Muslims of South Asia. Tragedy and continuing chal- to their rescue, the man insisted. 0202500200-+93793275595 He paid rich tributes to Quaid- lenges of Ghulam Sediq Jalal added said the household e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jin- At 40, Siddique has visible was free to leave the orchard and Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital nah and the Muslims of Sub- wrinkles on his dark visage due to go anywhere they wanted when Continent for their untiring ef- hard labour and there were more they paid back his money. Pule Bagh-e- Umomi forts and immense sacrifices signs of tiredness and disappoint- AIHRC: Need for comprehen- 070263672 ment in his face. sive and practical strategy to pre- that led to the creation of a sep- With a spade in his hand stand- vent this phenomenon arate homeland. Mr. Hussain ing near a canal, the man told Pajh- Najibullah Babrakzai, an offi- Khairkhana Hospital said the Day reminded us to wok Afghan News he had bor- cial at the Afghanistan Independent work collectively to build a rowed money from an orchard Human Rights Commission 0799-321007 strong and stable Pakistan. He owner two years back. (AIHRC), confirmed many chil- 2401352 said that Pakistan had made “Two years back, I didn’t have dren in different provinces, includ- remarkable progress in various cooking oil, sugar or flour to feed ing Kabul, were involved in hard fields since independence but my family. Some of my family labour. He quoted AIHRC observ- Indira Gandhi Children still there were challenges members were sick. I didn’t know ers as saying some children were which required unity and sin- what to do. I came to the orchard involved in hard labour at brick Hospital, Wazir Akbar cerity to overcome them. The owner and asked him for a loan. kilns, hospitals, workshops, mar- Khan, Kabul 2301372 Ambassador also reaffirmed his After a pause, he took a quick kets and other places. GENEVA : The United Nations addition to that, we expect more children died before their first country’s commitment to elim- look at his past and said: “I asked He, however, explained they reports humanitarian conditions in returns of vulnerable families from birthday. for a small amount of money, but had not yet received any report Afghanistan are deteriorating, with Pakistan who will in fact not re- UNICEF spokesman, Chris- ination of extremism and ter- Ibn-e- Seena ror. In this regard, he highlight- the orchard owner gave me 50,000 about whole families forced to children at great risk of dying at an turn to their homestead, but con- tophe Boulierac, calls malnutrition afghanis on condition that my fam- work on orchards in return for Pul-e-Artan, Kabul ed the anti-terror achievements early age from lack of health care tinue to be displaced, but inside a silent emergency. He says more ily and I will work on his orchard.” loans. “However, we will investi- and proper nutrition. Afghanistan. They return typical- than 41 percent of Afghan children made under the Zarb-e-Azb During the past two years, gate this too.” 2100359 The United Nations reports ly with very little, very few or no under age five are stunted, one of and Rad-ul-Fassad Operations. they have been unable to return Babrakzai has informed Social 9.3 million people in Afghanistan assets at all and they really need the highest rates in the world. The Ambassador also em- the amount borrowed from the or- Affairs Ministry and other gov- Wazir Akbar Khan will need humanitarian assistance our support.” Laerke says it is like- “Stunting, as you know, is a phasized the need for cooper- chard owner; they have no option ernment institutions about grow- this year. The world body has ap- ly more life-saving interventions sign of chronic undernutrition dur- ation against militancy and ter- but to sweat it out on the 20 acres ing child labour. He asked the gov- Hospital pealed for $550 million to support will be needed to deal with acute ing the most critical periods of rorism. He said that Pakistan garden. ernment to devise a strategy for 2301741, 2301743 5.6 million of the most vulnerable health and nutrition emergencies growth and development in early was strongly committed to the There are grape, apple, pears, rescuing children from hard labour. people. this year. The U.N. children’s fund life," said Boulierac. "Children who peace and stability in Afghan- palm and other trees in the orchard. UNICEF: Forced labour has U.N. Office of the Coordina- says children and mothers will be suffer from stunting are more like- istan, and had made sincere ef- “I am caught in a lot of economic deprived children of education Ali Abad tion of Humanitarian Affairs at great risk. The agency calls Af- ly to contract diseases, less likely forts in this regard. A peaceful problems. I don’t know when I Azizullah Frotan, spokesman Shahrara, Kabul spokesman Jens Laerke says this ghanistan one of the most danger- to access basic health care, and do and prosperous Afghanistan will get rid of this loan.” for the United Nations Interna- is nearly one third of the Afghan ous places in the world to be a not perform well in school.” was not only in the interest of He said they were give one- tional Children's Emergency Fund 2100439 population and 13 percent more baby, a child or mother because of Indeed, Boulierac notes Af- fourth of the orchard produce at (UNICEF), acknowledged many than the number of U.N. benefi- limited access to health care. ghanistan’s education system has Pakistan but of the whole re- gion. He assured that Pakistan the end of the year; they could minors involved in labour, partic- ciaries in 2016. “We expect very UNICEF reports thousands of been devastated by more than three barely meet their daily needs. Like ularly those working on orchard, Malalai Maternity would continue its efforts for high levels of conflict-induced dis- Afghan women die every year decades of conflict. He says 3.5 him, a number of other people are were deprived of education. Hospital placement and already this year, from largely preventable pregnan- million children do not go to the reconstruction and devel- faced with a similar fate. He said UNICEF provided over 38,000 people have been cy-related causes. In 2015, it says school. An estimated 75 percent opment of Afghanistan. 14-year-old Ibrahim: There is education facilities for such chil- 2201377/ 2301743 newly displaced," said Laerke. "In more than one in every 18 Afghan of them are girls. (VOANEWS) (Press Release) God for us too! dren in villages and far-flung areas. Ibrahim, a teenager, comes to He said the programme was being the orchard along with his father implemented in 18 provinces. Banks at dawn and returns home at dusk. The UN agency plans to ex- Clad in thin clothes in the harsh tend the programme to 20 more Da Afghanistan Bank winter, he told Pajhwok: “I nei- provinces. 2100302, 2100303 ther go to school nor play games. According to Frotan, 130,000 On a daily basis, I have to come to children, including 70,000 girls, Bakhtar Bank the orchard early I the morning and were benefited by the initiative. go back home in the evening.” Asked why the programme 0776777000 Ibrahim, having a pale face, was not being implemented in sunken eyes and weak physique, Kabul, he replied they would do Azizi Bank said: “In breakfast, I sip green tea so if requested by the Ministry of 0799 700900 The National Football Team won scored the second goal of Afghan- and eat plain bread. In lunch I eat Education (MoE). a friendly match against Singapore istan and with this they succeeded cabbage, potato or other vegeta- Ministry of Justice: Law for- Pashtany Bank by 2-1 in Doha on Thursday night. to win the match against Singapore. bles.” In response to a query, Ibra- bids forced labour 2102908, 2103868 The first goal of the match was The Afghan squad members him said he last ate meat at a re- Aman Riyazat, the Ministry scored by Sharif Mohammad in who have traveled to Qatar for ception two months ago. of Justice (MoJ) spokesman, said the 5th minute while Singapore friendly matches are as follows: “I wish we were moneyed and 12 legislative decrees had been is- Air Services scored their first goal in the 47th • Owais Azizi, Hamidullah my sisters, brothers and I could go sued, seeking a halt to forced la- minute of the game. Wakili, Kawesh Haidari as goal- to school. If we were rich, our woes bour that involved children. Safi Airways Afghanistan also did show one keepers; would have been fewer.” The decrees want individuals or two positive signs, with Faisal • Husain Amini, Sayed Hashi- Looking tired, he said: “I also involved in hard labour to be 020 22 22 222 Shayistah looking to run the show mi, Farzad Ataee, Mujib Jamali, ka Tahir, Abasin Alikhail, Faisal Shayista, Farshad Noor, Noorullah long to play and wear new clothes. brought under investigation. for them, although they failed to Sharif Mohammad, Arash Atifi, Amiri, Omid Popalzai, Milad Salim, Zubair Amiri, Mustafa Azadzoi On return home at dusk, I feel so But he did not explain who has Ariana really trouble Hassan again. Binjamin Najm, Husain Alizada, and Fardin Hakimi as center players; • Khairbar Amani, Jabbar Sharza exhausted, eat some food and been prosecuted for forcing chil- However, in the 57th minute Omid Entezar and Rohullah and Amruddin Sharif will play in defend line. The Afghan team will play sleep.” dren into hard labour. (Pajhwok) 020-2100270 of the match Mustafa Azadzoi Eqbalzada as defenders; • Kanish- against Vietnam in their next match. (Tolo News) Kam Air Azizi Bank launches the Green Campaign in 0799974422 ETISALAT RECOGNIZEDAS Kabul as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility Hotels THENUMBERONEBRAND initiatives for a Greener Afghanistan Safi Landmark Azizi Bank planted more than 020-2203131 1250 saplings in the vicinity of Brand Finance, a leading indepen- passed move from a rating of AA- Kabul city on its endeavor to see a SERENA dent branded business valuation last year to AA+ in 2017. This is extend its customer base to 6 mil- greener Kabul in association with and strategy consultancy, in its lat- the first time Brand Finance has Kabul Municipality. The cam- 0799654000 est evaluation ranked Etisalat the evaluated a brand based on its prod- lion. ‘We have always put our- paign was officially flagged off number one brand in the sector of ucts, services and achievements. from the Kabul University where telecommunications in the Middle Headquartered in UAE and selves at the leading edge of prod- New Rumi Restaurant uct development and innovation more than 100 trees were planted East. with its footprint in more than 18 in the presence of the Mayor – 0776351347 The ranking was based on Eti- countries in Asia, Africa and Mid- with passion to meet and surpass our valued customers` expecta- Kabul Municipality, Chancellor- salat‘s unique brand activities, in- dle East, Etisalat is offering un- Kabul University, Special guests Internet Services ternational sponsorship projects matched voice and data services for tions.’ said Dr. Salah Zerguerras, Etisalat Afghanistan CEO. In- from the University of Poland, UA Telecom such as sponsorship of FC Barce- over 170 million happy custom- CEO & DY. CEO - Azizi Bank & lona, involvement in local benefi- ers. spired by its parent company, Eti- 0796701701 / 0796702702 salat Afghanistan has been a pio- other distinguished guests and cial events as well as increase in Meanwhile, maintaining the media. revenue. reputation as an affiliate of Etis- neer in introducing innovative tele- com services and has strived to Thereafter a team was formed and Exchange Rate Among several key factors alat group and the fastest growing plantations took places at the fol- Bank will continue its endeavor for stan have placed a strong Corpo- contributing to Etisalat‘s current telecom operator in Afghanistan, support societies by programs tar- geting individuals and businesses. lowing areas of Kabul City – Air- a Greener Afghanistan and will rate Social Responsibility plans for Purchase: position, was company‘s unsur- Etisalat Afghanistan managed to port Road, Darulaman Road, shortly move into the other pro- the year and will continue to sup- Qargha Road, Dahan-e-Bagh Road vincial locations. Azizi Bank, the port the cause of the society. and Arzan Qemat Road. Azizi largest banking group in Afghani- PRESS RELEASE One US$ = 66.75Afs One Pound Sterling= 80.87Afs One Euro = 70.05Afs An Afghan-American businessman malzada said, “the land for the sta- will build Perozi stadium worth dium purchased, now its fund rais- 1000 Pak Rs = $270 million in 100 acres of land ing time for the project, and the 611Afs close to Qargha lake in Kabul city, location of the stadium has deter- saying the lands has been pur- mined close to Qargha lake Kabul Sale: chased and efforts are underway city.” Most of the company rep- One US$ = to collect the amount money for resentatives who attended the 68.30 Afs the construction of the stadium. gathering praised the efforts. One One Pound Sterling= Afghan-American Investor Atta of the represent ivies of the com- 81.67Afs Amin said, “Memorandum of Un- pany said, “Now we are waiting have standard soccer to hold match derstanding was signed with the to see the action steps to be tak- games, hopes are underway to see One Euro= land owners, and work processed en.” No word shared over the date the soccer matches to be hosted in 72.50 Afs up to 80 percent so far.” Mean- and timing of the construction for the stadium which will be built in 1000 Pak Rs= 631 while Afghan singer Muzhda Ja- the stadium. Afghanistan does not the future in Kabul. (ATN) SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES U.S. targets more than 200 I ndians for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nation awaits the verdict of Pana- by a Qatari prince claimed that the London properties were proceeds of their real estate businesses in which chairman Imran Khan has said that ma Papers which will mark the the prime minister’s father, Mian Muhammad Sharif, had invested 12 million dirhams in 1980. (TRIBUNE) the Qatari letter was meant to cover beginning of a new era.” It is hoped deportation, up the money laundering by Sharif that the verdict will be issued some- family. time next week. No powerful per- On February 23, the Supreme son is ever held accountable in the says I ndia’s Court reserved its verdict in the country, he added. Imran also an- ongoing Panamagate case. The fam- nounced to move the court in the ily of Prime Minister Nawaz LNG case once the Panama Papers Sharif was named in the Panama case is resolved. He accused the top diplomat Papers, one of the biggest docu- rulers of appointing their near and ment leaks in history. dear ones in the institutions. The leak, comprising 11.5 mil- PTI chairman also criticised, lion documents from Panama- who he said, used to utter abuse based law firm Mossack Fonseca, against Pakistan Army. “To utter shows how some of the world’s things against Pakistan Army is most powerful people have secret- tantamount to treason.” ed away their money in offshore On January 26, Sharif family jurisdictions. submitted another letter from a “Everyone knows that the Qatari prince in the Supreme Court Qatari letter came to cover up the to establish the money trail of Lon- money laundering,” Imran told don apartments. journalists in Lahore on Friday. Sharifs present another letter SC reserves judgment in Pan- from Qatari prince to establish amagate case London flats’ money trail Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif In the letter, Qatari Prince thought that the letter will save Hamad Bin Jasim Bin Jaber Al him the same way it saved him Thani claimed that an investment when the helicopter scandal sur- of 12 million dirhams contributed faced, Imran added. by Mian Muhammad Sharif (fa- He went on to add that the ther of PM Nawaz) was made “by Qatari family was awarded a ten- way of provision of cash”. der amounting to Rs200billion [by In November last year, the Sharifs] without the due process Sharif family revealed that the four NEW DELHI : The Trump admin- cording to a September report from of bidding. It is also a matter of luxury apartments were purchased istration recently informed India the Pew Research Center in Wash- fact, Imran maintained, that Sharif through offshore investments in- that it is targeting for deportation ington. Many of these unautho- family had admitted that the Qa- volving a member of the Qatari more than 270 Indian nationals liv- rized immigrants from India and tari family were their business part- royal family. ing in the United States illegally, elsewhere in Asia arrived with le- ners. Chairman PTI added, “The A letter purportedly written according to India’s foreign minis- gal status and overstayed their vi- ter. sas, according to Department of The Indian government has Homeland Security statistics, the asked for further information from report’s authors noted. Washington before allowing depor- In a separate study, Pew re- UN urges Sri Lanka tations, Sushma Swaraj said dur- searchers found that an estimated ing a question period in the upper 12,885 Indian citizens had over- house of India’s Parliament on stayed their visas in fiscal year to investigate civil Thursday. 2015, far fewer than some other “Until we verify the national- countries including Canada and ities of these people, how do we Mexico. Bangladesh shares a lot of sim- believe the claims in the list?” Thousands of Indian comput- ilarities with Thailand in terms of war atrocities Swaraj said. “We have asked the er engineers come to the United culture and civilisation, Tasneem U.S. government for more infor- States every year on high skilled said. “Culturally, we are similar. mation and told them that we will temporary H-1B visas, a program Our water festival of Songkran is give an emergency certificate for that has also been targeted for re- the same as your Songkran on their deportation only after estab- form. The Trump administration April 14. Our language is Sanskrit lishing their Indian nationalities.” has moved aggressively to fulfill and Pali, which has been embeded There is growing concern in the president’s campaign promis- in the Thai language for a long time. India over treatment of its citizens es on immigration since he took The word Suvarnaphumi is a pure in the United States after a high- office in January, announcing Bengali word,” she said. profile shooting of an Indian com- plans to build a wall and increas- While the Royal Family puter engineer in Olathe, Kan., in ing enforcement actions against il- knows Bangladesh very well, Thai February, and other suspected legal immigrants. people – even the well-educated – hate crimes. The administration is report- do not know very much about the There was no immediate com- edly considering wide-ranging new country, she said, adding that she ment from the Trump administra- policies that could empower au- had put a lot of effort into educat- tion on the purported deportation thorities to detain and deport ille- ing Thai people and possiblly plan, which Swaraj said could cov- gal immigrants, add new officers change perceptions about the coun- try. Only 5,000 Thai people visit er up to 271 people. and quicken the pace of deporta- BANGLADESH HAS called for by the end of April or early May, Bangladesh annually. In order to The number of unauthorized tion hearings. The Trump Admin- the resumption of Joint Commis- she added. have more cooperation and closer immigrants in the United States istration also began releasing its sion (JC) meetings with Thailand The two countries’ foreign born in India increased by about weekly list of unauthorized immi- ties between the two countries, to forge cooperation and consult ministers will touch on various is- particularly encouraging mutual 130,000 between 2009 to 2014 to grants who commit crimes this on issues left unresolved years af- sues for bilateral cooperation such trips, Tasneem urged Thai author- an estimated 500,000 people, ac- week. (WASHINGTONPOST) ter the previous meeting, as Dha- as visas and strategic and security ities to ease visa restrictions for ka expresses interest in closer ties cooperation, she said. “The two Bangladeshis to visit Thailand. At and more action on issues of mu- countries do not have a mechanism least, an exemption of visas for tual interest with the Kingdom. for security matters and we have diplomats and officials should be Sonia Gandhi back The JC, a high level mecha- had a proposal for quite some time implemented, as Bangladesh has nism co-chaired by foreign minis- to have a joint taskforce for com- with many Asean countries. “I ters of the two countries, oversees bating transnational crimes such as believe if the Thai government eases bilateral relations in various as- drugs trafficking and terrorism,” the visa regime, the country would in India after pects including politics, econom- she said. The diplomatic relation- MARCH : Though Sri Lanka’s to cooperate. The current govern- have double the number of visi- ics and security. “This joint com- ship between Bangladesh and Thai- government has made progress on ment, headed by Maithripala tors from the current 500,000 investigating abuses perpetrated Sirisena, came to power in Janu- mission is long overdue. We want land was established following Bangladeshi visiting Thailand. A 'health check up' a discussion on more political in- Thailand’s recognition of Bang- during the country’s decades-long ary 2015, and the international large number of visa applications teraction between the two govern- ladesh on October 5, 1972. Tas- civil war, much remains to be done, community was optimistic that were refused over the past years,” NEW DELHI: Congress president Pradesh, in a thundering landslide ments,” said Bangladesh’s Ambas- neem said the late King Bhumibol the United Nations indicated the new government would be she said. Easing visas would ben- Sonia Gandhi, who was away victory, also winning Uttarakhand sador to Thailand Saida Muna Tas- and HM King Maha Vajiralongko- Wednesday. more willing to prosecute abuses. efit Thailand because Bangladeshis abroad for a "health check-up" and managing to cobble together neem. rn had played crucial roles in rela- Speaking to the UN Human But that cooperation hasn’t love to visit the Kingdom for med- since early March, returned to a coalitions headed by it in Goa and The last JC meeting in tions between the two countries. Rights Council, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hus- materialized. Although President ical purposes, tourism, shopping, politically much-changed India to- in Manipur. Bangkok was held in 1998 so Dha- HM the King visited Bangladesh sein, the UN High Commissioner Sirisena, a member of the majority business and conferences, she said. day. To be sure, Sonia's also back ka was looking forward to the vis- twice since 1992 while he was for Human Rights, reported on the Sinhalese community, won the Bangladesh also wanted to have Sonia was accompanied by her to see the Congress back in power it of Thai Foreign Minister Don Crown Prince. HRH Princess situation in Sri Lanka still dealing support of the Tamil minority by son Rahul, who flew out of India in Punjab where it won a convinc- more economic cooperation on with the aftermath of a 26-year promising accountability, he has Pramuwinai, who had agreed in Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also vis- trade and investment with Thai- March 16 to escort her back. The ing victory. principle to visit Bangladesh by ited the country twice and has a civil war that ended in 2009. He been slow to pursue investigations land, she said. party didn't officially say where Sonia has been out of action the second quarter of this year, she deep knowledge about the coun- and other speakers from UN and reluctant to allow internation- ( nationmultimedia) Sonia went for her check up, but for much of the time since she took said. The meeting will take place try’s Buddhism roots, she said. member states applauded the al involvement. Earlier this month, some sources told TOI she went ill during a roadshow in Varanasi progress that has been made, par- Mr. Sirisena said he would not "al- to the US. last August. At the time, she was ticularly by civil society organiza- low non-governmental organiza- The ailing Congress chief didn't flown in to Delhi and admitted to tions. For its part, the government tions to dictate how to run my campaign in the February-March the Army's Research and Referral has returned some military-held government,” or bow to pressure Assembly elections in five states. Hospital before being moved to Sir land (and plans to return more un- to “prosecute my troops,” Al Nor was she here on vote-count- Ganga Ram Hospital. Gandhi was der the new Right To Information Jazeera reported. ing day. again admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Act), passed legislation to estab- That’s indicative of a deeper The Congress president was in November for viral fever and lish an Office of Missing Persons, problem, commissioner Al Hussein therefore away when the BJP then discharged a few days later. and started a process of constitu- said Wednesday. came back to power in Uttar (Times of India) tional reform. "The consistent failure to ef- Bangladesh has signed an agreement Satellite'. The Indian Space Re- Pakistan will be part of the project But this progress falls far short fectively investigate, prosecute with India to officially join the lat- search Organisation (ISRO) is go- that will bind the region in "a co- of what the world body expected and punish serious crimes appears ter's initiative of South Asia ing to launch a class communica- operative and collaborative effort in October 2015 when it passed a to reflect a broader reluctance or Satellite.Shahjahan Mahmood, tion satellite of 2 tons with 12 Ku for the benefit of the people this resolution calling for Sri Lanka to fear to take action against mem- Chairman of Bangladesh Telecom- band transponders (36 Mhz each) region". Earlier in the 2014 open an inquiry within 18 months. bers of the security forces," he told munication Regulatory Commis- using ISRO's Geosynchronous SAARC Summit Prime Minister For Mr. Al Hussein, moving for- the UN council on Wednesday, sion (BTRC) and Harsh Vardhan Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Narendra Modi had announced the ward demands international in- according to Al Jazeera. Shringla, High Commissioner of Mk-II) to serve the south Asia re- launching of a new satellite for volvement to restore trust in the Among the abuses the UN India to Bangladesh signed the gion. Cooperation in fields like tele- SAARC countries. Meanwhile, the justice system. He indicated that would like to see investigated are agreement on behalf of Bangladesh education, tele-medicine and inter- Indian high commissioner said the victims are also supportive of this the alleged deaths of thousands of and India respectively here in Dha- government networks, emergency aim of launching the satellite is to kind of international participation. civilians in the final days of the ka on Thursday. In a press release, communication for disaster situa- share the Indian expertise and tech- “It is important for the coun- civil war. Government troops are Kathmandu - U.S. Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz and Peace Corps Ne- try's future to send the signal that accused of deliberately shelling ci- pal Country Director Nelson Chase hosted a celebration today to com- the Indian High Commission in tion, television broadcast and DTH nology for the development of the Dhaka said Bangladesh has now television services will be includ- region. He also said it is a reflec- impunity is no longer tolerated,” vilians and denying ordinary peo- memorate the 55th anniversary of Peace Corps’ arrival in Nepal. The officially agreed to join Indian gov- ed under the satellite system. The tion of India's commitment to the he said, describing foreign judges, ple access to food and medical care. event celebrated the work and contributions of over 3,750 American ernment initiative of 'South Asia countries of South Asia except development of the region. lawyers, and investigators as key In all, between 80,000 and 100,000 volunteers who lived, worked and served in communities throughout to the effort to restore the coun- people are believed to have lost Nepal since 1962. Attendees included officials from the Ministries of try’s judicial system. their lives during the war. The country’s decades-long “There is clearly a need for Agricultural Development and Health, Nepalis whose lives were im- civil war pitted government forc- unequivocal instructions to all proved by the work of Peace Corps Volunteers and many current and es, most of whom came from the branches of the security forces that former Volunteers. Sinhalese ethnic majority, against any such conduct is unacceptable The celebration included a photo exhibition of Peace Corps Volun- a rebel group, the Tamil Liberation and that abuses will be punished,” teers’ work throughout Nepal over the past 55 years, with a focus on Tigers. The group was founded Al Hussein said. In their remarks the activities and lives of Volunteers in the early years of 1962 to 1970. after the Sri Lankan government after the presentation, Sri Lankan Fifty-four Peace Corps Volunteers currently serve in Nepal, supporting declared Sinhala the national lan- officials pointed out the progress food security in rural communities in eight districts of the Western and guage and Buddhism the state reli- the country has made and indicat- gion, a move that offended the ed a commitment to moving for- Mid-Western Development Regions. Tamil, a Hindu minority with their ward. “Although much has been Peace Corps provides a two-year service opportunity for motivat- own language. The Tigers later done, there is much still left to do, ed American volunteers to immerse themselves in a community abroad emerged as an insurgent group. including strengthening our insti- to work side by side with local leaders to address development challeng- Think you know Asia? Take tutions and achieving economic es. Currently operating in over 60 countries, Peace Corps aims to our geography quiz. progress,” said Harsha De Silva, promote world peace and friendship by helping people of interested The fighting formally ended in deputy minister of foreign affairs. countries to address development needs, helping promote a better 2009, though tensions have per- The UN is expected to vote sisted ever since. Despite interna- later this week to give Sri Lanka understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and tional calls for an investigation, the another two years to address helping to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part Mahinda Rajapaksa government, crimes committed during the war. of Americans. (ANNAPURNAPOST) which defeated the Tigers, refused (CSMONITOR) SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief White ICC orders House first monetary awards to war pushes crime victims healthcare Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Fri- vote with day awarded individual and col- lective reparations to victims of war crimes committed by ultimatum former Congolese warlord Ger- main Katanga. Abandoning negotiations, Presi- The court awarded 297 vic- dent Donald Trump has demand- tims of a 2003 attack on a Con- ed a make-or-break vote on health- golese village with "symbolic" care legislation in the US House of compensation of $250 per vic- Representatives, threatening to tim, as well as collective repa- The United Nations said fighting leave "Obamacare" in place and rations to help the community around Syria's capital has cut off move on to other issues if Friday's in the form of housing, income 300,000 people from humanitari- vote fails. generating activities, education, an assistance and pauses in the The move was presented to and psychological support.As conflict are needed to allow aid divided Republican politicians be- the first ruling to award com- convoys to get to the area. hind closed doors on Thursday pensation to victims of war Fighting in and around Dam- night after a day of negotiations crimes, the order was a land- ascus has intensified in recent days among conservatives, moderates mark step for the tribunal - set after surprise attacks by rebel and others within the president's up in 2002 to prosecute the fighters in the northeastern parts own party. world's worst crimes. Katanga of the city. At the end of it the president was accused of supplying "They are totally dependent had had enough and was ready to weapons to his militia in the on our supplies. Starvation will be vote and move on, whatever the February 2003 ethnic attack on just around the corner unless we result, Trump's budget director Bogoro village in Ituri province, get there in the coming weeks," Mick Mulvaney told politicians. in which some 200 people were Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian ad- "Let's vote," White House shot or hacked to death with viser on Syria, told Reuters news chief strategist Steve Bannon said machetes. The court estimated agency on Thursday. as he walked out of the meeting. the "extent of the physical, ma- Egeland said the besieged ar- "For seven and a half years we terial and psychological harm eas of Douma and Kafr Batna in have been promising the American suffered by the victims" rural Damascus have not received people that we will repeal and re- amounted to more than $3.7m UN supplies since last year. place this broken law because it's and said Katanga was respon- "The increase in the fighting collapsing and it's failing families, sible for $1m. But it added that has disastrous effects on the civil- and tomorrow we're proceeding," he is considered "indigent" and ian population," Egeland said. House Speaker Paul Ryan said, unlikely to be able to pay. The "They haven't had any supplies then walked off without answer- ICC said they were asking the by the UN since October in Dou- ing as reporters demanded to know Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) ma, and in the Kafr Batna area not whether the bill had the votes to to consider using its resources since June of last year." Egeland's pass. Conservatives have con- for the reparations. (CNN) comments came as UN-sponsored demned the Republican-drafted bill talks were due to resume in Gene- because it scraps Obamacare, but va on Friday, with little hope of a puts another government plan in breakthrough or concessions from its place. They believe healthcare James Jackson either the government side or said. The Syrian government has ing raged at the beginning of the ment "deliberately" restricted hu- "As the conflict enters its sev- should be left to the free market. rebels. Rebels clashed with the not given the green light for con- year. Food had reached the besieged manitarian access to besieged pop- enth year, Syrian authorities con- Democrats and moderate Re- charged with Syrian army on the edge of the city voys and armed groups have not town of Madaya last week, but ulations. tinue to deliberately and illegally publicans, meanwhile, fear the new centre in the Jobar district for a guaranteed their security, meaning sniping by fighters surrounding the Last year, the government manipulate UN humanitarian ac- bill will take insurance away from murdering fifth day on Thursday. Near Hama, no aid can go in, Egeland said. town meant it could not be dis- agreed to a two-step aid approval cess, arbitrarily limiting, restrict- millions of people. rebels also made advances against He also said that the UN is tributed, the UN official said. process on humanitarian assis- ing and denying aid deliveries in Repealing and replacing Timothy the Syrian army overnight and hoping to send an aid convoy on A report, published last week tance. It streamlined a previous order to ensure the continued suf- former president Barack Obama's fighting continued, UK-based Syr- Friday to Wadi Barada, a valley by Physicians for Human Rights eight-step procedure, but PHR fering of besieged populations," healthcare law was one of the ma- Caughman ian Observatory for Human Rights outside of Damascus where fight- (PHR), found the Syrian govern- said the process has failed. the report said. (Al Jazeera) jor campaign promises of Trump. Mark Peterson, a professor of A white supremacist who public policy at the University of stabbed a 66-year-old black man California, said getting the bill to death with a sword in New David Friedman passed is "extremely critical" for York has been charged with sec- Trump's ability to move forward ond-degree murder as a hate Antonio Guterres:Salva with his agenda. crime. James Harris Jackson, approved as US "Usually when a president who killed Timothy Caughman comes in, this stage is what we call on Monday, was charged on a honeymoon period. He's trying Thursday after he told police that Kiir is ignoring famine ambassador to Israel to rack up some big wins in Con- he had hated black men for at gress to build momentum," he told least 10 years. The US Senate has approved the of a New York rabbi, Friedman is a Al Jazeera. "Right now his White "His intent was to kill as UN Secretary General Antonio appointment of President Donald bankruptcy lawyer who has House has been described as in a many black men here in New York Guterres has accused South Trump's former bankruptcy law- worked on Trump's behalf for the bit of chaos. He has not been do- as he could," prosecutor Joan Il- Sudan's government of ignoring the yer, a supporter of Israeli settle- past 15 years. He joined the pres- ing well in popular support." A luzzi said as the 28-year-old was plight of 100,000 people suffering ment building, as Washington's idential election campaign last year defeat over the healthcare bill arraigned. "The defendant was from famine, 7.5 million in need of ambassador to Israel. as Trump's adviser on Israel. "would be quite a setback," Peter- motivated purely by hatred." humanitarian aid and thousands Trump's nomination of David Before becoming the ambassa- son said. Obama signed the Af- Caughman was bent over a more fleeing fighting. Friedman had raised concerns dorial nominee, Friedman was fordable Care Act, widely known rubbish bin around the corner Guterres' rebuke was deliv- about America's commitment to a known as a vocal supporter of Is- as Obamacare, in 2010, providing from his home, gathering bottles, ered to the country's president, two-state Middle East peace deal. raeli causes, including the building health coverage for 20 million low- when Jackson plunged a two-foot Salva Kiir, on Thursday, mention- But Friedman apologised to of illegal settlements on Palestin- income Americans previously un- sword into his chest and back and ing "a refusal by the leadership to politicians for his past harsh lan- ian land in Jerusalem and the occu- insured. Many middle-income walked off, prosecutors said. A even acknowledge the crisis or to guage at a confirmation hearing last pied West Bank. Americans complained their pre- bleeding Caughman staggered into fulfil its responsibilities to end it". month, and the Senate approved 'The settlers and the guards miums spiked as a result. Mil- a police station and later died at "There is a strong consensus him on Thursday by a margin of harass us and our children’ lions of Americans would lose cov- a hospital. Jackson dumped the that South Sudanese leaders need 52 to 46. Two of the chamber's 52 Israeli daily Haaretz revealed erage next year under the Republi- weapon into a rubbish bin. He to do more to demonstrate their Republicans did not vote and two recently that he was a donor to the can plan, according to a review by turned himself in on Thursday commitment to the well-being of of the 48 Democrats voted against American branch of Ateret Co- the Congressional Budget Office after police released surveillance the country's people, who are their camp to approve Friedman. hanim, a far-right Israeli group that made before last-minute amend- video picturing him. Anti-racism among the poorest in the world," Trump's administration has settles Jews in key locations in ments to the bill. Supporters of protests are expected to take he said. The UN chief was also been slow to appoint new ambas- East Jerusalem, and especially Obamacare staged rallies in Wash- place on Friday in New York, skeptical of Kiir's intention to hold sadors to replace those who around al-Aqsa, the most sensitive ington, DC, Chicago and Los An- with marches from Union Square a national dialogue, in light of the stepped down at the end of former Islamic site in the region. He is also geles on Thursday denouncing ef- to Midtown where Caughman country's "systematic curtailment president Barack Obama's term, the president of American Friends forts to repeal the law. The Re- was killed. (Al Jazeera) of basic political freedoms, and and more than 70 posts lie open. of Bet El Institutions, which rais- publican bill would halt Obama's restrictions on humanitarian ac- But the Israel job was seen as es millions of dollars each year for tax penalties against people who cess". In response, South Sudan's ter." Guterres said greater pressure point' from S Sudan refugee crisis a key bellwether of the new ad- a settlement close to the Palestin- do not buy coverage and cut the Hosni Mubarak deputy ambassador, Joseph is needed if there is any hope of Malok warned that an arms em- ministration's attitude to the Israe- ian city of Ramallah. He has federal-state Medicaid programme Moum Malok, said the govern- the leaders changing their ap- bargo and additional sanctions li-Palestinian conflict, and Fried- clashed with American Jewish pro- for low earners, which the Obama walks free after ment "takes issue with the accusa- proach, which means "first and "would further aggravate the situ- man's nomination was welcomed gressive groups, notably dubbing statute had expanded. It would tion" that it is responsible for the foremost that the region and the ation and would hit hard the vul- by the Israeli right. liberals "worse than kapos," a ref- provide tax credits to help people six years in jail famine in two counties, adding that Security Council must speak with nerable groups, as the previous Israeli Prime Minister Ben- erence to Jewish collaborators who pay medical bills, though general- other parts of the country are af- one voice. The Security Council is experiences had proved." South jamin Netanyahu declared on Twit- worked as guards in Nazi prison ly less than Obama's statute pro- fected by drought. He said the gov- divided over two ways to step up Sudan's three-year civil war has ter that Friedman "will be warmly camps. He has also dismissed the vides. It also would allow insurers ernment "will spare no efforts to pressure on South Sudan's govern- devastated the country, killed tens welcomed as President Trump's two-state solution - the vision of to charge older Americans more and help address the situation and calls ment-an arms embargo, or sanc- of thousands, and contributed to a representative and as a close friend an end to the conflict in which Is- repeal tax boosts the law imposed upon the international communi- tions on additional people block- recently declared famine in two of Israel". rael and a future Palestine live side- on high-income people and health ty to help address this urgent mat- ing peace. Uganda at 'breaking counties. (Al Jazeera) An Orthodox Jew and the son by-side within agreed borders. industry companies. (Al Jazeera) Hundreds feared dead in the Mediterranean Sea About 250 people are feared to emergency calls. El Gamoudi/AFP] Last month, Egypt's ousted president Hosni have drowned in the Mediterranean "It is a harsh reality check of European leaders signed a con- Mubarak left a military hospital after two partially submerged rub- the suffering here that is invisible troversial plan to help stem the on Friday where he had spent ber dinghies were found off the in Europe," Proactiva Open Arms flow of African migrants to Eu- much of his six-year detention, coast of Libya. wrote on Facebook. rope. As part of the deal, the his lawyer said. EU countries to crackdown on Despite rough winter seas, European Union will give $215m Mubarak had been cleared people smuggling in Libya Laura migrant and refugee departures to Libya’s fragile government to for release earlier this month af- Lanuza, a spokeswoman for the from Libya on boats chartered by step up efforts to stop boats in ter a top court finally acquitted Spanish NGO Proactiva Open people traffickers have accelerat- the country’s territorial waters. him of involvement in protester Arms, said its boat, Golfo Azzur- ed in recent months from already The EU will also provide deaths during the 2011 revolt ro, recovered five floating bodies record levels. support for the setting up of that ousted him. on Thursday close to the dinghies, More refugees died in the "safe" camps in Libya and the "Yes," his lawyer Farid al- about 30km off the Libyan coast. Mediterranean over the first nine voluntary repatriation of refu- Deeb told AFP news agency She said the vessels would weeks of 2017 compared with the gees willing to return to their when asked if Mubarak had left typically carry 120-140 people same period in 2016, the Interna- countries of origin. the hospital on Friday. each. "We don't think there can be tional Organization for Migration The plan has been criticised Mubarak was accused of in- any other explanation than that (IOM) says. From January 1 to by several aid groups, however, citing the deaths of protesters these dinghies would have been full March 9 this year, at least 521 that say leaders have abandoned during the 18-day revolt, in which of people," Lanuza told AFP news people drowned while attempting humanitarian values and misrep- about 850 people were killed as agency. to cross the rough waters com- resented conditions in Libya, police clashed with demonstra- "In over a year we have never pared with 471 in the same period where the UN-backed govern- tors. He was sentenced to life in seen any of these dinghies that were a year ago. ment of Fayez Serraj has only 2012 in the case, but an appeals anything other than packed," she There were about 5,000 re- shaky and partial hold on the court ordered a retrial which dis- added. corded deaths in all of 2016. country. missed the charges two years lat- Lanuza said the bodies recov- More than 6,000 people have Since February's agreement er. Egypt's top appeals court on ered were African men aged be- been rescued on the central Medi- was made, consultations be- March 2 acquitted him of in- tween 16 and 25. They drowned terranean route from Libya to Ita- tween the Libyan government, volvement in the killings. apparently in the 24 hours prior ly in the last few days, the IOM representatives of the interior In January 2016, the appeals to them being discovered in wa- said on Tuesday. So far this year ministers of Italy and other Eu- court upheld a three-year prison ters directly north of the Libyan 16,248 migrants have arrived in ropean countries have been on- sentence for Mubarak and his port of Sabratha. A spokesman for Italy, up from 13,825 in the same going. On Monday, Serraj asked two sons on corruption charges. Italy's coastguard, which coordi- period last year. for and additional $864m in mil- But the sentence took into nates and participates in rescues, More than 6,000 people have itary, rescue and emergency account time served. Both of his confirmed the five bodies were on been rescued on the central Medi- equipment to curb illegal migra- sons, Alaa and Gamal, were freed. board the rescue boat, which will terranean route from Libya to Ita- tion across Libya's border into (Al Jazeera) remain in the area in case of any ly in the last few days [Abdullah Europe. (Al Jazeera) SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 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

AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Mansoor Faizy Phone No: +93-797070563 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] By Eyad Abu Shakra ures, it has been happy that Syri- Assad regime, it has understood dle East; hence, it would be im- an ‘hemorrhage’ continues; and on from the very beginning that, re- possible that those who have www.afghanistantimes.af the other hand, regards Assad as gardless of the individual position ‘used’ it for decades would let it Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi ‘the lesser of two evils’ compared towards its policies and actions, it fall. Secondly, the regime has al- Marine Le Pen, the French extreme with ISIS and fellow extremist ‘Jab- would continue to be accepted by ways looked for the ‘content’ rath- right’s presidential candidate, clear- hat Al-Nusra’. In fact, it is under- many major regional and global er than the ‘form’ in setting the Advisory editorial board ly summed up how the West re- standable and quite logical that Is- powers. It would be preferred by priorities of maintaining power. All gards the Syrian Revolt, which rael should actively – albeit tacitly these powers to any democratic loud slogans of Arabism, Secular- Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, erupted six years ago. – strive to keep an Arab regime alternative representing the lively ism and Socialism have been prov- In an interview with Al-Ara- which has since 1973 proven to be forces in Syria. en meaningless. Arabism means Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal, Saboor Sarir biya TV channel, she replied to a most capable to defend its borders The Assad regime has real- nothing when intersecting regional question about her view of Bashar and eliminate it enemies while ized, first, that it is a much needed calculations of Iran, Israel, Turkey Graphic-Designers: al-Assad by saying: “If I were to claiming on every occasion to be tool in maintaining the state of and Russia are based on and bene- choose between al-Assad and ISIS its ‘steadfast’ adversary. As for weakness and division in the Mid- fit from ethnic and sectarian fault Edriss Akbari, Bilal Yusufi and Basir Qazizada I shall choose al-Assad”. This is a lines. Secularism too means noth- Mar ket i ng & Adver t i si ng: fact well-known to the sponsors ing when sectarian identity defines and defenders of the Syrian regime. the scale of influence, and when Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 Thus, in order to save the regime it religious, sectarian and ethnic was necessary to derail the popu- cleansing becomes a strategy for Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan lar uprising, destroy its moderate survival. And last but not least, So- armed and unarmed elements, and cialism, too, means nothing in a Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 deprive the true ‘revolutionaries’ country controlled by monopolis- Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press of all kinds of support and protec- tic clan-based ‘mafias’ serving lo- tion. This is how we have reached cal and regional interests; and the current ‘ideal’ scenario. The where trade unions and peasant Syrian people are now out of the federations metamorphose into equation. What has been unfold- mercenary gangs and cheering The constitution says ing for the last six years is being By Zulfiqar Shah nomic self consciousness was the main reason for the Brexit vote. In ‘crowds’. This is the image of the depicted before the world as a besieged and ‘orphaned’ Syrian Re- straight ‘choice’ between a regime Europe, immigration is seen in the UK kicked off the formal process perspective of value system volt six years after the demonstra- that is willing to concede to all but of a new era in globalization. Brex- tions in the Damascus market and Article 111: its own people and a dubious ex- it has been a public opinion on the change, where immigrants of the various ethnic and religious origin Daraa’s children anti-regime graf- Article One Hundred Eleven: The Loya Jirga shall convene in the following situa- tremist terror most of which is for- way world is being globalized. fiti. eign. It was necessary to defend are gradually causing change in cul- tions: 1. To decide on issues related to independence, national sovereignty, territorial This opinion, sought through ref- tural value system of Europe. Sev- Psychological damage the regime that since its founding, erendum, is from the country that Having said this, however, integrity as well as supreme national interests; 2. Amend provisions of this Constitution; in 1970, has been providing valu- eral studies show that crime ratio has a historical background of co- has increased in the in host coun- Syria’s opposition groups have not 3. Impeach the President in accordance with the provisions of Article Sixty Nine of the able ‘services’ to several powers. lonial diversity. Colonialism itself been blameless. Some of their mis- Letting this regime fall has never was a fundamental beginning of tries where immigrants have Constitution. moved. takes may be understandable keep- been an option. Even after resort- internationalization and globaliza- ing in mind the huge psychological ing to excessive violence in con- The religious aspect of immi- tion. Brexit was followed by elec- grations, which is being seen from damage a lengthy dictatorship has fronting the children of Daraa and tions USA where people elected caused to the Syrian psyche, but Hama’s massive peaceful demon- the security as well as culture per- similar school of thought. A wave spective, has further pushed west- other mistakes deserve blame if not stration during the summer of of opinion and popular thought for condemnation. In the first case 2011, it became obvious that the contemporary globalization is in ern citizens to think with an en- tirely new matrix. Recently, US several opposition groups paid a international community was in- Europe that extraordinarily exhib- heavy price for being ‘penetrated’ tent on trivializing its crimes while President Trump ordered a travel ited however got defeated in Hol- ban on certain countries. He prob- by regime agents posing as oppo- undermining the credibility of its land and is visible for upcoming sition activists. The latter carried opponents. In a chat I had four ably needed to ban or enhance France and Germany elections. weight on the immigration from out exactly what they had been years ago with Baroness Nichol- Unfortunately, the violent ex- instructed to do politically and son of Winterbourne, the British hibition of US local citizens’ ex- certain countries, which would not have attained a large criticism from militarily. Some of the regime’s Peace is first hope of this year Politician – who was a diligent pression to the globalization agents actually even appeared in campaigner on behalf of the vic- various quarters. Since internation- caused murder of three Indians. al politics has been causing reper- pictures as fighters with extremist tims of former Iraq’s president Similar tendencies are emerging in militias. Others took part as op- Saddam Hussein – she suggested cussions in the form of terrorism ast solar year was the bloodiest year for the people of Af France and elsewhere in European by Muslims, it becomes responsi- position figures in political con- Syrian refugees should return Union. Recently a European Court ferences where they caused con- home; adding “Assad is not anoth- has given verdict for banning scarf bility that international forces to ghanistan as terrorist activities were witnessed more than strengthen the voice of non-rigid fusion and wreaked havoc, then er Saddam Hussein… they will be at workplace in EU. The phenom- returned to the bosom of the re- any year in the past one and half decade since the US-led fine under his regime!”. non-Salafi Muslims and Sufi so that enon has many aspects that fun- the menace of terrorism in the name gime in Damascus, after carrying In the same vein, one cannot damentally are needed to be un- out their ‘dirty job’. However, in invasion that toppled Taliban rule. forget former US president Barack of Islam may be given a full stop. derstood. The important question is the second case, individualism, Taliban militants intensified attacks on the security forces, gov- Obama and his advisors, such as Is it possible for the West to opportunism and spite have Philip Gordon, Valerie Jarrett, Su- accommodate rest of the world’s how world would get engage with the new challenges of internation- plagued genuine opposition groups ernment employees and helpless civilians. Besides that, the newly san Rice, Denis McDonough and population in Europe, North Amer- and weakened their credibility. Jake Sullivan. Obama played the al politics of interests. It is yet to ica, Australia and New Zealand? be seen what impacts this new Thus, regional as well as interna- emerged Daesh terrorist group claimed the lives of hundreds of major role in ‘redefining’ Washing- Various surveys show that citizens tional powers have managed to ton’s practical priorities in Syria. wave is leaving amid world poli- from the various countries of Asia tics of further confrontation that impose their own agendas on these innocent people. The most terrible attacks such as suicide bomb- Committed to a nuclear and and Africa want to live in the West. groups; and even create their own strategic deal with Iran, Obama, West has developed its quality life has yet to unfold itself in upcom- ings among the gathering of the Enlightening Movement protest- ing years. In nutshell, the contem- groups that reflect the interest of like Le Pen, believed that the top mechanisms, socioeconomic jus- the foreign powers rather than that priority in Syria was to confront porary phenomenon is initiating a ers, the Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif shrines on the day of Ashura tice and development system that new era of globalization in which of the Syrian people. This danger- ISIS; despite the fact that the ter- attract people from underdevel- ous development has led many and the recently attack against the 400-bed military hospital was rorist group, in its current form, immigration, migrations, ethnicity, oped and developing world to be religion, culture, and economy re- armed opposition groups to the appeared on the scene no less two part of it. Why we do not under- trap of extreme sectarian fragmen- claimed to have been carried out by this brutal group. years after the peaceful popular stand that it is impossible for us lated securities to the locals have become unavoidable. This is an era tation; consequently serving the This is clear that some foreign hands especially from our east- uprising and the regime’s bloody all that immigration and migrations interests of Russia and Iran. attempts to crush it. Indeed, of guided globalization or inclusive beyond certain level can cause vir- globalization in which rights of the Furthermore it had provided ern neighbor are behind instability in our country, while we (both Obama made fun of the moderate tual ethnic cleansing of native in dubious elements which had opposition, and dismissed its con- locals must be protected and en- terms of population, economic re- sured. Any act of globalization on claimed to be ‘non-sectarian’ to the government and people) consider them as friends, brothers stituents while repeatedly refus- sources, culture and ethnic com- tour Western countries inciting ing to protect Syrian civilians position. If a computer modula- the cost of locals or indigenous is and sisters and insist for a peaceful co-existence. already against international law against the Revolt. On the other through imposing ‘no-fly zones’ tion is developed on the trends of hand, well-meaning opposition el- and “safe havens”. The regime has with reference to United Nations Pakistan, unfortunately does not give up sheltering and sup- immigrations and migrations ver- Declaration on Indigenous People; ements naively trusted and defend- always looked for the ‘content’ sus local population growth rate ed extremist groups that later be- rather than the ‘form’ in setting the International Convention on Eco- porting the armed groups who are against the welfare and pros- in the West, it would be easily un- nomic, Social and Cultural Rights; gan fratricidal ‘gang wars’; thus, priorities of maintaining power. All derstood that in upcoming fifty allowing extremism and bigotry to perity of Afghans. loud slogans of Arabism, Secular- years whole cultural composite of and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. No alienate and dishearten many peo- ism and Socialism have been prov- the West would become a new en- ple. It is not too late to save Syr- The former president, Hamid Karzai said in his New Year en meaningless doubt, nations once again have ex- tity. Immigration reduces employ- hibited forcefully their existence ia’s Revolt, nor is it too late to message that Afghanistan and the region will not be safe unless Eyad Abu Shakra ment opportunities for the locals uncover those conspiring against ‘Hemorrhage’ continues before the speedy globalization of and expenditure of taxes on the our age. it. But it is now the right time to Pakistan government and particularly its military intelligence stops Israel too has chosen – at least services. In certain context, it no begin a candid and serious review on face value – to look ‘neutral’ doubt supports the economies; Shah is Sindhi refugee journal- ist, civil and political rights activ- before the situation deteriorates supporting terrorists and extremists. between Assad and the Revolt. however in US unemployment of further, and the Revolt loses all However, in reality, as one could ist. He is staying in New Delhi, Unfortunately, the presence of the US and other NATO-mem- US citizens is considered as a re- India. Email: those who are qualified to rebuild deduce from the comments of its sult of immigrations from Asia and the country the moment destruc- senior intelligence and security fig- s h a h z u l f @ y a h o o . c o m ber countries in Afghanistan could not change the situation in the Africa. In UK immigration and eco- www.zulfiqarshah.com tion stops. (Alarbya) favor of the war-affected people. War, bloodshed and destruc- tion not only decreased during their presence in the past 15 years, but the people are witnessing an increase of violence. Afghans hoped that the bilateral security pact with the United States would help for the improvement of the situation, but the condition has been deteriorating since the pact was signed in 2014. Now the Afghan masses are in deep uncertainty and don’t know how and with the help of which country, violence and bloodshed will end? Our respectful international allies are requested to adopt a clear position to the situation of our country. As their aim and promise to us is to remove terrorism from Afghanistan, they should put their promise in action. Beside the fact that peace to Afghanistan comes through Paki- stan, the other regional countries like Iran, Russia, China and India can also play important roles in this regard. People of Afghanistan are really exhausted with this war of attrition and their first hope for the new year is a lasting peace and stability. Only in a peaceful situation, we can live, develop and solve our differences. Subscription Rates Note: The following rates will apply from January 01, 2017. Fee Categories Afghanistan Times Annual Afg: 5400 at your door step For fast delivery service Six Months Afg: 2700 Afghanistan Times seeks the names, addresses of your International Organization $240 per year organizations and the number of copies you want. SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES

The US wants to focus on the 'elimination' of ISIL by military force while leaving recon- struction efforts to its allies. By Joe Macaron intensify already existing strikes, sources, increasing pressure on terial meeting's concluding state- deploy additional forces and in- ISIL networks in your home coun- ment. The only good reason to have a crease support to SDF forces. tries, exchanging intelligence infor- US Defense Secretary James meeting is to deliberate and decide Tillerson made three issues bla- mation and combating ISIL online. Mattis told the Senate on March on a shared objective. From that tantly clear: He told Arab allies, Defeating ISIL alone cannot be 22 that it is in the US national in- business angle, the March 22 meet- anxious to deter Iran that, "defeat- a stand-alone strategy and the terest to keep a residual force in ing in Washington of the Global ing ISIL is the United States' No 1 Trump administration should first Iraq even after the defeat of ISIL. Coalition to defeat the Islamic goal in the region". For those bet- be forthcoming about the fact that In the case of Syria, however, the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) ting on a long-term US involve- there is no significant change in US Pentagon knew when to go in but did not serve any purpose. The ment, the message was also plain: policy. The two-year tacit under- struggles with the question of how US message to its allies was clear: "We are not in the business of na- standing between Washington and soon to get out. let us alone deal a military blow to tion-building or reconstruction." Tehran still holds: US-trained Ira- For that specific reason, the ISIL, you deal with the day after. The Trump administration is sat- qi special forces lead the fight in timing of the anti-ISIL global coa- Nothing is ordinary about the isfied with the current formula of sensitive demographic areas and lition was premature without a Why Turkey might buy Russia’s tumultuous nature of Donald providing in Iraq and Syria 75 per- Iranian-backed Popular Mobiliza- clear path to victory for both Trump's presidency, even during cent of the military resources and tion Units (PMU) mostly stay Mosul and Raqqa operations. what was supposed to be a mun- 25 percent of humanitarian and sta- put. Endorsing SDF forces contin- While the US is leading on the mil- dane bureaucratic gathering. As the bilisation support. ues to grow without promising itary level, chaos along the con- S-400 defence system invited Arab ministers were set- Defeating ISIL alone cannot be Kurdish forces to back their au- tested areas on the Iraqi-Syrian By Can Kasapoglu kara will gain important know-how Russia as well. During the allied tling into their hotels, US authori- a stand-alone strategy and the tonomy and without pushing the border is expected the day after in missile proliferation, which it exercises in the past, it is known ties surprised them by banning elec- Trump Administration should first buttons of Ankara. While safe victory. also sought with the 2013 tender. that NATO used the Russian-made be forthcoming about the fact that zones increasingly disappear from With no vision for conflict-res- Recently, top Turkish authorities tronic devices onboard of flights have voiced an official interest in Additionally, this could enhance S-300s of Slovakia, and Greece coming from their national airports. there is no significant change in US the White House narrative, Tiller- olution or power-sharing in place, further Turkish-Russian defence test-fired S-300s from NATO's policy. The third American mes- son lowered the expectation fur- there are no guarantees that region- buying advanced S-400 air and While the meeting was underway missile defence systems from the cooperation. Missile Firing Installation in Crete at the State Department, US forc- sage delivered to allies via Tiller- ther and spoke about "interim al infighting will not happen or rad- Unlike the failed HQ-9 deal a few years ago. Thus, it would be son was simple: We alone will take zones of stability through cease- ical elements will not fill the vacu- Russian Federation. Turkey's ef- es airlifted members of the Syrian forts to enhance its defensive stra- with China, this time, Turkish of- a major handicap for Moscow if Democratic Forces (SDF) behind care of business in Iraq and Syria, fires to allow refugees to go home". um once again. Protecting the ficials are much more realistic, Turkey decides to provide its fu- and all we want from you is to While that statement alone is des- peace is often far more important tegic military capabilities is not enemy lines in Raqqa and an ISIL- new. For some years now it has knowing that if the deal with Rus- ture S-400s and related radars for inspired attack was terrorising prepare for post-Raqqa and Mo- perately vague, the "safe zones" than defeating the enemy. sia goes as planned, the S-400 sys- NATO exercises in the future be- sul operations by investing re- idea was not included in the minis- (Aljazeera) sought to have a long-range mis- London. sile defence system of its own, as tem will not be integrated with the cause it will give the Alliance ac- All that matters to the battle it is currently relying on NATO- NATO missile defence architec- cess to its technology and experi- against ISIL was not heard in the deployed ballistic missile. ture. This perspective is realistic ence with how it works. hallways of the first expanded anti- In 2013, Ankara awarded a because such an integration would A problem for NATO ISIL coalition meeting in more than The great unraveling: Imagining tender to a Chinese company for not be merely a military-technical However, some defence coop- two years. The US State Depart- missile defence systems procure- issue, but more of a political and eration deals between NATO na- ment Secretary Rex Tillerson's re- ment, which drew a sharp reaction security decision. Now, Turkish tions and Moscow were aborted marks did not even mention the the shattered world of 2050 from its NATO allies and the decision-makers know that this after the Ukrainian crisis, and es- three elephants in the room: Rus- $3.4bn deal had to be scrapped. might enable Moscow to have ac- pecially the annexation of Crimea. sia, Iran and the Kurdish-led SDF cess to invaluable information The most notable development tion. Some hoped (and others motion either. Other bidders at that time were the forces (he called the latter "our By John Feffer United States with Patriot sys- about NATO's critical capabilities. was the cancellation of an amphib- Syrian partners"). Despite the feared) that the world was con- As a middle-aged scholar in From a military standpoint, ious assault ship deal between verging on ever-larger conglomera- 2020, I practically created geo-pa- tems, and the French-Italian con- looming budget cuts his depart- Water boils most fiercely just be- sortium with the SAMP/T Aster- lack of integration to the NATO France and Russia. The lucrative ment could face, Tillerson stood fore it disappears. And so it is, tions of nations. The internation- leontology. (We used to joke that architecture would mark some deal was about the sale of two alists campaigned for a United we were the only historians with 30 Block-1 variant. It was known high and proud expecting that ISIL evidently, with human affairs. that Russia showed interest in the problems. Missile defence is a French-manufactured Mistral- fighters are tuned "into their TVs Before all hell broke lose in Nations that had some actual po- true 2020 hindsight). What we geo- complicated mission that necessi- class aircraft carriers worth more litical power. The free traders imag- paleontologists do is dig around in tender, but it was not shortlisted. and their computer monitors" to 1914, the world witnessed an un- This time, amid the tense Turk- tates an advanced network of com- than $1bn. watch the global coalition's show precedented explosion of global ined a frictionless global market archives to exhume the extinct: all mand and control, sensors, intelli- If the Mistral sale had been where identical superstores would the empires and federations and ish-European relations and the still of "strength". trade at levels that would not be unclear US plan for Syria, it seems gence, target acquisition and sur- realised, Moscow would have It is true ISIL's territorial con- seen again for more than six de- sell the same products at all their territorial unions that have gone the veillance systems. It seems Anka- gained a significant amphibious global locations and happy con- way of the dinosaurs. We're inter- more likely that Ankara will go for trol and leadership were degraded cades. Before the Nazis took over this major non-NATO arms deal ra is pursuing a dual-track defence power projection capability. If the during the final stretch of the pre- in 1933, Germans in the Weimar sumers would sing the same jin- ested in how the mighty are planning strategy by retaining its deal had gone through, perhaps gles in the universal language of brought low. We look at the small with Moscow. vious US administration and the Republic were enjoying an extraor- How Turkey will benefit key role in the NATO's ballistic today we would have been talking campaign has intensified in the past dinary blossoming of cultural and commerce. The technotopians fragments that remain and try to missile defence efforts through the about "Russian Mistrals" stationed prophesied a world united by reconstruct what were once giants. The S-400 deal, by its nature, three months. We are now in a tran- political liberalism. Before the So- would mean much more than a bat- X-band radar in Kurecik, while off the Latakia coasts in Syria. Yet, sitional period where ISIL will viet Union imploded in 1991, So- Twitter and Instagram: a republic During the twenties and thirties, running its national agenda with having acknowledged its NATO of social media. Officially, more when the modern-day giants were tle tank or utility helicopter pur- metamorphose into decentralised viet scholars were proudly point- chase. First and foremost, the S- more flexible technology-transfer allies' reactions, Paris cancelled the and uncontrolled individuals who ing to rising rates of intermarriage and more countries were commit- falling left and right, we were all options at the same time. Although deal in 2015, and then it was Egypt ting themselves to diversity, mul- the rage, less because of our acuity 400 is a defensive strategic weap- launch attacks sporadically with among the many nationalities of ons system. In other words, the such a perspective might be accom- that purchased the vessels. Geo- basic, unsophisticated tools. En- the federation as a sign of ever- ticulturalism, and the cosmopoli- as historians and more because of plished, this would be a significant politically, any NATO nation tan ideals of liberty, equality, and our supposed prescience as prog- primary objective of such a pro- gaging global partners is crucial to greater social cohesion. And in curement would be the control of burden on Turkish diplomacy and buying a strategic high-end Rus- enlist their efforts, the US can no 2018, just before the great unrav- individualism. Pundits had already nosticators. As a result, we re- defence economics. sian weapons system would be proclaimed the advent of a flat ceived a fair share of criticism for Turkish airspace and even the pro- longer go alone. Drones can win eling, the world still seemed to be jection of some air-defence deter- Technically, there is no rule seen as problematic. If that NATO battles but are not enough to pro- in a frenzy of what was then la- world, a borderless world, a Mc- our supposed twist on Whig his- within the NATO treaty that nation is Turkey, which borders World.... tory. But such controversies have rent beyond Turkish borders, as tect the US from possible attacks beled "globalization." The volume well as protecting Turkey's criti- would prohibit member states the Middle East, the Caucasus, the in the long term. of world trade was at an all-time Everything began to change in long since become academic. Now from procuring Russian arms, and Black and Mediterranean Seas and the mid-teens of this century, a that everyone is accustomed to the cal national infrastructure and top- US allies left Washington more high. Facebook had created a net- priority economic, military and there are allied nations that cur- is running a cross-border counter- confused than when they arrived. work of 3 billion active users. Peo- phenomenon I first chronicled in world as it is, they are less inter- rently have them. Although Rus- terrorism campaign in Syria, that Splinterlands. That book, it turned ested in how this world came to government facilities from air and The confusion idue to the percep- ple on every continent were danc- missile threats. sian strategic weapons in NATO- would be even a more serious is- tion that the Trump administra- ing to Drake, watching the World out, would be the foundational text be. As a result, my profession is member nations' arsenals seem sue due to its special role as a flank for a new discipline that came to becoming as extinct as its subject Furthermore, in case of a tion had created about having an Cup final, and eating sushi. At the broader technology transfer, An- problematic for allied coherence, nation at the centre of many con- awesome secret plan no one will other end of the socio-economic be called geo-paleontology. I matter. What will the year 2050 it might be disadvantageous for temporary security challenges. see coming. The mere gathering of spectrum, more people were on shouldn't have been taken aback bring? John Feffer draws on years Notably, Turkey might be on the Global Coalition is a subtle the move as migrants and refugees by my book's success. Everyone of geopolitical and globalization re- the verge of becoming one of the continuation of President Barack than at any time since the end of likes a good scary tale, even one search to deliver a powerful dys- few operators of the S-400 sys- Obama's strategy to defeat ISIL: World War II. Borders, between dressed up in statistics and foot- topian novel. Today in 2050, ever tem, which would also be impor- launching systematic air strikes; in- countries and cultures, seemed to notes. And the best horror stories fewer people can recall what it was The tribal truths tant. Furthermore, finalising such creasing US support for local forc- be crumbling everywhere. Once are never about zombies or vam- like to live among those leviathans. a deal with a NATO nation would es; deploying non-combat US spe- divided into a relatively stable pires or bug-eyed aliens. They're In my youth, we imagined lum- mark one of the most serious cial forces; cooperating on global mosaic of nation-states, the world always about the everyday terrors bering dinosaurs like Russia and that set the stage achievements for the Russian de- counterterrorism efforts; and pro- was becoming liquid, a rainbow right in front of us. I was the first China and the European Union fence industry. viding humanitarian assistance to swirl. to point out what should have been enduring regardless of the global Politically, the deal is unpleas- displaced civilians. What the Before 2018, almost everyone obvious to anyone with a modi- convulsions around them. Of ant news for the Alliance for sure, cum of realism: the world was fall- course, at that time, our United for Trump’s lies Trump administration is doing believed that time's arrow pointed but so is the US President Donald "differently" is more of the same: in the direction of greater integra- ing to pieces -- and not in slow States still functioned as its name Trump calling NATO "obsolete". suggests rather than as the current By Michael Gerson and holding the high ground of epis- Furthermore, Tukey's NATO- motley collection of regional frag- temology (how we know what we friendly options did not really ments fighting over a diminishing It must be confusing to President know), he can control the political meet its demands. The US Patriot resource base. Trump that the political system, landscape. So he dominates parti- bid did not include technology Empires, like adolescents, the media and a majority of voters san media, attempts to discredit transfer and the European Aster- LETTER TO THE EDITOR think they'll live forever. In geo- have suddenly called him on a de- other sources of information (the 30 line did not match Turkey's tech- politics, as in biology, expiration ception, on a lie. It has seldom, if media, the FBI, the CIA, the Con- nology transfer and co-production dates are never visible. As a result, ever, happened before. It did not gressional Budget Office) and expectations. it can be hard to distinguish grow- seem to matter when he claimed to builds a type of loyalty impervi- At this point, the most impor- ing pains from death rattles. When have evidence that President ous to factual correction. Trump tant limitation for advancing the the end comes, it's always a shock. Barack Obama was born abroad; did not create the conditions for Turkish-Russian defence cooper- Substandard healthcare centers Consider the clash of the titans in or when he insisted that crowds of his own rise. During the Obama ation would not be NATO's ob- World War I. Four enormous em- American Muslims celebrated 9/ era, conservative media, particu- jections, but the natural geopoliti- pires -- the Ottoman, Austro-Hun- 11 in the streets; or when he said larly talk radio, adopted what Vox’s cal divergences between Ankara There is no state-of-the-art healthcare centers in Afghanistan, as patients are going garian, Russian, and German -- that the murder rate was the high- David Roberts calls a “tribal epis- est in half a century; or when he and Moscow. abroad to receive medical treatments. Afghan masses are suffering from one of the went into that conflict imagining temology.” All facts were filtered Clearly, Turkey and Russia are that victory would give them not claimed the largest electoral-vote for the benefit of the tribe. In this worst healthcare system as they don’t have access to the basic medical care. On daily victory since President Ronald bound by with their geopolitical just a new lease on life, but even approach, information is useful imperatives that have not been basis more than hundreds of people are traveling abroad for treatment due to lack of Reagan; or when he asserted that only as ammunition. And conflict- more territory to call their own. massive voter fraud cost him a compatible throughout history. standardized facilities at home. And all four came crashing down. ing views are entirely the result of This bitter truth recently surfaced popular-vote win; or when his bad faith. This was a political wave The relevant Afghan official should take necessary measures to provide standards The war was horrific enough, but press secretary claimed the largest in Moscow's close relations with the aftershocks just kept piling up well suited to an empty vessel. PYD/YPG groups in Syria, which medical care for the Afghan masses here at home and free the Afghans from going inaugural crowd in history. Trump was willing to say anything the bodies. The flu epidemic of What about this particular ac- pose a significant national securi- abroad for treatment. 1918-1919 alone, which soldiers the medium demanded. cusation — that Obama ordered At the same time, a different ty threat to Turkey due to their Parwiz Ahmad, Kabul, Afghanistan unwittingly transported from the the bugging of Trump Tower — affiliation with the PKK terrorist trenches to their homelands, wiped tribe — academic liberalism — was finally too difficult for the was moving in a similar direction. organisation. Likewise, another out at least 50 million people body politic to swallow? How was wave of military escalation be- worldwide. This, too, was global- In this approach, the very possi- this different from the maggoty bility of truth is undermined by tween Azerbaijan and Armenia ization -- of death. It would have meals that preceded it? Thought- philosophies of relativism and re- could easily drag Ankara and Mos- been impossible to imagine such provoking opinions and commen- ductionism. Conservatism is seen cow into the conflict. Or, in case an outcome in 1913 when the silk- tary, in your inbox daily. by them as a fight for privilege and the Syrian Baathist regime at- worms of modernity -- the tele- Some of the difference surely oppression. Conflicting views are tempts to advance to Raqqa with phone, the ocean liner -- were spin- comes in having historically high YPG elements under Russian sup- Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must dismissed as a matter of bad faith. ning gossamer threads to enclose and intense disapproval ratings. A And dissenting voices in the acad- port, such a move could trigger new have the writer’s name and address. You may send your letters to: the world in a cozy cocoon. When president who is low in the polls tensions. [email protected] emy can be silenced for the benefit dinosaurs collapse, they crush all is vulnerable to narratives of scan- of a rootless righteousness. In sum, Turkish-Russian rap- manner of smaller creatures be- dal and failure. Perhaps the author- Put a representative of each of prochement pragmatically stems neath them. Who today remembers ities who refuted him brought these tribes in a room — one in red from Ankara's tense relations with the final throes of the colonial em- greater gravity to the task. The FBI war paint, the other in blue — and the West. Even if an S-400 deal is pires in the mid-twentieth centu- director and Congress still carry the result would be a shouting concluded, Turkish-Russian ties Disclaimer: ry with their staggering population more weight than PolitiFact. But match, or worse. (I am actually will not improve significantly. The transfers, fierce insurgencies, and whatever the reason, the reaction describing many Americans’ table roots of their geopolitical rivalry The views and opinions expressed in the articles are endless proxy wars -- even if the to Trump’s latest deception is a discussions last Thanksgiving.) On are deep enough that a military deal infant states that emerged from sign of civic health — though real- issues such as climate change or those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or ly more of a weak, irregular pulse. would not change in a major way those bloody afterbirths gained a gun control, the reds and blues do the current shaky relations be- opinions of the Afghanistan Times. measure of independence? Trump is an intuitive dema- not see different ways up the gogue. He knows that by taking tween the two countries. mountain. (WP) (Truthout) SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES

China issues warning to US bomber flying in East China Sea

The top United Nations human Myanmar's Lynn, referring to rights body agreed on Friday to the resolution, said: "Such kind of send an international fact-finding action is not acceptable to Myan- mission to investigate widespread mar as it not in harmony with the allegations of killings, rape and tor- situation on the ground and our ture by security forces against national circumstances. Let the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's Myanmar people choose the best Rakhine state. and the most effective course of But Myanmar ambassador action to address the challenges in Htin Lynn, speaking before the Myanmar. decision was taken by consensus, "We will be doing what needs rejected the move as "not accept- to be done and we will do it with able". Myanmar's national com- great prudence and probity," he mission had just interviewed al- added. leged victims who fled to Bang- China and India said they The Chinese military issued a to take off. The other was ladesh and would issue its find- would "disassociate" themselves warning to a U.S. Air Force B-1 scrubbed due to maintenance is- ings by August, he said. from the consensus, with China's bomber flying in the East China sues. The U.N. Human Rights delegation saying the issue "can- Sea Wednesday morning amid es- The Chinese warning came Council adopted a resolution with- not be solved overnight". calating tensions in the region, two over the emergency radio frequen- out a vote, brought by the Euro- Activists welcomed what U.S. officials told Fox News. cy known as "guard," according to pean Union and supported by they called a "landmark decision" The Chinese said the U.S. one official. countries including the United by the 47-member forum, while bomber was flying in international The incident unfolded when States, that called for "ensuring full regretting that it was not a full in- airspace. American officials tell the American bomber was flying accountability for perpetrators and ternational commission of inqui- Fox News the bomber was flying 70 miles southwest of the South justice for victims". ry, and called on the government in international airspace and con- Korean island of Jeju. A U.N. report issued last to cooperate. tinued on its mission---albeit with- Meanwhile, Defense Secretary month, based on interviews with Egypt's former leader Mubar- out its wingman. Jim Mattis and Chairman of the 220 Rohingya among 75,000 who ak freed, six years after overthrow: Fox News has learned that two Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dun- have fled to Bangladesh since Oc- lawyer B-1 bombers were supposed to ford were addressing lawmakers on tober, said that Myanmar's secu- "It is unfortunate that the gov- launch a patrol from Guam to the Capitol Hill Wednesday about the rity forces have committed mass ernment of Burma/Myanmar has Korean Peninsula as part of train- defense budget and the current killings and gang rapes of Rohingya chosen to disassociate itself from ing exercises with the South Kore- readiness crisis facing the U.S. mil- in a campaign that "very likely" this resolution," John Samuel, Ex- ans, hours after the failed North itary. amounts to crimes against human- ecutive Director of FORUM- Korean missile launch. (Foxnews) ity and possibly ethnic cleansing. ASIA, said in a statement. Only one B-1 bomber was able "It is important for the Nation- al League for Democracy led gov- ernment in Burma/Myanmar to see international human rights mecha- Japan culls 280,000 nisms as an ally in its arduous Hungarian law risks struggle with the military, which still maintains effective control in more birds for avian flu the country and stands implicated exposing migrant children in allegations of gross violations. This resolution is a great opportu- to sex abuse: Watchdog nity for the government to move in the right direction. It should co- operate fully with the internation- al fact finding mission.” Kyrgyz, Belarus presidents Australia discuss trade ties President of Kyrgyzstan Al- The two discussed bilateral drifts toward mazbek Atambayev talked on the cooperation in trade and economic phone with Belarus President Al- field. Both of the presidents ex- China amid exander Lukashenko on March 23, pressed interest in boosting trade official media report. ties. Japan deployed hundreds of sol- birds are to be killed, and to a prop- Atambayev invited Lukashen- In 2016, trade turnover be- diers to help cull more than erty southeast of Tokyo where wobbly US ko to the meeting of the Supreme tween Kyrgyzstan and Belarus 280,000 chickens on Friday (Mar 68,000 chickens will be destroyed. Eurasian Economic Council in totaled $53.2 million. 23), officials said as they try to "The local government has re- ties Bishkek in April-May 2017. (AKpress) contain further outbreaks of a high- quested the Self-Defence Forces to Hungary's new law to detain mi- guardian and being able to benefit ly contagious strain of avian flu. help the culling operation while Chinese prem ier Li is cur- grants in transit zones on its south- from the child protection system, The latest slaughter means setting a limit on shipping chick- r en tly in Au str a lia to ern border will put children on the these children will be considered more than 1.67 million birds will ens and eggs surrounding the farm strengthen bilateral ties. move at risk of exposure to sexual as adult asylum applicants, and have been killed in a dozen mass (in Miyagi)," a farm ministry offi- Both n a tion s see their abuse, the watchdog Council of placed in transit zones increasing $25m invested into culls at several farms across the cial said. partnership as prim ordial Europe said on Friday in a letter the risk of becoming a victim of country since November when the The defence ministry con- to present a unified stance to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. sexual exploitation and sexual virus was detected in the northern firmed it had dispatched 370 against the protectionist Hungary passed a law earlier abuse," Janizzi wrote. tourism of Kyrgyzstan Aomori prefecture. troops to the two locations to help this month to detain migrants in "I therefore respectfully call Troops have been sent to a in the slaughter. ten den cies sproutin g up camps on its border with Serbia, a upon you to ensure that child pro- Volume of investments in fixed as- the tourism sector achieve posi- around the w orld. sets in the field of tourism amount- tive results in GDP volumes, he farm in Miyagi prefecture in the (AFP) step which the United Nations said tection measures benefit all chil- ed to $25 million, said Chairman said. northeast where about 220,000 As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang violates European Union law and dren without exception (including of the Tourism Department of "Export of tourist services is arrives in Canberra this week for a will have a "terrible physical and adolescents below 18 years of Kyrgyzstan Azamat Jamankulov also positive and totaled $5 mil- five-day official visit, attention psychological impact" on asylum age)." He called on Hungarian au- during the video conference on at- lion," said Jamankulov. He also once again turns towards China's seekers. thorities to provide details within traction of tourists to Kyrgyzstan told about the fairs and exhibitions Danish PM to discuss ongoing efforts to reinforce a vital Under right-wing populist a month to show how unaccom- and preparation for the opening of abroad where Kyrgyzstan takes bilateral relationship amid grow- Orban, Budapest has locked horns panied children will be protected. the tourist season, Tazabek report- part in to develop its tourism. He ing diplomatic uncertainty in the with European and international The Lanzarote Committee ed. said Kyrgyzstan took part in ex- Brexit strategy with region. Australia is only one of the partners over economic and dem- works on behalf of the Council of The number of tourists in pos in Moscow, Turkey, Berlin in few countries to have officially es- ocratic issues, most recently over Europe, which protects and pro- Kyrgyzstan reached 4 million and 2017. (Trend) tablished a prime-ministerial level migration which Orban says is a motes human rights. The Commit- top business people dialogue with China, beginning in threat to Europe's socioeconomic tee is specifically in charge of mon- 2013. Li is the most senior Chi- make up. itoring the implementation of the nese official to visit Australia since In a letter to Orban, Claude Lanzarote Convention which pro- and union reps 2014, when President Xi Jinping Janizzi, the Chairperson of the tects the rights of children, and finalized a major bilateral trade Council of Europe Lanzarote Com- aims to prevent child sexual abuse deal. mittee expressed concerns over the and exploitation. Accompanying the premier on new legislation along with a re- The Council of Europe cannot this trip is a large business delega- minder that in 2015 Hungary take cases to the European Court tion, with the ultimate aim of signed up to the European Con- of Human Rights as the court is strengthening Chinese-Australian vention that aims to protect chil- part of the same body. economic ties. dren from sexual abuse. However, migrants or their Strong economic ties He said under the new law, representatives could launch indi- The well-being of Australia's unaccompanied migrant children vidual legal action since the Hu- economy is increasingly linked to between 14 and 18 will be consid- man Rights Convention applies to Chinese investment. China is Aus- ered adults and will not benefit from all, including non-EU citizens, and Ashgabat, Bishkek hold tralia's largest trading partner, with child protection measures, includ- the court often refers to the Coun- bilateral trade exceeding $107 bil- ing the appointment of a guardian. cil's monitoring bodies in its judg- lion (99.5 billion euros) and bilat- As a result of the legal chang- ments. political consultations eral investment over $100 billion, es, "instead of having access to a (Reuters) while Australia is also an impor- Political consultations between fully developed by the two coun- tant source of resources for a de- Turkmen and Kyrgyz deputy for- tries at a high level, as well as be- veloping China. eign ministers were held in Ash- tween the two countries’ ministries Deputy Director of the Aus- INDONESIA POLICE gabat, Turkmenistan’s Foreign and agencies, remains the founda- tralia-China Relations Institute, Ministry said in a message. tion of cooperation,” said the mes- Professor James Laurenceson, FIRE TEAR GAS ON The sides noted the effective sage. says the Chinese-Australian eco- development of mutually benefi- During the meeting, the par- nomic relationship is mutually ben- cial cooperation and expressed an ties focused on the issues of re- eficial for a number of reasons. MUSLIMS PROTESTING opinion that regular political con- gional security, cooperation in "China is already Australia's sultations are one of the impor- water, energy industries, as well biggest overseas customer, buying CHURCH tant mechanisms contributing to as in transportation, logistics and In light of the impending divorce unhappy that we are engaged in double the value of goods and ser- Indonesian police fired tear gas on construction since November. the promotion of a comprehensive aviation. They also discussed de- between the United Kingdom and divorce proceedings – which we’ve vices than Japan does in second Friday to disperse hard-line Mus- Some also threw rocks and bottles partnership. velopment of trade and economic the EU, Denmark is planning its never wanted – but which we have place," Laurenceson told DW. lims protesting against the con- into the site. Raymundus Sianipar, “At the same time, political relations. future strategy to respect.” "China also delivers Australia its struction of a Catholic church in a a Catholic priest, said police asked dialogue, which is being success- (BBC) On Wednesday March 29, Rasmussen emphasised that it biggest trade surplus. For a whole satellite city of the capital, Jakar- him to leave the area for safety rea- British prime minister Theresa is important to have a unified Dan- range of sectors, from tourism, ta. Several hundred protesters from sons. Muslim-majority Indonesia May will activate Article 50 of the ish strategy for the UK’s depar- education, beef to wine, the rise of a group called Forum for Bekasi recognizes six religions, but mili- Lisbon Treaty, which will official- ture. China's middle class is the best Muslim Friendship staged a row- tant Islamic groups frequently pro- ly start the process of the United “Our interest is to secure ac- news on Australia's economic ho- dy demonstration in front of the test against the minority faiths and Kazakhstani frontier Kingdom’s withdrawal from the cess to the British market as ad- rizon." "Australia is important to Santa Clara church in Kaliabang, a police often do not intervene. EU. vantageously as possible, but of China because it is the key suppli- neighborhood of Bekasi city, after Members of minority religions that guards prevented PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen course on balanced terms,” he said. er of the iron ore that feeds in Chi- Friday prayers. Witnesses said aren't recognized by the state face has invited a number of key minis- “To continue the divorce analogy, nese steel production. Australia is police fired tear gas as the protest- persistent discrimination. Ismail smuggling of big party ters, plus union officials and top you can’t have the children every also looked upon increasingly as a ers tried to force their way into Ibrahim, a cleric and organizer of business executives, to a meeting second week if you don’t pay your valuable supplier of high quality the church, which has been under the protest. (AP) at Marienborg, his official resi- share of the child support.” and safe food and beverages, and a of poultry to Russia dence, on Monday, DR Nyheder He added that “when we meet useful test bed for Chinese com- reports. on Monday, it will probably be to panies looking to make their first Smuggling of a big party of poul- poultry 37 tons in weight," the It is estimated that around build a partnership and channel for international foray." try has been detained at the border message said. 2,400 companies export goods to mutual information-sharing for the Li's visit to Australia is there- of Kazakhstan and Russia, reports 18.2 tons of poultry have been the United Kingdom, and that this Danish businesses that have the fore likely to focus heavily on eco- the NSC border service of Kaza- found in Volvo vehicle, whose driv- involves 53,000 jobs. “That’s a most at stake here.” nomic diplomacy and strengthen- khstan. er had no poultry certificates. A very large number, and it indicates Once May has activated Arti- ing the existing China-Australia "The frontier guards of Aksay citizen of Kazakhstan was carry- the importance of having a strong cle 50, the 27 remaining EU coun- Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), auto of Uralsk checkpoint have ing 18.8 kg of poultry without cer- trading relationship with the Unit- tries will hold a summit meeting a which came into force at the end caught two cars travelling from tificates. ed Kingdom,” the prime minister month later to adopt the guidelines of 2015. The deal has been wel- Kazakhstan to Russia carrying (Reuters) said. for negotiation on the British with- comed by both sides, but there is “That’s also why I’m rather drawal from the EU. (Cphpost) still work to be done. SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES

India to block Japan’s request for WTO dispute panel

South Korea's finance minister ing. pledged Friday to take actions He said South Korea will deal on steel penal duties against China amid no apparent with Chinese retaliations "accord- signs of progress in ending a dip- ing to relevant laws and procedures lomatic row with the world's sec- in case of violation." ond-largest economy. South Korean officials said it China has taken a series of eco- is highly likely that China's retal- nomic retaliations against South iatory measures run counter to the Korea in recent months over the spirit and regulations of the World ongoing deployment of an ad- Trade Organization. vanced US missile defense system Earlier this week, South Ko- in South Korea. China has imposed rea appealed to the WTO's service a ban on Chinese sales of tour pack- council to determine if the Chinese ages to South Korea in a move that measures are in conflict with WTO dealt a heavy blow to South Ko- regulations. rea's tourism industry that has long Yoo also said South Korea will relied on Chinese visitors. continue to explain its policy on Beijing has repeatedly pressed foreign exchange and its efforts to South Korea to drop the plan, implement the South Korea-US claiming the US missile defense free trade deal to the United States. system would undermine its secu- His comments came amid lin- rity interests. gering concerns over a possible Still, Seoul and Washington designation by the US of South have dismissed such concerns, say- Korea as a currency manipulator. ing the US missile shield is defen- Bank of Korea Gov. Lee Ju-yeol sive in nature and focused on North told reporters Thursday that there Korea's missile activities. is a low possibility that South India will block Japan’s request for by local players, was also faulty. "We are closely reviewing Korea will be labeled as a currency a dispute settlement panel at the The Japanese government has whether Chinese moves violated manipulator, though he said the World Trade Organisation (WTO) estimated that the tariffs could cost international norms," Finance possibility cannot be ruled out. against penal duties on steel im- Japanese steel companies about Minister Yoo Il-ho said in a meet- (Yonhap) ports imposed by New Delhi, a $220 million through March 2018, government official has said. as per reports in the Japanese me- Tokyo’s request will be taken dia. up for consideration by the Dis- “We tried to convince Japan pute Settlement Body of the World in our bilateral consultations on the Trade Organisation in its meeting dispute that no rules had been on Tuesday. breached and the safeguard duties “We are definitely going to were progressively being brought block the request. Our argument is down. But Japan chose to ask for that India has not flouted any a dispute settlement panel,” the norms while imposing safeguard official said. Japan, which has duties on certain categories of friendly trade relations with India, steel,” the official said. is taking the strong step of filing a Turkey has condemned Cyprus’ research for nat- Japan, however, is expected to dispute to stop unfair trade actions ural gas in the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone make a second request in the next from spreading, a Japanese indus- (EEZ), in a statement from the Foreign Ministry. DSB meeting which cannot be try ministry official reportedly “These contacts clearly demonstrate yet again blocked as per rules. said. how the Greek Cypriot Administration disregards, In March last year, India had India imposed minimum im- in its unilateral pursuit of hydrocarbon-related activ- extended safeguard duties — pe- port price and safeguard duties on ities, the inalienable rights on natural resources of the nal duties imposed over and above steel imports last year to protect Turkish Cypriot people, the co-owners of the Is- the regular customs duties to check the domestic industry. land,” the statement reads, about meetings President import surges of identified items As per the Finance Ministry’s Nicos Anastasiades had with natural gas companies — on certain hot-rolled steel items notification, safeguard duty will in the US on March 22. Ankara has also condemned till March 2018. The move was apply on hot-rolled flat products the fact contracts were signed in the Republic of aimed at protecting domestic steel of non-alloy and other alloy steel Cyprus for exploration of the EEZ, and that the Greek producers suffering from the dou- in coils of 600 mm width. Cypriot side “is still not able to grasp the win-win- ble blow of low demand and cheap The safeguard duty will be 20 based potential for economic cooperation that can imports. per cent minus any existing dump- ensue on the Island and in the Eastern Mediterranean Japan has alleged that the in- ing duty till September 2016, fol- from a comprehensive settlement, towards which the vestigation carried out by the Di- lowing which it will be reduced to Turkish Cypriot side and turkey have been expend- rectorate General of Safeguards in 18 per cent till March 2017, then ing intensive efforts.” India was not according to proce- brought down to 15 per cent till “We expect the Greek Cypriot side, which re- dures laid down by the WTO and September 2017 and eventually to fuses to accept the Turkish Cypriots as politically the injury determination, which is 10 per cent by March 2018. equal partners on the Island, to refrain from acting as a measure of disruption suffered (Thehindubusinessline) though it were the sole owner of the Island’s natural resources and to cease its hydrocarbon-related activ- ities. It will be recalled in this context that in previ- UK BATTERY SYSTEM IMPRESSES IN UNIVERSITY TRIALS ous years, such activities have led to the failure of efforts aiming towards a comprehensive settlement,” the statement reads. Ankara has warned that Turkey will take all the necessary measures to protect its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as, the rights of the so called ‘TRNC’. Turkey’s warning has arrived at a time, when negotiations on the Cyprus problem have been stalled, after the Turkish Cypriot leader Mus- tafa Akinci walked away from negotiations. (Sigmalive) Egypt targeting $9b in foreign financing in 2017-18 financial year A UK company, Extreme Low lithium-ion batteries, charging over- before the battery reaches 80% Egypt is targeting $9 billion in foreign financing in Energy (ELe), has produced a new night to make use of off-peak en- capacity.” Mark Buchanan, the 2017-18 fiscal year, Deputy Finance Minister battery system which can power ergy tariffs before supplying pow- founder of Extreme Low Energy, Ahmed Kouchouk told Reuters on Wednesday. a suite of computers for almost er to ELe’s suite of low energy PCs said: The financing will be divided between $3 bil- eight years. and monitors. “As a specialist in the manu- lion obtained from debt markets and $5 billion to Tests conducted over a five- When used in conjunction with facturing of energy storage tech- $6 billion from international finance institutions, month period by engineers at The a low-energy computing suite, ELe nologies and alternative energy gen- he said. Egypt agreed with the International Mon- University of Manchester showed claims its POD can help organisa- eration devices the POD is just one etary Fund in November on a $12 billion, three- that Extreme Low Energy (ELe)’s tions save at least 70% in energy innovative product we offer to help year loan program to support government efforts POD could power 30 computers costs. customers operate partially or fully to reduce its budget deficit and balance its curren- for seven hours a day over 2,830 Dr Rebecca Todd, School of off-grid. “We were confident about cy market. The finance minister said last week he consecutive days (7.75 years) be- Electrical and Electronic Engineer- the longevity of our POD before expects Egypt to receive the second tranche of this Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once again topped the founder Michael Bloomberg was fore the battery capacity dropped ing at The University of Manches- the testing - but the findings cer- loan, expected to be $1.25 billion, in May or June. Forbes magazine list of the world’s richest billionaires, 10th. to 80%. ter, said: tainly impressed us. “We're sure Egypt is also expected to receive additional while US President Donald Trump slipped more than This year it took at least $3.7 The pioneering low energy “We applied our findings spe- that the results of these indepen- tranches of loans from the World Bank and African 200 spots, the magazine said Monday. Gates, whose billion in wealth to make it onto system – which can also act as a cifically to consider the use of the dent tests will help prove the val- Development Bank in 2017-18, which together wealth is estimated at $86 billion, led the list for the the list, but only in a tie for 501th back-up generator – is attracting ELe POD in educational establish- ue of our DC-power solutions and would total $1.5 billion. Kouchouk said the $3 fourth straight year. place, a group that included Hol- interest from schools in develop- ments, and concluded that an av- technologies to potential custom- billion from debt markets could come in the form He was followed by Berkshire Hathaway chief lywood director Steven Spielberg. ing African nations. The POD erage school should be able to use ers both in the UK and overseas." of Eurobonds denominated in dollars or other cur- Warren Buffett among the top 10 billionaires, a group (BBC) stores energy in high-performance the POD system for over 14 years (Siliconsemiconductor) rencies as well as Sukuk. heavily dominated by Americans, many of whom work He did not say when Egypt was likely to tap in the technology sector. Buffett’s wealth was estimat- debt markets during the coming fiscal year, which ed at $75.6 billion. Others in the top 10 included Am- begins in July. azon founder Jeff Bezos at number three, Facebook Germany’s Merkel calls for standardized Egypt raised $4 billion in sales of Eurobonds creator Mark Zuckerberg at number five and Oracle co- earlier this year at lower-than-expected yields, with founder Larry Ellison at number seven. demand for the bonds high. The global billionaire population jumped 13 per- European rules on using data German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on (Alarabya) cent from last year to 2,043, the biggest annual increase Saturday for Europe to set about standardiz- in the 31 years since the magazine began compiling the ing rules on using data in Europe, ahead of a list, Forbes said. visit to the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover The US led countries with the most billionaires where digitalization is expected to be in focus. with 565, a product of the swelling value of the Amer- “We want to create a digital single Euro- ican stock market since Trump’s November 2016 elec- pean market. That means we need to have tion. China was second with 319 billionaires, and Ger- legal situations that are as similar as possible many was third with 114. Trump himself slipped 220 in all European countries,” Merkel said in her spots on the list to number 544 with an estimated $3.5 weekly video podcast. billion. Forbes attributed Trump’s drop to sluggish- A key issue is determining who owns the ness in the Manhattan real estate market which is re- data and the related copyright issues, Merkel sponsible for a disproportionate amount of his wealth. said, adding: “We’re still discussing that.” "Forty percent of Donald Trump’s fortune is tied She said that in the automobile sector, for up in Trump Tower and eight buildings within one mile example, it was important to clarify whether of it," Forbes said. "Lately, the neighborhood has been data belonged to carmakers or software manu- struggling (relatively speaking)." facturers because it was possible to develop Among others in the Forbes top 10, Amancio Or- new products with the data about clients. tega of Spanish apparel chain Zara was fourth, Mexi- “We need to very quickly and uniformly can telecom tycoon Carlos Slim was sixth, the Koch implement legislation in Europe regarding brothers, Charles and David, were eighth and ninth and copyright laws and the ownership of data,” former New York City mayor and Bloomberg News she said. SATURDAY. MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Emma Thompson reveals that Donald Trump asked her out

So, apparently, US President Donald Trump has tried his luck on some of Hollywood’s leading Does Tom Cruise want his MI 6 co-star Vanessa ladies in the past. Actor Emma Thompson recently revealed that she was once asked out by the cur- Kirby ‘to be the next Mrs Tom Cruise’? rent US President, reported US Weekly. Tom Cruise is rumoured Speaking on Skavlan, a Scan- dinavian TV show on March 23, to be dating his Mission the Love Actually actor said that Impossible 6 co-star the invitation came when she was filming the 1998 film Primary Col- Vanessa Kirby and is ors in Los Angeles. seriously considering a Thompson explained that she was in her trailer on the set of the future with her. political film when the phone rang, It has been 5 years since Tom Cruise and the voice at the other end said, broke up with wife Katie Holmes, “Hi, it’s Donald Trump here.” but a new report claims that the Mis- Thompson said it was “like a sion Impossible star is dating British moose had just entered my trail- actor Vanessa Kirby. Known for her er,” as the call came the day after role as Princess Margaret in Netflix’s her divorce from actor Kenneth The Crown, Kirby was recently cast Branagh. in Cruise’s Mission Impossible 6, Then, Thompson revealed which is heading into production that Trump literally asked her out: soon.An InTouch Weekly report now “Well, you know, I think we would says that Cruise got her on board af- get on very well. Maybe we could ter watching her performance in the have dinner some time.” show, and the pair “immediately hit She didn’t accept his offer. “I it off”. didn’t know what to do with my- As per US Magazine, “Tom and energy.” According to an unnamed insider, Cruise is already considering a future with the British self,” she admitted. flipped for her work. He told the oth- actor, with one source even claiming that “he wants to make her the next Mrs Tom Cruise”. “I just said, OK, well, I’ll get er MI producers that he had to have Cruise was married to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, to Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001, and back to you. Thank you so much Vanessa for a crucial role in the fran- then to Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. for ringing.” chise’s sixth instalment,” and was (Dailymail) It’s pretty obvious those din- “blown away by her endless charm ner plans never happened! (Tribune) Adele dedicates song to London terror attack Salman Khan decides to sell his victims at Auckland concert Adele is on her tour these days, “Today there was a terror at- paintings for this noble cause and recently had a concert in New tack in my hometown of London,” Zealand. Adele, 28, told the crowd. “I’m on It’s no news that Bollywood actor The Hello hitmaker used the the other side of the world and I Salman Khan is as much a gifted same opportunity to send her love want them to see our lights and to painter as he is an actor. to the victims and condemn the hear us.” said the Someone Like However, the Ek Tha Tiger attack, which took place in the You singer during her concert, re- hunk never sold any of his paint- heart of London, near British par- ports People. ings and kept them for himself or liament. “It’s very strange not being always gifted them to his near and Adele paid tribute to the vic- home, all I want to do today is be dear ones. tims at her Auckland concert fol- at home with my friends and fam- Do charity, no matter what lowing the brazen car and knife ily. Everyone’s fine, but there are your intention is, advises Salman attack near British parliament four [victims] who aren’t fine so According to SpotboyE, a re- where five people were confirmed let’s dedicate this to them tonight.” cent occurrence changed the actor’s dead and 40 injured. (Tribune) views about placing bids on his paintings. Salman recently got an offer from a businessman of a whopping 2million INR on one of his paintings which he refused to sell. The painting was reportedly very close to his heart. Zareen Khan: A The same businessman made another offer, this large section of the time of 10 million INR! ‘Bhai’ being human The Kick star, this time however, gave in – industry still judges and forwarded the money to his charity foundation, ‘Being Human’. you on your looks Salman has now decided to sell some of his art to pool in money for his charity. He’s surely the Sultan of our hearts – now, more than ever! Varun Dhawan,Alia Bhatt’s (Hindustan Times) Badrinath Ki Dulhania enters the Rs 100-crore club

Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan’s ed film opened well on March 10, Badrinath Ki Dulhania has entered picking up Rs 27 crore in the first Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone the Rs 100-crore club. Trade ana- two days of its release. lyst Taran Adarsh tweeted to con- The highlight of the film was firm the film’s earnings in 15 days the popular pairing of Varun and has the highest, most coveted brands since its release. Alia (it is their third outing togeth- Interestingly, it is the third film er after Student of The Year and in Varun’s career, after ABCD 2 Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania) and and Dilwale, and the second re- its hit music. The fresh take on the After her film Veer (2010), actor ups and downs in my career has lease for Alia (2 States) to make it ‘90s hit Tamma Tamma too was Zareen Khan had spoken about kept me happy,” says Zareen. to the coveted club. appreciated by the audience. how she was body shamed for be- Zareen’s film Aksar 2 will be The Shashank Khaitan-direct- (Hindustan Times) ing fat. Much has not changed releasing soon and she will also since then, says Zareen. “A major start work on her movie with film- part of the industry still feels that maker Vikram Bhatt. Talking about till the time your body looks great, the kind of roles she wants to take your acting potential does not up, she says, “I would like to matter. A large section of the in- choose characters that challenge dustry still judge you on how you me. The industry trends to stereo- look. Only when you are physi- type you, but I am happy that is cally appealing, will they like to not happening with me now.” know you,” she says. However, she still has a long However, Zareen, who has way to go. “I have unfortunately been part of films such as House- not reached a phase where I have full 2 (2012) and Hate Story 3 the chance to do multiple projects (2015), says she is happy with her at the same time. When that hap- career graph. “I am content. It’s pens, I feel it will be challenging been almost six years that I have but fun to switch between roles,” been a part of this industry. The she says. (Santa Banta)

With one more brand added in Deepika Padukone’s kitty, the dimpled beauty sustains her posi- Justice League unite: New posters, teasers for Batman, Aquaman, Flash are out! tion of having the highest number of brands and the most coveted Fresh looks at Ben Affleck’s Batman, Jason Momoa’s Aqua- ones. The Mastani of Bollywood man and Ezra Miller’s The Flash were released ahead of the has recently been announced as the grand debut of the new Justice League trailer. face of a mobile manufacturing gi- ant and is now the brand ambassa- Ahead of its trailer debut on Sat- ready had a fair bit of Jason Mo- dor of as many as 18 quality urday, several new character post- moa’s Aquaman, but this 20-sec- brands across various segments. ers and teasers for the hugely an- ond-teaser adds another large-scale Is Deepika Padukone doing ticipated new Justice League mov- shot of him in his element (water). another film with Vin Diesel? ie were released online on Friday. Also, let’s not ignore the ‘quin- The xXx: Return of Xander Director Zack Snyder got dent’. Cage star, who has left no stone things going when he shared the As it turns out, Ben Affleck’s unturned in making herself a glo- film’s first teaser poster on Twit- Batman still hasn’t got enough of bal icon, is a hot name in the brands ter. shooting at things from inside the circuit because of her massive pop- It’s a minimal one-sheet and Batmobile. ularity. for those hoping to catch a glimpse It’s too quick to carefully anal- On the professional front, the of their favourite DC superheroes, yse, but it looks like here, he isn’t 31-year-old is currently gearing up it is likely to be disappointing. shooting at Superman, but a pa- for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mag- But moments later, the offi- rademon (minions of the villain- num-opus Padmavati that also cial Justice League handle belted ous Steppenwolf we first saw in stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid out one poster after another, and that dream sequence in Batman v Kapoor in lead roles. then, short character teasers too. Superman: Dawn of Justice). (Santa Banta) The ‘announcement trailer’ al- (Holleywoodreports) SATURDAY . MARCH 25, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES

(Project Coordination Unit) Irrigation Restoration and Development Project NATIONALCOMPETITIVEBIDDING Invitation for Bids (IFB) For Procurement of Rehabilitation Works of Cluster of Wehar, Sherwani, Tapa-eAhmad big &Sabat (JareQazi) Irrigation Schemes in Nijrab District of Kapisa Province IFB No: MEW/PCU/IRDP/K-244 /KBLR /NCB Date:25-March-17

1. This Invitation for Bids follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared in Development Business published on 11 January 2011. 2. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Energy and Water,Irrigation Restoration and Development Projecthas applied for a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) and Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund(ARTF) toward the cost of Irrigation Restoration and Development Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this grant to payments under the Contract for the Sub project given in para 3 below. 3. The Project Coordination Unit, acting on behalf of the the Ministry of Energy & Water, now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the Rehabilitation/ Improvement of Cluster of Wehar, Sherwani, Tapa-eAhmad big &Sabat (JareQazi) Irrigation Schemes in Nijrab District of Kapisa Province(MEW/PCU/IRDP/K-244/ KBLR/NCB). The construction period is 21 months which includes slack period of 5 months for flood/adverse weather conditions and resolving community/farmers needs/ disputes etc. 4. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits,dated January 2011 and revised in July 2014and is open to all bidders from Eligible Source Countries as defined in the Bidding Documents. 5. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from Eng. Fahima ‘Azim’, Deputy Director, Project Coordination Unit, Kabul Region,( Email: fahima.azim@eirp- afg.org Telephone: +93-779 240 738) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 7:30 to 16:30Hrs from Saturday to Wednesday (Except public holidays). 6. Qualifications requirements include: (a) The minimum required annual volume of construction work for the successful bidder in any of the last five years – 20.00 MillionAfs. (a)Experience as prime contractor in the construction of at least one works of nature and complexity equivalent to this work during the last five (5) years – 12.00 MillionAfs. (b)Proposals for the timely acquisition (own, lease, hire, etc.) of the essential equipment as given in the bidding document. (c)Contract Manager with five years’ experience in works of an equivalent nature and volume, including no less than three years as Manager. (e) Liquid assets and/or credit facilities, net of other contractual commitments and exclusive of any advance payments which may be made under the Contract 5.00 Million Afs. For detailed post qualification verification please refers to Section I - Instructions to Bidders and Section II- Bid Data Sheet of the bidding documents. A margin of preference for eligible national contractors/joint ventures shall not be applied. 7.A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written Application to the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of 2,500 AFN. The method of payment will be Cash/Direct Payment. The Bidding Documents shall be collected by the bidders from the address below. 8. The bidders or their authorized representatives are invited to attend a pre-bid meeting which will take place on 09-April-17 at 10:00 AM in the meeting Hall (2nd floor) at the address given below to explain the procedure of proper preparation and submission of bid, clarify issues and to answer questions on any matter that may be raised at that stage. 9.Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before 10:00 AM of 25-April-17(if this date is announced an official holiday, then bids must be submitted next working day at the same time and venue). Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened physically in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend in person at the address below at 10:00 AM of 25-April-17. 10.All bids shall be accompanied by a “Bid Security” of amount: 500,000.00Afghanis. 11. The address referred to above is: Eng. Fahima “Azim” Deputy Director PCU-Kabul Region Ministry of Energy & Water, PCU Regional Office-IRDP Behind Mahmood Tarzi High School, DarulAman Road, Kabul, Afghanistan. Email: [email protected] Telephone: +93-779 240 738 I SLAMI C REPUBLI C OF AFGHANI STAN Ministry Of ENERGY & WATER (Project Coordination Unit) Irrigation Restoration and Development Project NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING

Invitation for Bids (IFB) For Procurement of Works for Naghari bank protection scheme IFB No: MEW/ PCU/ IRDP/ KR-10 / KBLR / NCB Date: 25-March-17

1. This Invitation for Bids follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared in Development Business published on 11 January 2011. 2. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Energy and water, Irrigation Restoration and Development Project has applied for a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) and Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund(ARTF) toward the cost of Irrigation Restoration and Development Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this grant to payments under the Contract for the Sub project given in para 3 below. 3. The Project Coordination Unit, acting on behalf of the the Ministry of Energy & Water, now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the Rehabilitation/ Improvement of Naghari Bank Protection Scheme. The construction period is 12 months which includes slack period of 3 months for flood/adverse weather conditions and resolving community/farmers needs/disputes etc. The Sites are located in Nijrab District of Kapisa province, Afghanistan 4. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits,dated January 2011 and revised in July 2014and is open to all bidders from Eligible Source Countries as defined in the Bidding Documents. 5. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from Eng. Nasir Ahmad “Ahadi”, Acting Director and Procurement Officer, Project Coordination Unit, Afghanistan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 to 16:30Hrs from Saturday to Wednesday (Except public holidays). 6. Qualifications requirements include: (a) The minimum required annual volume of construction work for the successful bidder in any of the last five years – 8 Million Afs. (a)Experience as prime contractor in the construction of at least one works of nature and complexity equivalent to this work during the last five (5) years – 4.8 Million Afs. (b) Proposals for the timely acquisition (own, lease, hire, etc.) of the essential equipment as given in the bidding document. (c) Contract Manager with five years’ experience in works of an equivalent nature and volume, including no less than three years as Manager. (e) Liquid assets and/or credit facilities, net of other contractual commitments and exclusive of any advance payments which may be made under the Contract 2 Million Afs. For detailed post qualification verification please refers to Section I - Instructions to Bidders and Section II- Bid Data Sheet of the bidding documents. A margin of preference for eligible national contractors/joint ventures shall not be applied. 7. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written Application to the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of 2,500 AFN. The method of payment will be Cash/Direct Payment. The Bidding Documents shall be collected by the bidders from the address below. 8. The bidders or their authorized representatives are invited to attend a pre-bid meeting which will take place on 10-April-17 at 10:00 AM in the meeting Hall (2nd floor) at the address given below to explain the procedure of proper preparation and submission of bid, clarify issues and to answer questions on any matter that may be raised at that stage. 9. Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before 10:00 AM of 26-April-17 (if this date is announced an official holiday, then bids must be submitted next working day at the same time and venue). Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened physically in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend in person at the address below at 10:00 AM of 26-April-17. 10.All bids shall be accompanied by a “Bid Security” of amount: 250,000.00Afghanis. 11.The address referred to above is: Eng. Nasir Ahmad ”Ahadi” Procurement officer IRDP Project Coordination Unit PCU/KBL Mobile: +93(0)700686110), SATURDAY . MARCH 25. 2017-Hamal 05, 1396 H.S Vol:XI Issue No: 231 Price: Afs.20

No uplift projects in most Ghazni towns A group of Taliban militants at- tacked the district governor’s of- last year fice in Takhar’s Khwaja Bahawud- din district on Thursday night and set fire to the district building, sources from the province said. However, the commander of GHAZNI CITY : The governor on north-eastern police zone, Lieuten- Thursday said insecurity deprived ant General Sher Aziz Kamawal 14 of 18 districts of southern Ghaz- said in a statement on Friday that ni province of development a group of militants attacked the projects last solar year. In an ex- district governor’s office and set clusive interview with Pajhwok fire to parts of the building. Afghan News, Governor Abdul Kamawal said the militants Karim Matin said: “Most of the were pushed back by security forc- residents of these districts are Pa- es after they arrived at the area. shtun, some of them face high se- He added that three militants curity threat and others moderate.” were killed and four others were He said Zanakhan, Nawa, wounded in the attack. Geru, Ajristan, Khogyani, Rash- According to him, four local idan and Gilan districts were the police force members were wound- most insecure. He said no devel- ed in the clash. (Tolo News) opment projects had been imple- mented in the mentioned districts last year due to insecurity. However, he said there had been no security problems last year Farmers playing key role in in Jaghori, Malistan, Nawur and Jaghatu districts and development projects were implemented there. “Daesh or Islamic State (IS) Afghanistan’s development: President and other militant groups give money to Taliban in return for al- KABUL : President Mohammad lowing them to fight against the Ashraf Ghani has said the policy government,” he said, but did not of domestic agriculture products share any evidence in support of consumption would be expanded his claim. “There has been com- from the defence ministry to other plete coordination among the Af- government institutions to help ghan forces and implementation of generate markets for domestic pro- development projects is planned duction, a statement from Presi- in Ghazni in the new solar year,” dential Palace said on Friday. Matin said. The governor said he The president expressed the had shared all the problems with view during a meeting with some the president. Lal Mohammad, a farmers from Paktika, Khost, Pa- resident of Deh Yak district, said ktia and Logar provinces who called KABUL : After losing the third livers and lost their wicket in early no development projects could be on him here, the statement said. and forth One Day International hours. However, one down Rah- carried out in most areas of the dis- Agriculture Minister Asadul- (ODI), Afghanistan on Friday mat Shah’s brilliant 128 balls 108 trict due to insecurity. He said the lah Zamir said the ministry had made a strong comeback and won and Samiullah Shinwari 77 balls 26 absence of development projects expanded its development projects the fifth and final ODI by seven helped Afghanistan won the fifth had left the youth with no option to the districts and villages. Earli- wickets that gave the blue tigers 3- and final ODI. Captain Asghar but to join the Taliban. Moham- er, the agenda for the expansion of 2 victory in the series. Stanikzai also played a helping in- mad Ashraf, a resident of Khogy- agriculture was limited to the pro- Afghanistan who lost the toss nings of 50 balls 39 in the run chase. ani district, said: “Insecurity is on vincial capitals, he added. Ghani on good batting surface was invit- The team reached the target of 230 a high level here and the govern- assured the farmers that develop- ed to bowl first. The Afghan in 48.4 overs with the loss of three ment was forced to shift the dis- ment projects initiated by the ag- bowlers did not allow the Irish wickets. Rahmat Shah brought Af- trict headquarters to a safe area.” riculture ministry would be imple- batsmen to score free runs and ghanistan home with huge six. He He said their district remained de- mented in their provinces this year. bowled in good line and length. was also declared man of the match prived of development projects The president hailed hard Ireland batsmen took a careful for his 108 crucial runs that steered because most of its areas were un- work of the farmers in current crit- start but Afghan bowlers made late Afghanistan to victory. PR Stirling der Taliban’s control. Taliban are ical situation of the country and inroads into the Irish batting line from Ireland was awarded man of partial in control of several areas termed the farmers the real sons of and restricted them to the total the series trophy. Afghanistan in Ghazni, where Nawa district has the motherland. score of 229. Afghan leg break spin Chief Executive Officer (CEO) been with the rebels over the past He said: “We are becoming ditional piece of land that you grow. said in the past two years huge vation. Zia Gul, representing bowler Rashid Khan was again im- Abdullah Abdullah and some mem- 13 years. (Pajhwok) more independent with every ad- Every woman who works in bee difference has been noticed in the women farmers in the meeting, pressive and economical. He bers of parliaments were present farming or poultry farming is in development of agriculture in the hailed development took place in grabbed four wicket and played during the award distribution event fact playing key role in the devel- southeastern provinces of the the fields of bees farming, poultry great role in restricting to the Ire- and applauded for the team’s vic- opment of Afghanistan.” Speaking country. He said if the agriculture farming and creation of agriculture land side to 229 along with Farid tory. Afghan International Compa- Mohammad Arif Shah of the behalf of farmers, Dr. Shah products sold on reasonable price farms in Logar province. She de- Malak who took three wickets. ny General Petroleum is the main Mahmood, thanked the president it will help generate jobs and erad- manded more active role of wom- While chasing the target of 230 sponsor of the series between Af- Jahan appointed new for his support to the farmers and icate militancy and poppy culti- en in agriculture sector. (Pajhwok) Afghan openers again failed to de- ghanistan and Ireland. (Pajhwok) governor of Farah

SHARANA : Local education of- added. He said people had volun- ficials on Thursday said 13 schools, tarily allocated their land to schools which had been closed due to inse- and even helped in their construc- curity, were reopened on the first tion. “Reopening of closed schools day of the new academic year in is one of our primary goals,” he southeastern Paktika province. said. Provincial education director, Fazal Niazmal, deputy direc- Nasim Wajid, told Pajhwok Afghan tor of the professional agriculture News the schools had been shut school in Yahyakhel district, said for the past four years due to inse- the Taliban were not involved in curity and other problems. closing of the schools but some fig- He said the schools were re- ures inside the group were behind KABUL : President Mohammad proved his appointment, the state- opened in Sara Rawza, Barmal and the closure. Ashraf Ghani has appointed Mo- ment said. Jahan earlier worked as Khairkot districts. Twenty-seven He asked families to pave the hammad Arif Shah Jahan as the National Directorate of Security other schools were still shut in ground for reopening of schools in new governor of western Farah (NDS) director in Ghazni province Paktika, but efforts were under- their areas and send their children province, a statement from Presi- and remained representative of way to reopen them, he said. there. There are 339 schools in dential Palace said on Friday. Ghazni in Wolesi Jirga. He would Governor Ilias Wahdat said Paktika and of them 27 are still Jahan was referred to the post replace Mohammad Asif Nang people’s interest in education had closed. Around 153,000 students of governor by the Independent who serves as Farah governor to increased in Paktika. Besides including girls are attending Directorate of Local Governance more than two years. boys, around 30,000 girls also at- schools in the province. (IDLG) and the president ap- (Pajhwok) tended school in the province, he (Pajhwok)