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ZAKHILWAL FOR LESSENING OF TENSION WITH PAKISTAN KABUL: The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, Umer Zakhilwal has held constructive meetings with the civil and military leadership of Pakistan on Tuesday, where he emphasized on reduction of ten- sion between the two countries. Zakhilwal said, “I had a “very good meeting” with Pakistan For- eign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz and also had a “constructive and posi- my return from Kabul on Tues- Afghan-US officials discussed methods of tive talks” with Pakistan Army in day.” General Headquarters (GHQ) on See P3 counternarcotics AT News Report

JALALABAD : Fresh troops and Governor Gulab Mangal, accom- lpoora district’s people and efforts ner. organs. Pictured, from left to right: Minister of Counter Narcotics Salamat heavy weapons had been de- panied by some civil and military were underway to resolve the bor- He told security officials to The governor’s visit to La- Azimi; Special Chargé D’Affaires Ambassador Hugo Llorens; Deputy ployed to the border areas of east- officials assessed security situa- der tensions through diplomatic sacrifice for defending the holy lpoora comes as recently the Pa- Minister for Counter Narcotics of the Ministry of Interior Lieutenant ern provinces, officials said on tion and people affected by recent channels, he quoted the governor land of their country standing kistani forces fired light and heavy General Baz Mohammad Ahmadi Tuesday. rocket strikes by Pakistani forces as saying. strong against the enemy. “In case weapons into eastern parts of the On the other hand, Nangar- in Lalpoora district and Torkham If the diplomatic attempts did of need, I would prepare myself country, particularly to Lalpoo- KABUL: The Afghan and the US and Beyond’. har governor, who observed the Township. not bear fruit, then the brave Af- to stand with our security forces ra district and inflicted casualties officials discussed the ways of The two workshops covered Lalpoora district and Torkham During his visit, the governor ghan nation was ready for any type for defending our territory,” he on many people as well as forced counter-narcotics efforts in a joint a range of issues, including the Af- Township from close on Mon- also shared President Ashraf Ghani of response to Pakistan’s rocket added. more than a hundred families to workshop held on Tuesday in ghan National Drug Action Plan, day, said Afghan forces were and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) shelling, he said, assuring victims The governor also overviewed leave their homes. Officials in Kabul. public information efforts, eradi- ready for taking any needed mea- Abdullah Abdullah’s messages of the attacks would be covered security forces bases in various eastern Kunar province also said The US Ambassador to Kab- cation, interdiction, and alternative sures. with local security officials and with essential care. areas and met with soldiers at the the cross border shelling had ul, Hugo Llorens reaffirmed his development. These events set the Nangarhar governor’s tribal elders, he said. Mangal ordered officials con- Torkham commissary and other caused financial and human loss- country’s support for Afghani- agenda for joint counter narcotics spokesman, Attuallah Khogyani, Both the local and central gov- cerned to deliver needed aid to vic- security officials. He stressed close es to people in two districts of stan’s counter narcotics objectives efforts for 2017 and beyond, ac- told Pajhwok Afghan News that ernments were careful about La- tims’ families in a transparent man- coordination among all security the province. (Pajhwok) at the event, the US embassy said cording to the statement. in a statement. “All of us here today recog- nize the magnitude of Afghani- Hakimi meets UN stan’s counter narcotics problem… IECC stresses on official, We must eradicate more poppies, seize more heroin, prosecute more representatives of traffickers, and reduce the flows of these harmful drugs… Togeth- media outlets role donor er, we can jointly create a better future for all Afghans,” Llorens said According to Afghan troops in organizations at the workshop titled ‘Interdic- in election process Helmand province, the government forces’ ammunition and weapons AT News Report tion Workshop: 2017 and be- The Independent Electoral Com- cess will be seriously damaged. yond’. sell to Taliban at cheap prices. KABUL: Finance Minister Eklil plaint Commission (IECC) says Meanwhile, members of IECC They say after buying, the Counter-narcotics minister the role of media outlets is very have also emphasized on political Hakimi met Tuesday with Mark Salamat Azimi, deputy interior Taliban fighters transfer the weap- Bowden, deputy of special repre- effective for the public awareness participation and contribution of ons and ammunition to districts of minister Baz Mohammad Ahmadi and can play effective and posi- people that can prevent fraud and sentative of the United Nations and representatives from Afghan Helmand province to fight against for Afghanistan and representa- tive role in the election process. irregularities in the election. “The Afghan security forces. government and the US counter- “The electoral bodies are ready media can make people trust the tives from donor countries and or- narcotics organizations participat- Afghan military forces noted ganizations, finance ministry said. to hold the parliamentary and pro- election and this helps the politi- that the key sellers of weapons are ed in the workshop. vincial council elections, but the cal participation increase and fraud “They discussed on women’s The interdiction-focused event the commanders and arms and economic growth program, com- role of media outlets has been con- prevented in election process,” ammunition is accessible in the was a continuation to a prior work- sidered very valuable in election said Ali Reza Rohani, member of mitments for Afghanistan’s self- shop hosted by the U.S. Embassy shops of the city. reliance based on mutual account- process,” said Abdul Aziz Aryay- IECC. However the Afghan gov- However, the governor of Hel- February 6-8 titled ‘Coordinating ee, chairman of IECC. ernment has not announced the ability framework,” it said in a Counter Narcotics Efforts for 2017 mand province rejected that the statement. Chairman of IECC has warned exact time of holding election but weapons are selling to Taliban but that if a transparent election not said to hold the upcoming election “Minister of Finance thanked declared that the government of- special representative the United held, Afghanistan would face many in the spring or fall seasons of the ten buys arms and ammunition NDS arrests challenges and the democracy pro- next year. (Ariananews) Nations whose mission is over from Taliban group in the prov- now for the coordination between ince. two terrorists spector for Afghanistan Recon- for Afghanistan. Transparency In- Afghanistan and donor countries.” The international community Furthermore, Ministry of Fi- spent billions of dollars on equip- struction (SIGAR) show the lack ternational, an organization that of hundreds of millions of dollars tracks corruption internationally, nance launched weekly meeting in Laghman ment and training of the Afghan with donors for obtaining more forces. in the police salary fund. ranked Afghanistan among its glo- AT News Report Corruption is a major problem bal top lists. (Ariananews) coordination in Aid Section, ac- But audits by the Special In- cording to the ministry’s statement. KABUL: The National Direc- torate of Security (NDS) on Tues- day said that its operatives arrest- ed two terrorists who planned to TAPI engineering design agreement signed conduct terrorist activities in Agreement for the engineering de- Palace. Mahtram city, the provincial cap- sign of the project was signed by “The TAPI pipeline project ital of the eastern province of Lagh- the Afghan Gas Enterprise and will cost $7.4 million and will be man, said a statement issued by Germany’s ILF Company on completed in two phases,” Habib- NDS. NATO returns advisory role to Tuesday, the Presidential Palace yar said. The captured people identified said in a statement. He added: “The first phase of as Rafai-U-Allah and Baberzai The acting mines minister, the project – which includes the who confessed during primary in- basics amid extra troops rumors Ghezal Habibyar, said the practi- security of the project, agreements, vestigation that they have been NATO commanders in the southern province of Kandahar have said cal implantation of the Turkmeni- design, social and environmental tasked by Taliban commander their training advisers have started spending more time in the field with stan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and study, demining, a survey of the Mullah Nomyali to conduct sub- the Afghan army to enhance the fighting capabilities of the conventional India (TAPI) gas pipeline project pipeline’s route and expropriation versive activity in Mehtarlam city, forces in their campaign against the Taliban. NATO officers in Kandahar will take three years while the de- will be completed in one year.” The “The pipeline will change Af- project, said the project is of great added the statement. say that by training lower ranks within Afghanistan’s armed forces will sign, management and other tasks two phases will take four years. ghanistan into a transit hub for importance to the Turkmen presi- The spy agency operatives boost their professional abilities in combat. On Saturday U.S Defense of the project will be completed in The pipeline will 1,735 kilo- Central Asia. It will be an impor- dent. succeeded to prevent terrorist at- Secretary Jim Mattis said that President Donald Trump is waiting for an additional year. meters long and has the capacity tant economic corridor for Afghan- Amanov said the project will tacks in the province by arresting an assessment by US intelligence services before deciding whether or istan because other projects like a help improve his country’s econ- not to increase the number of American troops in Afghanistan and fur- President Ashraf Ghani, the of transferring 33 billion cubic the terrorists, which would cause ther increase the advisory mission to the conventional forces in the deputy chief executive Moham- meters of gas from Turkmenistan power transmission project, a rail- omy as it is one of the biggest eco- killing and wounding of innocent country that has been grappling with unprecedented waves of violence mad Mohaqiq, the Meshrano Jir- to Pakistan and India through Her- way project, industrial parts and nomic projects in the country. The people in Mehtaralm city, noted over the past months. With the end of NATO’s combat mission in ga (Upper House of Parliament) at, Farah, Helmand and Nimroz an optic fiber project will be built design documents and initial work the statement. Afghanistan in 2014, the alliance decided to reduce the number of its speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar and provinces of Pakistan. along the TAPI pipeline route,” for the project have been complet- “They confessed that they combat soldiers in the country, however NATO announced that it would a number of foreign officials at- Afghanistan will earn $400 Habibyar added. ed and Turkmenistan is fully com- killed an innocent shopkeeper in deploy its military advisors in the military corps and army units to tended at the signing ceremony million USD per year from the Meanwhile, Turkmenistan’s mitted to its implementation. the city.” advise, train and support the Afghan security forces. (Tolonews) which was held at the Presidential pipeline, he added. Murad Amanov, CEO of the TAPI (Tolonews) WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

They both call themselves the Tal- "If the U.S. was seriously pro- also argue that "we're just tidying iban. They regularly carry out dead- posing to do it, my guess is it up the list," Ryan said, noting that ly suicide bombings, kill civilians would lead some Afghan officials the Taliban-allied Haqqani net- with impunity and, in many re- to counsel against it precisely be- work and IS branch of Afghanistan spects, behave like brutish terror- cause they'd still hope eventually and Pakistan are on the list. "Or ist groups. So why is one — the to be able to launch some process they could say, as some Republi- Tehrik-I Taliban of Pakistan — on of reconciliation," Dobbins said. "If cans said in the last administration, the State Department's list of For- [the Trump administration] really President [Barack] Obama was too eign Terrorist Organizations, while wants to create an obstacle to com- weak on this issue and they're go- the other — Afghanistan's Taliban — is not? munications with the Taliban, then ing to strengthen it up." To the U.S., the Afghan Tali- this probably could have that ef- Gianni Koskinas, a former mil- ban is largely an insurgency with fect." itary officer now with the New control over vast swaths of terri- A spokesman for Afghan Pres- America think tank in Washington, tory and aspirations to govern the ident Ashraf Ghani said he was argued that merely excluding the country, while its Pakistani off- unaware of any proposal to desig- Taliban from the terror list is un- spring is considered nothing but a nate the Taliban as a terrorist orga- likely to encourage the group to terrorist organization. But the real nization. enter into peace talks. reason the Afghan Taliban is not Advantages of the label "Ultimately, if the Afghan gov- on the list has more to do with With the U.S. military enjoy- ernment chooses to reconcile with political considerations than ing broad authority to target the the Taliban, that is irrelevant as far whether or not it meets the statu- Taliban, a terrorist designation as I'm concerned to the designa- tory criteria for a terrorist desig- would have little impact on the tion of terrorist or not," Koskinas nation. battlefield. But declaring the Tali- said. "The notion that you can tie To be declared a foreign ter- ban a terror group could have one and bind reconciliation with some- rorist organization by the State advantage, according to Michael thing that is a very black-and-white Department, a foreign group must Ryan, a senior fellow at the fact that they're a terrorist organi- engage in terrorism and threaten Jamestown Foundation in Wash- zation, that they're behaving as the security of U.S. nationals or ington: one, is illogical to me." the national security of the United States. The Afghan Taliban meet It would make it politically Designating the Taliban as a both criteria. easier for the Trump administra- terrorist organization would bring Yet political expedience has tion to pressure foreign govern- clarity to the U.S. position in Af- obligated keeping the group off the ments backing the Taliban. The ghanistan, Koskinas said. "The list of 61 organizations ranging from U.S. has long accused Pakistan of message should be clear: If you the Afghanistan branch of the Is- sheltering the Taliban, a charge de- behave like this, then you're a ter- lamic State group to the Palestin- nied by Islamabad. rorist organization. Period," he ian group Hamas. In the case of In labeling the Taliban a terror said. the Taliban, the deterring factor has group, the administration could (VOA) long been a concern that applying the terror label to the group would restrict U.S. and Afghan govern- ment diplomatic contacts with the Taliban, making peace talks more difficult. FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2015 file photo, Afghan Taliban fighters listen to Mullah Mohammed Ra- sool, the newly-elected leader of a breakaway faction of the Taliban, in Farah province, Afghanistan. "There is no doubt that the Taliban occasionally attacks civil- ians intentionally, not accidental- Several female snipers are also serving in the ranks of the special units of police. ly, and that's the definition of ter- rorism," said James Dobbins, a former U.S. Special Representative They carry out joint nighttime military operations with their male counterparts. for Afghanistan and Pakistan. "And, thus, the designation would Sayed Mohammad Roshandil, the be accurate enough. The question commander of special units of the is whether or not it would serve Afghan National Police (ANP) said the U.S. and Afghan government on Monday that his forces have purposes for that step to be tak- carried out more than 2,500 oper- en." ations against terrorists and crimi- ‘Call the enemy by its name’ nals in past six months. With the Trump administra- The special forces include tion scaling up its war on Islamic women. terrorist groups with a vow to "call “The women have a lot of in- the enemy by its name," the ques- terests to serve. We cannot say that tion has entered into discussions females have only a symbolic role over a new Afghan war strategy. as they take part in the operations like the men and fight against the Gen. John Nicholson, the top enemy,” said Roshandil. U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Several female snipers are also told VOA's Afghan service earlier serving in the ranks of the special this month that the question of units of police. They carry out whether the Taliban should be des- joint nighttime military operations ignated as a terrorist organization with their male counterparts. "is an important one for the [new] Ahmad is one of the officers administration to consider and it who serves in special units of po- will be part of our conversation lice for five years. with them as the weeks unfold." “We are participating in oper- Nicholson did not say wheth- ations where the suicide bombers er he favored a terrorist designa- try to attack and also in other tion, but he left little doubt how counter-terrorism operations in he viewed the Taliban, calling the provinces,” said Ahmad. “I am the group "an enabler of terrorists" commander of the female officers with links to many terrorist orga- and send them on operations. I also nizations, including al-Qaida and participate in complicated opera- the Haqqani network. tions,” said female officer Rahima Nicholson told the U.S. Sen- Yousufi. (Tolonews) ate's Armed Services Committee earlier that 20 of the 98 U.S.-des- ignated terrorist groups in the world operate in Afghanistan and Paki- stan and that the U.S. was seeking to set up an "enduring counterter- rorism platform" in Afghanistan. Asked whether the administra- tion is considering designating the Taliban as a terror group, a State Department spokesperson re- ferred to a 2002 executive order labeling the Taliban a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist Enti- HARARE: Afghanistan spinner ers Hyderabad, along with his Bangladesh and Sri Lanka stars, the ty" and a 2008 Congressional law Rashid Khan is over the moon af- team-mate Mohammad Nabi for pair's selection is the biggest indi- mandating that the Taliban be con- ter he, along with former national Rs. 30 lakhs. cation of the strides Afghanistan sidered a terrorist organization for skipper Mohammad Nabi, became The 18-year-old cricketer, are making, and Rashid hopes it immigration purposes. the first cricketers from their war- who has an international cricket does not stop here. While the Global Terrorist torn nation to be picked in the In- experience of less than 18 months, "Our main target is to play Entity sanctions are focused on dian Premier League (IPL) auction says that his speed makes differ- Test cricket and all the guys are financial transactions, a foreign held in Bengaluru. ent from other leg-spinners. working very hard to get there," terrorist organization designation Rashid is in Harare with his "What makes me different is he said. "If we can get there, you prohibits "material support," such national team as they are busy that I am a bit quicker for a leg- can't imagine how good it would as training, and carries greater playing a five-match ODI series spinner," Rashid said. "That is feel." weight, according to Oliver against Zimbabwe. He was one of something that just came to me For now, he is happy to con- Krischik, a trade law attorney spe- the five Afghanistan players listed naturally, not something that I cop- centrate on the shortest format. "In cializing in U.S. economic sanc- in the IPL 2017 auction and he had ied from anyone." short formats, the more you enjoy tions. doubts about whether he would He also admitted that he en- it, the better you will do, and I am "Just the act of designating an attract any bids. joys tough situations as it helps it enjoying it a lot." organization on the Foreign Ter- "My parents woke up early bring the best out of him. Understandably, Rashid has rorist Organization list itself is a to watch the auction. I was still "I love pressure. Mentally, I not made any plans for his new powerful move just in name, and sleeping when they called me and get myself ready for pressure. income just yet. He will only see that is something which can have a told me to get up and watch be- That's how I like to play," he said. his family after the tournament - severe impact on the way other cause I was coming up," Rashid "Maybe it's because I grew up Afghanistan travel from Zimba- people around the world will or was quoted as saying by ESPN- playing with my brothers all the bwe to Ireland and then it will be will not engage in business with cricinfo. time and five of them are older than time for the IPL - and he expects you," Krischik said. "So I started to also watch it me but I also think it's the experi- there will be a clamour in his home- Long eager to reach a political from here in Zimbabwe and I was ence of playing a lot of cricket in a town to share in his glory. "When- settlement with the Taliban, suc- really surprised, really happy and short space of time." ever I go home they have a cele- cessive Afghan governments have really excited when I saw what was Since October 2015, Rashid bration for me so I'm sure this time, stopped short of calling for the happening. I couldn't believe it ac- has played in six ODI series and they will do it as well." group to be designated as a terror- tually, it happened very quickly,” six T20 series, as Afghanistan seek Meanwhile, overjoyed with ist organization, said Dobbins, he added. to make themselves more visible the news, Nabi tweeted, “"Feeling who led the 2001 Bonn negotia- The leg-spinner, who hails on the global stage. Rashid and on top of the world, being selected tions that created the first post- from Nangahar province of Afghan- Nabi's IPL signings will aid that for Team @SunRisers @IPL auc- Taliban government in Afghani- istan, was bought for Rs. 4 crore cause immeasurably. tion. Tnx for your love & sup- stan. (USD 595,000 approx) by Sunris- Having been chosen over some port.” (Newindianexpress) WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

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Over 4 million refugees will flee to Were the forces ready for this? One important part of this. hopefully there will eventually be try to move in, and not just the way to avoid this is to ensure the Khairkhana Hospital Europe if Britain and other NATO of the things we have seen over "I know things have changed a peaceful settlement —that's a security industry," Dr. Lowe told Afghan people can govern them- 0799-321007 nations pull their troops out of the last 12 months is military per- politically over the last 12 months, long way down the road — but it's Sputnik. selves. Afghanistan too soon, UK Defense sonnel returning back to Afghani- but it is looking at funding the Af- looking at the infrastructure as The question of whether Referring to the growth of al- 2401352 Secretary Michael Fallon told an stan, in small numbers — and cer- ghanistan infrastructure that's im- well, it's not just a military pres- NATO will have to remain in Af- Qaeda and how the terror group audience at the Munich Security tainly from a UK perspective, portant, it's something we have to ence that's the be all and end all… ghanistan for a further 50 years to brought Afghanistan to its knees Conference on February 19. very small numbers — to help train consider for other regions." You have to look wider than that stabilize the country is a pertinent overnight, Dr. Lowe believes it will Indira Gandhi Children Michael Fallon said that the Afghanistan forces," Dr. Lowe "When we look at states like and have to try and support re- one, and Dr. Lowe hopes that this be at least 10 years before the coun- Hospital, Wazir Akbar NATO should not pull out of Af- told Sputnik. Libya and what's going to happen building, also economically, give wouldn't have to be the case. try starts to see light at the end of ghanistan as "we here will feel the "But look at regions like the with Syria and Iraq in the future, them support and encourage indus- However, he stresses that the only the tunnel. (Sputniknews) Khan, Kabul 2301372 consequences very directly." Helmand [Province], where the For years, Afghanistan has UK was, predominantly during its been in a continued state of polit- presence in Afghanistan… Even Georgian Ibn-e- Seena ical and social turmoil. Government from the early days, it was quite Pul-e-Artan, Kabul forces are continually fighting the clear that it was going to be more companies may Govt to develop national Taliban, and as a result, instability problematic from what they had 2100359 has persisted throughout the coun- originally perceived, because as be able to try. well as the Taliban, there of course strategy for export expansion In total, 456 British forces were the drug warlords who didn't participate in Wazir Akbar Khan personnel or MoD (Ministry of want a [foreign] presence and this tenders in Officials in the Ministry of Com- at reducing balance deficit. exports in the strategy,” Rasa said. Hospital Defense) civilian staff including is an issue that needs to be ad- merce and Industries (MoCI) at a The commerce and industries Atiqullah Nusrat, CEO of Af- 2301741, 2301743 doctors and nurses were killed dressed." session on Monday said the min- minister, Humayun Rasa, said the ghanistan Chamber of Commerce while serving in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is still however in Afghanistan istry will develop a National Strat- strategy will be made in consulta- and Industries, meanwhile said lack British Army officers from such a fragile state, even years af- Georgian companies could be giv- egy for Export Expansion with the tion with the private sector. of process and packaging factories, Ali Abad Operational Mentoring Liaison ter NATO invaded. Dr. Lowe also en the right to participate in ten- help of the World Trade Organiza- “Solutions will be provided for lack of quality certificates and law Training (OMLT) company train believes the fact there is no central ders in Afghanistan. This was an- tion and the European Union aimed the challenges and obstacles for problems are the obstacles on the Shahrara, Kabul Afghan National Army or ANA, government has not helped when nounced today at a Government way of exports. 2100439 soldiers in firearms, near Camp trying to stabilize the country. Meeting where Georgia’s Prime “One of the problems and chal- Bastion, southern Afghanistan, "We know there's a central Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili lenges that our private sector and Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007 government in Kabul, but you look talked about new opportunities exporters face is lack of standards Malalai Maternity Troops lowered the flag at at the history of the country and between Georgia and Afghanistan. and lack of certificate of quality Camp Bastion in October 2014, the geography, the population, The PM said he discussed the pos- for our export therefore our export- Hospital ending combat operations in the there are certain factions within sibility of opening "different types ed goods have returned from Eu- 2201377/ 2301743 country after 13 long years, though that have never been united. And of opportunities” with Afghanistan ropean markets many times,” Nus- some remained in training and sup- of course the Taliban isn't just an with the country’s president rat said. port roles. Afghan problem, we see a neigh- Ashraf Ghani. We had a very in- “With investment in different Banks ?Dr. David Lowe, principle boring Pakistan with different Tal- teresting meeting with the Afghan areas of agricultural sector, we lecturer at Liverpool John Moores iban factions… there could be dif- President and I have to say that hope that we develop the capaci- Da Afghanistan Bank University Law school, who spe- ferent Taliban factions which quite different types of opportu- ty to regain our export position as cializes in defense and terrorism, could even be in competition with nities are being opened with Af- we had in 1990s,” the minister of 2100302, 2100303 said that before Britain and NATO each other at times, so this is an ghanistan in the areas of transport, agriculture Assadullah Zamir said. leave Afghanistan they must en- issue where we need to support logistics and economic relations”, At the same event, the Euro- Bakhtar Bank sure the proper infrastructure is in the Afghan government, if we can," said Kvirikashvili. Also, we had the pean Union (EU) ambassador to 0776777000 place, in order to avoid another Dr. Lowe told Sputnik. opportunity to speak about the Afghanistan, Franz-Michael Mell- refugee crisis. The stability of Afghanistan is possibility of Georgian companies’ bin, said legal problems is another Azizi Bank "It's been an issue in relation key if we are to avoid a refugee taking part in public procurement reason behind decrease in the coun- to Afghanistan for the last couple crisis in the future, Dr. Lowe be- in Afghanistan. The President ex- try’s exports. 0799 700900 of years. Did the UK, and the US lieves that ensuring the country has pressed readiness to consider such “We also facing a situation Pashtany Bank in particular, depart too early? a strong infrastructure is the most proposals”, he added. (Agenda.ge) which takes on average 85 days from Afghanistan, that is a lot, and 2102908, 2103868 even by international standards it is quite high,” the EU ambassador Air Services said. According to the MoCI, bal- ance deficit has decreased by 90 percent this solar year and the min- Safi Airways istry continues its efforts to in- 020 22 22 222 crease exports to Russia and the Central Asia through Uzbekistan. (Tolonews) Ariana 020-2100270 Robabah Mohammadi is a 17 year- Zakhilwal for old resident of Kabul. She was born Kam Air with no arms or legs but she has willpower, talent and an incredi- lessening of 0799974422 ble zest for life. Sputnik Dari spoke with the young artist about tension with Hotels how she started creating incredi- ble paintings with her teeth. Safi Landmark “I have no arms and legs but I Pakistan can draw. Life is Beautiful.” From P1 020-2203131 These are the words written in English on her Facebook page He added, “I expect de-escala- SERENA by a young Kabul resident, Roba- tion of the current tension and the bah Mohammadi. creation of a more positive envi- 0799654000 Having no limbs did not be- ronment for responding to each come an obstacle for her to learn other’s concerns in a cooperative New Rumi Restaurant English and to become an excep- manner. We have agreed tentative- tional artist. However, the journey ly on a path forward.” 0776351347 to success was painstakingly dif- Zakhilwal said during the ficult and, frankly, awe inspiring. meeting he handed a list of terror- Internet Services In just a short period time ists and terrorist training centers Robabah has become famous in the to Pakistan’s civilian and military UA Telecom Afghan capital. Those who are fa- officials and held productive talks 0796701701 / 0796702702 miliar with her work say that she with them. has so much talent and willpower This comes as the Afghan gov- which a healthy person could only ernment handed over a comprehen- Exchange Rate dream of. sive list consisting of 32 sanctuar- Robabah’s modest home looks ies being used by the Haqqani ter- Purchase: more like a museum filled with her rorist network and the Taliban paintings and art work. In an in- group in Pakistan. One US$ = terview with Sputnik Dari, the art- The list also included the ist shared her story and wisdom. names of 82 Taliban, Haqqani ter- 66.77Afs “There are only two things rorist network, and other terrorist One Pound Sterling= which are not subject to change — group leaders operating against 80.95Afs birth and death, everything else Afghanistan using the Pakistani can be changed. War can be soil. One Euro = stopped and the world can be The handing over of 32 sanc- 70.05Afs saved. Everything else is in the tuaries comes at a time when the 1000 Pak Rs = hands of the living,” Robabah said Pakistani officials accused Afghan- with a warm smile. having friends, socializing but I One day while her sisters were Robabah started helping her ful eyes. istan for a deadly suicide attack on 612Afs She said that her parents tried continued to fight with reality, at school she managed to climb to sisters with their art homework It has been estimated to sell Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s Shrine in Sale: very hard to cure her from the dis- with my family and with myself. the closet and take out their color- and people started finding out for $800 which is almost 8 month's Sindh province of Pakistan. Paki- One US$ = ease but the doctors could not do At the same time I was realizing ing books and crayons. She took about her talent. Guests started salary in Afghanistan. However, stan has claimed that the terrorist anything for her. Growing up was that I am losing this war because I the crayons with her teeth and coming to their house, amongst the artist doesn’t want to sell the attack was carried out by the 66.97 Afs a very painful time for Robabah could not even write my own started drawing. them school teachers. That’s how painting any time soon. Jamaat-ul-Ahraar faction of Tali- One Pound Sterling= because she felt very lonely and name,” the artist said. Since that day there was no she learned English and received “When I look into the eyes of ban—having sanctuaries in Afghan- 81.75Afs different from everyone else. As the years passed and her turning back for Robabah. Within guidance from art teachers. this wolf, I see in his gaze, my own. istan. The Afghan government has One Euro= “I did not step outside the sadness mounted she decided that just six months her family saw that Today Robabah has created This painting is about me, it is not strongly denied any safe hideout house. I had no idea what color she had to find something to do she had an exceptional talent and over 80 paintings. One of her paint- for sale,” the artist concluded. of Taliban insurgents in the coun- 70.65 Afs was the sky. I desperately missed with her time. skill for drawing and painting. ings depicts a wolf with thought- (Sputniknews) try. 1000 Pak Rs= 620 WEDNESDAY . FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

World buys more weapons ISLAMABAD: As the Panamagate Pakistan,” he remarked. per Mills reference against the than ever case hearing resumed in the Su- Then the bench asked the Sharifs. “At least you could have preme Court on Tuesday, the five- NAB chairperson whether or not considered the material, which was judge larger bench of the apex court he still intended to file a reference already available with the NAB,” before, questioned heads of the National against the four-year-old Lahore he said. Justice Azmat Saeed Accountability Bureau (NAB) and High Court verdict for quashing Shaikh also observed NAB can ini- the Federal Board of Revenue Rs1.2 billion Hudabiya Paper tiate inquiry against any official or India tops (FBR) for not taking appropriate Mills case against the Sharifs, office-bearer whose assets are be- steps to investigate the Panama Chaudhry said he will stand by his yond means. Give maximum pun- list Papers scandal. earlier view of not filling an appeal ishment to corrupt officials, SC During the proceedings of the against LHC order. Upon this the orders courts Earlier, the SC bench case, the court asked NAB chair- bench asked him to be ready to observed that the FBR took one man Qamar Zaman Chaudhry face the consequences as the court year for the verification of suspects about the steps undertaken by the cannot force him to file an appeal named in the Panama Papers scan- accountability watchdog in the at this stage. Justice Khosa won- dal. When FBR chairman Dr Mu- Panamagate case. In his response, dered that NAB did not give hammad Irshad stated before the Chaudhry said he was waiting for weightage to the opinion of an court that Prime Minister Nawaz the clearance of ‘regulator’ in the LHC judge who asked for reinves- Sharif’s son, Hussain Nawaz, was matter. tigation in the Hudabiya Paper not a resident of Pakistan, Justice Upon this the five-judge bench, mills case. He said everyone was Azmat asked if he checked travel which is hearing a slew of peti- shifting their responsibility includ- history of the PM’s son to check Global arms sales over the last five tions against the Sharif family’s ing the ruling family and the state how many days he spent in the years reached their highest level alleged corruption in the ongoing investigation agencies. country. Justice Khosa said crimi- since 1990, with India continuing Panamagate case, expressed its Addressing the NAB chair- nal cases had been registered to top the charts as the world's wonder, asking who the chairman’s man, Justice Khosa said: “You against the ruling family since 1994 largest defense importer, a report regulator was. “Are you regulated could have looked into the Pana- as money was allegedly laundered, from the Stockholm International by someone?” Justice Gulzar Ah- mangate matter but you didn’t.” asking whether FBR took any ac- Peace Research Institute has found. mad asked the NAB chairman. The judge went on to observe that tion. Justice Gulzar observed that Between 2012 and 2016, In- NAB’s probe exposed Sharifs’ chairperson of the anti-corruption functionaries of the state were not dia accounted for 13 percent of glo- corruption in Hudabiya scam, docs watchdog could not be removed by doing their jobs. Justice Ejaz Afzal very much for not assisting the to billions,” chairman Pakistan example,” Imran remarked. bal arms imports, followed by Sau- reveal Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, those who appointed him. “I wish Khan asked if the FBR high-ups court,” Justice Khosa told FBR’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan PTI chairman went on to add di Arabia, the United Arab Emir- who is heading the apex court people who have such privilege were not taking actions against the Irshad. NAB, FBR saving PM said in his remarks on today’s pro- that he fears a backlash by the ates, China and Algeria, said SIPRI, bench, also wondered that the term could realise that they have a ma- rulers because they were being Nawaz: Imran “The National Ac- ceedings. A prime minister’s cor- Sharif family in view of the ongo- which tracks global arms purchas- “regulator” was also used by the jor responsibility.” appointed by those [Sharif fami- countability Bureau (NAB) and ruption does not just result in loot ing court hearing which, he said, es. Between 2007 and 2011, India Qatar prince in his letter, written Justice Khosa said the allega- ly] who were at dock. The judge Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and plunder, it also destroys insti- may go against them. “PML-N has accounted for 9.7 percent of glo- in favour of the ruling family, to tion was not new in the Panama- observed that the FBR chairper- are making excuses to save the tutions and the country’s ethical a history of resorting to violence bal imports, still more than any the court. “I have been unable to gate case as it was linked with son must prove his intention prime minister from an investiga- foundations. “Instead, a Prime when a [court] decision is made other country, the group's data understand who the regulator is in NAB’s 17-year-old Hudabiya Pa- through his conduct. “Thank you tion of his corruption amounting Minister should be leading by an against them.” (TRIBUNE) shows. Most Gulf Arab states are in- volved in armed conflicts in Ye- men, Syria or on their own territo- ry and have tense relations with Iran, the report noted. In 2012-16, Saudi Arabia's arms imports in- creased by 212 percent compared with the previous five years, ac- counting for 8.2 percent of global arms imports. India faces serious geopoliti- cal threats from its nuclear-armed to institute procurement reforms,” This annual learning, knowl- rival Pakistan and China's rising Minister of Finance Ravi Karunan- edge and experience sharing event military strength. As China be- ayake said. “It will also boost per- is organized under the auspices of comes more assertive across Asia formance in terms of efficiency, the South Asia Region Public Pro- and invests billions of dollars in transparency, competition and fair- curement Network which com- strategic infrastructure projects in ness. It will bring value for money prises senior public procurement Pakistan -- including in contested as well.” The minister was ad- officials from Afghanistan, Bang- territory claimed by India -- New dressing the inaugural session of a ladesh, Bhutan, India, the Delhi has tried to deepen defense four day conference titled “Elec- Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri cooperation with the United States tronic Government Procurement Lanka. and other countries in the region, (e-GP) in South Asia: Achieve- Speaking further, Karunanay- such as Vietnam. ments, Opportunities and Chal- ake said that this conference is Despite rising threats, and a lenges,” held under the patronage hosted at the right time as the 'Make in India' program to encour- of President Maithripala Sirisena World Bank indicated its support age local arms production, India's in Colombo on Monday. to introduce an electronic govern- domestic defense sector is not ca- “At the World Bank, we are ment procurement system in the pable of meeting New Delhi's committed to procurement reforms public sector. Karunanayake also growing requirements, said Siemon with a view to improving market said the World Bank, USAID, Wezeman, a senior researcher with efficiency and better service deliv- Asian Development Bank, Euro- SIPRI. ery,” Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, pean Union, JICA and several oth- "They spend a lot of time and country director for Sri Lanka, er development partners have ISLAMABAD: According to an also money trying to develop weap- World Bank said. agreed to help Sri Lanka in number announcement made by the PM ons in India and things just go “It is well understood, and il- of Public Sector Finance Manage- House, Prime Minister Nawaz hopelessly wrong," Wezeman said, lustratable with examples from ment reforms. He said that the dis- Sharif will be visiting Turkey from adding that leaves them relying on many parts of the world, that weak cussion to be held in this confer- February 22 to February 24, 2017, imports. procurement systems steer invest- ence and the subsequent recom- for the 5th Session of the Paki- Prime Minister Narendra ments away from development and mendations will help tremendous- stan-Turkey High Level Strategic Modi has pledged $250 billion to hence minimize the impact on pov- ly for all participants’ countries in Cooperation Council (HLSCC). modernize the country's aging mil- erty reduction and shared prosper- implementing better public pro- According to the PM House, itary equipment -- from fighter jets ity.” Prime Minister Ranil Wick- curement system thereby facing the premier will co-chair the 5th to guns and submarines. The gov- : Sri Lanka will be making its pub- of an electronic system, the minis- curement (E-GP) makes public remesinghe and several top level existing challenges and improving HLSCC meeting with Turkish ernment wants to award contracts lic procurement more efficient and ter of finance said. procurement more strategic and local and foreign speakers also ad- efficiency and transparency in the counterpart, Prime Minister Binali to companies, such as Lockheed transparent with the introduction “Electronic Government Pro- serves as an effective innovation dressed the conference. system. (lankabusinessonline) Yildirim. Martin Corp and Saab AB, which According to the report, the have promised to build products prime minister is set to have wide- in India. But Wezeman said red ranging consultations with the tape, a historic reliance on state- Turkish leadership on bilateral, owned companies and constant regional and international issues. delays hinder the country's ability He will be accompanied by a high to supplant imports with domes- level delegation, consisting of min- tically-produced weapons. isters and senior officials on the This leaves India overwhelm- trip. The Pakistan-Turkey High ingly reliant on foreign imports, Level Cooperation Council mainly from Russia, the United (HLSCC) was established in 2009 States and Israel. While India's as framework for consultations at share of global weapons imports the highest political level between has risen, China has increasingly the two sides. The council pro- been able to domestically produce vides strategic direction to the bi- weapons required by its military, NEW DELHI: The country's old- come for the ceremony," said an lateral relationship that helps chart SIPRI said, leading China's share est warhorse with 30 glorious officer. The Navy is very keen the a vision for the future. of global defense imports to fall to years of service in the Indian Navy rich maritime heritage of INS Vi- How Pakistanis can acquire a 4.5 percent of the global total be- is in danger of being junked and raat, which clocked well over Turkish passport tween 2012 and 2016 from 5.5 sold for scrap. With March 6 be- 500,000 nautical miles for the na- The six Joint Working Groups percent between 2007 and 2011. ing fixed as the final retirement tion, is preserved for the years (JWG), operating under the um- Amit Cowshish, a former fi- date for the 58-year-old aircraft ahead by converting it into a mu- brella of the HLSCC, focus on a nancial adviser for acquisitions at carrier+ INS Viraat, the proposal seum. But it simply does not want broad range of areas, namely – India's Ministry of Defence, said to convert it into a museum is yet the wretched story of India's first Trade; Energy; Banking & Finance; India's defense sector has tradition- to take any concrete shape. aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to be Communications & Railways; Ed- ally been unable to meet the im- Defence ministry (MoD) repeated. ucation; and Culture & Tourism. mediate demands of the country's sources on Monday said it may be The Navy maintained and So far, four sessions of the armed forces -- which are battling forced to scrap the 27,800-tonne supported INS Vikrant at its HLSCC have been held – Decem- insurgents, patrolling contested carrier, which saw operational ser- Mumbai port for 17 long years ber 2010; May 2012; September borders and doing joint patrols and vice in the Royal British Navy for before finally junking it in 2014+ 2013; and February 2015. The last military exercises with allies in the 27 years before being inducted by because the proposals floated by DHAKA - Bangladesh's foreign jority country has to treat minori- Reuters the death toll from the se- session was held in Islamabad on region. the Indian Navy in 1987, because different government authorities as minister called on the internation- ties with dignity and inclusive- curity sweep could be more than February 17, 2015. More than 50 "It's a catch-22 situation. In- of the continuing imbroglio with well as the private sector did not al community on Monday to ad- ness," Brende said. 1,000. Myanmar has denied almost Agreements/MoUs have been con- dian industry was not able to meet the Andhra Pradesh government actually fructify on the ground, as dress Myanmar's treatment of its Nearly 70,000 Rohingya have all allegations of human rights abus- cluded between the two sides with- the requirements because it didn't over who will foot the bill. was earlier reported by TOI. Rohingya Muslim minority, tens fled Myanmar's Rakhine State to es and says a lawful counterinsur- in the framework. have a history of doing defense," "It will cost almost Rs 1,000 "A retired carrier will block a of thousands of whom have fled in Bangladesh to escape a crackdown gency campaign has been under- As per the report, a joint dec- Cowshish said, adding that replac- crore to convert the 13-storey high premier berthing facility, which is recent months to Bangladesh from launched after nine policemen were way since the October attacks on laration will be issued at the con- ing imports with domestically INS Viraat into the proposed air- neither available in the congested its mainly Buddhist neighbor. killed in attacks on border posts the security posts. The violence clusion of the 5th Session, outlin- produced weapons will take time. craft carrier museum, with a prop- Mumbai port or the new Karwar Speaking at a meeting with on Oct. 9 that Myanmar blamed has dismayed and outraged some ing a number of Agreements/MoUs "You can't really climb up the val- er final resting place or berthing, naval base. Moreover, constant Yanghee Lee, the United Nations on Rohingya militants. of Myanmar's neighbors, with that are expected to be signed on ue chain overnight, and the require- backed by a self-sustaining reve- technical support will be required Special Rapporteur on human They have joined more than mostly Muslim Malaysia being the occasion. ments are imminent." nue model. The Andhra govern- to ensure safety and security of rights in Myanmar, who is in Dha- 200,000 Rohingya already in Bang- particularly vociferous in its criti- The visit will include a meet- Both Cowshish and Wezeman ment is willing to take the carrier the decommissioned carrier. If ka on a three-day visit, A. H. Mah- ladesh, many living in official and cism. About 1.1 million Rohingya ing with President Recep Tayyip said the shift under Modi to rely but is demanding the MoD foot there is no satisfactory proposal, mood Ali said a peaceful resolu- makeshift camps, straining re- live in northwestern Myanmar. Erdogan, and a visit to the Turkish more on private Indian companies half the cost," said a source. it may unfortunately then be bet- tion must be found, a Foreign Min- sources in one of Asia's poorest Bangladesh is seeking funds for a Parliament to reaffirm Pakistan’s for defense procurement, could The MoD, in turn, says it can ter to scrap the carrier," said an istry statement said. regions. Rohingya have faced dis- plan to relocate refugees from support with the government and lead to success. India signed an provide technical help and advice, official. Ali also described efforts by crimination in Myanmar for gen- Myanmar to an isolated and unde- people of Turkey against the failed $8.7 billion contract to buy 36 not major funding for the project. The Navy meanwhile is pre- Dhaka to engage with Myanmar erations. They are not classified veloped island in the Bay of Ben- coup attempt in Turkey on July Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation Amid this stalemate, with the paring to distribute the remaining bilaterally by establishing border as a distinct group under Myan- gal called Thengar Char. The plan 15, 2016, that saw the Turkish SA. But both analysts also warned MoD awaiting a concrete propos- 11 Sea Harrier "jump jets", which liaison offices and talks on securi- mar's citizenship laws and are re- was criticized by humanitarian Parliament being bombed. that structural changes to India's al, the carrier will now be decom- operated from INS Viraat's deck, ty cooperation, the statement said. garded instead as illegal immigrants workers when it was first pro- The report also stated that the defense purchasing would take a missioned at Mumbai on March 6 as museum pieces to its different Lee is visiting the Cox's Bazar from Bangladesh, entitled only to posed in 2015, not least because prime minister will pay homage to long time, given the lengthy time- after several delays. establishments after de-inducting area on the border with Myanmar, limited rights. Thengar Char often floods in the all those who laid down their lives lines involved in defense R&D and The farewell for the "grand old them last year. where the foreign minister said the The authorities in Dhaka mean- monsoon. Following her visit to in defence of Turkish democracy. manufacturing, as well as the ne- lady", which will witness the Tri- But the last hurrah for INS influx of Rohingya was having an while say they are Myanmar na- Bangladesh, Special Rapporteur Six abducted Pakistanis freed in cessity of meeting the military's colour, naval ensign and commis- Viraat+ , with its proud motto of adverse impact on the local popu- tionals and must ultimately go Lee will share her findings in a re- Turkey In recent years the bilater- pressing requirements for combat- sioning pennant being hauled down "Jalamev Yasya, Balamev Tasya" lation and undermining security. back. The U.N. human rights of- port to the UN Human Rights al relations between Pakistan and ready equipment. for the last time at sunset, will be (He who controls the sea is all In a separate meeting, Norwe- fice said in a report this month that Council which will be available Turkey have witnessed remarkable "Since the 1950s, the Indian attended by Navy chief Admiral powerful), is still awaited. "It was gian Foreign Minister Borge Myanmar's security forces had online on March 13, the Foreign growth in economic partnership, leadership has continuously main- Sunil Lanba and many Indian of- an incredible warship, with dead- Brende, in Dhaka on a two-day committed mass killings and gang Ministry statement said. defence collaboration, and grow- tained that they want to make in ficers associated with the carrier ly construction, simplicity of de- visit, urged the international com- rapes of Rohingya Muslims and (Additional reporting by Se- ing educational and cultural links. India," Wezeman said. Even "if as well as around 20 British naval sign and robust machinery. It did munity to put more pressure on burned their villages. rajul Quadir; Editing by Catherine This year also marks the 70th year they realign, it's not something that veterans. "First Sea Lord Admiral well for the country," said a nos- Myanmar to stop maltreatment of U.N. officials working with Evans and Janet Lawrence) of Pakistan-Turkey Diplomatic can be done very fast." (NDTV) Sir Philip Jones is also likely to talgic veteran. (TIMESOFINDIA) the Rohingya. "The Buddhist ma- refugees in Bangladesh have told (Reuters) Relations. (TRIBUNE) WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief Mugabe turns 93, vows to rule on despite health fears

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe turned 93 on Tuesday amid growing concerns over his Iraqi forces advanced into the providing close air support as ISIS, out of several towns and frailty and failing health. southern outskirts of Mosul on the throughout the campaign to retake cities. The battle for western Mo- The ruling ZANU-PF par- second day of a push to drive ISIL Iraq's second-largest city. US spe- sul, the group's last major urban ty is to spend about $2.5 mil- from the city's western half, as the cial operations forces are embed- bastion in Iraq, is expected to be lion on the birthday celebration, visiting US defence secretary met ded with some Iraqi units and thou- the most daunting yet. local media reports said. officials to discuss the fight against sands of US troops are in Iraq pro- The streets are older and nar- Opposition parties con- the armed group. viding logistical and other support. rower in that sector of the city, demned the events as a waste of With aerial support from the Meanwhile, US Secretary of which stretches west from the Riv- money while "93 percent of US-led coalition, Iraqi police and Defense Jim Mattis was holding er Tigris, forcing Iraqi soldiers to Zimbabweans are wallowing in army troops launched the offen- discussions with US and Iraqi of- leave the relative safety of their poverty caused by his incom- sive on Sunday, part of a 100-day- ficials, a week before he is expect- armoured vehicles. petence and misrule", old campaign that has already driv- ed to present a new strategy to The presence of up to 750,000 NewZimbabwe.com reported. en the fighters from the eastern half President Donald Trump for de- civilians also poses a challenge. Celebrations for the world's of the city. feating the Islamic State of Iraq and Two suicide car bombers struck oldest national ruler, who has Iraqi helicopters fired rockets the Levant group. army and paramilitary forces west vowed to remain in power, will at the village of Abu Sayyaf early "We're going to make certain of Mosul on Monday, killing and be held on Saturday at Matobo on Monday, targeting a hill that that we've got good situational wounding a number of troops, two National Park outside Bula- overlooks the city's airport. awareness of what we face as we army officers said, without speci- wayo, Zimbabwe's second-larg- By noon, the forces entered the work together and fight alongside fying the number of casualties. A est city. Thousands of officials village and gained control over each other," Mattis told reporters third suicide car bomber was blown and supporters of Mugabe's much of the strategic hill as fight- travelling with him. up before reaching the troops, they ZANU-PF party are expected ing was still raging. Trump has repeatedly vowed said, speaking on condition of an- to attend. Large game animals are Separately, militarised police to eliminate the group but has pro- onymity because they were not often slaughtered for the occa- in armoured vehicles were moving vided few details about how his authorised to brief the media. ISIL sion. In previous years, Mugabe towards the sprawling Ghazlani approach might differ from that of claimed responsibility for two at- has reportedly been offered ele- military base on the southwestern the Obama administration, which tacks in an online statement, say- phants, buffalo and impala for outskirts of the city. had partnered with Syrian and Ira- ing the attackers were British and the feast. 'Call to resign must A US-led coalition has been qi forces to drive ISIL, also known Iraqi. (Al Jazeera) come from party' Mugabe has ruled out retir- ing soon, saying that ZANU-PF officials believe there is no "ac- ceptable" alternative. French UN demands "The call to step down must Red Crescent: 74 dead refugees come from my party ... In such police search circumstances, I will step action as down," the state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper quoted Mugabe Marine Le wash ashore in Zawiya famine looms as saying in an interview aired late Monday. "They want me to Pen's party in three stand for elections ... If I feel Libya's Red Crescent has said that its Twitter account photographs flow of refugees from the North such plans exposed refugees to that I can't do it any more, I will 74 bodies of refugees have washed of dozens of bodies in white and African country. Under the new further risks and abuses. Migrant say so to my party so that they headquarters ashore in the western city of Zaw- black body bags, lined up along the plan, the bloc would provide Lib- deaths have risen to record levels countries relieve me. But for now, I think I iya on the Mediterranean Sea. shore. ya's government with funds to in- along the Libya-Italy smuggling Almost 1.4 million children suf- can't say so," he said. "The ma- The aid organisation's spokes- Misrati also said that local au- crease efforts to stop refugee boats route across the Mediterranean fering from severe malnutrition jority of the people feel that man Mohammed al-Misrati told thorities will take the bodies to a from crossing territorial waters, and Sea. An estimated 230 people, not could die this year as famine looms there is no replacement, a suc- the AP news agency that the bod- cemetery in the capital, Tripoli, to "break the business model" of including the 74 found on Tues- Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen, the cessor who to them is accept- ies washed ashore on Tuesday that is allocated for unidentified traffickers who helped 181,000 day, have died en route to Europe UN children's agency said. able. Mugabe came to power morning. persons. Controversial new plan refugees enter the EU through Lib- since the start of 2017, according The warning comes a day af- when Zimbabwe won indepen- He said the circumstances in- Earlier this month, European ya and Italy last year. The an- to the United Nations. More than ter government officials and the dence in 1980 and his rule has volving the drownings were not Union leaders agreed on a contro- nouncement received a backlash 4,500 people died attempting the United Nations declared famine in been criticised for repression of clear yet. The agency posted on versial new plan to help stem the from human rights groups who said crossing last year. (Al Jazeera) parts of South Sudan. dissent, election rigging, and for In Yemen, where war has been causing the country's economic raging for nearly two years, collapse. Health fears Several 462,000 children are suffering from incidents in recent years have acute malnutrition, while 450,000 highlighted his advanced age - HDP applies to ECHR over arrests of its leaders children are severely malnourished including a fall in February 2015 in northeast Nigeria. at Harare airport. (Al Jazeera) French police have searched the FEWS NET, the famine early Paris-based headquarters of far- Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' The HDP, the Turkish parlia- party said. The first hearing of The United States and the Eu- Democratic Party (HDP) has filed ment's third-biggest party, said in Demirtas will be held on April 28, ropean Union designate the PKK, warning system, said some remote right leader Marine Le Pen's Na- areas of Nigeria's Borno state have tional Front (FN) party in relation an application at the European its application that since the failed 12 days after the constitutional an armed group that has been fight- Russia's UN Court of Human Rights regarding coup attempt in July 2016, 5,471 referendum. He faces trial in more ing for Kurdish autonomy since been affected by famine since late to a probe into alleged misuse of last year. The disaster is likely to EU funds, according to a party the continued arrest of its co-lead- people have been taken into cus- than 100 different cases that in- 1984, as a "terrorist organisation". envoy Vitaly ers , Selahattin Demirtas and Fi- tody and 1,482 people have been clude charges of "managing a ter- The HDP denies direct links continue, it said, as aid agencies statement. are unable to reach those in need. The European Parliament gen Yuksekdag. arrested within the scope of oper- rorist organisation," and faces over with the PKK and promotes a ne- Churkin dead The application was filed in ations targeting the HDP and its 100 years in jail. gotiated end to the Kurdish con- Drought in Somalia, mean- (EP) says Le Pen, a member of the while, has left 185,000 children on European institution since 2004, Strasbourg on Monday by a dele- supporters. Turkey's government has long flict, which has claimed hundreds at 64 gation including the party's depu- HDP English @HDPenglish been accusing the HDP of being of lives since a peace process, once the brink of famine but that figure had paid FN party staff with EP is expected to reach 270,000 over funds. ty leader Saruhan Oluc, group dep- We filed application with the the outlawed Kurdistan Work- led by Erdogan and the AK party, Russia's ambassador to the uty chairman Filiz Kerestecioglu ECHR for our imprisoned co- ers' Party's (PKK) political wing. collapsed in 2015. (Al Jazeera) the next few months, said According to EU rules, parlia- UNICEF. United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, mentary money should be used and MPs Mithat Sancar, Ertugrul chairs #Demirtas and #Yüksekdag who for years fended off west- Kurkcu and Osman Baydemir. http://www.hdp.org.tr/en/english/ In South Sudan, more than only to pay assistants working 270,000 children are malnourished ern criticism and defended Mos- with the institution. In a statement published on news/news-from-hdp/appeal-to- cow's actions in Ukraine and Monday, party officials said that the-echr-for-our-co-chairs/10003 and a famine has just been declared The parliament says the in parts of Unity State, in the north Syria, has died in New York, breach happened during the 2011- the failure of Turkey's Constitu- … aged 64. Life of a career diplo- tional Court to carry out an inves- The HDP said that the situa- of the country, where 20,000 chil- 12 legislature, after Le Pen assumed dren live. mat Churkin had served as for- her role as FN leader in January tigation into its Yuksekdag and tion is "particularly critical as Tur- eign ministry spokesman in the Demirtas' imprisonment has ne- key is now heading for a referen- Aid agencies only describe a 2011. The EP says 20 assistants crisis as a famine when at least 20 early 1990s and as special en- presented as parliamentary aides cessitated an application to the dum". voy to the former Yugoslavia. European court, the ECHR. President Recep Tayyip Er- percent of the population has ac- back then continued to work for cess to fewer than 2,100 kilocalo- Growing up in Moscow, he dab- the FN elsewhere. A total of 13 HDP politicians dogan has approved a constitu- bled in acting in his early teens, were arrested in November 2016 tional reform bill earlier this month, ries of food a day and acute mal- Al Jazeera's Natacha Butler, nutrition affects more than 30 per- notably in two films about So- reporting from Paris, said Le Pen, on terrorism-related charges after in a move paving the way for the viet founding father Vladimir their parliamentary immunity was referendum on an amendments cent of the area's children. currently in a visit to Lebanon, has Another reason to declare a Lenin. He graduated from the not yet commented on the police lifted last March . 10 of these MPs, package that seeks to extend his prestigious Moscow Institute including the party's co-leaders, powers. famine is when there are two hun- search, but in the past, she has al- ger-related deaths per 10,000 peo- of International Relations and ways denied misusing European remain in custody pending trial. The referendum is planned to began his career at the foreign Referendum take place on April 16. ple, or four child deaths per 10,000 funds. "She basically says this is a children every day. "We can still ministry as a translator before political smear by her opponents In its application to the ECHR, The HDP claimed that the con- working at the Soviet embassy the party argued that the continu- tinued detention of its co-leaders save many lives," he said. UN Se- because she is running very much curity Council ambassadors are due in Washington in the 1980s. on an anti-EU platform," Butler ing imprisonment of their co-lead- and MPs aimed to "target and pun- Given his long posting at the ers constituted "a violation of the ish the opposition working to or- to travel to northern Nigeria, Cam- said. Second raid eroon, Chad and Niger next month UN - previously held for a de- The raid is the second in a year right to freedom and security, free- ganise an effective 'No' campaign cade by Russia's current For- dom of speech and the right to free during the referendum". to draw international attention to by investigators trying to deter- the humanitarian crisis triggered eign Minister Sergey Lavrov - mine whether the FN misused EP elections as protected by both the "The process has become in- Churkin joked in a recent inter- Constitution and the European creasingly arbitrary and system- by the conflict with Boko Haram funds. "For the second time, a raid fighters. (Al Jazeera) view that his stint was sur- took place at the same offices, over Convention on Human Rights". atic and politically motivated," the passed only by the envoy from the same allegations, which con- Turkmenistan. He is survived firms that the first raid amounted by his wife Irina, son Maxim to nothing," the party said in a and daughter Anastasiya. Chur- statement. kin collapsed while at work at The group accused investiga- the Russian mission to the UN tors acting for the Paris prosecu- on Monday morning and was tor's office of a "media operation" taken to a Manhattan hospital, designed to disrupt Le Pen's cam- apparently. (BBC) paign before a presidential vote in April. The search at the FN head- quarters came only days after cor- Explosions ruption accusations against conser- vative candidate Francois Fillon. rock district Fillon, a former prime minis- An Australian pilot and four Amer- Melbourne's second-largest airport ter, has been hit by allegations that ican tourists on a golfing vacation at Essendon on a chartered flight courts in his wife was paid for years as his were killed when a light plane to King Island, 255km to the south, assistant in the French parliament crashed in flames into a shopping officials said. The mall adjoins the Charsadda but never actually worked there. mall on Tuesday, shortly after take- airport. The plane had taken off "The parallels are rather strik- off in the Australian city of Mel- from Melbourne's second-biggest Suicide bombers attacked a court ing with Fillon who is also accused bourne, officials said. airport at Essendon [Joe Castro/ complex in northwestern Paki- of using parliamentary money, this The five were on a twin-en- EPA] 'Massive fireball' stan, killing at least six people, time in France, to pay his relatives gine Beechcraft Super King Air that Police and paramedics rushed police said. for fake jobs," Butler said. crashed about 45 minutes before to the crash site, where firefight- A spokesperson for the Pa- Butler added: "He has always the Direct Factory Outlet mall in ers doused the flames. kistan Taliban Jamaat-ur-Ahrar presented himself as an honest suburban Essendon was to open, "Looking at the fireball, it is faction claimed responsibility politician and those allegations Minister for Police Lisa Neville incredibly lucky that no one was for the attack in town of Tangi have been very damaging. said. The US embassy in Canberra at the back of those stores or in in the district of Charsadda. "The spotlight has been very confirmed that four victims were the car park of the stores, that no At least six people were much on Fillon until now but of US citizens. one was even hurt," Leane said. killed and 15 wounded in Tues- course with the French police now The pilot was Max Quarter- A pilot reported a "catastroph- day's attack, according to po- being involved it seems that per- main, owner of the charter compa- ic engine failure" moments before lice and hospital officials at the haps Le Pen will be far more in the ny Corporate and Leisure Travel. the plane crashed into a storage area Tangi government hospital headlines after this search." Greg Reynolds De Haven and at the rear of the mall, police said. where the wounded are being An election poll by Opinion- Russell Munsch have been identi- A witness who gave his name treated. way, the French research compa- fied by their families on social as Jason told Australian Broadcast- Three suicide attackers at- ny, had Le Pen easily beating her media as two of the victims. ing Corporation that he was pass- tempted to attack the court, but four main rivals and winning the "We extend our deepest con- ing the mall in a taxi when the plane as they exploded their vests, first round with a score of 27 per- dolences to the families and loved crashed. they were shot dead at the gate, cent to move through to the two- ones of all those who died in to- "I saw this plane coming in another police official, Sabz Ali, way runoff against either Fillon or day's tragic crash," an embassy really low and fast. I couldn't see told Al Jazeera. Police sources Emmanuel Macron, the left-wing statement said. the impact, but when it hit the said a search operation was independent candidate. According Police Assistant Commission- building, there was a massive fire- launched in the area following to the poll, Le Pen is predicted to er Stephen Leane said no one out- ball," he said. "I could feel the heat the blast. (CNN) lose in the second round to either side the plane was injured. through the window of the taxi, of the candidates. (CNN) The plane had taken off from and then a wheel - it looked like a plane wheel - bounced on the road and hit the front of the taxi as we were driving along," he said. (BBC) WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 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] By Martin Reardon Email: [email protected] www.afghanistantimes.af Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi Advisory editorial board Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal, Saboor Sarir Graphic-Designer: Edriss Akbari, Bilal Yusufi Mar ket i ng & Adver t i si ng: Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press The constitution says

Article 89: Article Eighty-Nine: The House of People shall have the authority to establish a special commission, on the proposal of one third of its members, to review as well as investigate the actions of the Government. The composition and method of operation of the afore- mentioned commission shall be determined by the Regulations on Internal Duties. For more than 50 years, the Mu- Vladimir Putin, as well as his not- tens to them. And that's a big if. could realistically cooperate - es- nich Security Conference has so-subtle threats to "tear up" the 'The US will not abandon its pecially in counterterrorism mat- served as a global forum on inter- Iran nuclear deal. allies' ters - he stopped short of offering national security, with both pub- And if his foreign policy rhet- If recent meetings in Europe an olive branch in Munich. lic and private events involving oric alone isn't enough to make are any indication, Trump's for- Indeed, speaking on Trump's heads of state, foreign and defence heads turn, a controversial travel eign policy may be taking shape in behalf, Pence vowed to hold Rus- ministers, other notable govern- ban put into place without any a form more palatable to US' allies sia accountable in Ukraine. In what ment officials, international organ- inkling of interagency discussion than originally thought. was an overt effort to ease the con- isations and policy experts from beforehand calls into serious ques- On his first official overseas cerns of US' European allies over more than 70 countries. tion the inner workings of his ad- visit, Vice President Pence sought an expansionist Russian foreign This year, however, was per- ministration, not to mention Amer- to reassure an anxious forum in policy, he further demanded that haps the most remarkable ever in ican values. Munich that while the US was re- Russia adhere the 2015 Minsk terms of geopolitical crisis need- The list of disturbing oratory evaluating its long-term foreign agreement before the lifting of any ing immediate attention, but with and actions could quite possibly policy objectives, it would not sanctions are even considered. no apparent resolution in sight. fill a book - something that is prob- abandon its allies. The US is holding Russia to With an agenda that included ably in the works as you read this On NATO specifically, the task in Syria, too. While Trump high-danger avalanche warning must be issued by the everything from nuclear prolifera- - but you get the picture. vice president pledged that the US previously looked to Russia for tion to civil wars in Syria, Libya While it's too early to say in was "unwavering" in its commit- cooperation in combating the so- related governmental officials to those districts across and Yemen, the refugee crisis, ter- which direction the Trump admin- ment to European security and called Islamic State of Iraq and the rorism, a resurgence of national- istration will ultimately go with its would stand firmly behind its Ar- the country, which is under avalanche hazard. The gov- ism, and escalating regional rival- foreign policy - working with al- ticle 5 treaty obligation to come to Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) ernment should help swing Afghans living in the avalanche prone ries, there was much to discuss, lies to maintain the status quo by the aid of any member state sub- in Syria, Secretary of Defense both publicly and behind closed continuing to pursue a liberal world ject to armed attack. Mattis stated unequivocally at the districts to a safest place. This would be a temporary shifting as doors where ideas are more likely order or reversing course by adopt- But in return the US adminis- NATO conference in Brussels last avalanche threat would not last-long. This year the country hit to lead to action - sometimes good ing a position of non-intervention tration is also very clear that it ex- week that the US was not ready to and sometimes not. - recent comments by Vice Presi- pects the other 27 member states collaborate with Russia on a mili- with heavy snowfalls, and avalanche fatalities are most common But also on the minds of those dent Pence and other members of to stand behind their own, long- tary level as long as they consider in the winter. It is the need of the hour that the government should in attendance, particularly officials the president's foreign policy team standing treaty obligations by con- all rebel groups to be terrorists - a from the European Union, was the at least hint towards the former. tributing a minimum of 2 percent point also stressed by Secretary stay alert to prevent human and property losses during avalanch- future of the United States' for- No doubt, Trump says exact- of the gross domestic product of State Tillerson during last week's es and also educated people on the issue. eign policy under the Trump ad- ly what's on his mind, regardless (GDP) towards defence spending. G-20 meeting in Bonn. ministration. of who may take offence. But some Quite notably, only four While it's too early to say Would the US continue its key would argue that's exactly why he NATO members besides the US The State Ministry for Disaster Management should advise role in helping to maintain a liberal won the election last November. live up to that commitment - which direction the Trump admin- people not to venture in avalanche prone areas and keep clearing world order or would it turn in- While there may have been a Greece, Britain, Estonia and Po- istration will ultimately go with its ward and adopt a non-interven- glimmer of hope that the rhetoric land. France is the next closest with foreign policy - working with al- snow depositions from roof tops of their houses and bunkers to tionist foreign policy? And that's would subside after the election - 1.8 percent and then it's a rapid lies to maintain the status quo by avoid damages. At the sometime the government should take pre- a wholly justifiable concern given or at least after the inauguration - descent after that. continuing to pursue a liberal world the frank and sometimes-bizarre it's not likely we'll see a move in The administration's argument order or reversing course by adopt- cautionary measures to avert any untoward incident through rec- rhetoric of US President Donald that direction now. for increased NATO spending was ing a position of non-intervention ognizing avalanche horizontal districts. This year winter season Trump towards Europe. Fortunately for the US's allies, received with mixed results. While - recent comments by Vice Presi- Consider his statements both President Trump did have the good some member countries acknowl- dent Pence and other members of proved deadly, as hundreds of people were killed and wounded. as a candidate and since the inau- sense to put together a foreign edged the need for increased de- the president's foreign policy team guration, when he predicted the policy team that should be able to fence spending, others questioned at least hint towards the former. In the new gesture of snowfall and avalanches at least 26 people eventual downfall of the EU and steady the ship. Along with Vice the wisdom of tying it to GDP. called into question the importance President Mike Pence, Secretary The jury is still out on what hap- Still, it's an uphill battle for the killed and nine other wounded in northern Faryab province. Pro- of NATO, which he categorised as of State Rex Tillerson and Secre- pens next. US to convince its allies that ac- vincial sources said that these people were killed in avalanches "obsolete". tary of Defense James Mattis have While Pence acknowledged tions speak louder than words. Add to those comments his the credibility, moral courage and Trump's continued desire to ease Time will tell. Let's just hope in six districts of the province. The avalanches were also led to repeated praise and character de- common sense to help President tensions with Russia and look for sound minds and not rash rhetoric property losses, where around 600 houses were destroyed and fence of Russian President Trump avoid rough seas - if he lis- areas where the two countries carry the day. over 20,000 livestock perished. None can forget the bloody ava- lanches in 2015, where a total of 40 avalanches were took place in Panjshir province, killing 310 people, and another 129 wound- ed. Afghan security forces were deployed to the province to as- sist rescue efforts. These avalanches were the worst that Af- ghanistan had seen in three decades. Now after the flown of numerous snows, the government should take all necessary measures to prevent another Panjshir-like av- alanche. However, soon after avalanches, flashfloods is another catastrophe that kills and wounds dozen people in every year. For instance, last year 38 people have been killed as flashfloods struck Takhar, Badghis and Samangan provinces, where scores of houses were also damaged, especially mud-brick structures. The country often sees flashfloods triggered by heavy rains, which also cause landslides Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disas- ters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. There would be no word of warning as flashfloods comes abruptly, and catch people unprepared. Again it is a plea to the government to make indefatigable efforts to shift masses living in area prone to flash- floods to a secure place, aimed at saving their lives. There is no another way, we are going to have to live with flooding, but the government should have all necessary at hands to prevent human losses. 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. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES Ten things Iranians can do THE BRAZILIAN HANGOVER: to preempt a Trump war WHEN THE PARTY ENDS By Hamid Dabashi ByRamon Blanco Are nations entirely helpless in the unfathomable price of suffering nominated. face of blatant warmongering tar- their leaders' decisions. Reclaim the In a bold and brilliant move, In a world inevitably multilat- restructuring in order to overcome undoubtedly ensures that this jective in its international relations. geting their homeland? What can name of the country and do not Sadiq Khan, the Muslim mayor of eral such as ours, regional powers the crisis, which is the equivalent trend is not ephemeral. Consequently, a country that ordinary people do, independent allow it abused as the first politi- London, has just announced on are supposed to have their share of stepping forward when reach- Cumbersome presidency was once able to pursue a very of the state that is ruling them, to cal move towards a military attack. that designated night - February of responsibilities in order to build ing the edge of a cliff. Most importantly, it should be proactive foreign policy - for in- prevent, or at least make it diffi- Second, denounce those 26 - he will have a public screening more plural paths towards a fairer A country that was once able noted that a fundamental drive of stance, brokering, alongside Tur- cult, for US militarism, now under treacherous forces among the ex- of Farhadi's film at Trafalgar and more peaceful international to pursue a very proactive foreign Brazil's diplomacy is its president. key, a nuclear deal with Iran, or the command of a mentally unsta- pat opposition - now led by the Square, in which around 10,000 political environment. policy is now unable to deal effec- Therefore, any turbulence in the fostering a polycentric world with ble "commander-in-chief", first to cultic People's Mujahedin of Iran people are expected to attend, and Therefore, Brazil is expected tively with pressing crises in its President's Office - or merely hav- BRICS countries, engaged in the demonise before starting to bomb (MEK), and Reza Pahlavi, the son leading British filmmaker Mike to have a significant role in inter- neighbourhood, such as the one in ing someone that simply has no conception of an alternative inter- them? of the former Shah - that demand Leigh is scheduled to speak. national politics. However, the cri- Venezuela or in Haiti. inclination to pursue proactive in- national financial architecture with For those of us who still ac- "regime change" in Iran. On this, and other international sis that the country is currently Consequently, with its core ternational policy-making such as the creation of the New Develop- tively remember the preparatory Neither of these characters has public scenes, Iranian artists and stage of the United States-led in- the slightest legitimacy inside Iran. intellectuals and their non-Iranian vasion, destruction, and occupa- A blind hatred of the Islamic Re- colleagues must use their forum to tion of first Afghanistan in 2001 public is definitive to these expat denounce war on their homeland. and then Iraq in 2003, we know forces, no matter what the conse- Iran without borders how demonising entire nations quences for Iranians as a people. Sixth, the expat intellectuals was and remains the indispensable That hatred is categorically differ- must clearly and unequivocally first step before starting to bomb ent from any legitimate critical denounce economic sanctions and a country. stand vis-a-vis Iran. war on their homeland. That history has now assumed There must remain no false They must remember how ex- an added urgency. Donald Trump claim that any one of these dis- pat Iraqi intellectuals were used needs a war and all the indications credited expat oppositions repre- and abused by the US propaganda point to Iran as what seems like sents the Iranian people. They do to pave the way for the invasion the easiest target in his crosshairs. not. of Iraq. He will never pick a fight with Third, give voice to the legiti- Whatever qualms they may China, or Russia, or even North mate internal dissidents who op- have with the ruling regime - and Korea. Like all bullies, he picks a pose foreign intervention and do- they are plenty - is secondary to fight he thinks (falsely) he can eas- mestic tyranny at one and the same the territorial integrity of their ily win. time. homeland and the physical well- A war with Iran will "justify" These forces must be mobil- being of their people. his Muslim ban, drum up his xe- ised to denounce war and demand Seventh, prominent Iranians in nophobic base, distract people civil liberties in one breath. Their the US in various industries must from his terrifying domestic atroc- active opposition to a possible US start employing their social capi- ities, create a state of emergency war on Iran will have domestic, tal and call their senators and rep- in which no resistance is tolerated, regional, and global echoes. resentatives, opposing more sanc- critical thinking and civic opposi- Our task is not to side with tions and warmongering against tion will be equated with treason, either of the two ruling regimes in their homeland. Muslim registry and even intern- Iran or the US. Our task is to unite They need to find out more ment will not be too off their marks. Iranians, Americans, and other na- about the so-called "Authorization In what follows, I enumerate tions against any and all acts of of Use of Force Against Iran Res- 10 things Iranians, as a people, can violence and warmongering in any olution, H J Res 10", introduced do to preempt a war on their coun- country. by Representative Alcee Hastings try. Although I will be specific to Fourth, the more democratic, days before Trump's inauguration. Iran - for I think it is the most ob- a nation the lower the possibility They need to find out who in- going through structurally pre- pillars collapsed, it is illusory to former President Rousseff - direct- ment Bank - is now unable to deal vious target of Trump's warmon- of a military invasion by the US spired this man to pave the way vents it from fulfilling this expec- expect Brazil to have a major in- ly affects Brazil's positioning in effectively with pressing crises in gering - the same ideas can be ex- and its allies. for the US military action against tation. fluence on the international stage. the world. its neighbourhood, such as the one tended to any other potential tar- If the ruling regimes in Afghan- Iran, and how to counter it. Brazil is melting down, to put In fact, for quite some time al- Therefore, it is not difficult to in Venezuela or in Haiti. get of US militarism, which pre- istan and Iraq had any semblance Eighth, Iranians outside their it softly. A euphemistic image is ready, one can observe precisely understand that a president who It is hardly believable that Bra- dates and will outlast Trump. of democratic legitimacy, they homeland must join antiwar mo- that the country is waking up af- the opposite - the retreat of Bra- takes office through an impeach- zil is going to recreate the neces- Reclaim the nation would not have been so easily de- bilisations in Asia, Africa, Latin ter a huge party, with a terrible zil's global ambitions. ment process - like President Mich- sary circumstances to pursue a First and foremost reclaim the monised, invaded, and destroyed. America, and Europe, and make hangover, and now has to face a This is clearly noticeable by el Temer did - is far from being in a prominent role in the international term "Iran" for the nation and away Iranians do not live in a demo- their voices integral to all other very hard reality. simply observing the financial solid position to perform presiden- arena before having a new presi- from "the state" that rules over it. cratic country. They cannot freely antiwar voices. They must exit In fact, looking at Rio de Jan- structure of its diplomacy-making. tial diplomacy with a global per- dent in 2019. Only someone as- In the current diplomatic and mobilise a demonstration denounc- their habitual nativism and learn a eiro, the former host of the Olym- For instance, the country has been spective. suming the presidential office di- journalistic parlance, "Iran" sum- ing Trump's warmongering and Ali far more global antiwar culture. pic Games, the metaphor is indeed decreasing its budget allocated to On the contrary, the constant rectly through the popular vote can mons both the "nation" and the Khamenei's tyranny at the same Ninth, the Iranian community reality. its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. necessity of simply managing his possibly ease political tensions in "state" that claims it together. This time. Nevertheless, they habitual- in the US has an even more critical Unsurprisingly, Rio is the epit- Hence, Brazil is not only re- political position domestically - as Brasilia, bring some predictability is a false coupling. ly turn their periodic presidential role to play. They must join the ome of the Brazilian tragedy. Un- cruiting fewer diplomats but also a consequence of a very disputed to the economy and, by its turn, As a signifier, "Iran" belongs and parliamentary elections into a massive protests against Trump's til recently, both Brazil and Rio discussing the closure of several and polarising impeachment pro- set the conditions to project Bra- to the Iranian people. The state, major force to register their demo- domestic and foreign policies. If were in the spotlight of the inter- embassies and consulates around cess - apprehends much more of zil's international influence. the current or any other, is an ap- cratic will within the tight limits their concerns against war on Iran national stage, receiving a lot of the world, mainly in Africa and in his attention and concerns than any Until then, unfortunately for pendix to it. of the ruling theocracy. The forth- is to be taken seriously, they must attention and investments. the Caribbean. international aspiration. the whole world, Brazil will sim- Like all other states around it, coming presidential election in equally care about Trump's war on However, turning this prom- The recent constitutional This situation structurally ply remain adrift in the turbulent "the Islamic Republic" is today May 2017 must be turned into a the environment, on Native Amer- ising situation into a sustainable amendment, blocking federal state suppresses Brazil's ability to pur- waters that are in the horizon of integral to a geopolitics of the re- full spectrum of staging their anti- ican rights to their lands, voter sup- reality was simply crushed when budget increases for two decades, sue a more relevant political ob- international politics. gion with almost all their soft and war and democratic will, whether pression, the immigrant commu- the real party that the country was hard powers active in each other's they opt to participate in this elec- nities, deregulation of Wall Street, enjoying ended. Brazil was enjoy- territories. tion or boycott it, they must use it assault on public education and ing a boom in its exports of com- The only way From Turkey to Iran to Saudi as a stage to show the world their healthcare. modities thanks to the high demand The UK is boasting Arabia - at the head of an eleven opposition to "regime change" by Tenth, none of these may, in in China. As soon as the Chinese Arab nation coalition - are militar- nefarious forces cooked up in the fact, prevent the war, but they can demand decreased, the impact was to root out ily engaged outside their own bor- US, Europe, and their own region. strip American militarism of any rapidly felt. an employment high, ders. Fifth, the globally celebrated claim to legitimacy. 'State of calamity' terrorism Turkish, Iranian, and Arab na- Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi Our task is not to side with The situation in Rio is tragic. Mohammed Al Shaikh tions are trapped inside their states and the lead actress Taraneh Ali- either of the two ruling regimes in Since the state's economy is high- it’s not what it seems and have little to no control over doosti have publicly denounced Iran or the US. Our task is to unite ly dependent on oil sales, the de- Peter Harrison The ongoing political struggle in crease of oil prices internationally, their diplomatic and military op- Trump's Muslim ban and declined Iranians, Americans, and other na- Recent news from the UK tells us that the country’s unemployment Iraq between Sadrists and the erations. to come to the US to attend the tions against any and all acts of and alleged cases of corruption, level is at an 11-year low and employment is at an all-time high. Dawa Party is a Shiite-Shiite strug- States seek to survive their Academy Awards for which their violence and warmongering in any have led to a precarious financial This is of course great news, but let’s pause for a moment before we gle. It is between two Islamized hostilities, while nations pay the new film, Salesman, has been country. situation. get too excited and delve a bit deeper. According to a report in The and politicized groups belonging This resulted in a negative out- Independent the amount of people working on zero hour contracts has to the same sect. look in several areas - ranging from soared recently. Vested interests and the dire the state's struggle to pay the wag- A zero-hour contract is an agreement between an employer and a need to maintain influence have es and pensions of its public em- worker, with no guarantee of minimum working hours or regular pay. made each claim that it is the true ployees, to its crumbling health Those employed on such contracts do not enjoy a regular wage or representative of the sect while its and security sectors. basic employee’s rights. And the UK economy does not benefit as much rival is corrupt and portrays Islam It is not a coincidence that from their employment - or from those who are self-employed - as less negatively. If the Sunnis engage in Rio's acting Governor Francisco tax and national insurance is paid by these two groups of workers in the this political argument, the strug- Dornelles declared a state of ca- UK - I’ll try to explain later why that matters. gle will worsen and those involved lamity in June 2016. In the politi- Apparently the most recent records show that in excess of three will simply adopt a more sectari- cal sphere, the picture is not any million people work in insecure jobs, that’s 10 percent of the current an approach. better. Last November, for exam- UK work force - and that’s up from 2.4 million in 2011. And that gap is likely to leave a massive hole in the public purse as This is where the seeds of vio- ple, Rio observed two of its major lence, rivalries, murder, bloodshed politicians, Sergio Cabral and An- the population gets older and more people are retired than working, placing an even heavier burden on society and pushing the British wel- and strife are sown. Therefore, it thony Garotinho, both former fare system to the very limits - I for one have no clue how I’m going to is not at all possible to root out governors, being arrested. afford to live. The UK seems to be approaching a situation so dire that the causes behind terrorism unless This is definitely a microcosm I’m not sure anyone really knows how big a problem it will actually be Muslims agree to separate religion of the crisis in Brazil. The country - because a lot of us will hit retirement at the same time – and who’s from the muddle of politics and is in a dire economic situation. going to look after us? Peter Harrison No significant earnings growth clerics agree to stay away from the During the commodities boom, With the sudden rise in firms like Uber there has been a significant swamps of political disputes. Brazil missed the opportunity to increase in the number of people taken out of unemployment in the UK This cannot be achieved un- make structural modifications in its - but not guaranteed a regular wage. less by following the principle “re- economy and become less depen- It’s also worth mentioning that growth in weekly earnings in the UK ligion is for God and the homeland dent on commodities' price fluctu- has remained at about 2 to 4 percent since mid-to-late 2004 except for a is for all”. The principle was ap- LETTER TO THE EDITOR ation. few occasions where this grew to between 4 and 6 percent until it plied in the West after wars and Inversely, the country experi- plummeted in 2009 to -2 percent according to some economists. religious and sectarian disputes enced, for instance, the deteriora- Now I’m not an economist by any stretch of the imagination, but in had crushed them. This continues tion of its manufacturing sector. my limited understanding the recent headlines heralding an 11-year dip to be the basic pillar of co-exist- Now, it struggles to produce a sus- in unemployment and an all-time high in employment are misleading to say the least. What does this all mean? Good question… No matter how ence among them despite the dif- tainable economic growth and gen- ferences of faiths, sects and eth- erate enough jobs, which conse- irritating they might well be - the millennials and those that came after - Women’s inheritance problem Generation ‘Z’ - seem to be looking toward a ticking time bomb and it nicities. Their history is full of sec- quently stresses its public deficit. wasn’t one of their own making. By all accounts those old enough to tarian divides and disputes, just In this situation, following Rio work are earning some seriously low wages - including graduates, who, like the Arabs of today. In the past the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) said that in a bid to reduce violence against de Janeiro, two other states of the women, the ministry is taking step to register all marriages and provide certificates to the couples. incidentally, also have the worse debts ever experienced by British grad- I am certain that we can elimi- federation also declared a state of uates. In November, the Huffington Post UK quoted Paul Johnson, the nate terrorism only by eliminating Previously, the Ministry for Women’s Affairs said that marriage certificate would help women to financial public calamity - Minas Institute for Fiscal Studies director, who said people in the UK were in its causes. The most important have access to inheritance rights, a right that they had been deprived of it for many years. Those Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. the “worst situation for people’s pay since the end of the Second World step is to prevent religion, or more women who don’t have marriage certificate will be deprived of their right, particularly from Therefore, three of the four War - or possibly longer”. He said: “Overall real average earnings are accurately, sects from interfering inheritance or property rights. largest state economies of Brazil forecast to rise by less than 5 percent between now and 2021. That in politics. It is also the responsibility of Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs to educate people are unequivocally broke. Even Es- means they will be 3.7 percent lower in 2021 than was projected in It is not at all possible to root regarding registration of marriage as the society is conservative. Ministry of Hajj and Religious pirito Santo, a state often praised March”. But what about the state pension? I don’t know what I am out the causes behind terrorism as a financial example, is under a going to do in the future with regards to retirement and truth be known, unless Muslims agree to separate Affairs support is the most important thing to lead the process of marriage registration toward significant security crisis, owing to I’m genuinely quite worried. But wait - in the UK there’s a pension success. religion from the muddle of poli- a strike of police officers demand- system I hear you say - yes there is - at the moment. But being a member tics and clerics agree to stay away Afghan women has suffered a lot during three decades of war and isolation in the country. ing better salaries. The consequenc- of the Generation X/Baby Boomers age group - we are about to pose the from the swamps of political dis- The relevant officials should make their last-ditch efforts to at least give women’s fundamental es of the strike claimed at least 144 biggest strain on the UK economy that has been seen in my lifetime (and possibly during my parents’ and grandparents’ lifetimes too). And that putes When looking at the Sunnis, rights of inheritance. lives. take Muslim Brotherhood, its Political turmoil is why the shortfall in funds being paid into the UK’s public purse now Nadia Alizada, Kabul Afghanistan is such a problem. The UK seems to be approaching a situation so dire byproduct of Sururism, al-Qaeda, Notwithstanding, a pivotal di- that I’m not sure anyone really knows how big a problem it will actually ISIS and its branches as an exam- mension of the Brazilian crisis is be - because a lot of us will hit retirement at the same time – and who’s ple. Compare them with the Shiite the political sphere, which is in going to look after us? I am also worried for my nieces and nephews who Dawa Party, Hezbollah in Leba- severe turmoil. will be faced with mounting debts whether as a result of going to univer- non, Sadrists, Popular Mobiliza- Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must In recent months, for instance, tion Forces and Houthis in Yemen. have the writer’s name and address. You may send your letters to: sity, or an increasingly broad gap between the cost of living and wages. the country witnessed the im- It’s not all doom and gloom - the current situation - including the ad- We will realize that the common [email protected] peachment of President Dilma vancement of technology - has led to a move of people going into start- factor among all these is that they Rousseff and the arrest of the ups. I certainly know a lot more people who work on a freelance or self- employ religion to serve political former Lower House Speaker in employed basis, now than I can recall having been the case before. And ends. Each category claims they Congress, Eduardo Cunha. those people who are employed on this basis do seem to enjoy the are the only true Muslims and that Disclaimer: Moreover, Brazil's biggest- flexibility and freedoms that it provides them with. But it is certainly the others have gone astray. Ask ever corruption investigation, not a form of employment that suits everyone. There’s a problem in the yourselves objectively – How do The views and opinions expressed in the articles are known as Operation Carwash, is UK that needs to be fixed, otherwise I fear it will continue going round we resolve this clash and end fight- touching every major political par- in eternal circles. The 1980s was a big time for small businesses and ing? There is only one solution and those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or ty and profoundly shaking up the people going freelance, so was the dot-com era and now with the so- it is peaceful coexistence irrespec- entire political establishment. called Gig economy where people are working on short-term contracts or have become self-employed. They were all very different times with tive of religious or sectarian differ- opinions of the Afghanistan Times. On the top of all this, once ences. more Brazil is under a neoliberal one common denominator – the public purse grew increasingly thin. WEDNESDAY . FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES Turkey dismisses 227 judges, prosecutors during investiga-

Four members of the US-led Nato—Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia and Turkey—plumped for Russia to defend them tion of coup links

coming from Turkey. Although under German command is kind of Turkey is also a Nato member and shocking,’’ said Davis. so theoretically an ally, its inva- Yet while those fears should sion and occupation of Northern drive Nato members together, there Cyprus in 1974 showed that these are so many different threat per- countries cannot rely on Nato to ceptions and other forces pulling protect them, so they look to Rus- it apart that it may not happen, sia. Similarly, in Western Europe, said Davis. some Nato members are increas- He noted that the Gallup poll ingly looking to other Europeans also broadly reflects a divide be- for security, according to Stoy- tween the Orthodox Christian chev. world and Western Christianity, Although 30% of Belgians with Orthodox Greece and Bulgaria chose the US in the survey, more opting for Russia, while Ukraine chose European partners—25% and Bosnia Herzegovina—which France and 12% the UK—while are also religiously divided—split almost as many Swedes chose the down the middle. UK (29%) as the US (31%). Catholic Slovenia, which large- Chancellor Angela Merkel, ly escaped the brutal wars that who is due to address the Munich accompanied the dismembering of conference on Saturday and then Yugoslavia in the 1990s, was an meet with vice-president Mike exception in narrowly opting for Pence, warned the US against re- Russia. So was Romania, a mainly Who you gonna call? For the citi- Greece, Slovenia and Turkey— treating from its global role and Orthodox Christian nation that About 227 judges and prosecutors ecutors to 3,886 since the July 15 in the military, police and judicia- zens of four North Atlantic Trea- plumped for Russia. insisted that Nato has been a picked the US. were discharged on Monday dur- coup attempt, said the Supreme ry sectors, in addition to state in- ty Organization (Nato) countries As US secretary of defence source of American strength. But these shifts and fractures ing the current investigation Board of Judges and Prosecutors stitutions throughout the country. asked which military power they’d James Mattis tours Europe deliv- Speaking to reporters in Berlin, she are spreading well beyond the Bal- against the so-called Gulenist Ter- official. The U.S.-based Fetullah want fighting on their side if at- ering a message of tough love to said that Germany is committed kans, according to Davis. ror Group, announced a Turkish Turkey has been conducting an Gulen has been accused by Anka- tacked, the answer was simple— Nato allies—increase spending or to eventually reaching the 2% of “When I teach I have 18 year top judicial regulatory body. extensive investigation into sus- ra of masterminding the failed coup Russia. see the US “moderate’’ its sup- gross domestic product target, yet old students in front of me and I According to the state-run pects with alleged ties to Gulenists attempt which killed 248 people That was among the findings port—the poll shows the world’s “questions of development aid, can tell you that the good old days Anadolu Agency's report, the re- following the July 15, 2016 at- and wounded almost 2,200 others. of a multi-nation WIN/Gallup In- gradual political reorganization crisis prevention and others are just when there was solidarity in the cent dismissals bring the total num- tempted coup. (Xinhue) ternational poll published just around different security poles, as important.” face of a Soviet threat is ancient ber of discharged judges and pros- Operations have been ongoing ahead of Friday’s annual gathering according to Kancho Stoychev, While political and economic history to them,’’ said Davis. of the transatlantic security com- vice president of WIN/Gallup In- realities mean it will take years for He added that acceptance in munity in Germany that appeared ternational. most Nato allies to meet the 2% European populations that the US to map out shifts in the post-Cold “It isn’t surprising that Rus- target that Mattis is demanding, should play a leading global role Korea’s top Hundreds of Bogus asylum War security alliances which have sians and Chinese chose each oth- “the Europeans are scared to had eroded badly as a result of the come under renewed strain and er, but it is new,’’ said Stoychev. death’’ by the possibility that Nato Iraq war and could well erode fur- naval officer seekers defraud Germany’s scrutiny since Donald Trump’s “It shows us something very might crumble at a time when Rus- ther with Trump in the White election to the US presidency. important—that US policy over sia has become increasingly asser- House. calls for welfare system By far the largest number of the last 20 years has driven Russia tive, said James Davis, dean of the WIN/Gallup International— countries polled chose the US for into the arms of China, which is school of economics and science which is not related to US-based readiness at their go-to defence partner, sug- quite strange because Russia is fun- at Switzerland’s St. Gallup Inc.—polled about 1,000 gesting that it remains the world’s damentally a part of Europe.’’ Gallen University, speaking in people in each of 66 countries only military power with truly glo- At the same time, some of the the margins of the annual Munich around the world, between Octo- inter-Korean bal reach and alliances. At the same results in European Nato countries Security Conference. ber and December 2016. time, however, China and Russia showed how their fundamental “If you know anything about The survey’s margin of error border picked each other, war-torn security choices were moving be- the history of the last 200 years in was plus or minus 3.5 to 5%. South Korea's top naval officer on Ukraine and Iraq split down the yond the alliance, he said. Europe, this week’s announcement (Bloomberg) Tuesday called for watertight vig- middle, while those four members Bulgaria and Greece, for exam- that the Romanians and Czechs are ilance against any possible North of the US-led Nato—Bulgaria, ple, see their biggest security threat going to put core military units Korean provocations following the assassination of its leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother Kim Jong- nam. Syrian Army 500m away Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Um Hyun-seong visited troops on two border islands of from breaking ISIL siege Udo and Yeongpyeong in the West Sea. on Deir EzzurAirbase "The murder of Kim Jong-nam clearly shows the regime's brutali- ty and recklessness. The current security situation on the Korean peninsula and the region is at risk," Uzbekistan Nixes long the flag officer said in the state- ment. awaited Tajikistan flight In this photo taken on Feb. 21, The first regular scheduled flight flight being cancelled,” a spokes- 2017, Chief of Naval Operations between Uzbekistan and Dushan- person for the airline told Adm. Um Hyun-seong calls for After 154 asylum seekers in the trations are not explicitly record- be in 25 years was unexpectedly EurasiaNet.org. The company readiness against North Korean city of Braunschweig, Lower Sax- ed in the police criminal statistics. nixed on February 20 in an embar- promised a full explanation would provocations in the northern bor- ony, were found to have claimed In justice statistics, crimes com- rassing anticlimax after weeks of be posted on its website by the der island of Yeonpyeong. (Yon- welfare benefits by fraudulent mitted by asylum seekers are not anticipation. Privately owned end of the day, but that statement hap) means, Sputnik decided to inves- recorded separately," a spokesper- Tajik carrier Somoni Air said in a failed to materialize by the prom- Seoul officials believe North tigate the matter further in states son said. statement of apology to its cus- ised time. An estimated 26 pas- Korea is behind the murder of Kim across Germany. Officials in Thuringia told tomers that the flight was cancelled sengers had been due to travel on Jong-nam, 46, in Malaysia last Refugees are seen in their tem- Sputnik they were unaware of a on the instructions of the airport the flight. week. He had spoken out publicly porary housing in a former hard- single case of asylum welfare against his family's dynastic con- ware store in Hamburg, northern fraud, while officials in Sachsen- in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. It Tajik news website Asia-Plus The Syrian army and its allies are suicide attackers and bomb-laden is not clear what lies behind the reported that disappointed cus- trol of the rogue regime. Germany. Anhalt failed to respond to the just 500 meters away from Hara- vehicles, managed to advance A day earlier, Defense Minis- Last week it was revealed that query. The interior ministry in cancellation of the flight and this tomers were reimbursed or given bash district near Deir Ezzur mili- against government forces on the threatens to descend into an all- tickets for the flight from the ter Han Min-koo called for readi- a 25-year-old Sudanese immigrant Potsdam, capital of the German tary airport which has been be- road connecting Deir Ezzur airbase ness against any possible military in Braunschweig had defrauded the state of Brandenburg, disclosed too familiar round of mutual accu- Tajikistan capital, Dushanbe, to sieged by the ISIL terrorists for to the city, dividing army-con- sations. State-run carrier Uzbeki- Khujand. In the absence of a direct attacks by the North during his German welfare system by using that in 2015 there were five cases two months now, a military source trolled regions in Deir Ezzur into visit to the Marine Corps head- seven different identities to claim of asylum fraud, at a cost to the stan Airlines has blamed Somoni link to Tashkent, many people in said on Monday. two parts. Military sources dis- Air for the impasse. “Somoni Air Tajikistan traveling to Uzbekistan quarters in Hwaseong, just south more than 21,700 euros ($23,050) state of 3,116 euros ($3,309). In "The ISIL is not deployed in closed that the ISIL's current round of Seoul. in welfare payments in different 2016 there were 13 cases, at a cost did not submit form “R,” which typically make their way to the the region which separates the of attacks is the heaviest and larg- lists all the requisite conditions for northern city of Khujand and then South Korea's military has re- German cities. of 22,026 euros ($23,400). army from Harabash and Deir Ez- est operation the terrorist group peatedly vowed it will strongly Taking into account the five Most asylum fraud was car- completing an international flight. cross the border overland. zur airbase but it has control over has ever conducted in Deir Ezzur That is the main reason for this (Eurasianet) retaliate against any provocations months the man had spent on re- ried out before summer 2016, when the region by launching attacks city and its military airport. Ac- by Pyongyang to avenge the deaths mand, Hannover District Court German states began collecting and from Sariya Junaid, Tal al-Mu- cording to reports, the ISIL has of 50 South Koreans who were sentenced the man to 19 months sharing biometric data such as fin- handesin and the power plant," the gathered a large number of its forc- killed in two separate surprise at- imprisonment and 200 hours com- gerprints, making it impossible for source said. He also said that the es from Raqqa, Deir Ezzur coun- tacks carried out in March and munity service. asylum seekers to create multiple China studying Kyrgyzstan’s Russian fighter jets attacked a tryside and even from Mosul in November of 2010. (Yonhap) In Lower Saxony alone, there identities. number of ISIL Toyota vehicles Iraq to take part in the offensive. are 487 known cases in which im- On Monday, Germany's Fed- proposed route for China— near Hamdan airport in the South- The ISIL also has a large number migrants defrauded the welfare eral Ministry of the Interior (BMI) ern parts of Bu Kamal city in East- of suicide attackers and bomb-lad- system, at a cost to the state of revealed plans to allow Germany's Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan ern Deir Ezzur, and added, "The en vehicles involved in the offen- 945,100 euros ($1,003,900). Federal Office for Migration and common border between Syria and sive in Deir Ezzur. No figures exist for Germany's Refugees (BAMF) to search the railway construction Iraq has also witnessed Russia's Then, Syrian Army troops, most populous state, Nordrhein- phones of asylum seekers in order airstrikes on ISIL's Toyota vehi- backed up by the Syrian and Rus- Westfalen, or Hamburg and to make sure of their true identity. China is studying Kyrgyzstan's years already. Multiple tripartite cles stationed at the entrance of sian air force, started to hit ISIL's Schleswig-Holstein. Officials in Around two-thirds of asylum proposed route for the construc- meetings were held throughout the the Syrian territories in the South- positions hard in the outskirts of Nordrhein-Westfalen told Sputnik seekers arrive in Germany with- tion of the China—Kyrgyzstan— year 2016, she said. "Chinese side ern parts of Mayadeen city." In a Deir Ezzur to remove terrorists' that this is because cases of social out identification papers, and Uzbekistan railroad, said Ambas- will voice its opinion regarding the relevant development on Sunday, siege on the city's military airport, welfare fraud committed by asy- BAMF wants to ascertain their sador of Kyrgyzstan to China project after consideration of Kyr- the Syrian troops, backed by the managing to recapture several re- lum seekers are not counted sepa- identity more quickly in order to Kanayim Baktygulova, Tazabek gyzstan's proposal," said the Am- air force, targeted ISIL's moves and gions between the Deir Ezzur air- rately. facilitate faster deportation, offi- reported. Kyrgyzstan suggests to bassador. On January 20, Trans- gathering centers in Deir Ezzur, base and the city. Syrian army units "Offenses and police suspects cials told the Suddeutsche Zeitung, build the railroad from Torugart, a port and Roads Minister Jamshit- tightening the noose on terrorists backed by aerial support have re- are recorded in police criminal sta- WDR and NDR news outlets. mountain pass in the Tian Shan bek Kalilov said the Ministry has who have besieged the Deir Ezzur captured more areas in strategic al- tistics according to uniform prin- Until now, the BMAF could only mountain range near the border estimated the cost of the railroad airbase and killing tens of militants. Ma'amel region and in the sur- ciples across countries. Specific search asylum seekers' mobile between the Naryn region and the construction at $5 billion. The pro- The Syrian fighter jets and rounding areas of security brigade, data on cases of social welfare phone with their consent, or fol- Xinjiang Autonomous Region of posed railroad is expected to bring missile and artillery units launched as the military operations come fraud committed by asylum seek- lowing a court order. China, through Dostuk village to $150-200 million in revenues a heavy strikes against ISIL posi- closer to breaking the Deir Ezzur ers who carry out multiple regis- (Sputniknews) Jalal-Abad with the length of 433 year annually from transit of tions near al-Maqaber (Deir Ez- military airport siege. (Farsnews) km. The construction duration is freight in the first phases. In fu- zur's cemetery) region in the 8 years. Ambassador Baktygulo- ture, transit of freight was expect- Southern outskirts of the city, in- va noted that the project has been ed to bring around $500 million a flicting losses on the militants. discussed by the parties for many year, according to the Minister. Also, the Syrian army units tar- Famine declared in South Sudan geted and blew up in air a bomb- laden drone belonging to the ISIL ‘Man-made’ food crisis threatens 100,000 people after war and a collapsing economy devastate agriculture in the country over al-Rawad hill in the South- western parts of Deir Ezzur. Famine has been declared in parts - Yemen, Somalia and Nigeria - are Azerbaijan first lady is Meantime, local sources re- of South Sudan, where UN agen- at risk of famine. Famine has been ported that the ISIL has hidden cies warned on Monday that war declared in parts of Unity State in appointed first vice most parts of the main streets lead- and a collapsing economy have left the northern-central part of South ing to Bu Kamal market with tents 100,000 people facing starvation. Sudan. The formal announcement and covers to blind army drones. A further 1 million people means people have already start- president The ISIL terrorists drove a wedge were classified as being on the brink ed dying of hunger. Three years of along the government-controlled of famine, according to the World civil war has devastated hopes that The president of Azerbaijan, Il- regions mid-January after captur- Food Programme (WFP) and oth- the oil-rich country would pros- ham Aliyev, on Tuesday ing Deir Ezzur's cemetery and the er UN bodies. Unimpeded human- per when it gained independence signed a decree. road connecting the city to the air- itarian access was urgently needed from Sudan at the end of one of Accordingly, First Lady base. 14,000 ISIL terrorists to reverse “an escalating catastro- Africa’s longest running conflicts. Mehriban Aliyeva has been ap- launched a massive attack on army phe”, they added. The famine is Unity State, which borders Sudan, pointed First Vice President of positions South of Deir Ezzur the first to be declared since 2011 has been at the centre of some of the country, informed the offi- city, cutting off the strategic road in Somalia, where more than a quar- the fiercest fighting, while tens of cial website of the Azerbaijan connecting the city to the military ter of a million people are estimat- thousands have been forced to flee president. airport. After several rounds of ed to have died between October their homes in the face of a gov- (News) heavy offensives against the Syri- 2010 and April 2012. The UN has ernment offensive against opposi- an Army positions that all failed, warned that three other countries tion-held areas. (Theguardian) 14,000 ISIL militants and tens of WEDNESDAY . FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES China cuts off major Japan eyes unemployment India will financial lifeline to take time to North Korea insurance for multiple-job holders hit global Weekly 20-hour threshold could be met across different companies levels of

The growing ranks of Japanese less-cash working two or more jobs may soon enjoy a firmer safety net, as the labor ministry aims to offer economy: unemployment benefits to those working a combined 20 hours a Report week at multiple companies. While the demonetisation phase Japan's unemployment bene- has given a fillip to electronic pay- fits are part of a social insurance ments in India, the country will system offering the out-of-work take some time to reach global stan- enough income to scrape by. All dards of a ‘less-cash’ economy, businesses are required to partici- says a report. pate as a rule. Labor and manage- North Korea is expected to sus- available tools to moderate North After the initial surge in vol- ment split the cost of the premi- ume of electronic payments in tain a major economic setback af- Korea’s destabilizing behavior,” ums. ter China’s Saturday announce- according to acting U.S. State De- November-December, the trend At present, workers qualify seems to be normalising in Janu- ment that it will no longer import partment spokesman Mark Ton- for unemployment insurance if the country’s coal, at least until er. ary and February as currency in they put in 20 or more hours per circulation in the system is slowly the end of the year. North Korean economic ex- week at a single company and have The move will cut North Ko- perts downplayed the ban’s ef- increasing, according to Kotak In- been there for at least 31 days. But stitutional Equities. rea’s exports by about half as coal fects, reported CNN. the system has not caught up with is the country’s largest export item, “We have been exporting some “The demonetisation phase changing workforce conditions. has certainly given a fillip to elec- the The Washington Post report- good quantities of coal, but we The Ministry of Health, La- ed. didn’t export very much. (There- tronic payments especially at the bor and Welfare estimates that lower-end of the value spectrum. According to the Chinese fore) we don’t feel very much af- roughly 300,000 workers with Commerce Ministry, the ban is fected by the so-called restric- We believe this is a good start but multiple jobs are ineligible for ben- it will take time to reach global stan- part of Beijing’s efforts to imple- tions,” Institute of Economics at efits at present. Most are part-tim- ment international sanctions that the Academy of Social Sciences dards of a ‘less-cash’ economy,” ers and other nonpermanent work- Kotak Equities said. the UN Security Council has researcher Ri Gi Song was quoted ers, who tend to have low incomes pushed to impose on Pyongyang as saying. Citing examples, the report and could use the stability of un- said that low cash/GDP economies back in November after it conduct- Meanwhile, Carnegie-Tsing- employment insurance. ed multiple nuclear tests in 2016. hua Center director Paul Haenle such as UK and Sweden have tak- The labor ministry aims to en decades for the transition and Så bör man se till att man kan told The Washington Post how present legal revisions to the Diet ta sig ut, speciellt om man kör North Korea’s actions, including India is expected to achieve this in as early as next year, after expert a relatively short span of time pro- dåligt. the assassination of Kim Jong Un’s panels discuss the practical prob- The announcement came as a half brother in Malaysia, has fu- vided some necessary steps are lems involved. taken. “India’s transition is likely surprise as China had previously eled the urgency for Beijing to take One such problem is deter- been reluctant to impose such sanc- stronger action. to be faster than the current less- mining when payments should be cash economies given existing tech- tions on North Korea. However, “China still places a premium made. For example, if a worker after North Korea’s recent testing, on stability, but Xi Jinping is grow- nological advancements which, if puts in 18 hours per week at ABC proactively supported, could help which involved an intermediate- ing more and more frustrated with Corp. and 5 hours at XYZ Inc., range ballistic missile, Beijing im- Kim Jong Un,” Haenle said. ment office. But some workers more than one job has been an im- es, revising them to account for in faster transitions,” it added. but quits XYZ, should that per- A global comparison based on mediately rejected its latest coal “Beijing took the assassination as son be treated as unemployed and may not want their employers to portant topic in the work reform holders of multiple jobs. It also shipment worth around $1 million. a direct affront to China. Xi is less know they hold multiple jobs, so council headed by Prime Minister plans to establish government transaction levels and infrastruc- qualify for benefits? ture shows that India’s transac- Newly appointed U.S. Secre- willing to tolerate these provoca- Logging workers' hours pre- the ministry is considering the Shinzo Abe. guidelines on such topics as how tary of State Rex Tillerson report- tions. China is putting a squeeze option of having individuals report The labor ministry also in- to handle the burden of social in- tions’ value levels are comparable sents another problem. Currently, to other major countries, but the edly urged Chinese Foreign Min- on its economic lifeline to send a employers report work hours to their own hours. tends to reflect such issues in mod- surance. ister Wang Yi on Friday to “use all message to Pyongyang.” (AP) Supporting people who have el work regulations for business- (Nikkei) country performs fairly well the Hello Work public employ- amongst its peers in terms of val- ue per transaction. “This is symptomatic of a still low penetration level of banking Thailand 2016 growth up Turkish lira rebounds thanks and other financial channels, espe- cially in the rural segment. Even if brick-and-mortar channels are not to central bank actions expanded, there has to be expan- but below junta target sion and investment in the digital After the dollar saw the highest level of all times against the Turkish lira on Jan. 11, the infrastructure to reach any mean- Thailand's economy grew 3.2 per- Turkish central bank managed to support the lira by reducing the volatility of the exchange ingful global comparison,” the re- cent in 2016, a slight increase on rates, which resulted in the lira appreciating by 8.3 percent against the dollar port said. the previous year but below the Moreover, card-based transac- tions will also need more invest- junta's target as the generals strug- The Central Bank of the Republic CBRT continued its auctions for Monetary Policy Committee gle to revive what was once one of ment as POS terminals are woe- of Turkey (CBRT), which has foreign exchange deposits against (MPC) meeting on Jan. 24, in- fully short in India, it noted. the region's strongest economies. been making proactive moves since Turkish lira deposits, which are creased the upper band of the in- After two decades of roaring Jan. 12, has apparently reduced the evaluated as swaps in the markets. terest rate by 75 basis points and growth that saw the middle class volatility in the exchange rates, as It prevented the speculative for- LLW by 100 basis points. The boom, the nation has seen its fi- it became the most important ac- eign currency demand with these CBRT, which has kept the policy Trump trade nancial fortunes stutter in recent tor in the Turkish lira's (TL) ap- moves. It has continued its one- rate stable at 8 percent, raised the years. preciation against the dollar by 8.3 week maturity auctions for foreign funding cost of banks from 8 per- strategy Political instability, including percent. The CBRT's ongoing pro- exchange deposit against Turkish cent to 10 percent today under its two army coups in a decade, cou- active moves started after the dol- lira deposits, which started with tight monetary policy. pled with high household debt and lar peaked at an all-time high of $300 million, with $1 billion since After it announced that the ‘doomed to falling export competitiveness has 3.9422 on Jan. 11. Now, with de- Jan. 27. While the aim is to bring rediscount limit had expired on dulled Thailand Inc. creasing demand for the dollar in back the Turkish lira that went Feb. 9 and it did not receive any failure’: US If growth does not pick up the global markets, the exchange rate abroad as a result of the swap new applications, the bank on Feb. military, which seized power in has decreased to 3.61.Even though agreements made through London, 17 said that the repayments of the 2014 vowing to kickstart the econ- the U.S. dollar/TL parity stopped to the Central Bank, the exchange rediscount credits could be done trade expert omy, risks losing the support of its downward trend starting at rate liquidity was also increased in Turkish lira. Enabling the repay- President Donald Trump’s rejection sections of the middle class and 3.94, with reactionary purchases without making foreign exchange ment of rediscount credits for ex- of multilateral trade agreements in business community. at 3.75, later followed by 3.67, it sales. port and foreign exchange earning the Asia-Pacific in favor of one-on- Junta chief Prayut Chan-O- Kuwait MPs fight back continued a decline after the new The Central Bank, which did services that were made available one deals is “doomed to failure,” a Cha says Thailand will be a devel- moves by the CBRT. not change its policy rate at the before Jan. 1, 2017. noted US trade expert said Thurs- oped country by 2036. Nearly against govt price rise plans Despite expectations that the day. The Trump complaint that the three years into his coup the re- Fed will hike interest rates, at least US gave up too much in the Trans- sults are mixed. A parliamentary panel in Kuwait Kuwait, which relies heavily once in the first half of this year, Pacific Partnership – the regional Figures released by the Na- on Sunday approved draft legisla- on oil income, posted its first bud- with the macroeconomic data, deal he scrapped immediately after tional Economic and Social Devel- tion calling for the scrapping of get deficit of $15 billion in the which is better than expected in taking office – defies the evidence, opment Board on Monday government plans to raise petrol 2015-2016 fiscal year after 16 the U.S., coupled by Fed Chair said Jeffrey Schott of the Peterson showed the economy expanded by and power prices to combat a bud- years of healthy surpluses. Janet Yellen's statements, the on- Institute for International Econom- 3.2 percent last year, up from 2.9 ics. The institute, a long-time free get deficit. It expects a higher deficit in going risk appetite in the global trade advocate, created the bench- percent in 2015. The financial and economic the year ending March 31, and has markets ensured that attempts of The junta had previously set a mark study on the TPP which esti- affairs committee said in its deci- also projected a shortfall for the an increase in the parity remained mated the benefit to the US econo- goal of 3.7 percent growth for the sion that “no increases in public next fiscal year. limited. my at over $100 billion by 2030. year. Fourth-quarter annualised charges and commodity prices” Austerity measures were im- Analysts said that the steps Schott said that while the TPP can growth was 3.0 percent, the slow- can be applied without a law being plemented in the other five Gulf taken by the CBRT during this be improved upon, trading partners est quarterly rate growth in a year. passed in parliament, its secretary Cooperation Council members - period reduced the volatility of the are unlikely to make as many con- The period coincided with the Safa al-Hashem told reporters. Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Ara- exchange rates and supported the cessions in a bilateral deal since the October death of widely revered The decision will now go be- bia and United Arab Emirates - Turkish lira, and pointed out how US market already is largely open King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who fore the Gulf state’s parliament for with no problems. the U.S. dollar/TL parity depreci- to them. “Trump’s TPP critique is had reigned for seven decades. His a vote that is expected to pass be- Kuwait is the only Gulf state ated by 8.3 percent, in a down- flawed, and the bilateral strategy to passing plunged the country into cause a majority of lawmakers to have a vibrant parliament in ward trend from 3.9422 on Jan. replace it is flawed and doomed to grief and an official mourning peri- supports preventing the govern- which the opposition controls half 11, and saw 3.6132 today. Egyptian pound strengthens failure,” he said at a forum to present od that is ongoing. ment from raising such charges. of its 50 seats following a general The Central Bank, which stat- his policy paper on the subject. Also "(Consumer) spending in first read: Who is Steven Mnuchin, the Under Kuwaiti law, the gov- election in November. ed that the necessary measures on weaker dollar demand richest US treasury secretary in his- two months of last quarter was ernment has the power to reject The International Monetary would be taken against unhealthy sluggish after the late king passed tory? Schott and other internation- parliamentary decisions - but MPs Fund urged Kuwait that month to price developments moving away al economists also warned of the cost away but it bounced back in De- can also override such a rejection enact further subsidy reforms to from the economic bases with the from importers of a US retreat from Asia, ceding cember," the board's secretary gen- by a two-thirds majority in a fresh trim its budget deficit, despite their increase in the volatility of the ex- The Egyptian pound strengthened the float, people’s purchasing influence in the region to China. eral Porametee Vimolsiri told re- vote. political sensitivity. change rates in the first days of “China’s regional dominance will porters. Much of the growth in In a series of measures aimed Kuwait has already drawn the year, began the interventions on Sunday, reaching a three month power declined and sales in most grow very, very fast,” cautioned Il junta-era Thailand now comes at financing a budget shortfall re- down billions of dollars from its by reducing the borrowing limits high, as importers’ demand for (imported) goods slowed down SaKong, former Korean finance from tourism and state spending sulting from low oil prices, the $600-billion sovereign fund and of the banks to TL 22 billion dollars at banks eased, bankers told and with it their demand for dol- minister and head of the Institute on large projects, many of which government increased fuel prices resorted to borrowing and plans ($6.06 billion) in the Interbank Reuters on Sunday. lars to import more goods slowed for Global Economics in Seoul. C. were delayed during the recent and also plans to apply sharp ris- to issue domestic and foreign Money Market on Jan. 10. Banks were selling dollars at as well,” one banker said. Fred Bergsten, a founder of the years of political chaos. es in power and water prices in bonds worth $16.6 billion. The Central Bank, on the same around 15.8 pounds per dollar on Dollar inflows at banks have Peterson Institute and a former US Critics say that kind of growth May. (Alarabya) day, announced that the foreign Sunday, stronger than Thursday’s also increased as foreign investors, Treasury official, said: “The US can- mainly benefits Bangkok, which rate of around 16 per dollar. scared off by a revolution in 2011 not absent itself from Asia and turn currency required reserve ratios it over to China.” Schott argued that already accounts for a hugely dis- were reduced by 50 basis points The central bank floated the that ushered in an era of instabili- proportionate share of the econo- currency and raised base interest ty, have begun to return, while the 12-country pact pried greater in all maturity segments, and that concessions out of participating my. this change would provide an ad- rates by 3 percent in early Novem- dollar remittances from Egyptians ber, encouraging the International living abroad have risen sharply. nations than would be possible in a Analysts have mixed views on ditional liquidity of approximate- bilateral deal. “The US got paid not the country's longer-term econom- ly $1.5 billion to the financial sys- Monetary Fund to agree a three- Foreign investors, lured by year $12 billion funding deal later high yields in Egyptian treasuries, once but twice,” he said, with con- ic prospects. tem. cessions in each market and better "A combination of lacklustre The CBRT, which did not that month. entered the market in the past few investment an intellectual proper- external demand, high household hold the one-week maturity repo “Importers have a pile up of weeks pushing yields lower. ty rules “for helping them get bet- debt and continued political uncer- auction on Jan. 12 and moved to goods. When the prices rose after (BBC) ter access via the TPP to the Japa- tainty will keep growth subdued implement a tighter liquidity poli- nese, Vietnamese and other markets in the quarters ahead," Capital cy, has continued its stance for the than they would have been able to Economics regional analyst Krys- last 28 working days. Mainly by get on a bilateral basis.” Schott rec- tal Tan said in a note to clients. directing policy-making banks to ommended the administration “go She said the export sector, the "Late Liquidity Window big,” and negotiate an even bigger once a mainstay of the economy, regional trade deal, improving on (LLW)" during that time period, some areas, including enforceable "will continue to be held back by the Central Bank has increased the lacklustre external demand as well rules on currency manipulation, funding costs by about 200 basis which Trump and his economic ad- as waning export competitive- points. visers have repeatedly raised. ness". It also reduced the borrowing “Trump should take a mulligan and The World Bank estimates limits for banks in the Interbank tee up a new and bigger and better East Asia's regional growth for Money Market, operating under Pacific trade deal,” Schott said. 2016 was around 6.3 percent and the CBRT, from TL 22 billion to He recommended adding Korea says Thailand could grow between TL 11 billion on Jan. 13 and start- and Colombia to the accord, since 4-5 percent a year if the economy ed the foreign exchange deposit they already have bilateral trade deals is managed properly. market against Turkish lira depos- with the United States, as well as (France24) its on Jan. 18. It stated that the Taiwan. (Alarabya) WEDNESDAY . FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Jennifer Garner on divorce, Ranveer, Deepika,Alia Chopra, Anushka Sharma attend Shahid Kapoor’s more: Bollywood why Ben Affleck is a pre-birthday party heroines turn producers complicated guy Shahid Kapoor is turning 36 this Saturday. He will soon be seen in Rangoon with Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan. ennifer Garner is finally speak ing out on her split with Gone ollywood stars Ranveer JGirl actor Ben Affleck. Play- Singh, Deepika ing the lead in this month’s Mira- cles from Heaven, she talks about BPadukone, Alia Bhatt, breaking up with Affleck, dealing Karan Johar among others at- with the pain, and keeping her kids tended the pre-birthday bash and career in focus. of actor Shahid Kapoor. “When I can’t sleep—and I am Mira hosted the party for not someone who typically has her actor husband in subur- that problem, but I really have in ban Juhu last evening. the last year—and I need some- The Haider actor will turn thing to switch my brain off, it has been Tina Fey and Amy Poehler,” 36 this Saturday. Garner said in an interview with Shahid kept his look casu- Vanity Fair. “God bless those girls. al with a white tee and jacket Bollywood actresses are stepping up and are going beyond I used to think I would never teamed up with denims. the stereotypical acting, lifestyle and fashion promotions that watch television on my phone, but His Padmavati co-stars they have been traditionally associated with. there I am, because I am sleeping Ranveer Singh and Deepika From Priyanka Chopra to Anushka Sharma and Richa next to my daughter. I’m happy to Padukone made their pres- Chaddha, heroines are going beyond the realm of acting and have her; she’s happy to have me.” ence felt at the bash. modelling and are ready to turn job creators in the industry. Late last June, after their chil- Others, who were present Here, we take a look at some of them who have turned dren – Violet, Seraphina and Sam – producers and the films they have taken under their wings: were finished with the school year, at the party were Sonakshi Hollywood’s most sought-after Sinha, Sidharth Malhotra, Chopra, who is now power couple Garner and Affleck, Farah Khan, Farhan Akhtar, marking her presence announced their plan to divorce Vishal Bhardwaj, Ekta in Hollywood, is known one day after their 10th anniversa- Kapoor, Manish Malhotra, for a bunch of things - ry. “It was a real marriage. It Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara, from being a philan- wasn’t for the cameras. And it was Karan Johar, Sajid Nadiadwa- thropist to Miss World a huge priority for me to stay in it. 2000 winner. She has la, R Balki, Gauri Shinde and And that did not work,” she add- Varun Dhawan. even established a film ed, while speaking about her es- production company tranged husband. Surprisingly, his Rangoon with her mother, called A month later, it was reported co-stars Kangana Ranaut and Purple Pebble Pictures. that Affleck was having an affair Saif Ali Khan were not there. She has produced a Shahid will next be seen in Marathi film Ventilator with the family nanny, Christine and the second project Ouzounian. However, Garner pro- the Bhardwaj-directed film Sarvann, a Punjabi fessed that the 28-year-old nanny which is scheduled to release film that hit theatres a was not the reason behind the this Friday. few weeks back. break-up and her first priority was (Santa Banta) and will always be her children. “We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes. It’s not great for your kids for a nanny to disap- Are Ranveer Singh pear from their lives. I have had to have conversations about the mean- ing of ‘scandal’ with my children,” and Katrina Kaif new she stated. “I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him,” Garner said, about Affleck. “And He can cast quite a shadow.” Gar- said, “It was so compelling and BFFs in B-town? I would go back and remake that ner revealed she is trying her best tangible. Her pain, the daughter’s decision. I ran down the beach to not to let this affect her profes- pain, what it did to the family. him, and I would again. He’s the sional life. In Miracles from Heav- Christy was so steadfast; she most brilliant person in any room, en, she plays a real-life Texas moth- didn’t try to whitewash what was the most charismatic, the most gen- er, Christy Beam, whose young wrong with her daughter. She was Chadha made her debut as a producer with a Punjabi short erous. He’s just a complicated guy. daughter Annabel is ill with a life- next to her helping her know she film that will soon be released digitally on a major streaming I always say, when his sun shines threatening disease that miraculous- was strong enough to get through platform. Khoon Aali Chithi is a story of love and peace set on you, you feel it. But when the ly heals after a near-fatal fall from it, and I wanted to be in her skin.” amidst the backdrop of the Khalistan movement in 1980’s and sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. a tree. Speaking about the film, she (Hollywoodreports) how it affected the common man in Punjab. It has already been selected for International Film Festival of South Asia, Toronto.

Sharma has acted in Karan Johar unveils several blockbuster films and even her pro- duction debut, NH10, ‘Anaarkali of Aarah’ poster was a surprise hit. Her upcoming film Phillau- Film-maker Karan Johar on Mon- day unveiled the poster of Swara ri, which has Diljit Bhaskar-starrer Anaarkali of Aarah Dosanjh as the male which showcased Swara in a very lead, is her second out- unusual avatar. ing as a producer. Directed by Avinash Das, the film is scheduled to release on March 24. In the colourful poster, shared by Karan on his Twitter Sonam was in handle, Swara is seen sporting a the news re- vivid lehenga choli, posing like a cently when dancer. “Here is the scintillating post- Bollywood’s leading actors Katri- around 9ish, Katrina walked in. she an- er of ‘Anaarkali of Aarah’, Swara nounced she na Kaif and Deepika Padukone But this is not what made every- Bhaskar you go girl. Congrats Av- avoid each other quite a bit – given one’s heads turn. What happened will co-pro- inash… Releases March 24, 2017,” their past history, of course! By next is what made us ponder. Ran- duce (with he captioned the poster. “Well done history, we mean Ranbir Kapoor, veer, who is very much Deepika’s Rhea) the Swara for constantly breaking if you didn’t know already! rumoured beau, walked in and re- comedy flick ground, March 24 is the date guys The cold war between the Bol- portedly met the Baar Baar De- Battle for Bit- for this new world and engaging lywood bombshells is not the lat- kho actor like they were the best tora, which film. Presenting Swara in and as est news, and when Ranbir’s ex- of friends and pretty much hung will go on the feisty,” he added. In the past, girlfriends did what they always out together at the bash! Swara has worked in films like do – that is, avoid each other – at Did Ranveer Singh just con- floors this Tanu Weds Manu, Raanjhanaa and year. Sonam’s Shahid Kapoor’s birthday bash, it firm his relationship with Deepi- Nil Battey Sannata. Anarkali of didn’t surprise us! ka? sister Rhea Arrah revolves around an erotic What is really going on with Moreover, according to Spot- Kapoor is pro- singer (Swara) from Arrah in Bi- Ranbir-Deepika-Ranveer? boye, the two left the part at the ducing her har, who sings songs that comprise Both ladies were invited by same time too! next, Veerey Di double meaning. The story takes n Mira Rajput to the party but the We wonder what Deepika has Wedding. eventful turn when Anarkali has a Bajirao Mastani leading lady made to say about this budding friend- confrontation with a very power- an early appearance, when she ship? ful man who molested her, and in- showed up around 7 in the Have something to add in the stead of bowing down, she choos- evening. story? Share it in the comments es to fight back. (Tribune) As soon as she left the party below. (Hindustana Times) Priscilla Presley is caring for granddaughters as Lisa Marie’s ex faces child abuse allegations Priscilla Presley has confirmed singer claimed her estranged hus- she’s caring for her twin grand- band was under investigation for daughters while Michael Lock- said images. According to People wood — her daughter Lisa Marie magazine, Beverly Hills police Presley’s estranged husband and confirmed that they received child the girls’ father — is investigated abuse allegations involving the for allegations of child abuse. Presleys this summer and seized “There is Lots of confusion, “several items” at their residence. commotion and concern from all However, they did not specify the talk circulating. Let me put this against whom the claims were to rest... the girls have not been in made. Police said the case has since foster care and never will be. The been turned over to the Tennessee girls have been with me and will be Bureau of Investigation, who told until all this is sorted out,” Priscil- People that they were still inves- la wrote on her Facebook page on tigating the allegations, but have Sunday. She also posted a photo yet to open an official case. Mean- of 8-year-old twins Finley and while, Lockwood’s lawyer has de- Last November, it was reported that Akshay Kumar and Am- Harper. Previously, it was report- nied the allegations to People, call- itabh Bachchan will be seen together on screen in an R Balki ed that the twins had been placed ing the claims, “highly sensation- directed movie after 10 years. The film also has Sonam and in protective custody by the Los al, inaccurate and unproven.” Lisa Radhika Apte. Twinkle Khanna, Akshay’s wife, will produce Angeles County Department of Marie and Lockwood married in Padman which will be the first film under her Mrs Funnybones Children and Family Services af- 2006 and welcomed their twins in Movies. Twinkle has also co-founded another production com- ter their mother claimed to have October 2008. When Lisa Marie pany, Grazing Goat Pictures, and has co-produced 14 fea- found “disturbing” images and vid- filed for divorce from Lockwood tures including Singh is Bliingg, Rustom, OMG – Oh My God!, eos of children on their father’s in June 2016, she asked for full computer. In court papers per- custody of the girls and sought Fugly and the Marathi language drama 72 Miles. taining to Lisa Marie’s divorce monitored visitations only for (Hindustan Times) from Lockwood, the 49-year-old Lockwood. (Tribune) WEDNESDAY . FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AFGHANISTANTIMES Kieran Po w ell m ay lin e up fo r West In dies against England Kieran Powell may be in line for ing an illegal action. his first West Indies appearance in Samuels was the man of the three years after being named in a match when England and the West 15-man training squad for the one- Indies last met in any format - the day series against England. World Twenty20 final last April The left-handed batsman had in Kolkata. turned his back on the Windies af- Another player who starred in Arsenal avoided an FA Cup upset ter growing disillusioned with the that encounter, Carlos Brathwaite, with a 2-0 win over National set-up in 2014, and tried his hand is also included and the first ODI League side Sutton United at Gan- at baseball in the hope of realising in Antigua on March 3 is likely to der Green Lane to set up a quar- his Major League Baseball dream. mark the first time he will come ter-final clash with Lincoln City. But he returned to domestic up against fellow all-rounder Ben Sutton more than held their action last year and is currently in Stokes since memorably smashing own throughout the 90 minutes red-hot form, three List A centu- the Englishman for four successive but they were behind in the 27th ries for Leeward Islands in 2017 sixes to seal glory for the Windies minute after Lucas Perez's strike having led to his call-up ahead of at Eden Gardens. broke the deadlock. the three-match series against Eoin The series will also be Stuart After the break, Theo Walcott Morgan's tourists. Law's first in charge of the Carib- grabbed his 100th Arsenal goal in Ten of the 11 men who fea- bean side, the former Australia in- the 55th minute to ease the Pre- tured in the Windies' last ODI - a ternational having signed a two- mier League side's nerves. defeat to Zimbabwe in November year deal to become head coach last But Sutton continued to look last year - have been included in month. for a way back into the tie and the line-up, with only top-order West Indies training squad: J were inches away from making it batsman Johnson Charles missing Holder (captain), D Bishoo, C an uncomfortable ending for the out. Brathwaite, K Brathwaite, J Cart- Gunners, but Roarie Deacon's Another notable absentee in er, M Cummins, S Dowrich, S powerful shot cannoned back off the training squad is all-rounder Gabriel, S Hope, A Joseph, E the crossbar. Marlon Samuels, who was recent- Lewis, J Mohammed, A Nurse, K However, it was Arsenal who ly cleared to resume bowling in Powell, R Powell. held on to ease the pressure on international cricket after amend- (Cricket News) under-fire manager Arsene Wenger and progress into the last eight for the fourth consecutive season where they will face another side from the fifth-tier in Lincoln at the Emirates Stadium on the weekend of March 11. Arsenal recalled Walcott after their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich in midweek and he was handed the captain's arm- band, leading out a strong side named by Wenger. Shkodran Mustafi, Granit Xhaka and Perez were all included Arsenal's Theo Walcott celebrates his 100th goal for the club while Alexis Sanchez was named on the bench for the trip to Gan- der Green Lane. Sutton, who upset Cheltenham Royal St Town, AFC Wimbledon and Leeds Haye vs Bellew: Eddie Hearn United on their way to the fifth George’s to round started well, matching the host 2020 open Premier League side in the early ‘worried’ when David Haye, stages. Wenger had concerns over Sut- championship Kyle Edmund advances to ton's artificial pitch before kick- The R&A has announced that the Tony Bellew meet pre-fight off and the heavily-watered sur- 2020 Open Championship will be round two in Delray Beach face could have played a part in played at Royal St George's, the Kyle Edmund is through to the match 6-3 6-4 2-1. his side's slow start scene of Darren Clarke's memora- Ex-Arsenal youngster Craig second round in Delray Beach af- Edmund was similarly domi- ble victory in 2011. Royal St ter completing a 6-3 6-0 thrashing nant against Mannarino, breaking Eastmond thought he should have George's, which voted in March had a penalty after beating Nacho of Adrian Mannarino in bizarre once to take set one and then pow- 2015 to admit women members, fashion. ering through the second set. Monreal, but referee Michael Ol- will stage the Open for the 15th iver waved away the Sutton ap- Trailing 6-3 5-0 and 15-love, A frustrated Mannarino kicked time and the first since Clarke held Mannarino was penalised a game a chair midway through that set, peals. off the challenge of Phil Mickel- However, the 12-time winners for smashing a ball out of the court before hitting a ball in the direc- son and new world No 1 Dustin in anger, and that punishment was tion of a ball-boy. were soon ahead after Xhaka's Johnson. pass released Perez down the right enough to confirm the Frenchman's And in the final game, with "It was an unbelievable feeling to defeat. Edmund serving, Mannarino wing. The 28-year-old cut inside lift the Claret Jug and know that onto his left foot before firing a The incident came just two slammed two consecutive returns my name was displayed on the tro- weeks after Edmund's opponent out of the court and was then hand- low drive past the dive of goal- phy alongside so many of the keeper Ross Worner. Denis Shapovalov was defaulted ed the decisive game penalty. greatest players ever to play the during the deciding rubber of Brit- The British number three's win Walcott powered a long-range game," Clarke said. strike over the bar before Alex Iwo- ain's Davis Cup tie against Cana- over the World No 60 sets up a "The Open is what it is all da. second round clash with Taiwan's bi saw his shot turned behind by about for me as a golfer and it is Worner as Arsenal started to hit Shapovalov was defaulted for Yen-Hsun Lu, who beat American the championship I always dreamt blasting a ball out of court and into wildcard Bjorn Fratangelo 4-6 7-5 their straps. of winning from when I first took But it was Sutton who went the eye of umpire Arnaud Gabas, 6-4. up the game as a kid. "I have so when Edmund was leading the (Sky Sport) closest to an equaliser just before many wonderful memories from the break when David Ospina pre- that week at Sandwich and I will sented the ball to Adam May but be thrilled to go back there for The the forward wasted the chance, Open in three years' time." shooting wide from inside the area. Other Open winners at Royal The National League side were St George's include Harry Vardon, punished shortly after the break Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Bob- when Walcott turned in Nacho by Locke, Sandy Lyle and Greg Monreal's cross at the far post to Norman. Martin Slumbers, chief bring his ton up for the club. executive of the R&A, said: "We Sutton's moment to remember are very much looking forward to almost came with a little over half the return of The Open to Royal an hour to go as another former St George's in 2020. "The Open is Gunner, Deacon, rattled the cross- a true celebration of sport and the bar with a brilliant dipping effort global spotlight will fall once again from 25 yards. on Sandwich. "Royal St George's Wenger, whose side sit 105 has produced a series of outstand- positions above their hosts in the ing champion golfers over the last English football pyramid, clearly 120 years and it is a thrilling pros- felt the tie was not completely pect for golf fans to see the great- David Haye and Tony Bellew have Sports News HQ. Eddie Hearn sewn up as he turned to Sanchez est players competing on one of been issued a stern warning from "I don't want this fight falling "Tony looks fantastic, sur- with 20 minutes remaining, but the the world's finest links courses." promoter Eddie Hearn not to jeop- through because both fighters prised by his weight," Hearn said. Chilean was not required to pro- James Furber, the captain of ardise their meeting with any pre- couldn't keep their hands to them- "He thought he'd come in lighter - duce any heroics with Sutton's Royal St George's, added: fight shenanigans. selves in the build-up. "Everyone he hasn't tried to bulk himself up, Great Britain just miss challenge dwindling as fatigue set "We are delighted and ho- A press conference last No- has got to sensible to make sure or beef himself up. in. noured to be invited to host The vember boiled over as Bellew ac- we all make it in one piece to The "I don't think there will be that It was not a convincing per- Open in 2020. This is tremendous cused Haye of throwing a punch, O2 Arena." much difference in the weight come out on two medals at formance from the visitors but they news for the club and a wonderful before Dereck Chisora vs Dillian WBC cruiserweight champion the weigh-in or fight night. got the job done and for Wenger commercial opportunity for Sand- Whyte had to be salvaged at the Bellew will make his debut as a "He's talked about the differ- this was respite after a fortnight wich, Thanet and Kent." eleventh hour after a pre-fight skir- heavyweight against Haye, a ences in camp - he's been locked the Track World Cup which saw his hopes of winning The 149th Open will be mish, so Hearn is eager to avoid former two-weight world title- away in a three-star hotel in Shef- the Premier League or the Cham- played from July 16-19, 2020. St more hot-headedness before the holder, but Hearn insists their phy- field, away from his family. Haye pions League all but end. Andrews is set to host the follow- first bell rings on March 4, live on siques will be similar. has been in Miami on private jets And, with a home tie against ing year's tournament to mark the Sky Sports Box Office. I don't want this fight falling and private yachts, very nice! Lincoln in the next round, a record 150th staging of the game's oldest "We've just got to keep them through because both fighters "But don't be fooled by that. 13th FA Cup win remains a possi- major. sensible. When they come togeth- couldn't keep their hands to them- We know he's been training hard bility for Arsenal and the French- (Fox Sport) er again, I worry," Hearn told Sky selves in the build-up. behind the scenes." (BBC Sport) man. (Sky Sport) Shotgun Paddy in line for Eider Chase honours Raz De Maree, runner-up in date was ruled out by his trainer the Welsh National behind Gold Fergal O'Brien, and he might now Cup second-favourite Native Riv- go straight to Aintree for the Ran- er, looks like being forced to carry dox Health Grand National. With a big weight, which is of some con- no Perfect Candidate, Baie Des Iles, cern for County Meath handler winner of a National trial at Punch- Gavin Cromwell. estown, has been left at the head Lavelle said on At The Races: of the weights for Ross O'Sullivan "He's in very good order and the and Katie Walsh. That leaves Raz plan is to run. "I've heard a going De Maree as next on the list. How- report saying 'lovely drying wind' ever, Cromwell is not too keen on - that is no good for him, but there his 11-year-old carrying a hefty is some rain about so hopefully it burden. "He ended up finishing hits Newcastle. "He's in great or- closer to Native River than looked Great Britain narrowly missed out Saturday. der, a few pounds lower than last likely at one stage and I'm not sure on two medals on the final day of But it was not enough to top year so hopefully he can run his if it flattered us or not, but that's the Track World Cup in Cali. France, who posted 4:28.252, and race. "He's honest, he's just not where he finished," said Cromwell. The women's team pursuit claim a place in the bronze medal quick - he just keeps galloping and "That day we could have done quartet finished fifth, missing out race, which was won by Canada. jumping. He's not stupid, he tries with a little more rain to turn it on the bronze medal race by 0.3 Australia beat Italy to win gold. the first few and works out how into a proper test, so I hope the seconds, before Neah Evans came Scotland's Evans then finished low he can go, he's got his own forecast rain materialises this week. fourth in the points race. fourth in the points race, as Aus- style. "He's a solid stayer and he "The one thing I wouldn't want is Evans, Emily Kay, Emily Nel- tralia's Amy Cure took gold ahead deserves to win one of thee big for him to carry a big weight as son and Manon Lloyd recorded a of America's Sarah Hammer and chases because he's knocked on the he's only a small horse, so I'll have time of four minutes 28.548 sec- Simona Frapporti of Italy. Shotgun Paddy and Raz De Maree are fighting it out for favouritism for the Betfred Eider Chase after the five- onds in the team pursuit - over Evans missed out on a podi- day confirmations but connections of both horses have issued cautioning notes. door in so many of them. "Hope- to have a good think. "Our big aim fully Saturday will be his day." The is Aintree, so I don't want to pull three seconds faster than the time um place by two points. Emma Lavelle's Shotgun Paddy was second 12 months ago to Rocking Blues, but the spring-like weather they managed in their first run on (Cyclingreports) and strong winds in the north-east will not help the mud-lover's chances. original top weight Perfect Candi- the guts out of him this weekend." WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 22. 2017-Hoot 04, 1395 H.S Vol:XI Issue No: 203 Price: Afs.20

The Envoy:From Kabul to the White House, My Journey Through a Turbulent World Up to 200 families have been dis- I recommended that U.S. forc- nior general had told me: addition- placed after Pakistani armed forc- es shift to specialized missions: al U.S. combat forces were simply es reportedly fired missiles into training and advising Iraqi forces, unavailable. However, when I was Lalpur district and other areas of controlling the Iranian border, and briefed on the elements of the surge Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar conducting counterterrorism oper- option-which involved sending and Kunar provinces, the Norwe- ation against high-value targets. five additional combat brigades and gian Refugee Council (NRC) said I also advised that U.S. forces shifting to a population-security in a press statement on Monday. should allay the principal fears of counterinsurgency strategy-I was Civilian injuries have also been the two communities-that Sunni immediately sympathetic. I could reported. Many of these families Arabs would conduct a coup not judge whether this escalation fled to Lalpur district’s center and against the Iraqi state, and the Shia would be sufficient to quell the Chiknawor village, in neighboring Arab militias would conduct atroc- sectarian violence, but I thought Muhmand Dara district, the NRC ities in Sunni Arab areas. the stakes in Iraq were weighty said. I took question for a brief pe- enough to give it a try. “Military fire across the bor- riod. I was struck by the number In late 2006, Rice and Hadley der into Nangarhar and Kunar of “Iraq 101” question-basic ques- invited me to dinner at the Water- provinces has forced Afghan fam- tion about a very complex situa- gate and asked for my thoughts on ilies to flee their homes. Whether tion. a surge. When I endorsed this op- indiscriminate or specifically tar- I was unimpressed with the tion, Rice asked if I’d be interest- geted, such attacks forcibly dis- conflicted nature of the Iraq Study ed in staying on as ambassador to was alienating local Sunni Arabs in place civilians, violating Interna- Group’s final report. It called for implement the new policy. Al Anbar. tional Humanitarian Law, and must redeployment, a euphemism for My impression, though was Casey was not happy about stop,” said NRC Country Direc- withdrawals, and for leaving train- that the inquiry was largely a cour- my cable. He walked into office tor in Afghanistan, Kate O'Rourke ers in Iraq, who would be vulnera- tesy. I had already served, under and argued that I was weighing in “The rocket firing started Fri- ble if larger forces did not remain exhausting circumstances, larger on an issue that was outside my day morning, so we left the vil- in the country. It also suggested, than any other U.S. ambassador lane. I informed Casey that, in the lage. It took our family one and in seeming contradiction, that we to the country. By the time they context of the ongoing review of half hours to walk to Wara Lalpu- should consider sending addition- found a replacement, my tenure our Iraq strategy, I had been asked ra,” said Haji Zia Jan, a 62 year- al U.S. forces for a brief period of might stretch to three years. Giv- to send my views. I didn’t mind, I old IDP, by phone. “My son went 3 sentenced to time. en how proactive President Bush added, if forwarded his views on back to the area again Saturday. He 19 DAESH The third alternative strategy, had been in recruiting me for the political, economic, and diplomat- said all of the walls had collapsed which originated in the State De- ambassadorships to Afghanistan ic issues affecting Iraq. and most of the animals had been jail over partment, called for U.S. military and Iraq, I assumed, since he had I engaged Maliki on the surge. killed,” he added. MILITANTS KILLED disengagement and the rapid trans- not done the same this time around, President Bush wanted Maliki to Haji Zia Jan's family, along corruption in fer of security responsibilities to that he was not especially keen on commit publicly to using force in with four others, are now staying the Iraqis. Advocates of this posi- my staying in Baghdad. Gates was a nonsectarian manner before the in a single room in Lalpur district IN NANGARHAR mosque tion argued that Iraq could not be taking over for Rumsfeld, and Gen- United States doubled down with center, thanks to the generosity of salvage. Iraq had fallen into a civil eral David Petraeus was replacing AT News Report additional forces and a new strate- relatives. war and the United States should Casey. So the president may have gy. Maliki agreed, provided that “Nangarhar Province already construction bon be a party to such conflict. felt that a new ambassador should KABUL: At least 19 fighters loy- killed and two others wounded in MNF-I transferred more Iraqi forc- overwhelmed by the impact of dis- JALALABAD: The appellate I opposed this option and took be deployed as well. es to his control. I thought Mali- placement in Afghanistan, with al to the Islamic State (IS), also Haska Meena district during air court of eastern Nangarhar prov- it up with Rice. I argued that Iraq Rice asked me to submit my known as Deash terrorists were and ground raids, added statement. ki’s request was reasonable, as- thousands of families internally ince on Tuesday fined the head of was not in a full state of civil war. views on the surge through official suming that he would work displaced from conflict, well as killed during an operation in east- Likewise, 12 other Daesh a Construction Company and sen- The institutions of the state-the channels. ern Nangarhar province, within fighters were killed during airstrike through the chain of command, tens of thousands of Afghan refu- tenced three other individuals to government, military, and police- I responded with a cable en- which would ensure that his ac- gee families who felt forced to re- past 24 hours, security official in Achin district, noted statement. six months of jail over corruption were holding. dorsing the surge. I thought addi- said. Statement said that all the tions were visible to MNF-I. We turn from Pakistan in 2016. This in building the Spin Jumat Mosque Rice believed that sending more tional U.S. forces in combination also agreed that the United States further displacement from cross- In a press statement, the Nan- killed fighters were foreigners en- in the provincial capital. troops would not make a signifi- with the increasingly capable Iraqi garhar press office, said that these tered illegally to the province for would expand Iraqi forces and pro- border offensives aggravates suf- According to a statement from cant difference. She argued that the forces, could bolster security in vide better equipment and train- fering and compounds the critical fighters were killed in Haska Mee- terrorist attacks. Nangarhar appellate court received U.S. government had an obligation Baghdad we needed to keep press- na and Achin district of the prov- A vehicle of Daesh destroyed ing. Unlike some of our officer in humanitarian needs among commu- by Pajhwok Afghan News, the to minimize U.S. exposure and ing Maliki to more against Shia the field, President Bush was im- nities in these areas,” said ince during air and ground raids. during raid in Achin district as well, decision was made in an open trial loss of American sense. Arab militias. At the same time, Seven Daesh fighters were underlined the statement. pressed by the fact that Maliki O’Rourke. “It was early morning, attended by the court’s head, Ab- Only after I arrived in Wash- we needed to persist in efforts to sought more responsibility. Still, when the rocket shelling started,” dul Wali Qazizada. ington did I realize how far think- recruit Sunni Arabs to our side. At the president had doubts about said Miya Noor Jan, 60, who also The source said that the judi- ing about the surge had progressed this point, I believed that we could Maliki’s willingness to transcend fled his village of Raidha with his ciary delegation handed down the in the White House. I had always capitalize on AQI’s brutal treat- sectarian loyalties. family on Friday. “The firing was verdict in presence of both sides taken at face value what every se- ment of the local population, which non-stop and we decided to leave of the cases. To be continued before being killed,” said the dis- The owner of the construction placed grandfather, to NRC staff company tasked for building Spin NEARLYA DOZEN in Kabul by phone. “We could only Jumat Mosque confirmed he was Seven killed in save our lives. All our belongings in debt to a number people and WOUNDED IN have been left behind. We have promised to give that money to TAKHAR COLLISION nothing here and we can’t go back.” their owners, the statement add- Charsada court attack (Tolonews) ed. By Shamim Shahid However, the source said it Farah hospital was not final decision of the ap- PESHAWAR: At least seven per- edly suicide bombers) and police pellate court and the individuals sons were killed and 20 other in- force. 2 including district police accused can request for changes. jured in a suicide attack on Tehsil Soon after attacks, high ups employees’ salaries Dr. Mohammad Hanif Courts at Tangi town of Charsada from both civil administration and chief’s son shot dead Hashemi, a civil society activist and district on Tuesday morning. police force rushed to Tangi Town MAIMANA: Armed insurgents have shot dead a district police chief’s robbed member of the Transparency The killed persons included a whereas they supervised the res- son and a policeman in northwestern Faryab province, local officials FARAH CITY: Gunmen robbed Monitoring Commission in Jalala- lawyer and two children. Condi- cue operation. In the beginning al- said on Tuesday. Col. Mir Amanullah Zafir, deputy police chief, said the provincial civil hospital in bad, the provincial capital, said that TALOQAN: At least 11 passen- tions of at least three out of 13 most injured rushed to Tehsil Head- Khwaja Sabz Posh police head Hashim Batoor’s son was gunned down western Farah province of em- the embezzlement in Spin Jumat gers have suffered wounds in a injured that admitted in Lady Read- quarter Hospital at Tangi. But lat- along with a policeman in the Shirin Tagab town of the province. “Ba- ployees’ salaries amounting to Mosque was a serious issue. collision on Takhar-Kunduz high- ing Hospital Peshawar are stated er some of them shifted to district toor’s son was on his way to Faryab from neighboring Jawzjan province 760,000 afghanis, an official said He said that he most of the way in the capital of northern Ta- in danger, therefore, officials ap- Headquarter Hospital Charsada on Monday when the Taliban established a phony checkpoint in Faiz- on Monday. The official in the civil times watched courts’ meetings; khar province, officials said on prehending increase in number of and at least 13 to Lady Reading abad Desert district, where the pair was seized,” he added. Sayed Luq- hospital in Farah City spoke on however, he did not provide more Tuesday. casualties. Hospital Peshawar. Injured per- man Gahrik, the Shirin Tagab district chief, said the militants dumped the condition of anonymity. He details about the appellate court’s Takhar traffic department Official said that three suicide sons are included four policemen. the victims’ bodies on the Maimana-Jawzjan highway. The corpses said the robbery took place two trial. head, Hazrat Gul Farkhari, told bombers have made an attempt to Regional Police Mardan Mr. were transferred to the Khwaja Sabz Posh district. He claimed the two days back. Dr. Abdul Hakeem Ra- Another civil society activist, Pajhwok Afghan News the inci- enter the judicial complex at Tan- Ijaz Khan talking to media said that individuals were killed by militants loyal to Rahmatullah, a Taliban sooli, the hospital’s head, con- dent occurred in Chashmashir area gi, considered second biggest town due to prompt action of police firmed unknown gunmen entered Niamatullah Hamdard, said the commander in Faryab. Abdullah Masoomi, Khwaja Sabzposh district convicts should be charged with on the outskirts of Taloqan city, of Charsada district. However, person, huge act of violence was chief, said Batoor’s son was an underage boy and the other person a the hospital two days back and the provincial capital, at around policeman present on main gate had averted. He said that inside of ju- police official. The slain policeman had gone to Shiberghan for treatment took away money from the finance more jail terms and cash fine. Calling the appellate court ac- 8am today. blocked one of suicide bomber. The dicial complex judges, lawyers and of wounds he had suffered earlier. There has been no word from Taliban sector of the hospital. He said the He said at least 11 people were bomber has exploded explosive a large number of government offi- so far in this regard. Meanwhile, Sibghatullah Selab, Faryab provincial thieves besides breaking into the tion a positive decision, he said the government needed to provide wounded as a corolla model car packed with body. The remaining cials were present along with hun- council member, said Hashim Pahlawan, a tribal elder, was also killed in finance sector also broke locks of two were later shot dead by other dreds of other civilians. He said the Ghaliban area of Garziwan district near his residence on Monday the hospital’s director office room. more information about embezzle- ploughed into another corolla. He The robbers also destroyed some ment in the Spin Jumat Mosque cited the slippery condition of the policemen present inside and on that response of police was exem- night. Taliban confirmed that Hashim Pahlawan was killed by the group’s main gate of the complex after a plary, which caused averting of fighters and his wounded son was being held captive. (Pajhwok) documents in the director’s office. construction. (Pajhwok) road covered with ice and the reck- lessness on the driver’s part be- brief encounter. huge losses to human beings. hind the collision. Officials confirmed occurring District Police Officer Mr. Takhar public health director, of two simultaneous explosions Khalid Sohail said that police force Mashal vows accountability of ACB officials Dr. Hafizullah Sapai, said 11 in- due to blasting of suicide bomb- was already on high alert as search jured were delivered to the hospi- ers, which caused lives to at least operation is going in surrounding KABUL: The Afghanistan Crick- ACB heavy financial losses, the the ACB budget emanated from tal from the scene, three of which four persons on the spot. The re- areas from last several days. Cou- et Board (ACB) chief says a fi- chairman alleged. He called the fi- the previous administration, he were in critical condition. maining succumbed to injuries on ple of days back, police succeeded nancial audit has been launched and nancial losses a tragedy. said. Some months back, they said According to Sapai, of the way and in hospital. Suicide at- in unearthing of three suicide bomb- the outcome will be shared with Some cricket academies and they had $8million in budget, but wounded three were evacuated to tackers attempt of entering the ju- ers jackets. the nation. ground had been constructed in the now they claiming having $17mil- Kunduz and three others were un- dicial complex was followed with The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In an exclusive interview with country but their maintenance had lion. der treatment at the Takhar pro- an encounter between his accom- Health Minister Mr. Shahraam Pajhwok Afghan News, Atif received no attention, Mashal re- “ACB doesn’t have that much vincial hospital. (Pajhwok) plices (two other terrorists alleg- Khan was first who confirmed sev- Mashal said he was investigating gretted. “Cricket grounds in Pak- budget and there is no sign of this en casualties to media soon after the board’s administrative and tia, Khost, Kunar and Laghman are money. They should prove this the attack. He also informed that management issues since his take- not up to standards. The Paktia budget. In case they actually have Trump picks McMaster as explosions caused injuries to over as ACB chairman. playground in particular is a big this much money, the government around 30 including four police- Individuals who served the disaster.” should ask about it.” men. cricket regulatory body efficient- Similarly, the Khost ground According to him, unnecessary new national security advisor Soon after the terrorist attack, ly would be appreciated, he prom- lacks capacity for even 10,000 appointments have been made to KABUL: US President Donald security forces embarked on search ised. However, he hastened to add people. Many people had to wait ACB. Even people who were not Trump has appointed Gen. Mc- operation and arrested a suspect- those found guilty of fund embez- outside the ground during the in- part of the organisation received Master, as new National Security ed person near to the site. The sus- zlement and corruption would be augural ceremony a few months salaries, he alleged. Some money Advisor, a media report said on pected person, blind folded soon held accountable. back, he recalled. has been unaccounted for but no Tuesday. after detained was shifted to un- Mashal explained he was cur- In the past, the chairman con- one is ready to accept responsibil- level was even worse. known place for further interroga- Efforts were ongoing to make Former National Security Ad- rently focused on improvements tinued, the board’s administrative ity, he added. visor Michael Flynn had resigned tion. in blind spots in a bid to find a branches did not have work plans. The ACB’s chief went on to the board self-sufficient, bring Meanwhile, Awami National about administrative reforms and due to his contacts with Russia. solution to problems that did not But now all departments have say that former officials treated Flynn earlier met Russian diplo- Party President Asfandyar Wali receive enough attention in the been asked to come up with prop- some players unfairly as there was construct five stadiums in differ- Khan through a press statement ent parts of the country to inter- mats and talked about the removal past. His main objective is to en- er strategies and plans. no proof of Shahpoor’s exclusion of US sanctions against Moscow. showed sever concern over suicide sure the administration performs About $3 million could not be from the squad. “Despite the lift- national standards. About 15 oth- attack on judicial complex at Tangi er playgrounds will also be set up. The new US national security satisfactorily. received from ACB’s major spon- ing of ban on Shafaq, he isn’t al- advisor served in Afghanistan un- Dr. Mohammad Shafiq Ham- and termed it an inhuman, immor- Until recently, the board did sor -- the Alokozay Group of lowed to play.” Unparalleled in the region and dam, former advisor of NATO Ci- al and unethical act. He extended equipped with modern facilities, a der the International Security As- not have a proper charter or com- Companies (AGC) -- over the past He acknowledged meddling in sistance Force (ISAF) framework. vilian office here, said Gen. Mc- sympathies with members of be- position. No strategy had been put two years because of the previous provincial affairs, as some provin- covered cricket academy to global Master served in Afghanistan in reaved families and prayed for early standards had been established in The 54-year-old McMaster in place to streamline ACB affairs, administration’s negligence. cial officials had turned into mafia has immense experience in military 2010 as ISAF planning and strate- recovery of injured people. He also he said, adding that certain laws In line with a presidential re- with the abetment of the authori- the country, he claimed gy commander. He said he also urged the government to imple- Phil Simmons, a renowned for- strategy and intelligence warfare. and strategies were on the cards. quest, the AGC had promised the ties concerned. He spent most of his time with served as NATO forces joint work ment the National Action Plan, They will be approved at an ACB board $1million in extra assistance, In Kabul, where cricket is eign coach, had been hired for the forces and transparency command- framed soon after terrorist attack national team, he said, adding ef- troops and in the battle ground. meeting in near future. the chairman explained, lamenting more popular than other provinc- Trump, announcing his deci- er. McMaster took effective mea- against Army Public School Pesha- Former officials of the board that amount had not been received es, there are not five clubs, accord- forts were being made to appoint sures against the elimination of cor- war, which according to him could a similar trainer for the under-19 sion, called McMaster “a man of had spent funds unnecessarily on either. ing to the ACB head, who regret- tremendous talent and tremendous ruption in Afghanistan, he added. ensure an end to terror throughout squad as well. (Pajhwok) foreign junkets and stay, causing Conflicting statement about ted the situation at the provincial experience.” (Pajhwok) the country.